LET’S GO OUT A NEW PORCH BRINGS LIGHT, PRIVACY, AND YEAR-ROUND LIVING TO A ROSE HILL HOME
CASPARI’S HOSTS OF VISITING DESIGNERS
In Ivy, a 1970s Tuley house is reimagined with restraint, preserving its connection to light, landscape, and family living
765 Summit Ridge Pointe, Charlottesville, Va
Perched atop the Southwest Mountains, this 6bedroom home offers panoramic views and a Karen Turner-designed kitchen. Located just minutes from Charlottesville. $2,950,000 –Peter Wiley 434.422.2090
268 Springdale Dr, Keswick, Va
Step into a 35-acre estate in Keswick. This 6,200 sq ft colonial-style home features hardwood floors, a guest cottage, pool, and tennis court. Minutes from Keswick Hall. $3,750,000 – Peter Wiley 434.422.2090 Justin Wiley 434.981.5528
1826 Wayside Place, Charlottesville, Va
Experience the perfect blend of privacy and character in this c.1910 home on Wayside Place. Offering four bedrooms and a renovated kitchen. Nestled on a quiet, tree-lined street, it's just a short walk to UVA Grounds and JPJ Arena. $1,995,000 – Peter Wiley 434.422.2090
1614 Carriage Dr, Manakin Sabot, Va
Set on 40 secluded acres, this beautifully renovated contemporary farmhouse offers sweeping pastures and thoughtfully designed spaces for gathering. Only minutes from Short Pump. $3,300,000 – Justin Wiley 434.981.5528
410 Twelve Ridges Way, Vesuvius, Va
Nestled in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, this 3-bed, 3.5-bath home offers modern elegance with 270-degree views, just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. $1,995,000 – Matthias John 434.906.4630
1400 Bundoran Dr, North Garden, Va
Embrace tranquility in this 2022 custom home at Bundoran Farm, offering serene mountain views. Features include 1st floor living, a pool, courtyard, and potential expansion on the terrace level. Enjoy 14+ miles of incredible trails. $2,250,000 –Peter Wiley 434.422.2090
Set upon 42 acres of Rivanna River sanctuary, this remarkable estate offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a landscape of rolling pastures and serene water frontage. $8,450,000 – Peter Wiley 434.422.2090 Justin Wiley 434.981.5528
8386 Hare Forest Rd, Orange, Va
Privately set in one of Central Virginia’s most protected landscapes, Hare Forest is a historic estate, featuring a late 18th-century Federal-style manor on 173 acres under conservation easement. $2,795,000 – Justin Wiley 434.981.5528
Stunning Classical Revival estate on 312 acres along the Rapidan River. Built in 1854, this meticulously restored home features original details, guest cottage, pool, stables, and more. Additional 403 acres available. $4,500,000 –Justin Wiley 434.981.5528 Peter Wiley 434.422.2090 23501 Greenville Rd, Culpeper, Va
1859 Rivanna Farm, Charlottesville, Va
IN THIS ISSUE
Enduring modern 22
A young family’s move from New York City to a 1971 Ivy home designed by architect James Tuley became a careful exercise in preservation and change. Working with Bushman Dreyfus Architects, they lived in the house before renovating, using that time to understand its rhythms and refine what needed to evolve—from opening up the kitchen to reconfiguring bedrooms and addressing long-overlooked structural issues. The result is a thoughtful update that maintains Tuley’s modernist vision—his clean lines, indoor-outdoor connections, and sense of restraint—while adapting the house for contemporary family life.
$2,325,000 | MLS 675095 | Charlottesville Jim & Will Faulconer, 434.981.0076
Blueprint
Design in all its many forms
The simple things
An old house gets a timeless new addition
By Carol Diggs
COVID had Chip and Betsy Tucker thinking things over after living in this area for four decades. A combination of practicality and the post-pandemic real estate market made them consider their next move. Was it time for a smaller house? A transition to one-floor living? The Tuckers began exploring their options, and found a 1920s stucco house in the Rose Hill neighborhood that became their next home.
“This house appealed to us,” says Chip Tucker. “I liked its plain style. We know this neighborhood—we’ve been attending the Quaker meeting here for 40 years. Some of our neighbors have been here for years. And we can walk to downtown.”
The Tuckers bought the house in 2022 as a rental, and in 2024 they hired Jobes Builders and architect Joey Laughlin to make some upgrades and renovations before the couple moved in. Their biggest ask: a larger outdoor living space. “In this climate, you can be outside three seasons a year,” says Tucker. “We wanted a place we could live in, and entertain in.”
The existing screened porch, part of an addition done in 2003, wasn’t much more than a back entry and mud room. “The clients wanted a real living space,” says Laughlin. “We wanted to respect the vernacular of the house, but it didn’t have to be the same style.”
