What's in store? Louisa property offers unique combination

Address: 10348 Louisa Road
Neighborhood:  Boswells Tavern                                                 
Asking:  $230,000
Assessment:  $174,100
Year built:  1880
Size:  2754 finished sq. ft.
Acreage:  2.0
Curb Appeal:  8 out 10
Listing Agent:  Bev Nash, RE/MAX Assured Properties, 434-981-5560 

One quick word of advice: If your taste runs toward the sleek, modern or toward cookie-cutter, subdivision-style homes, you’re better off skipping this review entirely. A farmhouse like this, built c. 1880 and situated on two acres along Route 22 a short distance over the Louisa County line just before Boswell’s Tavern, will likely hold little interest for you. But for those who appreciate learning more about a vintage home that shares space with a building that once served as a post office before it became Martin’s Store, then Kreb’s Store, and more recently an antique store, read on! 

Though the current owners now use the old general store as a woodshop, many of the original fixtures and shelves remain. And given the mixed-use zoning of the property, the two-level structure could easily lend itself to a variety of uses.

The house itself is generously sized given its age, and the owners have taken care to retain many of the period details while renovating and modernizing the home to suit their lifestyle. With 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and over 2700 sq. ft. of living space, the house offers plenty of room for the two adults and two small children who currently call it home. 

A wide porch spans the front entry, which opens onto a living room to the right and a dining room to the left, each enjoying access to the double-sized fireplace that separates the two spaces. Details like French doors with a transom above, exposed brick, hardwood floors, custom mantels and horsehair plaster walls have been carefully preserved and lend both character and charm. 

Beyond the dining room, the kitchen offers plenty of counter and cabinet space, two sinks, a separate pantry, and access to both a laundry area and an enclosed, unfinished mudroom that houses a pet door, a full-size freezer, and plenty of space for de-booting after gardening. The adjacent family room, separated by a half-wall flanking another fireplace, offers a perfect spot for young kids to play or watch television within eyesight, though not necessarily earshot, of the adults.

The house was originally a 2-over-2 with porches being added and enclosed over the years. Most recently, the front porch, which faced Route 22 and served as the main entrance before that road was paved, was enclosed.

Upstairs, remodeling efforts have rendered the original, awkward floor plan into a much more comfortable space. The owners took care to use salvaged materials wherever they could while reconfiguring the layout, and the full hall bath features the original tub. A master suite, including a sitting area/den, an office space that could double nicely as a nursery, a walk-in closet, a bathroom and a roomy bedroom, now stretches along the back of the house.

With updated plumbing and electrical systems, hardwired smoke detectors, and a new multi-zone HVAC unit, this home achieives a rare balance between the modern and the vintage. 

Purchasers looking for a country property featuring the charm of yesteryear will delight in the grounds, which feature a barn, a chicken coop, a gardening shed, a bathtub flower bed, and a number of mature silver maple and walnut trees. Despite the fact that the yard is screened with trees, there’s a bit of road noise from the traffic traveling along Route 22, though it’s virtually inaudible inside the house. 

The distance to Charlottesville and the Louisa County location may deter some prospective buyers, but the lower taxes, the potential income from the general store, and the proximity to both Gordonsville (5 miles) and Zion Crossroads (7 miles) could help mitigate those objections. And purchasers seeking an affordable country home with period details and the potential for some hobby farming just might find this property worthy of consideration.