Go for grand

Gallison Hall is grand. If you’ve always dreamed of arriving at your wedding in a coach-and-four, like Cinderella at the ball, this place is for you—come through the ornate ironwork gates, down the tree-lined drive, and step down into the stone courtyard in front of the palace. In fact, it’s likely the Governor’s Palace in […]

Listen up

Charlottesville truly is the ultimate wedding destination. Not only are the views insane and the catering options delicious, but the city is home to many talented musicians who offer their services at weddings. Whether you’re looking for toned-down elegance, a stand-out soloist, or just  a rockin’ good time, these five local wedding performers make saying […]

Stitch by stitch

Designer, entrepreneur, sewist, activist—it’s hard to use just one word when describing Gabriela Romo. Through Refemme, her Charlottesville-based business, Romo offers a thoughtful and approachable take on garment repair, upcycling, and alteration. Romo’s passion for design and sewing developed as a young girl, watching her mother embroider and her grandmother sew. By age 9, she […]

Just a few friends

I t doesn’t take a global pandemic to convince us that littler is better when it comes to wedding celebrations (though it didn’t hurt). Luckily, Charlottesville’s plethora of pint-sized venues means the backyard isn’t your only option. Under 75 guests <Glass House Winery (conservatory)glasshousewinery.com <The Depoteventsatgrelen.com 75-100 guests Common Housecommonhouse.com Oakhurst Innoakhurstinn.com Old Metropolitan Hall […]

New home base

Jeanne Ward has traveled the world. As a child, she grew up “all over the United States,” and as an international consultant, she lived for 15 years in Kenya and went wherever the job took her: East Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia. But a friend’s suggestion, serendipity, and the pandemic brought her to a […]

Dig rugs

Jordan Heres has visited more than 50 countries, many in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. There, he learned to love rugs. While offering humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world, Heres gained perspective on floor covering artisanship and quality. He decided to share his rug love by starting Weft & Wool, an online […]

Small wonder

Once a forlorn little building—roughly 400-square-feet little—on Valley Street, Scottsville’s switching station recently got a second life thanks to the vision of interior designer Carmel Greer. A D.C. transplant, Greer and her husband took an interest in transforming a few of Scottsville’s abandoned buildings into short-term rentals (they’re renovating another nearby to include three additional […]

Forever fun

In the early months of the pandemic, Matt and Julie Thomas began working on perhaps the most important job of their careers for their most important clients yet—a playhouse for their three kids.  School was out for the summer and indoor playdates were still a no-no, so the Thomas kids spent most of their time […]

Go with the flow

While there’s something to be said for in-your-face, beachy décor—you know, seashell artwork, knotted rope, anchors galore—sometimes less is more. In Crozet, a garage loft renovation showcases how subtle, water-oriented design details can make waves. The homeowners and their two sons are lovers of all things active and outdoorsy. With a growing collection of gear, […]

We call fives

Not every house needs a formal dining area. But what to put in its place? While refreshing a North Downtown home last year, Betsy Kraft made a bold suggestion. “It is very important to me that a home feels authentic to the family. In this case, the homeowners are laid-back, unfussy people. They told me […]