Charlottesville HOME November December 2014

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CELEBRATE new year’s at home

NOVEMber/DECEMber 2014, vol. 1, No. 5

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features Catere rs T O T H E RE S C U E

Hire an ally in home entertaining

BY H eat h e r B Hay e s

At H ome An y wher e in the Wor ld

How one couple lives with the collections of a lifetime

BY Lau r e l F e i n m an

Cha r lottesvil le ’ s Unique Popul ation: Second H omeow ne r s

An architect revisits one of his original designs

BY Lau r e l F e i n m an

Cover photography by Allegra Helms LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Charlottesville HOME Magazine c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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n P U BL I S H E R ’ s note As we enter the season of giving and receiving, I think about how thankful I am for the many new relationships that I’ve developed in Charlottesville this past year.

A successful relationship is a gift to cherish. It’s something to take ownership in and continually build and nourish.

Our work here at Charlottesville HOME magazine is built on relationships—with our advertisers who invest in us, our readers, and our staff. These relationships are gifts that I value and nurture. As we move towards 2015, I will continue to make sure our advertisers find value in HOME by producing a quality, substantial product that effectively reaches their target customers. We will continue to provide you, our readers, with useful, practical and affordable ideas to enhance your homes and lifestyles. And, we’ll connect you with

local businesses and services that can fulfill your needs and help turn your great ideas into reality.

To everyone who has developed a relationship with HOME over the past year, I thank you. Thank you for investing in us, for sharing your ideas and welcoming us into your homes.

Thank you for your feedback and support and your anticipation of our next issue. Most of all, thank you for your gift to us: the friendship you have developed with Charlottesville HOME. Wishing you and yours all the best (gifts) this holiday season,

— JULIE PIERCE, PUBLISHER julie@westwillowpublishing.com

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Ch a r l ot t e s v ill e h o m e N ove m b e r/ D e c e m b e r 2 0 14

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13 DESIGN

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36 Ch r istmas Tr eeS How to choose just the right one

13 The Afte r- par t y Don’t cry over spilled merlot (and other helpful tips)

16 A LL I S BRI G H T Hire a pro to hang your outdoor holiday lights

19 G i f ts f rom the K itchen Handmade by you

BY M e r i d ith In g r am

BY RORY RHO D ES

BY MITZ I B I B LE

By Lu cy C o o k

30 Ou r Feather ed F r iends Make your yard a birdfriendly haven this winter

33 M aking G ood Scents Adding fragrance to your home

By B EC KY CALVERT

By P h o e b e D i n s m o r e

40 D E C ORATIVE Conc r ete A pretty and practical choice for hard surface floors

BY H eath e r B Hayes

47 Ring in the Ne w Year at Home Treat your friends to a memorable meal

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By J e r ry S o le

50 Editor ’ s P icks Gifts for pets and pet lovers

36 S pecial I nte rest 5 0 Index of advertisers c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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HOME C H A RL O T T E S V I LL E

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Volume 1 I ssue 5

Benjamin Moore ranked the “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Interior Paints” from J.D. Power.

PUBLISHER

Julie Pierce MANAGING EDITOR

Laurel Feinman EDITOR

Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR

Trisha Roth CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Mitzi Bible Becky Calvert Lucy Cook Phoebe Dinsmore Laurel Feinman Heather B Hayes Meridith Ingram Rory Rhodes Jerry Sole

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by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Charlottesville HOME 3831 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@charlottesvillehomemagazine.com.

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Palmyra/Lake Monticello 434.589.2877 Benjamin Moore received the highest numerical scores among interior paints in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2014 Paint Satisfaction Study.

Study based on responses from 9,578 consumers measuring 12 brands and opinions of consumers who purchased and applied interior paint within the previous 12 months. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed January-March 2014.

Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

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©2014 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore, For everything that matters, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks, licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co.

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West Willow Publishing Group, LLC (434) 386-5667 westwillowpublishing.com Copyright 2014 by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All pictorial material reproduced in this magazine, whether in a produced ad or by itself, has been accepted on the condition that it is with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer or the artist concerned.

As such, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC makes no warrant to the accuracy or reliability of this information. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

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n edito r ’ s note From Thanksgiving all the way to the dawn of a new year, the heart of this happy season are the people that make everything so special. In that spirit, this edition of HOME celebrates family traditions.

There’s a lot of focus on food, family and fun in this edition of HOME—as no other time of year seems to bring all three of those ingredients together quite so beautifully. We have recipes and party ideas and even a few clever shortcuts and helpers you can employ to help keep your Joy from turning into an “Oy!” In fact, several articles in this edition of HOME are presented with a “stress less” point of view because it’s so easy to get caught in the frenzy of trying to “make everything perfect,” isn’t it?

In any university town, you’ll find a large market of apartments and condos. But what’s special about Charlottesville is that they’re not just for the college kids! In this edition, we’re featuring the stories of two different homeowners who enjoy all the comforts of home while living in a luxurious apartment and a stylish condo.

In every edition, we strive to present you with articles that are both “pretty” and “practical” so that HOME will be the best local resource and guidebook for homeowners. Though some of our stories may be dreamy, we hope they’re never out of

c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

reach—thanks to the expertise of those retailers and craftsmen who are our advertisers. It is such a thrill for us when hear that we’ve helped make a connection between a satisfied homeowner and one of our advertisers. We love to hear these success stories!

Please continue to share them with us.

Warmest wishes and much happiness for your holiday traditions,

— LAUREL FEINMAN, MANAGING EDITOR laurel@westwillowpublishing.com

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CATERING BEGINS AT HOME

Want to throw a party?

Make it easy by hiring a caterer.

By H e at h er B H ay es

Some people seem to have a genetic predisposition for throwing parties. You know the type: The neighbor who can pull together an impromptu “my son decided to come home a few days early from college” celebration for twenty-five of his closest friends, or the executive’s wife who can put on an intimate, five-course dinner for eight without breaking a sweat.

Then there are the rest of us. We love the idea of having groups of friends, family and coworkers over to our homes for good conversation and a great meal— until we start contemplating all the planning, decorating, shopping and cooking involved.

Who has the time?

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a natural entertainer to successfully entertain at home. You just might need a little help from a caterer. These experienced, talented professionals can assist you with any and everything party-related, from planning and cooking to decorating and cleaning—but it’s not an all-or-nothing deal. They offer varying levels of support so you can stay within your budget— and still completely enjoy the personal, memorable experience that comes with hosting a celebration or dinner party in your own home.

And if you think that hiring a caterer is only for the untalented and the ultra-busy, think again. There’s a good chance that the neighbor who makes party-hosting look like a snap uses a caterer from time to time and may even have their number on speed dial.

“Nearly all of the time people contact us it’s because they don’t have the time or want to deal with the setup, the cooking, all the details,” says Dean Maupin, chef proprietor for C&O Catering in Charlottesville. “They want to be free to spend time with their guests.”

Right Party, Right Caterer

Before you head next door to ask for the name of your neighbor’s caterer, keep in mind that not all catering firms are alike. They can have different specialties, different pricing models and different approaches to service.

Most caterers are willing to work with you to create customized appetizers, entrees, side dishes or desserts, while some prefer that you order off of a set catering menu. Some specialize in a certain style of cooking, and many are willing to prepare food items and even personal recipes brought to them by the client. Some caterers will send a full team, including chef, bartender and wait staff, and work out of your kitchen, while others will prepare the food at their own facilities and just drop off food trays at your home just before the party starts.

And some will come into your home ahead of time to assist you with party setup and decorating.

As a result, before you start asking for referrals and calling caterers, it’s important to take time to think about what kind of party you want and who you c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

plan to invite. Will it be a sit-down dinner for a few friends? An upscale backyard barbecue for 100? A birthday, graduation or anniversary party? A bridal shower and luncheon? Perhaps you’d like to have your work colleagues over for a casual, buffetstyle meal or you might want to invite in your neighbors for a wine-tasting event and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Maybe you’re having a big Super Bowl party and were planning to make your own famous Texas chili, but you’d like a caterer to supply the appetizers, side dishes and dessert.

The options are endless, but your decisions on party theme, menu and services will impact the price, the amount of planning involved and the caterer’s workload and approach to your event.

Most critically, you need to have a ballpark idea of what you can or want to spend. “I don’t always come right out and ask, but it is helpful to know the budget before we start putting together recommendations of what to serve,” says Maupin. “However, we can generally work with anyone’s budget, and we’re always very transparent about the costs involved—‘this much for food, this much

for rentals, this much for bartending’—so there are never any surprises.”

Even if you’ve got a pretty good idea what you want to spend and how you want your party to go, there’s a good chance you’ll be at a loss on what type of food—and how much—to serve. It can be a daunting prospect: Sit-down or buffet?

Chicken, beef, seafood or vegetarian?

Italian, American or French? Should you serve your husband’s favorite dish for his 50th birthday, which just happens to be haggis? How will you handle those guests who have recently sworn off all meat and gluten or the one work colleague with a life-threatening allergy to nuts?

Don’t worry. Caterers are great at , making suggestions and developing options for all tastes and restrictions, so at this point, go ahead and make an appointment with one or several caterers to get an idea of your options.

“We’ll want to know what you want, the format of the party, what your expectations are, and then we’ll make some recommendations and a lot of folks will leave it to our discretion,” Maupin says, noting that clients sometimes often 9

opt for items they’ve enjoyed from the C&O Restaurant menu, like steak chinoise and double chocolate brioche bread pudding. “But if clients have their own ideas, we can do that, or it might be collaborative with a few emails back and forth. No one job is alike.”

Sometimes a client doesn’t want a full-service caterer but just some support with the cooking. In that case, there are Charlottesville-based caterers who can create food trays and platters ahead of time, including Mona Lisa, which specializes in a wide range of Italian and pasta dishes, and Foods of All Nations, which can provide everything from fried chicken to three-foot party subs to trays of grilled baby lamb chops and snow pea and shitake sauté.

