C-VILLE Abode: March 2017

Inside.

Outside.

Home.

MARCH 2017

At first, site WAHS makes extra room for learning

With respect to the view, a country home hunkers into the landscape

Tough textiles stay stylish while sturdy

Get moving In a seller’s market, buyer be ready

Blight relief Prepping for spring (boxwood included!)

Hot spot

Inside Belmont’s new Mexi joint, Junction

Peter A. Wiley

Justin H. Wiley

434.422.2090 peter@wileyproperty.com

434.981.5528 Justin@wileyproperty.com

503 Faulconer Drive, Suite 6 • Charlottesville, VA 22903

132A East Main Street • Orange, VA 22960

HISTORIC ESTATE MINUTES FROM GORDONSVILLE

HUGE BLUE RIDGE VIEWS ~ 10 MILES TO TOWN

AERIE - Located in the Somerset area of Orange. This 1850 manor house has had numerous improvements using only the finest materials including a paneled living rm, country kitchen & laundry/mudroom. The main house has 4 BR, dining rm, breakfast rm, study, original living rm, library and 2 galleries. Dependencies include a guesthouse, a tenant house, pool & gardens. Property has all the modern conveniences while keeping the old world charm. MLS# 556528 • $2,325,000

652 BOX HOLLY LANE - Some of the best views our area has to offer! This 4,200+ square foot custom home sits on 13 private acres with direct views of Wintergreen and panoramic vistas of the Blue Ridge Range. This thoughtfully designed residence is in immaculate condition and offers an open floor plan with oversized casement windows designed to take in the views from every angle. A charming guest cottage is located just down the drive, lined with old growth hollies and box bushes. 10 miles to the UVA Hospital and Campus. MLS# 557076 • $985,000

Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

Peter A. Wiley – 434.422.2090

ELEGANT KESWICK ESTATE

RIVERFRONT ~ 12 MILES TO TOWN

AIRSLIE - Landmark country estate located in the beautiful Keswick hunt area of Albemarle County. The manor house was completely renovated in the early 1990's using only the finest materials and craftsmen. The surrounding 115+/- stunning acres further compliments the house and allows the property complete privacy. Additional acreage available.

MLS# 496124 • Price Upon Request

RIVERCREEK FARM - 450 acres of beautiful farmland, 12 miles (15 min.) from Charlottesville.

The land is an even mix of hardwoods and open ground made up of rich bottomland and upland pasture. Rivercreek has long frontage on the Rivanna River and is well watered by a large creek bisecting the property. Not under conservation easement. Truly, a one-of-a-kind offering.

MLS # 556464 • $1,950,000

Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

Peter A. Wiley – 434.422.2090

HORSE FARM IN SOMERSET

21 PRIVATE ACRES ~ 7 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN

PUMP HOUSE - Spectacular small horse property located in the heart of Somerset and the Keswick Hunt. This mostly open & fenced 14.5 acre offering has a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house built in the 1940's. A 4-stall stable with tack room, wash stall & 2 new run-in sheds make this a great horse property. $595,000 Justin H. Wiley – 434.981.5528

7 HARDWARE RIVER - 21 acres of hardwood forest at the end of a quiet street.

The parcel offers gently rolling topography and a number of private building sites.

Incredibly private yet only 7 miles from town. MLS# 540953 • $209,500 Josh Woodson – 434.996.0775

W W W.W I L E Y P R O P E R T Y.C O M ABODE 3

DetacheD Brownstones Downtown The first of its kind in Charlottesville A short stroll to the historic pedestrian mall, each all brick three bedroom home offers over 3,000 sq ft, two car garage, private elevator and rooftop terrace with downtown and mountain views.

Meticulous craftsmanship describes the interior finish details which include a gourmet kitchen with Wolfe range and Subzero refrigerator and full floor master suite.

Owners have the opportunity to customize the interior spaces and finishes.

Lindsay Milby

Lisa Lyons

ASSOCIATE BROKER, PRINCIPAL LORING WOODRIFF REAL ESTATE

REALTORÂŽ LORING WOODRIFF REAL ESTATE

434.962.9148 lindsay@lindsaymilby.com

434.987.1767 lisalyons77@gmail.com W W W. C A N D O R O W. C O M

High on the hill

VIRGINIA HAMRICK

Given that this month’s feature home would be visible to neighbors at lower elevations, the homeowners and their architect, Katherine Grove, wanted it to be subtle on the landscape.

Read more on page 22.

Blueprint 11

Inside Belmont’s newest eatery, an addition at Western Albemarle, recycled countertops, performance fabrics and more.

Garden Green 33

Give your boxwoods the best chance for springtime survival.

Real Estate 35

The state of real estate: Be ready to pounce!

Finishing Touch 37

Going green (it’s easier than you think).

Cover photo by Virginia Hamrick.

Comments? E-mail us at abode@c-ville.com.

308 E. Main St. Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 817-2749 n c-ville.com c-ville.com/abode

Features HOME 22

KITCHEN 29

On a clear day, the furthest visible point from this month’s featured home is 35 miles away. Needless to say, the view— a panorama of the Alleghenies—was of utmost importance to the homeowners, who bought the property 30 years ago and waited to build their dream home.

When the homeowners of this Albemarle property bought their home in 2011, they knew some work was required to get the house’s interior—an unbalanced, choppy space—to match the serene exterior.

Opening up the cramped galley kitchen was high on their list of priorities.

The long view

Around the world

ABODE, a supplement to C-VILLE Weekly, is distributed in Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the Shenandoah Valley. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Editor Jessica Luck. Abode Editor Caitlin White. Copy Editor Susan Sorensen. Creative Director Bill LeSueur. Graphic Designers Tracy Federico, Henry Jones, Max March, Lorena Perez.

Advertising Director Erica Gentile. Account Executives Bianca Catta-Preta, Hannah Collier, Chaney Hambrick, Theressa Leak, Justin McClung, Eleanor VonAchen, Beth Wood. Production Coordinator Faith Gibson. Publisher Aimee Atteberry. Chief Financial Officer Debbie Miller. Marketing Manager Anna Harrison. A/R Specialist Nanci Winter. Circulation Manager Billy Dempsey. ©2017 C-VILLE Weekly.

