Abode | July_August 2021 by C-VILLE Weekly

WHO, WHAT, WARE

Terra Sol Ceramics makes it personal

SAFE HAVEN

Charlottesville’s newly protected trees

HOT HOUSES

Navigating a ruthless real estate market

Inside. Outside. Home. JULY/AUGUST 2021

Keswick’s three-year reno nears completion

A reinvented city carriage house gets taken to task

Living the dream At Bundoran Farm, a family home finally takes shape

PEACEFUL 22 ACRE FARM IN FREE UNION

University Village provides the ideal combination of amenities, location and private living space. Indoor heated pool, exercise and activity rooms and fine dining. Walk to some UVa events and drive 5 minutes to everything else. 10 minutes to downtown C’Ville. 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. 3 solariums. High ceilings and wonderful natural light in every room. $950,000.

C U O N N D TR E AR C T

Beautiful mix of fenced pasture and mature forest with stream. 2 stall barn, riding ring and luxurious kennel. Enjoy one floor living with master suite there and another upstairs. Three other bedrooms plus a nanny or in-law suite with full kitchen. Large, yet cozy combined eat-in kitchen family room with spacious screened porch connected. Gorgeous and serene. $1,500,000.

PENTHOUSE OVERLOOKING UVA AND THE MOUNTAINS

CHARMING HOME WITH FIRST FLOOR OWNERS’ SUITE

So close to UVA and downtown, yet tucked away in Redfields. Great room with 2-story ceiling opens to a private patio. Formal dining plus an eat-in kitchen. Two other bedrooms plus a 12x12 loft for office, project or exercise space. Neighborhood boasts pool, playground, paved trails around the lake and a natural trail. HOA takes care of lawn maintenance. $450,000

A NEW HOME ON 3 ACRES IN EARLYSVILLE

Enjoy the beauty and perfection. Great room with cathedral ceiling. Live comfortably on one level and have the 4th bedroom and 3rd bath on the terrace level for guests or teens. Windows on three sides down there.. nice! Oversized 2 car garage. Land is open and wooded with a pretty view of the Blue Ridge in winter. Landscaping customized to your taste. $475,000.

Jim McVay

Howard Hanna Roy Wheeler Realty Associate of the Year 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Associate Broker • Charlottesville Realtor since 1978 434-962-3420 • jim@jimmcvay.com Howard Hanna Roy Wheeler Realty 1100 Dryden Ln. Charlottesville, VA 22903

LAUREL CLIFF FARM

6255 INDIAN RIDGE ROAD

MONROE | $5,500,000

E A R LY S V I L L E | $ 9 9 5 , 0 0 0

Private 1,292-acre farm estate with stunning panoramic mountain views in beautiful Amherst County. Ideal for the buyer wanting a large tract, with no conservation easement, to create a family compound or retreat. Land is mix of open farmland and hardwood forest, with numerous streams and two ponds (one 8 acres). Brick 1929 manor house, two tenant homes and multiple barns. One hour south of Charlottesville, this property offers great privacy and proximity to two regional airports.

Gorgeous Nelson County parcel. Multiple elevated building sites with mountain views, stocked lake. Carefully maintained, worthy of architecturally significant construction. Charming tenant cottage (former old log cabin) provides guest accommodations or rental income. Private, protected, very convenient.

Private, peaceful, easy living. Single level, architect-designed custom home. 3 bed, 3.5 bath, open floor plan ideal for modern living, entertaining and working from home. 10’ ceilings, oak flooring, coffered ceilings, 8’ doors, gourmet kitchen, covered terrace and great room with wood-burning fireplace. Private wing suitable as two room office or guest suite with separate entrance. Immaculate condition, very easy to maintain. Numerous nature trails, high speed internet.

