From Forgotten Undercroft to Family Wellness Retreat in Chevy Chase, Maryland
When homeowners Jack Jaeger and Chrissy Jelen looked beneath their aging screen porch, they saw little more than a damp, shadowy void. Moss crept across deteriorating surfaces, natural light barely penetrated the space, and the area served as little more than an overlooked corner of the property. Today, that forgotten undercroft has become the heart of family life.
The “before” had character but needed some love.
Completed in 2025, this Chevy Chase, Maryland, renovation by MV Architects transforms a once-underutilized area into a 310-square-foot, two-story addition designed around two modern priorities: gathering and restoration. The project combines a hospitality-inspired wellness retreat below with a welcoming all-season porch above, creating a destination where family members can reconnect with one another, and the outdoors.
“The goal wasn’t simply to add space,” says Michelle Vassallo of MV Architects. “It was to create experiences that support how families want to live today.” The project began with a request that reflects a growing movement in residential design: create a place that supports physical well-being while encouraging meaningful connection.
For Jaeger and Jelen, wellness meant more than a home gym or exercise room. They envisioned a retreat where family members could decompress after busy days, entertain friends, and entice their college-aged children to come home more often.
MV Architects responded by transforming the dark lower level into a private spa room centered around a temperature-adjustable plunge pool that accommodates both hot and cold therapy. More than a luxury amenity, the pool serves as the focal point of a restorative environment designed to encourage daily rituals of relaxation and recovery.
Natural materials reinforce that sense of calm. Bluestone flooring extends from the garden into the interior, creating a seamless transition between landscape and architecture. Custom oak cabinetry introduces warmth and texture, while integrated lighting casts a soft glow throughout the room. A fireplace adds another layer of comfort, giving the space the atmosphere of a boutique wellness retreat rather than a traditional basement recreation room.
The room quickly became part of the family’s everyday routine. Post-workout plunges and evening soaks have become common, and the space regularly draws the couple’s young adult children home for weekly visits.
Above the spa retreat, the original screen porch was replaced with a more permanent elevated gathering space designed to function as a true extension of the home. White oak trusses lend warmth and architectural character overhead, while flagstone flooring creates a durable foundation that echoes the natural materials found throughout the property. A fireplace anchors the porch and extends its usability beyond summer months, making it equally suited for crisp fall evenings and holiday gatherings.
For Jaeger and Jelen, the porch has become one of the most-used spaces in the house. During warmer months, it’s where mornings begin with coffee, afternoons are spent reading or watching television, and evenings naturally transition into outdoor dinners with family and friends.
Because the porch connects directly to the home’s living room and kitchen, it has also dramatically expanded the family’s entertaining footprint. Guests can move easily between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing gatherings to feel larger and more relaxed. The design has already become the backdrop for new family traditions, including Thanksgiving football watch parties that spill from the house onto the porch and continue long into the evening.
It’s hard to imagine this was the starting point of this beautiful project.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of the renovation has been the homeowners’ renewed relationship with the outdoors. By layering architecture, landscape, and interior design, the project creates a stronger connection between home and garden. Bluestone surfaces visually tie the spa room to the landscape beyond, while the elevated porch offers an immersive vantage point from which to enjoy changing seasons and everyday moments outside.
The homeowners say they feel noticeably more connected to nature than before the renovation, a goal that informed many of the project’s design decisions from the outset. That connection, combined with the home’s new wellness amenities, reflects a broader evolution in residential design.
As homeowners increasingly seek spaces that support both physical and emotional well-being, projects like this one are becoming less of a luxury and more of a blueprint for the future. “Wellness spaces aren’t just trending—they’re the future of design,” says Vassallo.
Project Team
Architecture: MV Architects
Interiors: Katy Anderson
Construction: Zantzinger
Landscape Design: DCA Landscape
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