Laughlin and Tucker played around with various sizes for the porch’s expanded concrete
footprint. They wanted to create a large enough space for living and entertaining without impinging too much on the existing garden, including a decades-old holly and a lovely three-story weeping cherry tree.
Laughlin also experimented with various designs for the roof, finally settling on a slant that mirrors the pitch of the adjoining roof, sloping up to the outer edge to bring in light and enlarge the view. (“I liked this design because it was the most unusual looking,” says Tucker.) A valley forms where the porch roof meets the house, and a field-fabricated box gutter collects and sheds rainwater into a galvanized round downspout (the Tuckers have a rain barrel on the other side of the house).
Because the lot is small (about .2 acres), Laughlin designed the porch to balance openness and privacy. To the west, parallel to the street, a 3-foot-high wall of tongue-and-groove slats provides some privacy, with full screening above; to the east, with a neighbor’s house only yards away, the tongue-and-groove wall is 7 feet high, with two vertical louvered panels and screening above to allow for light and air flow. The northern side is floor-to-ceiling screening, with a door providing access to the garden.
The porch’s internal framing, with horizontals at 3 and 7 feet, supports the screening and creates a rhythmic feeling. It’s also practical, as Laughlin notes: The inside rail is the perfect height to hold people’s drinks, and recessed
lighting underneath it provides muted light for safety without glare that would attract insects. Because the north wall is so open, a steel rod cross brace is required for lateral stability; its shape adds an aesthetic contrast to the rectangular grid of columns and rails.
The porch walls are painted a muted gray-blue inside and out, which creates a quiet weathered feeling like a seaside cottage. Laughlin says the color was chosen to complement the main building. He calls it “a more muted, less saturated cousin to the sea-green of the existing house.”
On the porch ceiling, the cedar planking was left unfinished, and its warm golden beige lightens the space. Both roof and ceiling extend out past the walls to add to the feeling of integrating indoors and outdoors. On the porch roof is an unobtrusive solar installation (Jobes Builders is known for its dedication to energy-efficient and sustainable projects).
The Tuckers’ new space has its practical touches as well. An entryway to both the kitchen and new porch is now where the former screened porch was. Its outer wall has become a divider with a countertop oven for preparing and serving food; it is topped with repurposed soapstone that a former owner left stacked in the yard. “I cook out here all year round,” Tucker notes—especially helpful when he’s preparing fish.
In line with their taste for simplicity and sustainability, the Tuckers have furnished their porch space eclectically. A suite of sea-green metal outdoor furniture—a pair of loveseats and a round glass-topped dining set—coexists with a vintage Amish rocking chair and a glasstopped coffee table from their former home. The result is both minimalistic and homey— comfort without a lot of fuss. Perhaps the best description is timeless.
Design for living Caspari
brings a touch of art to your table, your patio, your
parties…
By Carol Diggs
What is the Caspari style? “There are certain themes,” says Gaea Rich, head of design, licensing, and product development for the store. “Our inspiration is international—Chinoiserie, classic French, botanicals, textiles from India and Asia, ceramics, European 19th century but also modern influences…”
Mark Bergadon, director of marketing, retail and e-commerce, nods: “You know it when you see it.”
Caspari’s wide range of products occupy a very specific niche: tabletop decor, from napkins to candles, flatware, and glassware; home and garden items; desk accessories; stationery for every possible occasion; gifts, cards, and wrapping paper. Rich points out that its Charlottesville shop—the company’s headquarters and flagship store; the only other brick-and-mortar location is in Paris—was specifically designed to reflect that perspective, with areas that customers move through like the spaces of their home—living room, dining room, library or study, porch or patio.
All Caspari products are designed in-house and manufactured specifically for them. “We design more like a textile company,” Rich notes. “Our products may be paper, but they are designed to look like textiles or ceramics. We pay a lot of attention to texture and color.” Caspari’s ethos is “stylish, not trendy”—products stay in inventory for at least two years. In addition to its own designs, Caspari carries some complementary brands and licenses a wide selection from world-renowned designers, museums, and artists, including Maison Pierre Frey, Tillett Textiles, and Scalamandré; Colonial Williamsburg, the Huntington Library, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs; private collections; and independent artists. “We’re making art accessible to people,” says Bergadon.
The Downtown Mall shop often holds events, from holiday-themed cocktail parties or book signings to gatherings that feature local artists and designers. More than marketing events, “these are ways to keep us connected with our community,” says Rich. Caspari has a loyal and widespread customer base; fully half of its mailing list is people from out of town who come to Charlottesville intending to shop at the store. Caspari’s events tend to be “seasonal and local,” says Rich. There’s
always something for Garden Week (“that’s big with our customers,” notes Bergadon), which makes sense because botanicals are a large and popular segment of the company’s designs. An event in June 2025 featured Art Chadwick of Richmond-based Chadwick & Sons Orchids, talking about growing and decorating with orchids and signing two of his books, First Ladies and Their Orchids and The Classic Cattleyas
Early this year, noted British interior designer Ben Pentreath was in the States for a book tour, and Caspari invited him to a session at the store to talk about design and sign his latest book, An English Vision Pentreath called the Q & A session “Ask Me Anything”—quite an invitation, since the designer has a considerable fan base among UVA architecture school students, who turned out with enthusiasm.
