Charlottesville Home Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

HOME & C H ARLO T T E S V I LLE

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RECHARGE easy modern updates

A Classic Family Home evolves over time

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January/february 2015, vol. 1, No. 6

Enjoy your

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HOME C H ARLO T T E S V I LLE

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Volume 1 I ssue 6 PUBLISHER

Julie Pierce MANAGING EDITOR

Laurel Feinman EDITOR

Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR

Trisha Roth CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mitzi Bible Becky Calvert Lucy Cook Phoebe Dinsmore Laurel Feinman Meridith Ingram Noelle Milam Rory Rhodes GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Tiffany Allen Edwana Coleman Helga Kaszewski PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Beth Moore PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tucked away at 421 W. Main St. (across from Main St. Market) • Open 7 days • AtlanticOrganicSleepShop.com

Virginia Hamrick KG Thienemann BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Pam Whorley ADVERTISING SALES

Susan Creasy Liz Houhoulis Janet Lampman Anne Marie Poore Pam Whorley SUBSCRIPTIONS

T i l e R e S o u R C e & D e S i g n S H o w Ro o M

Charlottesville HOME is published bimonthly

by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Charlottesville HOME 3831 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@charlottesvillehomemagazine.com.

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Copyright 2015 by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All pictorial material reproduced in this magazine, whether in a produced ad or by itself, has been accepted on the condition that it is with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer or the artist concerned.

As such, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC makes no warrant to the accuracy or reliability of this information. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

contents Ch a r l ot t e s v ill e h o m e J a nu a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 15

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features The K e epi ng R o om

The coziest spot in the kitchen

BY M e r i d i t h I n g r a m

VI RG I NI A CLA S S I C W I T H TEXA S FLAI R

Thoughtful renovations keep “family central” stylish and functional

BY Lau r e l F e i n m a n

bui ldi ng r e l ati o nships, r ec o rdi ng mem o ri e s

Homeowners chronicle project, friendship with scrapbook

BY Lau r e l F e i n m a n

Cover photography by Virginia Hamrick at the home of Dori Boudreau and Paul Huddleston LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Charlottesville HOME Magazine c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Ch a r l ot t e s v ill e h o m e J a nu a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 15

departments 23

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48

DESIGN

IMPROVE

GARDEN

LIVE

23 A r e a Ru gs Experts weigh in on choosing the right one for your space

16 WARMTH OF W o od Raised panels, wainscoting, beadboard

14 G a rde n GA D GET S The latest in tech tools for gardeners

20 C om f o r t f o ods Learn the art of braising

by M itz i B i ble

by B ec ky Calve rt

By R o ry R h o d es

39 Coat Clo se ts Wrangle your gear

by N o e lle M i lam

By LU CY C OOK

48 D INNER PAR TY JOURNALS Strategize your soiree and record the fun By p h o e b e d i n s m o r e

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16 S p eci al Interest 5 0 Index of advertisers 6

20 C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

n e dit o r ’ s n o t e In the spirit of fresh starts and a new year, this edition of HOME will inspire you to find ways to make little updates to perk up your home and revitalize its energy—making it look better and function better, too. The articles in this magazine will help you look at your house in a new, creative light to search for those opportunities.

We’ll acquaint you with the pleasures of having a keeping room—that cozy sitting area near the kitchen that once was commonplace in homes of antiquity.

They’re once again finding a place in modern-day homes and offer a comfortable spot to rest at the beginning or end of the day.

Though small, but mighty—the coat closet is one little space where you have big expectations! A professional closet designer can help you maximize the storage power and functionality of your hallway closet, wrangling your gear and keeping everything in order.

You can completely change your surroundings by changing your perspective. Check out our story about wood paneling and take note of all the different ways people are adding traditional wood paneling to their walls…with a twist!

Another place where a fresh addition can make a big difference lies just beneath your feet. A new area rug can completely change the vibe of a room. We’ve asked a few local

designers to share their wisdom so you can make informed decisions and how to shop for one.

A culmination of all these ideas, our featured showcase home is a story of how forward-thinking homeowners have continually updated their house to suit the needs of their changing and growing family. With the help of local designers, they’ll teach us how the most important thing you can do in your home is to truly “live” in it every day.

This year, make a resolution to try something new in your home each week or each month. Move furniture around, try a different lampshade, add touches of your new favorite color— whatever you can think of that puts the “you” into “your home.”

By making sure your home is functional in a way that suits your needs and is decorated in a way that represents who you are, use your imagination and see how much joy you can have at home in 2015.

Happy New Year!

— LAUREL FEINMAN, MANAGING EDITOR laurel@westwillowpublishing.com

All New 2015

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The Keeping Room

Old-Fashioned Concept, Modern-Day Comfort

by M er i d i t h I n g r a m

Recently a friend gave me a tour of her new custom-built home. “And here’s the keeping room,” she said, gesturing to a cozy, window-filled nook off the kitchen. Before I could stop myself from expressing ignorance of something I should really know, I asked her, “What’s a keeping room?” She said, with a laugh, “It’s the place where I ‘keep’ my mother and mother-in-law out of the way while I cook.”

Indeed, a keeping room can be a way to keep people right where you want them, but its true origins date back centuries. Apparently I was asleep during that fourth grade lesson on American history; I have since learned that the concept of a keeping room dates back to Colonial times. In those days, the keeping room was located directly off the kitchen, which, because of the stove, was also the warmest room in the house. By day, families gathered here to do indoor chores—cooking prep, mending, laundry and the like—and by night would sleep there during the colder seasons. Here too they’d often have the last meal of the day.

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Over time, this space located off the kitchen has certainly evolved. Since Colonial times, our housework has become much more automated, and we’ve come to prefer separate spaces for our cooking and laundering and other everyday chores. But the idea of a keeping room has made a comeback in a big way—probably because we Americans love our kitchens, and we simply cannot resist anything that multitasks. Depending upon its size and scope, today’s keeping room can also be called a den, a family room, a sunroom, or a media room—but regardless of what it’s called, our love affair with kitchens means we simply must have living space nearby to nurture ourselves and our families. This modern-day keeping room is an essential part of keeping your home happy: keeping people together, keeping you organized, and maybe in some way, keeping your cool.

Keeping People Together

It’s true that the kitchen is the heart of the home, where the meals that sustain us are prepared, consumed, and swept away day after day. Given the amount of time and energy spent there, it’s great to designate a living and relaxing space that is close but separate. This is especially helpful while you’re entertaining, because you know what they say: during a party, everyone always ends up in the kitchen. A keeping room allows you extend the ultimate hospitality—providing a perfect space for your guests to mingle and remain in your sight and conversation, but keeping them away from the dirty business of prepping their party fare. For party time, make your keeping room guest-ready; extra seating and a coffee table clear of everyday clutter, with a bowl of munchies and a pile of pretty beverage napkins will encourage your guests to hang out there while you finish dinner.

Always remember that this is meant to be a flexible space, so you may need to rearrange chairs just for the evening to open it up and make it more accessible.

Even when it’s not party time, a keeping room is a great place for your family to be together. To this end, it’s important to outfit your keeping room with many comforts and inviting accessories.

If kitchens are about hard edges and functional lines, a keeping room should be furnished with softness, comfort and durability in mind. Generously upholstered pieces in good-looking but tough fabrics, toss pillows and pretty throws are great additions to this space. This is also a great place for small, inexpensive accent tables to hold drinks and reading material. Keep young children entertained with one or two baskets of toys, books, puzzles or craft supplies specifically designated for that room, keeping the children in eyesight but not underfoot, and keeping these toys contained to this small area. A lap desk tucked to the side is perfect for school-aged children who want to do homework here, calling out questions while you peel potatoes.

Your pets want to be close to you, but you don’t want to trip over them as you unload the dishwasher. A pretty dog or cat bed— so many cute options out there!— would be right at home in the keeping room as well, or a basket of their toys. A large, low cocktail table and generous floor pillows encourage post-dinner family game time as well.

