This house had a series of odd and disjointed additions and renovations over the years that left it in a state of disarray. We pulled back the layers to unveil and rework the house’s true character.

The exterior of the house had a mismatch of windows our firm worked with the owner’s budget in mind to replace and rework necessary windows (not all of them) in order to have a more balanced and charming exterior and to open up the amazing views of the surrounding Valley.

The motto with the interior of the home was “less is more.” We opted for fewer larger rooms as opposed to multiple small spaces. Our favorite improvements were the Rear Hall (once a porch) in which we were able to expose the original stone façade, and the Master Suite with its open views and spacious bathroom and closet.

Doors, Windows and Trim: Marvin Elevate from Cardinal Home Supply

Cabinetry: Expert Kitchen Designs

Contractor: Peter Corddry

Drafts

This Modern Farmhouse sits on a small Cattle farm in Culpeper, VA. It was sited to take in the most optimal views of the farm and to provide lots of daylight. With budget in mind, we designed our clients (who are close friends) an open and inviting house ideal for entertaining often, but also cozy enough for day to day life with their children.

Some of our favorite spaces include a chef’s kitchen with large pantry, a large Dining area with a table handmade by the owner, a Great Room with a modern wood burning fireplace, our signature Sunroom overlooking the surrounding pastures, and the modern “Joanna Gaines” style stair!

Culpeper Modern Farmhouse was completed in October 2019.

Contractor: Brannock Enterprises (Guy Brannock)

Doors, Windows and Trim: Marvin Elevate from Cardinal Home Supply

Custom Stair railing: Michael Drake

Cabinetry: Expert Kitchen Designs

Photographer: Andsam Photography.

This modern day farmhouse was designed with one level living mind. The client was a newly retired couple looking to build their forever home adjacent to their daughter's property.  We designed a house with a very open floor plan that would be ideal for entertaining without having separate oversized and unused rooms. The house was designed on a central axis with views of the golf course across the street from the front of the house and views of the pastures and possibly the passing fox hunt out of the rear.

The "new old farmhouse" was designed incorporating old savaged doors and mantels and repurposed lighting. Each room was carefully planned to give place to the clients special family antiques such as a nook for the old family china hutch and the chest with marble top repurposed as a bathroom vanity with vessel sink. We even helped the client commission a custom painted kitchen backsplash which depicts every family member and their beloved animals.

The upstairs was designed for our clients extended family members and out of town guests. There is a "pajama lounge" and a small kitchenette connecting the two guest rooms and a balcony off one of the guest rooms with the most spectacular view of the golf course. 

Planning for future and for our clients to age in place we designed a full apartment with separate exterior access and stair for a possible care taker.

We helped with every decision on this house seeing it from conception through decorating and move-in. It was truly a joy to see our clients so happy in their forever home..right next door to their grandchildren!

“Kindersprings Too” was completed in July 2016.

Contractor: SNL Construction

Kitchen Designer: Kitchen Intuition kitchenintuition.squarespace.com

Landscape Architect: Green Gate Studio  www.greengatestudio.com

This new old Virginia Style Farmhouse is on one of the few remaining open lots in the historic horse country of Middleburg, Virginia. Our goal for this home was to provide a greener cozy home for a small family while still maintaining a generous enough space for entertaining and a strong link to the outdoors.  This house has great pastoral views of the surrounding farms while taking advantage of being accurately located on an east-west axis to maximize passive solar.  Other green focuses were super insulation; efficient HVAC, electric and water; and reducing waste by using lumber from the house clearing to build such items as barn doors and bathroom vanities.

The home was also designed to age with its family and be their forever home.  The house was planned with two master suites, one being handicapped accessible on the first floor and the second being upstairs located near the younger children.  The kitchen is the heart of this home and and will also act as the main dining space with its large farm style table attached to the kitchen island.  For more details on this house check our blog post “Sneak Peak of the Middleburg House”.   We enjoyed collaborating with the owner on all of the flooring, lighting and wall finishes while incorporating some salvaged and repurposed items to bring this whole package together.

“The Middleburg House” was completed in August 2014.