In March 2026, the store partnered with Foxfield Races and well-known Charlottesville-based artist Cate West Zahl, creator of the race’s 2026 painting. The crowd that evening included Caspari’s customers and Zahl’s considerable local following; the event featured the first viewing of her painting and a 100-ticket raffle for a chance to take it home.
And just to make sure all bases were covered, later that month Caspari hosted its second Mahjong event. Last spring it was a tournament, this year a weekend of classes for both beginners and experienced players. And of course, while you’re there you can see how Caspari can help you lay out a truly beautiful table and sideboard for your fellow players.
When it comes to entertaining, says Rich, “we’re here to solve your problems.”
IMAGES: CASPARI
British interior designer Ben Pentreath stopped by Caspari earlier this year to sign An English Vision, his latest book.
Being named to Forbes’ 2026 Best-InState Wealth Management Teams list is a testament to your experience, focus, and dedication to your clients’ financial future. Thank you for the work you do each day and for carrying forward the standard of excellence at our firm. The Parker Group at Morgan Stanley Eric Parker, C CFP® Managing Director - Wealth Management Wealth Advisor 120 Garrett Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 434-220-3809 eric.parker@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-parker-group
L-R:Marie Varga, Client Service Associate; Eric Parker; B.J. Brittle, Wealth Management Associate. CFP Board owns the mark CFP® in the U.S.
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded January 2026) 2026 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by SHOOK Research LLC (the research company) in partnership with Forbes (the publisher) for the period from 3/31/24-3/31/25. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to SHOOK Research LLC for placement on its rankings. This ranking is based on inperson, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, fi rm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their fi rms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC and may not be representative of any one client’s experience; investors must carefully choose the right Financial Advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affi liated with SHOOK Research LLC or Forbes. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.
T:7.5"
T:4.75"
Moving with the light
When Alloy’s client set out to renovate his bedroom and bathroom, he wasn’t looking for a simple upgrade—he was shaping a home around the way he lives. The goal was clear: a space that feels calm, open, and deeply connected to the outdoors, where every detail—from the shape of the windows to the shifting light—matters.
The bedroom became the starting point. Clean lines, warm materials, and uninterrupted sightlines bring nature in at every angle, creating a space that encourages stillness and focus. Sunlight, weather, and the
changing seasons play across the room, making the interior feel alive and ever-changing.
For Alloy, the project was more than finishes or fixtures. It was about creating a space that feels personal, responsive, and intentional—a home interior that balances clarity with comfort, and beauty with thoughtfulness. The work earned Alloy NARI’s 2026 Remodeler of the Year for Residential Interior projects over $500,000, recognizing a renovation where design and life seamlessly intersect.—CH
Homes office
C’ville native brings high-end residential architecture firm to town By Shea Gibbs
Kate Chambers Beck has followed her passion for architecture from Charlottesville to the Midwest to Alabama and—finally—back home to the Blue Ridge. The C’ville native recently opened a local office for her firm, ’bama-based Tippett Sease Baker Architecture, and took time to chat with Abode about the homecoming.
Abode: What made you want to bring TSB to Charlottesville?
Kate Chambers Beck: The firm is just turning 8 years old in a couple months, and I’ve been with them since they opened. We started in Montgomery, Alabama, which is where the three partners are from, and the main office is in Birmingham. But I grew up in Charlottesville, and my husband and I wanted to move back. I sat down with the partners and said, “I think this would be a great location for us to open an office.”
How were you able to sell the idea?
Both my parents are architects in different capacities working locally, and so growing up here, I knew that what we have to offer is a little bit different than other firms in the area. And, there’s a great design community here. Being able to work with colleagues here, whether that be designers or structural engineers or others, I knew that that all existed here. We’re really excited to tap into that.
Where does TSB fit among the architects in the area?
There are some really wonderful firms in Charlottesville that span the range of architectural types, but a lot of them are more traditional, which is great and makes sense in the area. We are also traditional architects, but we focus on kind of the American vernacular, so really looking at the local architecture of a place—the building materials, historically and today, that exist there, the forms traditionally that would have existed in those places—and using all that to create modern family homes. We are looking at history to give us clues as to how we can design today, but with a focus on the local language as opposed to high classical language.
So local styles, native materials, and other region-based cues?
Local materials definitely play a big part of it and can really tie a building to its place. Then you’re also thinking about location, not just in terms of Virginia, for example, but thinking about city settings versus rural settings. The projects are tied to the exact, specific site that they’re located on.