JUSTIN WILEY | 434 98 1 552 8 | ML S 610 127

PET E R WI L E Y | 4 3 4 4 2 2 2 0 9 0 | M LS 5 9 76 1 9

J UST I N WI L E Y | 4 3 4 9 8 1 5 5 2 8 | M L S 6 08 1 7 8

1332 PIPER WAY

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PROSPECT HILL (C. 1732)

KESWICK | $775,000

72 ACRES GOBBLERS GLEN LANE LOVINGSTON | $550,000

NORTH GARDEN | $615,000

LOUISA | $2,250,000

Immaculate Glenmore residence tucked into the 13th fairway. Open floor plan, 9’ ceilings, first level master, high-end finishes. Enjoy sunsets over the golf course from a large private back deck. Upstairs, ample storage, 2 bedrooms overlooking the golf course, jack and jill bathroom and office area. Hardwood floors, double-sided gas fireplace, transom windows, oversized 2-car garage.

One of the most spectacular vistas in Bundoran Farm! Overlook the protected Edge Valley to Israel Mountain Range and beyond. Easy access to the Tom Mountain trailhead. Miles of trails, fiber optic internet, complete serenity all within 15 minutes of Charlottesville. Parcel is an equestrian lot which would allow the owner to have horses.

18 century Virginia living at its finest. Historic main residence with 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 half on main floor. Eight additional bedroom suites in the dependencies, rich with character and historical charm—all with fireplaces, modern baths and current mechanical systems. Green Springs Historic District, 20 minutes east of Charlottesville, 40 from the west end of Richmond.

PETER WILEY | 434 4 2 2 2 090 | ML S 6193 19

PET E R W I L E Y | 4 3 4 4 2 2 2 0 9 0 | M LS 6 0 4 5 34

PETER WILEY | 434 422 2090 | MLS 618166

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Bundoran dream home 22

STEPHEN BARLING

Interior designer Tracy Reidenouer and her family moved to Charlottes ville five years ago, but it wasn’t until 2018 that the home they’d envisioned—a 5,700-square-foot build with mountain views— started to become a reality.

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. ABODE Editor Caite Hamilton. Copy Editor Susan Sorensen.

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

Designer Tracy Federico.

Art Director Max March. Graphic

Account Executives Chloe Heimer, Lisa C. Hurdle, Gabby Kirk, Stephanie Vogtman,

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BLUEPRINT 9

Little addition

A multipurpose carriage house renovation.

Hand to home 12 Terra Sol’s personal touch.

Strong roots 15 Meet the city’s newly protected trees.

Hot stuff 17

How to nab a house in this wild market.

Sneak peek 18

Opening soon: An overhauled Keswick. HOME SWEET HOME 30

A small family settles in. Cover photo by Stephen Barling. Comments? E-mail us at editor@c-ville.com.

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Blueprint Design in all its many forms

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Elegant carriage Turning a tiny space into a big opportunity for graceful, energy-efficient living By Nathan Alderman C-VILLE ABODE

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amela DeGuzman and Stefan Bekiranov didn’t want much: A little extra storage space for their cul-de-sac house in North Downtown. A garage, at long last. Maybe a small apartment above it for the older kids in their recently blended family to live. And, hopefully, flooring that didn’t end up looking orange. Two and a half years and one global pandemic later, they got a lot more than they bargained for from architecture firm Gehrung + Graham: A slim, beautiful carriage house that boasts striking treetop views, refined interiors, and state-ofthe-art eco-friendly construction to keep its heating and cooling bills low.

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“It’s so beautiful and so airy and so lovely, with the high ceiling, the huge windows,” says DeGuzman. “The view from that front window—have you seen that front window?” The carriage house, nested above a one-car garage and laundry room, feels at once cozy and spacious, open to light but intimate and private. A living area overlooks the driveway, while a sleeping area gets a great view of the main house’s backyard. Between the two, a small kitchen with elegantly hidden appliances and a bathroom with a glass shower break up the space and provide a little privacy. Their lower volumes contrast the openness of the pitched ceiling above, which lets light and air pass freely throughout the structure.

