A brick house: This lady's stacked... with elegance and comfort

Address: 2985 Earlysville Road
Neighborhood: Earlysville in Western Albemarle
Asking: $625,000
Assessment: $720,100
Year Built: 1948
Size: 3,662 finished sq. ft.
Land: 5.0 acres
Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10
Listing Agent: Andrew Middleditch, McLean Faulconer - 434-981-1410

Real estate advertisements are rife with euphemism, and it would be easy to dismiss the description of “parklike” grounds at 2985 Earlysville Road as just another example of agent hyperbole, but in this case it’s dead-on accurate. The acreage surrounding this expansive brick home includes raised vegetable beds, a colorful water garden, and a formal allée, or avenue, which is suitable for a game of bocce, lawn bowling, or horseshoes, while an invisible pet fence ensures that man can safely enjoy the company of his best friend while walking the trails or relaxing in the gazebo.

Situated to maximize enjoyment of all this horticultural splendor is a 3-bedroom, 4-bath home with over 3,600 finished square feet of living space. Built in 1948 and remodeled in 2002, the house reflects both classic elegance and modern comfort. Pegged hardwood floors, chair rail, and crown molding lend sophistication; bold colors and creative finishes add interest and personality.

A French door with sidelights leads to a generous entry hall that opens to a formal living room on the right and a light-flooded dining room straight ahead. Tucked away in a corner is a pine-paneled library with built-in bookshelves, a fireplace, and even a bay window to provide an ideal spot for enjoying a good book or an afternoon nap.

Two spacious bedrooms offer comfortable quarters for children or guests, and each enjoys the convenience of a private, attached bathroom. Finished with black-and-white tile, the bathrooms combine vintage appeal with modern finishes.

Situated at the heart of the house and accessed by a Dutch door that adds a touch of whimsy, the Karen Turner-designed kitchen (Turner's something of a local celeb in the kitchen design world) includes stainless appliances, soapstone counters, and a center island. Barstools at the counter and a built-in banquette ensure that everyone has a place to sit while a row of windows and a French door leading to the patio afford lots of natural light.

The kitchen provides easy access to the dining room, the adjacent laundry room, and to the master suite that occupies the rearmost section of the single-story house. A vaulted ceiling and French doors amplify the feeling of space in the master, and its bathroom features a double vanity, a walk-in shower, and jetted tub.

Perhaps the most notable feature is the melding of the interior with the outdoors. Nearly every room offers either a view or physical access to the yard and its colorful plantings. It’s easy to envision summer parties with the French doors thrown open and guests circulating comfortably from kitchen to patio to gardens beyond.

A detached workshop and guest cottage offer hobby space and bonus quarters, and an attached garage provides secure parking and storage.

This isn’t to say that the house is without drawbacks. The wood floors could use refinishing, and the bathrooms, though attractively appointed, may lack the generous proportions today’s buyers have come to expect from homes in this price range. Of more significance, though, is the traffic noise from Earlysville Road, which is audible in the rooms along the front of the home, but diminishes significantly toward the rear.

Though the relationship between market value and tax assessment is often dubious these days, it may be worth noting that this property is offered significantly below the $720,000 assessment, an indication of motivation on the part of the seller and of the possibility of securing a value in today’s marketplace.
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