ABODE 5

Flexible Floor Plans & Interior Design for Each Unique Lifestyle

Example of an Evergreen kitchen

New Homes for Summer Delivery • Half Acre Lots with Mountain Views in Crozet at FOOTHILL CROSSING & WESTLAKE • Detached Brownstones Downtown with private elevators, 2-car garages & rooftop terraces at C&O ROW • Detached Homes and Attached Villas at DUNLORA OVERLOOK

MARKETED BY:

Lindsay Milby

ASSOCIATE BROKER, PRINCIPAL

434.962.9148 lindsay@lindsaymilby.com

www.evergreenhomebuilders.com

luxury redefined architecture + interior design

charlottesville, va 434.245.2211

purplecherry.com

annapolis, md 410.990.1700

503 Faulconer Drive Charlottesville · VA · 22903 p: 434.295.1131 f: 434.293.7377 e: homes@mcleanfaulconer.com

MCL EAN FAULCONER INC. Farm, Estate and Residential Brokers

VALMONTIS

Circa 1790 home, extensively renovated and enlarged, on 25 breathtaking acres only 7 miles from Charlottesville. Character rich with many original details.

Beautiful new additions include: chef ’s kitchen with great room; spacious master suite with lovely covered porch. Over 7,000 finished sq. ft. with 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, pool and out buildings. An exquisite estate very close to town.

Jim Faulconer 434.981.0076

HEART OF IVY

Amazing brick home in a quiet neighborhood.

4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, living and dining rooms, family room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen, art studio, and great yard. Western Schools. Minutes to town. $585,000 Tim Michel 434.960.1124

MOUNTAIN FARMS

The perfect country retreat! Stunning Blue Ridge views bordering the Shenandoah National Forest.

4-BR, 3-BA main residence on 12.14 acres. Top quality materials & craftsmanship. MLS#551853 $699,000 Will Faulconer 434.987.9455

WALNUT MEADOW

Charming and well maintained c. 1750 home on 20 ac. in the heart of Free Union. Expanded and renovated with a 1990s log addition. 4 BR, 3 BA, stone fireplaces, guest cottage, barn. MLS#550905 $1,375,000 Steve McLean 434.981.1863

PARK STREET

Brick Colonial Revival home offering large living room with fireplace & dining room. Small 1-car garage offers potential for a studio. A private City oasis yet walk to all that Downtown Charlottesville has to offer. $1,175,000 MLS#554315

KESWICK ESTATE

Exceptional 2.35-acre lot (Lot 2, Club Drive) on the first fairway of the Full Cry Golf Course in Keswick Estate. Beautiful views of the course, lake, and distant Southwest Mountains. MLS# 555968 $445,000 Steve McLean 434.981.1863

LONE WILLOW

Great renovation opportunity for a country property just S of Downtown. 4,000+ sq. ft., 4 BR, 2.5 BA, detached garage on 5 ac. Views of Carter’s Mt. 300K below assessment. MLS#556193 $549,000 Andrew Middleditch 434.981.1410

FARMINGTON

FIELDBROOK

4-bedroom brick house with 3 baths, 2 fireplaces, 2 full kitchens, 10” ceilings, wood floors, brand new roof and deck. Quiet cul-de-sac location in Fieldbrook. Great value at $328,000.

MLS#556823 Tim Michel 434.960.1124

PRIME IVY LOCATION

Exceptional, on 5+ acres, home with barn beams, butternut paneling, wormy chestnut cabinetry, random-width flooring, mahogany deck, new roof and Blue Ridge views. $1,050,000 Betsy Swett 434.249.2922 (Owner/Agent)

This beautifully detailed, well constructed residence sits on 2 private acres within walking distance of the Farmington clubhouse. Recently expanded and renovated, this home features an open floor plan in the great room/kitchen, main level master suite, and formal living and dining rooms. Over 5,700 finished sq. ft. with 4-BR in a protected pastoral setting. MLS#556297 Jim Faulconer 434.981.0076

WWW.MCLEANFAULCONER.COM

EVENTS THIS MONTH

621 STUDIOS

ABODE

The Yamuna River Project March 12-April 14 On display through mid-April, this UVA School of Architecture exhibit displays the efforts of an interdisciplinary team—architects, planners, civil engineers, environmental scientists, anthropologists and more—assembled to address the multidimensional challenges of revitalizing the ecological system of the Yamuna River in India’s Delhi region. Free. East Wing Gallery, Campbell Hall, Bayly Drive. arch.virginia.edu

Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium March 24 Presented by Waynesboro’s department of Parks & Recreation, this sixth annual event has something for everyone—from the amateur home gardener to the experienced horticulturist. Hear nationally renowned speakers on topics of permaculture, food, art, native plants and more. $100, 8am-4pm. Best Western Inn & Conference Center, 109 Apple Tree Ln., Waynesboro. charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org

Gabriele Rausse

1700 Allied St. near 250/ McIntire Rd. Interchange.

Peach Tree Pruning March 16 and 18 Join Monticello fruit gardener Jessica Bryars for a two-hour outdoor workshop on proper pruning techniques for peaches. Bring pruning shears and gloves. $18, 10am-noon. David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org

Starting a Vineyard March 25 Gabriele Rausse, the “father of Virginia wine,” leads a two-hour workshop in the Monticello vineyards to discuss the basic principles of grape growing—variety and site selection, trellis systems, soil preparation, planting, pruning, pest control and harvesting. A tour of the Monticello vineyard will follow the presentation. $24, 10am-noon. David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org

outlaw design company

additions renovations new houses kitchens

call to schedule a consultation at no charge outlawdesigncompany.com 434.996.7849 Zack Worrell

Ruth Ellen Outlaw, designing for families since 1999 ABODE 9

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10 ABODE

Blueprint ARCHITECTURE

Green learning in WAHS’ new study space FINISHES

Unusual materials in the bathroom and kitchen ELEMENTS

High-performance fabrics for the win OFF THE BOARDS

STEPHEN BARLING

At a crossroads

Belmont building enters new era as Junction restaurant ABODE 11

BLUEPRINT

OFF THE BOARDS

PHOTOS: STEPHEN BARLING

In Belmont’s newest addition, reclaimed wood is everywhere—from former floor joists as the downstairs bar’s façade to wormy chesnut on the bartop. Some of the tables are made from an ash tree felled on the property.

