Charlottesville HOME magazine Fall 2016 by James River Media

HOME C H A R L O T T E S V I L L E

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flavors

OF FALL

THE ECLECTIC HOME

SEASONAL TREATS

OUTDOOR SPACES

TRENDS IN TRIM MIXING OLD & NEW

VIRGINIA HARD CIDER DECADENT DESSERTS

FIREPIT DESIGNS FALL FOLIAGE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016,VOL. VOL.3,3,NO. NO.44

L I F E S T Y L E L I F E C A R E

Corky. Warrior. Pianist. Performer. Teacher. Corky even started doing yoga thirty-five years ago. Independent and engaged, Corky is one of the many remarkable people at Charlottesvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only accredited, not-for-profit, Life Care community. She knows that she has guaranteed access to all levels of care, providing her with real peace of mind. She and her husband, Walter, enjoy a spacious apartment, dining options, fitness and wellness programs, volunteer groups, and cultural events. That is, of course, when sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not practicing her Virabhadrasana II at the yoga studio. To learn more, see more, and meet people who do more, please call 434.972.2622 or email info@wc-br.org.

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n EDITOR’S NOTE make your laundry room luxe (yes, your One of the pleasures of owning laundry room) will help you make this everyday chore a little more pleasant. If a home is having you can’t avoid it, find ways to enjoy it! a place for making And then there’s mealtime: how about memories with taking a traditional fall meal (roasted family and friends. pork loin, anyone?) and making it festive Sure, all that’s with the addition of some Virginia-made really required for cider? Our feature on this artisanal good times is the beverage might teach you a thing or two company of others, but such gatherings can be made that much sweeter by adding that you didn’t know. For an occasionworthy dessert, check out Lucy Cook’s a little element of fun. The makings fresh takes on the old-faithful chocolate of party time can serve us well in the cake—it’s not just for birthdays! every day, too; lighting candles during In the get-ready spirit of fall, we also a weeknight dinner, placing flowers on offer articles on organizing your closet your desk, hanging a special wreath on with a mix of flattering basics and trendy the front door with the changing of the seasons… all say that you appreciate and pieces, updating your bed and linens celebrate the moment, the day or the to prepare for your coziest hibernating, season in your home. planting shrubs for fall garden color, and so much more. This fall, we have lots of ideas here at This season, we hope you’ll take a page HOME for elements large and small that from this issue of HOME and elevate your will help elevate the ordinary into an every day into something special. Thanks occasion. Our feature on firepits—a hot for reading! trend, pun intended—may inspire you to add one to your yard, because everyone —MERIDITH INGRAM, EDITOR IN CHIEF knows that any outdoor event is much meridith@westwillowpublishing.com more fun with a fire blazing at the center. And our feature on the many ways to

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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4 PUBLISHER

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Cynthia BeMent Becky Calvert Lucy Cook Megan Hall Rebekah Hertzberg Sloane Lucas Janet A. Martin Noelle Milam Rory Rhodes Christy Rippel PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Charlottesville HOME is published bimonthly by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Charlottesville HOME 2003 Graves Mill Road, Suite B Forest, VA 24551 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@charlottesvillehomemagazine.com. To discuss coverage of an event relating to home or garden, please contact Charlottesville HOME at info@charlottesvillehomemagazine.com.

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Copyright 2016 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.

4 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

contents

Ch a r l ot t e s v ill e H O M E S e pt e m b e r/O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

8 16 28 51

features A FI REP I T F OR FA L L

Options for adding fiery features to your outdoor space BY R E B E K AH H E RTZ B E R G

VI RGI NI A H A RD C I DER

Learn about the local beverage that complements fall meals, gatherings BY R O RY R H O D E S

GOI NG G REEN

Local couple simplifies with new, energy-efficient dream home BY JAN ET A . M A R T I N

LOVE Y OU R L A U N DRY ROOM

Luxury touches to hardworking space help take chore out of laundry day BY CYNT H IA B E M E N T

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 5

Ch a r l ot t e s v ill e H O M E S e pt e m b e r/O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

departments 48

DESIGN

IMPROVE

GARDEN

LIVE

38 MIXING OLD A N D NEW Create layers of interest with pieces from past and present

41 CATCHI N G YOUR ZZZS Tips for buying mattresses and sheets to improve your sleep

25 FA L L F OL I A G E Choose colorful fall shrubs to adorn your garden

22 C U L I N A RY C O R N E R Chocolate cake, reimagined

BY C H R I STY R I P P E L

BY LU CY C O O K

BY B EC KY CALVE RT

55 C L OSET C L E A N -UP Creating a “capsule wardrobe” streamlines your closet and your life

BY M EGAN HALL

48 T R E NDS IN TR IM Fabric embellishments add that finishing touch

BY S LOAN E LU CAS

BY N O E LLE M I LAM

22 38

SPECI AL I N TER EST 66 Index of advertisers

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burning bright FIERY FEATURES FOR OUTDOOR SPACES BY R EB EK A H H ER T Z B ER G

Fire is an essential element that provides heat for warmth and cooking. Fire also possesses an entertainment value, which, played with safely, can fascinate for hours—think bonfire. Imagine the fun of roasting marshmallows and drinking cider on a crisp, fall evening where fire is the feature—the center, core, heart of the gathering. Historically, using fire inside the home within a centrally located fireplace has allowed homeowners and guests to keep warm on wintry days. Today, an indoor fireplace is still a popular source of heat and often offers a distinct aesthetic appeal to its partakers. Because of its all-around appeal and function inside the home, fire often finds its way into outdoor spaces as homeowners decide to extend similar considerations outside the home. When homeowners integrate a fire feature into their outdoor space, they find the benefits extremely satisfying. Indeed, an outdoor firepit or other type of fire feature offers lighting, warmth, and entertainment and allows homeowners to really use and enjoy their outdoor spaces in multiple seasons— particularly the fall, and throughout the year. 8 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

Photo: Southern Landscape Group 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 9

Options

Once homeowners decide to add a fire element to their outdoor spaces, they must consider the many options. Tim Henion of Sun Mountain Stoneworks notes that two of the most popular options are firepits, also called fire bowls, and fireplaces. Henion is a fan of the authentic outdoor experience and says that a fire feature enhances “the whole experience of being outside” in nature. Firepits can be portable or built-in to some sort of hardscape. Although firepits come in a variety of sizes and shapes, for built-in firepits, homeowners often opt for a circular configuration, as opposed to square, in order to accommodate more people around the fire. Kenny Lowry of Southern Grace explains that his business makes custom firepits and fire fountains. Although he started with simple water fountains, he began making designs that integrate both fire and water into the same element. Although these two elements do not typically coexist, Lowry has crafted a design in which they do. Lowry says, “We’re coming up with our own designs, our own styles of firepits and fire

fountains.” Clients are drawn to such a feature due to the combination of heat from the firepit along with the soothing aesthetics of a fountain, he notes. While firepits and fireplaces are popular choices, other options for outdoor fire include tiki torches, fire walls and linear fireplaces. Tiki torches are a simple, inexpensive way to add ambiance to an outdoor area. Fire walls are literally walls of fire which resemble fireplaces but are open to the air and do not have a chimney. Fire walls can add an aesthetic quality to patio areas, and they emit more heat than traditional firepits and fireplaces. Lowry notes that he’s also seen a trend toward incorporating outdoor linear fireplaces. These use a long, horizontal element that produces a short flame that radiates heat with a clean, sleek and modern appearance. For modest budgets, homeowners might consider a DIY firepit kit or a portable firepit. Often, these types of firepits are constructed of metal and can be purchased directly from a local home improvement store or online. Depending on the specifications, prices can range from under $100 and go up from there.

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Larger budgets garner more choices, of course, and for more expansive projects, a hardscape with a built-in firepit, fire feature, or even a fireplace are all popular options. The hardscape is a complete outdoor area of man-made materials, like concrete and stone, often in the form of a patio. As an extension of the house and the space inside the house, a hardscape should replicate the aura of the entire home landscape.

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Considerations

Intent, budget, space and safety are all things to consider when choosing to add fire to your outdoor space. There are two options for fueling the fire: gas or wood. Henion says that about half of his clients choose gas while the other half chooses wood-burning fire. In making this decision, homeowners should think about how they plan to use the space. For example, if you want to provide heat for outdoor gatherings and evoke an authentic camp-like experience, you may want to choose wood-burning, as this is a warmer source than fire fueled by gas. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for ambiance, aesthetics and ease of use, a gas-burning feature may be the most desirable. 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 1 1

A R C H I T E C T TELEPHONE OR TEXT: 434.242.9288 EMAIL: SCOTT@WEISS-ARCH.COM WEBSITE: WWW.WEISS-ARCH.COM

Photos: Southern Landscape Group

WEISS

When homeowners consider their intentions for their space, they can make the best decision on fuel source. Budget is also a factor that has a big influence on your plans. According to Henion, professionally installed, built-in firepits range from $2,000 on up. The lower end of the budget will provide the most basic set-up, and costs increase with add-ons and other features. Choice of materials can affect this too. Henion says this choice “defines the character of the whole project.” He says, “You can build the exact same project with two different types of stone and you get a completely different feeling walking up and looking at it.” He notes that the look of dry-stacked stone is quite popular with his clients—a look he says elevates the feel of the whole project. Where to place the firepit is also a big decision. Henion says that he will not place a wood-burning firepit closer than 40 feet to the house, but that there is more flexibility with gas fire features. It’s equally important to consider the way the house is oriented so that when installing a firepit or other fire feature with landscaping, the homeowner gets the best experience possible. By choosing placement wisely, a homeowner can ensure safety and maximize usability of the space. A suggested safety measure when starting, stoking and maintaining a fire is to keep some source of water close by, whether a hose or bucket of water. If there is an emergency, it’s important to be able to extinguish the fire. Gas-burning fire features require an emergency gas shut-off. Ultimately, by keeping intent, budget, space and safety in mind, homeowners can make the right choices for their fiery design. 1 2 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

