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Page 1: HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 LifeStyleconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2015/031015 HLS/Springfield HLS.pdf · memorable restaurants and restored homes. Clara Barton, founder

Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.comLocal Media Connection LLC

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HomeLifeStyleHomeLifeStyleHomeLifeStyleSpring 2015Spring 2015

Page 2: HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 LifeStyleconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2015/031015 HLS/Springfield HLS.pdf · memorable restaurants and restored homes. Clara Barton, founder

2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Page 3: HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 LifeStyleconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2015/031015 HLS/Springfield HLS.pdf · memorable restaurants and restored homes. Clara Barton, founder

Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Rex Reiley withRE/MAX Alle-giance.

Ron Kowalski ofKeller WilliamsCapital.

Pat Richter ofResidentialPreferred.

Pattie Manciniof Avery-HessRealtors.

HomeLifeStyle

See Low Interest Rates, Page 5

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

Just like last year, real estate agentRon Kowalski is optimistic comingout of the winter doldrums. Heruns Ron Kowalski Real Estate

Group with Keller Williams Capital Proper-ties, covering Lorton, Fairfax Station andSpringfield.

“Expectations are again high for thespring market,” he said. That’s due in partto mortgage interest rates being attractivelylow, just like last year. “The rates haven’tgone up, as we all thought.”

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed mort-gage, both nationally and in Virginia,weren’t quite as low in April 2014 (4.1-4.2percent) as the year before (3.3 percent),according to the online real estate databaseZillow. But with the economy gradually re-covering, agents were feeling a surge com-ing on.

In 2014, “the year started off strong untilwe got up to about July and August,” saidRex Reiley, with RE/MAX Allegiance in theMount Vernon area, “when things startedto taper off a bit.”

Agents were also anticipating a raise inrates, but that didn’t happen. And now, thenational and state interest rates are cur-rently hovering around 3.8 percent for a 30-year fixed mortgage with a credit rating of740 to 850 according to Zillow.

Though rates have dipped somewhat froma year ago, prices and available inventoryhave grown.

In the past year, Fairfax County has seenthe average selling price of homes rise from$491,144 to $526,786 (a 7.3 percent in-crease) versus the Mid Atlantic Region av-erage increase of 3.2 percent. Over the sameperiod the number of active listings in thecounty increased from 1,634 to 2,198 (a34.5 percent increase over last January).(Source: RealEstate Business Intelligence)

With the spring 2015 market preparingto bloom, agents are hopeful the low ratesand available inventory will motivate morebuyers and sellers to get off the fence andinto the arena. Particularly because it’s un-clear when rates might rise again.

“People don’t want to wait,” said PattieMancini, whose coverage area with Avery-Hess Realtors includes Springfield. She saidher office has been hitting sales goals forthe first time in over a year. “With pricesgoing up, and interest rates might be goingup, this is the perfect storm.”

Mancini said she’s seeing more“millennials” coming into the market inSpringfield, and finding more houses avail-able from from older individuals who hadbeen holding out while the market wasworse over the last five years.

“The millennials are getting older,” shesaid, “seeing it’s not such a bad idea, and

seeing more value in a mortgage than rent.”Pat Richter with Residential Preferred

Properties in Burke could use more sellersputting up their property. With more peoplegaining confidence in their economic sta-bility, she said there are more buyers look-ing to “move up” in her area.

“For years, we haven’t had much of amove up market,” Richter said. “Now,people are starting to say this townhouse is

too small, this single family home is toosmall, and want a bigger one.”

With the move up market and more buy-ers looking to move into Burke, “It’s a goodtime to be a buyer,” she said. “But thatdoesn’t mean prices have escalated tremen-dously. It’s interesting because assessmentsall went up. Now starting April 1, we’ll seeprices go up a little, pricing for the springand summer market.”

Fairfax County mailed its 2015 real es-tate assessment notices Feb. 17: 74 percentof residential properties saw an increase.

