My friend Keith posted some gorgeous pictures on Facebook over the weekend and when he mentioned the name of the house, I thought it sounded familiar. 
The house was on the market briefly this spring, but it’s already been snapped up. I remembered that there were some images of the interiors of this house online, so I thought I’d share them with you.
The house was built in the late 1810’s and was very sympathetically restored over a four-year period. This is the view from the other side of the top image. The house is sited on the top of a hill, placed to catch the summer breezes.
The house is furnished mainly in European antiques, and of those, mainly French ones. The attention to detail is amazing, from the brass rail around the top of the wall for hanging the paintings to the chandelier and the bust placed perfectly.
Even though there are numerous priceless antiques and textiles in the house, it retains a feeling of warmth. I love all of the books arranged on the table. I know the owner is a lover of words.
The previous kitchen was too modern for the house and so it was replaced with one more sympathetic to the property. Although the original kitchen is in the cellar, there’s a summer kitchen in an out-building that’s now a guest house.
The house was designed by an architect who worked on the plans for the University of Virginia with Thomas Jefferson, and another Charlottesville firm oversaw the restoration and decoration of the property.
Lush is one of the words that comes to mind when you see the interiors of the house, but everything has been chosen with great care and excellent taste.
Her collection of china is something I’d like to see in person!
The owner’s moving on now, to someplace a little smaller than the 110-acre estate with 10 buildings, and to a place that doesn’t need renovations or restorations. The house was recently open for a garden tour, and thousands of people stopped in to see it, perhaps getting a last look at this amazing house and its beautiful rooms.
Thanks to Keith MacKay and to the WSJ for the images!
What a gorgeous and gracious home. I'd be so comfortable living there as it was in those pictures; the kitchen is such a cosy room. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Apparently, the basement kitchen retains a lot of its original features.
DeleteThanks for paying attention to whatever prompted you to post these pictures. I love everything I see about this house. The decor is not pretentious, though fine and excellently executed. While chock full of antiques, it looks so very live-able!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I read everything to try and find interesting things for the blog.
DeleteMeg what a gorgeous setting! Love all of the books stacked on the round table!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
It's an amazing place, isn't it?
DeleteI could move in tomorrow + good luck to the owner + beautiful photos. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteYou missed your chance to move in! It just sold.
DeleteMeg, this looks gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're quite welcome!
DeleteWhat an incredible home and so beautifully appointed. Surely symbolic of a gentler time.
ReplyDeletepve
I can't wait to hear where and what the owner does next!
DeleteThose triple-hung windows to the floor are fabulous. The shutters appear to be in the tradition of a type I use when there is a three-part window, as here, or a single French door with sidelights. I size the elements so that the folding shutters can fold once to conceal the flanking elements or fold again to cover the opening entirely.
ReplyDeleteI love long windows and shutters that actually fit!
DeleteBeautiful and elegant, I would love to sleep in that green room, and the kitchen is just heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe owner said she's be happy to move a cot into the kitchen and live in that room.
DeleteThis is a lovely home - I really like how they did the kitchen.
ReplyDelete