Photo: Southern Landscape Group

Planning and Design Photo: Southern Grace Photo: Southern Grace

Homeowners must have a plan for their project. Henion says, “Usually a customer has a pretty good idea of what they’re looking for,” and when he considers their idea, he is then able to “build into their space their vision.” Obviously, there are DIY options for firepits, but a professional can help with everything from planning and design to execution and completion. Once a homeowner decides to hire a professional, the professional can help guide the homeowner through the entire process. Many designers consider form and function to be top priorities in the design process, and a fire feature is no exception. Not only does planning for the fire feature occur, but planning for the entire outdoor area surrounding the fire feature is critical as well. Henion says, “If people decide they want to do a firepit or fire feature, you have to have something to go with it…a walkway or patio or sitting wall.” Indeed, a hardscape can add an expressive component to the fire feature, but it is the fire feature that “caps it off and makes it feel complete,” he says. Professionals can also help plan for furnishings for this space, such as tables, chairs, and benches, to ensure that the area is comfortable and functional. Outdoor living spaces with a firepit or other sort of fire feature is a hot trend that’s probably here to stay. Lowry says that fire has even become a “decorator’s element” in the sense that it is not just used for heat anymore. While fire is enthralling to watch and a great enhancement to any outdoor space, it must be handled with care. Gathering all the necessary information is the most important tool when choosing to add a fire feature to an outdoor space. Knowing your options and consulting someone fluent in design ideas will help you begin on the right track. Because there are so many positive reasons to incorporate this fierce element, choosing to utilize fire in some way, shape, and form in an outdoor space is almost second nature.

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14 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

Because there was no closet in the room, a wall of cabinets hiding hanging space and drawers was added next to the Murphy bed. The bed has a reading light for night and can be closed (with linens) during the day. Angled shelves transition from the sleeping area to the seating area which also includes a custom TV bench with media storage. An efficiency kitchen displays wine and stemware but hides food behind flip-up doors. When the time came to renovate the bathroom, Peggy was called in again to provide linen storage, a tilt-out hamper, and a hairdryer cabinet.

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Peggy Woodall joined Closet Factory in 2005 and enjoys collaborating with her clients to make sure they get the organization storage they need in a design they love. A Charlottesville native and a UVA graduate in Engineering, Peggy brings experience and enthusiasm to every project. She has participated in the Charlottesville area Design House since its inception in 2010 and most recently her work has been featured in the Southern Living Idea House.

Call Today for Your Free Design Consultation Locally Owned by Bryan & Teresa Mueller

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Virginia Hard

CIDER

Traditional Drink Pairs Perfectly With Today’s Foods BY R O RY R H O D ES

It’s no secret that Virginia is good apple country. Every autumn, farmers markets burst with bins full of apples from local orchards. Seasonal recipes abound with apple ingredients, the perfect complement to mellow golden days and crisp evenings. It’s the time of year when everything apple sounds inviting, including hard apple cider! And if you can get locally-sourced cider, so much the better. Virginia cideries are on the rise, and while the refreshing beverage they produce has a long tradition in the colonies, today’s hard cider is all about moving forward.

n Britain, the world’s top producer of the drink, the term “cider” refers to the alcoholic beverage. Here in the States, “cider” often refers to unfiltered apple juice, so we use “hard cider” to distinguish the grownup version, which, like wine, is a fermented drink. You’ve probably heard of hard ciders such as Angry Orchard, Woodchuck, and Virginia’s own Bold Rock. This style of hard cider is packaged in long neck bottles and marketed as a craft beer alternative. Like beer, water is added, giving it an alcohol content of around 5 percent. While it is tasty, popular and commercially successful, there is another style of hard cider that is garnering attention. Virginia cideries such as Foggy Ridge Cider, Albemarle CiderWorks and Castle Hill Cider make an artisanal drink that can be enjoyed much like wine, both by itself and with food. This type of hard cider comes in a wine bottle and, though there are many different styles, often has an effervescent freshness similar to sparkling wine. Ciders can be dry, off-dry, semi sweet, or sweet like a dessert wine or port. It all depends on how it’s made and, more importantly, the apple. Our Commonwealth has a long and storied love affair with the apple, beginning in the 1600s, when English colonists began importing apple seeds and seedlings from England. Apples were one of the earliest crops grown by settlers, and it wasn’t long before hard cider became a staple of the colonial diet. These days, Virginia cider circles are well-acquainted with the oft-told tales of our country’s Founding Fathers’ love for the drink. Yes, George Washington secured his first political post by providing cider to voters; yes, John Adams supposedly had a tankard a day; yes, colonists preferred the drink to water. Diane Flynt, owner and cidermaker for Foggy Ridge Cider in Floyd, says that where cider is today is an interesting tale in its own right. “The more

16 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

Photo: Albemarle CiderWorks

Often, a variety of apples are blended in hard cider to provide additional components, such as tart, sweet, spicy, and aromatic notes.

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uncommon story is that, before industrial farming, there were many varieties of fruits and vegetables, eaten and grown for different reasons,” she says, and apples were among the crops cultivated for specialized uses. “Apples for drying, apples for apple sauce, apples in June and apples in November—not just the five in the grocery store.” Flynt says that, in the same way that no one expects to make a good wine from a supermarket grape, the same holds true for cider. Making a quality artisanal cider depends on selecting the right fruit, which is more of a challenge than it seems. While there were once thousands of apple varieties, many have been lost to time and the demands of commercialization. Hard cider’s prominence on the American table began to slowly decline in the 1800s due to various factors, including the Temperance movement, urbanization, the rise of beer with a wave of German immigration, and then, during Prohibition, many cider orchards were destroyed. So today’s cidermakers face the prospect of working to find enough fruit and to cultivate heirlooms from the past. There’s an adventurous, innovative feeling afoot in many orchards and cideries. Geoff Robinson, director of sales and marketing (and former cellarmaster) of historic Castle Hill Cider in Keswick, says, “We have 26 varieties in an experimental orchard, and we see what grows, what we like.” Charlotte Shelton, owner of Albemarle CiderWorks in North Garden, is also CEO of Vintage Virginia Apples, a specialty orchard with over 250 varieties of apples,

Photo: Foggy Ridge Cider

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Photo: Foggy Ridge Cider

both new and old. Some, like Roxbury Russett, Albemarle Pippin, and Thomas Jefferson favorite, Hewe’s Virginia Crab, have survived since colonial times, while others, such as Gold Rush, were developed in recent years. Shelton says that, like wine grapes, apples are “terroir conscious,” meaning that they are influenced by the soil and climate in which they are grown. What grows well for cidermakers in Central Virginia can be quite different from the apple trees which produce the desired results for Flynt, whose orchard stands at 3,000 feet in the Blue Ridge mountains. According to Shelton, “The English shire varieties have not done as well for us, so we are more interested in American varieties,” whereas Flynt says at her elevation she has been able to grow high-tannin apples of both English and American origin. As Robinson puts it, “We look for the finest expression of the apple that we can get.” Thus, each cidermaker tends to have favored apples that work best for what they’re trying to accomplish. What they all have in common, however, is an understanding of what makes a good cider apple. It’s not generally the same as what makes a good eating apple. Two key

components of an American cider apple are tannin and acid, which give the drink body and brightness. Often, a variety of apples are blended in hard cider to provide additional components, such as tart, sweet, spicy, and aromatic notes. However, like wine, ciders can also be made from a single apple varietal. In addition to their blends, Albemarle CiderWorks offers single varietal ciders from apples such as Winesap, Albemarle Pippin, and Hewe’s Virginia Crab, the latter their first reserve cider, which quickly sold out. Castle Hill offers two 100 percent Albemarle Pippin hard ciders; one, a sparkling cider named Levity, is aged in an 8,000-year-old technique using clay storage vessels/jars. While Flynt prefers blending her acclaimed ciders, which have been lauded in The New York Times and Wine Enthusiast, she also produces a dessert wine from Newtown Pippin (another name for Albemarle Pippin) and apple brandy, called Pippin Gold. In short, there is an impressive variety of artisanal hard ciders to be found in our area, and many different ways to enjoy them. Any pork dish will pair wonderfully with hard cider, especially one with a hint

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 1 9

Photo: Castle Hill Cider

Photo: Albemarle CiderWorks

of fruity apple sweetness. Shelton says, “I enjoy pairing cider with traditional American cuisine, as well as anything pork, and I love cider with Norman French cuisine, with its cream sauces.” Normandy, a cool coastal region in northern France, is famous for many things apple—cider, Calvados apple brandy, apple tarts—as well as shellfish, creamy cheeses, butter, and rich sauces that are offset nicely with the crispness of cider. Shelton, keen on preserving the early American tradition of cider, also loves pairing it with Thanksgiving, with its rich autumn flavors. She also notes that “a dry, crisp cider is gorgeous with the richness of oysters on the half shell.” Flynt says that hard cider is very food-friendly, and is as diverse as wine or beer. For pairing food with dry cider, such as her Serious Cider, Flynt says, “Think fat—creamy goat cheese, French fries, crab cakes, and pork chops pan seared in butter and bacon.” Off-dry ciders such as Foggy Ridge’s First Fruit are versatile and work with a range of flavors, including grilled foods and vegetables, quinoa, and a variety of cheeses, including pimento cheese, since an off-dry cider will still have enough acidity to balance out the fat. Fruitier ciders, such as her Stayman Winesap Cider, which she likens in sweetness to a drier Riesling, are a terrific complement to spicy foods, such as Thai, Indian, chili, and pulled pork barbeque with a spicy vinegar sauce. Flynt notes that, unlike wine, cider can handle being paired with sour, pickled flavors. Foggy Ridge regularly hosts a Chef Series, where chefs from noted area restaurants pair three tapas with three hard ciders. Castle Hill Cider hosts seasonal full dinners at the cidery, showcasing local chefs and restaurants with inventive food and cider pairings. Robinson is also a big fan of hard cider with 2 0 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

pork, and likes paring Castle Hill’s dry ciders, such as Levity and Terrestrial, with shellfish and seafood. Serendipity, their best-selling cider, is made from 100 percent Albemarle Pippin, and retains just enough sweetness to make it an excellent choice for lighter fare, such as picnic foods and cheese boards. Robinson, a former restaurant owner and professional chef, enjoys cooking with hard cider as well. “Any time you think of a light white wine in cooking, you can substitute a dry cider,” he says. He likes to replace white wine with a dry cider in a classic beurre blanc sauce, which he serves with cod or white fish with capers and lemon. A sweeter cider can be used in place of honey or brown sugar in dishes such as braised cabbage or glazed carrots, and to deglaze a pan when creating sauces. It’s fun to get creative with cider—try using it instead of beer in a shrimp boil, and in place of wine or beer in cheese fondue, for a subtle boost of flavor. Foggy Ridge Cider, Albemarle CiderWorks, and Castle Hill Cider, along with many other regional cideries, are open for tastings and a variety of events throughout the year. Though Virginia

