REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Deer heaven: Rural retreat needs modernizing
PHOTO BY KRISTINA GARCÍA WADE
Address: 4181 Garth Road
Neighborhood: Western Albemarle
Asking: $574,500
Assessment: $402,600
Year Built: 1988
Size: 3,430 fin. sq. ft. / 730 unfin.
Land: 2.06 acres
Agent: Tonya Reynolds, Real Estate III, 434-882-2280
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10
At the end of a long driveway off Garth Road, this rural property is deer heaven. Its two acres lie in two swaths on either side of the driveway and in the woodlands directly behind the house. Fields abut the property. One of the lots— 21 acres with a bungalow and five acres of vineyards— is also for sale: an ambitious (and well-heeled) buyer could combine the two properties to create quite a spread.
The current owner calls the design of the place "rustic on the outside, contemporary on the inside." The house is shaded by mature trees, and the sage green exterior blends with its surroundings, only a red front door making a striking impression.
Inside, the effect is stark, airy white. The main level's 22'10" ceiling comes to a peak in the center of the house, which is open space: the second floor isn't distinct from the first, as in most houses. Instead, the master bedroom, connected to two other bedrooms on the top floor via an open, grey-carpeted walkway, provides a clear view of the foyer on one side and the dining room on the other.
The two bedrooms on the far side of the master are smaller than a guest room on the first floor, and were used for the kids, who shared the full bath in between. The master bedroom on the other side has a walk-in closet and pink carpeting.
The master bath, like the other four bathrooms in the house, is clean and perfectly livable, but with fake marble counters and linoleum floors, it's beginning to look dated. A jetted tub, offset by pastel grey and pink tile (reflecting the carpeting scheme), contributes to the overall impression of tasteful ‘80s.
Downstairs, windows line the back wall of the centrally located dining room— four small cutaways near the ceiling and a large squarish window about six feet high closer to the floor. The view upwards to the angular ceiling is beautiful and modern, but the stairs to the top level could use some art to break up the white monotony.
Adjoining the dining room is a cozy (small) living room with a woodstove. Windows overlooking the back deck spanning the full length of the house provide nice views into the forest. A full bath near the living room is convenient beside a carpeted guest bedroom.
The far side of the house has a large kitchen/dining/living area. For the current owner, this includes a home office. The cherry kitchen cabinets and new appliances are in good condition, excepting the fridge, which looks is a standard-issue rhino-textured white model from years ago. A door from the kitchen leads to a covered walkway joining the house to a two-car garage. Behind the garage, the owner has installed a flagstone patio and a hot tub, which conveys. A small grassy area surrounding the patio quickly fades into the woods.
Those woods are also easily reachable through the walkout basement, which covers the entire ground level. This was a big perk for the current owners while their children were growing up, and great for having friends over. There's plenty of natural light, and it's big enough for a home gym, pool table, and TV den area. The wine enthusiasts who first lived here built a climate-controlled wine cellar, and a half bath and several smaller unfinished cinderblock rooms provide convenience for drinkers as well as extra storage.
This is a country retreat ready for its next family, but one that could probably use a little sprucing up sometime during the next decade.
PHOTOS BY KRISTINA GARCÍA WADE
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