SIGHTLINES
By Brandy Woods Snow; Photography by Chris Luker
This article appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Home Design & Decor’s Charlotte edition.
A Raleigh home’s design-on-axis creates thoughtful sightline and intentional connection.
When builder Mark Kirby first laid eyes on a heavily wooded five-acre property just inside Raleigh’s I-540 in 2020, he saw potential. “It felt like a national park,” he recalls. “Rolling hills, a mix of hardwoods and pines, deer, and yet minutes from downtown.” The original plan was to renovate the 1980s-era existing house, but the more Kirby, a seasoned designer and builder, spent time on the land, the more he fell in love with the idea that it could be the site of his family’s forever home. He eventually pitched a bold proposal to his wife, Christin: let me draw something for us.
With no metaphorical fences and proverbial carte blanche, Kirby sketched four different plans before settling on a Spanish Colonial design inspired by the easygoing Montecito-style homes the couple loved and had seen on a few California getaways. “We didn’t want sharp angles or pointy roofs,” he explains. “This house needed to feel relaxed, approachable, and stylistically interesting—something that reflected our lifestyle.”
The initial phases of design and construction weren’t without obstacles. The property, in the heart of the Falls Lake Watershed, had specific restrictions on development, and getting approvals was a lengthy and costly process, but in the end, the light-filled U-shaped house came together in a unique way. Kirby meticulously designed the home on a series of axes, with sightlines drawing the eye to desired views. Every room is single-depth, with windows on two or three sides, flooding the interior with natural light and unobstructed views of nature.
The landscaping, curated by their longtime gardener from Southern California, echoes the home’s laid-back aesthetic. Rather than rigid walkways, guests wander through soft, blooming greenery that favors low-water plants over manicured hedges. “It feels organic and inviting, enticing visitors to stop and take in the nature that surrounds the home,” Kirby says.
Inside, the family of six wanted comfort and flow. “It’s nothing for us to host a hundred people here,” Kirby says. “We wanted a big house that didn’t feel formal or intimidating.”
The open kitchen features no upper cabinets (everything is stored in drawers for accessibility) and boasts a disappearing wall of folding glass doors that invite guests straight onto the porch and pool area. The aesthetic is rife with natural materials, including stone walls, unfinished cedar ceilings, and oak cabinetry, each material adding layers of warmth. From the central dining room, where family and friends linger long past dinner, to the music room filled with heirloom instruments provided by both grandfathers’ legacies, the home is laced with personal history. A framed WWII poem written by Kirby’s grandfather hangs as a quiet tribute, reminding visitors that this house was designed for connection and longevity. Throughout, Kirby embraces timeworn elegance, seeking to honor his love of history, architecture, and family tradition. “I love drawing from history,” he says, “without being shackled by it.”
This home, shaped by sightlines and sunlight, is more than a place to live for the Kirbys. It’s a legacy in motion—crafted for connection, grounded in intention, and built to last.