Heirloom Farm Cottage

Virginia AIA Merit Award for Excellence in Residential Design | What appeared to be a simple, worn-out, early 20th century stucco cottage was to be modestly renovated as a weekend retreat. But when the contractor and architects began pulling away the interior wall finishes, they discovered a log cabin at its core (believed to date as far back as the 1780’s) and a newer addition (circa 1920’s) at the rear where the site slopes down. Initial plans were scrapped, and a new project was born that honors the original construction while accommodating new infrastructure and the clients’ modern tastes. A galley kitchen of concrete and reclaimed wood lines one wall of the walkout basement. The existing concrete slab was acid washed, a window seat added to look out on the lower terrace, the stair stripped of paint, and the minimalist line of the new stair rail extended to connect the basement to the two floors above.