Your firm has designed some opulent homes. What’s your niche?
A lot of times we’re working on quite large residences, but not always. We love taking small projects as well, and just making a jewel box of
a building. I think for us, it’s really about breaking down the scale of even large projects so that you’re almost integrating a village of structures into the landscape.
Thinking in regional terms, what are your goals now that you’re here?
As with many firms today, we’re not necessarily tied to our physical office locations. We’ve always had a pretty broad reach in terms of where we’re building and working. So, I’ll hopefully be taking on more projects in the Charlottesville area, but that’s just one area of the region that we’re hoping to bring ourselves into. We do already have some projects in Virginia, and
TRISTAN WILLIAMS
it’s been great to have the physical presence here and connect with people.
If you could sum up TSB’s style, what would it be?
Each house we do is completely unique and individual to the client. So, it’s not like we have one house that just says, “Oh, this is what TSB does.” We see ourselves as the hands of our client, trying to bring their vision to life. It really is an individualized process with the client to ask, “How do you live your life, what are you looking for, what do you want to see when you come home, what’s the most important thing to you?” There are so many different facets to the way we live, and it’s such a personal process, which is something I love about it.
How have your first six months gone?
For me, personally, it’s such an inspiring area to be working. We’re actually moving into a much bigger office space on Main Street and expanding our operations here. I do think that it’s a really great market and a great design community to be part of, and I’ve definitely felt that even just being here for a little while.
Carlyn Janus & Hannah Katherine Art IIART
The Harkening
Fan favorite Earlysville winery opens modern tasting room
By Shea Gibbs
The Hark family started having folks over to try their award-winning wines in the fall of 2019. The only problem was, they couldn’t invite anyone inside.
At the time, Hark Vineyards was growing grapes on a 70-acre parcel and making its estate wines out of an 8,500-square-foot production facility. Aaron and Candi Hark, working with head winemaker AJ Greely, had enjoyed some excellent harvests and created some delightful wines. Their neighbors and others in the Charlottesville area had watched the Earlysville-based winery grow over the years and heard good things. They wanted to come over and have a few glasses.
With no tasting room on their property, the Harks hosted all comers in the only place they could: the great outdoors. It was an arrangement that suited the family—they’re avowed lovers of nature and the bucolic Blue Ridge. But they were beholden to the weather and needed a reliable place to pour their creations.
The solution? A 6,000-square-foot tasting room nestled into the saddle between two vineyards. The modern structure, designed by local architects Design Develop, opened late last year.
“It was important that we maintain that connection to the outdoors,” Candi Hark says. “We love this property and the landscape around it, and we wanted to appreciate that no matter what the weather was.”
As visitors approach the new tasting room, the structure’s clean, simple lines and unadorned façade emerge unobtrusively. When visitors enter the building, the sweep of the all-wood walls and massive floor-to-ceiling windows draw the attention back outside.
“They wanted to be family-oriented and provide a place people could gather, feel the beauty of the space, and enjoy some good wine,” says Kevin Schafer, Design Develop’s Charlottesville studio director. “The building was an embodiment of that vision.”
The tasting room’s interior finishes, like those on the outside, are minimal, with a few flourishes dotted around the main hall, private area, and restrooms. The idea, again, was to retain
Hark Vineyards’ focus on its varietals and the place where they’re grown.
The Scandinavian-inspired space features a polished marble floor, locally sourced white oak ceiling, and simple white walls standing in juxtaposition to the vibrant greens beyond the westfacing windows. On the large, wraparound patio, wooden tables constructed from trees once on the property provide another link between engineering and environment.
“There are so many windows, you feel like you are outside,” Hark says. “It’s a lot of space, and there’s an easy indoor-outdoor flow.”
Highlighting the mostly flat finishes in the main tasting room is a dramatic stone fireplace with tile accents, bisected by a mantel constructed from a salvaged beam. At the other end of the tasting room, the bar and kitchen exterior feature matching wood panels designed to give the appearance of weightlessness. Like the fireplace, the bathrooms feature unique tiling; a large storage area and fully equipped commercial kitchen round out the facility’s footprint.
Alexander Nicholson served as the primary contractor for the build, which came together over roughly 15 months starting in April 2024. Allan Pettit, one of the builder’s principals, says he came to the project as one of those Hark Vineyards neighbors who’d been interested in what the family was up to.
Pettit and his family moved down the street from Hark Vineyards in 2020 and told the Harks that, if they ever decided to construct a tasting room, he’d be happy to bid it. After a false start on a construction site higher up the hill on the property, the team went to work in a more cost-effective lowland area. The all-wood frame structure, which suited the Hark’s tastes while being relatively inexpensive, created some engineering challenges given the volume of glass the building
would have to support. Strategically deployed engineered lumber was the solution, according to Pettit. “Cost was the predominant reason for being all wood, but it also offers simplicity and straightforwardness,” he says. “A lot of people in the commercial world want a residential feel in their building…something with a more welcoming feel.”