Jim Winecoff, Mona Lisa’s owner/chef, says that he often provides the food for large, casual celebrations.

“What we find is that a lot of people are focused on the other details like pulling the house together, so even though they are quite capable of cooking themselves, they just don’t have time and would rather have someone like us bring it in,” he says, noting that he can also help undecided clients match the menu to their party plans and figure out exactly how much food they’ll need to order. “This type of arrangement is a much less expensive option for more casual parties where you might have a lot of people but you don’t really need a full-service caterer. We’re really here to provide the food, but that’s really the biggest piece of putting on a party.”

Butch Brown of Foods of all Nations also says that food is their forte.

While his company doesn’t provide wait staff, they do provide upscale dinners-to-go that would work well if you are hosting an intimate dinner party but are stumped by creating a party-worthy meal. “We’ll even put it on your own plates,” Brown says. He also suggests that catering doesn’t have to be an all or nothing prospect; for example, he suggests that hosts make the simple, main dishes, and let the caterer fill in the gaps with more interesting accompaniments. “Hosts can use us to create the tedious, labor-intensive dishes—like trays of cool appetizers for a cocktail party,” he says.

The Finer Points

Once the menu is finalized, you’ll need to work with the caterer to determine other key details that can help ensure a successful and smooth-running party.

First, the beverage question. Are you planning to serve alcoholic drinks, and if so, what kind: beer and wine, specialty drinks, liquor or some combination thereof, or just canned beer and sodas? Most caterers have an ABC license and can help supply the hard liquor and the mixers while you provide the wine or beer (or vice versa). Or if you want to serve just wine and beer, you can aid your budget by buying it yourself—and, if you ask, your caterer may help you develop a shopping list.

No matter who’s doing the supplying, it’s a good idea to consider paying the caterer to staff a bartender at your party, especially if you’re planning an evening affair with more than 20 guests. For some, the decision is practical, as a bartender helps avoid having guests pour and mix their own drinks, which can lead to bottlenecking and sticky spill disasters.

For others, though, a bartender adds to the sophistication of a party. “A bartender just brings an added sense of style and formality, a professional touch, and once again, it just frees up the client up from having to deal with any of the issues around guests and their drinks,” says Maupin.

For larger or more formal parties, the caterer, as part of the quoted cost, will generally supply at least one server (and sometimes more) to set out food, keep the party area clean of empty glasses, plates and crumpled napkins, or serve hors d’oeuvres. However, if you’re having a smaller shindig, you can still request an on-site server. It’s an additional cost, but it too can be money well spent if you’d rather spend your time completely focused on your guests and party activities.

Another issue to contemplate: What kind of table service do you want? If it’s a small, formal dinner party, you can ask your caterer to serve your guests 10

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

using your own family china and antique platters, but if you don’t want to risk any breakage or you don’t have enough matching pieces for all your guests, the caterer can also serve your meal using rented upscale tableware (though it may or may not involve an additional fee).

“Most times people do want us to go ahead and bring rentals in,” says Maupin. “But we work very closely with the client to help them get the look and feel they want in terms of china, silver, glassware, linens and so forth,” says Maupin.

If it’s a less formal celebration, caterers can serve using any variety of pretty or plain plates, glasses and serving ware, or you can opt for disposable items to make clean up fast and simple.

Setting the Stage

One of the big issues with a house party is making sure that you can easily accommodate your guests and ensure that they can move around easily and feel comfortable. To do this effectively, some caterers will, for an extra fee or as part of the negotiated price, come in ahead of the big day and help you map out the flow of your party. This will help you determine the best spots for your serving table, appetizer stations and bar or drink area, and whether or not to bring in extra seating.

Some caterers offer other pre-party service offerings, such as helping you clean, prep and decorate your home or backyard. C&O Catering, for example, will advise on the layout of the party and handle the setup, rearranging whatever needs to be arranged, setting up tables, and bringing in any needed items, such as glassware, table service, napkins and linens.

The staff at Mona Lisa, although not a full-service caterer, will set everything up for buffet service at the party site and leave before the party starts, and Winecoff notes that he is always willing to build the food presentation using the client’s own serving dishes (if they are provided a few

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days ahead of time). Otherwise, clients can choose to use the caterer’s plates and utensils (which will be retrieved the next morning) or disposables that can be thrown away for easy clean up.

Although most caterers do much of their prep work and cooking before they arrive at your home, they’ll still need use of your kitchen to stage, finalize and warm the various food items. The good news is that you probably won’t need to supply anything, except perhaps your microwave, stovetop and oven.

The one thing you will need to do is to clear your countertops of any paperwork, appliances or other clutter and make sure all surfaces and cooking areas are clean and disinfected.

Party Down

On the day of your big party, everything is set up, the house looks beautiful, the staff is set and your guests are starting to arrive.

So what do caterers advise you to do now? Relax.

Mingle with your guests. Let go and let the caterers do their job. “You can’t be a good host if you’re going around worrying about all the little details,” says Maupin. “That’s why you’re hiring our expertise and our experience. Just go on and enjoy your party.

And isn’t that exactly what you’re paying for?

SIDE DISH Make the most of your catering experience with these additional hints: Pl an ahead Caterers’ schedules fill up fast, especially during prime party seasons like Christmas and Saturday evenings in June. Once you know when you want to have your party, get yourself penciled into their calendar, even if you’re still working out the details.

Curb your costs You can get the party support you need without breaking the bank. Among the possibilities: Supply your own beer and wine. Have the caterer cook and prepare your food for drop-off or for you to pick up right before the party, saving you on the cost of on-site service. Prioritize your spending by asking the caterer to create very simple, inexpensive appetizers, such as a tray of interesting crackers and cheeses, and use the bulk of your budget for a couple of sophisticated entrée items. Or divide up the food preparation so the caterer is providing only the most work-intensive or interesting items. As an example, you could prepare a large but simple meat dish, such as a Virginia ham or roast beef, and then let the caterer supply the appetizers, side dishes and dessert.

Party and learn Having a top chef working in your kitchen is a great opportunity for you and your guests to watch a professional at work, ask questions and learn a new cooking style.

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

n IMPROVE CLEANING TIPS

Party Fouls

How to Clean Up the Most Common Party Messes

By R o ry R h o d es

I will never forget the time I was invited to a Bunco party at a swanky home on a golf course. As I sat down at a card table draped in a vintage white tablecloth, my knee bumped the table leg and sent a long-stemmed wine glass arcing towards the hostess, who was wearing a white peasant blouse. Mortified, I stammered apologies while the woman, whom I’d only just met, mopped up the spill with a rag. Gulp. I spent the rest of the evening guiltily eyeing the purple blotches and trying to roll the dice without touching the card table.

The holiday season is upon us, and for many that means hosting dinner and cocktail parties, open houses and family gatherings. Spills happen, so here’s how to keep the good times rolling in the event of a party foul.

Red Wine

Let’s start with my faux pas. The gold standard is Wine Away (I used to work at a winery, and we always kept this on hand).

Biodegradable and non-toxic, it’s safe for use around kids and pets. Gently soak up excess wine with a cloth—don’t rub—then spray the cleaner, wait several minutes, and blot until lifted.

Repeated applications may be necessary. If possible, use hot soapy water to remove any lingering discoloration, and most importantly, treat the stain before it dries! Wine Away also claims it removes coffee, ink, pet stains and blood, in case your party gets really interesting.

Don’t have Wine Away? Dilute the stain with water and blot: I suspect this is why using club soda or white wine on spills is advised—they’re primarily diluting the red liquid. You can also use a mixture of equal parts Dawn dishwashing liquid, widely touted as a gentle but effective stain and oil remover, and hydrogen peroxide. Blot up excess wine, pour on this mixture and let it soak, then wash. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleaching agent, so be sure to check your item’s care instructions before attempting clean up.

Candle Wax

Freeze the wax with an ice cube wrapped in a sandwich bag, then scrape it off. Place the stained area between layers of paper towels, and use your iron on a low setting to transfer the remaining wax onto the towels. For any remaining stain, treat with stain remover and launder as usual. If the wax is on upholstery, carpet, or anything nonwashable, you may have to finish up with a dry cleaning solvent, such as Woolite’s Dry Cleaner’s Secret or Dryel.

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Lipstick

If you find lipstick on your napkins, use a squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid to break up the grease, then launder as usual.

Check the napkins before putting them in the dryer to make sure that the stain is gone; if color remains, try soaking in white vinegar. Another stain removal method is to place the napkin on top of a paper towel. Take another towel dampened with rubbing alcohol and press it to the stain. Read the care label first to make sure the fabric is safe for this method. The stain will transfer to the towel beneath. A good tip for party cleanup is to soak all napkins in a mix of Dawn dish detergent and water before laundering.

Gravy and Salad Dressing

Scoop up as much as you can with a spoon or dull knife, and use cornstarch or talcum powder to absorb the rest. Vacuum the absorbent after 10 to 15 minutes. From there, pretreat washable items with stain remover; use dry cleaning solvent for nonwashables.

Mustard

Mustard’s zesty flavor comes in part from turmeric, a yellow spice whose stain is difficult to remove. The key with mustard is—don’t wait! Without alarming your guests, scoop up whatever mustard you can, and dilute the remaining stain with water. If you can, pour the water over the underside of the item, because it will push the stain out the top of the fabric rather than through the layers. Next, apply some laundry or dishwashing soap and rub the fabric under running water, then apply laundry stain remover. Launder in cool water and check the stain before 14

putting it in the dryer. If mustard lands on a dry clean-only item or upholstery, use dry cleaning solvent and blot. If the item is sturdy enough, try tamping the solvent into the fabric lightly with a bristle brush to help loosen the stain.