By Erika Howsare

F

or Adam Frazier and Greg Jackson, the renovation of a one-time grocery store in the heart of downtown Belmont wasn’t just about the building itself, or the restaurant that they created there. It was also about the fabric of the neighborhood.

“This is the center point of Belmont,” says Frazier, who owns The Local restaurant, a stone’s throw away. Jackson, an architect, also owns property nearby, including the building that houses Tavola. Both had feared that when this building— a commercial space with two apartments, roughly a century old—went up for sale, it would be torn down to make way for newer development.

“We have a connection and an investment in Belmont,” says Jackson. Both enjoy preserving old buildings and, though Frazier wasn’t even sure how he would use the property, he bought it and committed to renovating it in 2013.

Despite boarded-up front windows and decades of deferred maintenance, the building already had plenty of charm. A second-story porch over the front entrance, and a first-story wraparound porch, suggested a vibe somewhere between New Orleans and the Old West. As Frazier came to the decision that he would indeed make this an eatery called Junction—with chef Melissa Close-Hart dishing up modern Mexican 12 ABODE

cuisine—he and Jackson began to envision the details that would make the renovation sing.

On each of the two floors, the building essentially has two large boxy rooms. With exposed brick walls and pressed-tin ceilings, these historic front rooms have a spacious saloon feel.

The team wanted to preserve that layout, but the facility would also need functional space: kitchen, bathrooms, storage and a wide stairwell connecting the floors.

Jackson’s solution was a rear addition, part of it cantilevered, to hold the utilitarian spaces. “It stands off from the original building; it’s intended to be contemporary,” says Jackson of the corrugated metal-clad addition. A wall of glass in the stairwell is a modern touch that also makes a trip up or down the steps into a lightfilled “wow moment,” as Frazier puts it, offering a view over downtown Belmont.

Throughout the building, the goal was to let the original details shine where possible, while making sure that any new materials would contribute to a rustic aesthetic. Reclaimed wood is everywhere— some of it from right in this building, like the former floor joists that became the face of the downstairs bar. The bartop is reclaimed wormy chestnut, the back bar is roof sheathing from an 1840s cabin, and some tables are made from an ash tree taken down right on the property.

Frazier went all out, having pine floors laid with hand-cut antique nails, and installing Saltillo tile with hand-painted accents behind the bar. “Over time, that tile patinas in a way that gives it real character,” says Frazier. Bar coolers—even the handles—are wrapped in copper.

New windows are fitted with special glass panes that imitate the wavy look of aged glass.

The team stripped and repointed all the exterior brick, and while cleaning the interior brick walls, discovered a painted “DRINK PEPSICOLA” sign probably dating to around 1920.

“Once we saw that, we were careful to keep it,” says Jackson, who even located the bar in the other room so that the Pepsi sign could remain as visible as possible. Another sign discovered on the exterior—“H.W. BURFORD FANCY GROCERIES”—got replicated in a second-floor seating area that needed some punch.

Jackson expanded the second-floor porch so that it wraps around like the lower one, designing period-appropriate railings. With the outdoor tables that will perch here, the restaurant can seat 250 people, and Junction saw a busy opening weekend in late January.

The team considered more than just customers, though. Finishing the formerly dirt-floored basement allowed for proper offices and an employee shower. Stairs lead to the parking lot with permeable pavers, meant to prevent stormwater from leaving the property. Retail spaces, tucked into the hillside next door to the restaurant, share the parking and are designed so that someday, Frazier can expand upward.

If and when he does, he intends to do right by the Belmont streetscape. “The restaurant had beautiful bones,” he says. “This was a real opportunity to make an impact.”

BLUEPRINT

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Room to grow

WAHS’ new study space blends indoor and outdoor

By Nathan Alderman

I

The new Environmental Studies Academy building accommodates students learning geology, earth science, biology, horticulture, water chemistry and more.

With high-tech climate controls, the greenhouse can support nearly any project students choose—tilapia one season, tomatoes the next, for example. “We’re not a business that’s just pumping out green peppers,” Mulcahy says.

“We’re changing from season to season and year to year.”

PHOTOS: ANSEL OLSON

t’s tough to squeeze the entire planet into one classroom. But Western Albemarle High School and architects VMDO have come as close as possible with the school’s new Environmental Studies Academy building, which blends indoors and outdoors, classroom and greenhouse.

On a 40-year-old Crozet campus last expanded in the ’90s, “there was just no way we could support and house an academy here without having additional space,” says Adam Mulcahy, the academy’s director since its creation four years ago. Even after refitting a classroom and an old prep room, and spilling out into the hallway between them, the ESA and its students still needed more space.

In 2015, Albemarle County enlisted VMDO’s principal architect, Ken Thacker, to give the ESA a new home. Thacker met with students multiple times to incorporate their feedback, and credits them as its “co-designers.” Mulcahy says students tackled that responsibility enthusiastically, laying out plans and 3-D printing models of their ideas.

“Ultimately,” Thacker says, “we chose a site farther from the high school that locates the greenhouse adjacent to an existing outdoor garden and places the building on the edge of the wooded campus, allowing the ESA to act as a gateway or a threshold to the natural world.”

After a few initial hurdles, the new building went up fast. Mathers Construction of Waynesboro broke ground in fall 2015. Students moved into the greenhouse in late March 2016, and the classroom in late spring.

The ESA building splits its 2,500 square feet evenly between a bright, open classroom and a state-of-the art greenhouse from Indiana-based Winandy. The building faces south to capture the winter sun, with a wall of windows and open-air deck connecting students to nature. “It makes the space feel so much bigger than it actually is,” Mulcahy says.

Clear lines of sight let a teacher at the front of the classroom simultaneously monitor students in the greenhouse, on the deck and in the garden below. Mulcahy says the space is built for collaboration: “It facilitates kids in small groups or pods working all over the place.”

