Against lost odds

If one were a cynic, one could say that the romance between Leslie Brady and Nate Kenser didn’t have the most auspicious of beginnings. But like all great love affairs, theirs evolved dramatically over time. Exhibit A of their bumpy start: The couple met in 2003 while on-shift at Chili’s, the chain Mexican restaurant perhaps […]

Trinity takes shape

All summer Restaurantarama has been dying to know what kind of renovations are going on behind that mysterious plywood façade in front of what soon will be Trinity Irish Pub

August 2009: Around the House

Fab under feet Shopping for rugs is the home-decor equivalent of shopping for shoes: so much fun that it veers toward the addictive. Maybe that’s because what lies beneath has the potential to kick a room into a higher gear. Consider laying down one of these beauties on the floor of your choice. Cow-hide Duke […]

August 2009: Something bigger

Five years ago, David and Jordan Phemister were feeling pretty good about what they’d just bought: an 800-square-foot bungalow in a prime Belmont location. Built in 1920, it still had original flooring and plaster, plus a charming front porch. Though it was small, it was enough space for the two of them. The Phemisters travel […]

August 2009: Get Real

The biggest real estate kerfuffle of the summer—lowball appraisals.   Many Charlottesville homeowners have had to shelve or cancel plans to refinance or sell their homes due to appraisals coming in much lower—sometimes as much as 12 to 15 percent—than expected. Why is this happening? Two reasons, explains Bill Hamrick, vice president and branch manager […]

August 2009: D.I.Y. Diary

Adventures in trim Top: Painting the trim pieces was half the fun. Bottom: The results made us feel all finished and stuff. We were very happy to get to the stage in our renovation where we could focus on trim. Nonessential, almost purely aesthetic, trim was a sure sign we’d made progress from our early […]

August 2008: Toolbox

For pain-free painting Think you’re good to go with a gallon of paint and a roller brush? Think again, my painting friend. Here are a few extra tools to help smooth that paint on and save you money in the long run: 1. Painter’s tape. Run this along the tops and bottoms of your walls […]

August 2009: Instant Decorator

  Tray chic If you’re a true Recessionista, you know the benefits of repurposing. This month’s project, then, is tailor-made for you. What was once an old tray now becomes a kitschy—yet chic—bulletin board, complete with magnets, for all your last-minute reminders. The best part? It’s almost embarrassingly easy.—Caite White Materials: One metal tray (found […]

August 2009: Family food

No surprise: Lynsie Steele, who owns the Waynesboro-based gourmet ice cream business Perfect Flavor, is a foodie. She owns four copies of Julia Child’s classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking—including one signed by Child. “I cried when Colin gave it to me,” she says. That would be Colin Steele, Lynsie’s husband. Their shared passion […]