The tasting room—with its vertical siding, metal trim, massive sliding doors, and ceilings angling toward the westerly mountain views—is now nestled into the Hark Vineyards’ property, and is just what the vintners envisioned.
“In Virginia, there are a lot of barns,” Aaron Hark says. “So many farm wineries build a barn. We wanted something a bit more modern but at the same time welcoming. We want people to take in the natural environment, and we got that. It is low to the horizon and among the vines.”
Hark Vineyards’ 6,000-square-foot tasting room, with all-wood walls and massive floor-to-ceiling windows, is nestled into the saddle between two vineyards.
401 Park Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
DAZZLING
Snug Harbor is a Charlottesville home for the books, from period charms to just completed and tasteful kitchen and bath renovations, to the level back lawn with room for a soccer field and a pool in the city! Walking distance to ALL things UVA as well as to the Fry Springs Beach Club, this 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath offers the amenities of a suburban home paired with the conveniences of urban living. Shaded by massive trees, the stone and clapboard, arts and crafts masterpiece offers 4 fireplaces, 2 garage bays, multiple formal and informal living spaces, 1st floor primary and a terrace level apartment ideal for in-laws, au pairs or supplemental income. The top floor has been finished into an ideal teen rec room or sleepover space extraordinaire. Truly one of Charlottesville’s noted homes on a charming, tucked away street dotted with other early 1900’s residences.
PRISTINE, HISTORIC ESTATE ON 22 ACRES
0 LIBERTY CORNER • $2,845,000
In the heart of protected, rural Southern Albemarle, c. 1790 Liberty Corner on 22 acres offers a statement estate without caring for 500 acres of surrounding, pastoral vistas. At the heart of this historic property is a pristine 18th century residence in flawless condition w/ period charm & modern amenities. Improved by 2 guest houses, pool, pool house, gardens & dog runs, the home enjoys stunning, panoramic views of the rolling countryside & 2 large lakes. 25 mins to Charlottesville & under 10 mins to Scottsville. MLS# 674734
LIGHT-FILLED BELLAIR HOME
21 DEER PATH • $1,445,000
Rare opportunity to own a beautiful home filled w/ natural light, warmth & timeless charm. Large windows throughout & classic architectural details: paneled walls, coffered ceilings, rich wood floors & traditional millwork. With 5 bedrooms, 3 full & 2 half baths, the home offers generous space for family & guests. Fin. basement w/ kitchenette bedroom & full bath. Murray School District, Foxhaven trails! Alex Schwartz (202) 725-2545 or Bobby Schwartz (202) 841-6642. MLS# 673977
(434)977-4005
info@loringwoodriff.com
FULLY RENOVATED W/ 2 PRIMARY SUITES
1330 HILLTOP ROAD • $2,395,000
Fresh, inviting, & fully renovated,
CUSTOM ARTS & CRAFTS STUNNER IN IVY ELEVATED 1-LEVEL LIVING AT KESWICK ESTATE
3135 ROCKS FARM COURT • $2,245,000
Nestled privately overlooking Blue Ridge views, this totally custom 5 bed, 4.5 bath Arts & Crafts farmhouse is truly remarkable. From the beautiful heart pine floors to the incredible dry laid stonework at the massive family room fireplace to the wonderful bluestone terrace & Buckingham slate covered patio & screened-in porch overlooking the views, there are wonderful, timeless finish details at every turn. A small creek runs along the back of the property. MLS# 673280
880 CLUB DRIVE • $2,675,000
Remarkable 4 bed, 3.5 bath fieldstone residence on private 3.5 acre lot w/ soaring ceilings, arched doorways, 2 oversized stone fireplaces & expansive rear, bluestone courtyard. Timeless finishes incl’ honed granite in the kitchen & large laundry rm, heavy/high quality hardware throughout, cherry cabinetry & bookshelves in home office & bar, and extensive built-ins in family room. 1 Gig+ fiber internet. Easy walk to all club & hotel amenities. Under 12 mins to Downtown yet a world away. MLS# 673250
1331 HilltoP road
$3,200,000
Rare opportunity to own more than an acre of private property in Meadowbrook Hills, just minutes from UVA, Barracks Road, & Downtown. This 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath home blends timeless character w/ thoughtful updates. Welcoming foyer opens to gracious formal living & dining rooms & updated kitchen flows seamlessly to back deck & expansive yard. Generous family room & main level primary suite w/ renovated bath provides easy 1-level living. Upstairs, 4 beds, 2 full baths, a loft, & laundry offer flexibility. Basement features private entrance, bedroom, full bath, & kitchen. Recent improvements incl’ new landscaping, off street parking, fully renovated guest bath, updated primary bath, & kitchen enhancements. Jamie Waller (407) 694-8988. MLS# 675290