Contractor: Zeamer Construction

Green Consultant: Andrew Grigsby of Commonwealth Sustainability Works

Doors, Window and Trim: Otter Creek Millwork, and Marvin Integrity Windows

Cabinetry: NVS Kitchen and Bath

Stone work: Sissler Stone

HVAC: Climatic Heating and Cooling

Lighting: Shades of Light

Plumbing: Fergusons

Wood floors: Cochran’s Lumber and Millwork

Tile: Mosaic Tile

Our favorite Architectural Salvage: Maggie’s Farm

Photographer: Gregorio Photography

In 2014 Luke and Laura purchased a historic property and began their own renovation project.  Their house and most of the structures on the property were built in 1920 and were in serious disrepair.  Over the years they have been restoring the house and out buildings to their original form while trying to maintain the the character and aesthetic of the 1920s era.

"Kindersprings" is currently under construction for Phase 4 (an Addition and new Garage).

Contractor: Luke and Laura Bartee

Landscape Architect: Green Gate Studio  www.greengatestudio.com

This house had been added on-to over the years to accommodate our clients growing family, however the main living space of the house was the husbands original bachelor pad that had never been updated. The house had original rustic stained planking and wood work on the interior and old rough sawn salvaged beams and columns from an old barn on the property. Our client's goal for this addition/renovation was to have a more gracious and open kitchen and also add a sunroom. They also wished to reconfigured the laundry area and build a new cubbie area for the kids.

We really enjoyed seeing the transformation of this house as it became a much brighter space.  The new design was tied-in to the existing house by using beams from the same old barn, and the original stained planking was painted for a more updated look.  We worked closely with the Kitchen Designer to create a true chef's kitchen, complete with a full butler's pantry with close proximity to the parking area for easier grocery loading.  

This transformation has definitely been one of our favorites so far!

“River View” was completed in November 2015.

Contractor: SNL Construction

Kitchen Designer: Kitchen Intuition kitchenintuition.squarespace.com

This recent renovation/addition needed a larger dining room to accommodate a larger number of people. We added a small 8’x16′ addition with a large door/window combo to really brighten the space and make it seem even bigger.  Don’t worry not much went to waste…we were able to reconfigure some of the existing windows in the altered upper level space!  We added a large flagstone patio to anchor this house to its landscape. This renovation proved that even a small addition can make a huge difference!

Completed in September 2014.

Contractor: SNL Construction

Photographer: Fifty-Two Thursdays  http://www.fiftytwothursdays.us

The “Coal Scale House” and sheds were built circa 1920 with a later addition in 1954.  The structures are adjacent to the railroad and the original train station is just across the street.  The building houses an original Fairbanks scale which was used to weigh coal as it came off the railroad or as it was purchased by the locals.

The property was purchased  as an investment property by our client in February 2012. The building had been sitting vacant for about 5 years. A few months after the property was purchased, the small town that it resides in began the nomination process to become a Historic District with the National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.  This allowed the renovation to qualify for tax credits and therefore the Secretary’s Standards for Preservation, Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction became the driving criteria in the design process.

We restored the building to its original form while adding some modern necessities like an ADA bath, new HVAC system and a new Kitchen. We replaced the one level roof with standing seam metal while removing an unnecessary small shed dormer at the rear and adding a new pitch to give the new bathroom and hall more headroom.  Once under construction it was process of discovery as we found things such as a hidden fireplace and safe, old car parts in the walls, exposed rafter tails covered by a previous addition and beautiful oak floors.

We worked with Bre’s Design Studio to create a fitting entry to the building, an entry that could tell the story of the ” Coal Scale House.”   By using various hardscapes she was able to define a parking area and depict what would have been the old cart path off the original scale.

The resulting renovation/restoration has turned this once overlooked building into a jewel showcasing its history!

“The Coal Scale House” was completed in September 2013.

Owner: Kinderdown Investment Properties

Contractor: SNL Construction

Landscape Architect: Bre’s Design Studio bresdesign.wordpress.com

Photographer: Gregorio Photography  gregoriophotography.com

We work with a select few builders to do speculative house plans.

Pictured

Contractor: Southstar Construction

http://southstar-construction.com/

Watercolor Rendering: Fritz Kaprann