In its third year of instruction, the ESA comprises 105 students, with plans for a full cohort of 160-175 by year five. Freshmen study geology, geography and earth science. Sophomores learn biology and horticulture. Juniors delve into soil and water chemistry and environmental studies.

Next year, Mulcahy will add law, policy and literature, teaching the ESA’s first senior class on environmental ethics and stewardship. “I want my kids to be a lot more aware, and to be more conscientious citizens,” he says.

The new Environmental Studies Academy building was made to keep growing. Its design can accommodate potential future expansions on its north and west sides. One day, Mulcahy hopes, even the parking lot between the school and the new building will become another garden for students to tend.

For now, each class adds new beds, fencing or infrastructure to the existing garden, planting seeds—literal and otherwise—for the students who’ll follow them. The more students participate in the process of building the ESA and shaping its future, Mulcahy says, the more they’re invested in it. Like the new building itself, “it wasn’t something that just showed up,” he says.

“It was something that they’ve helped create.”

ABODE 13

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14 ABODE

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BLUEPRINT

FINISHES

It’s material

Local designers bring fresh perspective to home building supplies

By Shea Gibbs

Carpenter Todd LeBack was crafting a laminated wood sink for a customer several years ago when an idea struck him: What if you could bring wood accents into kitchens and bathrooms in places where you’d traditionally see tile?

“I was thinking about situations where you could do a sink with a certain wood species and an accent wall behind it,” he says. “I just tossed it around in my head.”

Working during his free time, LeBack was able, over the course of two to three years, to develop a product that fit the bill. His still-fledgling line of wood tiles comprises any number of wood species as a base, which is veneered with water-resistant glue. For applications like showers, he’s developing a fully waterproof product using epoxy.

LeBack says his wood tiles are stable enough to be grouted like standard tile, and their only real limitation is in high-heat areas where they’d be a fire hazard. He’s still developing prototypes but is installing production wood tiles in two backsplash applications in the near future.

“It can be treated as tile, and there are certain wood species that are either expensive in solid form or not available, so by veneering it, you can get essentially any species you can think of,” LeBack says. “It can be used to match an existing wood, like a cherry vanity with a cherry backsplash.”

According to LeBack, the tiles are comparable in price to custom ceramics—$25 to $40 per square foot—and look like the wood accents you might find in luxury automobiles or on grand pianos.

It took carpenter Todd LeBack three years to fabricate wood tile, as seen in this recent installation for a Belmont kitchen. Below, Evolution Glass utilizes recycled bottles to top tables and counters.

Bottled up Recycling is a tough business. And glass bottles in particular don’t recycle well. Most of the time they’re “downcycled” into products that have less value than the original bottle.

Hess had another idea when he launched Evolution Glass.

“There is no market for glass recyclers. They have to pay to get it hauled away, so by recycling with us they save money,” he says. “We take it for

HEATHER PHILLIPS

Wood you?

VIRGINIA HAMRICK

O

ne man’s trash is another man’s funky countertop. That is, if the other man is Evolution Glass founder Bill Hess.

“We take locally sourced bottle glass and transform it into amazing, blow-your-mind countertop surfaces suitable for homes and businesses,” Hess says.

And he isn’t the only local creating exciting new materials that let homeowners take risks to personalize their space. Here’s a closer look at Evolution Glass and the introduction of a unique hybrid from the Charlottesville Tile Company.

free. It keeps it in the local use area and it doesn’t have to be transported anywhere...using fuel.”

First working with a landfill in Ivy and later establishing a relationship with the University of Virginia, he’s come up with a way to melt and combine clear and colored glass bottles discarded locally to produce rich, swirled glass countertops and tables.

“We use varying amounts to create different looks,” Hess says. “Our process is totally unique.

There is no other countertop in the world made like ours.”

On top of the signature look, Evolution’s glass offers structural properties comparable to stone, Hess says. The glass isn’t tempered, but its thickness makes it difficult to break. And it’s scratch resistant without requiring maintenance or a sealer like many stone materials.

Hess says he’s done more tables than counters since launching his material a year and a half ago, but his recent collaboration with Wes Carter of Albemarle Countertop Company is helping him move into more kitchens. Eventually, he believes he’ll be able to produce a material strong enough to serve as wall panels and stair treads.

“Stair treads are a cautious area—we have to be absolutely sure it’s going to work, but with the wall panels, we’re just waiting for the right customer,” Hess says.

ABODE 15

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18 ABODE

126 Garrett Street, Suite D Charlottesville, VA 22902

EARLYSVILLE • MLS# 556714 • $299,000

ABODE

ELEMENTS

DESIGN SEEN

Got it covered

Performance fabric helps furniture survive life’s wear and tear

I

In Flordon, a family with three small children and a Lab required tough textiles throughout their home. The Folly owners upholstered a banquette in the kitchen and a sofa and loveseat in the den with performance fabric. “Seating is where we feel it’s most important to use these special fabrics,” Pouncey says.

VIRGINIA HAMRICK

t’s no secret that outdoor fabrics often make their way inside, too—they’re a great way to protect against spills, stains and smells and the patterns and textures are often indistinguishable from regular fabric. But, says Folly co-owner Victoria Pouncey, occasionally the right textile for the space just isn’t available. Enter performance fabrics. “[They] are essentially regular fabrics that have been treated with incredible stain repellents,” Pouncey says, which means the treatment can be applied to a wide range of fabrics. “Many fabric companies offer collections that are already treated or they will take care of the process for you.”

But where should you use performance fabrics?

Pouncey says seating is where it’s most important.

With her design partner, Beth Ann Kallen, Pouncey recently designed a kitchen banquette with the iconic Les Touches from Brunschwig et Fils and upholstered a sofa and loveseat with a Lee Jofa linen for a family with three children and a Lab. Says Pouncey, “After the usual mishaps and spills of family life, the furniture is still looking perfect!”—Caite White

ABODE 19

Ashcrftft Ashcr

new perspective A newAperspective on life.on life.