Almost any home, with any floor plan, can embrace the spirit of a keeping room by creating a cozy space in or near the kitchen. Even if you don’t have a room designated for this purpose—if you have walls separating your kitchen from your family room, or your eat-in kitchen is small—you can still adopt the feeling of a keeping room with a few simple changes.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

This may require that you bend—or break—some of what you may think of as design rules. Consider, first of all, ditching the concept of an eat-in kitchen. Use that dining room more than twice a year! (In my case, I would lose my mail/package/presentwrapping station on my dining room table, but that’s another story.) Take the table and chairs out of your kitchen, and put in its place a few overstuffed chairs and an ottoman or coffee table, and you are well on your way to a beautiful, comfortable keeping room of your own. Even a pair of simple slipcovered Parsons chairs tucked in the corner create an inviting conversation nook with a keeping room-feel in any kitchen.

Keeping You Organized

A keeping room is the perfect place for a great storage piece to house your table linens, whether it’s an armoire, a dresser or an antique dry sink. Because it is right within reach of the kitchen, you’ll never be tempted to skip pulling out your favorite tablecloth because it is hanging in a closet somewhere on the second floor. This is also a great place to get those platters out of storage and hang them—on the wall, or on a plate rack. You’ll be more likely to use and enjoy them if you can see them.

Since a traditional keeping room is usually an open space— only three walls, opening into the kitchen—make use of any wall space by incorporating built-in shelving or cabinets.

Anything you store here will be within easy reach of the kitchen.

Consider keeping your cookbooks, photo boxes and albums, and other craft supplies here. Board games and decks of cards should be kept here too. If bookshelves are part of your builtin configuration, pay particular attention to arranging their

If kitchens are about hard edges and functional lines, a keeping room should be furnished with softness, comfort and durability in mind.

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contents in a pleasing design—you’ll be looking at this area a lot from your kitchen, so make it count. Paint the back of the bookshelf in a fun, complementary color or use a gorgeous wallpaper (you won’t need much, so maybe you can splurge here!) to make the books and accessories on the shelves pop.

Include some of your favorite family photos in an eclectic mix of frames among your book collection, and you’ll be smiling every time you do the dishes.

A keeping room is also a great place for your “to-do” pile — whether that is housed in a decorative accordion file, file box or basket. While many of us do have home offices, there are always those scraps of paper, those lists, those pieces of correspondence that need to be handled, that don’t quite make it to the home office. I keep these little “to-do’s” in a basket in my keeping room, and make it a habit, every few days or so, to sit down with this basket and spend a few minutes working through it.

Thank-you notes, permission slips, reminders to sign a child up for a particular activity....I would much rather do all of that from the comfort of my couch than in my office. This habit has helped me tremendously with organizing a busy household and made some of the tasks more pleasant. Keep your basket stocked with notecards, pens and stamps, and maybe you’ll never miss a registration deadline again!

Keeping Your Cool

My own keeping room, which I didn’t even realize was a keeping room until I toured my friend’s home (my builder called it a “morning room” - go figure!), is really my favorite room in the whole house. If I am not standing up in my kitchen, or asleep, I am usually sitting in my keeping room doing everything C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

else I need to do. It tends to be the tidiest room in the house, because its furnishings, accessories and contents are simple and intentional. Everything I choose for this room is chosen with comfort and peace in mind.

Think about your keeping room as an almost-sanctuary, close to but separate from the business of every day life. A scented candle or a vase of flowers, an orchid or a houseplant all add touches of serenity to the surrounding chaos. A cashmere throw is the ultimate indulgence. Some may argue that a peaceful keeping room is no place for the TV, but others may say it’s the perfect place for one, allowing you to listen to the news while you cook or to watch a movie with your family. If music is your thing, include a dock for your MP3 player so you can wind down to your favorite tunes. Window treatments—even simple panels—can further soften the space without obstructing any backyard views you might have. Take it one step further and make sure the garden area right outside these windows is indeed a good one by planting a few favorite low-maintenance blooms there, strategically placing a pretty container garden, or installing a birdhouse in sight. If you have a fireplace in your keeping room like the Colonial folks did, lucky you! Invite someone to join you to relax and enjoy the soothing heat on a cold day.

Just like our ancestors’ keeping rooms, ours are meant to multitask in this busy, blessed world we live in. This room can mean different things to different households, but the basics hold true: outfit it intentionally, with flexibility and comfort in mind. Whether yours means keeping family close, keeping things organized, keeping your cool, or some combination of all these things, you will surely treasure this space in the heart of your home.

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n GARDEN TECH TOOLS

GREAT GADGETS Gardening Goes High-Tech

By B eck y C a lv er t

With technology’s influence over nearly every aspect of our lives, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing it put to use in our gardens. Thanks to advances in technology, we can sit back and enjoy our gardens more while working less. Whether by intuitive watering systems, hands-free mowing, critter deterrents or communication with our plants, there are numerous ways to use the latest technology to help our gardens grow.

Automating Lawn Care

Most standard irrigation systems can be set with a timer that controls irrigation regardless of the weather or moisture level of the soil. However, some of today’s systems have harnessed technology to offer options that take the weather into account. One example is Rainbird’s Simple to Set Irrigation Timer, which automatically adjusts your watering schedule both seasonally and to your current weather conditions. With a builtin nationwide historical weather database and a smart weather sensor, the system allows you to simply enter your zip code and preferred watering schedule, and the timer takes over, making adjustments as needed. Other models, like GARDENA’s Water Computer EasyControl, have optional rain or soil moisture sensors that 14

can cancel a preset watering, saving water and your utility bills. Whether you have a professionally installed irrigation system or just want to set your soaker hose automatically, there are many options to help ensure your garden gets the right amount of water, regardless of the weather or the size of your wallet. While prices on these systems depend on the style and options, the simplest timers can cost as little as $40, and installed systems begin around $1,000.

Watering is not the only task to go hands free. Just as the Roomba can automatically vacuum the interior of your home, there are now a variety of robotic lawn mowers that will automatically cut your lawn. Most models work within a boundary established with a boundary

wire. Mowing times can be preset, and many manufacturers offer apps for your smartphone for communicating with your robotic mower. Whatever your lawn, there is a robotic mower made for it, with models to handle different sizes, slopes and complexities. Some models are equipped with rain sensors to avoid mowing in the rain, while others are made to withstand it—or even to mow at night.

While newer companies like Lawnbott and Robomow offer choices, more established mower manufacturers like Husquarnva also carry a line of robotic mowers. Prices among manufacturers vary, but these models tend to be substantially more expensive than your typical lawn mower, with many prices starting over $1,000.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Keep Critters at Bay the High-Tech Way

All gardeners have dealt with pests at some time or another. One classic, simple pest deterrent that’s been around for years is the kitschy plastic great-horned owl statue, doing good work discouraging small critters from entering gardens. A natural predator of birds, squirrels, rabbits, rodents and other destructive critters, the owl frightens them from feasting on your plants. In an update on this classic statue, the Easy Gardener Company has added movement and sound to replicate the natural predator for more realistic, environmentally friendly pest control. Their Garden Defense Electronic Owl is equipped with sensors that detect when pests are nearby, causing the figure to turn its head and hoot in their direction. Battery-operated, the owl can rest on a fence post or be suspended from a tree to help keep your garden pest free. Best of all, the price tag on the Garden Defense Electronic Owl makes it a no-brainer to enlist its help in your garden, checking in around $50.

If you want to keep an eye out for how well your Garden Defense Owl works, capture the bloom of a flower, or track the activity around your birdbath, consider incorporating one of the many garden camera monitor products available. Brinno makes several; from the time-lapse GardenWatchCam or the motion sensor-activated BirdWatchCam, there are a number of options for you to remotely capture the action in your garden. Equipped with high-quality lenses in weatherproof cases, these battery-operated cameras also have built-in sleep settings to enable longer battery life. Ringing in at the price of a decent point-andshoot digital camera, Brinno’s cameras range from about $150 to $275, making it easy and affordable to keep an eye on your garden.

There are also gadgets to take the guesswork out of where to plant or to help you diagnose why a particular plant might not be thriving.