Tomato-Based Stains

Ketchup and pasta sauce respond well to lemon juice, as long as your fabric can handle it. Apply the juice with a sponge, and finish with a cloth dampened with cool water, then blot to dry. You can also follow the mustard method by running water through the back of the fabric and gently scrubbing with dish liquid and a bristle brush. If you can still see the stain on a lightcolored fabric, try sponging with a mild bleaching agent such as distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Soak in cold water before laundering.

Chipped or Cloudy Crystal

If a crystal glass or bowl gets chipped, it can be repaired. In a pinch, if it’s a very small chip roughening the rim of a glass, you can smooth it with a nail file, though it may still be visible. A better idea is to take the item to a crystal repair service or a quality jeweler, which will file the rim down evenly, but know that it might end up slightly shorter than your other glasses.

Small cracks can also be filled with a sealing compound. If the stem breaks off a glass, it may not be able to be properly repaired, as the clear acrylic glue used probably won’t hold long-term.

However, a crystal repairer can turn a cherished item such as a goblet into something decorative, like a Christmas ornament or votive holder.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

To make cloudy crystal sparkle again, soak it in warm white vinegar, which will remove hard water build-up. You can also wipe crystal with acetone nail polish remover. If these methods don’t help, it may be that the crystal has become etched. Soft water is often the culprit. Unfortunately, this is permanent.

Spots on Silver

Silver will react with various substances, including salt, vinegar, olives, fruit juice, cut flowers, and sulphur-producing foods such as onion and eggs. If these items come into contact with silver, they can produce black spots that polish will not remove, so before putting your items away, make sure you wash gently using your favorite method, avoiding any lemon-scented dish detergents. Never wash silver with stainless steel because, if they touch, an electrolytic reaction will cause spots. Likewise, rubber will corrode silver, so stay away from rubber gloves. Rinse with warm water, dry thoroughly, and buff gently with a soft cloth.

Prevent reactions and slow tarnishing by making sure silver is not stored near rubber, newspaper ink (silver was once wrapped in newspaper and rubber bands—a double whammy!) salt, chamois leather, or stainless steel.

Broken Glass or Ornaments

Use dampened paper towels or newspaper to safely lift up small shattered pieces. A piece of soft bread will also work. Dispose of carefully in trash, so pets or children can’t get to it. When sweeping up, sprinkle salt over the area to help catch little pieces and make clean up easier.

The acid in lemons makes the citrus a great cleaning agent.

EMERGENCY PARTY-FOUL KIT Keep a bucket or bin stashed in the pantry filled with these useful clean-up items: - Clean rags and sponges - Dawn dishwashing liquid - Laundry stain remover - Wine Away - Dry cleaning solvent - Cornstarch or talcum powder - White vinegar - Hydrogen peroxide - Rubbing alcohol - Spray bottle with water or all-purpose cleaning solution - Dustpan and brush

WAREHOUSE SALE Including Remnants

Photo by Tommie Milacci

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www.spectrumstonedesigns.com 15

n GARDEN HOLIDAY LIGHTING

Light the

Night

Illuminate your outdoor space with help from the pros

By M i t z i B i bl e

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Lots of plastic containers (or tubs as we like to call them), stacked high, filled with outdoor Christmas decorations, are sitting in the basement or storage shed or attic, all ready for you…but are you ready for them?

The biggest chore many of us tackle every year is decorating our home’s exterior for the holidays. Headaches often ensue when we drag items out of their yearlong hiding places (never quite in the order that we need them), climb rickety ladders to reach rooflines, dodge overgrown shrubbery, and attempt to untangle lights that may just decide for themselves not to get in the holiday spirit this year. Don’t look down—a whole day could go by and you may not have anything to show for it.

More and more homeowners are hiring professionals to do the job because having it done on time, safely, and tastefully means a holly, jolly Christmas for all.

Landscape companies, who spend a good part of the year enhancing the home’s surroundings, are a natural fit for this work as the cold weather begins to set in. Electric companies, many of which already specialize in outdoor lighting for ambience and for security, have also started to offer installation services for the holidays, providing the technical know-how and equipment necessary to get the job done in a fraction of the time.

Greg Harvey, owner of Mr. Electric in Charlottesville, says he is seeing an increase every year in both commercial and residential customers for Christmas lighting. Some clients are simply unable to do the work themselves because of age or disability. But most clients know how labor-intensive it is and their schedules at this time of year just won’t allow it.

“People hire professionals for the convenience; it’s a time saver,” he says. “Some of our customers prefer not to get on a ladder. We offer bucket truck service, too, and we can get to higher heights that way.” c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

Some homeowners don’t know where to start when it comes to outdoor holiday decorating. (Then, of course, there are those who don’t know where to stop!)

While we can be lured by the pictures on the boxes in retail stores, many of us don’t know how to combine the products right for an elegant display. This is where professionals can help you determine how to highlight your home’s features for the holidays—there’s no going overboard.

Harvey and his team will schedule an on-site meeting and provide an estimate (service calls are $95 per hour; if a bucket truck is needed, it is $135 per hour). A technician will determine how long the installation will take and will set up a time that is convenient for the homeowner. The company will do rooflines, rooftops, trees, porches, and other hard-to-reach places.

“Options are limitless,” Harvey says.

“You can have plans and ideas put together, and we can make suggestions, too, if needed.”

While some companies provide an entire product line along with installation service, some like Mr. Electric work with what customers have bought on their own.

There are some businesses that will even store and maintain your lights for you.

As the lighting industry continues to introduce more technology, the options have varied. Harvey attests that LED Christmas lights are becoming popular for their longer life span. They come in single color, multicolored or clear. LED rope lights are particularly popular, with flashing and scrolling options. Although they will be more costly at start-up, they pay off in the long run.

Some of the most popular products on the market today are rope lights with dangling shapes (snowflakes, candy canes and stars, for example) installed along the rooflines. Just adding a full strand of stars or snowflakes in a warm classic white (the original clear lighting) or a classic white LED light, or even blue, can make a home look ready for a winter wonderland.

“Starbursts” are another popular product—clusters of lights that can be hung in trees, on houses, or planted in the ground for a more contemporary look.

For even more fun, choose from a number of larger-than-life yard displays ranging from colorful snowmen, to elves, toy soldiers, manger scenes, or even Santa teeing off. And if you have children, animated rooftop or yard displays may 17

be a must. Options include Santa arriving in his sleigh, traipsing across the roof, and heading down the chimney, or an elf jumping on top of gifts to hang a star on a Christmas tree. Even the yard displays and animations can be done in a tasteful way to help passers-by share in your holiday spirit.

While hiring a professional can take the headaches away, it can also take out all the guesswork. Installers will take into account your home’s electric capacities, testing your outlets, using the appropriate adapters and cords, as well keeping cords safely tucked away in the yard and at the side of homes.

They can set up specialized digital timers, too, so the work is basically hands-free for the homeowner.

Another worry-free factor when choosing a professional for outdoor decorating?

Take-down is timely—no more waiting to see if you will be the last house in the neighborhood with Christmas lights as it gets closer and closer to Valentine’s Day. If outdoor decorating is at the top of your Christmas to-do list, but often makes its way to the bottom, hiring someone to take care of the chore could free up more time to get to those tasks that make the holiday what it should be—a meaningful, stress-free, “bright” time for your family.

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n LIVE GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN

Gifts from the Kitchen NEW TAKES ON HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

By Lu cy Co o k

Picture the scene: December 20-something in the afternoon, your doorbell rings. You rush to the door expecting a uniformed delivery person, bringing that last, most important gift you ordered for your spouse. But no! Outside is your neighbor, clutching another beautiful bounty of her homemade specialty, and you, again, are unprepared…

This year, vow to be prepared with a beautiful homemade gift of your own. It’s easier than you think!

Gifts from your kitchen—now, and any time of the year, really—demonstrate your thoughtfulness and planning, are generally affordable, and are usually very welcome. If you’ve ever been a teacher, you know the coffee mugs tend to stack up. I love getting little bags of goodies from friends; I can save them for myself, or share when other guests drop by. Reflecting on gifts I’ve loved over the years, the ones that come to mind fall into at least one of three categories: personal, immediately usable or beautifully packaged.

Personal Gifts

Beautifully Packaged

The fun part of a homemade gift from the kitchen is that you’re sharing part of your family—an old family recipe or personal favorite. It’s fun, too, to see what others eat and choose to share during the holidays, and to get a glimpse of another family’s traditions. Are you known for your spaghetti sauce or barbecue rub? Does your family have a signature cookie or holiday treat that everyone loves? Give the people what they want: if everyone looks at you and thinks of your delicious ginger snaps or fabulous brownies, that’s what you should make. If you’ve made almond toffee for the past 10 years (and gotten compliments on it!), by all means, stick to what you are good at, and what you’re known for.

Half the fun of making and receiving the gift is the packing. There are endless possibilities both at local craft stores and online.

Consider the item you intend to package. Is it fragile? Would it be best stored in the fridge or freezer; would it go stale sitting on the counter? Will you be mailing the item, or hand delivering? Each of these questions dictates a different kind of basic packaging.

Take a trip to the craft store and hardware store to look at your packaging options. The best packages are gifts in themselves—a sturdy box or bowl that can be reused is a great container.

There are endless ways to jazz up your packaging as well.

Picture a plain cellophane bag or an aluminum pan wrapped with personalized ribbon (imprinted with holiday greetings and your name) to dress it up. Or consider creating custom labels; you can easily design your own using sticky labels available at the office supply store—which could include cooking instructions or recipe suggestions.