Spring Pop for the Real Estate Market?

Photo courtesy of Rex Reiley

8717 Falkstone Lane in Mt. Vernon Manor, MountVernon. “This house went on the market Feb. 25 and acontract was ratified Feb. 28th,” said Rex Reiley.“There were multiple offers because this was listed at$370,000. The interior needed to be remodeled totallyand with its low price, it attracted many investorsand builders who will renovate it.”

Photo courtesy of Pattie Mancini

5409 Yorkshire St., in the Kings Park area of Spring-field, listed at $535,000.

Photo courtesy of Rex Reiley

4505 Dolphin Lane, located in Yacht Haven, MountVernon, is listed at $875,000. Its renovations includea two-floor addition on a half-acre lot.

Photo courtesy of Ron Kowalski

“The builder, McShay Communities from Springfield,is building four homes on spec since he’s optimisticabout the spring market in this price range($949,900-$1.3M),” said Ron Kowalski, of the newMcDonald Estates development in Lorton. “We evenpainted, decorated and staged the model home (pic-tured, available for $1.25M), which is rare for aseven-home development.” One active listing is 9324Dachshund Drive, listed at $949,900.

Agents again optimisticfor a strong spring

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Page 4: HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 LifeStyleconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2015/031015 HLS/Springfield HLS.pdf · memorable restaurants and restored homes. Clara Barton, founder

4 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

HomeLifeStyle

See Historic Gardens, Page 6

The Virginia Historic Garden Touris an 8-day event that stretchesacross the Commonwealth. Eachspring visitors are welcomed to

over 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gar-dens, homes and historic landmarks. Thisevent provides the opportunity to see un-forgettable gardens at the peak of Virginia’sspringtime color, as well as beautiful housessparkling with more than 2,000 flower ar-rangements created by Garden Club of Vir-ginia members.

The Clifton Historic District, registered asa Virginia Historic Landmark, was a CivilWar railroad stop and is filled with shops,memorable restaurants and restored homes.Clara Barton, founder of the American RedCross, tended to soldiers after the Battle ofSecond Manassas at St. Mary’s Church andthe historic Fairfax Station, now a RailroadMuseum.

A self-drive tour on April 21 featuresstables, vineyards, a world-class garden,Georgian-revival architecture, and a 10,000square-foot contemporary home with a van-ishing edge swimming pool – four privatehomes with gardens and two stables in all.Tour ticket includes a tea at the Clifton Pres-byterian Church.

Tour proceeds fund the restoration andpreservation of Virginia’s historic gardens,and provide graduate level research fellow-ships for building comprehensive and on-going records of historic gardens and land-scapes in the Commonwealth, and supportthe mission of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Virginia Historic Garden Tour inClifton and Fairfax Station

❖ 7014 Redlac Drive, Clifton Located ina pastoral setting with grazing horsesnearby, this graceful 1987 Georgian Revivalhouse draws its elegant inspiration fromhistoric Williamsburg. Large rooms witharching Palladian windows overlook a for-mal boxwood knot garden and serene five-acre landscape. The hardwood tree canopyshades a hillside azalea and rhododendron

garden with a bridge over a swale. Detailsinside include formal dining and livingrooms with deep crown and base moldingand regal blue and gold wallpaper. Antiquesand the owners’ serendipitous flea marketfinds abound. The foyer, with Currier and

Photo courtesy of Garden Club of Fairfax

Nestled in an equestrian neighborhood, a 10,000 square-foot contemporary home was built in 2013 for anactive family with young children. An immaculate two-stall stable is home to a beloved horse and a pony. Thewife is an accomplished equestrian as evidenced by a tack room filled with trophies and ribbons.

Tour includes arare private look atspecial properties inFairfax County,Old Town Alexandriaand Leesburg.

