Owner's Quarters...

We have had a ton of questions regarding Owner's Quarters...so I'll try to do them justice here by putting everything in one place! I have tried to explain in other places that we have utilized MANY different parts of the inn for our own space over the years, as the needs of my family changed. I assume that the new owner will also use the spaces as they see fit. There is no 'one size fits all' owner's quarters here!! Options, however are everywhere. :) Since many people also are interested in the Cottage, I will start there:

This is a photo of the Cottage (today...leaves are falling fast!),

and the professional photo from late spring

which, as you can see from the floor plans below, is currently divided into two guest rooms, each with a private bath. This cottage was built in 1996ish for the previous owners' parents, and when they passed away, it was divided as you see it is now.  We removed the kitchen appliances - but there is still 220 elec and plumbing run to the little sitting area (the room with the windows and yellow walls below) that has the door onto the deck, just capped off, that could easily convert this space back into a kitchen. This cottage also has drop-down attic stairs, accessed from the bathroom for the Cottage Room, for a storage space where we currently keep all the boxes for holiday decorations.

This is a photo of the entry hall, looking in as you open the front door. To the left is the door to the Cottage Room, to the right is the door to the Cottage Suite (with the deck)

Photos of the interior of the Cottage Suite:

Here are a few photos of the Cottage Room:

These bottom two are obviously NOT the professional shots...but you can see the bathroom, and the new flooring, bed and table/chairs.

That pretty much sums up the cottage...definitely potential and space for owners quarters, if the winner is so inclined.

 These next pictures are of the basement hallway, in between the kitchen and the rooms my children use:

These stairs are the ones that go to the main level, and you can see into the kitchen from this photo. The doorknob is just pretty, it goes into the full bathroom on this level. The wooden closet doors on the left cover a whole wall of shelving we use for towel and linen storage.

I like the floors...white stones in the bathroom with painted brick wall, and brick floor in the hall.

The next photos are of the rooms down on the lower level that we turned into our personal space for living room/dining room. You can get a feel for the spaciousness, and the window placement. That's a great gas stove insert! Directly across from it (not pictured) is the door that connects the kitchen.

The photo below shows the small room adjacent to the room above, and which also has a door out to the brick patio. This 'window' you see is covered with a board divider, and is seen from the other side above my son's bed (with the red/white coverlet below).

I got brave and took pics of my teens' rooms...don't judge me...it's their mess. 

Top photo as a guest room many, many years ago - nice and neat. Bottom is my 13 year old daughter's vision of pink.We painted the paneling - it's not fancy woodwork, just literally beadboard panelling, added in the 80's to cover rough plaster walls. There is an in-the-room handsink. The floor is painted concrete - we like that, but basically you could put down anything you want over this surface. This is at the front of the house, with a door connecting to the full bath (that also has the door from the hall with the pretty knob...two doors into one bathroom), as you are reading the floorplan...the room on the bottom right of the picture below.

Below is my son's room (the bottom left room in the photo above) - it's a painted concrete floor as well. Nothing fancy, the windows let in nice light. It is at the front of the house, directly below the Peony room.

The last photo of where we 'live'...

This is called the 'Office' on the floor plan, it's on the main level, and we have a tv in an alcove here (not pictured, on the right), there is a full bathroom to the right also. 

Behind the curtain, there is a doorway we boarded up (but could easily be taken down) that leads to the massage room - which has a separate entrance from the back porch. Before we closed it off, that part of this room held the bed for this room, which has been a guest room, and was also where my mother lived when we first came. 

SO...these are some of the spaces you HAVEN'T seen on the website, as they are generally off limits to guests. I hope it's obvious there are SO MANY configurations for pretty much whatever the new owners needs are! Lastly, the laundry room, kitchen....

And the large chicken coop/tool shed. 

Now go, write your essay, and ENTER!!!  Good luck!

Some bonuses for the winner!

We have been pondering a few fun (but practical) ways we can support the winner in their new endeavor, and after following a few other contests with similar ideas, I think we came up with a few perks that will definitely put a few more reasons under the 'Why I SHOULD enter the High Meadows Essay Contest' column...

We are lucky living here in Scottsville to be near one of the best B&B consultants in the whole country, Peter Scherman of the B&B Team....a group of realtors specializing in inns and B&B's, aspiring innkeeper seminar leaders, and consultants. Peter lives here in Scottsville, though his business keeps him on the road a lot! We want the winner to be successful whether or not they are experienced innkeepers, if that's their dream. So - we are going to send the winners to one of the BB teams Aspiring Innkeepers Seminars in 2016, hopefully in conjunction with the Bed &Breakfast Association of Virginia's annual conference! They will have a chance to meet other friendly, helpful innkeepers in Virginia,  be able to ask lots of questions, sign up for all sorts of interesting training sessions and get acclimated to innkeeping in Virginia. As much as everyone entering the contest is excited - my fellow innkeepers are excited too! They can't wait to see who wins, to meet them, and to support their dream. If we get our minimum of 5,800 entries, AND the winner has an interest in keeping High Meadows as a B&B...this trip will be paid for by us!