Ready to start cooking? Don’t forget to be realistic. Figure out how many gifts you’ll need, then add two or three extra gifts for good luck—there’s always someone unexpected who shows up with a package—and you could take extra gifts to any holiday parties to which you may be invited. Figure out the cost of the

Immediately Usable

During the holidays, we all feel pressed for time, and nothing is better than an extra hand to help. A homemade coffee cake or a couple dozen frozen hors d’oeuvres would really fit the bill for someone who has a house full of guests. A container of soup or a pan of chicken enchiladas or lasagna would be the perfect gift for a busy family. Such dishes could be used right away, or frozen for the coming weeks. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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recipe, and whether it will be affordable; sometimes holiday ingredients like nuts can be expensive. Next, make one batch of your gift—to make sure it’s good, and to see how long it will take. Test the packaging, and make any necessary adjustments.

Keep the recipe and a list of recipients in your holiday file so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel next year. It may also be a good idea to keep a list of gifts you received from friends to help remind you who you need to add to your list next year.

I’ve included some recipes that I’ve enjoyed that make nice gifts, if you don’t already have one in mind. Happy Holidays and Happy Cooking!

Grainy Mustard (makes 2 cups) This would look great in a jar with a nice label. Everyone knows what to do with mustard, but you could add a recipe for a salad dressing made with the mustard for a nice addition to your gift. ¼ cup mustard seeds 1 cup Coleman’s mustard powder 4 tablespoons honey ¼ cup champagne vinegar 1 cup white wine Place the mustard seeds in a heavy zip-lock plastic bag and pound them 4 to 5 times with the bottom of a skillet to smash some of the seeds. In a medium bowl, combine the seeds, mustard powder, honey and vinegar. Stir until combined. Add the wine and stir. Put into a non-reactive jar (glass) and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using. Mustard keeps, refrigerated, for one year—if it lasts that long!

Mushroom Puffs (makes 36) These yummy hors d’oeuvres can be kept in the freezer up to three months. Just pop a few on a baking tray and reheat for a last-minute treat. Alternately, just make the filling and serve with toasted French bread rounds.

1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons butter 1 pound mushrooms, chopped 1 8-ounce package cream cheese 1 package frozen puff pastry Sauté garlic in butter. Add mushrooms and cook over medium-high heat, until all the liquid has been absorbed. Cool slightly. Combine cream cheese and mushrooms in a food processor or mixer and blend completely.

(At this point, you could refrigerate the mixture and serve with toasted French bread rounds.) To continue with making the appetizer, cut a sheet of puff pastry into 1½-inch squares. Press a square into each cavity of a mini muffin tin. Fill with a rounded teaspoon of the mushroom mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes until lightly browned. Serve, or cool then remove from pan and freeze for up to three months.

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Cre at i ve gif t w r a p ava il a b l e at T h e A r t B ox C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Five-Spice Pecans (makes 2 cups) These are great as a snack, or crumbled as an addition to a salad or on top of a bowl of ice cream.

Butter (for greasing baking sheet) 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons water 2 cups pecan halves Butter a foil-lined baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350. In a heavy saucepan, bring the sugar, spices and water to a boil, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 240 degrees (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and stir in the pecans.

Pour the nut mixture onto the greased foil and bake in the oven for 10 minutes, until toasted and fragrant. Let cool, then break up into small pieces. Store in an airtight container for two weeks, or in your freezer for up to six months.

Simple Truffles I learned early that the attraction to truffles is the taste and quality of the chocolate, so don’t skimp on this ingredient. Instead of the lengthy process of scooping and rolling the truffles into balls, try cutting them into decorative shapes (squares, rectangles, or small hearts or other cookie-cutter shapes). It looks attractive and saves lots of time! ½ cup heavy cream 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped (use the best that you can find, like Lindt, Callebaut or other high-quality chocolate) 6 ounces (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter ½ cup sifted cocoa powder Line an 8x8 square pan with plastic wrap. Combine cream, chocolate and butter in a double boiler, and simmer over warm water until smooth and melted. Pour into the pan and chill. Use plastic wrap to lift out of the pan. Cut into desired shapes and dust with cocoa powder. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two months. Allow truffles to come to room temperature before serving. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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SCAN THIS PAGE TO SEE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THIS HOME C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Treasures

A HOME OF MANY

Lessons in living with beautiful collections

BY L au r e l F ei n m a n P h ot o g r a p hy by A ll e g r a H e lms

If it is true that the comfortable feeling of “being at home” comes from the people who dwell there, instead of from the walls and rooftop overhead, then it could be argued that you can feel at home no matter where in the world you live. For homeowners who have spent a lifetime living in cities all over the world, their experiences and their collections have become a part of the family—loved ones they take with them wherever they go.

Over the course of a career, one international couple has moved at least 14 times, but for the past few years, they’ve been comfortably settled in Charlottesville in a spacious three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom apartment.

In fact, this couple says that they’ve almost always lived in apartments, and that one of the best things about apartment living is that, due to space limitations, you tend to keep only the things you absolutely love.

They say, “Our collections have grown over our lifetime and are tied to meaningful, magical memories.” c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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These homeowners acknowledge that it’s highly impractical for a couple that’s moved so many times to cultivate so many collections. But they shrug off any inconvenience the collections might have caused by saying that these treasures are what add character to the home.

The first indication that these homeowners truly live with, and fully enjoy, their collectibles is seen in the life-sized bronze bust of the lady of the house, sculpted by Mary Berry Barnes in the late 1960s. Because of its proximity to the front door in the dark green and cream-colored marble foyer, her hands have become a convenient (and memorable!) place to toss the house keys upon entering the home.

Two very old portraits hang above the “key holder.” They date from the 18th century and depict family relatives. The manner of dress and details on the subjects’ clothing indicate that they were important people.

Hanging on the largest wall in the foyer, facing the front door, is a gigantic green and gold antique Chinese screen, one of the homeowner’s favorite things she’s ever found at an estate sale.

She says she loves going to antique auctions and estate sales, and offers three pieces of advice for successful shopping. She says, “Get there early, be prepared with your checkbook, and act immediately—don’t hesitate—or your treasure will surely go home with someone else.”

To the left of the foyer is a guest bedroom and bath. The bed is dressed in matelassé linens and the room is furnished with delicate antique bedside tables and a dresser. The walls are decorated with a collection of European contemporary paintings. The full bath provides all the necessary amenities so 2 4

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

that overnight guests will have everything they need for a comfortable night’s stay. In the hall, there is also an attractive powder room, for convenience.

The Kitchen and Breakfast Nook

Just through the foyer, you’ll encounter the large, square kitchen. It has a French Provincial vibe with a neutral color palette.

The custom-made cabinets and millwork, built by Better Living Virginia, are stained in a light-to-medium tone and they exude warmth in this well-lit room. The countertops are made of blue and white Corian, and the antiqued pewter cabinetry hardware complements the flint-grey flecks in the countertop’s surface and the antique blue and white Chinese Canton porcelain on top of the cabinets.

In the window bay sits a round table, its mosaic top covered in colorful natural stones set in resin. Glossy white Chinese Chippendale-style chairs are arranged around the table. The table was purchased when they were traveling in Brazil and the homeowner says she can vividly remember what an adventure it was to travel through the jungle and up a mountain to the place where the table was made.

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The Dining Room

The dining room is located in a recessed area adjacent to the living room. The homeowner explains that she likes this open floor plan because when she hosts dinners she prefers to set two or more smaller dining tables, rather than one long one.

She feels that doing so makes it easier to chat and keeps dinner conversation lively. The walls in the dining room, as in the rest of the apartment, are cream-colored. The room is accented with a dark blue Chinese silk rug and a collection of blue and white Chinese export porcelain.

Watching over the dining room is a wall-sized antique painting depicting the tranquil scene of a woman sitting by a body of water, holding a loaf of bread, with angels and small children sitting at her feet, representing the Holy Family.

Along the longest wall in the dining room, the homeowner has designed a gallery wall, successfully marrying contemporary paintings with antique Chinese export porcelain platters. She says, “What keeps the layout from becoming expected or ordinary is to arrange things in odd-numbered groups of three or five, but, the secret is to occasionally break that rule and display things in twos.”

In the china cabinet are several sets of colorful and decorative antique Chinese export porcelain and hand-painted antique French coffee and drinking-chocolate mugs—each delicate cup and saucer a miniature piece of artwork you can hold in your 2 6

hand. The chocolate cups have a slightly bulbous shape, which makes them easily distinguishable from the coffee’s straightsided demitasse mugs.

The Living Room

The living room is a large, formally decorated room, divided into a seating area and an entertaining area. It is furnished with items acquired in over 50 years of living around the world. Beautiful valances, drapes and sheers in shades of peach, coral and sage green cover the windows along the length of one wall, unifying the two spaces.

The fabric is by Pierre Frey and the homeowner said she’s used these drapes in every home she’s lived. “I was taught you don’t replace things just because you tire of them. I choose things to last a lifetime,” she says. A skilled seamstress helped adapt the curtains to fit this apartment’s windows, further proving that with creativity and ingenuity, you can find a way for your belongings to fit into any surroundings and make you feel at home.

The seating arrangement focuses on the fireplace and the built-in bookcases on either side of it. The bookcases are filled with leather-bound family photo albums and collector’s books pertaining to Chinese export porcelain, architecture and the works of various artists.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Just to the right of the fireplace wall are built-in illuminated glass shelves displaying charming antique 18th-century Chinese figurines, each painted with a happy facial expression and holding a small bowl. Each bowl has a hole in it, to hold an incense stick. The bowls are meant to catch the burning ashes. The homeowners have built this collection over decades by studying the details of collecting Chinese export porcelain, meeting experts and forming bonds with reputable dealers. Guided by such knowledge, the homeowners have been well versed to thoughtfully select figurines for their collection.

