Community-driven: Places and elements of the past are reflected in the work architect Kathy Galvin does today

We asked the founder of Galvin Architects about field trips to Boston with her mother, why music inspires her, and the state of architecture in Charlottesville. Why architecture? It is one of the most challenging, rewarding, and consequential disciplines one could master that is both an art form and a profession. Architecture shapes the spaces […]

From the editor-at-large: Of town and country

I think of Charlottesville as the biggest small town in Virginia. I’m not the first to say that, but it’s probably true. On the one hand you have a thriving city center, beautiful architecture, a diverse citizenry, and the pulse of a world renowned University, and on the other, you have an iconic agrarian vastness […]

Playing dress-up: When a little goes a long way

James and Rob Robertson of Robertson Renovation think this four-bedroom, four-bath brick home is a beautiful property in a perfect location that’s convenient to everything. It’s also just the place for a fantasy update, because some upgrades and small changes could turn a nice home into a great one. 1760 Lambs Rd. $499,9000, MLS #517875 […]

From Carthaginians to Virginians: Tile is one of the world’s oldest, most flexible building materials

Your bathroom is cool, comfortable, and clean. Your kitchen is stain-resistant, sleek, and stylish. Why? Tile, of course. “Tile is a good choice because it’s timeless, can complement any look, and has unmatched durability,” SariSand Tile’s Dawn Catlett said. According to Wayne Murphy of Wainwright Tile and Stone on Preston Avenue, tile is typically used […]

Prairie home: A new home harkens back to big sky

Albemarle County and northwest Iowa wouldn’t seem to have much in common. The vast, table-flat spaces of the Midwest are utterly different than the private, wooded coves formed by Central Virginia’s endlessly rolling topography. But at Sue Sargeant’s home, Mossy Rock, the feel of her native Iowa is palpable. The house, designed by Bushman-Dreyfus and […]

Outer edges: A landscape unifies a modern complex

Time marches on! Last time ABODE visited Turkey Saddle—the Free Union home of Elizabeth Birdsall and Eric Young—it was 2008 and the house had just undergone a major renovation, led by local architecture firm Formwork. It was a serene, minimalist retreat, like a treehouse overlooking the Moormans River. Now, the vibe has changed a bit, […]