Mountain Views ∙ Custom Designed Homes ∙ 10 Minutes from Downtown Pace Real Estate Associates LLC | 434.817.7223 | suzie@pace-homes.com 660 Hunters Place, Suite 101, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911 Licensed to sell real estate in Virginia

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The long 22 ABODE

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iving abroad for decades gives you a special perspective on home. So does waking up every morning to a fantastic view. For one local couple, 30 years in various foreign countries was the prelude to a new chapter: retirement on a hilltop in Steeles Tavern, just a handful of miles from where the husband grew up. A modern home designed by Katherine Grove provides the setting—and the backdrop—for a lively collection of art and artifacts reflecting all those years overseas.

The view from this property, which the couple purchased some 30 years ago, is truly stunning: a panorama of the Alleghenies, the Blue Ridge and rolling forest and farmland. On a clear day, the furthest point visible is 35 miles away. “We came home from Brazil and wanted to buy some land,” remembers the owner. “We took a look at this view, and said, ‘We’ll take it.’ It was love at first sight.”

For a long time, the 160-acre plot was a place for the owners to visit with their children, sit on plastic lawn chairs and dream of a future house. They moved among various countries, including Brazil, Nigeria and France, always renting their dwellings, and when the time finally came to build their own house, they’d had many years to think about what they wanted.

Train cars

A Shenandoah Valley home spreads out on a hilltop

view

BY ERIKA HOWSARE PHOTOGRAPHY BY VIRGINIA HAMRICK

When they saw a magazine photo of a modern home designed by Grove, and realized she is based in Charlottesville, they knew they’d found their architect. Her style, using clean lines and simple shapes, fit well with the super-energy-efficient houses—called Passive Houses—that they’d admired in Austria.

Given that the house would be visible to many neighbors at lower elevations, “We wanted it to be subtle to the landscape,” says the owner, “not to look like Tara on the hill.” Yet they also wanted the ability to put up guests in comfort and privacy for long-term visits.

“It was very exposed; it was already a grass knoll,” says Grove. “The question was, how to hunker down?” She envisioned a series of volumes that would stay low to the ground, with nearly flat roofs, and take advantage of the slope to “bury” the guest rooms into the hillside.

Another major challenge was that the main part of the view faces west—great for watching sunsets, but tough on energy usage, as afternoon sun pours through the biggest windows and brings heat and glare. “We notched down the amount of glass,” says Grove. For example, the living area originally had a wall of windows, but now has a solid wall. (Being open to the kitchen and dining room, it borrows their daylight.)

Her clients were set on living outdoors as much as possible, and this suggested to Grove the basic scheme of the house: “three train cars that followed CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

the distinctive curves of the ridge.” Between the garage “car” and the central “car” is a breezeway that invites owners and guests to lounge near an outdoor fireplace and drink in the view. That opening also serves as a frame on part of the view, like a living landscape painting that stops visitors in their tracks upon arrival.

The third “car,” housing the master suite, office and lower-level guest rooms, is joined to the central one at an angle. This changes the focus of the view from different rooms, and adds, Grove says, a sense of visual interest on a smaller scale than the massive vista outside. “It’s a nod to courtyard houses around the world—in Asia, Italy, Germany—or hill towns, where the buildings are never at right angles. You get these fun trapezoidal spaces.”

“We wanted it to be subtle to the landscape,” says the owner, “not to look like Tara on the hill.”

A house that isn’t there Aesthetically, in many ways the house aims to disappear. Its exterior, clad mostly in sage-green fiber-cement panels, recedes into the bucolic surroundings. Inside, white walls and concrete floors serve as a cool, neutral backdrop to the owners’ globally influenced collections. There are masks and a carved wooden throne from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, an antique Dutch travel chest and specimens of Brazilian amethyst. Colorful molas from Panama keep company with African raffia mats and modern Brazilian furniture.

Every space has its designated pieces. The hallway in the bedroom wing serves as a “cabinet of curiosities,” holding everything from books to feather fans to German beer steins. “We wanted to create a gallery that could change over time,” says Grove. She made the space wide enough so that the objects can be comfortably viewed, and added east-facing windows to provide flashes of the exterior.

Brazilian tigerwood flooring distinguishes this zone from the concrete-floored public areas, where kitchen, living and dining flow together in one space that revels in the view. French doors and large windows bring the mountains inside the kitchen. Its spare arrangement of cherry cabinets and a chunky island topped with soapstone make for a warm but minimal place to gather, and a bar-height table invites the owners’ many houseguests to sit and gaze outside.

Yet, for all the appeal of the interior, the owners say the breezeway is where they spend their best times. A ledgerock fireplace, decorated by a large rock studded with starfish and trilobite fossils, is the focal point. It’s surrounded by Western red cedar siding, which brings warmth to this spot and breaks up the green exterior panels at various other points along the façade.

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Three seasons a year, the owners are here eating al fresco meals, stargazing, swimming and lounging by the fire. And always, they’re captivated by the movement of shadows and light over the landscape, revealed and framed by Grove’s design. Says the owner, “I’ve probably taken about a thousand pictures.”

The breakdown

Katherine Grove designed the house in three “train cars” that stay low to the ground, rather than a hulking mass on the hill. French doors and wide windows, as in the kitchen, help bring the surrounding mountains inside.

3,000 square feet Structural system: Insulated wood frame walls with additional exterior 5 1/2" EPS rigid insulation; structural insulated panel roof system Exterior material: Fiber cement panels and cedar siding Interior finishes: Painted gypsum wall board with maple trim, maple hardwood flooring and sealed concrete floors Roof materials: EPDM roofing membrane Window system: Triple-glazed Klearwall Ecoclad Mechanical systems: ERV with mini-split system Design: urbanGROVE Studio, PLLC with Liminal Architecture Construction: Structures Design/Build Passive House Consultant: Passiv Science

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Power play The Passive House certification program, common in Germany and Austria but only beginning to make inroads in the U.S., aims for the highest possible energy efficiency. Passive-solar design, top-notch insulation and obsessive attention to airtightness are the major tenets of the approach. Though this house is not certified (mostly because it includes a swimming pool), it does follow the principles, resulting in heating and cooling costs of around $10 a month.