Luster Leaf’s Rapitest Digital 4-Way Analyzer measures moisture, pH, fertilizer and temperature levels, while the Black & Decker PlantSmart digital plant care sensor takes it a step further, connecting to your computer to recommend ideal plants for a particular spot or offer specific advice for your existing plants. PlantSmart even helps you create a library of your favorite plants, saving your readings for future use. Both gadgets cost under $50, with wildly different appearances.

While Luster Leaf looks like a traditional science gadget, PlantSmart resembles a plastic flower.

Also resembling nature in appearance is Parrot’s Flower Power.

Shaped like a branch, this gadget is designed to be placed in the dirt of a potted plant where it will monitor the sunlight, temperature, moisture and fertilizer levels your plant is experiencing. It communicates this information through an app on your smartphone or tablet to tell you when your plant needs attention. Retailing around $59, gadgets like Flower Power make it easier for even the blackest of thumbs to be successful plant owners.

All Kinds of Apps

You don’t need to own any of these gadgets to take advantage of gardening apps on your smartphone or tablets. There are a vast number of apps to help with almost every aspect of the garden, short of doing it for you. Apps for the garden can help with so many tasks: offer weather forecasts, help plan your garden, keep track of what you planted and when, monitor the number of hours of sunlight in a day, diagnose diseases, and even provide special social networks for gardeners. Among favorites for you to check out are Garden Plan Pro (a vegetable garden planner—$7.99 and worth it!), Into Gardens, Garden Time Planner and Garden Compass (all free.) With all this technology, it seems the only work we have to do is the actual planting, freeing up more time to bask in the beauty of our gardens. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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n IMPROVE WOOD PANELING 101

What About Wainscoting?

Decoding decorative wood paneling

By M i t z i B i bl e

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Today’s options for wood paneling go way beyond the rec rooms of the 1970s, when ceiling-to-floor sheets of oak-looking fiberboard stole the show. Now decorative wood paneling meets homeowners halfway—literally. Lining the bottom portion of a wall with a decorative wood treatment has quickly become a trend. Want to create a fine dining experience in your dining room? Have a bathroom that could use a little splash of style? Need to cook up a new look in the kitchen? Adding decorative paneling could be the most practical way to bring an instant element of design to an otherwise ordinary room, while at the same time protecting walls from scuffs and hiding other imperfections.

Wain-what?

Contractors and manufacturers vary in their use of terms for decorative paneling. In your local home improvement store, you will often find these products in the molding section (also referred to using the British spelling, moulding), sold along with other types of wood trim for doors and windows. The most popular term you will hear for this half-wall treatment is wainscoting (pronounced with a long or short “o,” by the way), referring to the practice of affixing thin panels of wood to a wall vertically, from the baseboard to chair-rail height, or slightly higher. Derived from a Dutch term for lining a wall, this practice was once used centuries ago for insulation, especially in homes with stone walls where dampness intruded from the ground. But today it has found its way into the realm of interior design, and it appears that it’s here to stay. Now any room in a house can benefit from these traditionally thin wood panels and the more modern and even more durable PVC or vinyl waterproof varieties currently available.

An entranceway or staircase can instantly become more ornate with square panels that can mimic your door design. A mudroom, washroom, kitchen, or bathroom can benefit from surfaces that are easy to wipe down. From plain slats to artistic designs and coordinating trim, a plain dining room, den, office, or library can be transformed into an elaborate room you won’t mind showing off to guests.

With the use of wainscoting, you can truly make your walls one-of-a-kind. Try to start your project and you will see there are a lot more decisions to make than you thought. Even under the umbrella term of wainscoting, you’ll find “raised panel wainscoting,” “beadboard,” and “batten” for instance. But what do these terms mean and where should you use them? We’ll give you a quick rundown and show you ways wainscoting can enhance any room in your home. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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DESIGN IDEAS ■B uck

the bottom-half rule and top the upper half of your wall with board and batten.

■P lank

it: go horizontal with beadboard in the bathroom.

■U se

chair-rail height wainscoting on the bedroom walls until you reach the bed, then bring it up high above the headboard to nicely frame the bed.

■F or

a rustic look, use wainscoting to create a barn-door (criss-cross) panel over beadboard.

■W ith

raised or recessed paneling, the squares become their own frames—for fabric, wallpaper or even ceiling tiles.

Beadboard

Beadboard is characterized by its narrow panels, usually 2 to 4 inches wide, with tongue-and-groove connections and a thin “bead” strip (a rounded line) disguising the joints in between. Like other types of wood paneling, you can find this product in sheets (4 by 8 feet and 4 by 4 feet that are already sanded, primed, painted, and ready to install. It can also come in six-pack kits of about 7.5 inch-wide sections made of moistureresistant MDF (fiberboard) or cellular PVC. Beadboard is most often used at chair-rail height (about 4 feet from the floor) and works well in close quarters, such as hallways, laundry rooms and utility spaces, lending texture and interest without commanding too much space and attention. Because PVC beadboard 18

shrugs off water, it is a great choice for a tub surround. Some people have even installed PVC board in children’s rooms for the durability it provides during those years when your walls can take the most beating. For the same reason, you can even think “off the wall” and wrap a kitchen bar or island in beadboard. Kits come with easy installation instructions, requiring application of an adhesive and using only a few nails to hold panels in place during the work.

chair rail. There seem to be no hard-and-fast rules for this style, just equal distances between planks (although if you’re going for a farmhouse/rustic feel, installing them at random could work).

You will sometimes see board and batten in two levels: vertical planks, a rail, then a row of shorter vertical planks on top and another top rail. Board and batten can run higher up the wall (and even to the ceiling) and is sometimes finished with a cap rail wide enough to serve as a display shelf.

Board and Batten

This type of treatment involves planks laid vertically on the wall that can alternate with separate, narrower strips to cover the joints. The look can also be achieved by simply placing vertical planks on the wall itself, topped by a flat

Paneled Wainscot

You will most likely find this type of woodwork in foyers, lining a staircase, or in dining rooms, as it is often used in more formal areas where you will want stand back and admire it. Square or C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

rectangle panels, built like picture frames, can be affixed right on the wall, with decorative chair rails and baseboards to match.

Pieces of molding can be combined to construct this series of “boxes” along the bottom half of a wall. There is no shortage of online tutorials to teach you how to build your own panels out of molding, or you can buy plywood with panels that are already beveled, or recessed. Shaker style remains popular with panel wainscoting, using simple vertical rails spaced equal distances apart to create a very clean look. With rail molding coming in so many different woods—pine, oak, poplar, maple, to name a few—and in stain-grade or paint-grade, you can achieve the formal or casual look in any room.

If you intend to install this paneling yourself, it certainly comes in handy to have some training in using a miter saw. But a skilled craftsman should be able to create the look you desire, and it may be worth it to hire one to make all the different parts work together.

Now that you know some of the terms and have a few ideas, perhaps you won’t find yourself up against a wall when it comes to wainscoting—or actually, perhaps you will.

DIY TIPS AND TRICKS ■P aint

or stain all molding before cutting or installing (unless you also plan to paint the walls and trim the same color).

■ Always

double-check your measurements.

■ I f

you are right handed, start from the left corner of the room, or vice versa.

■A sk

yourself how permanent you want the project to be, as this may determine how involved you get, and whether you use nails or glue adhesive, which could damage your drywall if you decide to take it down.

c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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n LIVE CULINARY CORNER

cooked to perfection

the art of braising

By Lu cy Co o k

Braised Short Ribs 2 0

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

I

n the age of fast food and busy schedules, we seldom take time to spend hours cooking dinner.

FOR ALL YOUR PROPANE NEEDS,

We’ve come to depend on dishes that can be cooked in thirty minutes or less—to squeeze in between work, carpool, homework and social

obligations. The luxury of having a large chunk of time to spend cooking—or enjoying a homemade meal— is uncommon. But with a little planning and some easyto-follow recipes, you’re only a few hours away from some decadent dishes that can be served tonight or reheated for later on.

