Combining the nostalgia of an authentic farmhouse with 21st century amenities, the 2019 Lynchburg Living Idea House is a charming mix of old and new, traditional and modern, simple and ornate.
Located in the new Trent’s Landing subdivision off Waterlick Road in Campbell County, this farmhouse-style home fits in perfectly with Central Virginia’s gorgeous rural landscapes and country setting—but it also stands out, in a good way, with its modern black and white exterior.
The 2,832 square-foot, three-bedroom home is cozy, comfortable and convenient—without sacrificing sophistication and style. It’s a place you can lounge around with your family on Saturday morning… and host an elegant dinner party on Saturday night.32
Scott Elliott and the CS Custom Structures team were intentional in their design and plan, seeing that no space is wasted and no detail is overlooked—from the functional flow of the open floor plan to the high-tech master bathroom. Elliott’s wife, Meredith, created a vision for the décor—a subtle coastal style that uses white as its canvas and pops of gray and blue to calm the spirit.
As we take you on a tour, we believe you’ll find the 2019 Lynchburg Living Idea House is just… easy—easy on the eyes and, most important, easy to live in.
ENTRYWAY: A Welcome Sight
Nothing says “farmhouse” more than a spacious front porch—a place you can picture yourself sipping sweet tea while watching the sun set over the Blue Ridge Mountains. A driftwood gray semi-transparent stain on the deck gives you a taste of the distressed colors you will see inside, while black double doors with glass panels give this stately home the big reveal it deserves. Step over the threshold and your eyes are immediately pulled to the staircase with rustic treads (matching the distressed prefinished hardwood floors) and modern, square white pickets. To the left, a traditional foyer table and mirror from Virginia Furniture Market, similar to what you’d find in an authentic farmhouse generations ago. To the right, a powder room painted in a bright pop of coastal blue (Harbor Fog by Sherwin-Williams). You’ll wonder if Joanna Gaines is around the next corner when you notice what looks like shiplap on the walls throughout the downstairs. It’s actually something better—nickel gap siding, an easy-to-install and less finicky counterpart. The nickel gap siding and walls are painted white (Cotton White by Sherwin-Williams), to maintain a clean, neutral canvas for the home’s coastal décor.
GREAT ROOM: Something Old, Something Blue
All of the unique colors, textures and styles seen throughout the home come together gorgeously in the home’s great room, creating a warm and inviting place to sit down and prop up your feet. The creamy white sofa and chair not only look the part—with sleek lines and bronze button details—they are comfortable too. (We tested them out to be 100 percent sure.) Blue—from navy found in the woven jute rug to the light blue, distressed round coffee table—plays its strongest role in this room. A conversation starter for guests is the antique mantel, believed to be from a local home built in the early 1900s.
DINING ROOM: Everyone, Gather Round
Already comfortably seating six on a regular basis, the home’s dining table comes with a huge leaf that would add 4 to 6 more place settings—perfect to host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. A large painting of the ocean—a serene mix of green, blue and white—gives the space a dramatic focal point. But your gaze will also shift upward to the unique fixture over the table made out of glass beads with rustic jute detailing.
KITCHEN: An Entertainer’s Dream
The heart of this home has the space and flow you are looking for when hosting friends and family as well as the gourmet amenities needed to whip up a top-notch meal. The kitchen mirrors the home’s modern farmhouse exterior with its white and black color palette. White shaker-style cabinets and “true white” quartz countertops offer clean lines, and several cabinets have glass fronts with lighting, perfect for displaying your favorite china. From a convenient pot filler over the range to a large apron sink (a farmhouse trend that’s maintaining its popularity), all fixtures and pro-style appliances are matte black. Drawing you into the room—and making the entire space sparkle—is the seashell-inspired, penny tile backsplash with a sand-colored grout. Barnwood-style shelving balances out the shimmer and brings a rustic touch to the room. It’s also what you don’t see that makes this kitchen charming. The microwave, typically placed above the range and oven, was relocated to the island and is pulled out like a drawer. You also can ditch your Keurig if you wish, because the refrigerator has a place to brew K-cups right in the door.
MASTER BEDROOM: Cozy Cocoon
Located on the lower level of the home—a floor plan requirement, Scott says, for many homebuyers of all ages—the master suite is within arm’s reach of the main living area but still feels like its own private retreat. Numerous windows make this room feel bright and airy and the white shiplap walls, continued from the main living area, add that extra touch of quality and class. Furniture is minimal to reduce clutter—and you don’t need more than one dresser because just around the corner is a massive master closet to serve as your main clothing storage area and dressing room.
LAUNDRY: It All Flows
Connected to the master bathroom is a huge walk-in closet. From there, you can access the laundry room, which includes more storage, including barnwood-style shelving with lighting.
MASTER BATHROOM: Forward-Thinking Oasis
Elegant finishes and details take center stage in the master bathroom. The overall color palette is calming—from a gray ceramic printed tile that looks like marble (but is much easier to maintain) to white floors and cabinetry. Instead of a typical walk-in shower with a curb to step over, there is a wet room—a European concept that incorporates the shower and tub into one area. A frameless glass wall and door separate the space and make the room feel larger, and the tile floor—the entire bathroom has the same flooring, which is waterproofed—gradually slopes to the back of the shower to a linear drain. Inside the shower area, black matte fixtures include a rain head, two body sprays, a wall spray… and a digital shower control system by Moen. Each person using the shower can set up a profile that saves their individual settings. It’s also wireless—so you could start your shower on your drive home, if you wished. A Mirabelle tub by Ferguson with straight, modern lines completes the wet room and is spacious enough for a relaxing bath for one or a romantic soak for two. A window over the double vanity and another at the top of the shower area let in plenty of light, making this space equally as bright as its connecting master bedroom.
UPSTAIRS: Some Breathing Room
While the second level of a home is often overlooked and underdesigned, this upstairs is a breath of fresh air with its versatile layout and attention to detail that is up to par with the rest of the Idea House. Hardwoods continue on the landing along with the shiplap-inspired walls. On the right and left are two identical bedrooms that lead into a Jack and Jill bathroom, with a twist. The shower area is shared—with the shower featuring a vibrant blue-and-white stripe penny tile—but each room has its own closet area, toilet and vanity. Also upstairs is an office, “flex space”—you could make this area into a mini guest room with a sofa sleeper or create a small TV nook—and a large bonus room with dormer windows.
The bonus room is large enough to be a play room for kids or, for older adults, make it another place to entertain guests by adding a bar area.
EXTERIOR FEATURES: Looking Sharp
The sharp contrast between the white siding and black windows make this home a head turner. The white board and batten siding draws your eye upward, instead of side to side; vertical siding is also less busy than its horizontal counterpart, allowing other exterior features to stand out. Black double hung windows and a black standing seam metal roof pop against the white backdrop while gray stone along the foundation and gray-stained hitters above the windows tone down the modern color scheme.
Connected to the front porch with exterior doors leading into the great room is a large patio area with a table for six and other places to rest—a grillmaster’s retreat. On the other side of the home, a “live driveway” leads to a two-car garage. This new idea from Finley Corporation adds visual interest to the driveway—it features concrete poured in square formations with sod in between.
