Move-in ready: Near north house mixes past and present

Address: 1406 Holly Road
Neighborhood: Rutledge/Greenbrier
Asking: $329,000
Assessment: $290,700
Year Built: 1957
Size:  1,829 finished sq. ft.
Land: .28 acres
Curb Appeal: 6 out of 10
Listing Agent: Rob Schilling, Roy Wheeler Realty Co. - 434-951-5155

On first impression, the 1950s house situated on a city street in this north of downtown neighborhood seems rather unremarkable. The lot, though spacious and deep, is partially fenced and minimally landscaped. A paved drive leads to the backyard, which holds a small shed, a concrete terrace, and a fenced dog run.

The front door, accessed by an unprepossessing walkway, opens onto a large living room with gleaming hardwood floors, a fireplace with a marble surround and classic mantle, and built-in china hutches that flank a dining area. A closer glance offers the first hint– in the form of a couple of distinctly modern light fixtures– that this house may yield a few surprises.

To the left of the living room sits one of two master suites. With track lighting, a large closet, and an attached bath with upgraded fixtures, this space would function equally well as guest quarters or a home office.

Opposite the living area is the kitchen, which is arguably the centerpiece of the home. Renovated and expanded, this room features stainless appliances, loads of cabinets, a center island, and a roomy eat-in area, which could also be used as a family room. A tile floor done retro style with yellow and white tiles complements the recessed lighting and granite countertops, and a glass door accesses the terrace and the yard beyond. A counter along one wall tops an ingenious pet-storage feature: custom-built dog crates in place of cabinets where Rover can settle in for the evening.

On the other side of the kitchen, two bedrooms, one outfitted as a kid’s room with built-in shelves and a colorful paint job, share a full hall bath, and a private and spacious master suite sits at the far rear corner of the house. An entire wall of cabinets as well as two wardrobes and a shelf system ensure that this suite has plenty of storage, while several windows and a glass door leading to the backyard allow lots of light. 

This master bedroom is roomy, airy, and bright, but the bathroom is the real attraction here with dual, but separate, granite-topped vanities, a marble floor, and an oversized walk-in shower finished in black and white tile.

Downstairs in the basement there’s a large finished area perfect for a home theater, a rec room, or an exercise area, and the unfinished portion, which houses the washer and dryer, is spacious enough to provide the opportunity for future expansion.

In addition to undertaking cosmetic and structural improvements, the current owners have also made an effort to increase energy efficiency. Dual zone HVAC units, a whole house fan, and a hot water recirculator help reduce consumption and lower bills.

Throughout this home there are numerous juxtapositions between the modern and the dated, but they manage to complement one another rather than clash. The bathrooms– excepting the one in the master suite– reflect the age of the home in terms of their dimensions, yet they’ve all been fully updated with new floors, lights, and vanities. And the owners paid special attention to providing above-adequate storage space during the renovation.

This house won't appeal to those seeking a project, but buyers seeking a move-in ready home that melds past and present in a city location may want to give it a look.

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