The cut of meat usually determines the way it should be prepared. Meat cut from muscles that get used less, like tenderloins and breasts, have less connective tissue and can be cooked quickly. Concentrate on those cuts for the “30-minute” nights. Well-used muscles, like the flank or shoulder, have lots of connective tissue that can be softened by long, slow cooking with a good amount of liquid—which is the basis of braising.

Braising is a form of cooking that requires the luxury of time, usually several hours. The good news is the ingredients are usually inexpensive cuts of meat and most of the cooking time requires no attention. In addition, the meal can usually be made in advance and reheated with great success. Generally, the meat is seared in butter or oil to develop a caramelized crust which will flavor the braise. Then liquid, like wine or stock, is added and the meat is simmered over low heat.

It’s easier to maintain an even heat with a tight lid and a warm oven than on the stovetop. The oven’s indirect heat guards against scorching during long cooking times. During the cooking time, the tough connective tissues in the meat are melted and the meat absorbs some of the flavorful cooking liquids.

The dish can usually be made even better by cooking ahead, then cooling the meat in the braising liquid, allowing the meat to absorb even more of the flavor while cooling. After the dish is cooled (maybe the next day), the fat is skimmed off the sauce, then the sauce is reduced and thickened before serving. The result is a tender, juicy, flavorful dinner! Braised meats are popular in restaurants—who better to spend all day cooking?

Some common braised dishes are Beef Burgundy, Osso Buco, Coq au Vin, short ribs, brisket and lots of pork dishes.

There are some vegetables that lend themselves to braising, like artichokes, cabbage and kale. The same idea applies; tougher vegetables can absorb flavors and tenderize over time without falling apart. Although it’s hardly ever called a braise, lots of fruit recipes call for a sauté, then slower cooking with added liquid, which by definition is a braise.

Try these slow-cooked dishes for a special dinner. Add a salad and bread, and your work is done. Plan ahead for a delicious meal with friends and complete most of the work ahead of time to make it even easier. You can make the tart ahead and set aside at room temperature. While you finish the ribs on top of the stove, slide the potato dish in the oven, and then everything should be done at about the same time. The inviting aroma will surely welcome your guests. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Braised Short Ribs (serves 6) Short ribs are generally available in grocery stores and at the butcher, but sometimes quantities are limited. Since this is a perfect dish for a big party, call ahead, or buy a few packages whenever you see them and stash them in the freezer for the next time you want to make this hearty dish.

About 12 bone-in short ribs

1 cup diced celery

Salt and pepper

1 bottle dry red wine, divided

Flour, for dredging

3 whole cloves garlic

4 tablespoons oil

3 thyme sprigs

1 cup diced onion

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 cup diced carrot

2 cups beef stock

Preheat the oven to 325. Pat the meat dry and season with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, shaking off the excess. Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch oven. In small batches, to avoid crowding, brown the meat on all sides. Remove meat from the pan. Add onions, carrots and celery to the pan, and sauté for 10 minutes. Add about 2 cups of wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to get the browned bits. Nestle the short ribs in and around the vegetables, then top with the garlic, thyme, tomatoes, the rest of the wine and the beef stock. Cover, and return to a boil.

Transfer the Dutch oven to the preheated oven, and cook for about 3 hours. Remove from the oven and let rest for about 30 minutes.* Remove the meat from the vegetables and sauce, and set aside, covered. Strain the sauce, reserving the vegetables. Let the liquid sit, undisturbed for 20 minutes, until the fat rises to the top and most can be skimmed off.

Combine the vegetables and stock in a blender and puree. Return to the pan and simmer over medium heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Return the meat to the pan and heat through. * If preparing ahead, cool and refrigerate at this point. An hour before serving, take the dish from the fridge, and remove all the fat solids. Continue cooking as instructed.

Ken’s Potatoes au Gratin (Gratin Dauphinoise) (serves 6–8) Ken Harnad was the Executive Chef at the Boar’s Head Inn in the 90s, and now works for Sysco, a commercial food distributor.

He offered this rich, delicious recipe as a nice pairing for short ribs.

1 ½ cups cream, divided 2 pounds boiling potatoes, peeled and sliced

Tarte Tatin (Upside-Down Apple Pie) (serves 6) 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 8 ounces (2 sticks) cold butter, cut into small pieces 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons water ¾ cup sugar 8 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered and cored, sprinkled with lemon juice 4 tablespoons butter Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub between your fingers to combine, mixing until only small pieces of butter remain. Whisk egg and water in a small container. Add to the flour and butter and stir until it starts to come together.

Gently press into two disks, and wrap.

Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Place the sugar in a heavy 10-inch skillet over low heat until the sugar begins to melt.

Stir gently with a wooden spoon until all of the sugar is melted. Remove the pan from the heat, and arrange the apple quarters in a concentric circle, starting at the outside edge. Make a second level if necessary.

Scatter the remaining butter over the apples and begin cooking over medium heat until the sugar caramelizes and turns a deep caramel color, about 20 minutes.

1 ½ cups milk 1 teaspoon chopped garlic Salt and pepper to taste 1 pound grated Gruyere or Comte cheese Preheat oven to 400. In a large (10 cup) ovenproof gratin dish, pour ½ cup of cream. Add the sliced potatoes. In a bowl or measuring cup, combine the remaining cream, milk and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour carefully over the potatoes. Cover the potatoes with the grated cheese. Place in the gratin on a baking sheet (to catch the drips) and place in the oven for 50–55 minutes until browned and bubbly.

22

Preheat the oven to 375. Roll out half the dough* into an 11-inch circle and cover the apples, tucking in the extra dough. Bake the tart for 25–30 minutes, then let cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, then place a large plate over the pan and invert. Cut into wedges and serve with crème fraiche or ice cream. *Save the remaining dough for another use.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

n DESIGN AREA RUGS

Plush Meets Perfect

How to Choose an Area Rug

By R o ry R h o d es

For several decades in the 20th century, wall-to-wall carpeting was the modern standard of luxury and comfort for most homes. Many of us have lived in a home featuring powder blue Saxony, avocado shag, or beige Berber at one point or another. But with the return of hardwood floors— along with the rise of tile, cork, and concrete alternatives—area rugs have once again become a key design element. Aesthetically, they anchor your furniture, define a space, and set the tone of the room. Practically, they provide warmth, soften acoustics, and protect the floor from wear and tear.

If you’ve been eyeing an outdated or worn-out area rug for a while now, chances are you’re still trying to figure out what you want next, and what will work in your space. With so many options out there, where do you start? Here, some local experts weigh in with a few tips and guidelines to help you find the right rug for your space. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Measure Your Space

Let’s begin with size. Cindy Adams, co-owner of Carpet Plus, advises that you should always measure your room before shopping. She suggests leaving about 18 inches of exposed floor around the perimeter of your room. “Keep in mind, too, that a larger rug can make the room feel larger,” she says.

When placing furniture on the rug, in a family room for example, the front legs of the sofa should rest on the rug.

Sometimes the furniture can sit entirely on the rug, especially if the seating is centered in a large room. In dining rooms, Adams says to make sure the rug is large enough for all of the chair legs to sit comfortably on the rug, even when the chairs are pulled out. This amounts to about 2 ½ to 3 feet from the table edge.

In bedrooms, Adams suggests, “You can place smaller rugs along the sides and foot of the bed, or one large rug—placed horizontally—under the bed while still exposed at the foot and sides.” If using one rug next to a twin bed, try a 5 by 8-foot rug for a good fit.

P h ot o p rov i d e d by C a r p et P lus

Consider Color and Pattern

The most obvious feature of an area rug can also be the trickiest for many shoppers. More than anything else, color and pattern can establish the feeling of a space. Adams says, “Lighter colors can make a room seem more spacious, while darker colors can give a room a cozier atmosphere.” If your room already has bold patterns on the furniture or walls, she advises sticking with a subtly patterned rug. Or a solid neutral can work well by providing a resting place for the eye. If you want to mix patterns in the rug with other textiles in the room, make sure you vary the scale so that patterns complement, not compete. A good guideline is to have one large, one medium, and one small pattern in a room. Repeating a color or motif will help tie your rug to other room elements.

