A family farm gets a pool that fits right in

This 300-acre Afton property had been the family’s country “home away from home” for more than 40 years. When a new generation took over in 2016, they decided to update the original farmhouse while keeping its character; the additional garage and guest house had been arranged around the central drive/parking area to keep the feeling […]

Going from good-enough to a perfect fit

A couple came to Charlottesville looking to buy a condo for their weekend cycling getaways, but they ended up buying a house that became their age-in-place home. One spouse had always dreamed of one-level living, while the other wanted a home that was intimately connected to its setting. “Within minutes” of viewing this 1950s one-story house […]

Sherry Spencer makes weddings flourish

For many, part of the wedding day is being surrounded by glorious flowers and lovely arrangements that make their special day both beautiful and fragrant. For Sherry Spencer, owner of Southern Blooms, being surrounded by flowers is her daily life—and very much a family thing. “I grew up among flowers,” says Spencer. Her mother, in […]

A new perspective for your wedding memories

No, aliens are not attending your wedding—that circling drone is one of your photographers, providing a bird’s-eye perspective on your nuptials. “Drones [are] a tool to help tell the story of the couple,” says cinematographer Joshua Hall, whose WhiteFlair Productions includes drones in its wedding photography packages. “A drone shot can help tell the story […]

What if our budgets don’t align?

For years, you’ve dreamt about your wedding day. Or maybe now that you’re actually getting married, you’re scanning social media and wedding websites for ideas—and so is your partner. But what if your ideas about your dream wedding don’t align … or don’t match your real-life budget? This is where a wedding planner can help. […]

Revisiting a home design for a new owner

How often do architects get asked to redesign their own work? For long-time Charlottesville architect Robert Paxton, principal at Dalgliesh Gilpin Paxton Architects, a home he had designed near Ivy in the late 1990s had been purchased by a new owner who loved its style but had some other elements in mind.  The qualities that […]

Home sweet test drive? It’s this local firm’s business model

Have you ever wished that you could test drive a home? Or that you could hire someone to move in and get the first-time kinks out? Meet Mike and Isobel Sadler of Charlottesville Area Builders. Charlottesville Area Builders is a third-generation design/build business now in its fourth decade. Mike found his Marine Corps background in […]