Home, hearth and warmth. Few would deny the appeal and comfort of those words.

Now add steel tensioning members, concrete floors and Modern art. Still at home? Yes. At the intersection of capital-M Modern and love, we find the Twersky/Beauclair residence in Hillsborough.

It's a place to take your shoes off, settle in and witness the sylvan wonder of the Eno River. And it's Modern and edgy. The balance between these two impulses was achieved with attention to the hallmarks of home, with careful selection of materials, finishes and color, and with a playful and entertaining plan.

"Impossible" is how Renee Beauclair Twersky describes the odds of finding an existing home like this.

She likes warm; husband Jack Twersky likes sleek. When the couple decided to build, they spent hours poring over books in the home of architect Steven Clipp, their longtime friend. Frank Lloyd Wright turned out to be the bridge between the pair's competing aesthetics -- and they went with it.

Clipp brought them an initial design. Six months later the design was little changed, and they broke ground.

"You push a design as far as the owners let you," Clipp says, "but in a good way."

Clipp's plan is, at core, an L-shape. Added to the L are two large rooms -- living room and master suite -- set off-axis at 15 degrees.

Big bay windows cantilever off these large rooms, but follow the angles of the original L. These enormous, light-filled nooks catch the eye; the visual dynamism keeps the house open and creates what Clipp calls "a wow factor."

Clipp complemented the rectangular geometry of the house with a large arc that runs from the front yard into the living room. Outside, the arc is a curved concrete path to the entry. Inside, it transforms into a carving in the floor that connects the foyer with the heart of the house, the great room.

The great room's vaulted ceiling, large expanses of glass and views through to the screened-in porch beckon the visitor to the center. There, all the parts of home are gathered together -- a large concrete hearth, a prominent stovetop in the kitchen and an informal dining table. And wood.

Wood, along with many other welcoming touches, warms the house. Light-colored baseboards and custom built-in cabinets and shelves soften the space. The pale sealed-pine finish is set off by a slightly darker concrete floor, stained a shade of terra cotta.

Skylights in the kitchen and exposed beams running through the master bath bring in nature. Custom tiling around the master bath tub provides stylish luxury. Recessed lighting throughout paints a subtle wash of light.

Each thoughtful detail -- plus a radiant floor system -- helps create a cozy retreat for the Twersky/Beauclair family.

And then there is what's Modern.

Color and guts

Color makes its boldest statement in the kitchen, where a red concrete counter is complemented by classic square tile in green. Showy chandeliers from the owners' private collection command attention in the kitchen and dining area.

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