While Adams notes that current trends include bold patterns, geometric shapes, and dramatic colors such as purple and orange, she advises following your instinct and personal taste. “An area rug is an investment that you will have for a long time. You don’t want to buy something that will go out of fashion before next year,” she says. Oriental rugs are, of course, classic, and flat-weave rugs including kilims and dhurries have become increasingly popular in recent years, showing no sign of fading away.

P h ot o p rov i d e d by C a r p et P lus

Find Your Fiber

It’s important to know what a rug is made of and whether it will fit both your lifestyle and your space. For example, a naturalfiber rug like jute or sisal can look terrific in a living area, imparting a clean, modern feel and wonderful texture, but would you enjoy it in your bedroom, where it’s the first thing your bare toes touch when you get out of bed in the morning? Also, how much traffic does your space get? Do you have young children, or pets? If so, durability and ease of care will need to be considered.

Flat weave rugs, with their dense construction, handle wear and tear better than pile, and are easier to keep clean. A high pile rug will be soft to sit on and give your room a cozy, luxurious feel, but will show footprints and so might be better suited for a lesstraveled area. Rugs constructed with loop fibers (like Berber) are not a good choice if they will be in contact with things that snag, such as pets’ claws or children’s toys.

Brad Ostrowski, of Floors Are Us, says that while it’s helpful to do preliminary research online to get a general sense of what 2 4

P h ot o p rov i d e d by C a r p et P lus C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

you’re looking for, there’s no substitute for seeing the real thing in person. “Actually seeing and feeling a sample is the only way to ensure you’ve made the right choice,” he says. This is one shopping decision in which it’s hard to beat physically laying your hands on the goods.

Consider too, the dreaded stain factor. Adams says that most modern fibers are treated with a stain protectant, but points out other caveats to consider. “Wool is naturally stain-resistant and is great for wearability and color, but keep in mind that wool is not a continuous filament fiber so it does ‘shed.’ The shedding will decrease after the rug is regularly vacuumed for a few months.”

Determine Your Budget

Last but by no means least, your budget will usually help narrow down the field considerably. Are you looking for something affordable to get you through a few seasons, or a timeless piece to enjoy for years? A hand-knotted Oriental rug is an investment piece, and it’s not uncommon for designers to purchase such a rug first and choose furniture to match. Hand-woven and wool rugs are naturally going to be pricier, while machine-made synthetic alternatives are easier on the wallet and a great way to enjoy trends without overspending.

Once you’ve made your decision, Ostrowski reminds us of a detail that’s tempting to overlook. “Pick up a non-skid pad to keep the rug from sliding, and also to protect your wood floor from dirt being ground through the carpet,” he says.

Use these parameters to help make your choice, but remember that ultimately, you should buy something you enjoy looking at and feeling beneath your feet. If you buy what you love, it’s hard to go wrong!

P h ot o p rov i d e d by Pe r si a n Ru gs

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PRETTY AND PRACTICAL A classic Virginia home… with a Texas twist

BY L au r e l F ei n m a n P h ot o g r a p hy by V irg ini a H a m r i c k

SCAN THIS PAGE TO SEE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF 2THIS 6 HOME

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

White clapboard, black shutters and a flagstone path beckon visitors to the crest of a well-manicured hilltop with unobstructed panoramic mountain views. An old-fashioned rope swing sways from a stately tree as you travel the driveway to the home of Dori Boudreau and Paul Huddleston.

The home’s classic style and details have the sensibility of an elegant country estate home, perhaps something that’s been a part of the landscape for generations, though Shelter and Associates built it in 2000.

A circular driveway surrounded by formal gardens loops by the front of the house. A porte-cochère connects the main house to a matching carriage house and leads to a courtyard garden, pool and open-air pavilion on the back lawn. The two-story main house has four bedrooms, four baths and two powder rooms under its copper roof. An apartment above the carriage house adds additional living space to the home with a full-sized bedroom, seating lounge and bathroom. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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D

ori and Paul have four children ranging from in age from college to middle school and they enjoy having their home be “kid central.” In fact, they’re passionate about kids! Paul has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia since 2008 and currently serves the organization as its Vice President of Operations. Paul says, “I’m involved with Boys and Girls Club to help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens—it makes our community a better place to live.”

With the wisdom that only a seasoned mother has, Dori has an interesting theory that every seven years, a family changes—therefore, so does what you need from your house. She says that they feel as though they’ve all grown up with the house and as their family’s needs have changed, they’ve made adjustments to their home.

The first adjustments the family made included a cross-country move from Houston, Texas and later, a crosstown move to this house in 2005. Then, as the children grew older, physical transformations have been made to the house to accommodate the needs of their bustling family.

The Formal, Entertaining Spaces

The first update Dori and Paul made to the home starts in the spacious foyer, where they drastically changed the character and color of the wood floors in many of the downstairs rooms. The floors were once so pale they resembled a basketball court. Dori explains that the hickory wood’s density makes it problematic to stain and that their gleaming result came only from the patience and skill of Preston DuPrey of DuPrey’s Fine Floors.

A gallery hallway intersects the space between the foyer and the great room— connecting the dining room, family room and kitchen to the left, to a powder room, library and master bedroom suite to the right.

While DuPrey was working on the floors, Paul took the opportunity to add a personalized feature to the entrance of their home—Texas’s iconic Lone Star inlaid into the floor, created from the wood of pecan trees growing on the ranch in Texas where he grew up.

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

An oak huntboard, flanked by two upholstered Parsons chairs, and a long Shaker bench filled with an array of decorative down pillows furnish the gallery hallway on either side of the Lone Star. Paul’s grandfather’s spurs rest on the huntboard next to framed vintage photographs of his Texas ranching ancestors.

To the left of the foyer is a large dining room, framed by an extra-deep cased paneled opening. Not only is it an attractive construction detail, but the space is also put to good use: two roomy closets reside on the foyer side of the opening.

Dori and Paul added paneled wainscoting to the walls under the chair rail to enhance the room. Rustic, antique cupboards tuck into the corners on each side of a large window and an antique buffet sits on the wall opposite the window. A neutral wool rug warms the floor under an ovalshaped drop-leaf table with cabriole legs and surrounded by six Windsor chairs. The terra cotta-colored wallpaper adds color and a faint shimmer to the room.

Dori enlisted the talent of designer Michelle Willis Adams to create a cohesive interior décor scheme and to select artwork and upholstery fabrics for her base pieces of furniture when they first purchased the new home.

Dori says, “It was a brand-new house, so everything was perfect, maybe a little too perfect. I wanted to add texture and give it a lived-in look. Michelle knew just what to do to achieve that.”

Adams says that even small design details like the subtle texture in the sisal rug and the hand-blocked appearance of the dining room wallpaper contribute to creating that patina. She says that her goal was to design a neutral—but stylish—backdrop for every room. Adams tied the look together by carrying the color palette from space to space, along with other elements like the natural tones and textures in the rugs. Adams says that because the background is subtle, it’s easy to add dashes of flair to keep Dori’s home au courant.

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The unifying color in all the spaces is green. Indoors and out, green tones ranging from honeydew to granny smith appear throughout the home. Drapery and upholstery fabrics pick up the color, and accessories repeat it in varying tones. Even the plantings in the gardens feature variegated greens that are echoed by the porch planters and outdoor fabrics on the throw pillows.

c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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When Dori recently wanted to add a few contemporary touches to her décor, she turned once again to Adams for help.

Adams says, “Because we had great bones to start with, it only took small changes to update the great room and the gallery hallway.” Adams helped Dori select new, geometric upholstery fabrics and then added a few accessories like drum lampshades, a starburst mirror, a new occasional table and a different coffee table to give these spaces a fresh look.

Adams says, “Accessories are the best way to update the character of your room. When you trade that traditional side table for a glazed ceramic garden stool or upholster an ottoman in animal print, it adds a touch of whimsy and keeps you from taking your décor too seriously.”

The walls in the great room are painted celery green—a color that’s picked up in the dining room draperies and repeated in upholstery fabrics in the nearby family room. On one end is a marble-trimmed fireplace with bookshelves on either side.