At the rear of the room is a grand piano. On top of the piano are several silver-framed photos from wedding days and other special moments.

Underneath the piano sits a curious creature—a life-sized ceramic Bassett hound, purchased when they lived abroad. The homeowner said that she used to use it as a friendly way to block a hallway or doorway in areas where she didn’t want guests to wander.

Above the piano hangs the painting of a gate that’s opened toward the sand

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dunes. It was painted by a French painter named Jean Riguad, now deceased, who was known for his realistic scenes and use of pure colors set against gray skies. Other works in the room are also of vibrantly colored landscapes and bright flowers. Of her choice to mix bold artwork with the subdued tones in her upholstery and drapes, the homeowner says, “Your art doesn’t need to match your couch! If you design your home so that you are living among what you love, you can’t possibly go wrong.”

In the corner is a pretty leather-topped writing desk with a candlestick lamp and a telephone sitting upon it. But don’t be fooled, this table has an alter ego! It is called a “trick track” game table, and the writing surface can flip over to reveal a feltcovered surface for card playing. Or, it can be set entirely aside to access an inlaid mother-of-pearl, bone and ebony backgammon court hidden inside. Antique tables like this, which contain a delightful surprise, are typical of the 17th and 18th centuries, when people needed furnishings to serve multiple purposes.

The Den

The den is largely the gentleman’s domain—masculine without being dark, decorated mostly in shades of white and blue and includes a Chinese export mug collection. Maritime artwork adorns the wall above the saddle-tan leather Chesterfield sofa.

The colors in the den complement the room’s artwork and collections. The Second Yard helped dress the windows in a handsome indigo blue and white toile fabric depicting 2 8

scenes reminiscent of those found on export porcelains. The homeowner has a collection of antique Oriental and Persian rugs and enjoys rotating his collection and displaying different rugs.

Half are kept in storage so he can rotate his stock and change the character of the room, giving it an entirely new look.

The cabinets on the left-hand wall were custom-built by Mill Cabinet Shop and patterned after photos of cabinets seen on the cover of a book called “Living With Antiques” and French chateaus that the homeowner admired. The wood is lightly stained, similar in tones to the sofa, and trimmed with hints of Wedgewood blue.

The Terrace

Outside the study is a large terrace that can be accessed from the living room, the study or the master bedroom—linking those spaces together from the outdoors. Glass-topped iron outdoor furniture, including a dining set, is on the terrace and the homeowners say they enjoy dining there, recalling fond memories of entertaining guests on other terraces in great cities in which they’ve lived.

The Master Bedroom

Perhaps nowhere else in their home can an eclectic approach to collecting be seen than in the master bedroom. Upon the bed is an Amish quilt, appreciated for the beauty in its simple and colorful handiwork. Beneath this homey quilt are luxurious bed C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

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sheets by Yves DeLorme, featuring an orchid motif.

Over the bed is a set of eight, secondedition botanical prints by Pierre-Joseph Redoute of the Empress Josephine of France’s tea roses (the first editions hang in museums). They are framed in such a way that if you take them off the wall and turn them over, you can read the scientific language about each plant.

Near the bed is an antique English highboy dresser. The drapes on the bedroom windows are made from a fabric that the homeowner had seen many years before and was thrilled to rediscover at Fabrics Unlimited in Charlottesville.

By mixing these motifs, with their varied centuries and origins, the cosmopolitan couple has put a unique stamp on their home through their collections. After visiting their home, it’s easy to conclude that a house is just a house—but what makes it a home are the people and their stories.

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n GARDEN BIRD FEEDERS

Winter Garden, Bird Sanctuary

By B ecky C a lv er t

3 0

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

With all their twittering and fluttering about, birds add movement, sound and color to our landscape. The winter garden, while lacking the lushness the more hospitable growing seasons offer, can still be a sanctuary for birds. The harsh weather of the season is difficult for our feathered friends, making shelter, food and water harder to find. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make the garden a year-round bird haven—ways that are beneficial to our landscape as well.

H

osting a variety of plantings in your yard is a good place to start. Diversity in plants provides a blend of colors, textures, shapes and sizes to the landscape that attract birds. Evergreens and shrubs provide ideal spots for birds to shelter themselves from predators and the elements during the colder months. American hollies, bayberries and junipers, as well as deciduous trees like the native dogwood and flowering crabapple, provide birds a great food source with their winter berries. Plant species native to the area will not only thrive in our growing conditions, but they also attract native birds that recognize them as food sources.

When we prepare to entertain guests in our homes, we often put our best foot forward by straightening up the little messes of everyday life. Nature, however, is not as impressed with neatness. Little messes left in our yards welcome not just birds, but the bugs and larvae they feed on. Leave some of autumn’s fallen leaves in small piles in flowerbeds, and around trees, bushes and fences. The benefits of leaving this leaf litter reach far beyond creating a habitat for the insects that birds feast on. This litter helps control erosion and assist with water retention, while adding nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. The bugs that depend on this food source often work to spread these nutrients throughout the garden. Instead of deadheading the spent zinnias and coneflowers of last summer’s flowerbeds, leave them until spring. Leave some leaf litter among their stalks to create a winter smorgasbord of seeds and bugs as well as a naturally enriched plot come next spring.

Birds are also attracted to small brush piles. A small pile, tucked away in a corner of the yard, is a sanctuary from predators and harsh weather. These piles offer shelter as well as materials for nest building.

In warmer months, these piles can be covered with climbing vines such as morning glory or hyacinth bean, also providing nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Shelter can also be provided in the form of a birdhouse or nesting box you purchase at the garden center or hardware store.

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Providing a food source in a bird feeder is another way to attract birds to your winter garden. Feeders can be hung in any number of spots to attract a wider variety of birds. Some birds will feel comfortable coming to a feeder attached to a window, while others might prefer one hanging from a tree branch.

Try to provide a secure spot, near shelter, and avoid hanging the feeder on low branches where small predators like cats may lurk. Wherever you choose to place a feeder, it is important to maintain the food supply, as birds will seek it out on a regular basis, especially in the harshest of weather. To deter other creatures such as squirrels from feasting at your buffet, consider mounting your feeder on a pole with a squirrel baffle (a device used to destabilize the climbing surface), or surround your feeders with a wire mesh through which squirrels are unable to chew.

In order to keep warm, birds need to eat seeds higher in fat and protein. Beware of cheaper mixes containing grain and cracked corn contents, which act as filler. Cracked corn especially attracts undesirable birds such as starlings, an invasive species. Invasive species—those that have been introduced to the environment—often lack predators or other native controls on their population, and can crowd out native birds, leading to extinction. Sunflower chips, peanuts, thistle and black-oil sunflower seeds are among those highest in fat and protein, and are recommended to attract native birds to your feeders. Suet cakes are a good option as well, as long as they are 95 percent fat.

With food and shelter options available, the last crucial element to attracting birds to your winter garden is a good water source. Ideally, a few shallow sources of water available for drinking and bathing should be located within 15 feet of shelter.

Colder temperatures can mean standing water ices over easily, so small heaters or bubblers can be installed to help prevent this.

Solar-powered or temperature-sensitive models are ideal because they do not depend on electricity and require little attention.

Birds are more attracted to moving water than still, but any water source will do. A few small perches in and near the water, which can be as simple as small rocks, are much appreciated by birds. As with feeders, any water source offered to birds should be cleaned on a regular basis, ideally about once a week, to avoid spreading disease.

The winter landscape, while more difficult for wildlife to navigate, can still be hospitable to our feathered friends.

Thankfully, making your yard a year-round haven for birds is as easy to create and maintain as it is to enjoy.

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n LIVE HOME FRAGRANCE

USING GOOD SCENTS Incorporating fragrance into your home’s design

BY P h o eb e D i ns m o r e

When planning all the thoughtful details that put your personal stamp on your home, almost all of the attention is focused upon how it looks—creating a visual experience. But what about that oft-overlooked but unmistakably powerful sensory pleasure: our sense of smell? A fragrance can instantly elicit a flood of memories, influence moods and even affect stress levels, because the olfactory bulb is part of our brain’s limbic system—an area so closely associated with memory and feelings that it’s sometimes called the “emotional brain.”

If you’ve ever walked into a place for the first time in many years and immediately recognized it because of its smell, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

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Y

ou, too, can use the sense of smell to create an atmosphere that puts the “you” into “your home.” A beautifully fragranced home not only makes you feel good, but it will also influence how your guests feel when they enter your home. Choosing a signature scent (or combining several to create a group of favorites) is a highly personal process. Through your selections, you can express your individuality and personal preferences, thereby sharing what brings you pleasure and evoking lasting memories with those closest to you.

Playing Favorites

The base aromas you choose for your personal perfume will likely be the same ones you’ll enjoy when fragrancing your home. People tend to know whether or not they favor “floral” or “citrus” (or if they have strong feelings for or against patchouli). Use your already-familiar preferences as the starting point when thinking about your home’s signature scent, and know that throughout the year, your preferences may change. Do you have a “wintertime” perfume and a “summertime” perfume? Or do you wear the same signature scent, year-round?

While modern science works to validate claims that aromas can energize, calm, rejuvenate and purify the body and mind, why not just enjoy them for the sake of pleasure? Although attempting to define what smells “good” may be subjective—a matter of personal preference—most of us will agree that certain scents will evoke typical responses.

Several scents are said to lift moods and clarify thoughts, nearly immediately.

Cinnamon is said to offer a revitalizing second wind to the weary. The aroma of

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fresh-cut grass evokes summery thoughts and reminds us of nature. Ginger is a spice well known for its ability to soothe an upset tummy and perhaps its zesty kick can also stimulate and improve your mood. Mint and pine, scents that are especially abundant at this time of year, purportedly help cleanse, ease tension and promote an overall sense of wellbeing—that’s why they are such popular ingredients in everything from aromatherapy balms to cleaning products.

