December 2015 ABODE

Inside.

Outside.

Home.

DECEMBER 2015

Hot topic Fireplaces: modern or traditional

A certain age Albemarle’s oldest house is for sale

Design wise

A city home melds style from owners now and then

Honest work

Justin Heiser’s path to architecture

Home goods

Holiday gifts to turn house into home

Country Living in Virginia OF F NEW

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OF F NEW

THE MASSIE COTTAGE AT BUNDORAN – A stunning design based on the Southern Living Cottage of the Year. Natural materials, high-end finishes and spacious open living spaces are the hallmark of this thoughtfully designed residence with a firstfloor master. The four bedroom, 3,200 square foot cottage sits on 7 acres in the heart of Bundoran Farm with pastoral and expansive mountain views. $1,899,000

OF F NEW

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SEVERN FARM - A private retreat or equestrian property in the coveted Millington area of Western Albemarle. Only 12 miles from town on a quiet country lane with miles of trails, very close to a number of Farmington Hunt Club fixtures. The charming residence is surrounded by beautiful gardens and takes in long views down the valley. MLS# 539259 $2,250,000

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HARDWARE RIVER TRACT - Private setting, river frontage, 6 miles from Charlottesville! The elevated site overlooks the Hardware River and lush bottomland that would make an excellent soccer/sports field. Very convenient to town, I-64 and the new Wegmans shopping center. MLS#539823 $120,000.

BUCK MOUNTAIN TRACT - In the heart of Farmington Hunt Country, beautiful Blue Ridge views, a healthy pond and stream and rolling open land with numerous building sites. Perfect as a small horse farm, retreat or primary residence. Adjacent to protected land. 5 division rights. MLS #536631 $950,000

DANWELL FARM - 110 acre turnkey western Albemarle farm with magnificent, layered Blue Ridge Mountain views. An artfully designed, exceptionally maintained James Tuley, AIA, contemporary farmhouse with expansive windows that bring views and light into every room. Additional acreage available. In the heart of Farmington Hunt Country. 20 minutes to Charlottesville and 10 minutes to the airport $2,500,000

BUNDORAN EQUESTRIAN LOT - A coveted 25 acre equestrian lot at Bundoran Farm. This gently rolling lot backs up to 400 acres of land in conservation easement with views across protected, 2,300 acre Bundoran Farm. The equestrian designation allows owners to keep horses on the property and take advantage of the farm’s 15 miles of bridle and hiking trails. High speed internet and electricity to the lot. MLS# 535406 $650,000.

Peter Wiley 434.422.2090 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

vafarmandestate.com

Charlottesville’s Earthly Cleaning $25.00 on your first house cleaning.

JUST LISTED. Unique condominium in the historic Millhouse in the Woolen Mills neighborhood, across from the Rivanna River at the end of East Market St. Only one mile from downtown and a short walk to two parks. 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, gourmet kitchen, 2 fireplaces, private deck and gardens, 2100+fsf.

Call for more information. mid $400’s.

We also offer other services: Leather cleaning for jackets, boots, and purses Office cleaning Odor damage restoration Area rug cleaning with delivery and pickup service

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Free estimates in the Charlottesville area www.cvillesearthlycleaning.com 434-964-0269

434 974-1500 • 434 981-1076 | www.cvilleproperties.com

Pippin Hill Winery

RESIDENTIAL

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A G R I C U LT U R A L

George Abetti, Geobarns, llc (603) 359-1912 www.geobarns.com Locally affiliated with Arterra Design and Construction, LLC Matthew Crane (434) 981-4961 4 ABODE

STEPHEN BARLING

Blueprint 9 Patricia Kluge’s former Albemarle estate opens to overnighters, STOA’s Justin Heiser shares his influences, gifts to make the house a home and more.

Real Estate 35 At nearly 300 years old, this home in Albemarle (the county’s oldest) isn’t exactly livable.

Picture Window 38 An old barn in Albemarle.

Features HOME 23

LANDSCAPE 31

With plenty of design elements left from their city home’s previous owner, Holly and Kevin Davis called in Kathleen Conroy of Kenny Ball Design to meld their own style with the existing one. Conroy had insight—she’d helped the prior homeowner with the design the first time around.

For landscape architect Joan Albiston, designing the grounds of this Fluvanna County house meant meeting a few challenges, like how to create defined areas in a large swath of hilltop, or work around a detached garage on the property or even dress up the long walk from guest parking to the house.

One of a kind

Into the woods

Cover photo by Andrea Hubbell. Comments? E-mail us at abode@c-ville.com.

ABODE, a supplement to C-VILLE Weekly, is distributed in Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the

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

Shenandoah Valley. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Editor Jessica Luck. Special Publications Editor Caitlin White. Copy Editor Susan Sorensen.

Creative Director Bill LeSueur. Graphic Designers Harding Coughter, Henry Jones, Max March, Lorena Perez. Advertising Director Gabriel Rodriguez. Account Executives Greg Allen, Musah Earle, Bianca J. Johnson, Tracey Joyce, Ashley Wood. Publisher Aimee Atteberry. Chief Financial Officer Debbie Miller. Circulation Manager Miguel Coradine. Account Manager Randi Henry. ©2015 C-VILLE Weekly.

ABODE 5

ABODE

EVENTS THIS MONTH

SOUTHERN LIVING

Southern Living Idea House

Wednesday-Sunday, December 2-20

HANCOCK FARMS D E C O R AT E D M O D E L H O M E O P E N E V E R Y S AT U R D AY & S U N D AY 1 T O 4

Southern Living Idea House This is your last chance to see inside the Southern Living Idea House, designed by local architects Rosney Co. and decorated by famed designer (and Charlottesville native) Bunny Williams. $15 (free for children 12 and under), 10am-4pm. 5005 Edge Valley Rd., North Garden (shuttle to the house provided). (888) 973-3276. southernliving.com

December 2-December 6

Holiday Wreath Workshop This 29th annual (and very popular!) workshop will leave you with a holiday wreath of natural materials. Bring hand pruners, but otherwise all supplies will be provided. $75, three-hour workshops (times vary).

Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. 984-9822. monticello.org

December 11-12, 18-23 and 26-30

Holiday Evening Tours Explore Monticello after dark during these small-group house tours, which offer an intimate look at the holidays in the house Mr. Jefferson built (including the Dome Room). $55, 5:15pm, 5:30pm, 5:45pm and 6pm. 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. 9840-9822. monticello.org

You can afford all the luxuries of a custom built home.

Work directly with the builder to customize a plan to fit your lifestyle. Estate size lots, one & two story plans. homes starting at $399,000 and up. Colony Homes is an Earthcraft certified builder, enjoy the benefits of an energy efficient home!

Daily until Thursday, December 31 C o n ta C t J u l i e K u h l

H Fre oliday e B Spe ase cia men l t!

6 ABODE

for

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i n f o r m at i o n

434-979-9500 Julie@Kuhlhouse.Com re/maX aCtion | 434-296-0007 1 7 7 0 t i m b e r w o o d b lv d C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e va 2 2 9 1 1 website: www.Colony-builders.Com direCtions: rt. 29 north to 33 east 2 miles to hanCoCK farms on the left

Blow Your Own Ornament Visit Sunspots Studios and help a glass blower create your unique holiday ornament. Keep it for yourself or present it as a gift. Call for reservations. $40-45 per ornament, holiday hours vary (call to make an appointment). 202 S. Lewis St., Staunton. (540) 885-0678.

Since 1927 In 1927, Charlottesville was introduced to a new way of doing Real Estate.

Roy Wheeler Realty was founded with the philosophy that “service is our most important product.” That philosophy stands true today as it was over 88 years ago. With an overall 99% customer satisfaction rate we’re confident in our knowledge and abilities to help you buy or sell the place you call home.

Ednam Hall | 1100 Dryden Lane | Charlottesville, VA | 434-951-5155 | www.roywheeler.com

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At Dominion Custom Homes, we believe building a home should be a positive experience for our clients throughout the entire process. We deliver on this promise because we listen to your needs, ask questions about your family’s current lifestyle and help you analyze how those requirements may change in the years to come. For more information visit www.dominioncustomhomes.com or call us at 434-975-1166.

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ABODE 7

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3541 DEVON PINES • KESWICK, VA Custom built with a wonderful open floor plan, 4 beds/4 full baths plus bonus room on .78 acre lot.

Residence offers 4200+ sq. ft. with additional 2,000 sq. ft. of unfinished in terrace level, great for storage or future expansion. Level playing field borders acres of woods. MLS# 539316

3211 SANDOWN PARK • KESWICK, VA Brick Georgian with 5 beds/4.5 baths in over 5,000 sq. ft. finished, on .59 acre fenced lot. Home has large first floor guest suite, second floor master suite with two additional beds. Terrace level has 5th bed, crafting room/home office and additional family/rec room and full bath. MLS# 539189

JANICE KAVANAGH Associate Broker

434.760.0739 Janice@NestRealty.com LIVE WHERE YOU LOVE | 126 Garrett Street, Suite D | Charlottesville, VA 22902 | 434-566-0121 | NestRealty.com

8 ABODE

Blueprint ARCHITECTURE

Readying an overstated estate for guests FINISHES

Many merry mantels for a modern-day hearth ELEMENTS

A few of Laurie Holladay’s favorite things

A LINE TO DESIGN

JOHN ROBINSON

Humility, integrity, responsibility Architect Justin Heiser knows the recipe for good design ABODE 9

BLUEPRINT

ARCHITECTURE

Why architecture?

Architecture was an obvious path for me. I’ve always had a strong interest in art, especially drawing, as well as building things since I was young.

It was only natural for me to choose a profession where I could continue my passion for those things that I enjoyed and which ultimately led me to the design/build formation that we operate under today. I can’t think of a more gratifying way to work than to witness and to have a hands-on experience of making your designs come to life day in and day out. For me, architecture is also about solving problems in an artistic, creative and technical way. Every project presents a new set of problems to be resolved and that keeps it fresh and interesting for me on a daily basis.

Why did you choose to practice in Virginia?

I grew up in Florida and the first time I visited Charlottesville was when I was looking at colleges. I immediately fell in love with the surroundings and the history of the place and couldn’t picture myself anywhere else. Charlottesville is a great town with incredible landscapes, nearby mountains and actual seasons, all of which was so unique for me at the time. After receiving my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from UVA and working downtown in different firms, I realized I had always wanted to do more in architecture and have a greater 10 ABODE

ANDREA HUBBELL

I

t has long been established that there is an inexorable link between architecture and the community it serves. But, for architect Justin Heiser, that link was never more apparent than in grad school at UVA, when he studied under American architect Samuel Mockbee, a visiting professor from Auburn University.

It was Mockbee who, with a visit to the Rural Studio he created in Alabama, helped drive home Heiser’s vision for a business that combined the art of architecture with the satisfaction of building something from scratch. The Rural Studio program gives students the opportunity to design homes and buildings for poor communities in the western part of the state.

“This way of working emphasizes the dialogue between architecture and construction and how one often informs the other back and forth throughout the entire process of making,” Heiser says, “and, I believe, ultimately creates a richer and more enjoyable project for all parties involved.”

With those ideas in mind, Heiser founded STOA Design+Construction in 2002 with his business partner (and fellow UVA alum), Michael Savage. We asked him to tell us about growing up in Florida, what’s on the board right now and why he loves practicing in Charlottesville.—Caite White

role in the realization of the final product. This eventually led to the creation of STOA as it operates today with my partner, Michael Savage, with whom I had attended undergrad and graduate school. We’ve developed a long-lasting friendship and working partnership through shared values in architecture and the desire to have a real hands-on approach with the work.

What was your life like as a child and how did it lead you to design?

Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors and when I wasn’t playing soccer, I found myself constructing forts, tree houses and bike and skateboard ramps with my rag-tag group of neighborhood friends. Of course, it was always a trial and error method but I think it gave me a real sense of appreciation and desire as to what I could make on my own and have it function the way it was intended. I also had the opportunity to spend my summers living with my grandparents on their farm in north Florida. By no means was the “country” a hotbed of architectural activity, but it did instill a long-lasting appreciation for the simplicity and beauty associated with vernacular buildings, tools or machines that were created for the primary purpose of serving a function. It wasn’t until I was in college

that Louis Sullivan’s quote—“Form follows function”—really resonated with me. Spending time in that environment also gave me the exposure to a different way of thinking and living, taught me how to solve problems that may arise and to have the ability to fabricate solutions to those problems with my own hands and materials that are readily available. I believe this was a strong factor in why I eventually chose the design/build career path.

Tell us about your college studio experience. Was there a standout teacher who had a lasting impact on you?

I was extremely fortunate to have an outstanding group of professors throughout my experience at UVA. However, the one that has had a lasting impact would be the late Samuel Mockbee.

Sambo, as he liked to be called, was a visiting professor from Auburn’s Rural Studio whom I studied under during graduate school. He had a way of teaching that did not seem like he was teaching at all but was more akin to sharing stories. But, in fact, after really listening to the slow Southern drawl from the larger-than-life bearded figure, you realized you learned more than you ever thought you could about yourself, architecture and your place in architecture. He

ANDREA HUBBELL

COURTESY STOA ANDREA HUBBELL

(Clockwise from left) Among Justin Heiser’s projects are a ridge-top house just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, where rich walnut wood plays against dark gray steel, stone and tile for a sleek, modern finish; a Batesville residence that incorporated an indoor/outdoor fireplace that faces the living room and outdoor pool patio; a bright, clean kitchen update; and a threeseason porch in a 1940s-era Charlottesville home. On the previous page, STOA’s renovation of a Cape Cod in the city increased its square footage without adding to its footprint.

On process: How does it begin?

My process begins by meeting with a client and listening to their needs, desires, budget and what

or budget and then embark on conceptualizing the overall design through a series of sketching and modeling exercises. During this time, we are regularly meeting with our clients to present all ideas and flush out the true heart and meaning of the project. I believe that it is also very important to assess the client’s anticipated construction budget very early on in the process so that we can effectively design within that goal.

Given our construction background and experience, we are constantly and continually evaluating our design through all phases in relation to the overall anticipated budget so that we can effectively achieve a final product that fulfills the client’s needs. Every project is different and possesses a unique set of goals and it is important to understand that and go into each project with an open and creative mind.

AMY JACKSON

represented and advocated for an architecture of humility, integrity and responsibility, which are all things I still strive for in my work today.

We had the chance to travel to Alabama with Sambo and live with the Rural Studio for over a week and witness firsthand the work they were doing to help the local community and individuals. It was here that we could see the power of architecture and its inextricable link to the individual and the community that it serves. In a place where the students are doing the design work and all of the construction work on their own, with guidance from professors, it was easy to see how this way of designing and building could be a model for a more professional way of operating. It allows for the adaptation and flexibility in design of ever-changing site conditions, budget, material availability and functionality.

This way of working emphasizes the dialogue between architecture and construction and how one often informs the other back-and-forth throughout the entire process of making and, I believe, ultimately creates a richer and more enjoyable project for all parties involved.

Justin Heiser they are ultimately hoping to gain from the project. Oftentimes, the client has been thinking about these issues for a long time and this is a moment to just listen and begin to prioritize all of the different—and sometimes conflicting— ideas. From that point, we begin to establish certain parameters based on site, materials and/

What inspires you?

I take inspiration from my surroundings. Oftentimes, the site itself can provide a tremendous amount of inspiration with regards to views, terrain, materiality or the local and embodied history of the site and the community. I’m also inspired by each individual client and the energy and passion they bring to their own project.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

ABODE 11

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12 ABODE

BLUEPRINT

ARCHITECTURE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

It’s always fun and immensely rewarding to be such an integral part of the process that ultimately influences and has a direct impact on how someone occupies and utilizes their new built environment.

To me, the site is crucial and integral to the project as a whole. That is the case for any new projects on an empty and open site or those that are renovations and additions at which the site is defined by preexisting built conditions. It provides the foundation for the project, dictates how to respond to certain environmental or constructional requirements and is essential in giving the project meaning on a larger scale. The site informs every project in different ways but ultimately gives each one its own life and sense of identity that is particular and rooted in its surroundings.

What’s in the studio at the moment?

We have a very diverse group of projects in the office at the moment both in terms of program and scale. We currently have two mid- to largescale residential renovation/addition projects under construction in town with several others that are currently in the design phase. Those projects include a couple of smaller-scale interior renovations to improve some outdated living and working situations within the home, as well as a larger-scale residential project that involves some extensive master planning exercises. Other upcoming projects include the renovation and up-fit of a large, older private residence for a new local bed and breakfast, as well as master planning and design for a large farm in Albemarle County. The scope of the farm project will include improving and renovating the existing buildings and facilities, and developing a cultural and educational center and retreat. The project will have a strong emphasis on sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry and will be focused on land reclamation and the restoration of the watershed.

How would you assess the state of architecture in our region?

Over the past decade, it has become more and more interesting. It seems as if there is always a wide range of projects of various scales available and a strong and thriving community of design professionals. I’m happy to be living and working in a place that is becoming more open-minded about modern approaches to design and the desire to think outside the box. We’ve been lucky to have many wonderful clients who have been willing to take risks and be more accepting of our approach to modern design coupled with our passion for building.

JACK LOONEY

How does the site or sense of place inform architecture for you?

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Fresh start

The Kluges’ palace welcomes the public Talk about a house being great for entertaining.

When opulent Albemarle House was built in the early 1980s by Patricia Kluge and her then-husband, media mogul John Kluge, they aimed to create a mansion fit to welcome royals and celebrities.

