HomeLifeStyle

Historic Home for Sale in Alexandria

Designer/owner brought the home up to date while preserving its architectural integrity.

“We wanted to keep the character of what it was. We were careful about integrating the spaces that we added.” — Sydnye Pettengill

The Power of Light

Designed with a bounty of large windows, a new Potomac home pays homage to natural light.

“There are no rooms in this house that don’t have large windows and big natural light.” — James F. Rill, Rill Architects, PC

Decorating for Easter

Easy ideas to welcome spring into your home.

From floral arrangements that burst with pastel blooms to candles that fill one’s home with scents reminiscent of warm weather, local style experts offer suggestions for accents that welcome spring.

The Region’s Best Home Designs

Local contractors get top honors for remodeling projects.

From designing a kitchen with a concave glass tile backsplash to creating a backyard with a fireplace and pool, some local home remodelers were honored recently with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) 2013 Regional Contractor of the Year awards for design acumen. Winning projects ran the gamut from historic preservation projects to environmentally conscious conceptions.

Recycle, Reuse, Remodel

Remodeling often affords an opportunity to re-purpose existing materials by donating to those less fortunate. Ask your remodeler if there is a plan or policy for saving materials for re-use rather than sending it to a land fill. Every project is different. And some materials are more easily removed and saved than others. Here are a couple of organizations that accepted used materials.

Demand for Incremental Improvements

Over time, some owners makeover the entire house—one phase at a time.

If you compare the current home remodeling market to 2007, it's clear that homeowners are less likely to execute a top-to-bottom makeover in a single stroke than they were five years ago. Home resales are rising again, but the belief that every dollar spent on a Northern Virginia home will be quickly recovered has been suspended—if only temporarily—as homeowners reassess.

World’s Fanciest Rummage Sale Coming April 7

Rumor has it that the “world’s fanciest” rummage sale will feature some of the crystal light fixtures and other items recently replaced in the remodeling of the Ritz-Carlton Tysons.

‘How to Fall in Love’

Hopkins & Porter, Inc. will be offering "How to Fall in Love with Your Home Again,” a free design and remodeling seminar on Thursday, March 21, 6-8 p.m. This seminar will include a complimentary supper with opportunity to discuss one's own project with professional staff.

Virginia Garden Week to Feature NoVa Gardens

80th Historic Garden Week, April 20-27, 2013

Historic Garden Week 2013 will feature approximately 200 private homes and gardens open on 32 separate tours throughout the state of Virginia over eight consecutive days. It is the largest ongoing volunteer effort in Virginia and represents the coordinated efforts of 3,400 club members. One hundred percent of tour proceeds are used to enhance Virginia’s landscape. For 80 years, the grounds of the commonwealth’s most cherished historic landmarks have been restored or preserved with help from proceeds from Historic Garden Week including Mount Vernon, Monticello and the grounds of the Executive Mansion in Richmond.

Party Animals

Mardi Growl raises $50,000 for AWLA.

Supporters of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria celebrated their own version of Mardi Gras with the third annual “Mardi Growl” bash March 8 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. “This is an incredible evening,” said former City Manager Vola Lawson, for whom the AWLA shelter building is named.

"Record, Remember And Report”

CID officer advises citizens about homeland security.

Fairfax County’s Police Department has been around for more than 70 years, but its Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) wasn’t created until after the 9/11 tragedy. “Five detectives and one supervisor were in a lunchroom in the Massey Building when we first discussed it,” said CID Det. Doug Comfort.

Neighborhood

Taylor Run

THE WIZ Euphoria filled the hall as the students of St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes danced and sang their way through "The Wiz." Production values, light, sound, and set were extraordinarily well-developed and good.

Thousands Gather for Laboy

$80,000 raised; Biden pays visit to APD.

One by one, more than 3,000 people from throughout the region slowly passed by the motorcycle of wounded Alexandria Police Officer Peter Laboy as they waited in line March 10 to attend an Old Town fundraiser that raised more than $80,000 on his behalf. “We were expecting hundreds and got thousands,” said Capt. Shahram Fard, a trustee with the Alexandria Police Association that co-hosted the event at Virtue Feed and Grain Restaurant.

Wonder Women

Salute to Women Awards to honor 11 civic leaders.

The Alexandria Commission for Women will hold its annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet March 18 to honor 11 individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community. Honorees at the 33rd annual banquet, a benefit for the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, will be recognized for their accomplishments in civic life and for the improvements they have brought to the well-being of Alexandria's women.

First Night Donates to Schools

$3,000 given to music programs.

For the second straight year, First Night Alexandria has donated a total of $3,000 to the music programs at T.C. Williams High School and George Washington and Hammond Middle Schools. “First Night Alexandria believes in promoting the artistic talents in the city's public school system,” said FNA board president Kerry Donley as he presented the awards.

The Connection