Photo: Castle Hill Cider

Cider Week is officially in November, right now is a wonderful time to visit a cidery and orchard, and see what’s new with an old-fashioned favorite. If you can’t make the trip, you can always enjoy a crisp autumn evening on the porch with a zesty cider from your local store, paired with a plate of cheese and cured meats. Hard cider is a tasty seasonal alternative to beer at your next football party, and you can even make cider-based cocktails. For a nod across the pond, try a British “Snakebite,” made from equal parts cider and lager, but beware—rumor has it that some British pubs won’t serve it, because it goes down too easy! Whether served at a meal or enjoyed by itself, this colonial tipple has ridden the recent wave of interest in craft and artisanal beverages into a new era of innovation. Today’s cidermakers combine both heirloom and modern apples with contemporary cidermaking techniques to create a refreshing and versatile drink that embodies both tradition and the locavore trend. As Shelton says, “We’re recreating American cider—perhaps as it was, but certainly as it ought to be.”

Governor’s Cup

S i lv e r M e d a l a w a r d

Come visit. Drink our award-winning ciders. Wander the gorgeous grounds. We trust you’ll enjoy our rich history, and perhaps even create some of your own. We have daily tasting hours of 11-5, and host special events like weddings, corporate parties, and small gatherings—all sure to create beautiful memories.

Castle Hill Cider, a place to celebrate.

434.296.0047

castlehillcider.com

6065 Turkey Sag Road, Keswick, Virginia 22947

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n LIVE CULINARY CORNER

Chocolate Cake FROM BELOVED BIRTHDAYS TO DECADENT DESSERTS BY LU CY CO O K

n many households, the conversation is the same around each family member’s birthday: “What kind of cake would you like for your birthday this year?” Some have a different request every year, but some are creatures of habit, requesting the same thing each time. (My niece, who has a July birthday, has an old-fashioned ice box recipe that my family calls Zebra Cake: layers of chocolate cookies alternated with fresh whipped cream. As the cookies and cream sit overnight in the fridge, they morph into a striped cake-like consistency. An old favorite, it can be found on the back of the box of Famous Chocolate Wafers.) As a restaurant owner, I discovered that there were other types of households that had a specific item called “birthday cake.” I found this out when customers would call to order a birthday cake, and I would ask for details. The answer was usually just the customer repeating “birthday cake” a little louder. I’d ask, “What type of birthday cake?” again, to be met with the same two words: “Birthday Cake!” After going round and round, they usually told me what their family defines as birthday cake; in 90 percent of the cases, it was yellow cake with chocolate buttercream—but sometimes it was something else. If anyone is asking me, the more chocolate the better! I may choose a cake or a pie, but in every case, it includes chocolate! Chocolate cakes run the gamut—from layer cakes all the way to cheesecake, but all get their flavoring from either solid chocolate or cocoa powder. Cocoa powder comes in two forms: regular and Dutched, a type that has added alkaline. Because

of the alkaline, it’s very important to read the recipe carefully and not assume that they’re interchangeable. If you’re making a chocolate cake and the instructions call for greasing and dusting the pans with flour, cocoa is a great substitution for the flour, because it doesn’t leave a dusty ring on the finished cake. In every case, just be sure to sift or whisk cocoa with the other dry ingredients as it often is lumpy. Solid chocolate comes in bars, squares, wafers and chips, and unsweetened, bittersweet, semisweet, milk and white. You can use semisweet and bittersweet interchangeably (depending on your taste), but unsweetened, milk and white chocolate cannot be substituted. To melt chocolate, I usually use a microwave. After measuring out the right amount, I chop it into small (about ½-inch) pieces. Then I microwave it in short bursts—about 30 seconds at a time—stirring between each. Chocolate will sometimes keep its shape after it’s melted, so it’s important to stir to check how far it has melted and to release any hot spots that may build up. Alternately, chocolate can be melted in a double boiler over low heat. Remember in both cases that the goal is to melt the chocolate, not cook it—so go low and slow with the heat! I’ve included some of my favorite chocolate cakes—a flourless chocolate cake that can be mixed in just a few minutes in one bowl, a throwback favorite that performs a little bit of magic by moving the frosting to its core, and a decadent triple chocolate cheesecake. Try each of them—just make sure to save me a piece! Happy Cooking!

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Flourless Chocolate Cake (serves 8) This is one of the quickest, most delicious desserts in my repertoire. I can knock this out in one bowl and bake it while we’re eating dinner! Everyone loves its rich, chocolatey flavor. 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa 1 cup unsalted butter 8 ounces semisweet chocolate 1 1/4 cups sugar 6 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment cut to fit, then grease the parchment. Dust pan with 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, then knock out the excess. Set aside. In a microwave-safe container, melt the butter and chocolate until smooth and just melted. Set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, whisk sugar and cocoa to combine. Add eggs, vanilla, salt and melted chocolate and whisk until smooth. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake in preheated oven about 40 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes on a wire rack, then slide a knife around the outside and remove the sides of the pan. Serve at room temperature with freshly whipped cream and berries.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake (serves 12) As a kid in the 70s, this was the cake of my dreams!. Don’t mess with the recipe—don’t even omit the nuts, or it may not work. It’s a fun throwback, and a rich, delicious cake! CAKE 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa, sifted 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 3/4 cups unsalted butter, softened 6 eggs 2 cups powdered sugar 2 1/4 cups flour 2 cups chopped walnuts GLAZE 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup cocoa 4 tablespoons milk Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 10-inch Bundt pan, and dust with 1 tablespoon cocoa. Knock the pan on the sink to release any excess cocoa. In a mixer, beat sugar and butter on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low, and beat in the eggs, one at a time, stopping regularly to scrape down the bowl. On the very lowest speed, add in the sugar. Scrape the bowl and add the flour, walnuts and cocoa. Spoon the batter into the pan, and smooth the top. Bake exactly 52 minutes. Cool in the pan for one hour, then invert onto a cake plate. When the cake has cooled, sift the powdered sugar and cocoa into a small bowl. Add most of the milk, and whisk until smooth. Dribble in more milk until the glaze is just loose enough to pour over the cooled cake.

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Triple Chocolate Cheesecake (serves 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12) What is more decadent than cheesecake? This chocolate crust, chocolate filling and chocolate-topped cheesecake is worthy of being anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday cake. For sweet/salty fans, this would be great topped with flaky sea salt! CRUST 1 package Famous Chocolate Wafers (found near the ice cream cones in most groceries) 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted FILLING 1 pound good-quality semi or bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup espresso or strong coffee 3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature 1 1/4 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla GLAZE 1/3 cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 3 ounces semi or bittersweet chocolate chopped

For the crust:

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In a food processor, grind up the wafers. Mix with melted butter. Press in the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap outside of the pan carefully with one large single sheet of foil, making sure that it reaches at least 2 inches up the sides. Freeze for 15 minutes. (The foil will come into play later; cheesecakes benefit from the even, humid heat that a water bath provides. Since the springform pan may not be water-tight and we will be putting it in a pan of water, we need the foil to keep the water from seeping when we bake it.) Preheat the oven to 325. Place a rack in the middle of the oven.

For the filling: Heat the chocolate and coffee in a double boiler, just until melted. Stir until smooth; set aside. In a mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat for 2 minutes, then scrape the bowl well. Beat 2 more minutes, and scrape the bowl again. Add the eggs, one at a time, and scrape the bowl well between each addition. Add the chocolate mixture, salt and vanilla and beat well. Scrape the cheesecake batter into the prepared pan. Place the pan (foil and all) in a larger pan, like a roaster, and pour boiling water in the roasting pan until it reaches about an inch deep around the cake. Carefully move the whole thing to the oven. Bake for an hour, then check with an instant-read thermometer that the temperature has reached 160 degrees. Continue baking until 160 degrees, then remove from the oven and cool in the water bath for 30 minutes. Carefully remove from the water bath and cool another 30 minutes. Chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours in the pan before carefully running a knife around the edge and releasing the pan.

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For the glaze: Put the remaining chocolate in a small bowl. In a small pan, heat the cream and butter to almost boiling. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir calmly until the chocolate has melted. Pour over the cheesecake, and spread to cover within an inch of the edges. Chill 30 minutes until set.