Also something that will be very relevant to a winner hoping to continue as a B&B...association membership fees for 2016 will be paid for AIHP (Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals), BBAV (Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia), and the Inns of Charlottesville. These are educational and advocacy associations that have been invaluable to us.

If we get at least 6,800 entries - we will also award the winner $10,000 to help pay immediate real estate transaction fees and moving expenses.

If we get at least 7,800 entries - we will award an additional $25,000 to help with startup expenses.

These are the biggies...we hope that they help!

Things we love...Parts 4& 5

This will be EASY...and maybe I am cheating a bit by not just listing 'WINERIES' as one item, BUT...they are all so different, we like them for VERY different reasons. So I think it's justified...read on for our faves!

the view at Blenheim

69. Barboursville Vineyards. This one is the farthest from us - but if you are coming or going from DC like 90% of our guests, it's literally ON YOUR WAY. And it's a 'don't miss this' kind of place, especially if you are new to VA Wines. Some of the best are made here - Octagon of course. The restaurant is wonderful. The ruins are legendary. And there is an inn on the grounds, which I am also sure is lovely! Our own winemaker Gabriele Rausse began his storied career in Virginia as the guy this family recruited from Italy to grow great grapes and make great wine. The current winemaker, Luca, is a local celebrity.

68. King Family Vineyards. To the west of us, this isn't necessarily convenient for our guests to visit while they are here for the weekend. But this blog is to tempt you into wanting to enter the contest and WIN HIGH MEADOWS...so of course it goes in. Great views, polo matches (fond memories from my college days in Sarasota, at Ringling School of Art & Design), a beautiful fireplace for winter tastings...this makes a great drive when we need to just get out of our own space and relax.

67. Veritas.  Also over in Crozet, an amazing venue for brides, delicious wines, one of my FAVORITE sparkling wines Fizz, and they have their 'Starry Nights' music series every summer. Go at least once!

66. Pollack. Another place over in the western part of the county...we like to make a day of King, Veritas, Pollack, and the next ones...

65. Cardinal Point. One of my personal favorites, and they have a sweet farmhouse available as a homestay! Great wine for just about any reason.

64. Flying Fox. Really pretty views, and visiting this winery gives you a reason to hope that the chef/owner of...

63. Le Bleu Ridge B&B has her food truck open, Le Chic Picnic. If she isn't open near the winery, then she might be up at Bold Rock Cidery...wherever you find her - HAVE LUNCH. Whatever is on the menu will be awesome. She has won the Bed & Breakfast of Virginia Cooking Challenge for the last 2 years...and I was a judge one year. She is French, so maybe it's the accent. I don't know, but her cheese souffle was heavenly. So if she is open, go.

62. Hilltop Berry Farm & Winery. So maybe wine snobs will think any other-than-grape, fruit-based wine is no good....but I beg to differ. Maybe not paired with a steak, sure...but as a light dessert accompaniment? Sorry, I think it's perfect. Plus, they make MEAD here! Honey-based, it's delicious. AND...I LOVE to cook with these wines!! They have fresh fruit flavors that really make anything special. The labels are as lush and pretty as the wines, too.

61. Because after all this wine tasting, if Le Chic Picnic isn't open, there is also Basic Necessities over this way, which is a French wine lovers dream shop...cute shop, interesting wine selection, cheese counter, local breads and a lovely little menu. Our go-to place for food when in the Western part of the county.

60. Pippin Hill. Stunning views. The only vineyard I can think of that actually has a kitchen too. And oh, what a kitchen! The food is stunning, little delicious bites that pair nicely with the wines. You will soon start to feel like you never want to leave, though closing time does eventually come. This place is perfect on it's own, AND only a hopskipandjump from High Meadows...so we enjoy it for lunch more than we should admit to.

59. Jefferson Vineyards. This one is nearly always packed, BUT...late winter, it's between us and Charlottesville, and not so crowded - and definitely worth a visit to taste the new wines.

58. Trump Vineyard. Actually, my favorite thing about this winery is the patch of wineberries just off the parking lot in late July...but the Cru is a delicious after dinner wine and this is the best place to get it. The staff is great, and the patio is nice for picnics.