As fate and fortune would have it, 30 years later, the 45-room home has become a boutique hotel of 10 guest rooms. The story of the Kluges’ divorce, Patricia’s enormous settlement, her remarriage to William Moses and the rise and fall of her winery business has been well-documented in the media—particularly the end of the tale, in which Donald Trump became the new owner of the entire estate.

That was in 2012, when Trump paid $6.5 million for Albemarle House. That sounds like a chunk of change until you consider that Kluge had originally put the place on the market for $100 million—or, to throw out another number, that the Trump folks have since poured $20 million into its restoration.

The home, designed in a strictly traditional neo-Georgian style by architect David Easton, demanded top-flight treatment despite its compromised position. “The house had been vacant for two or three years,” says Kerry Woolard, general manager of Trump Winery. “It was a wreck.”

Silk damask wall coverings had been damaged.

Elaborately carved plaster ceilings had collapsed.

Custom wallpapers and intricately detailed woodwork were beyond repair.

So, while the property’s new stewards didn’t need to rethink floor plans in order to make the conversion from private residence to hotel, they

had to restore many highly crafted surfaces. In some cases, the original creators, who’d worked on the place in the ’80s, were part of the process.

“We’re super fortunate that many of the artisans still live in the area,” says Woolard. “The carpenter still had some of the dies” needed to replace damaged woodwork.

Some of what the Kluges had installed was salvageable and now lends not only an air of luxury, but a whiff of—could it be?—history. In the dining room, where hotel guests now eat breakfast, hospitality manager Derek Hunt points out wallpaper that was designed in Paris and made in India, and remarks that Patricia Kluge made multiple visits to India to check on its fabrication.

Guests will find no shortage of sumptuous details. One can play billiards in the library, done up in English oak and filled with books of an appropriate vintage. The marble-floored gallery features a burbling indoor fountain and presidential busts in curved wall niches. Intricate crown moldings, marble columns and gilded mirrors festoon every surface, and windows frame views of statuary outside in the formal terraced gardens.

Luxuries originally installed by the Kluges (like the heated outdoor pool) rub shoulders with newer additions: Patricia’s former office is now, with the addition of rubber flooring and full-length mirrors, a fitness center.

The ultimate prize, though, are the views: hundreds of acres of vineyards and rolling lawn.

Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery, as it’s now known, began receiving guests in May.—Erika Howsare ABODE 13

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BLUEPRINT

FINISHES

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Fire it up

Illuminate your winter season with a blazing fireplace and mantel

Y

ou might love your fancy modern fireplace, but in this area, that’s just one of a few options when it comes to heating your hearth.

While the modern fireplace brings with it a number of finishing options, tradition hasn’t gone completely up in smoke. Mike Ball, president of Element Construction, says at least half his clients still prefer wood burning fireboxes with ornate mantels.

Warm reception Traditional wood mantels The classic design, with a wooden frame safely placed outside a noncombustible fireplace veneer, leading to a shoulder-height shelf.

Simple shelving For fireplaces set into stone or brick that extends to the ceiling, designers have the option of going mantel-free or adding a simple bit of wooden shelving.

Bolection molding Element Construction President Mike Ball says in minimal fireplace designs like you’ll find in bedrooms, customers often want a piece of bolection molding (basically a wide piece of trim that juts out from the wall), with or without a mantel at top.

Mantels with an over-mantel piece The classic design with the added grandeur of more wooden framework built over the mantel piece.

Cast stone mantels Stone mantels offer a smoother transition from the facing of the firebox to the framework and shelving. Engineered stone cast in a mold is a low-maintenance option.

Natural stone mantels Granite, marble and C’ville favorite soapstone can also be used for hearths and mantels.

“It’s easy to get soapstone here, and you can find remnants,” Ball says. “You aren’t going to get a whole kitchen out of remnants, but you can do a fireplace.”—S.G.

VIRGINIA HAMRICK

Modern fireplaces don’t have to leave mantels out in the cold. Following is a rundown of options for the shelf above your blaze.

In southern Albemarle, an arts and crafts-style home makes use of a prominent stone hearth. Its modern mantel, fashioned from a repurposed train rail, situates above eye level.

“Most of our clients aren’t doing as much of the simple tile work,” he says. “More of them are using vintage elements. We’re putting in old surrounds our clients are finding at antique stores, and we have some where we’re exposing old stone, cleaning it up and re-mortaring.”

Other local designers say that even where things are trending modern, old school elements remain.

Allison Ewing of Hays + Ewing Design Studio, which focuses on contemporary green projects, says some of the bioethanol fireplaces her firm installs can be treated like artwork, meaning they can be paneled in combustible materials like wood or even just set directly into a slab of drywall. But that doesn’t stop her clients from preferring to surround them with materials that scream “fireplace.”

“Expectations do play a role,” she says. “So some of the traditional materials still come into play in terms of the quote-unquote ‘rightness’ of the solutions. We tend to use stone, metal plate, tile. People still prefer noncombustible materials whether it is required by code or not.”

Kim Kepchar at Wooden Sun says his customers are split down the middle when it comes to

buying gas versus wood fireplaces. But Wooden Sun’s gas customers (those who just want to “be able to flip a switch”) are showing more interest in the modern look than ever before.

“For gas fireplaces, we still have the traditional log look, but a lot more people are going glass or stone,” he says. “It’s not a traditional representation of fire.”

The stone-based fireplaces look about how you’d expect, Kepchar says, but the glass settings might be one of two styles: rounded oval pieces or jagged shards of glass.

The actual firebox customers are selecting has a significant effect on the look of the fireplace in the room, designers say, and customers today have more choices than ever, from traditional hearth and mantel setups, to unadorned brick/tile façades that run straight to the ceiling, to the minimalism allowed by bioethanol fireplaces.

Kepchar said he thinks Charlottesville is gradually embracing progressive fireplace trends.