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n GARDEN : COLORFUL FALL SHRUBS

spectacular shrubs for fall bloom in spring, color in fall BY B ECK Y C A LV ER T

It would seem most gardeners plant with spring and summer blooms in mind, overlooking fall colors, particularly when it comes to shrubs. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let bloom time steal all the attention; there are a number of options that typically offer, in addition to seasonal blooms, glorious fall color as well as texture and other interest all year long.

blueberry

beautyberry

fothergilla

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Among these options is the oakleaf hydrangea. Native to the Southeastern United States, the oakleaf hydrangea is sun and drought tolerant, resistant to deer, insects and diseases, and it’s cold hardy, too—making it an ideal shrub. Named for their foliage’s resemblance to larger oak leaves, oakleaf hydrangeas have both large leaves (up to 12 inches long!) and large, showy white blooms that begin to bloom in late spring. While they do make excellent cut flowers, they also last indefinitely on the bush, turning shades of pink and brown as they mature. Oakleaf hydrangeas make excellent dried flowers, and will do so while still on the plant as they age. Come fall, the leaves turn beautiful shades of red, bronze and burgundy, before dropping off to reveal a peeling bark that highlights a dark brown layer underneath. This peeling is a normal for oakleaf hydrangeas, adding interest and texture to the winter landscape. The oakleaf hydrangea does well in full sunlight, but as an understory shrub, a bit of shade during the hot afternoon sun is preferable. When planting oakleaf hydrangeas, keep in mind they can grow up to 10 feet tall with a spread of 8 feet, so be sure to give them enough space to fill out. They bloom on the prior year’s

growth, so if you must prune them, do so after they bloom, giving them enough time to grow new buds for next season’s glory. Fothergilla, sometimes known as witch alder, is another Southeastern United States native, and a relative of witch hazel. As a native, it is a low-maintenance shrub that is basically pest and disease free. Low growing, fothergilla has fragrant brush-like blooms in early spring before leafing out in shades of blue-ish-green. Come fall, the fothergilla takes on hues that range from golden yellows, bright oranges and intense reds. Once the leaves are shed, their zig zag branches stand out, continuing to create interest throughout the winter. Fothergillas prefer full sun, but can take some shade. There are several varieties, including a dwarf, so their size can range from 3 to 10 feet. With over 150 species of viburnum, many of which are native, it can be hard to choose just one. In general, viburnum have lovely, often-fragrant spring blooms and attractive foliage that offers a variety of brilliant shades of reds, pinks, yellows and oranges in the fall while also sporting colorful fruits that attract birds and other wildlife. Many types of viburnum can adapt to various growing conditions, and

while they do best in full sun, they’ll also take partial shade. Among the varieties that do well in this area are the arrowwood, nannyberry and mapleleaf. All three boast white flowers in the spring (with the mapleleaf veering towards yellow), fall fruit in shades of green to red to blue-black, and spectacular fall colors specific to their particular varietal. The mapleleaf, pink to deep purple in the fall, can grow up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, while the arrowwood with its yellow to orange fall foliage can grow to a height of 10 feet tall and wide. Nannyberries, which can be maintained as small trees, can grow up to 15 feet tall and sport shades of burgundy come fall, offsetting its dark blue berries. Beautyberries are another shrub native to the area, sometimes known as serviceberries. They bring color and texture to the fall garden with their small purple berries that hang on the plant well into the winter. The berries are edible, attracting birds to your yard, and can be used to make jam similar in flavor to elderberry. Native Americans were known to dry the berries to make tea to treat illnesses, and the oil in the leaves can be used as an insect repellent. In the spring, the beautyberry has small lavender-

viburnum

oakleaf hydrangea 26 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

pink lilac-type flowers and in addition to their purple fall berries, their foliage turns yellow, creating a striking look. Beautyberries prefer light shade and grow to be about 4 to 8 feet tall and wide. They make a terrific informal hedge or planted under tall shade trees for a natural woodland-looking area. If the idea of edible landscaping appeals to you, why not plant blueberry bushes? They offer lovely bell-shaped blooms in the early spring, delicious berries in the late spring to early summer, and brilliantly colored foliage in the fall, in shades of red, orange and yellow. All varieties—Northern, Southern, as well as rabbiteye, a Southeastern native bush—do well in our region, so why not try a few varieties for a harvest that stretches the length of blueberry season? Blueberries prefer full sun, but can take some shade. They also prefer acidic soil, so soil amendment is generally necessary when planting blueberries. Blueberries take a few years to get established, but once established, they are incredibly low maintenance while offering much to your garden. Depending on the variety, they can grow from 4 to 8 feet tall. It is worth noting that blueberries are extremely popular with wildlife, so some sort of netting is advised if you would like to keep the bulk of your bounty. Fall is a terrific time to plant, particularly shrubs and trees. With the ground still relatively warm while air temperatures are dropping, fall planting gives roots more time to establish themselves before winter sets in. Cooler air temperatures mean less insects, less disease and less watering too. Fertilizer, which promotes new growth that can be nipped by winter weather, isn’t necessary when planting this time of year. With the weather a bit more predictable in the fall than the spring, there is far more opportunity to plant than there is during some of those intense cold spells we can see far beyond the date when we want to deal with them in the spring. Best of all, fall is when garden centers are trying to sell off their inventory, making it bargain time for sprucing up your yard. As you take a look around your yard and consider adding color for this time of year, why not go ahead and plant something that a year from now will completely change up the look of your garden? You’ll be glad you did. 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 2 7

GOING GREEN

A Charlottesville Couple Builds the Simple Life BY JA N E T A . M A R T I N P h ot o g r a p hy by M e l o d y Ro b b ins P h ot o g r a p hy

On a quiet street located within biking distance of three city parks, one mile of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, and a healthy jog away from the University of Virginia, there is a brand new “green” house. Not a greenhouse, mind you, and not a house painted green, but nevertheless green in the newest sense of the term: a structure demonstrating individual and social responsibility for Planet Earth. Owners Tammy Wilt, a branch manager at Movement Mortgage, and Angela Orebaugh, assistant professor and director of cyber security and information technology programs at University of Virginia, began building a futuristic home three years ago to accomplish their environmental and lifestyle goals. “We wanted to contribute more to the earth and society than we wanted to collect and consume stuff we didn’t need,” says Tammy. “Our goals were reduced environmental impact, improved air quality, lower utility costs and reduced home maintenance,” adds Angela. 2 8 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

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The couple decided to contract the home themselves. Tammy would find the lot, and handle the construction budget; Angela would conceive the home design and research the building products needed. Both knew that building green offered challenges. First, they’d need to think ahead, taking the time to research and acquire environmentally friendly products. They also knew they’d have to be vigilant about vetting their materials. For example, did products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate at room temperature and pollute indoor air? Was the wood they wanted certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, demonstrating responsible forest management? Finally, they’d need to consider the bottom line. ”Building green is great, but some products cost more,” Angela says. Tammy adds, “Our building costs ran around 20 to 30 percent above standard costs.” Yet the result after 27 months of work on the project is Lohala Downtown, their home on Westwood Road, its name coined from three words: LOve, HAppiness, and LAughter. It was a dream conceived from years of consideration of how they wanted to live. Career paths led them to Washington, D.C. during the early 2000s. While living there, they built a log home which they called Lohala Lodge, not far from Crozet in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But commuting to Washington created a problem. “With a mountain house of 5,000 square feet on 22 wooded acres, commuting back and forth, and crazy work hours, we had 30 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

little free time,” Tammy explains. “It all became too much, and it wasn’t the way we wanted to live our lives.” During monthly trips to a Myrtle Beach condominium, their “snowbird getaway” one-fifth the size of their lodge, they experienced an epiphany: Less “stuff” in less space meant more freedom. The insight was transformative. They decided to downsize and “go green.” “We wanted to lower our carbon footprint. We wanted a change of lifestyle,” Tammy says. Angela smiles. “We had kayaks; we had motorcycles—fun things and no time to use them because we were taking care of the house, the land, driving to and from town all the time. We had things taking up space—clutter that just caused anxiety and stress.” Green guidelines abound in the building industry, emphasizing efficient, healthy environments for those who inhabit them. In 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council was created to promote sustainability-focused practices in the

Lohala Downtown is the result of a dream conceived from years of consideration about how the homeowners could live more simply. With their new home, they sought to lower their carbon footprint by downsizing and using green building materials. 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 3 1

construction industry. A green building rating system was established known as LEED, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which certifies environmentally sound buildings. LEED encourages resource efficiency in terms of water, energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Tammy and Angela followed green guidelines; they also developed green definitions of their own: “Being green means being able to use as many sustainable products as possible, and things with low toxicity,” Tammy explains. “One of the challenges was finding building materials that were environmentally friendly.” Angela defines green building as the ability to create a healthy environment for occupants while having the lowest impact on the environment. “As occupants we wanted things inside that wouldn’t negatively impact the air quality (like a fireplace), things that are not going to off-gas and cause indoor pollutants,” she says. “Many times your indoor air is a lot more polluted than the outdoor air.” By 2013 they were ready to put their vision in place. Settled on Charlottesville as their choice locale in which to live and work, they considered various neighborhoods, favoring the Rugby/Rose Hill area. They purchased a quarter-acre lot and drafted a design using a 3D design program for the Mac. Before long Angela carefully placed a scaled plan on an aerial view of their lot via Google Earth. Voilà! It fit! Having successfully built Lohala Lodge a few years before, the couple was comfortable as contractors, and they hired an architectural firm familiar with the green movement in Central Virginia. By December 2014, with building permit in hand, they were ready to break ground. 3 2 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

dining room pics

But before they did, they let the neighbors in on their plans. Westwood is a mid-American neighborhood of brick, ranch-style homes, mostly built between the 1950s and 1980s. The home Tammy and Angela planned to build was almost cubist in design, with architectural elevations and irregular roof lines, including a variety of structural materials of metal, cedar plank and a color palette of grays. Its presence along the street, they knew, would be strikingly different. Also, in a settled neighborhood, any construction is disruptive, and the couple wished to keep that at a minimum. So, with candies as gifts, they called on nearby residents to explain the concept they had in mind and their answer to construction clutter: They would not plant a dumpster on site. “Our job was to manage waste and recycling through the entire project,” Angela wrote in their blog of the building experience (lohala.org). “We collected and sorted everything from nails to roof trimmings, cardboard boxes, product packaging and electrical wires. We researched creative ways to repurpose waste. We donated wood scraps to a local school. We donated wood and buckets of drywall mud to a neighbor. Usable leftover material was taken to Habitat for Humanity. We made sure that the site was clean at the end of each day, and we loaded up waste and recyclables to haul away. It was a lot of work, but we successfully diverted tons of waste from the landfill. It was worth it.”