TIMELESS & CHARMING 1935 STONE RESIDENCE IN RUGBY HILLS
1820 fendall avenue
$1,895,000
Set on a wide, tree-lined street a mile walk to UVA, this timeless 1935 stone residence features beautiful trim work, inviting nooks & crannies, deep-set windows w/ generous sills & French doors that fill interiors w/ natural light. Bluestone-floored foyer opens to spacious great rm w/ wood-burning fireplace & French doors to bluestone terrace w/ built-in seating, large deck & mature plantings. One-level living w/ 1stfloor primary suite featuring wood-burning fireplace & direct access to private patio, outdoor shower &
level cozy den w/ extensive built-ins, 5th bed w/ full bath,
w/
nook & dining room overlooking front yard. Add’l features incl’ 3 beds w/ private baths, expansive cedar-lined storage rm and stone-walled mudroom & workshop. Lindsay Milby (434) 962-9148. MLS# 673784
907 COTTAGE LANE • $982,000
Charming, carefully maintained and upgraded home on an extremely quiet street close to the University and Barracks Road shopping. The original is 2 over 2 built in 1896, the addition dates from around 2000. This home has the tasteful charm only an older home can have. Quality materials, spacious, high ceilings, lots of light. There are two “primary suites” on the first floor, two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. Sold “as is.” Dennis Woodriff (434) 531-0140. MLS# 661152
103 CHAUCER ROAD • $750,000
Fully-renovated home in one of Charlottesville’s most desirable neighborhoods. This 4BR, 3BA split-level blends modern finishes w/ comfortable living spaces, all filled w/ natural light. Kitchen boasts breakfast bar, white cabinetry & new appliances. Primary suite incl’ spa-like bath & walk-in closet. Two add’l beds & full bath upstairs. Lower level incl’ playroom/media area, full bath & bedroom w/ separate entrance. Located just minutes from UVA. Kelley Johnston (914) 589-6819. MLS# 675466
3132 WYNOVA LANE • $895,000
“Twenty Columns” is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history. Originally constructed for the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, the home was relocated by train to Esmont, where it is set on 18.5 acres of lush, private land. Perfect blend of original details & modern amenities, incl’ Hallman 48” gas range, oversized soapstone sink & marble countertops. Expansive views of the surrounding nature from wrap around porch. Less than 25 mins to Charlottesville. Lindsay Milby (434) 962-9148. MLS# 668242
518 N. 1ST STREET • $1,195,000
Just 4 blocks from the Downtown Mall, this rare 1889 Victorian sits on a quiet dead-end street in highly sought-after North Downtown. Blending historic character w/ modern updates, this spacious 6-bed, 3-bath home offers exceptional versatility. Sun-filled living room w/ striking floor-to-ceiling windows, covered front porch, full English basement w/ both inside & outside access.
674691
417 9TH STREET • $760,000
Prime location meets timeless Charlottesville charm! This Victorian home is just minutes from UVA Medical Center. This 3 bedroom home, plus attached office space/nursery, has an open floorplan, hardwood flooring throughout. Updated bathrooms offer modern comfort while preserving the 1925 character w/ classic tilework & timeless finishes. The private .23 acre fenced yard features stone terracing, patio & thoughtful landscaping. Suzie Hegemier (434) 962-8425. MLS# 675508
995 o ld G artH r oad
$1,695,000
Welcoming family home just West of town and 2-5 minutes to Boar’s Head Sports Club, UVA, Farmington Country Club & St. Anne’s Belfield School. Complete with pool & and an almost 4 acre parcel, this c. 1968 4-5 bedroom offers mid-century character melded w/ nods to 21st c. living styles. The graciously scaled foyer opens to the original, formal dining & living rooms. Off the living room is a cozy den complete w/ built-ins & 1 of the 3 fireplaces in the home. Large addition to the rear of the home provides an expansive, gourmet kitchen open to vaulted family room w/ Tulikivi woodstove. Large sunroom, bluestone terraces & swimming pool. Bonus room over garage currently serves as laundry room but could be a 5th bedrm. Between garage & addition is a mudroom & powder room. MLS# 675706
UPGRADED ON QUIET STREET NEAR UVA
FULLY RENOVATED IN CANTERBURY HILLS
VICTORIAN JEWEL IN N. DOWNTOWN
PRISTINE 4-5 BEDROOM WITH POOL MOMENTS WEST
|
A James Tuley-designed house gets an update—without losing its original spirit
LASTING LINES
Story by Carol Diggs
Photography by Lincoln Barbour
LINES
Ahistoric house doesn’t have to be a saltbox Colonial or a gingerbread Victorian—houses built in the late 20th century are also pieces of history, especially when they were designed by notable local architects. And while they may not have historic designation, they often present the same challenges—and satisfactions—as renovating a much older home.