Guess you might say it’s more of a slow burn.— Shea Gibbs ABODE 15

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16 ABODE

BLUEPRINT

ELEMENTS

MY FAVORITE ROOM

Checking in with...

Having grown up in the family business—a furniture and lamp store founded by her father in Nassau, New Jersey, 70 years ago—Laurie Holladay comes by her talents naturally. She started Gordonsville-based Laurie Holladay Interiors in 2007 and sees it as a continuation of what her family built.

“Beautiful lamps and lampshades have always been a special love of mine,” she says. At her shop, her husband, Jim, does all of the lamp and fixture rewiring and custom work, while she runs the shop.

“I love assisting customers, whether it’s restoring a family heirloom, finding the perfect gift or even that special chair,” she says.

We asked her to tell us what she’s been interested in lately.—Caite White

What are you currently reading?

A Traveler in Rome by H.V Morton; The Selected Stories of Edith Wharton by R.W.B Lewis; Living in a Foreign Language by Michael Tucker.

AMY JACKSON

Designer Laurie Holladay

What are you eating and drinking lately?

Drinking: lots of water and red wines from Umbria; eating: a little bit everything. My husband loves to experiment with many different cuisines.

What are you working on?

What are you currently listening to?

Sirius/XM Frank Sinatra Channel, Bob Dylan and Andrea Bocelli.

What are you watching on TV? “NCIS,” Jacques Pepin and Julia Child.

Expanding my lampshade collection, Laurie Holladay Lampshades, for the shop, as well as working on custom designs for customers.

For more information on Laurie Holladay, visit laurieholladayinteriors.com.

Laurie, pictured at her shop in Gordonsville, says her favorite room in her own home is the “glass room.” “[There is] minimal wall space,” she says. “The expanse of windows give you the feeling of being in the woodland landscape.”

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ABODE 17

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BLUEPRINT

ELEMENTS

Like the present The best kind of gift to give this holiday season? One that turns “house” into “home.”

Here are five ideas for everyone on your list.

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Crosley record player, $169 Urban Outfitters 316 E. Main St., Downtown Mall 964-0127

Decorative bowls (set of 3), $80 Roxie Daisy 101 Water St. 202-8133

ABODE 19

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ABODE 21

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An eccentric city house welcomes new owners

BY ERIKA HOWSARE

ABODE 23

“We were trying to take a house that was formal and turn it into a place for two rambunctious boys,” says owner Holly Davis.

PHOTOS: ANDREA HUBBELL

24 ABODE

U Upholstered walls. A bright red hallway. Gilded chandeliers. When Holly and Kevin Davis bought their house in Fry’s Spring in 2012, it was, in an endearing way, over the top.

“The house just evoked so much color and charm,” says Kathleen Conroy, a designer with Kenny Ball Design. Along with her colleague, Chloe Ball, she had a history with this sprawling home, known as Snug Harbor. They’d helped the previous owners with many design projects and had come to know the place inside and out.

Meanwhile, they’d also worked with the Davises, who were living in an antebellum Orange County farmhouse where they melded their taste for modernism with a killer collection of antiques.

So, for Conroy and Ball, it was a full-circle moment when the Davises bought Snug Harbor.

As the parents of two young boys, the couple had immediately felt a connection to this 1932 stone colonial. “There’s a neat energy in the house that we responded to,” says Holly. Ball concurs: “You knew this house was lived in and full of love.”

The interesting task at hand was to make the house—which for 19 years had been occupied by former UVA spokeswoman Carol Wood and her husband, Bill, the founding director of UVA’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership—suitable for a much younger family. “We were trying to take a house that was formal and turn it into a place for two rambunctious boys,” says Holly.

Fitting in Not only would rooms need to change functions in order to accommodate the needs of kids, there was a larger design challenge at play. “Holly respected [the previous owner’s] aesthetic, but could see beyond it,” says Conroy. Exuberant yet formal, the house as it was included a number of eccentric touches.

For example, there was the first-floor bedroom suite, where Wood’s taste for chinoiserie was given free rein. Doors to the bathroom, for example, are made of Chinese screen panels that Conroy had helped locate at Oyster House, then fitted out with mirrors. The walls are covered with black wallpaper in a chinois pattern, and the double vanity is constructed from repurposed Chinese vanities finished in black lacquer.

Trim in the bathroom—and the walls in the bedroom—are painted a color that Conroy calls “peanut butter.”

It works—in a lovably flamboyant way. But it’s not for everyone, and didn’t immediately align with the Davises’ prevailing tastes. Rather than going for the quick redo, though, they decided to take their time.

“We tried to take more modern things and figure out how to make them work with the chinoiserie,” Holly says. “I feel like it’s a neat marriage. It makes me do things in a different way than I would have.”

In this bedroom, for example, the existing décor is now offset by a serene Abby Kasonik painting hanging over the contemporary Crate & Barrel bed.

As for the raucous bathroom wallpaper, the Davises have found it more livable than they expected. Kevin Davis, an architect and UVA professor, is “metal and glass, modern modern modern,” says Holly. “But he says he doesn’t even notice it anymore.”

Making it their own Adaptability aside, the Davises did make some needed changes. In the living room and central hallway, red walls and bookcase backs had created a bold mood, but the new occupants craved something more toned-down. “Red is the one color I have a hard time with,” says Holly. In the hallway, “we pared down the furnishings and tried to open it up.”

With a rich gray on the walls and few objects to block the kids’ frequent high-speed travels through the space, “It’s cleaner, fresher and younger,” says Conroy.

Another big change: What was once the dining room now serves a different purpose. “I had a big list of things I wanted in a house,” says Holly, “and this house had every one of them except a playroom near the kitchen.”

There are still clues that this was once the spot for dinner parties: A gilded tole metal chandelier remains, and glassware fills a pair of built-in corner breakfronts. But with a sturdy patterned rug, a chocolate-colored couch from Jayson CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

The Davises have made changes to a few of the spaces—a red hallway turned gray, a Lacanche stove further elevated the look of the glossy kitchen, a dining room became a playroom for the couple’s two boys. Overall, says designer Kathleen Conroy, “It’s cleaner, fresher and younger.”