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By February 2015 they hired independent subcontractors to dig the basement, put up walls, pour the floor, and install foam and pre-insulated concrete for energy efficiency. A winter snow caused lost time. By March, however, they had framed walls, a front porch, and a second floor; by April, they installed heating and air conditioning along with plumbing and a steel beam for the rooftop deck. By July they put up cabinets and trim. In August 2015, after a few coats of paint, they moved in. The new home at 1448 Westwood Road is unique to the neighborhood, yet Angela finds that many people have a distinct style to their homes. Meanwhile, people have been complimentary of their design and supportive of their goals. When Tammy and Angela threw an open-house party, the neighbors heartily accepted! Today, viewed from the street, Lohala Downtown is a 2000-foot original design with an Englert long-lasting metal roof that requires little maintenance. For trim the couple used MiraTEC®, an exterior composite with no added formaldehyde that resists rot and termite infestation. The home exterior siding is Hardie panel, a concrete composite for durability and low maintenance. Garage doors are energy-rated insulated doors, custom designed to feature windows running vertically down the side to echo the look of the windows on the front door. Exterior doors are Energy Star fiberglass. Outside decks are made of MoistureShield, composed of 95 percent recycled content. Inside, the new homeowners experience expansive space with ceilings that vary from 9 to 18 feet in height. Walls painted with Benjamin Moore Zero VOC paint reflect earth-inspired shades of tan and gray; vibrant colors in décor and light fixtures offer splashes of bright contrast. The home contains sleek architectural lines, smooth surfaces, and modern minimalist furniture—all in functional spaces. High clerestory windows capture low southern sun in winter for passive heating. Roof overhangs protect from high sun in summer, maintaining even temperatures that yield an electric bill barely reaching an average of about $115 per month. Marvin Integrity windows with dual pane and low-e coatings minimize ultraviolet and infrared light

The sunroom features a comfortable lounge and a floor of poured concrete sealed with an eco-friendly sealer. The floor helps keep the space cooler in the summer, and absorbs and radiates sunshine in the winter.

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The sunroom features a comfortable lounge and a floor of poured concrete sealed with an eco-friendly sealer. The floor helps keep the window-filled space cooler in the summer, and absorbs and radiates sunshine in the winter.

without compromising transmitted visible light. For heating and cooling, the couple chose an Energy Star Lennox heat pump with a programmable thermostat and an energy recovery ventilator to circulate fresh air. On the second floor, they installed a Mitsubishi Mr. Slim mini split which allows them to heat and cool the second floor only as neededâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;making duct work necessary only on the first floor. Interior doors are masonite solid core Emerald Green series, with no added formaldehyde. Columbia Flooring Originals supplied verified sustainable hardwood, local to the East Coast. Being conscientious, the women wanted to be efficient with light fixtures and water. They selected LED and CFL lighting, low flush toilets, and WaterSense faucets that use one-third the amount of water flow of standard bathroom fixtures. Most products chosen were made in the U.S., and the couple tried to source things locally when possible. Lohalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light and airy kitchen features LG Energy Star appliances. Utensils, pots and pans are tucked under countertops of Silestone quartz and local soapstone for

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The bathrooms feature fixtures that use one-third the amount of water flow of standard bathroom fixtures as well as energy efficient lighting.

enhanced indoor air quality and the pleasing ambience of efficiency in uncluttered space. Daily disorder, like catalogs, bills and circulars, is minimized by online shopping and bill pay. Clothing and shoes are shelved, belts are hung, and jewelry is arranged in home cabinets, drawers and ample closets. To save on energy costs, Tammy and Angela do laundry before 10 a.m., and run the dishwasher at 10 p.m., avoiding peak hours of electricity use. The house is wired for solar panels, but they are not installed yet. Tammy says it takes a year to determine energy usage and whether solar panels will pay off. Meanwhile theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wired for the future, and Angela is on the waiting list for a Tesla Model 3 electric car. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you have an electric car, that battery, in effect, is your battery storage in the home,â&#x20AC;? she laughs. 3 6 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

Ultimately the couple’s goal is a zero net energy house. With renewable energy, solar or wind, they hope to own a home that pays for the added construction costs with energy savings. Until then, they are simply enjoying life—Charlottesville’s downtown, the parks, and cultural events within walking distance. No longer a slave to home upkeep and excess things, they find peace of mind. “We want to live simply. We don’t need a lot of things. When our parents offer gifts, we say, let’s have experiences like a concert or dinner,” Tammy says. In the mid-1800s American writer and naturalist Henry David Thoreau embarked on an experiment in simple living “to front only the essential facts of life” in the Massachusetts woods near Walden Pond. After two years, two months, and two days, he returned, inspired to urge fellow Concord townspeople to “Simplify, simplify, simplify!” their lives. Perhaps today in this more complicated 21st-century, like Angela Orebaugh and Tammy Wilt of Charlottesville, Thoreau might update his urgent directive. Maybe he’d say, “Just go green.” The powder room features an orange vessel sink on a sleek, all-white cabinet. The sink is one of the couple’s favorite finds for their new home.

HOME REVITALIZED

Advice and assistance to refresh your living spaces or increase the appeal of your home to sell.

Catharine Roberts, professional stylist with experience in Charlottesville, Washington, DC, and Paris, France, features some of her favorite things, including her dog, Stella.

Catharine Shea Roberts

ofﬁce 434.234.3298 | cell 202.409.8742 CharlottesvilleStagingRedesign@gmail.com 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 3 7

n DESIGN MIXING OLD AND NEW

in the mix

COMBINING OLD WITH NEW CREATES LAYERS OF INTEREST BY CH R IS T Y R I P P EL

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the on-trend home was often heavily themed, like Southwestern or country, and furniture that matched was the look of choice. Since that time, popular style has evolved to embrace an eclectic look, but many do-it-yourself home designers find this style tricky to pull off. How can you look collected and eclectic without looking cluttered and chaotic? And what exactly are you supposed to do with pieces you’ve inherited? How do you integrate these heirlooms into your current decor? Keep reading for some easy ways to combine old with new to get the chic look you’re after. Consider Your Architecture

When the perfectly matched decor trends of the ‘80s and ‘90s fell out of favor, “Homeowners began to seek out ways to set their home apart,” says Cecily Reynolds, marketing and customer service director for Bremo Auctions in Charlottesville, which helps buyers find unique vintage furniture and accessories. A first step in adding such character to your decor is to consider the age and bones of your home—if it has some years

behind it, include some furniture pieces or accessories from the time that it was built. An example might be a touch of midcentury modern for a 1960s rancher, or some 1930s-era antiques in a foursquare for an organic tie-in. Layer in some pieces that create contrast; modern rugs, like bold stripes or geometric patterns, can work well with traditional furniture. Modern art coupled with more traditional furnishings is also surprising and fresh, says Reynolds.

In a newer build, consider bringing in older elements to create warmth and character, like reclaimed wood planking on a wall or ceiling, or a vintage light fixture, fireplace hearth or banister. A design scheme can be built around these initial contrasts of old and new. Know What You Need When You Treasure Hunt

If you like to go on the hunt for pieces with potential, a tape measure is a must—

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“FASHION IS GREAT FOR INSPIRING HOME DECOR, AND THE SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES IN A ROOM. LESS IS MORE.” — Cecily Reynolds

in a big open space like a showroom, a piece can appear smaller than it will in your living room. Have an idea of what you are looking for, like chairs to flank your buffet, or an interesting piece for a bookshelf, so you don’t wind up with rooms that are overstuffed—a surefire way to look cluttered. Don’t be afraid to paint something (chalk paint and milk paint are easy to use for novice painters) if you think a fresh coat will transform it. Keep in mind that painting diminishes the value of the piece drastically, so don’t reach for a paint brush before you know if the furniture is worth anything. If you inherit a piece, have an antiques dealer take a look first, says Reynolds. If you find an upholstered piece with great lines but shoddy springs and worn, dated fabric, it can probably be fixed. Before you purchase, be sure the wood has not dry rotted and is in good, stable condition. “If you like the bones, it is definitely worth it to reupholster,” says Reynolds. “You have unlimited options for customizing when you choose your own fabrics, and a more contemporary pattern on a traditional piece is a nice contrast.” Stick to Tried and True; Edit Accessories

If you have a mix of styles and eras in a room, a way to make it look intentional is to stick with a color scheme that always works, like soft neutrals or black and white. A vintage, tufted curvy-lined sofa or chair looks breezy and current redone in a light linen fabric, allowing the lines of the piece to stand out. Neutrals are never boring when you mix textures and have great contrasts in the room (such as curvy pieces with straight-lined modern ones, a vintage vase on a lacquered tray). Collected doesn’t have to mean cluttered, and items you love shine better if they aren’t competing with too many elements in the room. If you want to highlight your vintage typewriter or a unique piece of pottery you inherited from family, give it a place of honor on a buffet or bookshelf. A second look from an honest and style-savvy friend can be a second eye in a room, and can help you edit down to banish clutter. “It was Coco Chanel who said right before you walk out the 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 3 9

Vo te d C vi ll e’s B es t A n ti q u e St o re

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door, remove one accessory,” laughs Reynolds. “Fashion is great for inspiring home decor, and the same principle applies in a room. Less is more.” When You Can’t Bear To Paint a Piece

When you’ve inherited furniture from family and painting it is out of the question, you can make it look more current without altering it. That secretary desk your grandmother left to you? Think about how you could use it, advises Reynolds. Maybe the desk comes out of the living room to the top of the upstairs hallway to hold guest towels and toiletries. Remove an attached mirror and a dresser becomes a buffet; a collection of fine china plates that will go unused in a cabinet can be hung on a wall to enjoy every day. Reynolds, in a practicewhat-you-preach example, turned an antique baby crib sideways and hung it on the wall as a display shelf. When you have dark-stained vintage furniture, Reynolds suggests lightening up what’s around it to avoid a heavy, dated look. Light colored walls won’t compete (try Benjamin Moore’s Ivory White for a warm, creamy white), and a natural fiber rug like sisal makes a great, neutral backdrop. Break up groups—your inherited dark-wood table will look instantly fresh contrasted with contemporary chairs. In a bedroom, consider moving the nightstands or the dresser to another room to avoid an excessively match-y look. And remember that a collected home is one that evolves to reflect your priorities, interests and experiences. “Just play and have fun with decorating,” says Reynolds. “Have confidence in what you like, try new things, and if you try and it doesn’t work, just do something different.”