Historic Virginia in Gardens

Clifton and FairfaxStation, Tuesday, April 21

This self-drive tour features stables, vineyards,a world-class garden, Georgian-revival architec-ture, and a 10,000 square-foot contemporaryhome with a vanishing edge swimming pool –four private homes with gardens and two stablesin all. Tour ticket includes a tea at the CliftonPresbyterian Church. Advance Ticket Sales: $30at www.vagardenweek.org or [email protected]. Visitwww.gardencluboffairfax.blogspot.com for a listof local retailers selling tickets.

Old Town Alexandria,Saturday, April 18

Old Town Alexandria was in 1946 the thirdcity in the country to create a historic district topreserve its downtown. Today it has 4,000buildings with a historic designation. The April18 walking tour in Old Town includes five row

Photo courtesy of Garden Club of Fairfax

The self-drive garden tour in Fairfax Station and Clifton in FairfaxCounty features stables, vineyards, a world-class garden, Georgian-revival architecture, and a stunning 10,000 square-foot contemporaryhome with a vanishing edge swimming pool – four private homes withgardens and two stables in all.

Ives prints, leads to the living room with its1876 grand piano. The dining room featuresa silver meat dome on the hunt board aswell as a mahogany tea cart handmade inHonduras. The large oak table in the gour-

houses with courtyard gardens in this preservedarea, and refreshments at St. Paul’s EpiscopalChurch. In addition to the private propertiesfeatured, the tour ticket allows access to TheCarlyle House Historic Park, Lee- Fendall HouseMuseum and Garden, George Mason’s GunstonHall and George Washington’s Mount VernonEstate and Gardens. The tour is hosted by TheGarden Club of Alexandria and Hunting CreekGarden Club. www.vagardenweek.org

Leesburg, Sunday andMonday, April 19-20

Leesburg was mapped and recognized by theCouncil of the Colony in 1758. Most of the 11 fea-tured tour properties are located on two historicroads, Edwards Ferry Road and Cornwall Street.The neighborhoods offer a variety of architecturalstyles and well established gardens. This two-dayTowne and Country tour features 11 properties andcoincides with the Leesburg Flower and GardenFestival, which takes place on April 18 and 19.

Page 5: HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 LifeStyleconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2015/031015 HLS/Springfield HLS.pdf · memorable restaurants and restored homes. Clara Barton, founder

Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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HomeLifeStyle

From Page 3

“Assessments matter because the tax burden is in-creasing on homeowners in many jurisdictions, par-ticularly Fairfax,” said David Versel, senior researcherwith the George Mason University Center for Re-gional Analysis.

Another burden on homeowners who may be wait-ing to enter the market is lingering insecurity overthe effects of government Sequestration.

“I gear it to federal government spending,” saidGeorge Mason professor of finance Gerald Hanweck.“When is that going to bottom out? When it doesand they begin to spend again, then we’ll see apickup.”

Rex Reiley is looking for that to happen soon, hop-ing that Congress signs off on a new budget and thatit eliminates or reduces Sequester cutbacks. “If thathappens, think we’ll see a big boom, with everyoneconfident in their employment again.”

Longer term, Hanweck is encouraged by an “up-surge in technology entrepreneurship” in NorthernVirginia, as well as the development of the Inovaresearch campus in Merrifield for attracting phar-maceuticals and biotech. But that impact on the realestate market could take years to notice, he said.

In the short term, he expects house prices in FairfaxCounty to fall slightly, forecasting a 2 percent dropin the median over the next few months in existingand new homes, a great opportunity for first-time

Low Interest Rates Give AgentsOptimism for Spring

buyers who qualify for low-interest loans.“Agents have a right to be optimistic,” said

Hanweck. “At same time, they’ll have to work realhard to make the optimism pay off, selling about 97-98 percent of the listing price. That’s going to cer-tainly drop, it’s just a matter of pricing.”

In Lorton, Ron Kowalski has observed steady salesoverall in the last month, about one per day for the22079 zip code as a whole. The “move up” segmentof houses priced $500,000 to $800,000 has laggedbehind the “low end” (under $500,000) and uppertier ($1 million and above).

