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

Magazines Weddings

Considering a destination wedding?

Choosing a life partner is a really big decision. Having a wedding, on the other hand, is a hundred smaller ones. And for many couples, the primary decision is ‘where?’ Which brings up the question of a destination wedding—how do you decide? “The first question is, why are you thinking of a particular destination?” says […]

Carol Diggs | November 6, 2024

Culture Living

Two horse-lovers mobilize social media to save animals from slaughter

Colby’s Crew started with one horse and one decision from the heart. Colby, a 4-year-old chestnut stallion with white markings, had run out of options. Allison (Ally) Smith, an experienced equestrian studying nursing and training horses on the side, saw an online post about him: “Bound for slaughter. Needs experienced handler.” “He was flashy and […]

Carol Diggs | October 16, 2024