Virginia Home Tour: The evolution of home
Welcome to the first of many Virginia Home Tours! Home is more than just some plaster and paint, its where we build our life, create memories, get inspired, dream, relax, laugh, unwined… and we all live a little differently and our home speaks to who we are! I am beyond excited and extremely honored that Darla shared her sacred space and intimate story about her life and her home with us at Virginia Home & Lifestyle. I truly enjoyed reading her story of how her home evolved as her life evolved! So, let’s let this incredible lady take it away from here!
Hi! I’m Darla
I’m not a native Virginian but after living here for over 40 years I do call Virginia home. I was born in Illinois and raised in Pittsburgh. I moved to Virginia after high school when my parents relocated to Virginia. They asked me to move with them so that I would develop a sense of home in Virginia. I experienced a HUGE culture shock after moving here. I was raised as a city girl. My parents moved to Prince William county and at the time the county was rural. Besides the culture shock, the weather was shocking too. The first summer I lived in Virginia was like nothing I’d ever experienced before; the heat and the humidity!
I attended George Mason University, graduated with a BS in Business and married my college sweetheart after graduation. We lived in Prince William county for several years. We lived in Montclair, a beautiful lake community. I have 4 sons; native Virginianas ;) We moved shortly after my third son was born. My husband’s job took us out of state for several years. We moved back to Virginia once my oldest was entering middle school. We realized we wanted our children to be closer to their relatives and Virginia also has a wide variety of public colleges and universities. I chose Culpeper County because my parents and sister resided here. We welcomed our 4th son a year after moving back to Virginia. I had always wanted to adopt a child and a year after moving back we adopted our son through foster care. My children could walk between our house and their grandparents home. Raising children in Culpeper was just what I’d hoped for - a small town environment where people know each other and there is a sense of community.
I purchased my home in 2004 when the housing market was booming, prices soaring and homes flying off the market. I think I looked at every house for sale in the county. I spent 4 months searching for the perfect home for us. What struck me about this house were the architectural details. As soon as you walk through the front door you see all the way through the living room through arched french doors to the wooded backyard. I have always chosen my homes with how they make me feel when I enter. The colors throughout the home were not to my taste but I could see the potential, I was able to overlook and envision how I’d decorate. I have studied interior design and enjoy the process of creating a home that is unique and reflects my family’s personality. My home is in a wooded community with walking trails and each home has unique architecture. No two homes are alike. Once I saw this home and this community nothing else compared to it.
My vision for this home was to create a traditional southern style. My childhood home was an historic home circa 1929 and I wanted to create a home with a 1930’s influence. I updated and remodeled the kitchen, replacing cabinets, appliances and the flooring. The bathrooms were also updated and I added the classic white and black floor tile and pedestal sinks to reflect the 1930’s style. I call my style “tradition with a twist.” The colors have changed throughout the years both inside and out. I love to update and change things around. Originally the paint colors were golds, greens and touches of red. The exterior was a brown and beige combination. A new dark gray roof, gray siding and mahogany doors replaced the beige tones. The interior colors have changed to coastal hues of sand, cream and blues. I love bright colors and a cozy feel. I love mixing antiques with traditional pieces. I enjoy original artwork and have collected paintings, photos and pottery. I practice Feng Shui and incorporate those elements - wood, earth, water, metal and fire. A home should be a sanctuary. My home’s style has evolved through the years as my family grew and our family life changed. When the kids lived at home the downstairs was their domain - ping pong, foosball, large screen tv gaming. A place for them to relax and entertain their friends.
As life twists and turns my home and lifestyle have changed as well. I’m divorced, newly married and an empty nester. I took my yoga practice to a deeper level and became a certified yoga instructor and health coach. I spend my days as a yoga instructor and wellness coach for women entering menopause and beyond.
The downstairs area is no longer a kids’ space. It’s a multifunctional space with a yoga studio where I lead weekly classes, an art studio where I paint and craft and a family room where my husband and I watch movies. We have a patio off the back where my husband has built a privacy fence where I can practice yoga and meditate. We’re in the process of landscaping the back; creating a beautiful space for my students as they enter the studio and a place for us to relax and enjoy watching our dogs play in the yard. I love to garden and the gardens have changed and evolved over the years. I love bright bursts of color and have orange, fuschia and purple flowers to attract pollinators. I try to have something in bloom during every season. My plan is to plant clover in the back for a natural meadow.
Our dogs, Molly and Hudson are two years old and we have young grandchildren so the main level has become a little more casual. We have changed almost everything the past couple of years - paint colors, furnishings, updated fixtures. I love bright colors and unique accessories. My husband teases me that I'm his “gypsy girl.” When he moved in I incorporated his taste and furnishings and we have developed our own style. I’d say it’s “eclectic traditional.” Mid century meets boho meets southwestern. I love plants and the organic feel so my husband built plant shelves in the kitchen and office, my brightest rooms.
One of the favorite parts of my day is waking up in my bedroom. The sun peeks through the bamboo blinds and I can hear the birds chirping. We have a bird feeder off the deck and I can watch them while I sit in bed. I love the way the shadows dance on the walls. My other favorite room is the office or as I refer to it my “Zen Den.” I love to read and have also spent many hours sitting in my chair, gazing out the front window meditating. My office is in the front of the house and is very bright. I’ve painted it a dark navy with white furniture and natural woods. The zen den is also the spot where the kids congregate when they’re home. As a family we enjoy smaller, cozy places. We love to entertain family and friends. Like most families we spend most of our time in the kitchen. I have a large farm table that seats 12. We have a large deck spanning the back of the house with a dining table and seating area. During the nice weather you’ll catch me sitting at the table writing, reading or enjoying the woodland view. We’re updating our laundry room with new cabinets and paint colors. What was once a playful green and brown polka dot is now a calm, bright blue. Our dining room has become the room for the dog crates. It’s become a catch all and a work in progress. My dream is a place for the crates and an outdoor shower to spray them down before coming inside. I’d love to have a claw foot tub on the patio for evening soaks under the stars. Doesn’t that sound magical? Stay tuned …
