The younger Staffords, Elizabeth and William, are getting an early education in small-scale viticulture. When they talk about the vineyard in their front yard, Philip and Martha Stafford—he a C&O founder and Michael Shaps’ partner in Virginia Wineworks; she the Charlottesville Cooking School proprietor—show an appealing mix of seriousness and self-deprecation. “I do think of […]
Main Street USA Location: Gordonsville Price: $199,900 MLS#: 464380 Within walking distance of downtown Gordonsville, this 2,000-square-footer shouts “Americana!” Maybe it’s the blooming backyard camellias and magnolias—maybe it’s the stained glass windows and 1935 bungalow-style chic. Either way, we can totally see Ma, Pa and the kids sitting down for dinner in the big […]
Buy green, borrow green So, you’ve greened your utilities, duds, and diapers, but what about your mortgage? Green banks such as New Resource put an eco-minded spin on your finances. More than going paperless, these banks offer options such as equity lines for solar homes and a concern for the environment as well as the […]
What’s the hatch? What’s going on here? A door is repurposed as the centerpiece of an attic hatch. Watch your step. Though we dream of converting the attic in our house to a master bedroom, for now it remains an officially unfinished space. Therefore, our renovation loan required us to close off the attic with […]
The drill of it all If you’re hanging a picture, changing out a switchplate, or attempting any sort of carpentry, it’s likely you’ll be reaching for a power drill. Since the drill itself is basically just a motor that makes things rotate, you can use it for lots of different tasks depending on what bit […]
Come over for coffee Looking for the best coffee tables in town? We’ve done the hunting for you. Put on a pot of joe and dust off the biggest, glossiest book you own. Double coffee table from The Second Yard Hello, storage! With book and coasters tucked on the bottom shelf, the top will stay […]
Plummeting home prices, low interest rates, foreclosure properties galore—if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the opportune time to buy a house in this otherwise scary economy, the current tax season may be the perfect time (that is, assuming you still have a job). The federal government’s newly signed stimulus package has expanded […]
High above it all Location: Charlottesville Price: $385,000 MLS #: 463056 Sixth floor lofty enough for you? How about the most pristine historic block in the City? This three-bedroom condo occupies a prime spot in the Court Square building, and for most of us, living two blocks off the Mall would be enough of a […]
A lot of couples—80 couples last year —see Claire Goodman as the figure who presides over one of the most important moments of their lives. She’s an interfaith minister who officiates at their weddings, and it’s up to her to not only blend various family and religious influences, but to lend an air of holiness […]
Our house had been the victim of some puzzling attempts at renovation before we bought it. For example, one of the two windows in the bathroom had been removed and a storm window tacked into its place. We wanted the real window back, but—alas—it was long gone. Knowing that, if we ordered a brand-new window […]