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n IMPROVE SLEEP COMFORT

let’s get cozy

YOUR GUIDE TO REFRESHED BEDDING BY M EG A N H A L L

As much as I adore the warmth and bliss of summer, the crisp air of fall has always held a certain magic for me. It makes the world seem fresh and clean again, the muggy air suddenly erased by the fragrance of Russian Tea and a wood-burning stove. I also gravitate toward cooler months because I’m an unapologetic lover of my bed. As such, I revere fall as the perfect weather-appropriate time to reassess my sleep comfort. After all, restful sleep is a vital component of good health. At first glance, the seemingly endless options for mattresses, toppers and sheets can be overwhelming, but with a little help your path will become clear! Mattresses

We’ve seen the mattress commercials—and secretly dreamed of being the person who sleeps without a hair out of place or embarrassing drool!—but how do you actually shop for a mattress? Where to buy Grab your pillow and head to the store! No, seriously. Experts recommend taking your favorite pillow and laying on a potential mattress for 10 to 15 minutes in your preferred sleep position, simulating slumber. Also, keep your wallet top of mind. Many stores will price match their competitors. If you don’t feel like leaving the house, take advantage of online retailers. With reviews, reviews, and more reviews at your fingertips, it’s easier these days to make decisions to buy things online. The most important two words to remember are: return policy. Before you shell out the big bucks, make sure you can get them back if you don’t love your new bedding. What to consider The best mattress will give your spine a nice curvature and properly align your buttocks, heels, shoulders and head. If a mattress is too firm, it will push on pressure points, causing pain; similarly, if the mattress is too soft, it won’t effectively support those points, leading to an achy morning. So now you know where you’re going and what you need, but what are your choices? Innerspring: The most widely sold and affordable option, innerspring mattresses contain metal coils. In most modern versions, each coil is individually wrapped to help disperse motion. While it can be comfortable for most anyone, firmer versions are especially beneficial for those with back pain. When shopping, keep in mind that the coil count is important, but anything above 390 won’t make a noticeable difference.

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 4 1

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Memory or latex foam: Tempur-Pedic has emerged as the most recognizable name for this mattress type. Memory and latex foam are both quickly gaining popularity and embody the same basic principle: a slow-responding foam that molds to your body and eliminates pressure on the body. Sounds great, right? Memory foam has an excellent reputation for relieving aches and pains, as well as absorbing movement, making it an ideal option for couples. However, it can retain heat, which makes for a warm sleep. Thankfully, newer options boast gel-infused or plant-based options that dissipate heat and provide better motion diffusion. Latex foam is more durable than memory foam and maintains a more consistent temperature, but is not as effective at relieving pressure.

Mattress toppers

You’ve thoughtfully selected your mattress. Now, let’s infuse a little coziness with a mattress topper! Protective layers: Lightweight and machine washable, cotton is a splendid choice of material for a topper, while wool absorbs heat to keep you cool and resists mold and dust-mites. If you tend to sniffle and sneeze, a hypoallergenic option could make pollen-heavy months more comfortable. Mini-mattresses: If you opted for an innerspring mattress, you can simulate the memory-foam experience with a mattress topper composed of the same material. The egg crate is another great foam product, featuring ridges and grooves to help disperse pressure on the body. An iconic option, featherbeds are just as luxurious as they sound! This type of mattress topper, filled with down feathers, is lightweight and soft, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Best of all, snagging a plush foam topper or featherbed is an excellent alternative to buying a new mattress! Sheets

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You have a heavenly mattress and a cushy topper, now it’s time for the grand finale: sheets! As the part of bedding that actually touches your body, I consider cozy sheets to be a high priority.

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In advertisements, thread count seems to be the determining factor, but rest assured there are plenty of other elements to appraise including material, weave and beyond. Here’s the quick-and-easy guide to soft sleeping: Thread count: Sorry friends, contrary to popular belief, a higher thread count does not necessarily denote a softer sheet. Defined as the number of threads per square inch of a fabric, thread count is actually influenced by many factors, with material being the most important consideration. Experts recommend sheets between 300 to 600 thread count composed of a high-grade fabric (learn more about materials in the following section). Anything more than 800 will not make a noticeable difference. Options greater than 1,000 can often begin to feel stiff due to the tightly compacted threads and will be less breathable, resulting in a warm slumber. Material: Any self-respecting Southern woman will tell you that 100 percent cotton sheets make for the best sleep— cool, breathable, and less likely to stain… what more could you want? Sure, they can be a bit crisp at first, but after a few wash

cycles you’ll swear you’re sleeping on a cloud. If you are partial to a freshly ironed look, try a cotton-polyester blend which resists wrinkles. Also very important is the fiber length. Long-fiber cottons such as Egyptian, pima, and Supima offer a distinctly softer sheet. Additionally, combed cotton fabric, true to its name, is combed to remove lingering short fibers, creating a strong but soft sheet. Weave: The weave is the undercurrent of the sheet, determining how it feels, how long it lasts and how much it costs. Percale dominates the upper end of the basic weave spectrum, offering durability and a silk-like feel. Specialty weaves, such as sateen, provide more vertical than horizontal yarns, resulting in an extremely soft fabric. Traversing the wild world of bedding can seem like foreign territory, but embrace the challenge. If you take your time, ponder all your options, and make informed choices, the end result can drastically improve the quality of your sleep. Now is the time to seize the sheets and take your sleep comfort into your own hands!

CHARLOTTESVILLE 1801 Seminole Trail (Rt. 29) | 434-974-6480 | Open Every Day www.grandhomefurnishings.com

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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 4 3

The Exchange Hotel

Make tracks to Gordonsville! BY K A R L A K EE TO N

ow fun is it to stumble across a great, old-world Main Street marketplace undergoing a revival with windows of frills and fancy surrounded by countryside alive with adventure? It’s here in Gordonsville, where you’ll find glory and ghost stories, glamour and great cuisine, as well as tastes from both orchards and vines.

Just twenty miles northeast of Charlottesville, Gordonsville is a place where you can find classic European antiques and treasures of whimsy and function. It’s where an old flour mill is now an all-finds thrift store. It’s a street where the scent of fresh bread and the sweetest of morsels can be savored as you lounge at the local café. It’s a place where two sisters have re-invented the days when ladies went to a skilled seamstress for that perfect dress and fit. It’s where a painter has transformed furniture of every hue and size to become that gorgeous piece to call your own. It’s where you’ll find experts in lamp restoration and repair along with lampshades in every shape and color. It’s where shops display playful accessories and decor for home and garden. It’s a showroom to a world-class artist, whose metalcraft has been admired and commissioned by celebrities, a corporation or two, and even those from town and country. It’s a small town where French cuisine tempts the taste buds, and the aromas of barbeque and bacon donuts waft through the air. Gordonsville is also home to The Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum, once a primary railroad stop for weary travelers. Later, it became a Civil War military hospital, and then a Freedmen’s Bureau. Now, it is a museum. The buildings remain a true testament that history exists in tales of ghostly residents and after-dark activities. In fact, folks say they still see “Olivia,” formerly engaged in that age-old occupation, along with the cook, “Anna,” who have made the summer kitchen their permanent home.

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4 4 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

It’s a place where its namesake, Nathaniel Gordon’s tavern, was considered a “good house” by such legends as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and even the Marquis de Lafayette as they stopped along the best route south from the Capital to Charlottesville. There is also a rich railroad history, shared by The National Railway Historical Society’s Rivanna Chapter, telling how the town served as a connection to the Louisa Railroad and stagecoach lines running from Charlottesville to Fredericksburg, and then again, with the Virginia Central Railroad during the Civil War. Around 1909, automatic train control systems were being used, and Gordonsville was chosen as a test pilot to house the equipment. Later, with centralized traffic control, Gordonsville handled up to 50 trains a day. Now, the Amtrak Cardinal comes through eastbound and westbound, three days a week, and you can sit at Restaurant Pomme and watch the trains. Mayor Bob Coiner explains upcoming plans to further restore this part of history. “The 1840 town depot will be restored and become a new exhibit area of The Exchange Hotel and Civil War Medical Museum, used for convention space, a community center, and a train museum,” he says. Follow the tracks… Gordonsville is a must-see destination surrounded by views, rolling landscapes of vines, orchards and all the scents and beauty of herbs, plants, trees, and tastes of food, wine and cider this land produces. It’s a great place to explore… just seek and you will find!

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e or l p x E GORDONSVILLE, VA

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Gordonsville Emporium 46 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

Hunt for treasures, hear tales of ghosts, see civil war relics and architectural gems. Just 20 miles from Charlottesville, you'll find the charm of Americana in the shops, museums and eateries on and beyond Main.

