Nestled in the rolling hills of Kent Store, Virginia stands a farmhouse that has witnessed America grow from its infancy. Built in 1793 while George Washington led the young nation, this 22.5-acre property marries Colonial craftsmanship with modern luxury.
Wide pine floors whisper stories of generations past, while a gleaming saltwater pool reflects the Blue Ridge mountains beyond – a testament to how carefully tended history never truly grows old.
1. Morning Light on Colonial Façade
Dawn breaks over the weathered clapboard siding, painting the white Colonial façade in amber hues. Symmetrical windows – twelve panes each – reflect the rising sun as they have for centuries.
A brick chimney, laid in traditional Flemish bond pattern, anchors the eastern edge. Morning fog lifts slowly from the surrounding fields, revealing a home that has stood witness to 230 years of American mornings.
2. Heartbeat of History: The Central Hearth
Massive hand-hewn beams frame the original cooking hearth, large enough to roast a wild turkey whole. Blackened with centuries of meals, the brick surround bears thumbprints of its 18th-century makers.
Iron hooks still hang ready for kettles, while a bread oven nestles in the corner. Generations gathered here through bitter Virginia winters, the warmth of this hearth flowing through the home like lifeblood.
3. Footprints of Time: Wide-Plank Pine Floors
Honey-colored pine planks stretch across the parlor, some boards spanning an astonishing sixteen feet. No modern mill cuts timber this generous anymore.
Dents, scratches, and burnished pathways mark two centuries of footfalls. Near the entrance, the wood dips slightly where countless boots have crossed the threshold. Knots and grain patterns form a natural map of the forest that once surrounded this Virginia homestead.
4. Keeper of Secrets: The Hand-Carved Staircase
Spiraling upward with mathematical precision, the walnut staircase bears the marks of hand tools long since retired. Each spindle turned slightly different from its neighbor – the signature of craftsmanship before mass production.
Smooth depressions in the center of each tread reveal where countless feet have climbed. Children once slid down this banister during Revolutionary winters, their laughter absorbed into the grain of this quiet sentinel.
5. Borrowed Light: Wavy Glass Windows
Sunbeams filter through imperfect panes, casting rippled shadows across whitewashed walls. Original crown glass, with its distinctive waves and bubbles, transforms ordinary daylight into liquid gold.
Some panes bear faint scratches – perhaps a child’s initials or a diamond ring’s casual brush. Window seats deep enough for napping suggest these alcoves served as reading nooks long before electric illumination. Here, generations have watched seasons change through glass that subtly distorts the outside world.
6. Copper and Cherry: The Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
Cherry cabinetry frames soapstone counters where contemporary meals take shape in a space once dedicated to open-fire cooking. Copper pots hang from an exposed beam, their polished surfaces reflecting both chandelier light and smartphone screens.
A farmhouse sink carved from a single marble block anchors the room. Though modernized with high-end appliances, the kitchen maintains its historical soul through preserved ceiling joists and a restored brick floor that still bears scorch marks from centuries past.
7. Saltwater Serenity: The Modern Pool Addition
Shimmering turquoise water reflects cloud patterns and surrounding oak trees. The saltwater pool, a thoroughly modern indulgence, somehow feels timeless against the backdrop of rolling Virginia hills.
Flagstone surrounds the water’s edge, its irregular pattern echoing nearby rock formations. Lavender and rosemary planted along the perimeter release their fragrance with each passing breeze. Jefferson himself might have approved of this elegant addition – a place where history and luxury find harmonious balance.
8. Slumber Through Centuries: The Primary Bedroom
Morning light spills across indigo linens draped over a four-poster bed crafted from local cherry. Ceiling beams, rough-hewn and massive, frame the sleeping space like protective arms.
Original floorboards, worn to a satin finish, creak gently underfoot. A fireplace with its original marble surround stands ready for winter evenings. From these windows, early residents might have watched British troops march during the War of 1812, while today’s owners wake to deer grazing in misty meadows.
9. Bathed in History: The Master Bathroom
Sunlight streams through woven blinds, warming the white tile and soft beige walls of this cheerful, no-fuss bathroom. A stripe of green tiles adds a subtle retro wink, breaking up the crisp grid of subway tile in the shower.
The vanity, topped with a squared-edge counter and punctuated by chrome hardware, keeps things practical yet pleasant. A leafy plant near the sink brings life and a touch of tropical charm to the corner.
The mirror reflects just enough brightness to make the small space feel generous. Nothing feels overdone—just calm, clean, and quietly confident.
10. The Attic: A Cozy, Not A Creepy Place
Tucked beneath a sloped ceiling, this attic bedroom transforms cozy constraints into character-filled charm. Soft light filters through twin dormer windows, framing the bed like a serene portrait.
Layered rugs stretch across warm wooden floors, adding texture and grounding the minimalist vibe. Two metal stools serve as clever bedside benches—unexpected, but stylishly unfussy.
The bedding’s geometric patterns and blue headboard inject just enough contrast to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of space that feels like a deep exhale at the end of a long day.
11. Guardians of Time: Ancient Oak Sentinels
Five majestic oak trees, planted during Washington’s presidency, stand watch over the eastern approach. Their massive trunks, each requiring three adults to encircle, cast cooling shade across the gravel drive.
Branches reach skyward like arthritic fingers, having weathered countless storms and droughts. Birds nest in hollows formed by lightning strikes long forgotten. These living monuments have sheltered the farmhouse through every American war, their rings silently recording climate shifts and human history alike.
12. Dining Among Ghosts: The Cuddly Gathering Space
Morning light filters through linen curtains, casting a golden glow over the cozy breakfast nook tucked into the kitchen’s corner. A built-in sofa, soft with age and cushion, wraps around a timeworn oak table that’s hosted decades of quiet starts and clinking coffee cups.
Classic ladder-back chairs, scraped and smoothed by use, flank the opposite side, their woven seats warm from the sun. Stories have been shared here over toast and jam, laughter rising gently like steam from a fresh pot of tea.
13. Twilight Gardens: Boxwood and Lavender
Formal boxwood parterres, laid out in geometric patterns Jefferson would have recognized, frame beds of culinary herbs and cutting flowers. Evening shadows stretch across pathways of crushed oyster shells that gleam like scattered pearls.
Lavender borders release their fragrance as darkness falls. Stone walls, built by unknown hands centuries ago, cradle the garden like protective arms. Fireflies rise from the meadow beyond, their lights mimicking the first stars appearing above the ancient roofline.
14. Whispers in Wood: The Library Sanctuary
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crafted from walnut embrace centuries of leather-bound knowledge. Ladder rails, polished by countless hands seeking upper shelves, gleam in lamplight.
Oriental carpets in faded crimson and navy cushion footsteps. A writing desk positioned beneath tall windows still bears ink stains from correspondence penned during the Monroe administration. Maps of Virginia from different eras hang alongside family portraits – silent witnesses to a family’s intellectual evolution across American history.
15. Reflections of Sky: The Saltwater Pool
Sunlight dances across the surface of the saltwater pool, its crystal clarity inviting afternoon swims and slow, floating moments of calm. Gentle ripples glint like glass, stirred by a passing breeze or the soft splash of a toe dipped in.
Stone loungers line the edge, perfectly placed for catching rays or diving into a book. Lush greenery frames the water, blurring the line between nature and design.
Every element of the space balances comfort and serenity—an open-air retreat for lazy weekends and spontaneous cannonballs alike.