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In 2000 when Greg and Susan Phillips bought the house on Three Chopt Road near the Country Club of Virginia, the bathrooms were outdated, wisteria was overtaking parts of the exterior, one of the bedrooms was the size of a walk-in closet and the addition on the left wing just did not fit with the home. But the Phillipses looked right past that and saw the potential to transform this house into their family home. F “We wanted an older house and we liked the simplicity of it, even though it was a big house. And when I walked through the middle of the house and looked out into the back it was an amazing thing to find that big yard,” says Greg about the two-acre lot that has a terraced garden believed to have been designed by Charles Gillette. read more

Upon retirement, Elizabeth and Mike Hood left the suburbs of Henrico County and headed to a plush, quiet neighborhood nestled amidst farmlands and forests in Manakin Sabot. The town, the neighborhood, and even the home itself feel very relaxed and comfortable. The rear of the house is a nice mix of indoor and outdoor living space, with an eat-in kitchen that has a large picture window pushing out from the home between a deck and a screened porch. Mike, who is a retired woodworker, had a beautiful brick woodshop built at the eastern edge of the landscape. However, the yard itself, a flat plot of grass, left something to be desired. The couple had lots of options for dining up close to the house, but nothing that brought them out into the space below. “We had been saying for quite awhile that we wanted a pool,” Elizabeth mentions. “We went to the Virgin Islands in early 2004 where there was a private pool attached to the villa. After a week there I said, ‘Okay that’s it, we are doing the pool.’” read more

Lee and Peggy Martin’s home, known as Monacan Farm, may very well be the oldest house in Powhatan County. The home sits on 184 acres that were originally part of a Monacan Indian village. In the 1700s French Huguenots, escaping religious persecution in France, arrived on four ships at the mouth of the James River and the Rappahannock and founded Manakintown on the abandoned Indian village west of Richmond. read more

With over 1,900 exhibitors and more than 103,000 building industry professionals in attendance, the 2007 International Builders’ Show provided builders, designers and homeowners alike with an up-close look at the hottest trends in home construction.  Simply referred to as “The Big Show” by those in the home building and design industry, the 63rd annual show in Orlando, Florida drew visitors from nearly 100 countries and proved to be the most spectacular Show to date. read more

Everywhere you look there is something that will catch your eye in David Allan Ballas’ home. The owner of David Allan Ballas Interior Design began shopping flea markets, estate sales and thrift stores when he was very young, beginning a life long love of collecting. read more

Japanese gardens are designed to be as simple and natural as possible. Each garden starts with a “borrowed scene,” a view from nature upon which the garden is based. For Junko and Joe Liesfeld, that scene was the Susquehanna River running along the southeastern edge of their rural Montpelier property, and the dense forest of trees outlining the slope of land that separates the house from the river. “We had a lot of trees when we started building the garden, so naturally the trees became part of the garden,” explains Junko. read more

Florida is known for its sunny beaches, spectacular sunsets, Walt Disney World and a host of other fun-filled vacation destinations and adventures. But for one couple, Florida served as the inspiration behind their master bathroom design in their Richmond home. read more

The thoroughly contemporary but unpretentious street side façade of this Sleepy Hollow home disguises the reality that lies within. As you walk through the large wood-chunked front door and into the living spaces, the modernist architecture explodes to reveal the true height and depth of this 9,500-square-foot house that hugs the sloping eight-acre landscape overlooking Lost Lake. read more

“Unbuildable” is how the City of Richmond labeled this pie-shaped, once-overgrown one-acre lot in Westover Hills that slopes 45 degrees down a 60-foot ravine to a spring fed creek below. But architect Cheryl D. Moore saw it as an exciting challenge and a perfect setting to design and build a unique contemporary home. read more

Add some spice to your bedroom with Anichini’s vibrant Taj collection.
Handmade silk, sleek sateen and soft cotton in alluring earth-toned colors
will entice you to enjoy a good night’s sleep. read more

Last year, the pubs and bars were all the rage at Homearama.  It seemed that almost every home had a designated area for a custom watering hole.  This year, bars and pubs were still a hot trend—but the theme of creating a personal atmosphere for relaxing and spending time with friends and family was extended to include separate billiard rooms and areas. read more

There’s a quiet revolution taking place in kitchens across the country. Backsplashes, which used to sit silently against walls, are beginning to resonate with design elements and flashy materials that command attention. New material choices and design ideas continue to fuel the revolution. read more

