On Designing the Borchert Project

For more than 30 years, Dan Ensminger of Ensminger Architecture has focused exclusively on residential architecture, building a practice rooted in thoughtful design, strong collaboration, and homes that feel as good as they look. For the Borchert project, that meant creating a house that opened fully to its waterfront setting while staying disciplined, soft, and deeply peaceful – a home shaped as much by how the clients wanted to live as by any one style. In this conversation, Dan shares the thinking behind the project, the value of true collaboration, and the moments that made the house feel complete.

Q: Tell us a little about your background and your firm.

Dan Ensminger: I started working for myself in 1996, and I’ve really done one thing for more than 30 years – residential work. I learned early on that I didn’t want to spend my career worrying about fire egress exits and smoke detectors. I wanted to do the fun stuff for people. Most of my work is in Virginia, primarily in Richmond, with a few projects down on the water in Irvington, Virginia Beach, and one in the Outer Banks.

Q: What was the original vision for the Borchert home?

Dan Ensminger: From the beginning, the setting was a huge part of the story. The house is in Kinloch, in a beautiful golf community, and the lot sits on a water feature in the middle of the course. So naturally, a big priority was opening the house up to that view. But beyond the site, the real difference was that the clients did not want the traditional red brick Virginia home. They wanted something peaceful. That’s the word I kept coming back to. Nothing in that house shouts. Everything is soft, disciplined, and calm.

Q: Were there any must-haves the clients brought to the table early on?

Dan Ensminger: Yes, and that always helps. They had a pretty well-defined program and knew exactly how they liked to live. One of the biggest requests was what became the entertainment wing – billiards, wet bar, soft seating, a big TV area – all of that living space gathered together in one part of the home. 

They had a version of that in the basement of their old house and loved the flow, but they were very clear that they did not want another basement. So I created a wing of the house to accommodate that. They also wanted an in-law apartment built into the design from the beginning, which became a kind of guest house within the main house, complete with its own level of separation and privacy. Tim’s office was another priority. He wanted the best view in the house, and that led to one of the coolest spaces in the project – an elevated covered terrace over the garage where he could step outside during long calls.

Q: This was a new build, but do you generally prefer new construction or renovation work?

Dan Ensminger: Honestly, I probably like renovations more. With older homes, you get to see how things were built back in the day, and there’s so much craft in them. So much was handmade. You walk into those houses and see bespoke details everywhere. Richmond has a wonderful history of homes like that, and I love being able to transform them while making it feel like the work was always there. That said, a new build like this gives you the chance to shape every part of the experience from the ground up.

Q: How do you approach creating a house that feels timeless rather than trend-driven?

Dan Ensminger: For me, the best way to make a home feel timeless is to use natural materials and avoid the decorative cues that lock it too tightly into one style. In this house, there are beautiful wood ceilings, wood floors, beams – and very little in the way of decorative trim or casing. We purposely avoided a lot of the trappings that push a house into a more obvious stylistic box. Instead, we tried to keep it peaceful, neutral, quiet, and grounded in natural materials.

Q: Was there one part of the home that really set the tone for the rest of the project?

Dan Ensminger: The kitchen, absolutely. We spent a tremendous amount of time on that space, and it really became the heart of the home. You had the cabinet maker, Bea, myself – everyone focusing on that area. It set the tone for so much of the rest of the house. I also love the big arched entry. As you approach the house, that first moment tells you exactly what kind of home you’re about to walk into.

Q: How would you describe your collaboration style on a project like this?

Dan Ensminger: Collaboration is incredibly important to the way I work. I’m not a huge firm trying to do architecture, interiors, landscaping, and everything else under one roof. I don’t really believe in that model. I prefer working with like-minded professionals who are true experts in what they do. Bea and I work really well together and are almost always aligned. The same goes for Jim Dunkum. It’s a real team approach. Nothing is off limits for discussion. Jim might look at a set of windows and say, “Hey man, does something look off to you?” and that’s valuable. Maybe I keep it the way it is, or maybe he’s right and we adjust it. Then we bring in the homeowner, the interior designer, and we all talk it through. In the end, the homeowner wins. That’s the way it should be. We’re all working for the same person.

Q: What do you think makes that kind of collaboration work?

Dan Ensminger: Trust, first and foremost. On a house like this, homeowners can get overwhelmed. There are so many decisions. When they trust the team, sometimes they can say, “Can you guys just figure this out?” and that allows the process to move in a really healthy way. The best teams understand that it’s not about what any one of us would do personally. It’s about making the house better for the people who live there.

Q: Was there a moment in the project that made you nervous but ended up becoming something special?

Dan Ensminger: Absolutely. There was a curving gallery space that connected the garage guest house to the main house, and for a while it didn’t have a very defined use in the floor plan. I caught a lot of grief over this expensive part of the house that nobody could really use, and I definitely had a moment of wondering if I had made a big mistake. Then Lisa sent me the best note and photo – her husband had gotten her a piano for Christmas, and it fit into that curved space like it was always meant to be there. So naturally, I now claim that was my vision all along.

Q: What part of the completed home feels most true to the original vision?

Dan Ensminger: The kitchen and breakfast room are probably the clearest expression of that original vision. We spent so much time crafting the feeling of those spaces, and they really landed. But I also think the game wing was a win because it delivered exactly what the clients wanted. That part of the program was so personal to how they live, and I think we nailed it.

Q: How has Wellborn + Wright fit into your broader work?

Dan Ensminger: Love those guys. We work with them a lot. When it comes to craft and handmade elements, they’re a great partner. Flooring, beams, steel and glass doors and windows – they do beautiful work. I’m working with Jay on several projects right now, and we recently installed custom arched steel and glass doors on another renovation that completely changed the facade of the house. People literally slow down and take pictures of it from their cars. At the end of the day, that relationship piece matters. People want to do business with people they like and trust, and that makes a huge difference.