Classic & Luxurious, Federal Style Home with Additional Lots
Improved Price
Refined, Jeffersonian Luxury Style Residence in the Blue Ridge Area & Potential for B&B, AirBnB
Location, Region, & Potential Uses:
Presented here is a true “hidden gem” of a classic residence on 4 beautiful adjacent lots totaling 7.65 acres, all located just several hundred feet from the town limits of the charming Town of Bedford (in Bedford County) in Virginia’s famed Piedmont region—known for majestic mountains and views, scenic rivers, and lush farm land—highlighted by easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and all that it has to offer. This home can be your anchor point for enjoying the relaxing, refreshing, yet active, lifestyle found throughout this entire region. Â
In fact, the Town of Bedford was named one of the “Top 25 Happiest Small Towns in America” by House Beautiful Magazine (July 2017) which, among other attributes, highlighted Bedford’s relaxed and quiet environment.
The Bedford County area offers many noteworthy recreational opportunities and distinctive places to visit and experience. Among the best of those are the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Peaks of Otter, hiking on the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway trails, the National D-Day Memorial and its many related events, Smith Mountain Lake for water recreation enthusiasts, the Bedford Wine Trail for wine-lovers and, of course, Poplar Forest—the masterfully restored historic summer home of Thomas Jefferson (only 18 miles away). Â
Also, this home is only 23 miles, or 30 minutes, distant from the vibrant Liberty University main campus and the Lynchburg Regional Airport. Other noteworthy driving distances are: Roanoke, 30 miles; Blacksburg (Virginia Tech), 71 miles; Charlottesville (UVA) 94 miles; Greensboro, NC or Winston-Salem, NC only 120 miles.
This home could also easily serve as a full service B&B, or as an AirBnB/VRBO short-term lodging rental given its square footage, separate entrances, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, D-Day Memorial, Liberty University, and other area attractions. Moreover, the offering is also attractive as a lot/land investment with the 3 separate, adjacent building lots included in the offering—in addition to the 2.25 acre lot underlying the existing residence.
The Residence and Its Provenance:
This classic and superbly executed Federal style home is truly unique—having been custom designed by renowned architect Harrison Truehart Poston (1908-1982) for a prominent member of the Langhorne family—well known in the Lynchburg area business and social scene in the 19th and 20th centuries. Althea S. Langhorne (1911-1995) commissioned the design and then oversaw the careful, meticulous construction process intended to execute the design in a quality manner and, where possible, with repurposed materials best suited to the design which was influenced by Langhorne’s admiration of Thomas Jefferson’s architectural masterpieces of Monticello and the nearby Poplar Forest.
For example, the exterior brick walls were all constructed with Revolutionary War era brick reportedly excavated from the site of a training academy for revolutionary war soldiers near Lynch’s Landing (now Lynchburg) and later served as a small munitions factory in the Civil War era. The brick walls were laid up using the “Flemish-bond” masonry technique which was primarily used for the most refined colonial era structures as it adds not only beauty, but also strength, stability, and thickness for insulation purposes. This brick was also used for the central “Westminster” style chimney which serves the three interior wood-burning fireplaces (2 presently converted to LP gas).Â
Other repurposed brick from old works and “fired” in Montgomery, Alabama (and so marked) was used as the paver element under the Jeffersonian style arched loggia, which spans the rear of the home.
The slate roof material is believed to be from an old church in Bedford (location and details unknown) but similar in age to the wall brick. The slate has been identified as the well-known “Buckingham” slate, from nearby Buckingham County. Here are informative comments from the Buckingham Slate company, still in operation today:
“Founded in 1867, Buckingham® Slate is still produced at this same location in Arvonia, Virginia. The slate’s properties – unfading color, low absorption rate, a lifespan of 150 years or more, natural textures and luster – make it a one-of-a-kind material, unmatched by any other building material. Our products are found in many of the country’s top universities, religious buildings and fine homes, delivering an architectural aesthetic that can’t be matched.
One of our country’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was among the first Americans to recognize the beauty and value of Buckingham County’s slate, which he specified in his architectural designs. Jefferson specified the use of our slate on the campus of the University of Virginia, where Buckingham® Slate can still be found on the centuries-old structures.”
The exterior slate roof system is appropriately matched with a full copper gutter and downspout system noted for strength, longevity, and visual appeal.
