Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Houzz Tours
Top Ideabooks
Traditional Homes
Top Ideabooks
Houzz Tour: Virginia Wine Country Cottage
Monticello Neighbors Continue Jefferson's Gardening Tradition
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
What happens when two landscape architecture students meet, get married, and begin some ambitious adventures in real estate? An eco-friendly and stunning renovation to a cottage and a beautiful garden, of course.
As few weeks back I, along with 11 of my former landscape architecture classmates and their families, traveled the breathtaking country roads of Charlottesville to descend upon this charming cottage. The ride involves winding through country roads where Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Tufton Farm (where they grow the heirloom plants for Monticello), and Jefferson Vineyards are tucked along the rolling hills. If you continued on a bit, you'd hit the beautiful Morven Estate, Ash Lawn (James Monroe's home) and Blenheim Vineyards (owned by Dave Matthews; I recommend the 2010 Viognier).
As few weeks back I, along with 11 of my former landscape architecture classmates and their families, traveled the breathtaking country roads of Charlottesville to descend upon this charming cottage. The ride involves winding through country roads where Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Tufton Farm (where they grow the heirloom plants for Monticello), and Jefferson Vineyards are tucked along the rolling hills. If you continued on a bit, you'd hit the beautiful Morven Estate, Ash Lawn (James Monroe's home) and Blenheim Vineyards (owned by Dave Matthews; I recommend the 2010 Viognier).
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A happy pack of Jack Russell Terriers makes the most of the tapis vert. But before we get into all of that, let's take a look at what the owners were working with... Well, wait, before that, I should add that "tapis vert" is a fancy way of saying a taut and precise expanse of lawn that packs a big design punch. O.K., on to what the owners had the day of the real estate closing ... |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This is what the 1940s cottage looked like before my friends worked their magic. By comparing this with the previous image, you can see that they replaced and moved the back door, added a small bathroom on the right side, replaced the windows with beautiful 2-over-2 energy-efficient windows, and replaced the siding with poplar siding and trim from the Appalachian Sustainable Development mills in southwest Virginia. They were able to salvage the original metal roof.
Wondering about that slope? They had to bring in 20 dump trucks' worth of fill to help create that tapis vert I mentioned.
Wondering about that slope? They had to bring in 20 dump trucks' worth of fill to help create that tapis vert I mentioned.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Now that we've had a sneak peek at the house before and after, let's back up to the home's approach. As you pull up the driveway past the house, the hillside garden to your left lets you know that you are about to experience something very special.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
You also see this beautiful staircase that connects the basement laundry room to the patio area. The couple collected the stones on the steps from the woods and fields around the property, and they believe it's some sort of shale. "It's not a great building stone, but it's free," the owner says. It certainly looks good too.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| If you turned around, you'd get this beautiful hillside garden view. The low wall is also made of shale found on the property. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The driveway leads to a parking court behind the house. From there, stepping stones lead you through a narrow shaded space to the glorious back garden. If you need a little shade on a hot Virginia summer day, a hammock and a long bench found on Craigslist await. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Once you reach the end of the shady path, the tapis vert and undulating border gardens expand before you. The scale of the lawn and gardens are just right in proportion to the house. The boundary between the lawn and beds is marked by Pennsylvania bluestone.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The thick border gardens include coneflowers, daylilies, hydrangeas, amsonia, verbena, bronze fennel, salvia, and many more perennials and shrubs. Their bursts of colors, wide variety of leaf shapes and colors, and undulating mounds create a beautiful composition. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| If you look at the previous image and then this one, you get a sense of the topography. The previous above shows the woods uphill, then here you see the flat lawn the owners created with their earthwork intervention, then the hillside garden, the driveway, and a low floodplain of a creek below.
The house is sited in this transitional spot between the woods and the floodplain, and the way they designed the landscape gives the home and garden a marked place of its own. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A grassy area between the edge of the woods and the border garden provides another gathering area. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The patio is a great spot for gathering. A box garden (on the left) creates an edge for the patio and provides a spot for growing tomatoes. Pots containing basil are also tucked around the patio for easy picking, so the patio is just one ball of mozzarella cheese short of providing a Caprese salad. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The view from the back patio. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Jacob Kline Monarda, a.k.a. Bee Balm, had the most glorious blooms this June. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| This main living area used to be a warren of four small dark rooms (a kitchen, a dining room, a bedroom and a bathroom) with low ceilings. Part of the renovation was opening all of this up. You can see here that they also opened the ceiling up to the beams. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Here's the same space taken from the other end of the room. There are two bedrooms on the left side, and that opening you see on the back left leads to the bathroom.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A farm table and a candle chandelier make for cozy dinners.
By the way, the farm where The Waltons was filmed is not too far away.
By the way, the farm where The Waltons was filmed is not too far away.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Here's a peek into the bathroom, where an antique bureau provides extra storage. They strategically placed a hallway to the left that leads to the front of the house in case they ever need to build another addition. This sort of long-term planning will make renovations much more efficient in the future.
These beautiful floors are reclaimed heart pine.
These beautiful floors are reclaimed heart pine.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A mirror crafted from recycled boat wood adds color and texture to the bathroom. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Gratuitous Jack Russell shot. These dogs are so sweet, they make it worth having to throw blankets over all the upholstered furniture; the green plaid blanket over the chair is actually kind of prep-wonderful. Also, the owner says not to be fooled by their lounging in this picture. "They have a critical role in the garden: They keep the deer away," she says.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
The couple has a knack for mixing family hand-me-downs, antiques, upholstered IKEA pieces, art and natural elements with aplomb.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| They love to bring their outdoor finds inside and use them as decor. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Similarly, botanical drawings are a favorite. The paper lampshade was a wedding gift from a close friend who made it herself.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
While the house is light, open, and all the walls are white, the unique furniture and textiles add style. Overall the interior of the cottage is at once contemporary, country and warm.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A downstairs bedroom serves as the owner's light and bright office.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A staircase leads to the master loft upstairs, which used to be the attic. When necessary, railings and a safer staircase will be added, but at this point they are not needed.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
The attic was turned into a cozy master bedroom.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The couple loves to play music, from fiddle to Scottish snare drum to guitar. This bedroom corner provides some storage space for some of their instruments. Because they are so well-traveled (Cuba, Peru, India, Nova Scotia — they are hard to keep track of), I tend to assume all of the furnishings with global flair come from far-flung adventures. However, this bench came from World Market. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A view of the living room from above. We houseguests are the reason it's looking particularly lived-in, as I took this shot at the end of the weekend. It's proof positive that this is a relaxing spot where everyone gets very comfortable.
More: 20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look O'Suzannah Restores Pear Tree Farm Get the Look: Sophisticated Country Style |
Ideabook updated on Aug. 6, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
basements · bedrooms · dining rooms · entries · family rooms · garage and sheds · halls · home offices · landscapes · laundry rooms · powder rooms · wine cellars and more.
Regarding the landscape, for all its extravagant lushness that clearly came with a high price of physical labor and investment in materials, the plants don't appear to be high maintenance. Your list includes so many tried-and-true specimens that are reliably beautiful, easily propegated, and disease/drought resistant.
Tapis vert is a new term to me but along with the defined purpose of creating visual impact, it makes practical sense insofar as ease of care, reduced mowing time, and lower water consumption. Additionally, the space is ready-made to extend entertaining in a small home right out the door.