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BLUEPRINT

Architects Alisha Savage and Mark Graham, working with contractors at Dwell Construction, had to navigate a lot of challenges to work this particular bit of magic. The small lot and steep-banked backyard made siting tricky without running afoul of zoning laws. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily brought construction to a standstill. And in keeping with Gehrung + Graham’s environmentally friendly ethos, Savage and Graham had to find ways to stay within DeGuzman and Bekiranov’s budget while maximizing the house’s energy efficiency. By running computer models before they started building, Savage and Graham could see C-VILLE ABODE

which construction options produced the best efficiency without breaking the bank. The resulting house is built to be as airtight as possible, with outside surfaces and windows that minimize how much heat or cold seeps from the house’s exterior to its interior, and vice versa. Keeping the inside temperature stable and strictly limiting air leakage, means the carriage house requires a smaller, less power-hungry HVAC system to keep occupants comfortable. Giving the house’s well-insulated walls, floors, and roof fewer places for heat to enter or escape also cuts down on the chances that condensation or mold will form inside them, making the house more durable and easier to maintain.

“With its particular constraints and objectives, this carriage house is shaped by and unique to its context,” Savage says. “We hope the project brings something both complementary and special to this already unique and vibrant neighborhood.” The passage of time meant that some aspects of the finished house didn’t quite turn out the way DeGuzman and Bekiranov had planned. For one thing, the kids they hoped would stay there grew older and lost interest in the space. Instead, the carriage house now entertains a near-continuous stream of guests as an in-demand Airbnb. And the floors? Not even remotely as orange as DeGuzman had feared. 11

BLUEPRINT

Making connections Terra Sol is forging community through pottery By Caite Hamilton

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

he best thing about pottery, says Anna Richardson, is its ability to connect form and function. Take, for instance, her Pinch Cup. “It’s made pinched by my own thumb, making a resting place for yours,” she says. “I hope when customers use one of my mugs they might feel joy, or peacefulness, or a sense of human connection in their everyday routine.” That’s the idea behind Terra Sol Ceramics, which Richardson launched in February following a relocation to Charlottesville from Wilmington, North Carolina. Connection is a main tenet for the ceramicist: She works to forge it through customer service, process transparency, and the products themselves. And she hopes her work can benefit more than just her customers. Each season, she hosts a raffle, donating 100 percent of the proceeds to a nonprofit. (This past summer, raffle sales went to The Okra Project, which provides support to black trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people through hot meals and other aid.) Richardson’s mugs, cups, vases, and bowls feature exclusive glazes (we love the lavender!) and on-trend cottage core designs (the Grid Mug is a bestseller and her personal favorite, she says). “We are drawn to handmade goods because they represent hundreds of hours of love for a craft,” Richardson says. “From my hands to your home, Terra Sol pieces are meant to be filled and re-filled for many years.” Find more at terrasolceramics.com.

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BLUEPRINT

Fine specimens Get to know Charlottesville’s six newly protected trees By Erika Howsare

C-VILLE ABODE

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harlottesville wouldn’t be Charlottesville without its trees. When the city adopted a Tree Conservation Ordinance in 2013 to allow special protected status for certain trees, it was an acknowledgment of all their many benefits: beauty, history, a sense of place, and all the “ecosystem services” that trees provide for free. They cool the air and make oxygen; they filter water and hold soil in place. They’re the quiet heroes of the city. The ordinance has previously been used to protect only 11 trees, but in early April, City Council used it to designate six more—individuals, all on public land, that are now protected from removal unless council specifically authorizes it. “These were obvious trees to designate,” says Brian Menard, chair of the city’s Tree Commission, which worked with the Charlottesville Tree Stewards, a volunteer group, to make nominations. “Five of the six were specimen trees”—that is, protected because of their outstanding size and quality—“and that was for a reason, to showcase the best of the species.” One of these, an American elm, stands outside Clark Elementary School in Belmont. It anchors the top of a steep bank that separates the schoolyard from Monticello Avenue, and it’s regularly treated by the city against Dutch Elm Disease. In the materials prepared by the Tree Commission, a photo shows a group of young students lining up with their teachers under the elm’s generous shade. Maybe some of the kids looked up into the canopy as they gathered there, or maybe not. Whether they noticed it or not, the tree set the stage for that moment in time. Another is a bur-post oak with a trunk five feet across in the center of Maplewood Cemetery. Menard knows it well, since he lives near the cemetery and has, he says, “spent many hours under it.” In Riverview Park, a sycamore along the trail sprouted naturally on the riverbank, as sycamores do, and is now 65 feet tall, one of the largest in the park. At the north end of Oakwood Cemetery, a Southern red oak earned specimen status in part for its 80-foot crown spread—a truly resplendent reach that creates, for anyone standing underneath it, a sort of magical outdoor room. The oak, with so many souls interred beneath it, feels