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Minimalist changes

A country house looks to Asia for an inspired kitchen

BY ERIKA HOWSARE PHOTOGRAPHY BY VIRGINIA HAMRICK ABODE 29

T

he secluded feel of one Albemarle home is signaled by the two large urns that flank the driveway. “It’s like you’re entering this quiet park,” says kitchen designer Karen Turner.

The house itself, a low-slung dwelling that sits amongst trees, has an equally serene feel. When the owners bought the property in 2011, they knew had some work to do to make the interior —particularly the kitchen—match that hushed, understated tone outdoors.

Just inside the front door is a wide hallway, and previously, doorways opened on both sides almost as soon as one entered. “This was very chopped up,” says the owner. Turner helped reconfigure the layout so that the first portion of the hallway is unbroken by doors. “We tried to create balance and alignment with the doorways.

It allowed this hallway to have furniture, and turned it into a really gracious entry.”

One of those old doors led to the kitchen—a cramped, galley-style cook space closed off from the rest of the house. Now, arrival in the kitchen 30 ABODE

happens via the dining room, and there is a sense of entering a special and distinct space.

“The house presented itself as having an Asian flavor,” says Turner—a feel that appealed to her clients, who have traveled widely and especially appreciate Southeast Asia. “We set about making the inside look like it went with the outside.”

“The feeling you get here is very peaceful,” says the owner. She wanted the renovation to honor that feeling and heighten the connection to the beautiful outdoor surroundings. With Shelter Associates as the contractor, Turner recommended opening up the wall between the kitchen and dining area, creating an adjacent breakfast nook, and enclosing a small screened porch to function as sitting area and mudroom.

Once the wall was removed, says Turner, “It was easy to get alignment.” A large center island defines the kitchen layout, providing seating for the owners’ frequent guests while protecting cooking space. Cabinets wrap around the room on two sides and continue into the breakfast

nook, which is outfitted with a bar sink, fridge and wine cave.

“This is an intimate, traditional place to have breakfast,” says Turner. The nook is distinct from the much more formal dining room, with windows but no doors to the exterior. But the team greatly enlarged the doors that connect the dining space with the porch outside, creating nearly a full wall of glass that lets the views and light pour into both dining room and kitchen.

These rooms are generously proportioned, with high ceilings, but they feel inviting and comfortable thanks to the thought behind every detail. One example might escape the conscious notice of many visitors, but ties together the whole public wing of the house: There was already a transom window above the doors that lead to the porch from the living room. Turner realized that the transom should repeat in the dining room and again over the cased opening into the kitchen. That subtle move “created continuity,” says Turner.

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DOWN IN The Asian influences can be seen in the kitchen’s material and color choices: black granite countertops and backsplash echo black stools, chairs and pendant lighting; a neutral paint color helps walls and cabinetry blend in.

FRONT

PHOTO: TOM DALY

The quiet, Asian vibe arises through material and color choices. Black granite countertops echo black stools and chairs, and the simple, minimal backsplash is made from the same stone. Calm, neutral paint colors from Farrow & Ball help cabinetry, walls and trim blend and recede. An existing hardwood floor needed only refinishing.

The cabinet pulls and knobs are made from German bronze and have an aged look. “It goes with this feeling of being settled,” says Turner. The brassy tone shows up again as the inside finish on two large black pendant lights, sourced from Visual Comfort.

Cabinets, built by Willis Woodworks in a Shaker style, are aesthetically quiet but include many conveniences, from tray storage to undercounter bar fridges disguised as drawers.

Ultimately, say both clients and designer, the true star of the show is the outdoor environment. “We were trying not to compete with nature,” says the owner. “I had a riotous house before; I’m trying to be more minimalist. And I do feel more peaceful in this space.”

Showcasing the famous and almost famous since 1989. A weekly events calendar, reviews, expert picks, and choice insight on the local music scene. Highbrow to lowbrow.

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ABODE

GARDEN GREEN

Boxwood beware

How to care for the classic shrub and prepare your spring garden

By Cathy Clary

ROBERT LLEWELLYN

W

hen it burst upon the scene five years ago, boxwood blight put a big scare into Virginia nurseries and all who love the iconic shrub, though perhaps some who scorn it for its historical associations and acrid smell would just as soon see the genus in its grave. Much like a sci-fi movie, sticky spores attach to anything that’s been in contact with infected plants (pruners, shoes, gloves, old leaves) and pathogens live in the soil for five to six years. The afflicted drop their leaves, decline and die. Labeled a “devastating disease” by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, it wreaked havoc among old English and American varieties before nurseries learned to control it with strict hygiene and reliance on resistant varieties.

Robert Saunders, who grows boxwoods with his brothers just south of Lovingston, says things have settled down since the blight was discovered in 2011.

He sees it now as manageable, but “the days of planting large numbers of English boxwood are over.” So, if you have some ancient specimens on grounds—soft fluffy English or burly dark American— now’s the time to protect them. Never prune boxwood in wet weather or subject them to overhead irrigation.

Unlike English and American (Buxus sempervirens), littleleaf boxwood (B. microphylla) produces cultivars apparently highly resistant to the fungus.

Green Beauty, Wintergreen and Winter Gem are among the most highly ranked for resistance.

The gist is, if you have extensive old boxwood plantings, do not let people care for them who have tramped through lots of other peoples’ boxwoods until they tell you exactly what precau-

Though things have settled down since boxwood blight was discovered in 2011, keep your boxwoods well-groomed, with old twigs and debris cleaned out from the center of plants.

Spring checklist Drop off lawnmower blades, hand pruners and other cutting implements at Martin Hardware for sharpening.

Check oil and gas for mowers.

Clean and oil hand tools.

Sharpen shovel and spade blades with a bastard file.

Prune roses and fertilize with compost and well-rotted manure.

Fertilize perennials with compost or organic slow-release 5-10-5 product.

Top-dress bare spots in the lawn with compost before seeding and strawing.

Start indoor seeds—tomatoes, cleomes, zinnias—for setting out in mid-May. Sow cool-weather greens —arugula, cilantro, kale, lettuce, mesclun—outdoors.

tions they are taking (sterilizing tools, replacing coverings on shoes, etc.). It’s in everybody’s interest to do this.