ABODE 25

Strength and drama

1

While homeowners Holly and Kevin Davis plan to make a few changes to the interior of their city house, some of previous owner Carol Wood’s designs will remain. We asked Kathleen Conroy of Kenny Ball Design to give us an inside look at the choices she and her clients originally made in the bathrooms— an unexpected spot for inspired design, to be sure, but rooms where Wood’s sensibility is especially apparent.

—Caite White Knowing the scale of the tile in the bathroom would be big and bold, Conroy hung this chinoiserie wallpaper (1), which she knew could hold its own.

4

“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing in this case,” she says.

Conroy and Wood found a pair of Asian 3

motif painted pieces (2) at Oyster House Antiques and lacquered them black— ”Carol’s signature!” Conroy says. Want to try this at home? It’s easy to convert a piece of furniture to a vanity, especially with the current trend of bowl sinks.

“Talk about a way to make a room personal and interesting.”

If ceiling height allows, Conroy suggests hanging a chandelier or lantern (3)

PHOTOS: ANDREA HUBBELL

instead of a standard ceiling light. A dark ceiling (4) visually lowers its height in the narrow bathroom and, says Conroy, plays dramatically off the fixture.

2

“Anything paler or subtler would have been meh. Why bother?”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Home and mustard-brown upholstered chairs from Circa, the room is now ready to serve as kid central, just off the kitchen and breakfast room.

“We spend most of our time in here,” says Holly. “Every morning they’re in here with a bag of Legos.”

The family eats many meals in the cozy breakfast room, at a white Ikea tulip table. As for formal dining, it’s now officially located in the slate-floored sunroom off the living room, where plentiful windows admit garden views 26 ABODE

and silver teapots contrast with Bunny Williams lamps.

As imagined by the Davises, with help from Conroy and Ball, the house now balances many elements: bold strokes by the previous owners, modern art and objects, and stately antiques.

Some of the padded, upholstered walls have remained: The master bedroom is resplendent in green and white stripes, plus a green toile print sofa that was here before the Davises. In the corner is Holly’s diminutive Italian fruitwood writing table, “so beautiful it makes me cry,” says Conroy.

A new Lacanche stove updates the kitchen with its glossy black cabinets and open upper shelving. Holly’s added a ghost chair at the billpaying desk, but left the toile fabric covering the bulletin board that hangs above it.

Everything from plaid fabric deer heads (found at Target) to an exquisite olivewood dining table finds a place here.

Holly has come to see herself as more of a steward than an owner. “It feels like the house is its own thing, and you’re the inhabitant,” says Holly. “It welcomes you.”

DOWN IN

PHOTO: TOM DALY

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ABODE 27

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Into the woods A layered landscape smooths the way from house to forest

BY ERIKA HOWSARE PHOTOGRAPHY BY VIRGINIA HAMRICK

hen you’re building a new house on a wooded hilltop—a house whose design prioritizes views of the outdoors—the landscape is a crucial piece of the puzzle. From within Ron Harris’ Fluvanna County house, the woodsy surroundings are a constant presence, especially through the south wall, which is made almost entirely of glass.

Finished in 2007, the house construction resulted in the clearing of the hilltop, leaving a barren swath of ground around the new home.

Harris wanted to install a landscape right away, and hired designer Joan Albiston to help realize his vision of a lovely transition between the house and its setting.

“I said to Joan, ‘I want gardens, but I want them to feel rustic and natural, so that the house sits in a natural garden in the woods,’” says Harris.

One key to making this happen was the installation of a deer fence, enclosing about three acres around the house. It’s set far enough back in the woods that it becomes invisible, but it allows the planting of many species that would otherwise suffer damage.

Albiston also designed simple hardscaping to create definition in key areas. On the east side of the house, for example, a slope is subtly terraced via the two bluestone walls that cut across its width. “Joan designed the retaining walls so that it looks like we meant it,” says Harris— avoiding, in other words, the harsh appearance of a steep, unbroken slope.

The walls have a utilitarian function too, optimizing drainage. Plantings in this area focus on perennials that shine in springtime.

On the west end, large faux boulders (“They’re not fake rocks; they’re real art,” says Harris) create a layered boundary around the patio, where plantings grow among and soften the rocks. In this area, Albiston relied more heavily on native species. “This is the transition from the house to the woods,” says Harris. A path made of honey quartzite winds among the planting beds.

“Ron’s landscape also has several major elements that provided atypical challenges,” says Albiston. One of those was the garage. Located nearly 200' from the house, it is built into the hillside so that it’s invisible from the home— thus preserving the eastern-facing vista from the master bedroom. “The winter sunrises are spectacular,” says Harris, who nixed a planned second story on the garage to keep it low-profile.

A green roof on the garage was the obvious way to hide it from view. Typically, that would mean a shallow layer of soil capable of supporting only a few kinds of plants, like sedums and succulents. In this case, a deeper bed allows shrubs, grasses and perennials to thrive.

“I didn’t want to create a planting that would say, ‘What’s behind here?’” says Albiston. She CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

ABODE 31

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Terrace steps lined with Virginia creeper lead to the lawn at the south side of the house; another terrace gets a clear view into the woods, while a deeper bed of shrubs, grasses and perennials helps hide one of the property’s biggest challenges—a garage built into the hillside—from view; Radon’s Favorite aster and Arkansas blue star brighten up a corner of the lawn; a mulched path leads guests through the woods from the parking area to the house.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

used uneven plant heights and “wide, soft arcs” to define planting beds in a way that truly disguises the garage.

Another unusual challenge of the property was the substantial distance between the guest parking and the front door. In warm months, when guests park at the end of the driveway, they can get only a glimpse of the home among the trees, and must traverse a curving gravel walk through the woods to reach the front lawn. From there, bluestone stepping stones lead through the grass.