Mike and Sharon Thaler have an unwavering dedication, not only to each other, but to helping others. As missionaries who travel the world, the couple witness all walks of life. So three years ago, when Mike purchased their nearly 10,000-square-foot house in Montpelier, he knew it would serve as more than just a home for him and his wife. read more

The moment you turn onto the long driveway cut through grass pastures and your eyes settle on the magnificent brick Georgian Revival home you immediately feel a sense of warmth and comfort. The 7,500-square-foot, two-story home serves as the epicenter of this equestrian estate in Ashland, and it shows. The culmination of this masterpiece was years in the making as the homeowners collected ideas, photographs and magazine clippings from a variety of homes. “In 1992 I saw a house in a magazine and I tore it out and started my wishful thinking folder,” says the homeowner, whose family roots trace back to John Adams. “I had a three-ring binder and any time I saw something that caught my eye that was warm and inviting I would put it in the binder.” read more

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There’s an ocean of incredible design ideas and functional features out today that keep the clean in the bathroom but certainly move far beyond the simple. Gone are the days when a separate tub and shower were considered a luxury. We’ve moved on to themed rooms with decadent marbles and granites, rich woods, and enough square footage to accommodate a respectable party. read more

Everyone has them—those fine china or glass pieces that collect dust in the back of the china cabinet: discarded vases, family heirlooms and odds and ends that once had a mate to create a set. This holiday season, pull those precious items out of hiding and display them as unique candy dishes during a seasonal dinner or party. read more

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose...
This line from the famous Torme and Wells Christmas carol seems like the ultimate oxymoron to people living in the Midwest and on the Eastern seaboard where temperatures rapidly drop after Halloween. However, the outdoor fire pit is quickly becoming a popular way to stay outside even when the temperature falls.

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Restful and calming, green in all its revitalizing hues elevates the senses while nurturing the soul. So bring a little good luck to your home—and green it up! read more

For Paul and Sue Anne Klinefelter, moving into their new home in western Goochland County was the final step of settling into a whole new lifestyle. Refugees from the bustling West End, they wanted out of suburbia and corporate jobs and into the bucolic countryside, living off the land.
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Anyone who has renovated or built an addition onto their existing home knows that things don’t always go according to plan. But by the time the project is complete and you step back to take everything in you realize that, while it might not look anything like what you envisioned at the beginning, it is everything you wanted and more.
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From the large triple-crown moulding and chandelier on the ceiling to the beautiful medallion in the imported Italian stone tile on the floor, Mike and Cheryl Herbert’s master bathroom is an elegant haven in their home in River Run at Country Club Hills in Ashland. read more

If “location, location, location!” is the rule of thumb for home buying then “stage it, stage it, stage it!” may soon become the rule for home selling. The need to create a competitive edge for a home and sell it quickly has spawned an entire industry of home staging professionals, who work from the knowledge that buyers make the decision to purchase within minutes of entering a home. Home stagers are the unbiased third party that can look at a home through the eyes of prospective buyers and see what the seller may unconsciously overlook. read more

You’ve heard it before—the kitchen is the heart of the home. If you have ever hosted a party or Thanksgiving dinner for your family then you know it’s true. Inevitably, everyone ends up gathering in the kitchen. In addition to having enough space to accommodate your guests, you need the right appliances to suit your needs. From stylish six-burner gas ranges to convenient refrigerator drawers specifically designed to keep your vegetables fresh, today’s appliance manufacturers leave little to the imagination. read more

J. Michael Flanigan, an appraiser for the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, shares some tips on what he thinks will be hot for the long term in the world of collectibles. read more

Just as an artist creates a masterpiece, your home is your canvas.  You can stand before it, your mind racing with ideas, knowing that you have the freedom to create anything your heart desires.  The realm of possibilities is virtually limitless.  If you need a little inspiration, consider the world of contemporary furniture.  Step into a home designed with a contemporary flair, you’ll experience something that’s not only clean and sophisticated, but inspiring, orderly and soothing at the same time.  In today’s world of clutter and fast-paced living, the contemporary design gives a welcome refuge from the wild.  But what exactly is contemporary? read more

In 1926 Windsor Farms was developed as one of Richmond’s first planned neighborhoods.  The large Colonial Revival and Cape Cod homes and Georgian Revival mansions on half acre to 23-acre lots were some of the best designed and built homes that money could buy.  Now in the last several years there has been a huge resurgence of construction as homeowners are updating and adding on to these magnificent homes. read more

