Abode Magazines

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 […]

Carol Diggs | May 9, 2025

Weddings

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 […]

Carol Diggs | April 16, 2025

Weddings

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 […]

Carol Diggs | April 16, 2025

Weddings

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. […]

Carol Diggs | April 16, 2025

Abode Magazines

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 […]

Carol Diggs | February 12, 2025

Abode Magazines

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 […]

Carol Diggs | February 12, 2025

Abode Magazines

Honoring both sides of Charlottesville

Visitors come to Charlottesville to explore its long history and enjoy its thriving contemporary culture. So why not stay somewhere that offers a taste of both? That’s the ethos behind the Jefferson Guest House, a newly renovated 1920s residence in the heart of downtown.  Owner Reid Nagle wanted to renovate the building as a short-term […]

Carol Diggs | February 12, 2025

Magazines Weddings

Local event firm makes your wedding truly yours

If you think the devil is in the details, you’re not alone: Local events rental firm Eventide strongly agrees. For your special day, these folks want the décor, from bowers to umbrellas, to fit your vision. Whether it’s tables and chairs, linen, cutlery and glassware, service trays, or tents, the firm provides a range of […]

Carol Diggs | November 6, 2024