Tour a Picture Perfect Bunglow in the Heart of Charlottesville

I recently had the pleasure of touring a charming and impeccably-designed 1927 bungalow in the heart of Charlottesville. First spotted on her walking route, the house immediately caught Lynn Garnett’s attention. She and her husband kept an eye on it until, one day, they saw a For Sale By Owner sign and decided to move just 1/2 mile and make the quaint Arts & Crafts style home their own.

The landscaping and shady front porch beckon you to sit awhile, but it is the inside of the house that completes the cozy picture. A perfect mix of historic design and contemporary details, it is clear that the pair put a lot of hard work and heart into their home. In fact, work and heart go hand in hand if you are a master woodworker and world traveller like Jim and Lynn Garnett.

Stepping into the living room, the woodworking details frame a space designed for gathering with friends around the fireplace. Two red leather love seats flank a glass coffee table, all recent purchases from The Artful Lodger.  On the mantle is one of Jim’s prized works, an amazingly detailed, wasp-themed clock.

Like the clock, every detail is showcased and designed with care. With only two closets, the Garnetts used every inch of space and gave every nook a purpose. For instance, they cleverly fitted a bar into a corner of their dining room, complete with fold out counter. Just enough space for storing the necessities and mixing a cocktail.

The house is designed in a palette of taupe, brown, and white with touches of red. Even the accessories add to the flow. All of the photos, for example, maintain a similar historic and artistic feel in either black & white or sepia tones and simple frames. Amidst old family photos and Jim’s own photographic artwork are pages from Holsinger’s Charlottesville, framed exquisitely by Partridge & Grace.

Moving down the hall to the European-style bath, you’ll find even more period details and charm. One detail impossible to overlook is the large grate that once provided heat for the whole house.

Ahead, the bathroom door now features textured glass and an adorable “WC” tin sign. Inside, the black & white tile, honed granite vanity, clubfoot bath (painted to coordinate with the taupe color scheme), and chrome fixtures all create a vintage, yet serene feel.

The adjacent bedrooms feature some very unique pieces and well-placed accessories. I was particularly in awe of the massive wooden lockers-turned-armoire. Originally in the Charlottesville Post Office, it now graces the master bedroom and holds shoes and clothes.

 I fell in love with the family portrait display atop the guest bedroom’s bureau. Using vintage suitcases, Lynn cleverly creates a vignette to showcase special photos and welcome travellers. If you would like to create this look yourself, I recently spotted several vintage suitcases at Andrea Wynne.

And now the piece de resistance. Once featured in HGTV, the Garnett’skitchen is a small yet stunning example of space efficiency and gourmet design. A modern, restaurant-grade refrigerator and stove come from Big Tray while the unique kitchen sink is a vintage find from Caravati’s in Richmond. Jim custom built cabinetry to the ceiling to stow all their cookbooks and dishes. Using a sliver of wall, a ladder frames several spice racks. A nook becomes a baking pantry with all the yummy ingredients displayed in clear jars so Lynn can easily take stock of her inventory.

I particularly love the soapstone countertops and the open shelving / storage which turns everyday items into object d’arte. Other details like the wall mounted corkscrew (I spotted one at Harrods), vintage pulley, and custom Harry Potter-inspired light switch make this kitchen one of a kind.

Other local resources featured in this home include TW Eways Oriental rugs (runner in kitchen), Virginia Tile Co. (all countertops, tile in bath), and Ron Martin for certain kitchen appliances. Additionally, Lynn is a fan of Rejuvenation, her source for nearly all of the lighting fixtures and switches.

They moved into a bungalow of mint green walls and avocado shag carpet, but today live in a customized home conveying a unique personal style and eye for design. Thank you to Lynn and Jim for welcoming CvilleStyle into their home.