The Builder Becomes the Client in a Stately Sherwood Forest Home by Norman Askins, Susan Bozeman, and Jonathan Bussell

A new build in Sherwood Forest illustrates the power of collaboration and timeless design

Written by Sarah Lippert Photographed by Jeff Herr Styled by Brittany Forsling

November 2024

Designed by Norman Davenport Askins, Architects and built by Montfair Group, LLC, the exterior of the home leans traditional with mid-Atlantic influence. The landscape architecture is by Jonathan Bussell Landscape Architect.

The family room flows from the kitchen, with soft neutrals for comfort and exposed wooden beams to add definition. A two-tier chandelier from Paul Ferrante through Ainsworth-Noah, WebbMarsteller table lamps, and a William Word Fine Antiques trunk as the coffee table round out the space.

The focal point of the kitchen—a picture window behind the Wolf range—provides the perfect view while cooking dinner. The fridge and pantry, camouflaged in the wood paneling, anchor each side of the range.

The bar, conveniently located next to the butler’s pantry, is outfitted with a glitzy De Corbusier unlacquered brass top from François & Co., plus a painting from Thomas Deans Fine Art to warm up the space.

t A breakfast nook with a vaulted ceiling features a wall of windows that floods the space with a light and airy appeal.

Bathed in Normandy by Benjamin Moore, the tucked-away butler’s pantry provides a punch of color along with hidden freezer and countertop appliances.

m, tumbled stone walls, a herringbone black-tile floor, and a paneled wood ceiling are reminiscent of a European wine cellar.

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper in the dining room brings an understated texture and plays well with the patterned rug underfoot. The mix of upholstered host chairs from Lee Industries are balanced by Bernhardt side chairs.

Traditional transom windows flank the front door in the entryway of this Sherwood Forest home. The iron light fixture is from Formations through Jerry Pair.

The entry-hall corridor is lined with horizontal wood paneling and features a gallery of bird prints from Foxglove Antiques & Galleries, culminating with an arched vista at the end.

The powder room flaunts a patterned Thibaut wallpaper and a Chippendale mirror with a long family history

Valances by Willard Pitt Curtain Makers feature Schumacher fabric and Samuel & Sons trim in the light-filled primary bedroom. The space lives large thanks to a vaulted ceiling, Bernhardt bed frame, and delicate Visual Comfort & Co. chandelier.

The primary tub sits tucked beneath an arched opening, featuring artwork by Thomasa Seymour through Gregg Irby Gallery

A unique corner window centers the primary bath. The painted wood floors bring a lived-in feel to the space.

There’s a fine line when creating a home that’s on trend but not trendy. A space outfitted with modern comforts and current styles, but that won’t be a glaringly obvious nod to old fads in a decade’s time. Andy and Shawnee Feinour’s new build in Sherwood Forest manages to toe that fine line, and beautifully so.

The traditional exterior, with a blend of mid-Atlantic and country architectural influences, gives way to an interior with soothing neutrals and functional spaces designed to be lived in. “It’s a ‘today’ house,” says architect Norman Askins. “It’s a real house, for real people.”

Askins and project architects Brent Mooneyham and Pan Moreau, together with designer Susan Bozeman and landscape architect Jonathan Bussell, worked to create a home that gave the Feinours the distinct spaces they each needed, balanced by airy space in between for entertaining and relaxing. With five bedrooms, two office spaces, a three-car garage, a covered porch, and a lap pool, Askins maximized every inch of the lush city lot.

Shawnee, a builder by trade, was heavily involved in all aspects of the process, adding a welcome additional voice of creativity and ideation to the team. Askins and Bozeman, who have worked together on dozens of projects over several decades, both noted how unique of an experience it was to have the client be so well-versed in the process.

“It was so interesting and fun to work together with Shawnee on a home for herself,” says Bozeman. “Norman and I were able to provide options that she may have otherwise overlooked if she were building this for a client, and it ended up being a great melding of all of our creativity.”

That collaboration resulted in a finished product that was more functional and intriguing than it would’ve been if any one of them had led the project alone. For instance, the butler’s pantry, “the best thing that could ever happen to a house,” according to Askins, provides a dedicated area for items that would otherwise crowd the main kitchen, but thanks to Bozeman’s touch, it also serves as a lively space washed in a pop of jewel-tone blue.

“It really is a working back kitchen,” says Bozeman. “Shawnee is a cook so it provides a place for her to have all of her necessities tucked away, plus a perfect spot under the window for her to grow fresh herbs.”

Around the corner, the kitchen and living room are one large open space, delineated by the sizable island in the center. Instead of a backsplash or a statement hood, Askins and Bozeman opted for an oversize picture window behind the range. With a view of a Japanese maple tree, that last-minute design tweak makes more of a statement than any tile could.

The wine room is another outcome of blended creativity. Shawnee wanted a distinct place to feature their wine collection, but she wanted it to be more accessible than a cellar hidden in a basement. Askins found the perfect spot—off the end of the dining room behind French doors. Bozeman integrated it into the space while allowing it its own character with tumbled stone on the walls and a herringbone black-tile floor.

Pops of blues punctuate the otherwise neutral palette throughout the bathrooms and bedrooms, while natural elements like exposed ceiling beams and rich brown hardwoods throughout ground the flow of the whole home. “Architecturally it has very traditional roots,” says Bozeman. “But decoratively it feels a little bit more transitional with traditional aspects that keep it grounded.”

The Feinours intend for this home to be their last build; their forever home. With the help of their dream design team, they’ve created a place with an aesthetic that will withstand the passing of time and trends alike.

INTERIOR DESIGN Susan Bozeman, Susan Bozeman Designs, Inc., (404) 237-7745; susanbozemandesigns.com ARCHITECT Norman Askins, Brent Mooneyham, and Pan Moreau, Norman Davenport Askins, Architects, (404) 233-6565; normanaskins.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Jonathan Bussell, Jonathan Bussel Landscape Architect, (404) 805-1817; jonathanbussell.com CONTRACTOR Shawnee Feinour, Montfair Group, LLC