Like many circa early 1900s row houses in the historic Fan district in downtown Richmond, the kitchen in this house on Stuart Avenue was small, dark and outdated.  Probably first renovated in the late 1950s or early 1960s, it had blue painted cabinets, dark wall paper, tile floors and a wall covered in tongue and groove paneling.  The outdated appliances, old steam heat radiator, washer and dryer, door to the basement, two windows, back entry door, pipe chase and stairwell were squeezed in to the 28x16-foot space that was separated from the dining room by swinging doors with a transom above. read more

This time of year, many of us are staring out the windows of our air-conditioned homes, watching as our gardens flounder, shrivel up and wilt, thanks to the scorching sun and lack of rain.  Protecting your lawn and garden from the threat of drought can be a time-consuming job, but creating a Xeriscape—a water-conserving landscape design—may be your only hope if you want to enjoy colorful plants during the hot summer months. read more

Selecting new drapery for your windows can be just as stressful as going to your favorite salon for a haircut. You explain to the stylist that you want a trendy new hairstyle, maybe something that matches your personality. It isn’t until the final snip of the scissors, when you’re spun around to face the mirror, that you see the new you. Just as a new hairstyle transforms your face, drapery can revamp an entire room, whether it’s fun and flirty, bold and colorful or formal and perfectly coiffed. read more

Despite its lack of walls, your back yard is an extension of your home.  And just as the floors in your kitchen or family room, what is underfoot is an important component. read more

The world revolves around first impressions—the first day of school, love at first sight, and the first job interview.  With so much in life pending on those initial moments, it makes sense that more and more homeowners are focusing on the entryways to their homes. read more

Situated beautifully on the greens of the Brickshire Golf Course in Providence Forge resides an inviting home that is the epitome of relaxation.  This 4,000-square-foot traditional home, with an astounding 4,000 additional square feet of outdoor living space, is virtually brimming with possibilities.  read more

If you ask Dianne Cardea what made her decide to remodel her kitchen, she’ll respond with one simple word: countertops.  Dianne won a slab of Juperana Giallo Veneziano granite in an auction several years ago.  The elegant swirls of black, tan and peach tones matched her kitchen perfectly so she used the granite to replace her old countertops.  Then, a few years ago, Dianne and her husband, Dr. John Cardea, started thinking about their future. read more

Judy Gilman-Hines isn’t the sort of gardener who treats a garden as a sketchpad on which tentative ideas are tried out—only to be replaced with new ones.  She has, in short, confidence in her vision.  “I have put interesting gardens in every house I’ve lived in,” she says.  “I want diverse and interesting plants.” read more

Once upon a time, leather in interior decor was relegated to the manly man’s couch in the library, the traditional French club chair and, in a few instances, topped elegant, mahogany desks. However, we’re not in the manly man den anymore. read more

When interior designer Mary Anne Hooker first stepped into the 1914 home on Monument Avenue she saw beyond the dull mud gray dining room, blood brown and gold drawing room and 1970s-style kitchen.  read more

It took historic research and a lot of creativity to get Bob and Katherine Newton’s 13,000-square-foot contemporary house approved for the Rivergate subdivision. When the conservative neighborhood was being developed in the late 1990s, it specified traditional home designs with red brick exteriors. read more

When Brian and Roxanne Rodill began working on the material selections for their new home in Manakin Sabot, it caught the attention of everyone involved in the process.  “We were probably as excited as she was because her tastes are out of the ordinary for Richmond,” says builder W.B. “Bill” Garrett of W.B. Garrett, Inc. about the contemporary features in the 4,100-square-foot home in the Kinloch subdivision that was finished in September of 2006. read more

For many Richmond homeowners, winter signifies a three-month vacation from mowing the lawn, pulling weeds and planting colorful flowers in landscape beds.  Just because the temperature dips below 30 degrees doesn’t mean you should turn your back on your landscape, essentially giving it permission to develop a dull, lifeless look.  Believe it or not, there are plant as well as design options that can be used to make your landscape look great year-round. read more

Have you ever stayed at a luxury hotel and felt so relaxed by the atmosphere created by the lavish linens and look of the room?  When it comes to relaxing, the mood can be easily set with an artful mixture of comfy sheets, duvets, throws and pillows. And today, choices are more than abundant from retailers all over the world offering stylish options. read more

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