In the meantime, keep your boxwoods well-groomed, with old twigs and debris cleaned out from the center of plants and do not overmulch. Air circulation and keeping infection out of the area are key. If you want to opt out of the whole drama altogether, consider inkberry and hollies for your deerresistant evergreen needs.

Boxwood cares aside, spring is upon us, with winter jasmine and snowdrops having fully flowered at the end of January.

Garden centers will be ready, with most opening March 1. Our last frost date still hovers around mid-May, so be careful setting out tender annuals unless you’re able to toss frost cloth or sheets over them on the frigid nights we’re bound to get at least through the end of March.

Cool season annuals like pansies, violas and sweet William are good choices for early color until the soil heats up. Buy tomatoes as soon as they go on sale to get

a wide selection of varieties, but keep them potted so you can whisk them inside if needed before planting them when the earth has thoroughly warmed in May. Now is the time to fertilize hollies, azaleas and dogwoods with an acidic product like Holly Tone. Pull back existing mulch, scatter fertilizer and lightly scratch in with a garden claw or rake before replacing the mulch. Boxwoods, however, need very little fertilizer and prefer a slightly alkaline soil, so keep Holly Tone away from them.

Resist the temptation to recarpet all beds with a nice thick layer of fresh shredded hardwood. If you’ve already got 2-3", rake it up a bit to break the crust and wait until fall to add more.

Too much mulch smothers plants and roots, sheds water and invites voles.

Always something to worry about in the garden. Love them or leave them, let us take a lesson in resilience from the boxwoods and welcome spring, ready to deal with whatever challenges nature has in store.

Keep your boxwoods well-groomed, with old twigs and debris cleaned out from the center of plants and do not overmulch.

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R E A L E S TAT E

Do your homework In a seller’s market, preparation’s key for buyers

By Erika Howsare

MATTEUS FRANKOVICH/SKYCLAD AERIAL

I

t’s not exactly a jungle out there. But if you’re buying a house, you do need to think like a tiger, and get ready to pounce.

Recent data about local real estate shows a market that’s heating up. The fourth-quarter report from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors says that things are looking brisk both from the standpoint of inventory (it’s down 14.6 percent) and how quickly properties sell (they’re spending about 40 percent fewer days on the market, compared with this time last year). And though prices haven’t jumped, they have been on a steady rise. Detached homes in the last quarter of 2016 fetched a median price of $295,500, up from $270,000 two years earlier.

We’re not in the bubble zone, but at the moment, “It’s a seller’s market,” says Erin Garcia, Realtor with Loring Woodriff.

If you’re looking to buy, then, you need speed and agility. Garcia says she prepares her buyer clients for this reality: “You’ve got to be in the house within the first 24 hours. In particular, in the city, under $400,000, you’ve got to be ready to go.” This is not an entirely new situation, she says, but it’s recently gotten a little more acute.

“We don’t have the ability to go back and look at the house three times” before making an offer, she says. Therefore, buyers have some serious homework to do upfront.

Number one, a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender is a must. Number two, says Garcia, you’ll need to get familiar with a blank contract, ironing out any questions or concerns ahead of time and making sure you understand all the terms. When the time comes to make an offer, she explains, “We won’t have two hours to go over it.”

Those are the quantifiable things, but as we all know, homebuying is an emotional business.

Garcia says buyers need to spend time thinking carefully about what they really want in a house—before the make-an-offer stage. “Setting

The North Downtown neighborhood, says Realtor Erin Garcia, is never not a hot spot for desirable homes on the market.

up expectations helps dramatically in making the process go smoother,” she says.

What neighborhoods do you like? Answering this question, says Garcia, is a matter of “using the time more wisely”—since viewing properties before they get snatched up means a lot of last-minute jaunts to new listings.

“We’re trying to make that a tighter sphere as far as what you’re looking at,” she says. “It’s an elimination game.”

What kinds of house qualities are must-haves for you, and which are more like wishes? Hash it out with your spouse, if you have one, sooner rather than later. “Being able to discuss needs versus wants is important,” says Garcia. “It’s purely intellectual as you’re figuring that out, but then that process can evolve into ‘This is more important than I realized.’”

So when the right place pops up, how do you come up with an appropriate offer? Sellers have been receiving, on average, 97.8 percent of their asking price for detached homes. Translation: You probably won’t talk ’em down too far.

“Sellers are pricing properties well,” says Garcia. “They are using informed and educated pricing analysis from the beginning.” And if you’ve found something good, chances are other buyers are finding it too.

What if, for some reason, that FOR SALE sign has been in the yard for a while? “There’s something to be said for how long a house has been on the market,” says Garcia, “but it’s seller perception as well.” Sellers, in other words, usually only feel they can come down so much without taking a bruising.

Consider not only how you can gently negotiate downward, but how far upward you yourself are willing to stretch. “If there are multiple offers, we might even bring full price and an escalation clause,” says Garcia. That’s one of those terms you want to get familiar with: It means that you’re promising to beat any other offer by a certain amount, up to a cap that you set.

The bottom line: Know thyself, and be ready to move. “You have to be decisive,” says Garcia, “in a way that holds true to what you know of value.”

Buyers need to spend time thinking carefully about what they really want in a house— before the make-an-offer stage. “Setting up expectations helps dramatically in making the process go smoother,” Realtor Erin Garcia says.

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Curb Appeal

434-974-7295 Please visit us at www.caseyconcrete.com A Virginia Class “A” Contractor

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ABODE P. Kaufmann “Tenton” $31.95 The Second Yard

FINISHING TOUCH Sherwin Williams Cucumber

As luck would have it

ANDREA HUBBELL

From emerald to clover, we’re giving the green light to verdant inspiration, with fabric swatches, paint samples and a few rooms that (sham)rock.

A sculptural chair upholstered in raw silk lends drama to an Albemarle living room.

Sherwin Williams Envy

A tired sideboard gets a second chance after a few coats of Kelly green from Pigment.

Caspari $14-24

Roxie Daisy $90

Waverly “Lace It Up” $14.95 The Second Yard In the Lewis Mountain neighborhood, limecolored tile brightens a minimalist bathroom.