as though it ties different eras of Charlottesville history together. Two headstones, dated 1876 and 1898, seem to mark graves that are actually underneath the tree’s titanic base. Leaves whisper and wave throughout its whole muscular, elbowed structure. You can get close to the white ash behind the Charlottesville-Albemarle Historical Society, too, if you walk into the diminutive brick-walled garden at the building’s rear entrance. Right up next to the tree’s base, you can examine its bark— deep, close-set ridges that seem almost frosted, white on sepia, perhaps giving the species its name. But even if you don’t have time to really commune with the tree—if you’re hurrying past

the Central Library, or through Market Street Park—you can see the ash; it’s a giant that’s visible all around the block. The sixth tree is harder to visit; it stands within the loop of an offramp from the 250 Bypass onto Rugby Road, so you’re more likely to see it while speeding past in your car. It’s a Shumard oak that is now officially a Memorial Tree, honoring Leroy Snow of Snow’s Garden Center. Look for more trees to be designated in the future, Menard says. “This is certainly not the last batch,” he says, adding that citizens can nominate trees, too. “The more we designate, the more we call attention to the overall importance of trees.” 15

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BLUEPRINT

It’s hot out there

FILE PHOTO

In this market, buying a house requires prep, patience— and a good realtor By Carol Diggs

ooking to buy a house in or around Charlottesville? Get ready: “This real estate market is a perfect storm,” says Sasha Tripp, owner of Story House Real Estate. The local area has always been an attractive real estate market, even with relatively high prices and limited inventory. Now, with rockbottom interest rates and pent-up demand after the COVID-19 shutdown, properties sell in days rather than weeks—and multiple offers well over asking price are common. Add to the mix two pandemic-spurred trends—working remotely, and getting out of large urban areas—and the pressure is on. Some realtors estimate that buyers coming from large urban areas have increased 10 to 15 percent. Loring Woodriff, whose real estate firm concentrates on upper-end properties, says, “I’ve seen the amount of people coming here from large urban areas—New York City, Atlanta, California, even northern Virginia—double.” And buyers from high-price markets often arrive with deep pockets and cash offers. So, a wonderful time to sell. But if you’re a buyer, how do you navigate this perfect storm? Preparation is key. C-VILLE ABODE

Get your financing lined up. This includes pre-approval for a mortgage, and possibly for a bridge loan, since an offer contingent on the sale of your current home may not be accepted. Jim Duncan, associate broker and partner at Nest Realty Group, says 35 to 40 percent of his firm’s clients are making cash offers. But even for buy-

A word about letters Buyers’ latest tactic to gain advantage in this hot market is to include a personal letter in their offer. Sending these “love letters” to sellers ramped up in spring 2020 during “contact-free” home-buying, as a way to put the human factor back into the transaction. Many realtors, however, are concerned these letters, depending on content, could lead to discriminatory decisions and thus violate fair housing laws. The National Association of Realtors discourages love letters; Tripp cautions buyers who insist on sending one to focus on “describing their interest in buying the home,” rather than including personal information that could be seen as fostering discrimination.

