La Belle Maison | The Lyle Family
There in Black and White
-Liesel Schmidt
Boasting his own spin on traditional colonial construction, the home designed by Matt Voelkel as his personal residence in Covington is a beautiful representation of the architect’s talent, his understanding of design and his love of streamlined construction and clean lines. A monochromatic study of light and dark, the exterior juxtaposes an entirely white brick façade with black accents on the roof and the front entryway door. Multitudinous windows spill natural light onto interior spaces, beginning with a foyer whose tray ceiling, wide plank flooring, and bricked passageway into the main living spaces speak to Voelkel’s adept use of texture and architectural detail to add visual interest.
A formal dining room just off the foyer invites family dinners, once again showcasing the use of brick on one wall, while the windowed wall opposite floods the space with light. Adjoining the room, the kitchen echoes the home’s exterior, with floor-to-ceiling offset white subway tiles and custom black cabinetry used with spartan precision in the U-shaped kitchen. Stainless steel Wolf appliances along with Sub-zero refrigeration and two Asko dishwashers make the space perfect for entertaining, and the marble countertops offer stark contrast to the dark cabinetry. Just off the kitchen, a butler’s pantry affords an extra prep area and additional storage, with a wet bar and plenty of light from the two windows in the space. “There is so much to this home that we love,” says Dr. Angela Buonagura, who owns the house with her husband, Matthew Lyle. “We love the kitchen and the ‘dirty kitchen’—the butler’s pantry. It’s a great kitchen for cooking and entertaining. We cook a ton, so we love the Wolf stove, oven, and flat plate. Matthew has learned how to make an amazing grilled pressed burger. It’s incredible, and it reminds me of the old Port of Call burgers.”