Feeling lonesome or homesick? Vanilla provides a soothing, sedating feeling that can help you feel connected to family and friends. Of course, the ultimate mood shifter is the herb lavender, which can take you from an agitated state to a relaxed state with just one whiff. If you’re feeling irritable, the sweet smell of a rose or jasmine can help release stress and maybe even turn your mind towards romance. That’s why they are such popular ingredients in women’s perfumes.

Choose Scents That Make Sense

Whatever your favorite scents, it’s also worth noting that they should also complement your décor. For example, coconut wouldn’t make sense in a mountain lodge, just as a swimsuit would look silly with snowshoes. Just as different design styles can evoke different feelings in a room, so can different essences.

Spend some time thinking about the overall impression you want to create for your home with fragrance, because a pleasantly scented home indicates that positive energy is freely flowing through it—like feng shui for your nose.

If you have a lot of dark wood and earth tones in your décor, choose

earthy scents, like spices or musk. A contemporary home that’s sleek and uncluttered would be complemented by fragrance with light, fresh notes that evoke the outdoors, like white tea or fresh-cut grass.

Fragrance should also benefit the activity that takes place in that area. For example, lavender or chamomile is great in the bedroom or bath where relaxing occurs, but perhaps you’ll also want to incorporate some energizing citrus or peppermint body wash for those times of day when you need a pick-me-up. Florals might clash with food aromas in the kitchen and dining room and, by that same token, food smells, like spices or vanilla, might be off-putting in a bedroom.

Scenting Your World

If you’ve ever accidentally gone overboard on perfume, you know that there’s a difference between a pleasantly scented room and one that makes your guests’ eyes water. Mothers have told daughters for generations to lightly dab perfume behind their ears so that a gentleman has to lean in to notice it. So, how do you create that sensual appeal for your home that whispers to your guests instead of shouts?

The most popular ways to scent a room are with candles, reed diffusers and sprays. A high-quality candle can fragrance up to 800 square feet, but a reed diffuser typically only fragrances a 3-foot radius. Reed diffusers work continuously, as opposed to candles which only work when they are lit. On an aesthetic level, candles are beautiful—until they melt and their shape can become distorted. The appearance of reed diffusers, on the other hand, doesn’t change over time. Many

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reed diffusers serve as a spa-like and elegant adornment to a room, compared to the more casual look of jarred candles.

Sprays are conveniently packaged and flameless, but keep in mind that you’re essentially launching tiny droplets of scented liquid (and possibly chemical particles) into the air for you to inhale. Additionally, sprays are a temporary solution, as you only get the benefit of the spray when you use it and for a short time after.

Other tools in your “scentsory” toolbox might include fresh flowers, bowls of fruit, scented sachets, drawer liners, potpourri, and even the soaps you choose for the powder room. All of these have their place and will add a subtle, albeit fleeting, effect in a well-scented home.

Of course, none of this is important if your home isn’t clean to begin with, or if it is swimming in heavily scented cleaning products. Cleaning is one of the best ways to make your house smell nice. White vinegar and water can clean almost anything, even though initially the mixture doesn’t smell “good.” Its piquant odor soon dissipates, so don’t let this natural home cleanser’s initial impression turn you off from using it.

A home doesn’t feel “homey” if it feels sterile. Fragrance can be that third dimension that gives your home its special character, elevating what you’ve worked so hard to create visually to the next level by adding an extra layer of sensory delight. Choose fragrances to suit your personal style and apply them with a gentle hand. Make your guests want to lean in and linger in order to capture the essence of your home.

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n DESIGN CHRISTMAS TREES

Tannenbaum!

T I P S F O R H O L I D AY T R E E S

By M er i d i t h In g r a m

Forget politics and religion: if you want to stir things up at your next holiday party, bring up the subject of Christmas trees. Everyone’s got an opinion. There’s the staunch “real tree, white lights” set, the smooth-talking “faux’s the way to go” advocates… not to mention other arguables like ornament placement, light stringing techniques, garland versus tinsel (or not). Even within families, there is likely to be a debate over whose way is the right way.

But that’s the beautiful thing about Christmas trees: there is no right or wrong way, not really. It’s the act of putting up the tree that counts, of creating a holiday tableau around which other traditions are centered, literally and figuratively. But traditions can get stale if we don’t evaluate what we’re doing every now and then. This year, when putting up your Christmas tree, keep a few considerations in mind so the chore doesn’t outweigh the cheer. Perhaps a little knowledge and perspective might add a new dash of fun to your tree traditions.

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Real Versus Faux

According to the American Christmas Tree Association, there is no debate on this one: both fresh and artificial trees have their merits, and the group’s recent study showed that neither has a significantly different impact on the environment. So if we take environmental considerations off the table, and know the pros and cons of each (those that have been argued in families and at cocktail parties), you’ll just have to go with what works for your family and your season.

If you’re buying a live tree this year, take the time to examine it for freshness so you can get a good four weeks out of it. If it’s encased in netting as many are at the tree lot, ask an employee to help remove it. Run your hand over the branches; if needles drop, move on to the next tree. Branches should feel supple and pliable. Also, if a tree feels lighter than it should, that’s a sign that the tree may be dried out—over half of the weight of a tree is water. Though prices vary, you can expect to pay about $10 per foot for a fresh tree, give or take.

If you’re purchasing an artificial tree, consider it a multi-year investment and buy the best you can afford for the most pleasing results. The price for an artificial tree can range anywhere from two digits (mini and novelty trees) all the way up to four digits, and there are many things to consider: size, color, lights, density of branches and more. You should not be able to see the center pole on a quality artificial tree, and if you choose a prelit tree, make sure it has enough lights to suit your taste.

Securing the Tree

Most of us have “the spot” in our home where we place the tree, year after year.

Maybe it’s displayed in a street-facing window in the formal living room, or tucked in a corner of the den where the family likes to congregate. Pick the place where you’ll get the most enjoyment out of it. If you’re considering shaking things up this year and relocating the tree—or better yet, adding another to your decorating scheme—be sure to measure your ceiling height so you know your tree will fit, and don’t forget to take into consideration both the height of the tree stand and your tree topper. Make sure you place it near an electrical outlet, but away from air ducts that will dry out a live tree. Keep both real and artificial c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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trees away from fireplaces to avoid a fire hazard. Consider too, giving the tree enough berth so it doesn’t brush against drapes or scratch the paint on the wall. Don’t be afraid to move the furniture to accommodate your tree—that’s half the fun, having a great excuse to enjoy a new furniture layout for a few weeks of the year.

Wherever you place it, make sure it’s sturdy and level before you begin to decorate it. We all have or have heard the heartbreaking stories of tree collapse and broken heirloom ornaments. Start by assessing your tree stand; make sure it’s designed to hold a tree of the size you come home with. Take another line of defense with this trick: secure your tree to the wall or ceiling with a length of fishing line and a small screw hook. Got toddlers or pets? Here’s another trick: place your tree, not your children, in the play-yard, to avoid curious hands. Also don’t forget to place a small tarp under your fresh tree to avoid discovering water damage on the floor come January.

Trimmings and Trappings

Trimming the tree is supposed to be fun! But burnt-out lights, garland shortage, and arguing over ornament placement can all spark ire in this process. Consider these tips for stress-free tree 38

trimming. First, keep strands of lights plugged in as you work; it’s easier to see what you’re doing and you’ll know if all are in good working order. Decorate from the inside out, working from the trunk to the outer layers, and from top to bottom. Your taste dictates just how bright you want your tree to be, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 100 lights for about every foot of your tree. But don’t string more than three strands on one electrical circuit to avoid overload.

There are a number of ways to string those lights. The traditional wave pattern—wrapping around the tree maypolestyle—is probably the fastest and easiest. Another way is to mentally divide it into three triangular sections, from top to bottom, around the cone of the tree. Starting at the top, weave lights back and forth across that triangle all the way to the bottom of the tree, then repeat this process in the other two triangles. For the most meticulous of tree trimmers, there’s the branch wrapping method—wrapping each branch for a real glow-from-within look.

Next comes the garland, if you are so inclined. You’ll need about nine feet of garland per foot of tree. It’s best hung gently swagged—or use it vertically, twisting down from the tree topper.

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And Then, The Ornaments

Retailers provide us great inspiration to bedeck our trees with carefully coordinated ornaments. But many of us also have salt dough and clothespin ornaments from seasons past that are among the most cherished. For the best of both worlds, consider one unifying element on your tree—say, simple glass ball ornaments in a color you love—and fill in with your treasures. Or consider incorporating another, smaller tree in a different location and deem that your “decorator tree” to do with what you choose. Think candy-themed ornaments on a mini-tree on the kitchen island, or bold and elegant metallics (glass balls, faux flowers) on a tall, thin tree tucked in the corner of the dining room where you’ll be entertaining.

When trimming the tree, perhaps the best tip of all is to dim the lights, step back and take in the big picture to assess your work in progress. Sometimes you need that perspective to see what areas need work, and what is really beautiful from the right distance. And really, isn’t that great advice for the whole season?

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n DESIGN CONCRETE FLOORING

CONCRETE

How to Warm and Brighten Those Cold, Gray Floors

By H e at h er B H ay es

Historically, the only design choice associated with a concrete floor in the home was how best to cover it up: carpet, wood, tile or vinyl? No longer. Bare concrete has become a popular flooring option as homeowners turn to new decorative concrete materials, techniques and processes to brighten and animate their unfinished basements and other inside spaces.

Their choices include acid-staining the concrete, marbling it with warm or vibrant metallic coatings, scoring, sawing and stamping it to achieve all manner of patterns and artistic expression, and smoothing and polishing it to a glossy, mirror-like sheen.

