Meet the PianoHilgartner Family

If you’re looking for Viktorija Piano, you’ll likely find her showing a home to a potential buyer or getting the next listing ready to sell. Founder and owner of The Piano Home Group, a luxury real estate company right here in Willowsford, the energetic Viktorija got into real estate by way of a career in sales which she started when she was only 18 years old in her native country of Croatia. Her passion for design and marketing is obvious as she incorporates cutting-edge technology and powerful promotion strategies in her listings. Over 25 years in sales taught her to be a tough and very skilled negotiator. She even stars in her own marketing videos, always as impeccably put together as the houses she’s showing. Viktorija’s hard work ethic has earned her multiple prestigious awards, including Washingtonian’s Top Agent Awards, Top 200 KW Luxury Agents Nationwide, Top 5% in The U.S. Homesnap Award, Best of 2022 Reston local business and more. Her proudest accolades come from her community involvement, earning the 2021 KW Cares Top Award for helping families in need, as well as supporting local schools, athletic clubs and sponsoring interns.

Viktorija’s husband, Eric Hilgartner, is a fellow entrepreneur who’s not afraid to take chances. During the pandemic, Eric leveraged his background in value-added agricultural products to start making artisan cheese. He teamed up with a business partner to resurrect an abandoned creamery site near Upperville and opened Village Cheeseworks. Far from being just two guys with a milk truck and a dream, the full-scale creamery was soon turning out fine cow’s milk cheeses that have fans at wineries, farmers markets, farm stores and agricultural cooperatives around Loudoun County and beyond.

Viktorija and Eric’s biggest focus are their two kids. Anna is a freshman in college, and

Owen is a kindergartner. “Both are incredibly kind kids with a witty sense of humor and an aptitude for music, travel and languages,” says Mom. “Despite their age difference, both agree that our good neighbors, the walking trails and the Willowsford pools are the best features of our neighborhood. The zip line has also been a big hit.” Owen loves his family, art, science, piano and jiujitsu, and describes his family as “funny, hard-working and happy.” Anna is working toward medical school, with her eye on a career in pediatrics. “She loves her family, friends and her freedom. Dance gives her superpowers,” laughed her stepdad, Eric. She describes her family as “present-minded, hardworking and humorous.”

Luna is the family’s sweet, well-mannered canine. Eric explained, “We did the dog version of Ancestry. com testing, which 30% of the time is 100% accurate, and it turns out her mother was a coyote and her father was a dingo. She likes to watch over our family and lives to play fetch.” There are also two guinea pigs that reside in Owen’s room, keeping him filled with joy and entertainment with their antics.

Despite their public-facing careers, Eric and Viktorija agree that as a family, they tend to be very private. “Our best times are simply spending quiet time at home cooking or doing projects together,” Viktorija said. In three words, she describes the family as “kind, thoughtful and passionate.” Eric’s words are, “To me, perfect.”

“We are big travelers; it comes easily to us,” Viktorija said. “We take frequent spontaneous trips to go experience someplace new. All of us enjoy food and culture, history, museums, live performances and world traditions. We like exploring little places and meeting locals wherever we go. Good food and good people give us so much pleasure.”

It would be tough for the family to pick a favorite trip, but Salzburg, Austria, and Dubrovnik, Croatia, are the top two, with the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini and the Amalfi Coast of Italy close behind. “One thing these places have in common is superb food, service, kind people and visual beauty,” Viktorija said. “The world’s history has left traces of so many people here before us — their architecture is everywhere around you. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Ottoman, the Byzantine Empire and the numerous crusades paint such a beautiful canvas. The blend of cultures makes it a magical place. We are simply in love with the world and the many kind people we’ve met.”

“I’ll never forget my daughter’s words while traveling when she was 11 years old: ‘Mom, I love it so much here my stomach hurts. Thank you so much, Mom, for taking me with you.” She said this with so much love, warmth and the way she looked at me, I’ll never forget it. I then realized how important it is to show our kids what’s out there — other kids, languages and cultures, different food and traditions than ours, beautiful places, rivers, mountains and skies.”

We love Goose Creet Vet. Dr. Fortier takes the time to know each of her animal patients and their families which is a gift for everyone. The staff is always welcoming and friendly, the office is always clean. My dogs love going to Goose Creek and we are so happy to have found them!”

- Resident, Megan Lamb