The tiny house movement hasn’t exactly made its way to our corner of the world, but the scene at one local antique shop tells a different story. At Joseph Joseph & Joseph, customers enter to find a restored log cabin—in the middle of the store. Originally a 19th century tobacco barn, the structure needed to […]
The tiny house movement hasn’t exactly made its way to our corner of the world, but the scene at one local antique shop tells a different story. At Joseph Joseph & Joseph, customers enter to find a restored log cabin—in the middle of the store. Originally a 19th century tobacco barn, the structure needed to […]
Windows were once the middle child of home construction. You had to take care of them at some point, but you didn’t really pay them any attention until you had to. It was almost like you could see right through them. Then came the environmental revolution, and people went nuts for energy efficient windows. But […]
Two of interior designer Leslie Burns’ passions put a personal stamp on her work: fine art and travel. Having visited more than 20 different countries and worked as a fine artist, Leslie’s designs often focus on bringing more color and texture to a room. We asked her to tell us what she’s been up to […]
The best of both worlds. That’s maybe the easiest way to describe Gregg Bleam’s interest in landscape architecture. Bleam had always loved architecture, but it wasn’t until college, where he began pursuing a graphic arts degree, that he realized his real interest was in making things. “Landscape architecture brought together a lot of different interests […]
Among this year’s offerings during Historic Garden Week, a local star will be Verulam Farm. The Ivy estate has been an Albemarle mainstay for nearly 80 years, and these days it’s serving not only as a private residence but a grand backdrop for weddings and other occasions. In 1936, Courtlandt Van Clief, a New York […]
If you walk along the serpentine brick walls by the Pavilion Gardens on the grounds of the University of Virginia, you will see a plaque commemorating the restoration work of the Garden Club of Virginia. Inside, right about now, the daffodils and periwinkle are blooming, and the tulips are on their way. In fact, thanks […]
While some people live on country estates with ample acreage, many people these days have less-than-spacious yards—especially in condominium or townhouse communities. “There are challenges in having a small yard,” points out Charlottesville Horticulturist Karyn Smith. It can be tempting, she says, to visit a nursery or garden store, buy a bunch of good-sized trees […]
Since spring is busting out all around central Virginia, it’s a perfect time to consider upgrades to outdoor living space. An ideal project might be a deck addition or a screened porch. Another welcome addition could be an outdoor kitchen with counter space, a grill, a built-in ice chest, or even a small refrigerator. Families […]
The resurgence of low-down financing seems dangerous on the surface. However, since the 2008 recession, things have drastically changed, including requirements regarding down payments. What’s different this time? According to Karen Dowell of Real Estate Solutions (www.karendowell.com), the primary difference is the underwriting criteria. Although there are still some low credit score types of programs […]
As Executive Vice-President of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (BRHBA), Kristin O’Connell Sorokti might be expected to think that Central Virginia is “a very, very good place” for homebuilders and home improvement buffs. But O’Connell doesn’t ask us to take her word for it. O’Connell invites us to see for ourselves. The BRHBA shows it […]