57. Virginia Wineworks. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...it's not the fanciest tasting room, and there are zero views...BUT, you are in the actual winery, among the beautiful barrels and tanks. And, you can stop at

56. First Colony. New owners took over a couple of years ago, and the changes have been extraordinary! From the amazing thatch roof, interior renovations, and still always excellent winemakers and staff - this is one of the closest wineries to us, therefore my go-to when I need a nice bottle of wine in the eve.

54. Blenheim. This place has the best views, hands down. It's also one of the closest to us, I can be there in less than 10 minutes, driving the beautiful backroads. The art is ever-changing, and always great. The winemaker is a lovely person, making lovely wines, and a woman to boot. The wines are ALWAYS very drinkable - I've never had a Blenheim wine I didn't like. Did I mention the view? Apart from winemaker Kirsty...

also on staff is Tracy Love

- who always boggles my mind with her foodie knowledge, event stylings, and all-around great taste. That will lead me to

53. Hill & Holler. Not a winery at all, but a roving farm-to-table dining event company, run by the above mentioned Tracy and friends. The food is always stellar, and the wine pairings perfection. The Hill & Holler team knows their stuff, and I look forward to being able to attend more of their events when I'm not so busy with High Meadows...and the next owner should make time to go to at least one of the dinner events. In fact, maybe we should go together next spring! Future Winner, it's a date!

52. Thistle Gate Vineyard. On the other side of Scottsville, this vineyard sits by itself - but it's so worth the effort to visit this solitary gem. Some of these reds are so rich and yummy, they might be my favorite wines for fine dining enjoyment...Thistle Gate Cab Franc, and a steak at The Smokehouse Grille in Scottsville...pure local deliciousness.

51. Gabriele Rausse. This lovely Italian winemaker is legend in Virginia. He planted many, many vineyards - including High Meadows in 1986. He was our winemaker here for years, and we have many fond memories of the High Meadows Pinot Noir Vin Gris. Now, you can visit his winery for very limited hours - and if you are lucky, get a chance to meet the man who made making wine in Virginia possible.

It's a long list, but you can see why we can't simply group them all together and call it a day! Whoever is the lucky winner of the essay contest, the one who will take over the property at High Meadows...whatever their plans - wine in Virginia has been a part of our history since Thomas Jefferson, and we are lucky today to enjoy such a variety of wines, winemakers, and wineries! Cheers!

The good, the bad and the ugly.

We have been getting lots of questions about the property! On one hand, if you are getting the property for $150, should it really matter if one of the 11 toilets isn't working properly? On the other hand, having arrived here blindly optimistic ourselves, I understand the hesitation of taking on a nearly 200 year old house! So, having been here for nearly 9 years now, we have a pretty good feel for what the strengths are, and what the house needs. Read on for our opinions!

The Good.
For starters, the walls are thick. Something like 22 inches thick. The houses in the 19th century weren't built like the ones today - obviously, because they are still standing. The bricks are double and triple stacked, and then faced with the exterior stucco, or interior plaster and lathe. This house isn't going ANYWHERE anytime soon. The roof on the 1882 house is slate, and we spent a small fortune when we came having it repaired. It's good for a lifetime and it's beautiful too!

The floors of the house are gorgeous, most of them old heart pine. Some of the exposed wooden beams, like the thresholds, are enormous slabs of beautiful wood, and you can see in some places the peg construction used to build the house. It's beautiful.

Most of the house has original plaster walls and ceilings - for me, that's a very good thing, because I like the bumps and wavyness as part of the history of the house! The window glass is also about 70% original wavy glass.

Little things abound...the washers and dryers are awesome heavy duty front loaders, the 2 garbage disposals in the kitchen are new and also heavy duty, and downright quiet compared to the old ones we replaced. We have replaced several old standard toilets with dual-flush, low flow models. The shower in the attic room is stone tile and glass, and beautiful. The instant hot-water faucet at the guest kitchen counter is new and terrific. We replaced one of the 80 gallon water heaters just a couple of years ago, the house NEVER runs out of hot water. We buried the propane tank for the kitchen, so you don't have that unsightly thing out back. We have added tons of new perennials to the gardens, and cleared the overgrowth along the southwest meadow edge, so it's ready for fence, or grading, or planting. The grounds are beautiful in every season.

The house is quiet - you do hear a few creaks and groans as guests walk around, but the main house guest rooms are quiet, probably because of the thick walls. Generally, we hear from guests how soundly they slept because of the quiet!

All but one of the 11 fireplaces either has a gas log stove, gas logs, or is open for burning (we use the ecologs for guests). Only one has been plugged at the top of the chimney, and even that one could have gas logs added if the next owner wanted.