SCOTT F. SMITH

Sherwin Williams Electric Lime

Caspari $140

Roxie Daisy $8-58

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SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC ESTATE CASTLE HILL - KESWICK One of the most significant historic estates in Virginia and certainly in the County of Albemarle, Castle Hill boasts both 18th and 19th century construction with the clapboard Georgian portion (c. 1764) and the brick Federal style portion (c. 1824) seamlessly married together by a spacious center hall. The home has been meticulously renovated to incorporate the history and integrity of those eras with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern convenience and amenities. Thomas Jefferson was a frequent visitor in his day. Formal gardens and perennial paths adorn the grounds, with a pool and pool house, guest cottages, detached garage, and a state of the art horse barn and dependencies.

Frank Hardy +1 434 296 0134 | fhardy@frankhardy.com $7,950,000 | MLS 556159

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FRANKHARDY.COM

IMPRESSIVE EQUESTRIAN FARM ELDON - KESWICK An exquisite and one of a kind equestrian estate on 200 acres. The property features two expertly designed barns with 9 and 13 stalls respectively, offering every amenity for either the casual foxhunter, or professional rider. The four bedroom, five bath main residence has undergone a $1.5 million renovation led by renowned designer Jeanette Whitson. There is a guest house and renovated manager’s home, as well as a studio and other attractive ancillaries. Beyond the formal gardens is a 60’ saltwater pool and spa. Nearly every spot on the farm offers panoramic views of the well-protected Southwest Mountains.

Ann Hay Hardy +1 202 297 0228 | ahhardy@frankhardy.com Rob Nelson +1 434 409 7443 | rnelson@frankhardy.com $6,950,000 © MMXVI Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.

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434.977.4005 lwoodriff@loringwoodriff.com

401 Park Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 11 AMAZING ACRES IN MURRAY DISTRICT

SOMERSET EQUESTRIAN ESTATE - 144 ACRES

3660 colston Drive in ivy $1,425,000 Large, meticulously maintained home on 11 diverse acres with Blue Ridge and Ragged Mountain views, level lawns galore, extensive flower and vegetable gardens, specimen hardwoods, rolling hay field, pool with pool house & woodlands. 10 mins to town. Open interior flows out to large terraces overlooking the views. Heart pine floors, extensive custom cabinetry & built-ins, vaulted sunroom, redwood siding, brick floors on lower level. MLS# 556450

ADAVEN • $3,495,000 Country estate set privately in Somerset w/ mountain & pastoral views. Understated residence w/ the finest new, reclaimed materials & enhanced by a dramatic 2 bed, 2 bath guest house, vaulted nanny/ in-law quarters, saltwater pool w/ pool house, center-aisle barn, & regulation dressage arena. Every inch is turn-key. MLS# 556651

BEST CONDO VALUE IN THE CITY

WALK TO THE DOWNTOWN MALL

9 ACRES IN WESTERN ALBEMARLE

200 GARRETT ST PENTHOUSE #601 • $895,000 Sixth floor penthouse end unit offers city & mountain views. Open floor plan features wonderful natural light, bamboo floors & striking contemporary touches like poured concrete & stainless counters in the kitchen, a remarkable poured concrete vanity in the powder room, and a large terrace overlooking the views. MLS# 552214

206 SW 5TH ST, C • $259,000 Conveniently located two-story detached cottage held in a CONDO ownership. Walk to Downtown & UVA. 1st level open floor plan w/ hardwood floors, 2 big bedrooms & full bath upstairs.

Reserved parking spot right in front of the door. Priced at 2017 Tax assessment. Marcela Foshay (540) 314-6550 MLS# 556734

400 HANDLEY WAY • $995,000 Partner with a truly local, custom builder to create this classic farmhouse w/ contemporary design. Large foyer, formal dining, library, & premium chef kitchen. Superior finishes & handsome architectural details. 8.51 acre parcel offers level to gently rolling, semi-open topography dotted with hardwoods. MLS# 556755

DAZZLER IN TURNER MTN NEIGHBORHOOD

c.

3110 TURNER MOUNTAIN WOOD RD • $1,795,000 Spacious home in the Murray School District with 5,635 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 4 full & 2 half baths. Incredible new kitchen. Ideal floor plan w/ balance of casual & formal living areas. 4 garage bays & swank new apartment over the garage. Expansive bluestone rear terrace, family room & sunroom. Over 4 acres of privacy.

METICULOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP DOWNTOWN

1911 NORTH DOWNTOWN HOME

534 PARK STREET • $1,350,000 Originally constructed in 1911, this significant North Downtown home has been enlarged & improved w/ features suited to modern living, incl’ a large kitchen open to family room & master suite w/ large walk-in closet. Original features incl’ high ceilings, large windows, 4 fireplaces. MLS# 556998

140 lynx Farm lane $719,000

DETACHED BROWNSTONES • C&O ROW Highly anticipated C&O Row is now under construction.

Meticulous craftsmanship & timeless details in all brick detached homes w/ 2-car garages, private elevators & roof top terraces w/ views. 3,200 fin sq ft, high ceilings, tall windows, large gourmet kitchen & luxurious master suite. Lindsay Milby (434) 962-9148.

LIGHT & BRIGHT NORTH DOWNTOWN

524 LEXINGTON AVENUE • $699,000 North Downtown home with 2-car detached garage & driveway for additional parking. Timeless kitchen with white cabinets, granite counters & stainless appliances. Spacious rooms include main level bedroom with attached full bath. Dedicated garden beds. Lisa Lyons (434) 987-1767. MLS# 556899

NEW CRAFTSMAN ON 4 ACRES IN IVY

Well-constructed, thoughtfully designed 4 bed, 4.5 bath Craftsman home under 3 mins to Murray Elementary. The 4+ acre parcel provides expansive, level lawns, mountain views from covered bluestone porches, a creek and woods to explore. Light-drenched home includes geothermal HVAC, walnut counters, stunning cherry flooring, 2 fireplaces, wraparound porch. Under 10 minutes to Charlottesville.

Sally Neill (434) 531-9941. MLS# 556416

WWW.LORINGWOODRIFF.COM