That’s what a young couple leaving New York City for a slower, more family-oriented life found out when they decided to buy a house designed by University of Virginia professor of architecture James Tuley and make it their own.
Their house in Ivy reflects many of Tuley’s signature notes. In ccchis time as a UVA professor (from 1968 until his death in 1994), Tuley designed about two dozen homes in the Charlottesville area. Unusual for this town and that era, his style was modernist and restrained, not the classic red-brick Virginia Colonial. Tuley’s buildings were usually spare and unassuming; he often used their outdoor spaces to supplement their modest size, whether they were tucked into neighborhoods or placed on wooded hillsides around Albemarle County.
The couple had been looking around Central Virginia, but were increasingly focusing on the Charlottesville area. With two young children, “we wanted space and a yard,” says the client, “and we wanted to see the mountains.” When they came to see the Tuley house, the current owner (the fourth since it was built in 1971) took them on a 90-minute tour. They loved the feel of the house, and its setting on top of a hill surrounded by eight acres of forest and mountain views. “No one had come in and made any changes [to the house],” says the client, “but the owner was in the process of redoing the roof and the carport was leaking, so we knew there would be some work to do.”
Once they had closed in 2021, the couple hired Bushman Dreyfus Architects, which had worked on Tuley houses in the past. “They were really excited about the project,” the client recalls. While BD principal Lisa Moran began
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work on the structural and design challenges, the couple lived in the house for a year to get used to the light, the views, and the flow.
That experience was invaluable in helping refine their ideas about the renovation. “We really wanted to keep the character of the house,” says the client, but some parts of the layout clearly weren’t functioning for them. The couple loves to cook, so they needed the enclosed kitchen with walled-in pantry to be both larger and more open to the dining area. The central living space worked well, but the other end of the house had four equal-sized bedrooms with inadequate bathrooms. In fall 2022, the family moved into a rental apartment so work could begin. They came back to stay 18 months later.
As with almost every older-home renovation, once the structural work started all sorts of problems came to light. The previous owner’s roof update hadn’t really solved its problems, so much of the existing roof had to be repaired, and the new roof had to tie in. The carport was a lost cause, so the area was enclosed into a garage now directly connected to the kitchen. The return intake for the HVAC system, for some reason, had never been connected, so the house’s air flow and breathability were compromised, and the entire HVAC system and its ducting had to be replaced. And the entry pergola had to be completely rebuilt and reinforced.
For Moran, one of the biggest challenges was figuring out issues with the new roof. “Renovating a house with a flat roof requires careful planning,” she says. “Preventing condensation while meeting insulation requirements can be difficult. And the gutters and downspouts, distribution of rain water, getting those correct and looking right was a challenge.”
Like many Tuley homes, this house is approached through a courtyard. Along the concrete path there are steps down into a sunken rectangle, which had decorative plantings. Steps up to a concrete porch lead to the front door under its pergola, working within the shallow Ushape layout which is common in Tuley’s homes.
The front hall opens into the living area. Expanding that space by using a cathedral ceiling, a wall of sliding-glass doors with clerestory above, and a sunken floor is another frequent Tuley touch. To the left, the hall leads into the kitchen/ dining space; to the right, past the stairway to the lower level, are the bedrooms in the northern end.
Of the four bedrooms, the couple left two that work well for their small children, but they needed to upgrade the hall bathroom serving them. That bathroom is now scaled and well-
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Architect Bushman Dreyfus Architects | General contractor Lithic Construction
organized for handling kids, and simply fitted out with cabinets, walls, and flooring that match the renovated primary bath.
The two bedrooms facing west were combined to create a large primary suite (visiting family and friends can be accommodated in the lower level guest suite). Moran enlarged the single window to a clerestory above the bed, and the western wall is all full-length slidingglass doors leading to the patio outside. The updated bathroom includes a double sink in a hanging oak cabinet similar to the style used in the kitchen, while the freestanding two-person Aquatica tub (an egg-shaped model called Spoon 2) is made of a composite material with the sheen of marble but warm to the touch. The toilet closet is set across from a frameless glass shower; the original shower, the client noted, was tucked into a back corner and was barely wide enough to turn around in. The walls and flooring are clad in large-format porcelain stoneware from Ergon called Grain Stone.
The most significant changes went into redesigning and upgrading the kitchen/dining area. The kitchen had been marked off from the dining room with a row of hanging cabinets, which meant that a person working at the stove had to bend over and look under them CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
to talk to anyone at the table. Those cabinets came out, and the central island was enlarged to provide working areas on both sides. The wall creating a separate pantry was removed, which added kitchen space and left room for a mudroom by the entrance to the new garage. All these changes increased the kitchen area by about 250 square feet (the entire first floor is about 1,700 square feet).