Main Level of Residence:
The main level interior of the home contains many superior architectural details which expertly captures the classic Federal style and exudes refined luxury, and includes high ceilings, arched doorways, custom mantles with marble fireplace surrounds, beautiful hardwood flooring throughout, exquisite built-ins in the living and dining room, and complex English millwork trim above the principal doorways and around the ceilings—all evoking the “Jeffersonian” residential style found at both Monticello and nearby Poplar Forest. Truly, Jefferson would be right at home in the formal dining room, seated in front of the white marble trimmed fireplace, gazing into the fire with a glass of his favorite Madeira or Claret in hand!
Also found on the main level, and accessed via a glassed French door from the very spacious living room, is a four-season, heated and cooled sun porch with LP fireplace and antique mantle at one end and hardwood floors throughout. This lovely and welcoming sun porch has 20 windows (with custom Ultra-Vue Invisible screens and cellular heat-deflecting pull-down blinds), and spans nearly the entire rear of the home allowing for wonderful views of the lush, elegant landscaping while relaxing in this casual and comfy light-filled space.
The inviting main level kitchen just off of the dining room, area boasts custom white cabinetry, solid surface white countertops, and decorative tiled backsplashes. Newer appliances include a spacious stainless steel French door style refrigerator, a super-quiet Kitchen-Aid dishwasher in stainless and a new stainless micro-wave over the range. The custom cabinetry is repeated into the main hallway just off the kitchen with an expansive, lighted butler pantry array with glass doors on upper cabinets.Â
Just off of the kitchen is a charming, light-filled breakfast nook, with custom shades and window treatments. Directly off of the breakfast nook is one of the two entrances to the laundry room/pantry area which provides much utility and convenience. Also, just off of the nook is a door to the exterior rear stairs to the lower level driveway and parking area providing for quick kitchen area access with groceries, etc.
Also on the main level is the primary suite with a separate bedroom, a spacious dressing room with multiple closets, and a luxurious ensuite bathroom with a double sink vanity and an oversized walk-in glass enclosed shower. Â
At the opposite end of the home on the main level, away from the primary suite, are two other bedrooms which are served by a single full bathroom, with the larger “guest” bedroom having its own direct doorway to the full bath. The other bedroom at this end of the home is currently set up for use as a spacious, and light-filled combined den and office trimmed out with wainscoting, chair rail, and a large built-in 5 shelf bookcase with lower doors on one wall next to the door. Yet, if desired, this room could easily be put back into use as the third bedroom on the main level.
Lower Level of Residence:
Over the last year or so, the 2,500 SF lower level was extensively renovated including extensive electrical and plumbing work in the new kitchen area and the 2 upgraded bathrooms (new faucets, vanities, and toilets) as well as all new replacement windows with distinctive, vinyl tilt-out, energy star rated, low-E argon gas features. Also, except for the tiled bathrooms, the entire finished space in the lower level now has newly installed Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring throughout. Â
The focal center piece of the lower level is now the absolutely stunning, new, full kitchen with custom maple cabinetry (including a tall corner cabinet with a “seeded” glass door, beautiful granite countertops with ample work surface space, a full suite of new appliances (range with oven and air fryer, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave) as well as a built-in 38 bottle 2-zone wine cooler. Upgraded can lighting was also installed and includes seeded glass overhead fixtures to complement the seeded glass door corner cabinet.
Just adjacent to the kitchen area is an open and spacious dining area, which also leads to the main lower level entry doorway, opening onto the brick columned and brick paved Jeffersonian loggia.  Just to the right of the dining area is a large multi-use room with an LP fireplace. Just off of this room is a separate bedroom area, as well as a full bathroom.
To the left of the dining area is a corridor leading to the second bedroom with a connected bathroom. The corridor then leads back to a smaller multi-use room which could serve as a perfect home theater room—as it connects directly the stairway up to the main level.
The remainder of the lower level space is devoted to storage, utilities, HVAC, etc. but there is also room in the storage area for a small work-bench and related tools.