He’s confident that increasing inventory coupledwith the interest rates and “lenders loosening stan-dards a little” will continue to help with affordabilityand drive sales into the spring, especially with first-time buyers.

But, he said more of his clients are researchingproperties on the internet before they meet with him.And that’s having a mixed effect on whether theydecide to make a move or not.

“They’re getting a lot of information,” he said, “butso much is filtered through what they want to lookat. There are both sides to the story. People focus onthe one that sold super high or low. My issue is a lotof the information is self-directed.”

Kowalski doesn’t mind buyers or sellers coming intothe market loaded with their own data; he’s justhappy they’re there.

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6 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

HomeLifeStyle

From Page 4

met kitchen is the perfect place to cook andshare family meals. The bedrooms upstairsare filled with vintage linens and familyheirlooms including the family’s first-com-munion dress, and are connected by a cen-tral library furnished with an antique par-lor set. Balconies overlook a shaded flag-stone patio and swimming pool. The lowerlevel contains a recreational area and barwith generous wine racks. An additionalguest room and bath with a separate en-trance completes the home’s amenities forgracious entertaining. Dennis and CyndyPatrick, owners.

❖ 7810 Willowbrook Road, Fairfax Sta-tion Nestled in an equestrian neighborhood,this 10,000-square-foot contemporary homewas built in 2013 for an active family withyoung children on the site of their previoushouse. A handsome entrance of stone,leaded glass and ironwork leads to a spec-tacular open-plan living, dining and kitchenarea designed by the fun-loving owners withyear-round entertaining in mind. Thekitchen has mosaic tile backsplashes, awalk-through pantry with etched glassdoors and double granite-topped islandswhere everyone can join the fun cookingand baking. The living area contains adouble fireplace and a backlit onyx bar.Large doors open to a long covered verandafitted with retractable screens where fam-ily and friends enjoy dining outside duringwarm months overlooking the infinity-edgeswimming pool. Other thoughtful detailsinclude an elevator, a home gymnasium anda separate garage for the children’s bikesand toys. The immaculate two-stall stableon the property has attached horse trailerstorage and is home to a beloved horse anda pony. The wife is an accomplished eques-trian as evidenced by a tack room filled withtrophies and ribbons. Local equestrians willbe in the stable to answer horse-relatedquestions. Garth and Heather Viar, owners.

❖ 7607 Willowbrook Road, Fairfax Sta-tion Serenity awaits visitors at this single-story California-style property. The experi-ence begins on the long drive that windspast a riding ring and pastures. Slate stepslead to the entrance courtyard, where a koipond and bamboo fountain set the warmspa-like mood of this wonderful home. Thehouse, purchased in 2003, has been com-pletely renovated by the current owners,and has been personalized with twin stud-ies, an open-plan kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, swirling honed grey andwhite granite counters and a bistro-styleespresso coffee station. Clean, contempo-rary and connected to nature, the roomsalong the back of the house each open to aseries of graceful garden rooms with an en-tertaining deck, a yoga/meditation deck, anoutdoor shower and a seating area sur-rounding a fire pit. Inside, visitors find de-lights like a glass conservatory and studio,a relaxing slate tiled guest bath with heated

towel bar, solid cherry doors throughout, amaster suite with his and hers dressingrooms and a sleek bath with heated marblefloors. The eco-friendly, award-winningstable complex contains a four-stall barn,equipment storage, dry lots, round pen,composting system and pastures. Randalland Joan Onders, owners.