“It’s an opportunity to take a gray concrete floor and really dress it up and turn it into something beautiful, something that’s unique and that can even be quite artistic,” says Paul Grubb, territory sales manager for Allied Concrete Co. in Charlottesville.

Beyond the aesthetics, a decorative concrete floor offers other benefits. It’s easy to clean and maintain, it’s a perfect solution for people with allergies, and it’s considered a green, sustainable choice.

What’s more, it’s not just an option for current homeowners who want a waterproof but inspired flooring solution in their basements. Decorative concrete is increasingly being used in new home construction.

And this floor choice is not relegated to basements. If your house is built on a slab foundation, decorative concrete is a practical but beautiful choice for 4 0

kitchens, baths, foyers, living rooms and closed-in porches. And if you have wood subflooring? It’s still an option, though not an ideal one. Installers can trawl a layer of concrete over wood and jazz it up with decorative processes. However, since wood is pliable, this type of concrete floor is even more prone to crack and not something installers usually recommend.

Colorful Options

For most homeowners, decorative concrete is an affordable way to give new life to old floors—and also create a unique look. And you don’t need to start from scratch or have perfect floors to get amazing results.

“A lot of people think that because they have carpet or vinyl installed already or because their concrete has a lot of cracks that they don’t have any options with decorative concrete,” says Tim Seay,

owner of Decorative Concrete of Virginia.

“But really, no matter what’s on the floor or even if the concrete isn’t smooth or has a lot of cracks in it, we can work with them to get a new look.”

In fact, many homeowners first learn about stained concrete after a basement flood, leak or mold problem forces them to call in a specialist to rip out old carpet or wood and grind the original floor to remove old glue or paint. Once you get it back down to bare concrete, the concrete installer has a blank palette.

The simplest—and most costeffective—option is acid-staining, which at $3 to $4 a square foot installed, is comparable to the price of average carpet and costs considerably less than wood or tile.

To achieve the look, installers use a high-grade stain product that deeply penetrates the concrete and chemically C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

changes the color. Different installers use different products and techniques to provide a protective coating and finished look.

Decorative Concrete of Virginia, for example, seals the color first with a layer of professional-grade epoxy and then a layer of polyurethane, achieving a warm, rich floor that plays up the mottled tones and shades inherent in poured concrete. Other installers may use an acrylic sealer.

The color palette available with stained concrete is limited to warm earth tones, so homeowners who want a brighter, more primary coloring on their floors, including white, will need a metallic epoxy finish. This coloring technique, which generally costs between $5 and $7 a square foot, relies on an epoxy coating mixed with pigment and metal chips. The result? A marbled, semitransparent appearance with more dimension and depth than a stained floor.

FOR ALL YOUR PROPANE NEEDS,

Floor Art

When combined with professional techniques like sawing, scoring, stamping and engraving, these two coloring processes can help homeowners turn their concrete floors into glossy works of art. The possibilities for an imaginative, conversation-sparking floor design are endless: irregular patterns, circular lines, geometric grids, and multi-color motifs. Some homeowners have even fashioned an original design, monogram or family crest in the center of a floor.

You can also go with a more traditional look. Installers can create a faux tiled floor by trawling an overlay of concrete onto existing concrete floors (or even wood subfloors), scoring or stamping the desired pattern and then individually coloring each block with acid-stain or metallic epoxy. These types of techniques can also be used to imitate other popular floor choices like wood, stone, slate, granite and brick.

The benefits? You get the unique appearance, but not the shortcomings of those options. You don’t have to worry about water damage like swelling, buckling and rotting. You don’t have to purchase higher-priced specialty cleaners, as concrete floors can be wiped clean with a mop and soapy water. The surface is as impervious as a floor can be to scratches and scuffs from toys, pets and high heels.

The one downside to concrete has always been that cracks can and do occur due to shrinkage. However, with decorative concrete techniques, these cracks are no longer an eyesore.

For example, an older floor with numerous cracks or uneven spots can be smoothed over with a trawled concrete overlay (which actually makes the floor even harder) and then stained or colored and sealed. If the floor has one or a few cracks and you’re planning to use metallic epoxy, installers can use a saw or scoring tool to build color or an irregular pattern around the crack to help camouflage it.

Really, though, there’s no need to try and hide the imperfections, Seay says. “Most of the time a crack will suck up more color than the rest of the floor, so the crack actually accentuates the color and gives it a natural look,” he explains. “It doesn’t look like a cracked floor, it just blends in and gives the floor some added character.”

Finally, homeowners can give their concrete floors a final polish, with hardeners and diamond tooling used to achieve various levels of shine—from a matte finish to wet look to a gloss so high that you can see your reflection in it.

No matter what decorative concrete color, style or finish you choose, you’ll reap all the same benefits: a one-of-a-kind, refined, durable, allergy-friendly and easily maintained floor that your visitors will never recognize as concrete. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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FULL

CIRCLE An architect gives his original McGuffey Hill design a makeover

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

BY L au r e l F ei n m a n P h ot o g r a p hy by V irg ini a H a m r i c k

Charlottesville offers everything a second homeowner might be looking for: it’s an idyllic university town with all the amenities of a much larger cosmopolitan area, with access to great health care and an easy commute to some of the most vibrant cities in the Northeast.

Ann Hay Hardy, of Frank Hardy Realtors, is a real estate broker who specializes in luxury home sales— including second homes. She says that many of Charlottesville’s second homeowners eventually decide to move here permanently, after beginning their adventure here as weekend or game-day visitors. Hardy says, “Our restaurants, culture, history, music scene, boutiques and local farming have a broad appeal.”

Second homeowners in Charlottesville will often dip into the condominium and townhouse market first, because so many come with convenient property management and housekeeping services—important amenities if you live elsewhere most of the year. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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The McGuffey Hill condominiums are one such hotspot for second homeowners, tucked into a wooded hillside one block north of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall, next to the McGuffey Art Center. From here, it’s a pleasant walk to some of Charlottesville’s favorite performance venues, boutiques and restaurants.

Architect, designer and town planner Frank Folsom Smith—UVA alumnus and avid sports fan—saw McGuffey Hill’s potential back in the early-80s when he first designed the development. That hunch proved even sweeter when, 30-someodd years later, he purchased one of his original units to become his new home-away-from-home.

This time around, Frank has wife Anne—an award-winning interior designer in her own right—to help him on the condo’s redesign work. Frank and Anne Folsom Smith live in Sarasota, Florida, but are so frequently in town that they have maintained a second residence in Charlottesville for over 30 years. Anne jokes, “If runs, dribbles, can be caught or hit, we come to town to watch it.”

Frank favors a contemporary aesthetic in his architectural design; evidence of this can be seen in the two-bedroom/twobathroom apartment’s clean lines and open floor plan. Anne helped Frank update the look by giving the living room a complete facelift and applying her design expertise in a few other key areas as well.

The former, rather traditional-looking fireplace and mantel was replaced with new built-in oak cabinetry that has a pickled finish and a black granite surround. Anne explains, “It’s a small space, only about 1300 square feet with traditional 8-foot tall 4 4

ceilings. The polished granite helps reflect light, convey warmth and anchor the living room.”

The new bookshelves wrap around the corner of the living room into the dining nook and house Anne’s extensive library of mystery books (her guilty pleasure). The new raised hearth accommodates several beautiful orchids, potted in baskets and bowls. Frank says that back home in Sarasota, Anne maintains an orchid house and is passionate about their stylistic beauty.

The living room opens onto a spacious terrace, which is set with a large teak dining table and chairs, comfortably seating eight. Large sliding glass doors allow the two spaces to virtually become one when the doors are open.

Just prior to the sale of the condo, its previous owner had updated the kitchen with new appliances and new flooring, so the Folsom Smiths’ focus has been on updating the living room, the bathrooms, closets and the master suite upstairs. When it came time to do the construction work, they didn’t have to look far; their son-in-law is Glen Robertson of Smith and Robertson custom home builders.

Also downstairs is a fully outfitted guest bedroom, complete with a vanity table under a sunny skylight. Anne says that she has her eye on that spot as a great place to possibly install a desk, transforming that room into a home office.

Anne says that the most practical improvements to the home started with the guest bedroom’s closets, which led to updates in all of the closets throughout the rest of the space. Anne says that the closets—many of which were created out of the deep insets that resulted from the condo’s modern, sloping roofline—weren’t living up to their full potential and were underutilized.

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Now, they are outfitted with organization systems and can hold even more, better.

The most extensive renovations occurred in the Smiths’ two bathrooms. Anne says, “Anyone who has ever renovated a bathroom knows that it feels the same as renovating an entire house due to the number of contractors, subcontractors and fixtures required in that space.”

The contemporary guest bathroom downstairs features new custom cabinetry made of maple with a lacquered “aniline” finish. Anne says that aniline dye is a great finish choice for cabinetry and furniture when you want to highlight the wood’s grain. The lacquered finish provides great shine and durability. Countertops in the bathrooms are a filled and honed travertine limestone. Its non-reflective, matte surface offers a soft contrast to the cabinets’ highly polished wooden cases.

Anne demonstrates that many of the cabinet interiors in the guest bath are outfitted with convenient organizational systems, like built-in hampers and soft-touch mechanisms that help close the drawers after a gentle nudge. The most unique feature in the bathroom cabinetry is in the roomy drawer under the sink—a space often lost due to plumbing fixtures. The Folsom Smiths’ clever cabinetmaker built in a special notch to accommodate the plumbing so they didn’t have to sacrifice the space’s storage potential.