ers offering cash, Woodriff says having verification of funds is a smart tactic. Get your current home ready. This means necessary repairs or cosmetic improvements complete, staging done, photos taken, and price set. In this market, you may hope your place will sell quickly, but being flexible on the move-in date can make your offer more attractive. Know what you’re looking for. With properties moving so quickly, make sure you’ve already worked out what’s essential (e.g., neighborhood, distance from workplace, school district) and what isn’t. “Holding out for the perfect home is not realistic in any market,” says Duncan. “Every buyer compromises in some way.” Know what you can live with. Just like sales contingencies, contingencies on inspection are going by the board. You may want to offer inspection for information only; another option, Woodriff notes, is to bring your inspector to the showing. Consider what kind of repairs you’re willing to handle yourself in order to get your offer accepted. Most important, have the right partner. This is not the time to scan the Internet or drive around looking for For Sale signs. Tripp’s advice: Make sure you’re working with a buyer’s agent who will be out there—attending HOA meetings, talking with contractors and landscapers, scanning social media—to find properties coming on the market and get you in early. Repeatedly finding out that a house you like has already gotten multiple offers (or is already under contract) can be “exhausting, even deflating,” says Woodriff. “Lots of buyers end up putting their search on hold.” Many buyers, in fact, decide that this market is too hot for them. If you’re only buying and don’t have to be in the market, Tripp says, “I’m candid—this may not be your time.” But she and other realtors say with preparation, patience, and the right partners, this can be the right time to buy. With interest rates this low, paying 5 or even 10 percent more could be a smart financial decision over time. “Buying a home is a huge financial investment,” says Duncan, “but there’s also a huge emotional involvement. It helps to have a non-involved person helping you make this life decision.” 17

BLUEPRINT

Yes we can

Keswick Hall nears completion of massive renovation By Shea Gibbs

eswick Hall’s list of acclamations is long and distinguished—Forbes’s Five-Star Award, Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award for Best Golf Resorts in the Americas, the AAA Four Diamond Rating for Fossett’s restaurant. But when owners Robert and Molly Hardie decided to renovate the century-old property three years ago, the project quickly escalated. Despite all its acclaim and history, the hotel and restaurant are reopening later this year in a completely reimagined fashion. “Molly and Robert have had a love of Keswick since Robert was studying at the university,” General Manager John Trevenen says. “I think it’s just a special place to them.” Keswick will unveil its updated chic late this summer, with a new guest wing—bringing the 18

property to 80 total rooms—an infinity pool and cabanas, red clay tennis courts, and fully reimagined resort grounds. Fossett’s gives way to Marigold, a fine-dining restaurant led by culinary icon Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The entire guest space has been redesigned from the studs, according to Trevenen—the project was “an undertaking that no one could have imagined,” he says. That means everything—plumbing, electrical, every non-structural item—was stripped from the facility. The hotel will now offer four signature suites, including the two-bedroom Hardie Suite. The guest rooms are decorated subtly, featuring white, blue, and cream shades, as well as light wood, elegant furniture, beds with Duxiana mattresses, and Frette sheets and bath linens. Each guest

room will include a smart television and Lutron lighting, and local photographs will decorate the walls. The Hardie Suite is fitted with a kitchenette built around Viking appliances and a wet bar. The general design style, according to Trevenen, is to ensure form follows function. Keswick intends to be among the best hotels in the world, he says, and that means service must be at the highest level. Personnel should predict guests’ needs and meet them before they know they have them themselves. “We have a tagline of redefining the art of American hospitality,” he says. “We are reestablishing a style of hospitality that we think is a little different from what is on offer in other properties. We are trying to do it in a more gentle and relaxed manner.” C-VILLE ABODE

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Take Marigold, Trevenen suggests. All resort meals, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the week to weekend brunches, will be served in the restaurant, a departure from Kewswick’s previous approach, which was offering different meal seatings at multiple restaurants. According to Trevenen, the change means the restaurant’s servers will quickly become experts at doing a simple set of activities at the absolute best of their abilities. “[Molly and Robert] have been terribly good about maintaining the building, the culture, and the DNA within a new structure,” Trevenen says. “It was a labor of love. It might have been easier to start again, but they really wanted to make sure it was given back to the community better than it was before.” C-VILLE ABODE

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Passionat People SELL Real E Charlottesv wait to co & Share S Ad

401 Park Street Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 977-4005 lwoodriff@loringwoodriff.com

A Selection of Our Summer 2021 Sales REPRESENTED BUYER & SELLER REPRESENTED SELLER

699 Ivy Depot RoaD Ivy REPRESENTED BUYER

425 Ne 2ND StReet North Downtown

300 W ellINgtoN DRIve Ednam Forest

REPRESENTED SELLER REPRESENTED BUYER AND SELLER

209 DeeR RuN RoaD Ednam Forest REPRESENTED SELLER

1210 Hemlock cReek Way 0 pallaS HIll laNe Ivy Creek

Fray’s Grant

REPRESENTED BUYER & SELLER

REPRESENTED BUYER AND SELLER

625 WoRtHINgtoN DRIve #103 Ednam Condos REPRESENTED SELLER

4318 RaggeD v IeW couRt Ragged Mountain Farm

866 taNgleWooD RoaD Flordon

REPRESENTED SELLER

REPRESENTED BUYER

3140 tuRNeR mouNtaIN WooD RoaD Turner Mountain Wood REPRESENTED SELLER

5820 BleNHeIm RoaD Southern Albemarle Estate

493 B uRcHS cReek RoaD Western Albemarle

R E P R E S E N T I N G D I S T I N C T I V E P RO PE RT I E S I N C H A R LOT T E S V I L L E & T H E S U R RO U N D I N G C O U N T RY S I D E

W W W. L O R I N G W O O D R I F F. C O M

A family of four digs in at Bundoran By Carol Diggs Photos by Stephen Barling

Building the 22

C-VILLE ABODE

dream home C-VILLE ABODE

PHOTO BY DARREN SETLOW

1221 Harris Street Charlottesville, VA cvillehabitatstore.org

FURNITURE BUILDING SUPPLIES HOME DÉCOR

Love your Habitat Open to Shoppers Wednesday - Saturday 10-5 Drop off Donation hours are now Tuesday - Saturday by appointment 10-4. Call to schedule a donation pick-up

he house sits against the hillside like a person relaxed on a bench, arms laid out along the back, taking in the Blue Ridge views. This easy pose was hard-won, however—and anyone who has lived through building their own home can relate. Owner and interior designer Tracy Reidenouer tells the story: She and her husband Jeff decided to move to the Charlottesville area five years ago. They rented a house in Keswick while they searched for a homesite that matched their dreams, and found it in 2018 at Bundoran Farm. But the designated site on their property turned out to be a critical slope, so they had to clear another site nearby. That meant flipping and reorienting the plans Reidenouer had worked on with architect Mike Foltz of Richmond firm McAllister + Foltz. When Element Construction, one of the recommended builders for Bundoran C-VILLE ABODE

Farm, began work in July 2018, an unexpected rock stratum meant the house had to be set higher and the basement cut back. By fall 2019, the house was finished enough for the Reidenouers and their two children to move in—even though work went on for another five or six months. This past summer, Reidenouer was still working down a punch list that some homebuilders will find familiar: She finally found black wooden garage doors that tie in the façade of the free-standing garage with the house, and had the sliding barn door for her home office installed. But these last touches are all part of making your dream house a reality. The result is a home of serene livability. At 5,700 square feet (including the garage’s “crofter” apartment), it’s spacious without feeling too big, partly due to the layout—basically one room deep, with the living spaces oriented west toward the wooded mountain view. The main entrance

is on the south side, from a courtyard formed between the main house and the 2 1/2-car garage. The entry hall leads past Reidenouer’s office and the large eat-in kitchen to the two-story living space, an all-season porch (fully screened, with a fireplace), and the master suite. Upstairs are the teens’ bedrooms and baths. Downstairs, past the wine closet and gym, are a family room and recreation/bar area—both of which, thanks to the sloping site, open to an outdoor sitting space (also with fireplace—the house has four in all) and a lawn for a future pool or fire pit (“We’re still deciding about that,” Reidenouer says). The main floor’s open layout is unusual in that the living area is the center, with the kitchen to its south and the dining space on its east side. Reidenouer specifically wanted the kitchen to flow into the living room—“that’s how our family lives.” Like most families with teenaged CONTINUED ON PA GE 27

BAKERS! Three rising stars making delish fresh bread

TAKERS! C-Ville Supper Club brings dinner to your door

ICE CREAM MAKERS! A customizable hot-day treat SUMMER 2021

Taste is everything.

