A CLEAN , DECISIVE DOWNSIZE

Larry And Debbie Robbins Make A Move Toward Modernism

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

PHOTOS BY BRUCE D e BOER

Larry and Debbie Robbins knew it was time for a change. Their four grown children had long since moved out of their house on Lake Boone Place in Raleigh, and the family dynamic was shifting toward their growing number of grandchildren.

“I kept telling my husband we had to downsize because that house was so big,” Debbie Robbins says. “He just said, ‘If we do it, we’ll do a modern house.’ That was easy for me because I was an interior design major and that’s all I ever did.”

So Larry and Debbie packed up their 7,000-square-foot home on the quiet cul-de-sac, ready to move on from the house where they raised their kids. Not wanting to stray too far from familiar surroundings, they settled on nearby Randolph Drive.

“We looked for two years for a lot, because we wanted to still be in our neck of the woods,” she says. “We lived on a cul-de-sac, so there was not any traffic. Randolph is a street just one block long, and when Randolph became available, the lot was the right size to fit this house.”

A Different Vibe

Larry and Debbie have been in their new home for almost a year-and-a-half, enjoying the very essence of modernism. The house features an elegant open floor plan, expansive windows and clean lines— characteristics that date to the original hallmarks of mid-century modern homes in the 20th century.

Designed by Kersting Architecture of Raleigh and Wilmington, the home reflects Debbie’s style, dating to her college years when she studied interior design at UNC–Greensboro. Now settled in the 4,000-square-foot-space, she is accustomed to hosting friends and family, along with offering the occasional tour. On this day, as she points out favorite features, her 8-year-old English yellow lab, Buddy, follows a few steps behind.

Visitors pick up on a different vibe the moment they approach the front door. A Thomas Sayre earthcast sculpture presents as a sentry in the front yard. The foyer accommodates a Steinway piano, framed art and Mark Hewitt pottery, which can also be found on the front porch. The formal living room features soft blue low-profile sofas and chairs in front of an intricate stone wall featuring a glassed-in fireplace. “In our other house, there was tons of wallpaper— tons of colors,” Robbins says. “But in a house like this, you’ve got stone and wood and art wall space.”

PAGES 30–31, ABOVE: Art by Diana Fonseca of Cuba serves as a focal point for the living room. Matching blue sofas and a triangular marble table add contour to the space.

PAGE 30, BELOW: A glass wall separating the living room and outdoor space rolls up to bring the outdoors in. The yard showcases a wood sculpture by Charles Sherman of California.

PAGE 31, LEFT: The bright foyer showcases Mark Hewitt pottery, a Steinway piano and art by Rigoberto Mena of Cuba.

RIGHT: The light-filled hallway leading to the master bedroom is lined with art and sculptures by Thomas Sayre, Alex Bernstein, Mark Hewitt, J. Michael Powers and Seagrove potters. John Dodd of New York created the foyer table and vertical rest.

PAGE 32, ABOVE: To the right of the kitchen, a scullery accommodates the catering staff during parties and special events. BELOW: The dining room chandelier, created by John Pomp, floats majestically across from an Alan Steward painting and above a VAE bowl on the custom marble table. What appears to be a wood wall separating the living room and dining room is actually a custom cabintery piece. The wall is adorned with a Clarence Hayward painting, as well as vases and bowls created by Laney and Emily Burn, Chihuly, Stephen Rich, and other VAE artists.

PAGE 33, ABOVE: The breakfast room wall features art by Jason Craighead and pottery by Ben Owen, Missions and Seagrove potters. Bridges Street pottery serves at the centerpiece of the breakfast table. CENTER: Mark Hewitt pottery welcomes guests at the front entry. BELOW: A Thomas Sayre sculpture stands sentry to the property

Surprising Reveals

Among the home’s more striking features is a free-standing wood wall at the end of the living room. The wall does not reach the exterior walls or the ceiling, teasing what might be hidden behind it. A walk to the other side reveals the dining room, featuring a custom marble table that seats 12, modern art and a sculptured glass chandelier. The wood wall, it turns out, reveals to be the backside of a stylishly efficient display of modern cabinetry.

The house has four bedrooms, with one serving as a workout room and art studio for Debbie’s contemporary painting. Several of Debbie’s works adorn the walls, along with pieces she and her husband purchased over the years. While the decor features exquisite touches, there are few knickknacks or photos on the counter spaces—another clue revealing the couple’s modernist preferences. “That’s just me,” she says. “I don’t like the clutter, and we love having little grandbabies free to run around the house.”

As Debbie walks the house, she is quick to point out a special luxury in the kitchen—one designed to make it easy to entertain guests. “This is the one thing I love—a scullery,” she says. “Any time we have events here, the caterers are back here. There’s an extra sink, refrigerator, dishwasher and ovens. Also, I didn’t want guests to see or smell the kitchen.”

The Gathering Space

While the scullery is best suited for behind-the-scenes, the Robbins’ outdoor space delivers the wow factor for guests. Tall sliders open the living room to the back yard, where pods of comfortable furniture surround a serene, rectangular pool. A magnificent corten steel sculpture created by California artist Charles Sherman anchors the southern corner of the backyard. “I love the outdoors. Fireplace, TV, heaters,” she says. “I live out here a lot. When we have events, I open up these windows all the way back.”

The Robbins’ brought just three furniture pieces from their previous house—so there were plenty of purchases to make before move-in. Seated on one of their matching couches, Debbie says, “Once we did go shopping, I wanted to sit on it. I didn’t want to just order it.” And when it comes to agreeing on the furnishings, Debbie lets out a little chuckle about her husband Larry’s role in the process.

“He pretty much knows that I pick it out and it’s correct,” she says. “I knew exactly everything I wanted because I always know. It’s a yes or a no. That’s me.”