Country indeed: Renovated vernacular invites light, exudes character

Address: 6173 Blackwells Hollow Road
Neighborhood: Blackwells Hollow, northwestern Albemarle
Asking: $299,000
Assessment: $302,000
Year Built: 1936
Size:  2,656 finished sq. ft.
Land: 2.0 acres
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10
Listing Agent: Julie Holbrook & Justin Christmas, Charlotte Ramsey Realtors, 434-989-4415 & 434-989-1830

Located just off historic Browns Gap Turnpike near the Shenandoah National Park, this is a 1930s vernacular, a once-simple farm house that has been expanded and updated over the years. With gambrel roofs, skylights, and views of the Blue Ridge, the house defies easy explanation.

Hidden from view and screened from traffic noise by the dense growth of trees and shrubs that front the two-acre property, the house adjoins a gravel parking area that provides easy access to a vestibule with a tile floor and built-in de-booting bench. The kitchen beyond is warm and welcoming with seating at both the center island and in the breakfast area. Modern accoutrements like solid surface countertops, ceramic tile floors, and stainless appliances are balanced by glass-front cabinets, a drop-leaf table, and a refinished Hoosier cabinet.

Double French doors lead from the kitchen to a great room with a vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace. Oak floors, built-in cabinets, and oversized furniture make the room comfortable rather than cavernous, and skylights and clerestory windows allow plenty of natural light.

Access to the rest of house is slightly less straightforward. A full bath off the great room leads to an oddly configured hallway. Just beyond are a parlor, currently serving as a man-cave, the master suite, and a staircase that leads to the second level.

The master bedroom is spacious and modern with a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and a generously-sized Palladian-style window. A large soaking tub set in front of a matching window in the bathroom offers views of the private yard.

A den, a small laundry room, and a dining room finish out the living areas on the main level. Upstairs are two additional bedrooms and an impressive amount of under-eaves storage space.

A wide porch runs along the front of the house and wraps around one side, and the backyard is wide and open with a terrace/deck combo that runs the length of the house and maximizes the views. A hot tub offers the possibility of stargazing while relaxing, and the detached garage includes a workshop perfect for creative endeavors.

This is not a home without limitations. The layout is choppy and may take some getting used to; there’s no bathroom on the second floor, which may deter some purchasers; and the closest grocery store is nearly 20 minutes away in Crozet.

But that’s not to say that these potential negatives aren’t balanced by positives. Despite its age, the house is filled with light thanks to the numerous windows, skylights, and French doors found throughout (there are five sets of doors in the great room alone). Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to note that there’s a swimming hole right down the road, and the nearby Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve Park offers opportunities for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. 

As for the distance from the conveniences of town? The drive out to Blackwells Hollow is long, yes, but also quite lovely, winding past old farms and new wineries and offering glimpses of the Doyles River when the lush vegetation bordering the road parts to allow room for a driveway.

Two price reductions to this listing since its introduction to the market in March indicate significant motivation on the part of the seller. Compared to other listings of comparable size in the Western Albemarle school district, this renovated house is priced quite competitively and, for those who seeking a light-filled home imbued with character, may prove quite a find.
~
Every two weeks, a brave local seller invites the Hook in for a candid, warts-and-all review. Email to schedule yours today.