MEET MYO QUINN

THE PEAR CO-OWNER ON HER “SECOND LIFE” IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

Something’s fishy around here...could it be fresh salmon?

JM Stock’s ham biscuit is always a winner.

A very Southern summer Collards, fried chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, and, yes, biscuits—our summer menu is heating up

Say “mmm.” 1327 E. High St | 296-8131

1327 E. High| Sat. St | 9-12 296-8131 M-F 8-5:30 noon M-F 8-5:30 www.cssvac.com www.cssvac.com

When it comes to area eats, we let our cravings guide us. And in this quarterly magazine, you’ll find everything from a stack of pancakes to a plate of filet mignon. Each issue of Knife & Fork introduces readers to chefs, food trends, recipes, and, most importantly, the best meals around. ON STANDS SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER

C O N T I N U E D F R OM PAGE 2 5

children, they don’t use the formal dining area much; the kitchen has its own eating space, as does the balcony, which wraps around the house from entry to living area. But, says Reidenouer, “I had to put that dining space in for the table, it’s an antique that came from Paris.” And it’s lovely—heavily grained planks rimmed by a wooden edging, with the patina of age and use. The family was living outside New York City when Reidenouer put aside her work in advertising sales to raise their children. As the kids got older, she decided to turn her passion for interior design into her next career. After training at Parsons School of Design, her first projects as TR Design were the interior of a friend’s newly built waterside home in Connecticut and a complete renovation of her own 1920s Tudor home in Rye. “The house had great bones,” Reidenouer recalls, “but after gutting and completely redoing it, I swore to god never to renovate again.” For this new home, she says, “My vision was totally the opposite—open, more light, lighter colors, big windows.” Reidenouer’s design style—understated, clean, using lots of warm neutrals and natural textures—is another reason this new home feels accommodating rather than big. “I like to repeat colors and materials, to help create a flow between the various spaces,” she says. That approach allows the dining area’s rustic table to co-exist with its sleek chandelier and modern artwork. In the living area, two Anne Packard seascapes in muted greens, blues, and browns work well with the abstract textured Persian silk area rug. (“That rug is the one piece in the house I worry about,” Reidenouer says. “To me, if you can’t live with it, there’s no use having it.”) The master bedroom has a contemporary bed and dresser alongside two Queen Anne side chairs— “the only pieces I brought from the house in Rye”—reupholstered in a silvery geometric pattern that suits the room’s spare lines and neutral colors. And the Lake James random-cut ashlar stone from North Carolina that faces the living area’s two-story fireplace is also used on the home’s foundation and exterior features. But it’s the “I’ve always wanted…” custom touches that make this house the Reidenouers’. The living area’s window wall is built of accordion doors that fully open to the balcony and the western view. There’s a little nook in the hall that perfectly frames a favorite painting. The master bedroom has its own private two-chair balcony, with a stone stairway down to an outdoor shower (Jeff ’s request). And the kitchen has a separate prep room, where Reidenouer—who is all about no clutter—keeps all the appliances. When you’re building your dream home, all the work is worth it. C-VILLE ABODE

HISTORIC LUXURY 4336 Monticola Road, Esmont, VA 4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Baths | 6,800 SF | 200 Acres Offered at $4,100,000

MODERN LUXURY 243 Barrenridge Road, Fishersville, VA 6 Bedrooms | 9 Baths | 7,147 SF | 2 Acres Offered at $1,800,000

