A Country Residence Charlottesville, Virginia The main portion of this residence had been renovated in 1993 and possessed a formal character in both layout and detail. The high level of finish and formal plan was tailored to a couple without children. The renovation was never completed leaving an unfinished garage and poorly built exterior. The new owner had four children and found little space for the informality and vitality their family possessed. Their needs called for a new office, laundry, mudroom, daily 'kid' lockers and a three car 'carriage barn'. Additionally they desired a family room that took advantage of the magnificent views to the west and engaged their rear lawn and pool. The design strategy involved the renovation of the unfinished areas into the office and support spaces while creating a new automobile court between the house and the 'barn.' Along the western (rear) edge of the house a terrace connects both the house to the landscape and also each zone of the house to each other. This terrace becomes the setting for informal entertaining, and opens the entire house to the landscape. The new family room sits in the landscape to the west of this terrace connected to the main house by an informal 'back hall' and side door. The formality of the main house is acknowledged in the consistency of exterior detail throughout the project, however, the interior of the new family room is detailed in a much simpler Virginia farmhouse style.

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Abrahamse and Co., Builders