Large windows overlook a flagstone patio and mountain views.

On the patio is a grill and an outdoor dining set made by Brown Jordan. Dori says they frequently dine outside because the views are so beautiful.

The Casual, Everyday Spaces

You can access the kitchen and family room from the gallery hallway or a doorway at the far end of the great room. The kitchen, family room and a breakfast nook encompass one large, open space smartly divided into different zones. Jeff Easter helped Dori and Paul remodel this entire space plus the outdoor 3 2

spaces it overlooks. Outside, Easter installed flagstone patios, a pool and a copper-roofed pavilion featuring a fireplace for threeseason enjoyment.

The family room next to the kitchen is the most popular room in the house. The access to the kitchen and the back stairway from the children’s rooms makes it an easy place for the kids and their friends to hangout. A television is concealed behind raised paneled shutters when not in use. Jeff Easter’s brother, Barry Easter of Cabinet Solutions, refaced the wood-burning fireplace and mantel with black marble and did all the other cabinetry work in the kitchen and mudroom.

The room has numerous windows and four pairs of French doors. Dori and Paul added the French doors during the renovation. They open onto a pergola-topped flagstone patio, set with rocking chairs and a porch swing. It’s the perfect place to supervise pool parties and admire the gardens that are refreshed each season by J.W. Townsend Landscapes.

A durable, synthetic rug that looks just like sea grass covers the family room floor. The color palette in the room includes shades of green ranging from celery to pear and variations of gold and buttery yellow—all set off by cranberry-colored accents.

Comfortable his-and-hers club chairs are upholstered in a modern floral print. A pair of solid, pale green chenille sofas provides ample seating in this cozy room. An antique piano bench serves as a quirky side table and a large bamboo coffee table grounds the seating arrangement. The unique wood bowls on the coffee table were made from wood found on Paul’s uncle’s ranch in Texas.

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

WA R E H O U S E SALE

Photos by Tommie Milacci

Including Remnants

SPECTRUM STONE DESIGNS www.spectrumstonedesigns.com

G c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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Pearl’s

local culture of wholesome natural ingredients coupled with pastry art is well known throughout the region as the go to place to wow your guests. All products are baked daily to ensure that your friends, family, and associates will be talking about your special occasion well into the future.

In addition to our delicious cakes and cupcakes, Pearl’s offers a range of other baked goods, including brownies, cookies, French macaroons, cake-pops, sweet potato biscuits, doughnuts and tarts. When only “Pearl’s Perfect” will do, call or visit our shoppe.

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Cabinet

Kitchens Baths Hardware S O L U T I O N S Countertops

(434) 296-3499 www.cabinetsolutionsllc.com The breakfast nook is a bay that features windows on three sides and a built-in hutch that looks like a freestanding piece of furniture. Tall, spindly Shaker chairs are neatly placed around the unfinished wood farmhouse table.

The kitchen has a French Country vibe, with an impressive black CornuFé stove as its focal point. Dori laughs, “My youngest child says it’s just like the one in [the Disney animated film] ‘Ratatouille.’” It has five burners and side-by-side ovens. Dori says that Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery ordered it for her, while the local Ferguson store on Seminole Lane helped her with the other appliances.

Black granite countertops and oil-rubbed bronze hardware accent the stove and outfit the kitchen. The center island intentionally does not match the rest of the cabinetry, which gives the kitchen a one-of-a-kind look. It features stained wood cabinets and a large apron-front sink. Three copper pendants shine overhead.

All the other kitchen cabinets are painted in a slightly distressed cream-colored paint—another design detail that keeps things from looking sterile or “too perfect.” The refrigerator and freezer are concealed behind cabinet fronts for a seamless appearance in the expanse of cabinetry.

Down the back hallway are a butler’s pantry, laundry room, mudroom and powder room. Dori is an organized homemaker, aided no doubt by the workspaces in this area of the home, though she gives the credit for her home’s tidy appearance to the Busy Brooms housekeepers.

The butler’s pantry is outfitted with a variety of handy organizational features, from built-in filing cabinets to shelves that are perfectly sized to hold platters and serving pieces.

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The laundry room has side-by-side front-loading machines, a utility sink (for soaking muddy soccer uniforms) plus additional storage. This cheerful workroom is treated like a real room and has a chandelier, pretty wallpaper and a glass-paned French slab door. Dori says laundry day feels like less of a chore in a pretty space. A frilly window sheer installed three-quarters up the interior doorframe obscures the view of the machinery yet allows natural light from the room’s window to shine into the hallway.

The mudroom is the epicenter of the home’s hardworking practical spaces. It’s an octagonal-shaped pass-through with slate floors and board-and-batten paneling reaching three-quarters of the way up the wall. Shaker pegs hold an array of riding helmets over a built-in wraparound bench. Due to all of this custom cabinetry, there is truly a place for everything in Dori and Paul’s home.

From here, it’s only a few steps down the cabinet-lined hallway to the portecochère, the carriage house and the backyard. A small powder room is located near the exit for convenience.

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Additions Renovations Design-Build Service Full Service General Contractor

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The Quiet, Private Spaces

From the kitchen, the gallery hallway leads to a handsome floor-to-ceiling wood-paneled library. This is the place where family members bring their laptops and sneak naps. Raspberrycolored velvet club chairs, a small sofa and a dainty table add feminine touches to this otherwise masculine room. A powder room is located nearby in the slope-ceiling space underneath the stairway in the foyer.

The master bedroom suite is across the hall, decorated in serene shades of pale green and blue. A four-poster bed and mismatched bedside tables add visual interest to the room, along with the wool “jute” rug. The window panels have blackout liners for sleeping, but Dori keeps them open during the day so she can admire the mountain views and enjoy the natural light pouring in from the windows.

The children’s rooms are upstairs, each with its own bathroom and decorated in colors and styles to suit each child’s interests.

The spacious central hallway is large enough to house a built-in homework station. Tall cabinets hold everything from art supplies to tech equipment, with everything neatly stored in cubbies, drawers and labeled baskets. Three people can sit comfortably at their computers or work on projects at the built-in desk.

Over the past seven (or so) years, Dori and Paul have created a hospitable family home that is both pretty and practical. It’s been custom-tailored to suit their family’s needs with the help of talented local artisans and designers. Dori and Paul have accomplished their mission of becoming a favored hangout for their children and their friends. What transformations will the next seven years bring to this family and their home? c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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n IMPROVE COAT CLOSETS

The Ideal Coat Closet from dumping ground to shipshape

By N o ell e M i l a m

“A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Growing up, this was a phrase I heard more times than I cared to. My father, a career naval officer, spent years aboard ships, and liked his home to run on the same principles of discipline and order that worked so well when he was at sea. Though he met with varying degrees of success (and eye-rolling, and dramatic sighs) at home, I can say that in retrospect, he taught me a good foundation for starting a home of my own, even if ours isn’t quite as tidy.

My own family has put down more roots. Because we don’t move every few months, it’s been much easier to accumulate, well, stuff, and much of it ends up in the vicinity of the hall closet. By virtue of location, usually near one of the home’s entrances, hall coat closets can quickly become the repository of practically everything a family hauls in and out. It’s no small wonder that many of them, including mine, tend to get a little out of hand.

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“Coat closets are challenging because they are often small, but they need to hold a lot of stuff,” says Peggy Woodall, of The Closet Factory in Charlottesville. Therefore, planning is very important.

Once you’ve decided it is time for a closet makeover, the first step is deciding the closet’s true purpose. Perhaps that means just coats, or depending on space, you might want your coat closet to play several storage roles. Make a list of each of the “jobs” you want to your coat closet to fulfill. Coats? Sporting equipment? Cleaning supplies? Be realistic. If things are crowded, some items may need to be relocated. It will also depend on where your closet is located.

A closet by the front door will often be used differently than one by the garage door that the family goes in and out of regularly. “This is a little tongue in cheek,” Woodall laughs, “But the ‘ideal coat closet’ is reserved for guests. If there is room in the house for a mudroom bench that can house shoes, coats, and backpacks, it’s easier to keep the clutter away from the front door.” This is a great concept, but not everyone has this option. What if the coat closet must accommodate families and the occasional guest?

