Six fireplaces in this 1920's Virginia-Highland Craftsman

1017 Highland View is for sale right now. It began its life in high style and at 90+ years all that style is still there. It's loving owners didn't mess it up while updating the kitchen, bathrooms, and decor. The interior design is effortlessly outstanding. I think would look just as good empty.

If you see an open house on certain streets, you must go.

I'll demonstrate with its six elaborate fireplaces in 4 designs.

 
This is the entry room with a classical mantel with chimney breast, built-in bench and stair with unashamed, expensive floral wallpaper. Who dares wallpaper these days?


The parlor on the right has a matching fireplace but without a chimney breast.

Matching fireplaces tie entry and parlor into a single visual space: modern right, craftsman left, florals left, horizontals right.


The dining room mixes antiques and modern with this Louis XV curvey fireplace on a chimney breast. This is un-whimpy decor, minimal on its own terms. A pro designer can go sparse in a room like this or pile it on.

That's the three downstairs, now for the three upstairs.


The master - I think - all three bedrooms are grand. Look at all that yummy woodwork. The dark fireplace makes a statement in here. The furniture harmonizes with the dark wood, tying things together.


Curves with shag and Eames: Bravo. Do try this at home with professional help.


Same fireplace design but on a breast, art pulls colors from the marble.

I wish  you could turn around to see what's behind me because I'm not showing you everything.




If you visit an open house on certain streets, you'll probably find an architecture tourist.

Two Fine Open Houses. One 2,018 square feet. One 4,422 Square Feet

I had my eye on two for May 19, two special houses I never expected to see. I wish you could see for yourself. I doubt they'll be open again.


Super Sundays are for house loving architecture tourists.


Asking $270/sf: I knew this one to be designed David Fowler. It's tucked into the landscape, on a nearly hidden lot. But once it caught my eye, I found treasure. Built 2005, 4,422 square feet, on 0.2355 acre.

 
Asking $275/sf: The small one was on my street, a corner house. It had been abandoned for years. Someone renovated it into a gem of a not-so-big house. Then it found the best owner possible who made constant improvements to house and landscape. Built 1948, 2,018 square feet on 0.201 acre. By the way, I think this had a contract within a couple of days.


I loved the kitchen entry on the big house.


I loved the kitchen entry on the not-so-big house.


I loved the phantom awning. A 65 year old house is entitled to it's age marks. Perhaps awnings will make a comeback.


This is the big house's backside. It has windows and porches and balconies to suit everybody.


Unless you look closely you don't notice the precise recessed pointing. But the eye notices a difference. You catch a bit of shadow and of white on each header face and arris (corner edge), a layered look, like showing a bit of petticoat.


This square bay window and dovecote are new additions. The window rocks inside and out.

Let me mention one more thing. Both houses were bright inside. They seemed narrow and made me think of "Wings of Light."

Pattern 107. WINGS OF LIGHT
"...But buildings which displace natural light as the major source of illumination are not fit places to spend the day...
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction Christopher Alexander,  Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein