A foodie-centric weekend includes the Bluegrass Brunch at Patrick O’Connell’s latest addition to
the Inn at Little Washington empire and stops at the famed Red Truck Bakery and nearby wineries

By  Leona Baker / Photos by Greg Powers, Leona Baker and courtesy of Patty O’s Cafe & Bakery

They say the devil is in the details. And legendary Virginia-based chef Patrick O’Connell is known to take devilish delight in not letting even the smallest details go under-delivered in the service of a transcendent and unapologetically whimsical dining experience. 

“It’s either art or garbage,” O’Connell says in the 2023 PBS-produced A Delicious Documentary, which chronicles his renowned Inn at Little Washington’s quest for an elusive third Michelin star, a near-Herculean feat he and his team achieved in 2018 after 40 years in business—making it one of just a handful of 3-star Michelin restaurants in the country.

“Anything we do has to be extraordinary,” says O’Connell, whose tireless pursuit of culinary excellence is famously delivered with a side of quirky irreverence. Say, serving world-class, triple-crème cheeses on “Faira,” a rolling cheese cart that looks like a cow (and really moos) or populating the Inn’s dining room with well-dressed mannequins for social distancing during COVID.

I got my first taste of O’Connell’s commitment to extraordinary fun on a recent girls’ getaway, which I affectionately dubbed the “Bougie Brunch, Bubbly, and Bread Weekend.” At the generous invitation of my friend’s sister and her husband, who live nearby the Inn, top billing for our food-fueled adventure was a Sunday morning reservation at Patty O’s Café & Bakery, the long-awaited casual cousin of the Inn at Little Washington. Our trip also included stops at the much-celebrated Red Truck Bakery and some nearby wineries. 

Housed in a restored 1950s-era gas station and situated catty-corner to the Inn, Patty O’s is the latest addition to O’Connell’s microcosmic empire in the small, historic village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains known as Little Washington, about an hour’s drive from D.C.

While dining at the Inn’s main restaurant or Patty O’s, visitors are free to stroll the 26-acre campus, which includes a hotel with more than 20 guest rooms. There are also shops, cottages, gardens, special event spaces, a small farm, farm animals, beehives, O’Connell’s restored Victorian manor house, and even a stylish chicken coop that may or may not be more architecturally notable than your own home. 

For my traveling companions and me, that walk around the grounds was much needed after indulging in Patty O’s singularly charming Bluegrass Brunch featuring live bluegrass music on the sidewalk café’s open-air patio (weather permitting). O’Connell has quipped that he opened Patty O’s so that he would have a place to eat lunch during the day when the Inn’s restaurant is closed. 

While Patty O’s shares the Inn’s playful spirit, its aesthetic is a little less Old World maximalism and more “Howdy, partner!” jollity. Think ice-cold water served from metal pitchers shaped like cowboy boots and adorned with colorful bandanas or cream for coffee dispensed from little white porcelain cows imported from France, both for sale through the Inn’s Tavern Shops, of course.

Approachability is deliberately baked in here with brunch, lunch, and even dinner prices akin to those at any mid-range to upscale eatery—compared to the Inn’s main restaurant, which only serves dinner and features a luxurious fixed-price, tasting menu starting (and I do mean starting) at around $375 per person.

Appetizers, soups, sandwiches, salads, burgers, Southern comfort food, and brunch faves share menu space at Patty O’s with seasonal main dishes in the evenings like Wild Mushroom Bolognese with artisanal pasta and freshly grated parmesan; Pan Seared Swordfish with white wine, tomatoes, black olives, and toasted couscous; or Momma’s Mammoth Meatball with creamy garlic polenta. Dinner entrée prices range from about $22 to $52.

A delicious assortment of muffins and breads, served with coffee and tea and handcrafted in the adjoining retail bakery, kicked off our brunch experience. We proceeded to sample our way through the menu including an elegant and memorable amuse-bouche—Ribbons of Smoked Salmon and Celery Root Remoulade with dill-mustard sauce and crispy caraway flatbread, served on fish-themed China. 

We also tried the Classic Quiche Lorraine served with a roasted cherry tomato topped with toasted breadcrumbs; the spicy Shrimp and Grits featuring North Carolina Shrimp and stone-ground Virginia grits with Tasso ham; the Classic Eggs Benedict with champagne brined ham and hollandaise; a decadent French Toast with blackberry sauce and mascarpone-whipped honey butter; and the Half Pound Beef Burger from Snake River Farms with crispy onions and comté cheese, cooked to pink-center perfection.

From Patty’s O’s gorgeously appointed bar, with its signature happy hoedown mural, we sipped from a craft cocktail menu including the Venetian Lace with Tito’s, Aperol, Cointreau, and lime. Other tempting libations such as the Cavendish Old Fashioned with raisin-fixed bourbon and rye and the Bloody Mary with dill potato chip–infused vodka are on the wish-list for a second visit.

Our shared dessert was a theatrical triumph when our server presented Patty O’s famous house-made Butter Pecan Ice
Cream in a beautiful silver ice cream coup. When we couldn’t decide on whether we wanted it with the accompanying caramel drizzle on top, he performed a precision 50/50 pour as if choreographed by Balanchine himself. Indeed, all the service felt like a well-rehearsed ballet, attentive but not overbearing—no doubt perfected through decades of experience at the Inn, only in a more laid-back environment.

The “bread” portion of our “bougie” weekend was actually bread, pies, cakes, pastries, coffee, sandwiches, and more at not one but both nearby locations of The Red Truck Bakery, which has been touted by everyone from Oprah to Garden & Gun magazine. Red Truck has become nationally known not only for its baked goods “made with love and butter in the Virginia Piedmont,” but for its cookbooks, including the latest, The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook, released in 2022.

Both the main location in Warrenton, home to the photo-op namesake 1964 Ford truck, and the larger Rural Bakery in Marshall (right across the street from another foodie destination, Field & Main Restaurant) are worth the 20- to 30-minute jaunt from the Inn at Little Washington. We fueled our Saturday with savory breakfast croissants and other pastry-case goodies, their signature java roasted and blended by Counter Culture Coffee, and even a whole apple cake to take home to devour later.

Any road trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge ought to necessitate a visit to at least a winery or two. We had a fine time sipping and noshing at two of them within easy driving distance, Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery and Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery, both in Delaplane. 

Three Fox’s spacious modern tasting room, complete with foxy artwork, is perched on the top of a small hill and offers tasting flights, brick oven pizza and visiting food trucks along with a covered patio and café tables with umbrellas situated one by one at the ends of some of the vineyard’s grapevine rows (table reservations available).

I happen to be a big fan of sparkling wine, and Three Fox offers two—not very common for Virginia wineries. I enjoyed both on that “bubbly” weekend, the 2022 Sparkling Seyval Blanc and the 2022 Duality Rosé. You’ll find a Cab Franc, a Sangiovese, and a Petite Syrah among their reds and a barrel-fermented Viognier, a Pinot Gris and a Vidal Blanc among their whites.

Over at Barrel Oak, we also ordered tasting flights and took in the lovely scenery from their sloped, grassy picnic area. We were lucky enough to land there on a day when they had live music and an oyster truck called Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch. With our Barrel Oak Tasting Flight of their Vidal Blanc, stainless steel Chardonnay, BOWHaus red and white, Merlot and a Norton, we happily paired plates full of both freshly shucked raw oysters and Oysters Rockefeller and made a sunny afternoon of it.

Both wineries we visited are also breweries, so there is plenty to slake your thirst no matter your taste or mood. There are also many wineries to choose from in that area of the state, of course, including Pearmund, Philip Carter, Naked Mountain, RdV, Slater Run and more. 

While we stayed overnight with friends, there are also some nice B&B and boutique options if you’re not going for the full Inn at Little Washington experience, or it’s booked up. Some of those include The Foster Harris House, The Middleton Inn and Gay Street Inn in addition to your readily searchable Airbnb, Vrbo, and chain hotel reservations.

Patty O’s Café takes reservations with a $35 deposit for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch but also offers a walk-in waitlist (probably not worth the risk if you’ve planned a special trip, so make those reservations).

The bar, lounge, and patio are available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Reservations for the Inn itself and the main restaurant are an absolute must and often book up as far as a year in advance. However, dinner reservations are guaranteed for overnight guests of the inn.  

Downtown Cairo is a Lesson in Taking Chances and Having Faith

Photos by Ashlee Glen

I always had a dream of opening a brick-and-mortar place,” Samir Elazazy said. 

The owner of Downtown Cairo—a Mediterranean food-truck-turned-restaurant that serves authentic Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern food—Samir and his wife, Emily, opened their new, permanent location in December 2023.

“We opened our food truck in May 2021,” Emily explained. “We were in Appomattox for about six months and got an offer to go to The BackYard [in Forest] in November 2021.”

The journey from food truck to restaurant, which is located in Graves Mill Shopping Center, has been quick, with the Elazazys embracing every step.

Before starting the food truck, Samir had worked for Cook Out for 10 years in various positions, including General Manager. As he worked his way up within the chain, he learned the intricacies of running and operating a growing and successful restaurant—knowledge that proved invaluable when the food truck opened for business nearly three years ago.

“We started the truck because of the kids,” Samir and Emily said nearly in unison referring to their three daughters, ages three, five, and eight.

“It’s a really beautiful journey because I’m able to share a lot with them,” continued Samir. “My oldest comes to events with us. It was really cool to have them alongside us and sharing our dreams together. It’s an important message to them to do what you love and don’t be afraid.”

When the Elazazys decided to transition from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location, they knew it would be a leap of faith.

“I didn’t have any money saved up to open a store,” Samir said. “So I asked God to lead the way. I called a real estate agent just to look.”

The realtor showed the Elazazys two locations, but neither gave them a confident feeling. On a whim, the agent showed them a third location that day.

“It was the perfect one,” Samir remembered. “We came here, and I said, ‘This is it.’”

With little money saved but a lot of gumption, the Elazazys were challenged with figuring out how to make their dream a reality. They offered their truck up for sale with the terms that they keep it until the end of the year with money up front and they approached the owner of the Graves Mill location with an ambitious offer.

“I knew there was no way either would be accepted. But they were,” Samir said with a gracious smile.

From the moment the dotted line was signed for 18013 Forest Road A03, it took three weeks to open. The steps for retrofitting the space into a functional counter-service restaurant fell together seamlessly and on December 21st they opened their doors.

The menu is almost identical to that of the former food truck, with customer favorites like the shawarma plate and gyros wrapped in fluffy pita. 

“We like our small menu,” Samir explained. “It gives customers the opportunity to pick and choose, but not overwhelm.”

Samir was born in Alexandria—the second largest city in Egypt and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast—and moved to the Lynchburg area when he was 15. Alexandria is a melting pot for cultures and flavors, with Greek, Italian, and Egyptian influences weaving themselves into the local cuisine. But at the heart of Downtown Cairo is Egyptian food.

“I developed my passion for cooking from my mom,” Samir said. “When I left home, I didn’t know how to cook, so my mom would tell me what ingredients to get and I would FaceTime her for hours going step-by-step making everything.”

Many of the recipes found on Downtown Cairo’s menu are derived from those FaceTime cooking lessons, though Samir is quick to admit he still hasn’t cooked for his mother, who still lives in Egypt.

“I can follow her recipes exactly and they still won’t taste as good as hers,” Samir laughed.

Samir says his mother is very proud of the journey Downtown Cairo has taken, and it’s a journey he and Emily have enjoyed sharing with their children, as well.

“There are a lot of challenges out there,” he said. “A lot of things could have stopped us, but we don’t believe in that. And, of course, God is always in the center of our lives. We want our kids to make decisions based on what God guided them to do.”

The Elazazys hope that their new Graves Mill location is just the next chapter in a long story for Downtown Cairo. In the next four or five years, they hope to expand to three locations all within the Lynchburg regional footprint. But, for now, Samir and Emily are content running one growing location side by side and creating a working environment for their staff that is uplifting and healthy.

“God will open those doors when it’s time,” Samir said.  

Three Local Artists Tell a Story of Race and Solidarity

Charlottesville changed everything for me,” Pete Fanning remembered. “I guess I was naive. I knew it wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t aware it was so mainstream. It really shook me.”

In 2017, when a Unite the Right counter-protester was killed on the Charlottesville Mall, the country—and those of us in Charlottesville’s backyard—was left reeling from such a public glimpse into the country’s widespread racism and white supremacy. 

“I remember turning on the TV and being floored that this was here and an hour away,” Fanning said. “Seeing the fighting in the streets just tore at my heart and stayed there.”

As many artists do, Fanning took to his craft to process the horrific events, not realizing that the basis for his latest book, Hometown, was being formed. Just a few years later when Fanning and his son attended a local high school football game and saw a racial rift between the two opposing teams, Fanning saw the full story unfold.

“My kid was too young to notice. But I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” he said. “That’s when I wrote the first chapter.”

From there, Hometown, a young adult fiction, effortlessly flowed to the page. Fanning pulled from his memories of Charlottesville, the high school football game, and his own experiences to weave a tale about life, racism, unity, and a little bit of football. While this is a book for children ages 13 and up, Fanning recognizes that anyone can take away something from Hometown, which will be available for purchase where all books are sold in April.

“This book is for kids who want to make things better for their siblings,” Fanning said. “It’s like a passing of the guard—we’re trying to find a space for everybody.”

As he finalized Hometown and started going through edits, Fanning reached out to his friend and fellow-artist Jon Perry who had created cover art for Bricktown Boys, a book Fanning published in 2021.

“I reached out to [Jon] for Hometown. As a Black man, he has this vision. The first thing he showed me was a piece featuring the two [main characters] and a monument. But inside of the monument was a burning Confederate flag. We got into a friendly pushback,” Fanning said. “Writing this book I discovered my own little habits and the way I see things. It’s a book about unity, but he saw it in different ways that I never, as a white guy, would think about.”

Fanning and Perry connected over the story and the ways in which they each related to different characters in the book. From there, Perry created story and cover art that put into visuals the characters’ journeys from division to understanding. 

Fanning also reached out to Quincy Cunningham, a local musician, to write and produce a song for the book’s trailer, which can be found on YouTube and on Fanning’s author website.

“Quincy had just released some music on Facebook and it caught on pretty big,” Fanning said. “He had written a song about Virginia and I was blown away by it. He got back to me and was interested in doing the music for the Hometown trailer. Hearing his music, I knew it was going to be good. He’s a little younger than Jon and myself, so we have that perspective too.”

With such a collaborative effort in telling the Hometown story—from Fanning’s words to Perry’s art to Cunningham’s music—the creative process in and of itself has been a lesson in crossing lines and meeting people where they are. While the three artists come from different backgrounds, they worked together to flesh out the true narrative of the story and see Hometown from each other’s perspectives. 

“Discussions of race are so eye-opening at times,” Fanning said. “It’s one thing to write it down—it’s a story and I’m closed in an office, writing my thoughts. It’s a whole other animal to put it out in the world where we live. Yeah, it’s racial but it’s more about unity. So I’m telling the story in the best way that I can.”  

Hometown is being published by Immortal Works, a publishing house that focuses on clean genre fiction for general audiences. Hometown will be available for purchase in April via Amazon,
Barnes and Noble, Target, or online at www.petefanning.com. Fanning will be releasing another book later this year.

Being a teacher is more than just a job. It’s more than a just career. It’s a calling.

Our annual Top Teacher Awards are a way to honor deserving educators who have not only answered this call for public service, but they also go above and beyond to make sure their students are thriving.

This list—made up of various school districts, grade levels and subjects—is only a snapshot of the incredible teacher talent we have in our region.

As we look forward to the coming growing season, you may be wondering what you can do to make your garden more productive, healthier, and better for the environment while it provides your family with delicious home-grown goodies.

Sustainability in the home garden doesn’t have to be complicated!

In fact, it can even simplify the work you do to maintain healthy gardens. It really comes down to a few simple areas of focus: water, soil, plant selection, and the wildlife around your garden. Here are a few easy things you can do to help both yourself, and the planet.

Say No to Water Wasting

This one is a no-brainer—we all realize the importance of water conservation. Thankfully, it’s easy to apply it in the garden! Ditch your oscillating sprinklers that spray water carelessly all over the place
and replace them with drip irrigation or soaker hoses to pinpoint the water right where you need it. Mulch your beds to help retain water in the soil and keep your plants hydrated, even on drier days. Place collection barrels at the bottoms of your downspouts to capitalize all that wasted rain that falls onto your roof! All these little things help to cut back on water waste. If you want to take it a step further, you can even implement rainscaping into your garden design!

Be Soil Savvy

According to earthday.org, the United States is losing soil ten times faster than it is replenished (see page 79 for ways our region is combating soil erosion). Soil is a living, breathing component of the garden. Keep the dirt healthy by using compost to replenish vital nutrients. Composting is simple, fun for the whole family, and eliminates a lot of household waste from your trash can. There is plenty of great information available online for how to create your own compost pile, and if you want in-person advice, Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum has a Compost Education Center managed by the Hill City Master Gardeners who would be happy to answer your questions. Allowing dead and decaying plants to remain on the soil to decompose is another great way to protect your garden dirt. 

That’s right: by NOT cleaning up your garden, you can improve the soil conditions for your plants! Not to mention, keeping material on top of the soil helps prevent erosion. So skip the raking and shoveling this fall. Instead, just allow those natural processes to take over and refuel your soil.

Use Flower Power Instead of Chemicals

 It can be hard to give up those chemical fertilizers and pesticides—especially if you don’t know how to protect and grow your plants without them! So here are a few pointers: 

• Use pest-repelling plants around your vegetable gardens to ward off those undesirables. For example, nasturtiums (one of my favorites) are beautiful in bloom, taste delicious in a salad, and happen to repel aphids, squash bugs, white flies, and other destructive insects. Plant them near your beans and cucumbers! Marigolds are pest control powerhouses in the garden and deter a number of bugs. I plant rows of them between just about everything I grow, but they are especially helpful with tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.

• Once the pests are under control, it’s time to look at fertilizing your plants. Go natural by using organic fertilizers. There are several products available at home and garden stores everywhere. I was always told to put a fish head in my planting holes for tomato plants. As the fish decomposes, it constantly invigorates the plant roots with nutrients. Compost makes for great fertilizer and helps control pH levels in your soil. 

• If you’re looking for a fun family project, consider vermiculture, or raising worms for the beneficial castings (poo) they produce—it’s garden gold!

Help the Helpers

Finally, your garden can help sustain the native plants and animals that are vital to our ecosystem. Planting native plants around your garden and in your yard is a small thing you can do to make a big impact. They naturally require less watering and fertilization because they are biologically designed to thrive in our specific conditions. Additionally, they support the insects we need, like pollinators and beneficial insects. And about those beneficial bugs—you want to keep those guys in your vegetable garden to eat harmful pests like aphids. For example, green lacewings feast on aphids, scales, mealybugs, and other garden destroyers. Assassin bugs eat flies and mosquitos, and love squash vine borers, so they are great for your squash, cucumbers, and vining plants. 

Then there are pollinators, which we literally depend on for our food supply. Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, etc., all help to pollinate our garden crops. Provide for them and those other helpful insects by planting natives for shelter, and by resisting the urge to rake fall leaves, clean out garden scraps where they nest and lay eggs, and mow over those early spring dandelions, which provide food. Finally, you could consider reducing the amount of manicured lawn space you maintain around your home and replacing it with something healthier for the environment— like clover!

Going green does not have to be expensive, or difficult. In some ways, it makes our lives easier! And it’s the gift that keeps on giving as future generations learn to appreciate our planet’s natural resources. So try a few of these tips in and around your vegetable patch this season, and reap the rewards of a thoughtful garden!   

Opportunities for Lynchburg Homeowners to Lead in Water Conservation Efforts

What do Lynchburg lawns have to do with waterways from Blackwater Creek to the iconic Chesapeake Bay?

How we manage our yards isn’t just for show. It affects animals from the smallest damselfly to the trophy smallmouth bass in our local waters and impacts wildlife downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. Ramifications ripple out to the benefits we receive, like clean drinking water and our opportunity to paddle, fish, and enjoy our rivers. In fact, lawns and water quality are so intertwined that nonprofit and government programs might help you cover the costs of transforming soggy, poor turfgrass into native plant gardens or bare riverbanks into forests.

Pollution from cities and farms has damaged local streams into the James River and beyond for decades. The Chesapeake Bay has nearly become a “dead waterway,” with aquatic life and fish drastically disappearing from its waters. In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency devised a plan to reverse this course by setting goals for Virginia to reduce pollution by 2025.

This is where homeowners and their backyards come in. Picture those “dead” areas in your lawn that won’t grow turfgrass, bare dirt at new building sites, or water rushing down driveways to stormwater drains.

Bare soil from new building sites and poor lawns has become the leading cause of pollution in the James River. Sediment wreaks havoc: it smothers river bottom habitats, elevates water temperatures, and clouds water, which kills underwater plants.

The other primary water pollutants—excess nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus—come from agricultural fields and overly fertilized lawns. Nutrients foster problematic algae blooms that create oxygen “dead zones” that suffocate aquatic life and lead to fish kills. 

The good news is that homeowners can reduce runoff in several ways. Replacing lawns, especially those with poor cover or near streams, with lush native gardens, preserves water quality—root systems act as a shield, grabbing pollutants, sediment, and nutrients before they enter water sources.
These gardens are carefully designed to absorb excess nutrients, hold soil in place, and create critical wildlife habitat. They require no fertilizers or chemicals, further reducing nutrient pollution.

Recently, City of Lynchburg and Campbell and Amherst County homeowners became eligible for a state program, the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). This program helps cover costs for pollution-reduction projects, like rain gardens, conservation landscaping, and permeable pavements. 

“The projects I want to see installed are the ones that solve water issues for individuals. Whether they have erosion and soil loss on their property, standing water issues, or need to contain water for raised beds—the right project for the location and landowner are the priority,” says Blair Blanchette, VCAP Coordinator. 

Concrete exacerbates polluted runoff as water picks up other pollutants like bacteria and pesticides, then flushes straight to local creeks. Projects that slow water runoff, such as rainwater harvesting or dry wells, can keep lawns and gardens healthy and provide water during dry spells while significantly reducing polluted runoff.

The James River Association’s Buffer Program works with landowners in the James River watershed to plant forested areas along creeks or streams called buffers. Buffers stop pollution as gardens do while building cooler, clearer, more stable streams, providing habitat for sensitive species like herons and brook trout.

“Everyone can have an impact. Trees are part of the answer, and anyone, especially those with open streamside land, can grow trees to help clean our water,” says Anne Marie Roberts, Senior Restoration Field Manager for the James River Association.

Through a technical modeling program, Roberts can see precisely how much a buffer reduces pollutants like sediment and excess nutrients. Through such programs as these and continued community investment, the James River can return to total health. Luckily for many of us,
it may start with a lush forest or a beautiful garden.

WHERE TO BEGIN

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

Government program managed by Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) aims to help residential homeowners reduce urban stormwater runoff.

Who: Homeowners, businesses, schools, places of worship, and community centers in Lynchburg, Amherst, and Campbell counties (R. E. Lee District) or Bedford County (Peaks of Otter District)

What: Design, prepare, and install “best management practices,” including conservation landscaping, impermeable surface removal, permeable pavement, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and more. Up to 80% of project cost reimbursed. 

Get Started: Visit Releeconservation.com or Poswcd.org 

The James River Buffer Program (JRBP)

The James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provide technical and financial support for landowners to create forest buffers along stream banks.

Who: Landowners in the James River watershed with a creek, stream, or river frontage 

What: Design, prepare, install, and provide three years of maintenance support to restore forested buffers. 100% project cost provided.

Results: Since its launch in 2019 and with support from Department of Forestry, 1,084 acres of buffers installed across the James River watershed, including 358,331 native trees.

Get Started: Visit jamesriverbuffers.org 

Conservation Easements

The Central Virginia Land Conservancy works with landowners to save the farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes that make Virginia beautiful. Land conservation easements save land through voluntary, permanent agreements that outline how land can be used. 

Who: Landowners in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, and Nelson counties and Lynchburg

What: Permanent agreements to protect land from intense development. Tax credits and deductions based on the reduced land value.

Results: 5,900 acres protected 

Get Started: Visit www.cvalc.org

In interior design, the mixing of materials instantly gives a space texture and dimension. Combining diverse materials such as leather, wood, natural elements, and metal enables you to infuse interest into your home décor. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to expertly blend materials to elevate the aesthetic appeal of your living spaces.

Understanding Material Characteristics

Before diving into mixing materials, it’s important to understand the unique characteristics of each element:

Wood: Known for its warmth and versatility, wood adds natural charm and richness to a space. It comes in various types like oak, walnut, or maple, each with distinct grains and hues. Wood can also be incorporated in the form of woven baskets.

Leather and Other Textiles: Exuding luxury and sophistication, leather introduces a sense of elegance. It’s available in different textures, from smooth to distressed, and various colors that can complement any interior style. Other textiles, such as rugs and throws, can be incorporated for a similar impact.

Natural Elements: Incorporating natural elements such as stone, plants, or shells brings an organic feel to the design. They offer a tactile experience and contribute to a tranquil ambiance.

Ceramics: Ceramics in the form of vases, planters, and dishware can create textural interest and offer color contrast.

Metal: Whether it’s the sleekness of stainless steel, the vintage appeal of brass, or the industrial vibe of iron, metals add a touch of glamor and contrast to a space.

Establish a Harmonious Palette

When you’re designing a space, consider incorporating at least one item per material category in the room to achieve a visually interesting design. Begin by selecting a primary material as the focal point. For instance, if you have wooden furniture, consider incorporating complementary materials like leather upholstery or brass accents. Ensure these materials complement rather than compete with each other. Stick to a cohesive color palette to maintain harmony while mixing materials.

Layer Textures for Depth

Layering textures is pivotal in creating visual interest. Pair a smooth leather sofa with a reclaimed wood coffee table or introduce a vintage gold mirror above a console table styled with a large ceramic bowl. The interplay of different textures adds depth and dimension to the room.

Balance Proportions

Maintain balance by paying attention to proportions. A space overwhelmed with one dominant material may appear monotonous. Distribute materials evenly throughout the room, varying their prominence to avoid overwhelming the eye.

Unify Elements Through Accents

Incorporate cohesive accents like throw pillows, rugs, or artwork that feature a blend of materials.
A curated collection of shells tucked into a ceramic bowl, or a atop coffee table books (see our Home story on page 65), can unify the space in a subtle way.

Embrace Contrast

Contrast is key to creating visual intrigue. Pairing contrasting materials, such as the smoothness of leather against the roughness of a hand-knotted rug or the warmth of wood against the coolness of metal, adds dynamism and sophistication to the design.

Pay Attention to Detail

Even small details matter. Hardware choices, such as drawer handles or faucets, offer opportunities to infuse different materials into your design scheme. Selecting complementary materials for these details elevates the overall aesthetic.

Harmonize with Lighting

Consider how lighting interacts with mixed materials. Strategically placed lighting can accentuate textures, casting shadows that highlight the unique qualities of each material. Opt for accent lighting in the form of floor or table lamps rather than harsh overhead lighting to bring instant warmth to the space.

Evolve the Design

Lastly, don’t be afraid to evolve your design over time. Experimentation and adaptation allow you to refine your material mixing skills, discovering new combinations that resonate with your evolving style.

Mastering the art of mixing materials in interior design requires a keen eye for balance, texture, and cohesion. By understanding material characteristics and implementing these strategies, you can create a space that exudes sophistication, depth, and timeless appeal. Experiment, explore, and let your creativity flourish to craft a home that reflects your unique style.  

Erica Kerns’ Signature Style is Instinctual and Beautiful

Photos by Daryl Calfee

In every single room, the foundation has to be a vintage rug,” Erica Kerns said.

And she would know. Co-owner of BEFound Collective, a shop that sources one-of-a-kind, handwoven vintage and antique Persian and Turkish rugs, and Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development for Moore & Giles, Kerns has a penchant for finding just the right piece to tell a story and pull a space together.

Walking through her home with her foster-turned-adopted dog Nora, Kerns exudes an effortless style, and her home is an extension of that. Her 1937 Dutch Colonial home is a nod to the era—with its galley kitchen and wood paneled rooms. But Kerns, who purchased the home in 2021, has brought new life to the space while maintaining some of the home’s defining quirks.

“The smoking room is one of the things that sold me on the house,” Kerns said, referring to the wood-paneled room that connects to the galley kitchen via the pass-through window. 

While she could have easily painted the wood paneling from the walls, Kerns instead opted to keep them intact to allow the room to maintain its rich dimension. Art, light fixtures, and natural elements adorn the walls, giving the room a Ralph Lauren–esque feel while the textiles—vintage rug, handwoven fabrics—make the space entirely her own.

It’s this type of layering that is Kerns’ signature style. Throughout her home, trinkets and oddities are stacked on top of vintage furniture. Sweeping Monsteras sit in beautifully textured vessels. Seashells act as paperweights atop children’s books or high school physics books from the 1930s. It’s a curation that seems instinctual to Kerns, who is constantly collecting items for her home.

“It doesn’t matter where I am, I’m hunting,” she said. “Ninety percent of the things in my home are secondhand. As long as you mix everything in the right way, there is balance.
If it’s all new, it doesn’t have soul. If it’s all old, it can lack the edge needed to feel fresh.”

Kerns credits her travels for many of the eclectic pieces in her home, including her most recent work trip to Genova, Italy, when she came home with a treasure trove of art. Kerns purchased extra suitcases, painstakingly wrapped the art in her clothing, and hauled the bags from train stations to hotels to airports just to get them all home.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Kerns moved to Richmond after college.

In 2005, she moved to Lynchburg, holding a number of positions at J. Crew, including senior director of customer care; senior brand manager; and director of training, quality, and communications. In 2011, she moved to San Antonio, where she became a regular at a local auction house.

“Auctions weren’t as well-known as they are today,” she remembered. “It was the place to go. I would go to the auction house almost every single week. Sometimes I wouldn’t buy anything. One time, though, it was the end of the night, almost everyone else had left, and a lot of 100 pieces of art came up. I got the lot for $75.”

Walking through Kerns’ home, there is a mix of art that feels effortless but unrepeatable. Still life oil paintings share walls with paint-by-numbers (a favorite pastime of Kerns’). Vintage portrait paintings give way to ink sketches. Text art creates a platform for wildlife paintings.

“You don’t have to feel so tied to a theme or a palette,” she said. “I love taking nods from nature. Nature shows you how to mix tones and elements in a compelling way.”

Indeed, nature is abundant in Kerns’ home. She’s an avid seashell collector, whether they’re found on a beach or in a secondhand shop, and her collections are diverse enough for any scientific repository. Moose antlers dramatically frames a full-body mirror in the living room, antler mounts sit above doorways, and, of course, each space is layered with leather and shearling textiles from Moore & Giles.

“Texture and layers influence every room in the house,” Kerns said. “It’s intentional and it’s about layering light and color and texture in the right way. That’s what I want my home and future Palmera House to feel like. A space with interest in every corner and be something that you want to interact with and touch.”

Kerns’ newest venture, Palmera House, is an ode to her love of nature, textiles, beautiful art, and interesting details and the perfect amalgamation of her work and life experiences. It will be a shop for vintage home items, plants, and rugs. But Palmera Bodega, tucked inside the shop, is a reason to linger, have a bite and beverage, and enjoy a quiet moment in one of the many available nooks.

“It will be a multi-use space,” she explained. “With Palmera’s home decor and rugs being vintage or unique, each visit will feel like a new shopping experience. Mornings and lunch hour at the Bodega are sure to have a certain life and buzz. The space’s energy and ambiance will transition to a cozy, low-lit lounge after hours, where friends can gather and unwind from the day. Palmera Bodega will have a daily ‘Golden Hour’ serving aperitivos and distinctive snacks.”  

Kerns’ signature style is a beautiful collection of her travels, work, love of design, and vintage decor. Palmera House promises to be an extension of that hallmark. Palmera House will open on Bedford Avenue toward the end of this year.

“I hope Palmera House will be a favorite stop on the ever-changing Bedford Avenue,” Kerns said. “A place to feel inspired and a space you never want to leave. With short- and long-term rentals in the two floors above the shop, you’ll be able to stay for as long as you like—with Palmera House as your second living room.”  

Laura Beth Davidson’s Refreshing Approach to Photography

In theory, photography is the only art form that allows us to capture a moment as it actually exists, but in practice, the staging that often occurs before a photograph is taken can undermine that innate authenticity. Of course, photographs serve a variety of different purposes—educational, promotional, and commemorative, among others—and sometimes staging is needed to
convey certain information, advertise a specific product, or properly honor an occasion or
person. Staged photography also ensures that documentation occurs at all; in our fast-paced, productivity-obsessed society, we can tend to forget that moments become memories unless we schedule a time to remember. That said, how magical would it be if that feeling you get when you think back on what once was—that poignant nostalgia, that kinetic pull toward what was real and true—was encapsulated in your photographs? The work of local photographer Laura Beth Davidson proves that this kind of magic is possible.

Davidson refers to herself as a “visual storyteller,” a title that speaks to her abilities to closely observe, thoughtfully capture, and artfully relay the authentic narrative unfolding around her rather than a desire to control and direct the narrative. After starting her photography journey in 2012, she wasn’t sure if her introverted personality would allow her to turn her talent into a successful business.

“In 2012, I stumbled upon ‘Clickin’ Moms,’ an online community for photographers that offered virtual workshops and a forum for sharing photos and feedback,” Davidson recalled. “After I took the first class, I was hooked, and I knew I had found something that would be part of my life forever.
I’ve always been a bit of an entrepreneur, and once I felt confident in my ability to take good photographs, it seemed like a natural next step to find a way to make my hobby profitable. Unfortunately, I’m an extreme introvert, and the thought of being face-to-face with clients who expected me to pose and direct them made me really uncomfortable. I couldn’t figure out a way to make photography into a business that wouldn’t give me a chronic stomachache.”

Shortly thereafter, however, Davidson learned about documentary-style photoshoots and realized that both her personality and her longstanding love of storytelling parlayed perfectly into that approach to photography.

“I heard a couple of different podcast interviews with photographers who offered in-home documentary photography sessions,” she noted. “As an English major and literature lover, I relished the idea of becoming a visual storyteller who could offer families an alternative to typical photos—and as an introvert, I breathed a sigh of relief that I could work for families while letting them carry on with their everyday lives instead of stepping in and bossing them around.”

Before starting her business, Laura Beth Davidson Photography, in 2017, Davidson took additional classes and honed her craft by taking documentary-style photos of her own growing family. 

“I fell in love with the idea of capturing our real life through little details, gestures, and moments that ran the gamut of emotion,” she said.

In fact, such was Davidson’s passion and commitment to her craft that she took on a year-long photo project entitled “29 & Counting” in 2013.

“The day I turned 29, I decided to take one photo every day until my next birthday: I would mark my 30th year with 365 photos that would document my life that year,” she recalled. “My daughter had just turned two, we were in the process of selling our house and buying another that we would be renovating, and my husband and I were planning to have a second child. All of those big life events unfolded over the course of the year as I steadily honed my skills and my eye. The resulting book of photos is one of my favorite possessions.”

This April, Davidson will have completed her current year-long photo project, “39 & Counting,” and she says the experience has been just as rewarding as her previous year-long venture and has given her even more perspective on the importance of documenting the small moments—which are, in fact, the big moments—of everyday life.

“Some days, I forget to take a picture until very late in the day and have to scramble to find something vaguely worth documenting; some days I take so many photos that it’s hard to choose just one,” she noted.

“My subjects range from members of my family to our new dog, from beautiful light to a random plant that catches my eye.

For this project, I’ve learned to not expect to create something amazing every day, but that the effort of pushing myself to create something daily is never a wasted effort.”

When it comes to taking photos for clients, Davidson is flexible, open-minded, and committed to capturing and conveying the unique narrative of a family’s day together.

“I offer day-in-the-life photo sessions that I have designed to make the process as simple as possible,” she remarked.

“My clients are a lot like me: we’re busy and a little stressed, we’re sleep-deprived and tired of making decisions at every turn. I want my clients to only have to choose which day and how long they want me to come, and then let me do everything else. I emphasize that I don’t expect any kind of coordination of outfits or activities and that I want people to pretend I’m not even there.”

Davidson spends anywhere from three to 12 hours with a family as they do everyday things like go grocery shopping, play outside, cook dinner, and get ready for bed. She then edits the photos down to a collection that “tells a strong story of the day” before laying out and printing a photo book that is included in every package. 

“I want the time I spend with a family to be recorded as it happens and then preserved in a way that will last for generations,” she said.

In the future, Davidson hopes to continue to photograph families across the country—and perhaps even around the world—and has a specific goal to photograph a specific family.

“My big dream is to pursue a job as a White House photographer,” she remarked. “To me, that experience—especially if I could have the opportunity to work for a President with a young family—would be the ultimate opportunity for visual storytelling.”

No matter what comes next for Davidson, her work—and the work of all photographers and artists who strive for authenticity in capturing and expressing the human experience—can help us remember that there is magic in the mundane, perfection in imperfection, and a memory worth holding onto in each moment.  

To learn more about Laura Beth Davidson Photography, visit laurabethdavidson.com.

White Barn Vintage’s Monthly Pop-Up is a Trove of One-of-a-Kind Pieces

Photos by Ashlee Glen

What began as a search for a lakeside retreat became a permanent landing place for Deborah Sirockman and her husband (and high school sweetheart) Marc, who moved to Leesville Lake nearly 10 years ago.

“We ended up buying a house on Leesville Lake but I never intended to live there, or even retire there, but as fate would have it the opportunity arose,” she said. 

They sold their home in New Jersey and ended up putting roots down in Virginia. Not only that, but they ended up purchasing the old Virginia Label Company and converted it into what is now known as Virginia Found Goods, a vintage shop, in Hurt.

They also operate a spring and Christmas market called “Sweet Violets.”

In December of 2022, they decided to expand and opened White Barn Vintage across the street at 711 Pocket Road.

“We thought that since Virginia Found Goods was successful, we could build a different platform where it has vendors, because Virginia Found Goods is all me,” Deborah said.

The 10,000-square-foot sister store to Virginia Found Goods features more than 30 vendors, creating a diverse and ever-changing selection of vintage finds.

White Barn Vintage sets itself apart by curating a selection that spans various styles, from industrial to farmhouse, ensuring there’s something for every vintage enthusiast.

White Barn Vintage opens the third weekend of each month and is held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the occasional evening event.

While White Barn Vintage is open, Virginia Found Goods is open as well. 

“We’re trying to make it a destination,” Deborah said. “The whole idea is to keep everything very fresh and new so that when customers come in, it’s a different experience every time and we do themes every month.”

The success of both Virginia Found Goods and White Barn Vintage can be attributed to the careful curation of items, dedication to authenticity, and the sense of community fostered by the Sirockmans. 

Despite the challenges posed by the ever-growing influx of mass-produced “vintage-inspired” items flooding the market, Deborah Sirockman said she remains steadfast in her commitment to offering genuine pieces with a story to tell.

“The continuum of things is vintage, but the differences and the beauty of vintage includes so many things that everybody’s got their own take on it,” she said. 

Some shoppers go for the industrial look while others lean toward farmhouse style. All vendors have their own style as well, Deborah said, with some who import goods from Europe and others who specialize in garden goods like small greenhouses.

“We really do try to run the gamut so that there’s something for everybody,” she said.

What she wants to avoid is reproductions, such as signs that are seen over and over again in multiple vintage stores.

“So what we’re trying to do is be as true to vintage as we possibly can.”

White Barn Vintage is more than just a store; it’s a destination. Visitors often describe it as their “happy place,” which comes from Deborah’s dedication to creating an inviting and character-filled environment. The addition of an Airstream for guest vendors further enhances the market’s appeal, turning it into a must-visit spot for vintage enthusiasts from near and far.

“I strive to make it feel like home as soon as you come in. It feels good, like you want to be there,” she said. “We’ve used a lot of vintage chandeliers and reclaimed wood. It’s a brand-new building, but we’re trying to give it some character.”

Melissa Dixon, owner of Loved and Restored LLC, sells all things vintage and loves the story behind the pieces, making her an ideal vendor for White Barn Vintage and Sweet Violets.

“Repurposing and saving a vintage treasure brings me so much joy,” she said. “In addition to true vintage, you’ll find locally made artisan products and fair-trade items in the store.
Every product has a special story attached.”

Dixon operates a pop-up brick and mortar in Appomattox but also travels and participates in markets all over.

“Deborah took a big chance and welcomed me into the Sweet Violet’s Vintage Market family years ago when I first started this business,” she said. “White Barn is truly a treasure. It’s so hard to find true vintage venues, and White Barn Vintage is filled with pure vintage.”

She knew she hit the jackpot the first day she walked into White Barn and was invited to be a part of its experience.

“I’ve been involved since the very beginning and it’s gotten better and better with each monthly market,” Dixon said. 

From a vendor standpoint, the Sirockmans go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect, she said.

“White Barn is a complete vibe. The venue is beautiful, no details were spared in the construction. Everywhere you turn there’s a fabulous vintage piece that catches your eye. It’s a true experience,” Dixon said. “You can spend the whole day engaging with other customers and vendors. So many customers have truly become White Barn family. We look forward to spending time with them every month.”

She says Deborah is a true vintage lover and appreciates the work vendors put in behind the scenes, including traveling to source products, researching every detail of the history, and creating a magical space. 

“She understands and supports every aspect! That’s hard to find! Both Marc and Deb are team players. They truly treat each vendor like an extension of their family, which does not go unnoticed,” Dixon said.

In a world where minimalism often dominates, White Barn Vintage is still a place for people who enjoy the enduring appeal of collecting unique, timeless pieces. 

“When I find something I love, I wish I could find the story of it and want to find out as much as I can about it,” Sirockman said. “And it’s a much different experience than walking into Pottery Barn and picking something out that you’re going to see, perhaps in a lot of people’s houses. These things are stuff you’re not going to find just anywhere.”

Each vintage find infuses the space with a sense of nostalgia and discovery, inviting a new generation to appreciate the beauty of the past. 

“It’s a treasure hunt, and you just never know what you’re going to come up with,” Deborah said.

In addition to White Barn’s regular market, a Sweet Violet’s Vintage Market at White Barn Vintage will be held on April 19 and 20.