BEFORE

AFTER

P h ot o s p rov i d e d by T h e Cl o set Fa c t o r y

Make a List

A Clean Slate

P h ot o p rov i d e d by T h e Cl o set Fa c t o r y

Experts recommend taking everything out of the closet initially so that you can properly measure the dimensions, and also give it a good cleaning. This is a great time to make any necessary repairs: oil the hinges, patch any dings in the walls, replace lighting, maybe even give it a fresh coat of paint. Consider painting the closet interior the same color as the paint on the walls of the room or hall where the closet is located, or even use a complementary or accent color. A new coat of paint provides a fresh, clean backdrop for closet contents.

Next, consider what came out of that closet. Purge all items that are not on your list. If you’ve decided that your coat closet should house only coats and other outerwear, then find other locations to store the vacuum, pointe shoes, lacrosse sticks, and other detritus that has found its way in there.

Once you have whittled down your closet contents, analyze what you have, and get rid of what you can. In times gone by, most adult coats were long, well below the knees, and older homes generally have coat closets designed to accommodate them, with a single hanging bar at approximately eye level. If you are lucky, there may be a shelf above this single bar, presumably for hats, which everyone used to wear every time they went out. Times have changed!

Today’s coats, however—with the exception of a single dress coat perhaps—are generally shorter, and children’s coats of course are shorter still. Take advantage of shorter lengths by replacing the single eye-level pole with a combination of double, or “highlow” poles that will maximize your hanging space: one pole hung approximately eye level, and the other about 30 inches lower. Voila!

Twice the hanging space. Hang adult coats, or those more frequently worn, at eye level, and children’s coats (or coats that get less frequent wear) on the lower pole. Unless you have a very large coat closet, plan to switch items in and out with the seasons, putting offseason gear in less-convenient storage elsewhere in your home.

Getting Organized

Analyze ways that you can make every inch of this premium closet real estate work for you. Over-the-door shoe holders make great storage for small items such as mittens, scarves, sunscreen or swim goggles. Large plastic tubs set underneath the hanging clothes can hold shoes and boots. Hooks or different-sized baskets can be 4 0

C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

attached to the back of the closet door, or even the inside walls if there is enough depth, to hold everything from school bags to car keys in an easy-to-see, easy-to-access way. If you have room, you may want to consider adding built-in shelves. Nowadays there are many options to choose from—basic shelving of wood or wire, attractive baskets, and shoe organizer pieces. You can explore closet “systems” at local hardware stores, or opt for the professional help of a carpenter or professional closet designer who can design and build a system for your specific needs.

If you are installing shelves, consider using baskets to keep the look uniform. Ideally baskets will use up all of the shelves’ square footage to maximize space. Consider this handy tip: purchase baskets first, then configure shelves to fit—it’s much easier to build shelves to fit baskets than to spend hours shopping for baskets with the exact dimensions to make the most of your shelf space. Designate and label the baskets, so that all family members know where to put their things. Always keep in mind that items used more frequently need to be the easiest to reach. In other words, the closet’s design (be it professionally designed, or designed by you) needs to make sense to the users if the closet is going to stay neat. Woodall says of her clients, “If I’ve done my job designing to their needs, then it’s easier for them to maintain and keep the closet tidy.”

Once that closet is organized, keep it that way! This means running a swift mental checklist as you walk in the door, and putting things in the places you have designated right away.

Hang up your coat and keys, send the lacrosse stick up to the player’s bedroom. Have a place for everything and put everything in its place. It turns out, my father’s tight-ship method just may have been wise after all. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

www.jeffbarrattwoodworking.com www.jeffbarrattwoodworking.com 41

BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP H om e own e rs ch ro n icle th e i r story i n a scr apboo k

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C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

BY L au r e l F ei n m a n P h ot o g r a p hy by KG T hi e n e m a nn

By the time homeowners seek the help of an architect, they’ve been thinking about their dream home for quite a while. The homeowners likely already know most of the functional requirements for their project: what they want, what they need and how much they can spend. Now, they need an architect to help translate those ideas into something tangible.

The best architects are equally talented in being skilled draftsmen and skilled listeners. In the collaborative relationship between a homeowner and an architect, the architect uses his or her expertise to present creative options, solve potential problems and ensure that the homeowners can imagine themselves living there when they look at the design plans.

In short, when building or renovating a home, you have to partner with someone who “gets” you. Architects have their own style and approach to design and it’s important to find one who is compatible with yours. Study their websites to see examples of their work, get recommendations from friends, and check to see if the architect is a member of a professional organization like the American Institute of Architects. Only those who have fulfilled a set of rigorous educational and licensing requirements can legally use the title “architect.” Your next step is to request a meeting with your top candidate and get to know them. c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

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U

nless you have chosen an architect who runs a turnkey design-and-build business, there will be a third player in your project: the builder. With the help of the architect’s thoughtful and detailed design plans, the builder is able to focus his efforts on turning those plans into reality.

Architects often recommend builders with whom they enjoy working, or you can search for one on your own.

Scott Weiss is a Charlottesville-based architect who says the main role the architect plays is in interpreting and communicating the homeowners’ wishes and helping them decide what they want in a home.

Weiss says, “An architect takes note of the way the homeowners live, what they consider important, and then tailors a design that fits their needs.”

Weiss describes one of his recent projects as an example of the teamwork involved in working with visionary homeowners and a talented builder who could make on-the-site decisions for the home they were building.

The home is located on four beautiful acres near Rockville, surrounded by farmland. The homeowners, Cary and Rhonda Matthias, owned the property for several years before building upon it.

Cary says he always had a vision to build an environmentally responsible home on the property. That’s how Cary and Rhonda came to meet Weiss, who was recommended to them by friends as someone who would understand the special requirements of passive-solar home design.

Cary explains, “Passive-solar home design means that the way the house is oriented on the lot, the way the windows are situated

and even the roofline’s deep overhang play an important role in the energy efficiency of our home.”

Though you may not see the spray-foam insulation or the other “green” construction methods hidden in the walls, you can certainly feel their warming effects in the wintertime—along with the warmth radiating from the impressive two-story, doublesided, soapstone-clad, heat-retaining fireplace called a “masonry heater.” Its commanding presence also serves as an attractive focal point for both the living and dining room all year. On the dining room side of the masonry heater is also a brick oven that Rhonda uses to bake bread and keep meals warm until dinnertime.

The comfortable south-facing three-bedroom, two-bath home has a low-country-meets-craftsman bungalow vibe, with its deep wrap-around porch, stone-and-wood construction details and clerestory windows in the gables that allow light to flood the living spaces below. It is a timeless home that gives the impression of having always been there.

The farmhouse-style kitchen features black distressed painted wood cabinetry, quartz countertops, modern appliances and wall-to-wall casement windows above a vintage-look apron sink.

A breakfast nook with a round table and built-in cabinets is adjacent to the kitchen and also includes bookshelves and a flatscreen television. The walkout basement was designed so it can be finished as a separate apartment with its own kitchen, laundry and bath—a project for the future, perhaps.

After the home was built, Cary and Rhonda added a few additional features, such as the stone walkways that lead to a flagstone patio shaded by a wisteria-covered arbor that Cary built himself.

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• Personal Loans • Commercial Loans and Business Lines of Credit • Home Equity Loans and Personal Lines of Credit Jared Feury Charlottesville Market President Commercial and Business Banking Officer jfeury@bankofthejames.com Erica Terrell Erica Terrell Loan Officer Loan Officer NMLS# 1078948 NMLS# 1078948 eterrell@bankofthejames.com

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“When you create a scrapbook, you get to reminisce about the best moments of your life and experience them all over again.”

- Rhonda Matthias

S

C

O

T

T

WEISS A R C H I T E C T TELEPHONE OR TEXT: 434.242.9288 EMAIL: SCOTT@WEISS-ARCH.COM WEBSITE: WWW.WEISS-ARCH.COM

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Cary, Rhonda and Scott Weiss maintain their friendship, even though their project and working relationship are complete.