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Providing an authentic, classic French dining experience 115 South Main Street Gordonsville, VA 540.832.0130 info@restaurant-pomme.com 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 47

n DESIGN TRENDS IN TRIM

embellishments for upholstery, window treatments and more BY N O EL L E M I L A M P h ot o gr a p hy by K hr is t in a H e lm i c h

When you see a beautifully decorated room, whether in person, on television, or in glossy photos, it is the small but exquisite details that really seem to transform a design from functional to fabulous. Using decorators’ trim—tassels on a valance, cording on a pillow, even a simple gimp covering upholstery tacks—is a designer’s go-to method of fully customizing a design project. These are the final touches that elevate a project to the truly personal and one of a kind. Trims are used to draw the eye to certain elements of design, such as pleating along the skirt of a club chair, or to accentuate a structural feature, such as high ceilings or an oversized window. The knowledgeable staff at Fabrics Unlimited, a locally owned business which offers fabrics, trims and full custom design services to clients in the Charlottesville area, recommends trim embellishments to clients as a way to further define their decorating style. Adding trim, tassels or fringe to projects ranging from cording on pillows, decorative tape on draperies or upholstered pieces or tassel fringe on swags lends any project a professional touch while at the same time personalizing it. At Fabrics Unlimited, these types of fabric embellishments are used as a way to reinforce a featured color and add another layer of interest or texture to a room, and of course, to fully customize orders based on a client’s individual tastes. Trim Types

Today’s homeowners are blessed with almost endless choices of trims. There are gimp trims—a woven trim of various

widths (regular gimp, scallop gimp, braided gimp, up to the very wide galloon gimp). These are used to cover seams or tacks in upholstery or to make transitions between the fabric and other types of trims. Cording, also known as piping, is commonly used at seams of cushions and pillows, adding decorative interest as well as additional reinforcement for the seams. Various fringes, such as bullion fringe, brush fringe or tassel fringe, are also popular statements on window treatments, throw pillows, and along skirting at the bottom of chairs, sofas and table covers. Trim tapes, available in a variety of widths, colors and patterns, are perhaps the most popular trend in fabric embellishment at the moment due to their versatility and affordability. Whether you are looking to add a touch of whimsy to a formal room or lend a feel of understated elegance to a more casual room, there is a trim to fit that goal.

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Special thanks to Southern Provisions Company for product and staging for the photos in this article. 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 4 9

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Uses and Trends

Like all elements of design, there are certain things that are currently on trend and others that are more timeless. Often this has less to do with the trim and more to do with where and how you use it. While we are familiar with trim edging a pillow or a drapery panel, it might be a little more adventurous to think about adding trim to a lampshade or an upholstered headboard. At Fabrics Unlimited, they’ve noted an increase in the popularity of decorative tapes, which can be used in a variety of projects and are especially eye-catching when paired with the neutral colored fabrics that are currently on-trend. Trims can also be layered—though experts often caution that layering should be done with care to prevent a dated look. This is where professional guidance can really come in handy. Fabrics Unlimited suggests knowing your personal limit for embellishment and sticking to it. They suggest that you should “use trim only to enhance the authenticity of your own style.” They are believe in the motto, “Less is more.” Care and Upkeep

One thing many homeowners are concerned about when thinking of fabric embellishments is ease of upkeep. Will those darling tassels along the bottom of the sofa’s skirting get caught in the vacuum cleaner? Is it safe to wash or dry clean the drapery panels with the Greek key decorative tape, or will the tape run or pucker? Will the contrasting cording on the throw pillows bleed if thrown in the washer? First of all, choose carefully. If the trim will be attached to something like a couch throw pillow, that in the course of family life will likely need to be removed and washed on occasion, then plan accordingly and choose trim (and removable pillow covers!) that can be either machine washed or dry cleaned safely. The key to keeping your fabric trim and embellishments looking their best is to keep them clean and dust free. Prevention is key. Shake, fluff, or carefully vacuum to remove dust, spot clean as recommended by the manufacturer, and as a last resort, wash by hand, in the washing machine or dry clean. Be sure that your trim is firmly attached before vacuuming or washing—most trim is either sewn on or glued, depending on the project. Make repairs, and trim any snags or loose strings as necessary before cleaning. Whether you are contemplating a new design project or looking for ways to update and add a “pop” to your existing decor, today’s beautiful trims, tapes and embellishments are sure to provide you with inspiration to bring out your home’s unique appeal. 5 0 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e H O M E S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6

LAUNDRY ROOM

love BY CY N T H I A B EM EN T

ort, wash, dry, fold, iron, repeat. Life in the laundry room rarely (okay, never) feels like a thrill ride, and it’s not usually on the top of the list when it comes to home-style updates. But considering that clean clothes are one

of the necessities of life, why not ask for more—from both a functionality and a design perspective—from the

space you spend so much time in to get those clothes clean?

From a budget-friendly freshen-up to a total overhaul, whether you’ve got a closet or a ballroom-sized laundry space

to work with, showing your laundry room a little affection can help the whole process of getting clothes clean go more smoothly—and, dare we say, make you enjoy caring for your clothes a whole lot more. Here, we’ve got some ideas to get you on the path to an updated, organized and efficient laundry area. Sort it out.

First things first: take stock of your laundry area’s form, function, available space and condition of the key appliances that help you get the job done. If you’re remodeling or building a new home, look to locate your laundry area closest to the area of your home where the most dirty laundry collects, or near bedrooms where clean laundry is put away. Another potential location would be between the garage/house entry and kitchen—a strategy that could turn your laundry area into a multitasker, doubling as a mudroom or entry drop zone. Last but not least: consider the location of your washer and dryer within your laundry space in terms of noise and vibration that may travel to other floors or rooms. If you’re working with an established area, look for places to make space-use improvements, such as moving walls if your budget allows, purchasing a stackable washer and dryer, or creating or installing additional storage. Next up, evaluate your main work horses. Washer/dryer need an upgrade? Washer/dryer technology has changed considerably in recent years, so do your homework on what kinds of features you want and can afford. You’ll also have to decide on top-loading versus front-loading washers, and stacked versus side-by-side. Be sure to evaluate the energy consumption and costs of any units you’re considering. 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 5 1

Create a smart-working space.

In short, look up. Is your laundry room taking advantage of all the vertical space it can? Look for opportunities to capitalize on space by going vertical: Install shelving units above the washer/dryer, or up the entirety of one wall. Or consider installing a laundry center with a folddown ironing board and iron storage to take up less floor space that can double as a mini folding station if you’re short on space. Another option is to hang an ironing board over the laundry room door. Could your laundry room benefit from the addition of a sink with sprayer faucet head for pet baths and hosing off muddy shoes? Or perhaps upgrade an existing, dated sink, swapping the white plastic tub for a farmhouse porcelain style with bronze fixtures, a stainless or granite model, or an industrial-look sink. Cabinetry and countertops are another key design and function opportunity if you choose to upgrade. For a quick, budget-friendly yet impactful update from a design standpoint, paint your cabinet surfaces and go for new hardware in crystal-look glass, polished metal or bronze finishes. Another fast update that’s light on the wallet is to remove cabinet doors and let open shelves create opportunities to showcase clever and colorful storage within, such as matching, labeled baskets in either rattan, printed fabric or a solid color family. Open storage also allows quicker access to your most-used items and the opportunity to see at-a-glance what you’re running low on when you’re headed to the store for supplies. If your budget allows for new cabinetry, find your favorite look that also offers intelligent storage solutions such as ironing boards that roll out of drawers and drying racks that pull down from cabinets. Add ambiance with up or down-lit glass doors and stash extra dishware or pottery collections to turn your laundry room into part collectible showcase. Another laundry room attribute that makes laundry life easier is, of course, a folding station. If you don’t have one, look for spatial opportunities to house a big enough solid surface to get clothing, sheets, towels, and your biggest items folded and ready for distribution— spanning the top of the washer (if it’s a front loader) and dryer, folding down from a wall, or on a ready-made or constructed island, for example. Also up for consideration in laundry room updates are pets. If yours doubles as a place for your furry friends to kennel, nap or eat meals, consider upgraded functionality like built-in dog or cat beds, cleverly concealed cat box cubbies and extra cabinet space for pet food and grooming supplies.

Virginia Hamrick Photography

Have a little fun.

Why not entertain yourself? Install a flat-screen TV or add portable speakers and pipe in music via a home media player, or create a device station so you can view media, video chat with family or friends, or listen to your favorite tunes or audio books while you get the job done. While you’re at it, if your laundry room is in a muchaccessed area of your home, consider creating a charging station for electronic devices as well (far from water sources, of course). Bring some “wow” to the walls, windows and doors.

Walls, windows and doors are not only necessities—but opportunities. Use them. Bold, blue-and-white or floral printed wallpaper says “fresh” and can bring instant cheer to your laundry area. Or install a glass or subway tile backsplash behind your washer/ dryer or sink and watch it catch and reflect light around the room and introduce a new color scheme that can be echoed in window curtains, painted walls and doors. 52 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

If your laundry room is one highly trafficked by family, consider painting one or more walls with chalkboard paint and let kids decorate the space with artwork, institute a family message center, or even use it as an extra space to brainstorm your next big coup at work while waiting for the air fluff cycle to finish. Could your laundry room door use an upgrade? Splurge on a paneled, wooden door in a rich wood, or install a Dutch door, painted or stained in your favorite hue to keep pets in or little ones out with the bottom door closed while you let extra light in or listen for the dryer chime by keeping the top door open. Bonus: a window in the top half lets light in through this novel yet classic door style. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your laundry room, use it to bring living room-like charm into the space. Layer bamboo shades and curtains, or install a printed roller or charming plantation shades for an instant, upstyled look.

Light it up.

Nothing brings new life to any room faster than a new light source. Up the design and functional wattage on your laundry area with a statement chandelier dripping with crystals, a shiny, oversized industrial pendant, sleek recessed lighting, rustic barninspired fixtures or demure and traditional shaded sconces. Also consider areas in which you might incorporate table lamps in your favorite design to mimic a cozy living room and disperse soft, glowing light. Examine your light sources and consider changing light bulbs to LED versions; a single LED bulb can last up to 25 years and provides a whiter, brighter light source. Turn an eye toward trendy storage (and accessories).

Storage: it’s the backbone of any successful laundry operation, and whether it’s a single shelf or a room full of cabinetry, where you stash your supplies can be a chance to change up your look. Bring in texture and warm wood with rattan or bamboo laundry

Y O U R H O M E S AY S A LOT A B O U T YO U . W E ’ R E H E R E TO L I S T E N .

Your home is a reflection of you. Ferguson’s product experts are here to listen to every detail of your vision, and we’ll work alongside you and your designer, builder or remodeler to bring it to life. Request an appointment with us today.