Albiston planted a few trees around the edge of the lawn: rotundiloba sweetgum, black gum

and fast-growing willow oak. Paperbark maple provides texture with its cinnamon-colored exfoliating bark.

Year-round color was a priority. Deciduous sparkleberry holly holds onto its bright red berries through the chilly months, the fiery color offset by darkened rudbeckia stems and ethereal puffs of tawny muhly grass (which, in summer, is a delicious pink). Winter-blooming jasmine cascades its tiny yellow blooms over a retaining wall.

Grasses, both native and nonnative, include Shenandoah switchgrass and Dallas blues panicum. Evergreen osmanthus, nandina and na-

tive itea shrubs help anchor planting beds, while color bursts from irises, rudbeckia and coneflower.

The landscape requires ongoing attention (and drip irrigation to keep plants happy into late summer). Some plants originally specified in Albiston’s design have been replaced as she, Harris and gardener Vicki Cordell have learned over time which species will thrive in particular spots.

For Harris, the landscape is a crucial piece that completes the design of the house itself. After all, he says, “Wherever you look, you’re looking at the gardens.”

ABODE 33

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R E A L E S TAT E

ON THE MARKET

From before

As is, one of Albemarle’s oldest houses is for sale

STEPHEN BARLING

STEPHEN BARLING

O

ften, brand-new houses are dubbed “homes” by real estate agents. That’s an untruth, because if it hasn’t been lived in, it’s nobody’s home. Findowrie, as its atmospheric name would suggest, dwells on the far opposite end of the spectrum.

It’s been unoccupied for decades, but nonetheless it’s dripping with habitation, layered with time, all but haunted. Its vintage isn’t totally clear (Albemarle County lists its year of construction as 1733, while historian K. Edward Lay puts it 45 years later) but it’s certainly one of the oldest houses in the county.

The question is, could it be someone’s home again? The 150 or so Keswick acres with which it’s offered—a chunk of the larger estate, Airslie— are quietly magnificent. A counterpoint of forest and open bottomland create the kind of place which a poet, turkey hunter or just about anyone would feel privileged to inhabit. And, in recognition of that type of value, the property was placed under conservation easement through the Virginia Outdoors Foundation in 2005.

What that means for the next owner is that enjoying and inhabiting this property will be a very real challenge. The house is in a condition that we’ll call demanding. As contractor Mike Ball, president of Element Construction, said when we visited together, “You’d have to be dedicated to the house”—that is, to save it from the entropy that’s currently overtaking it. And yet the easement obligates future owners to consult with the VOF and the state’s Department of Historic Resources before altering the house.

So, we are left with Findowrie as is, and a host of questions about how to save it.

The breakdown

First, get to know the house: a twobedroom, a hole in the floor gave us story, wooden-frame structure with a glimpse of a completely soft supa steep gable roof and brick chimporting beam underneath. “It would neys. Originally, it was two rooms on be a serious job to rework this place,” each floor. Various additions were Address: 728 Campbell says Ball.

Rd., Keswick made, none of them very recently.

After stabilizing, you’d have to gut MLS#: 496117 For example, a tiny room on the back the interior, redo the exterior siding Year built: of the house seems to have served as Approximately 1733 and the roof, and rework the floor a kitchen, with evidence of an electric Bedrooms: 4 plan to include a more modern kitchstove and a woodstove having been Square footage en and bath. “You’re not leaving much,” says Ball. And, he points out, installed at different times. (finished): 1,734 “You’re ending up with a relatively The general condition of the inte- Acreage: 150 small house.” rior is about what you’d expect in a List price: $1.25 million house that’s been sitting untended in Still, there’s no doubt this is a very the country for 40 years or so. Plaster is flaking off special place. Anyone who, like Ball, notices walls and ceilings; windows are broken; wrecked when the nails in the walls are made by hand, or furniture lends a Gothic air. Strewn on the woodwhen floor joists are hand-cut and mortised into en floors, you’ll find everything from a fallen firea beam, can appreciate that. It was never a grand place surround to chunks of wasp nests to feathers. house, but it’s like a time capsule in its way, conBut that’s not the heart of the matter. “The necting us to an earlier era. foundation is going to be your primary issue,” “If somebody loved it, they could make it work,” says Ball. Not because they’d be saving says Ball. A structural engineer could really suss money by renovating instead of building—quite out the situation, but Ball supposes it would be necessary to lift the house and replace the founthe opposite—but because there’s just nothing dation, or at least to majorly shore it up. In a rear else like this.—Erika Howsare

A counterpoint of forest and open bottomland create the kind of place which a poet, turkey hunter or just about anyone would feel privileged to inhabit.

ABODE 35

ANN ANNIVERSARY SALE. WE HAVE A NEW BEDTIME STORY. COME SEE THE NEW HIGHLANDS BEDROOM GROUP.

WE HAVE A NEW BEDTIME STORY. COME SEE THE NEW HIGHLANDS BEDROOM GROUP.

TIME STORY. COME SEE THE NEW HIGHLANDS BEDROOM GROUP.

ANNIVERSARY SALE. $6,534 $3799

OUP.

$6,534 $3799 $3,183 $1849

$6,534 $3799 $4,509 $2449

$3,183 $1849

$4,509 $2449

$3,183 $1849 $4,509 $2449

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—SAVE EVEN MORE Hurry, ON sale THESE SPECIALLY ends July 28, 2014 PRICED ICONIC MORE ON THESE SPECIALLY PRICED PIECES— $1,971 Bring in this coupon ICONIC to save on these Stickley Classics. $5103 $859* Bring in this coupon to save on these Stickley Classics.