After working so closely together on something as important as their home, Cary and Rhonda say they feel a kinship and share a special bond with Weiss.

Cary and Rhonda recently invited him to see their new outdoor improvements plus one additional surprise: a scrapbook that Rhonda had made of the entire process of building their home.

Rhonda enjoys scrapbooking as a hobby and says that keeping a scrapbook can reinforce the importance of your life experiences and the appreciation you feel for the people involved in these events. “When you create a scrapbook, you get to reminisce about the best moments of your life and experience them all over again,” she says.

Rhonda carefully catalogued the entire process—from the first meetings with Weiss to the builder’s punch list at the end of the project. She included copies of important emails when big decisions were made, the business cards of their subcontractors and even pages torn from magazines showing design details she admired and wanted for their home.

Thumbing through the pages of her scrapbook, you can glean all sorts of information about the Matthias home and get C h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

a sense of what it was like to work on the project. Rob Carter of Southern Traditions built the home in only six and a half months in the middle of “Snowmaggedon” (that memorable winter in 2009 when our area saw record amounts of snowfall).

An eco-friendly company in Amelia called Superior Walls made the home’s foundation from pre-insulated/pre-studded cement.

A craftsman named Allan Turner built the soapstone-covered masonry heater that is both the centerpiece of the home and an important component of its environmentally friendly thermal system.

Reading further, you learn that the paint color that Rhonda chose for the kitchen is called Café au Lait, and that she used Silver Sage throughout the rest of the home. The woodwork is trimmed in a creamy white called Falling Snow (perhaps inspired by the season’s abundant snowfall?) and the light fixtures hanging over the dining table came from a popular home décor store known for its fixtures and retro-look hardware.

As Weiss, Cary and Rhonda sit at the dining room table flipping through Rhonda’s scrapbook, they recall many stories from the project and agree that keeping a chronicle was a great idea. Weiss says that he’s never seen a scrapbook like this and wishes that more homeowners would do this. Not only is it a lovely way to commemorate such a special project, but the scrapbook also serves as an invaluable homeowner’s resource when it comes time to repaint, replace or do repairs to the home.

Cary and Rhonda say that Scott Weiss’s careful planning and attention to detail, coupled with Rob Carter’s quick-thinking and hands-on interpretation of those plans, contributed equally to the successful construction of their dream home.

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n IMPROVE DINNER PARTY JOURNALS

HOT TIPS FOR HOSTS

Document Your Event in a Dinner Party Journal

By PHOEB E DINSMORE

With the holiday season behind us, you may be entertained-out…but not for long. When those winter doldrums start to creep in, gathering for a meal with family or friends is the perfect way to perk up a blustery weekend. Hosting a dinner party is more than just putting another meal on the table; it’s intentionally gathering people you care about for a meal you’ve prepared (or ordered!) with love. So don’t let this feel-good occasion go by without documenting it and making a lasting memory. With other New Year’s resolutions already made, consider adding one more: creating your own dinner party journal—to stay organized, provide a reference point for future parties, and savor the good times for years to come.

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Dinner Party Journal OCCASION

date & TIME

GUESTS

location

DESCRIPTION/THEME

SEATING

MENU

WINE/DRINKS

quotable moments

C H a r l o T T e S v I l l e

FLOWERS

“ Pa r t gu e s t lis t , p a r t m e nu…a dinn e r p a r t y j o ur na l c a n b e yo ur ul t im at e p a r t y p l a nnin g t o o l a n d ke e p s a ke ! ”

Please visit our website for a downloadable template you can use to start your own dinner party journal. www.charlottesvillehomemagazine.com Dates, Details, Logistics

So just what should you include in your dinner party journal?

Start each entry by documenting the date and the occasion of your party—even if the occasion is “just because!”

Include a seating chart. Not only will this provide a record of who’s attending, but it also takes the sometimes-uncomfortable guesswork out of seating for your guests. Keep in mind that it’s always nice to mix things up; this keeps conversation interesting and prevents pairs and cliques from inadvertently forming at your table, so that everyone feels included.

In most homes, the host and hostess sit at opposite ends of the table, but there is no set rule about this. What if you have a round table? Some hosts find that it works best when they sit together near the door that leads to the kitchen so that they can easily tend to the oven.

Think about the personalities of the group you’re assembling and who might make fun seatmates. Grandfather might get a kick out of sitting next to the beautiful recent college graduate.

One of your guests is apt to be shy; seat him or her next to an effervescent person. And please, don’t doom any man to sitting between two chatterbox women! If you have a very long table, put the most vivacious guests in the middle—they’ll keep the good times rolling.

It’s always a good idea to separate couples. Seat pairs (including best friends) across from one another and alternate the seats of male and female guests when possible. Many a romance has budded when unaccompanied single guests have been “coincidentally” seated next to one another.

Seat the guest of honor or the guest who might not be as familiar with the group next to you so that formal introductions can comfortably be made.

What’s for Dinner?

Make notes about the menu, including the page in the cookbook or the recipes themselves. That way, the next time you invite Bob c h a r l o t t e s v i l l e h o m e m a g a z i n e . c o m

over and he eagerly asks if you’ll be serving “that salmon we had last time” again, you’ll know for certain what he’s requesting; after all, you might know eight different ways to prepare salmon.

Additionally, if you don’t have any special requests for repeated dishes, you’ll be able to reference the previous dinner party and ensure that you’re serving your guests something new and different this time. And even if you are hosting a less-formal event—a fried chicken supper, perhaps—document that too. Just because your dinner party menu might be casual doesn’t make it any less special.

If your friends are bringing side dishes or the dessert, make note of that, too. It’s always fun to remember who brought what, especially if YOU are the one who wants to make a special request for a repeat appearance of that incredible thing they brought last time.

Wine lovers often keep a separate wine journal, but you can incorporate a record of that information here. If one of your guests brings wine as a hostess gift, document that gift so you can properly thank them, later (whether or not you choose to serve it at dinner is up to you).

Taking Notes, Making Memories

This is the fun part. Did someone tell a great joke that had the group howling in laughter? Write down what of it you can remember. Did someone share special news? Record that momentous announcement. Jot yourself a little note about anything you never want to forget.

By keeping a dinner party journal, you’ll have a record for posterity’s sake, a diary of fun times shared with those who are most special to you. And, the next time you have a craving for that most-amazing chocolate cake you had that time, you can flip back through your book and recall which friend baked it. Maybe it’s time to have him or her over again!

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Grand Home Furnishings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Jeff Barratt Woodworking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Jeff Easter Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 La Linea Bella!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mona Lisa Pasta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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Mr. Electric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Our Lady of Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Pearl’s Bake Shoppe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Persian Rugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sarisandtile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Scott Weiss Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Southern Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Specialized Insurance Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

434.960.4333

Spectrum Stone Designs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 The Closet Factory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

www.deniseramey.com

The Habitat Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

deniserameyrealtor@gmail.com

W. Douglas Gilpin Jr. FAIA, Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Wainwright Tile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

350 O LD I VY W AY , S UITE 200 C HARLOT TESVILLE , VA 22903

Ufab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

iseramey.com

University of Virginia Community Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 deniserameyrealtor@gmail.com

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Color Lock® technology matters.

Exceptional resistance to fading and scrubbing makes our paint extraordinarily irresistible.

Only Benjamin Moore® offers Color Lock Technology, for truer, richer colors that are extremely fade resistant and washable.

And with a Benjamin Moore store in your neighborhood, it’s incredibly convenient too.

Visit benjaminmoore.com

Color Lock technology matters. ®

Exceptional resistance to fading and scrubbing makes our paint extraordinarily irresistible.

Only Benjamin Moore® offers Color Lock Technology, for truer, richer colors that are extremely fade resistant and washable. And with a Benjamin Moore store in your neighborhood, it’s incredibly convenient too.

Visit benjaminmoore.com

Available at Crozet 434.823.1387 ©2014 Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited, ben, Benjamin Moore and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks and For everything that matters is a trademark of Benjamin Moore & Co Limited.

Charlottesville 434.964.1701

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