One aspect that was helpful throughout, notes Moran, is that her main client contact was very detail-oriented. He wanted to make sure the decisions were ones the family could live with, “and he didn’t rush the process,” she says. He says his best moment was “when we moved back in after the renovation, and found [that attention to detail] was all worth it.”
After working together for almost two years, Moran and the clients have lots of shared stories. For example, the clients said at the start: No sink on the kitchen island. But given that right across from the island was a floor-toceiling window facing south into the woods below, Moran gently revisited the issue. Now the clients can turn easily from working at the stove to the island sink, looking out one window to the south and another full-length window east toward the front courtyard.
The large windows and cross-vistas that Moran designed make one aware of the natural
settings from almost every spot in the kitchen and dining area, and the space now feels open and continuous. Visually, the blocks of vertical light-oak cabinets alternating with the full-wall windows and the dark-gray soapstone counters set up a calm rhythm. The Marmoleum flooring (by Forbo, in the color Liquid Clay) is a durable and sustainable material that is non-toxic and non-offgassing, absorbs sound, and adds warmth to the space. To keep the look clean, the cabinets have wooden horizontal pulls rather than hardware, and the outlets have been carefully recessed. (That’s another shared renovation anecdote: the nerve-wracking effort to ensure the holes cut in the soapstone walls would align exactly with the outlet placements.)
Tuley’s original design is still the bones of the house, but enhanced by the sensitive upgrading and adapting of its spaces, plus the extensive structural work that will help it survive for years to come. The client is still working on repairing and revitalizing the landscaping, which had been neglected but offers so much potential. And the clean spare modern lines are now enhanced by a hallway lined with a three-year chronology of their child’s drawings, the usual colorful chaos of pre-school occupants, and the delightfully anachronistic inflatable Christmas decorations by the front walk.
After all, a house is meant to be lived in.
Going down
U.S. Census Bureau counts fewer than 45,000 people in Charlottesville
By Sean Tubbs
When the Virginia Department of Education last calculated a formula to determine how easily each locality can afford the cost of public school, staff used a population count of 51,132 for the City of Charlottesville.
That number is what the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia estimated the city’s population was as of July 1, 2023. State government and the education department rely on Weldon Cooper’s figures for official purposes, such as the local composite index for education funding.
For four years after the 2020 census, the agency used a higher number out of a belief the federal count conducted in April of that year failed to take into account that many students had left the area due to the pandemic. This year, Weldon Cooper walked back its earlier numbers and made an official estimate of 46,923 as of July 1, 2025.
“The new base population for Virginia and its counties and cities is almost identical to the census count,” said Qian Cai, director of the Demographics Research Group at Weldon Cooper, in an early March email.
Since that time, the U.S. Census Bureau has released updated estimates that include backdated figures putting Charlottesville’s population at 44,388, a 4.58 percent decline from the official census count of 46,518 in 2020.
The lower number means that Charlottesville would still be eligible to revert to a town in Albemarle County. Under Virginia law, that process can begin if a city is below 50,000. A previous effort to do so was last made in the 1990s but fought vigorously in court.
Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders informed City Council of the lower numbers when he introduced a draft budget on March 2.
“I have a meeting on my calendar to have some conversation with some folks because I like a bigger number than that,” Sanders said.
A request for comment was sent to the City of Charlottesville, seeking clarification of why Sanders would like the higher number, but we received no answer before press time.
While no official explanation has been given for Charlottesville’s population decline, Mayor Juandiego Wade said he doesn’t consider it significant because “there are always swings in the numbers based on changing parameters.”
Mayor Juandiego Wade said he has not seen an official explanation for the decline, but claimed he doesn’t consider it significant.
“It seems like there are always swings in the numbers based on changing parameters,” Wade said in an email.
Councilor Michael Payne said he was not shocked given that other data points such as enrollment have remained flat despite Weldon Cooper’s initial higher numbers. He said there could be effects.
“What our census population is will directly impact how much funding we’re allocated for various federal and state level programs,” Payne said in an email.
No other localities in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission had their official population reduced. According to the census, Albemarle has grown 5.27 percent since 2020 with a mid-2025 population of 118,536. Louisa County’s growth rate is 14.2 percent with a July 2025 count of 42,924.
Soak up the sun
Just outside city limits, this new-build home has a surprise that’s part whimsy, part pure relaxation: a soaker tub tucked into a screened porch. Unlike a typical primary-bath retreat, the tub sits alongside children’s bedrooms and an outdoor bed designed for summer sleepovers, making it as playful as it is peaceful. Screens and outdoor heating lamps extend the porch’s comfort, letting the homeowners soak in fresh air through much of the year.
The owners had never had anything like it before, but with a love of baths and the outdoors, the idea practically built itself. The tub, a signature hardware piece, is strictly a soaker—no jets, no gimmicks—just a place to unwind and connect with nature.
As Julie Dixon of Rosney & Co. Architects says, “We love any opportunity to connect our clients to the outdoors!”
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