Ashley Spence | (540) 280-3385 | spence@countrysideinc.biz 28

C-VILLE ABODE

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

GALLISON HALL

This Historic Register gem is set on 43 park-like acres in the highly sought-after community of Farmington. The property showcases a stunning brick Georgian, built 1931-1933, with beautiful architectural details, indoor pool and tennis facilities, spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain views, total privacy, and an exceptional close-totown location, just 3 miles west of UVA. MLS#617686 $8,450,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

TERRELL COURT

Privately situated on 3.9 acres of amazing woodland gardens, this 4-BR residence is a unique opportunity to live seconds from UVA in a convenient, friendly, & walkable neighborhood. MLS#619953 $989,000 C. Dammann, 434.981.1250

OLD TRAIL

Classic brick Georgian, 5 bedrooms, including main level master suite. Views of the adjoining Old Trail Golf Course, buffered by small woods, and views of the Blue Ridge Mtns. MLS#614945 $1,385,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

SILAS JACKSON COURT

Elegant, traditional-style home with 4 BR, 4.5 BA offering 3-levels of living space on 3.98 private acres. NO HOA, Meriwether school district. MLS#618745 $1,375,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076 or Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

GREY OAKS

In the heart of this exceptional country estate is this 6-BR, 6.5-BA home with views overlooking 2-acre lake to Blue Ridge Mtns. 53+ rolling acres, wonderful outdoor spaces & 1,800 sf. barn. MLS#617485 $4,165,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

COMMERCIAL OFFERING

Located in the new Downtown Crozet district, allowing for many uses, including building a 4-story office building on the .91 acre lot. Has a small 2-BR home plus paved parking. MLS#619191 $775,000 Jim Faulconer,434.981.0076

FAIRVIEW

C. 1880, 4-BR, 2.5-BA home on 2.34 acres, surrounded by a 288-acre farm protected with a conservation easement. Only 15 miles to Charlottesville. Western School District. MLS#616135 $978,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

CASTLEBROOK

FOXWOOD FOREST

Custom 4-5 BR, smart wired home, on 2+ acres with FIBER OPTIC INTERNET. 15 Minutes from Target/Harris Teeter. Minutes from NGIC & Research Park. MLS#619815 $795,000 Jennifer Moreira, 434.409.2844 (owner/agent)

CHAUCER ROAD

Well built, low maintenance brick home with private backyard and space to entertain. Move-in ready. Private backyard and great for entertaining. No HOA. MLS#619870 $425,000 Jeremy Fields, 434.270.1220

Rare opportunity to own a little slice of heaven in Batesville! The stately 2-story brick home, built c.1890, 4 BR & 3 BA, nestled on 19+ tranquil acres, is the quintessence of understated elegance! The home was constructed from bricks that were made on the property & features metal pyramidal roof, handsome heart-pine & oak flooring, stunning woodwork, & so much more! MLS#616392 $1,595,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

WWW.MCLEANFAULCONER.COM

TRISTAN WILLIAMS

Home Sweet Home

Where the heart is

Filmmaker Gentry Wilson thinks about “home” cinematically.

“‘H

ome’ is sitting on the countertop while your husband cooks eggs in the morning,” she says. “It is the giggling you hear in the hallway when you chase and tickle your 2-year-old. ‘Home’ is clipping fresh basil from the garden and brewing afternoon tea on a sunny day.” So when the Waken Creative Studio founder moved from Houston, Texas, with her husband and son in July 2020, they made sure to look for a place that would help them make memories. They landed in the Barracks 30

Rugby neighborhood in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom 1920s Colonial Revival bungalow. Wilson fell in love with the arched doorways. Since moving in, the living room has become the small family’s favorite spot: Flooded with natural light through its original pane windows, it features a view of trees and climbing ivy on the house’s exterior. What it comes down to, Wilson says, is that home is more of a feeling. “It’s a place to build the sweet moments of your life with your most precious people.” C-VILLE ABODE

Building trust with businesses and families since 2002

INSURANCE SERVICES

Business - Home - Auto - Life 434.529.6000 • specializedins.com • contact@specializedins.com 2250 Old Ivy Road, Suite 5, Charlottesville