CHARLOTTESVILLE SEMINOLE LANE (434) 817-1775

HARRISONBURG FORBES CROSSING (540) 438-6400

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baskets and/or coordinated shelf bins. Add function and gleam with industrial-look metal rolling baskets or entire shelving units. Punch things up with pattern and save some space at the same time with collapsible baskets in chevron or floral print for sorting laundry or stashing detergent and fabric softener. Up the luxe factor on your countertops with colored or patterned glass containers for laundry soap tabs, clothes pins, dryer sheets and lint rollers. Use wood, glass or high-shine metal candle holders with flameless candles with programmable timers to make a statement and provide a little romance in the laundry room (why not?) and pull double-duty as night lights for pets or lonely laundry at night. Lastly, look for decorative hooks and stagger them on the wall, where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll not only help delicate clothing to air-dry but can also keep hats, umbrellas or coats within easy reach in a laundry room near the garage or front door. Get in on the ground floor.

If your plan calls for new flooring, consider contributing to a new look with patterned or wood-look laminate flooring, marblelook ceramic tiles or glossy white subway tiles, or opt for natural materials such as real wood or even brick. No budget for new floors? Find your design groove with chunky, easy-care cotton tie rugs or washable looped rugs in a rich or ethnic pattern for an instant update underfoot. No longer do you need your laundry chores be a mind-numbing affair, nor the space in which you launder to be the design eyesore of your home. With a little planning, creativity and space-use consideration, a happy life in the laundry room is within your reach.

Grow some REAL green this year...

save up to 60% on your energy bill & earn a 30% Tax Credit NOW!!!

Airflow and Water Furnace can help you turn your backyard into a renewable energy source. Thru December 2016, get a 30% tax credit on any Water Furnace Geothermal System. Call for your FREE energy saving consultation today. Learn more about Geothermal at: www.airflowhtgair.com/services/ how-geothermal-works.php

434-979-4328

w w w. a i r f l ow- hva c. co m Improving your comfort since 1988!

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n LIVE WARDROBE ORGANIZATION

simplify your closetâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;and your life building a capsule wardrobe that works BY S LOA N E LU C AS

When it comes to getting dressed each day, we may be needlessly taxing ourselves. Some of us relish taking time to put together creative outfits; for others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more of a chore than we may realize. Studies continue to show that the fewer choices you need to make in any given day, the more you can avoid wasted time and preserve your emotional bandwidth. 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 5 5

The popularity of Barry Schwartz’s book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less opened our eyes to the reality that less choice can mean easier decisions and less overall stress in your life. People continue to embrace this overall trend toward minimalism, which reached new heights with Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which inspired people to purge everything from clothes to books to knickknacks, keeping only the items they truly love. This trend toward simplicity set the stage for the resurgence of the “capsule wardrobe,” a smart fashionista technique that women have been employing since the 1970s. The concept is usually attributed to Susie Faux, a London boutique owner who espoused the idea that women should invest in a basic wardrobe of excellent quality pieces in classic, flattering designs that will stand the test of time, and then update them seasonally with a few trendy pieces. A typical capsule wardrobe might consist of a few pairs of well-fitted pants and a few tailored skirts—mostly in neutrals like black, beige and gray, or one or two in an eye-catching color or pattern. You might have a few dresses—again, a mix of neutral and patterned, and perhaps ranging from casual to cocktail. You would have tops in mostly solids and a few colors and patterns that could be mixed and matched with the bottoms, and perhaps a few cardigans, scarves and belts that complement and jazz up these outfits. A selection of dress flats, heels and casual shoes—and a complementary assortment of bags—would complete the collection. All clothing would be in materials and colors suited to the current season. And since you are curating your items to the best of the best, you would naturally only keep items that fit and flatter—creating a wardrobe of 100 percent favored pieces. If the idea of simplifying a key aspect of your day-to-day life appeals to you, consider trying to build your own capsule wardrobe. You can start by doing a full audit of all the clothing you already have—and not just the clothing you have hanging in

your main closet, but the clothing in your spare closets, the clothing stored in bins around the house. Everything. Take a good look at each piece. Do you love it? Or is it something you reach for with a distinct feeling of “settling” or, even worse, distaste? Forget about what you paid for it, who gave it to you, or how you used to look in it. If you don’t feel fabulous wearing it now, today, set it aside. Remember that your goal is to create a smaller wardrobe of items that make you feel fantastic when you put them on. Another way to help you decide? Look in your laundry bin. Review your Facebook or Instagram photos. Do you find yourself washing the same pants every week? That’s a keeper. Are you in the same cute top in many photos? Another winner. Most people who embrace the capsule wardrobe usually only do so for clothing they would wear day-to-day, for work, and for the weekend, with a selection of evening attire that suits the season. So feel free to separate your clothes into different groups based on use. Your exercise clothes and pajamas should be part of your purge, getting rid of old, threadbare or otherwise uninspiring items. Shoes, bags and accessories should also be subject to your mass purging, especially if they are worn out, or you just don’t like them. Then sort by season and store whatever is not part of your current capsule wardrobe. You will find it easier to part with items if you have a game plan for where to send them. If you have some designer brands in excellent shape that you don’t just want to give away, see if there are local consignment

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shops that will take your pieces, re-sell them, and share the profits with you. Another option is to sign up for a site like ThredUp (thredup.com). You can order a “clean out” bag for free, pack it with items, and ship it back, also for free. You may only make a small amount back, but it’s extremely easy and you may earn enough to buy some new seasonal clothes. Items that are not designer or slightly worse for the wear, donate to your local Goodwill or other favorite charity, and keep that receipt for tax time. As you start to finalize your capsule wardrobe, it’s important to take into account your lifestyle. If you’re a stay at home mom, you may need more casual items than someone working full time in a formal office, who may have to wear suits on a regular basis. Women working part time or volunteering may benefit even more from a capsule wardrobe, since the ability to dress up or down will make a smaller selection more versatile. Now that you have a newly curated selection of your favorite “staple” items, decide which are appropriate for the current season. Store off-season clothes, shoes and accessories in a spare closet or bins, out of sight. The only items that should be in your closet should be ready-to-wear for the current season. If you already have a few fun, on-trend items that you love (patterned shirts or cozy cardigans in fall colors, for example)— great! Use them as a starting point. Now, the fun part—adding to your wardrobe. First, the staples. If you find that you really don’t have some basics—like a good pair of black pants or a basic wool skirt for fall and winter—invest in something of quality. For the trendier seasonal items, try shopping local boutiques for ideas, inspiration and assistance in helping you find the right items to fit your style and existing wardrobe. In addition to carrying quality basics as well as the trendier pieces you’ll use to supplement basics, local boutiques also have the benefit of personal attention and assistance. Again, the goal is to focus on mix-and-match items. Shirts that match multiple pants. Dresses that can be casual with a scarf, or gussied up with a belt and blazer for work. You’re looking for flexibility and maximum ability to interchange items. At this stage, you should now have a closet that’s orderly, thinned out, with a heavily curated selection of seasonal clothing, shoes and accessories. When you wake up in the morning to dress, you should have an easier time choosing what to wear, picking only from your favorites and layering and mixing flattering items that make you feel fabulous.

Timeless Classics

Seasonal Trends 16940 Forest Road in Forest 434.525.7503 | thecolumnsboutique.com

Inspiration, Information, Installation

711 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 434.245.5216 | www.wainwrighttile.com |

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n INDEX OF ADVERTISERS AirFlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Allied Concrete Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Artisan Construction, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Bank of the James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Barboursville Vineyards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 BBQ Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Bold Rock Hard Cider. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 BRHBA Parade of Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Castle Hill Cider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Charlottesville Staging Redesign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 CIRCA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Closet Factory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Craig Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Creative Conservation Company, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 DutchWay LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Embrace Home Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fabrics Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

DOES YOUR HOME HAVE A STORY?

Ferguson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Gearharts Fine Chocolates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Gordonsville Emporium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Grand Home Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Grelen Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Historic Gordonsville Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Kracek Kakes Bakery & Coffee Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Lindenlaan Antiques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Lindsay Milby, Realtor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Madyson on Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Michelle Willis Adams, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Mona Lisa Pasta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Moonlight by Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mr. Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Our Lady of Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Painted At Poplar Haven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Peak Builders, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Posh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Restaurant Pomme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 SariSand Tile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Scott Weiss Architect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Photography by Virginia Hamrick at the home of Cindy and Kent Woodward

weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to hear about it! Charlottesville HOME magazine is always looking for beautiful, unique homes and inspirational renovations to feature. If you or someone you know has a story to tell about a home or project,please email editor@charlottesvillehomemagazine.com with all the details.

Southern Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Southern Development Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Southern Grace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Specialized Insurance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Stokes Of England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Art Box. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 The Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 The Exchange Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 The Laurie Holladay Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Market at Grelen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Wainwright Tile & Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Waynesboro Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Window Depot USA of Richmond & Charlottesville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

5 8 Charlot tesville HOME S eptember/Oc tober 20 16

THIS IS HOW WE DO URBAN. Abundant acreage so close to downtown, you might consider it urban.

INTRODUCING THE RESERVE AT HYLAND RIDGE. Come see the convenience and beauty for yourself; seven elevated, wooded homesites ranging from three to 21 acres are tucked away on Pantops Mountain. All homesites have panoramic mountain views, with some

homesites overlooking downtown Charlottesville. Situated at the back of the picturesque neighborhood of Hyland Ridge—just minutes from downtown—this location is like no other. Build your new single family home with indoor air quality as fresh as the views—plus efficiencies that will

lead to lower utility bills for you. With our EcoSmart program, Southern Development’s homes undergo more in-depth testing than any other builder’s homes in the Central Virginia area. Peace of mind for you, our homeowner—and a piece of the Blue Ridge skyline too. SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT HOMES

EC SMART

STARTING AT $839,900 | SINGLE FAMILY | SQ FT 2,575 – 6,251 Contact Rebecca White at 434.995.5035 or rwhite@southern-development.com | southern-development.com