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Upstairs, the Folsom Smiths’ renovations required that some of the walls be rearranged, resulting in a larger master bathroom and an improved layout. Any space that may have been sacrificed in the already-very-large master bedroom during this transformation was put to great use in the new bathroom, when a large dual vanity was installed along with a built-in chest of drawers on the opposite wall under a skylight. Both cabinets “float” a foot above the floor to enhance the feeling of space and provide special storage spaces. Frank, knowing how much Anne loves taking a soak, was thrilled to further update the bathroom by installing a new large soaking tub for her.

Outside of the master bedroom is another terrace. Although considerably smaller than the terrace outside the living room, the bedroom terrace delivers big style. The furniture is oversized, funky and mod. The brightly colored, molded plastic lounge chair and sofa came from Design Within Reach, designed by Philippe Starck. The rug is made of plastic, but surprisingly has the soft hand-feel of natural fibers.

Anne and Frank Folsom Smith are typical of many second homeowners in Charlottesville: people who seamlessly work, live and play in both of their hometowns—effectively blurring the lines between “visitor” and “resident.” It is Charlottesville’s hope that all second homeowners in our area feel that same level of affinity and kinship and consider themselves “at home” when they’re here in Charlottesville.

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n LIVE NEW YEAR’S EVE MENU

A FEAST OF FORTUNE Indulge family and friends with this memorable once-a-year meal

BY J er ry S o l e

It’s considered good luck to ring in the New Year with close family and friends.

Preparing a truly memorable feast that celebrates the joy of the past year and conveys a sense of optimism in the future is in order! Indulge your guests by surprising them with the luxurious flavors and textures this meal offers—and good luck will surely follow.

In many cultures, certain foods have come to symbolize hope and renewal, making New Year’s the perfect occasion to incorporate them into your dinner menu. The centerpiece of this dinner is a delicious crown roast of pork—a dramatic symbol of prosperity whose circular arrangement symbolizes renewal and the circle of life. It also incorporates Spain’s tradition of eating 12 “good luck grapes” at the stroke of midnight. In Italy, eating lentils on New Year’s is thought to bring good fortune, so consider serving lentils on the side, in place of the South’s traditional black-eyed peas.

In China, the orange is an expression of good fortune, so for dessert, I suggest elegant individual orange and cranberry Bundt cakes.

The Menu Appetizers Alaskan King Crab Legs Smoked Duck Bites Roasted Dates Main course Crown Roast of Pork Sides Serve tried-and-true family favorite sides and salad from your recipe collection dessert Individual Orange-Cranberry Bundt Cakes with Grand Marnier Glaze

This New Year’s Eve dinner is best enjoyed as a fairly formal, seated dinner.

This menu serves 10, but can easily be adjusted up or down. Enjoy! c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Welcoming Your Guests

To begin the festivities, offer your guests a flute of Champagne, Cremant, Prosecco or Cava with a splash of Cassis. And feast on an assortment of artisanal cheeses, honey or fruit spread, crostini, local cured ham and salami with grain mustard, marinated olives, mixed nuts, and fresh and dried fruit.

The Prelude: Appetizers

Alaskan King Crab Legs In batches, steam 10 pounds of crab legs in their shells for 5 minutes, then let cool. Serve crab legs with drawn butter and lemon wedges.

Smoked Duck Bites on with Fig Preserves Preheat oven to 400 degrees and arrange 30 3-inch squares of thawed puff pastry on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpat. Gently prick each pastry with a fork and brush with an egg wash. Bake 15-20 minutes or until puffed to a golden brown. These can be prepared ahead of time. To assemble, thinly slice the duck breasts and add a small portion to each pastry. Top with fig preserves.

Roasted Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Brushed with Balsamic Vinegar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Gently cut 30 dates lengthwise and remove the pit. Spoon a half-teaspoon of goat cheese into each open date. Arrange dates on a foil-lined cookie sheet, leaving a bit of room between each date. Generously brush each with balsamic vinegar and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is soft and bubbly. The balsamic will provide a sweet, caramelized coating.

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Appetizers like these nicely reflect the optimistic spirit of this special gathering. Parts of these appetizers can easily be prepared ahead of time, allowing you more time to enjoy the company of your guests. Several local gourmet stores offer delicious prepared smoked duck breasts—all you’ll have to do is heat, slice and serve. The stuffed dates should be baked just before serving; however, they can be prepped and refrigerated ahead of time (just wait to add the balsamic vinegar until moments before popping them in the oven).

These appetizers will pair nicely with a crisp, smooth White Bordeaux from Graves, such as a 2010 Clos Marsallette.

The Main Event: A Crown Roast of Pork

The aroma of fennel, the tartness of lemon and earthiness of fresh herbs nicely complement the lusciousness of this rich pork roast entrée. To serve 10, request an 8 to 10 pound roast from your butcher or gourmet grocery store. Make sure you have at least one bone per guest. Ask the butcher to tie the ribs into a circle, or “crown,” for roasting.

Create an herb paste for the roast in a blender by combining 2 tablespoons each of fresh thyme, rosemary and sage. Add 3 cloves of peeled garlic, zest of 1 lemon, and 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds roasted for 1 minute. Turn on blender and gradually add ½ cup of olive oil until fully blended. Carefully rub paste all over roast, making sure to include the cavity.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Using a standard roasting pan, place the pork roast onto a roasting rack in the pan, bone down.

The rack will help balance the roast. And by roasting this way, the bones will retain their color and the flavorful fat will be well distributed while cooking. Roast the pork for 20 minutes C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

at 450 degrees, then turn the heat down to 350 degrees and continue roasting for approximately 1 ½-2 hours, or until the meat, measured between the bones, registers 145 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Let the roast rest for 10-15 minutes tented under foil before carving.

To serve, slice two chops and place on a large platter.

Arrange the remaining crown of pork on the platter for a nice presentation, and carve tableside. Don’t forget to add the 12 grapes for good luck!

The Sides and Salad

Please your guests by offering tried-and-true family favorite side dishes. I like serving things like green lentils, leeks vinaigrette, mashed potatoes with garlic or creamy whipped sweet potatoes with caramelized onions. Wild mushroom risotto is also a favorite.

As for a salad, I suggest keeping it simple. Try baby greens, thinly sliced red onions and homemade croutons and citrus vinaigrette. To add a visual punch, add oven-roasted seedless red grapes or pomegranate seeds.

Dessert

Individual Orange-Cranberry Bundt Cakes with Grand Marnier Glaze Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 6-cake mini-Bundt cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and lightly flour. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder and a pinch of salt. Beat together 1 ⅔ cups of sugar and 1 ½ sticks of softened butter until creamy. Beat in 3 large eggs, one at a time. Add 2 tablespoons of orange zest and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and ¾ cup of buttermilk. Fold in 1 cup of dried cranberries.

Spoon cake mixture into prepared pans, filling three-quarters full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean and cakes are golden. Cool for 10 minutes on a rack. Turn pans upside down onto the wire racks to release cakes. Cool completely. To finish, mix together 1 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar with 5 tablespoons Grand Marnier (or any orange-flavored liqueur) until smooth. With a skewer, poke several holes in the top of each cake and drizzle. To finish, arrange a small amount of roughly chopped cranberries and orange zest around the cakes.

Serve dessert with a sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne Rose.

Those lovely bubbles make the drink light and refreshing, and the dry finish complements this light, sweet cake.

No matter if you use this menu as written, or use it as a blueprint and put your own stamp on the dinner, the most important thing to remember is that the enjoyment and generosity you bring to the occasion by offering your guests a thoughtfully prepared feast on this very special day will create lasting memories—and hopefully good fortune for the coming year!

Jerry Sole is chef/owner of Aha! Cuisine, a personal chef service. He is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who lived in New York City and Los Angeles before relocating to Charlottesville in 2011. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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n INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

GIFTS FOR P E TS

Give them what they really want!

Buying a gift for your furry best friend shouldn’t be any different than shopping for your other loved ones. Keep in mind what they enjoy doing and if they have any special preferences, and shop accordingly. Remember, you’re buying the gift for them, not yourself.

As with people, the best gift you can give your pet is something that’s a special indulgence or something that brings them comfort. We think any of these gifts will set tails wagging and elicit purrs aplenty.

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Aha Cuisine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Airflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Altenergy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Artisan Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Help Fido keep his toys tidy with a durable Hemp Dog Toy Storage Bin made by Harry Barker. Toy bin is made of earth-friendly natural hemp with an inside coating for easy cleaning. Pet toys are sustainably made from cotton canvas, cotton yarns, natural rubber and hemp. Bin and toys, $10-40, available at Caspari Design Store.

Atlantic Organic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Bank of the James. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Betty Branch Sculptor Studio & Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Blue Ridge Builders Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Brown Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 C & A Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Circa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

You don’t have to sacrifice your style for your pet’s comfort. Imagine your dog relaxing by the hearth, enjoying Hoppy Hounds all-natural dog treats on this luxurious pet bed made by Sugarboo Designs. Available in an array of cute covers. Pet bed, $165, and Hoppy Hounds treats, $7.95, available at Roxie Daisy.

Clearview Window Tinting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Creative Framing & The Art Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Decorative Concrete of Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Denise Ramey, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Foods Of All Nations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Foster Fuels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Grand Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Your pets will have visions of sugarplums every time they doze on a West Paw Designs pet bed. You’ll rest well knowing that each one is handcrafted in America and made with natural, sustainable materials. Free replacement guarantee for one year, even if your pet destroys it! Pet beds, $89-$189, available at Sammy Snacks.

La Linea Bella!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Mona Lisa Pasta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mr. Electric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Our Lady of Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sarisandtile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Scott Weiss Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Fill your best friend’s stocking with healthy, all-natural grain-free goodies. Seasonal blends available in Cranberry, Carob-Mint, Pumpkin and more. Pet treats available in 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags, $5.95$9.55 available at Sammy Snacks.

Spectrum Stone Designs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Brothers that just do Gutters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Habitat Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 W. Douglas Gilpin Jr. FAIA, Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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