Other Various Recent Improvements and Upgrades to the Overall Residence:
In 2019/2020:
- Amana 10,000 BTU furnace, 96% 2-stage propane, 5-ton, 16 SEER heat pump/auxiliary propane and Honeywell Thermostat with outdoor Wi-Fi reads, and 10-year warranty on parts/labor Â
- New 500 gallon underground propane tank, new service lines run
- Replaced bypass humidifier and installed new P-trapÂ
- Additions to Sunroom including bookcase expansion to accommodate new, built in gas fireplace and new LP gas line run (no fireplace existed in sunroom previously). Custom screens for (20) windows, Ultra-Vue Invisible screen, almond frames to blend with interior paint color. Mitsubishi mini-split added to sunroom and Lutron light/fan controlsÂ
- Living Room-old fire log set replaced with new burner and logs
- Exhaust fan installed in laundry roomÂ
- Whole-house water purification system installed, which includes additional 2-unit purification for kitchen waterÂ
- Main level plantation shutters and cellular, heat deflecting pull-down blinds in sunroom and kitchen/coffee room
Acreage & Grounds Features and Improvements:
The overall property included in the offering consists of 4 separate, but adjoining, lots as marked out on the GIS boundary map shown nearby. The existing residence is on a 2.25 acre lot accessed from High Acre Rd. as are 3 other lots of 1.76 acres, 1.59 acres, and 2.05 acres respectively. All the vacant lots are highly desirable for residential purposes, and could likely be built upon with very minimal site preparation. So, these lots could be sold for residential construction or held for investment purposes dependent upon the goals of the new owners.
The overall acreage of the 4 lots makes for a very pleasant outdoor environment, with a great variety of tree and shrub plantings, (hardwoods, fruit trees, flowering ornamental trees, evergreens, etc.) along with substantial open and grassy areas. The current owner has maintained a contract with Bartlett Tree Experts for professional trimming, pruning, and overall care of the existing trees on the 3 lots on High Acre Rd.
Also, very close to the main residence and just to the left of the driveway, there is a custom-designed, newly built, 12’ x 12’ Williamsburg style studio/workshop, with exquisite details found inside and out. The more noteworthy exterior features are as follows: roof is “new-slate” Eco-Star with double row of copper snow guards; Dutch-lap vinyl siding with two Pella low-E 366 Argon Gas vinyl tilt-out windows; Amish-crafted Martin-house cupola with copper roof and finial; copper gutters and downspouts; exterior coach lights and Colonial-period wood arched double door with black “iron” hardware and fittings; Interior features: Daikin mini-split HVAC; lighted whisper-quiet ceiling fan; additional power to support battery charging stations; wall cabinets with under-mount lighting prepped for countertop work space below; and LVP flooring. Also, the workshop has its own power line buried directly from the street power pole to a meter at the rear of the workshop, and there is a 200 AMP circuit breaker box on the interior rear wall. All this making for a splendid furniture workshop, artist studio, or many other hobby pursuits—and just a few steps from the rear entrance of main house!
Yet another outdoor feature is the superbly sited, and well-crafted custom 12’x12’ covered patio-pavilion with natural slate blocks comprising the floor of the pavilion, a standing seam metal roof with a built-in gutter system. The focal point at the pavilion is the 7 foot wide wood-burning fireplace system with a stone façade, integrated wood storage, and copper-look chimney on one end. This quality built pavilion provides for much comfortable enjoyment of the outdoors, and the views of the expansive rear acreage.
Taken together, the lots fronting High Acre Rd. would provide ample acreage for at least 2 horses, and perhaps 3. And there is also an older, small horse stable on the 1.76 acre lot which is not currently in use—but could likely be brought back to functional status with just a moderate amount of tune-up work. Of course, appropriate fencing would be required around the acreage to be designated for horses.
SUMMARY:
Superbly located in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont and Blue Ridge countryside, and just adjacent to the vibrant small town of Bedford—this timeless, classic residence with many Federal style architectural features represents refined, luxurious living—but in a small town setting, and with access to all the outdoor fun and adventure that this part of Virginia has to offer. When coupled with the potential for operating the residence as a B&B or AirBnB, and also factoring in the adjoining lots as either buy, hold and enjoy investments—or placing up for immediate sale in a still robust residential lot market, the overall value is compelling. Please make it a point to call for more information and/or a showing appointment for this fine property and wonderful opportunity.
For More Information Contact
P. Tyler Williams, SVP & REALTOR
Cell: 703-850-4914
Email: ptylerwilliams@gmail.com
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