The kitchen refrigeration is commercial, and is amazing, as is the commercial coffee grinder and coffee maker. We serve a lot of coffee, so we got the best! I posted once a long while back about how much I will miss the commercial dishwasher...and that is totally true. It uses very little water, and a cycle is about 2 minutes.

Also good - the 'feeling' of the place. I was walking through the house last night, it's raining and you can hear it on the skylights, and the house was just lit a bit from a few table lamps - for a brief moment I wondered if maybe we shouldn't leave! Just kidding...my mother is already packing. It's just so pretty, and peaceful, and quiet. Every now and then, we get someone asking about ghosts - and the answer is no. I am pretty sure that every family who has lived here has loved the house, been happy here, and added to the happy 'feeling' that you get when you are here. I can't wait to meet the next happy owner!

Now, The Bad & The Ugly...It's strange, because what I consider to be good can also be seen as not-so-good...the original glass in the windows for instance. That means that many of the windows are old. If you haven't lived in an antique house before, that is synonomous with 'energy inefficient'. Same with the plaster - while I love the cracks and bumps, I have had several people advise to tear it all out and replace with nice, smooth drywall. Um, not me. But the next person may see that as easier to maintain, and clean, and paint. Certainly, the ceiling in 3 rooms, could use some love, and some new plaster. The skylights are old,- and the gutters are difficult to clean. That's a bad combination when it's stormy. Add trees that were planted too close to the house dropping leaves, and you have a recipe for leaks. It's a lot of maintenance. I'd be looking at a new cottage roof in the next couple of years, we were hoping to add a standing seam metal roof - would be adorable out there!

We painted EVERYTHING when we came here - and have since only retouched trim as needed, most recently about 2 years ago. The last 2 winters were very hard on the exterior - and it's time to paint again. There is a significant amount of gingerbread trim on the front house, so it's not for the faint of heart! (And here we go again - yes, that's kind of bad, BUT...what a stamp you can put on the place this spring! Are you wanting simplicity? or a colorful painted lady like we did? Since it's time for new paint job, you can do ANYTHING that suits you!)  The basement rooms could use some real, professional remodeling someday. We made do after removing some previous attempts at renovation that actually added to moisture issues. A permanent dehumidifier (we have a good one that we move around as needed), maybe radiant heated floors, would help significantly. It's definitely the 'working' part of the house, and the part most in need of help to really make it shine.

There is an addition at the rear of the house, we use it as a garden shed, I think it used to be an office, that needs to be gutted, or perhaps even removed. It's fine to store pots and garden tools in - but it's not a functional room anymore, after significant water damage from a damaged roof. It's only about 8 feet square, with a concrete floor (and an inground safe we have never managed to open! treasure maybe?). On the floorplans in a previous blog, it's noted behind the kitchen as one of the 'storage' rooms. I also thought about stripping it back to the studs, and adding clear poly panels and turning it into a greenhouse...anyway, it's not a great space. Neither is the back door 'mudroom' area, I don't have any good ideas for that space - we just walk through it quickly. lol It's where we store toilet paper, cleaning supplies, outdoor shoes and basic tools.

Plumbing and wiring were all done with the major renovation in the mid 80's. As we have changed things, we have also upgraded pipes and wiring as we went. That's not to say there still aren't places that will need work - the worst thing being there are still some places in the main inn with Qest pipes. If you don't know what that is, a quick Google search will make your heart sink...it's awful stuff, and why it wasn't replaced in the 90's as part of the class-action lawsuit against the product, I have no idea. That said - the leaks we have dealt with have lead to us adding better stuff in those areas, and I can tell the winner where they will still need to keep an eye out, or better yet - replace. It didn't scare us away, and it shouldn't scare the next owner - but it's all good to know.

There is central air, which could be changed to a heatpump - and thought the ductwork is all here, and fine, some of the finish work could have been better...in some places, it's covered in a luan-type of wood instead of drywall - very DIY-ish. It's a cosmetic issue, like the acrylic showers in a few rooms, but it's bothered me all this time. Changing it out was obviously further down my list than other things - I'd have upgraded the showers to tile waay before worrying about how the duct system looks - but, it's kind of ugly. :)

So - it's a process, we have loved improving on what was here, very grateful for the solid structure and beautiful parts of the house that are original, and the other things we just work with - and on - as part of being lucky enough to live here. Living in an antique is an experience all it's own, and to do it - you need to love it. Really I suppose, nothing is totally Good or Bad, as it is in life - but if you love something, like we have loved this property, it all seems just as it should be. Feel free to ask questions on our Facebook page...happy to try to answer anything!