Hurry, sale ends July 28, 2014 $2749** IECES— Hurry, sale ends July 28, 2014 $1,971 $859*

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Rt. 29 North (434) 973-5146 Rt. 29 across from Applebee’s (434) 973-5146

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Rt. 29 North (434) 973-5146 IN-HOUSE DESIGN CENTER Rt. 29 North Tuesday — Thursday 10am - 6pm (434) 973-5146 Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm CENTER IN-HOUSE DESIGN www.classicfurnitureva.com

Family owned and since 1982 Tuesday — Thursday 10amoperated - 6pm Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm www.classicfurnitureva.com Tuesday — Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm www.classicfurnitureva.com

ANNIVERSARY SALE. ANNIVERSARY SALE. NIVERSARY SALE. Here come the brides!

Summer 2015

Three brides’ dress hunt stories

Boys’ bands

Wedding ring tips —for the groom

Tall order

Four weddings we love

One incredible 6-foot cake

Head to toe Shoes to put your best foot forward

ON STANDS NOW!

d r a w r o f Curb Appeal

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

FROM THIS DAY

Casey Concrete, Inc. Charlottesville, VA

ABODE 37

ABODE

PICTURE WINDOW

A worn barn in Dyke closes the door on 2015.

Albemarle resident Robert Llewellyn has been a professional photographer for more than 40 years. His plant and landscape photographs have been featured in major art exhibits and published in more than 30 books. To learn more about Llewellyn and his work, visit www.robertllewellyn.com.

38 ABODE

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401 Park Street Charlottesville, VA 22902

434.977.4005 lwoodriff@loringwoodriff.com

CHARMING JOHNSON VILLAGE HOME

PERFECT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

105 Village Court $335,000

University area, on an elevated lot, and within a mile from UVa Hospital. Upgraded appliances including Bosch washer, dryer and dishwasher, a Kenmore Elite range and refrigerator, recessed lighting in kitchen, extra large linen closet, interior storage/pantry, PLUS plywood-floored attic for storage; NEW wide plank wood floors, NEW windows, NEW roof, carpeting less than 5 years old and, a wood burning fireplace has been recently converted to gas. Fully-fenced yard complete with 2 storage sheds, a covered patio, stone fire-pit and a detached studio complete with phone, cable and electric. Ninfa Profaci (434) 906-2790. MLS# 539581

2695 BARRACKS ROAD • $69,000 Unbeatable value with a solid rental history make this a sound purchase for the savvy investor. Four 1 bedroom units for sale by the same owner. Each currently rented for $730-740 a month with room to increase rates in the summer/fall when leases expire. Sydney Tenhundfeld (434) 284-0694. MLS# 539089

CLOSE TO UVA MEDICAL CENTER

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED TOWNHOME

2 STORY PENTHOUSE IN THE HEART OF UVA

120 NORTH BAKER STREET • $239,000 Many recent improvements, including new seamless gutters and downspouts, new fascia, new exterior drainage (buried), complete Basement Dewatering including Santa Fe Advance II Dehumidifier and below grade window well improvements by Weatherseal. Tommy Brannock (434) 981-1486. MLS# 538579

141 BIRDWOOD COURT • $194,900 Enjoy bamboo flooring throughout the first floor in this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home. Some of the features are a living room with a fireplace, separate dining room, an updated kitchen, and brand new heat pump. Relax on the screened porch or walk/bike Downtown, C’ville Coffee or McIntire Park. Shed for extra storage! Inessa Telefus (434) 989-1559. MLS# 539067

428 MONROE LANE, #506 • $475,000 This outstanding penthouse condo offers the perfect solution for those who want close proximity to UVA Grounds, or Downtown Charlottesville.

Wonderfully upgraded with bamboo flooring, solid surface countertops, stainless appliances, 2.5 baths, and beautiful mountain views from the covered balcony. Sally Neill (434) 531-9941. MLS# 528763

AMAZING PRICE AND EASY LIVING

ARCHITECT-DESIGNED FARMHOUSE

MINUTES FROM UVA AND STONEFIELD

138 GREEN TURTLE LANE • $79,000 Convenient location makes this property highly rentable. Perfect investment opportunity or let it pay for itself until you are ready to move in. Fireplace to enjoy in the colder months and community pool in the warmer. Have your agent make an appointment to view today! Sydney Tenhundfeld (434) 284-0694. MLS# 539085

237 DOGWOOD WAY • $699,000 Modern interpretation of the traditional farmhouse with clean lines, high ceilings & loads of windows making it open & airy while retaining a warm & livable vibe. 6800+ sf, amazing greatroom, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths. Three of the bedrooms open to a large family room. Outdoor shower & hot tub, plus full guest house. Erin Garcia (434) 981-7245. MLS# 538274

272 LAKEVIEW DRIVE • $254,900 This home offers plenty of living space inside and out; 3 bedrooms & 2 1/2 baths includes one-of-a-kind gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and a large island. Also includes a great family room with fireplace, heated floors in the master bath, & a huge private patio. Inessa Telefus (434) 989-1559. MLS# 538875

WALK TO DOWNTOWN FOR UNDER 200K

1009 gladtyle lane $625,000

1310 CHESAPEAKE STREET • $184,900 This adorable Woolen Mills cottage, located across from Meade Park, has undergone significant improvements and is move-in-ready. Relax on the cozy covered kitchen porch overlooking the large rear yard. New roof, freshly painted interior & new floors in kitchen and bathroom. Owner/ Agent. Kristin Cummings Streed (434) 409-5619. MLS# 538723

52 ACRES IN BEAUTIFUL EARLYSVILLE

Unique property that offers a peaceful setting and is only minutes to Rt. 29, Hollymead Town Center and NGIC. The home is in great condition and offers a large covered front porch, large living room and dining room for entertaining, good sized kitchen, and first floor master bedroom.

There are three spacious bedrooms, plus a bonus room (or 4th bedroom option) on the second floor with another full bathroom. Two wood-burning fireplaces! Plumbing and electrical have been updated. Don’t miss this opportunity to acquire a move-in ready home with abundant acreage in popular Earlysville. Angie Dotson (434) 981-6302. MLS# 538231

WWW.LORINGWOODRIFF.COM