❖ Poplar Grove 11600 Lakewood Lane,Fairfax Station Time stands still at PoplarGrove. A curving driveway leads visitorsthrough towering oaks and flowering cherryand plum trees to a slower, more gentle wayof living. The warm cream colored Federal-style home was built in 1964 and renovatedquite literally from the ground up in 2001.The owners, one a landscape architect ofworld-class talent and the other a graduate

Historic Virginia in Gardens

Courtesy of Garden Club of Fairfax

Located in a pastoral setting with grazing horses nearby, this graceful1987 Georgian Revival house in Clifton draws its inspiration from his-toric Williamsburg.

of DuPage School of Horticulture and a sev-enth-generation Virginian, Poplar GroveClifton - Fairfax Station carved a paradiseof 18th-century grandeur out of what hadbeen seven overgrown acres. The owners’passion and expertise brought to life a two-level Colonial parterre kitchen garden withboxwood topiary, oyster-shell walkways anda climbing-rose-covered chicken coop forcollecting daily eggs. Nearby is a vineyardwith over 400 Petit Verdot grape vines. Visitthe swimming pool garden and follow ashady path that leads to the secret whitegarden with a pond and splashing fountain.In fact, fountains can be heard bubbling andsplashing in every direction. Another foun-tain brings wandering guests to an alfrescodining area reminiscent of Charleston. In-side, visitors find grand moldings, sparkling

chandeliers and museum-quality artworkand antiques. This property is a must-seefor antiques enthusiasts and avid garden de-signers alike. Master Gardeners will beavailable to answer questions in the gar-dens. Charles Prillaman and ParkerJennings, owners.

Places of Interest:❖ Clifton Historic District. Well preserved

and easy to walk, Clifton maintains thesmall-town feel of the turn of the twentiethcentury. Most homes were built in the late1800s or early 1900s. Adaptive reuse is evi-dent in the homes turned into thrivingshops, businesses and restaurants. A stopon Virginia Civil War Trails, most of thebuildings have plaques that explain theirhistory. Watch for the commuter trains thatstill pass daily at the railroad crossing.Clifton-VA.com

❖ St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church,Ox Road and Fairfax Station Road. Dedi-cated in 1860, St. Mary’s Catholic Churchwas built by Irish immigrants who came towork on the railroad. Here, Clara Bartonnursed wounded soldiers evacuated fromthe Battle of Second Manassas. Still in usetoday, it is now a Historic District and a stopon the Virginia Civil War Trails. The cem-etery grounds and grotto garden are opento the public. StMaryofSorrows.org

❖ Fairfax Station Railroad Museum,11200 Fairfax Station Road. Originally builtin 1852, the station was used as a supplybase and hospital during the Civil War. Thereconstructed station is a replica of the 1903building including its separate waitingrooms. The museum, now run by Friendsof the Fairfax Station volunteers, housesCivil War and railroad memorabilia and isa site on the Virginia Civil War Trails. Freeadmission to the museum and to the 1968Norfolk Western cupola model caboose ontour day to HGW ticket holders. A picnicarea is available. www.fairfaxstation.org

❖ Mason Neck State Park, 7301 HighPoint Road, Lorton. Opened to the publicin April 1985, the park is celebrating its 30thanniversary this year. On Saturday, April 25,the park will host its annual Eagle Festival,which features music, food, displays by en-vironmental organizations, informationabout eagles, wildlife shows, hayrides,birding tours and activities for adults andchildren. In conjunction with Historic Gar-den Week, a spring wildflower walk Photocourtesy of The Garden Club of Fairfax 68Fairfax County 69 Clifton - Fairfax Stationthrough the marsh and forest on one of thepark’s most popular trails is featured on theday of the festival.

Note that the Alexandria tour on April 18includes a walking tour in Old Town of fiverow houses with courtyard gardens in thispreserved area, and refreshments at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, plus the tour ticketallows access to The Carlyle House HistoricPark, Lee- Fendall House Museum and Gar-den, George Mason’s Gunston Hall andGeorge Washington’s Mount Vernon Estateand Gardens.

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Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

HomeLifeStyle

By John Byrd

It’s been a good year for Sun DesignRemodeling.

In January, the full-service design/build remodeler won four “Contrac-

tor of the Year” awards from the Washing-ton, D.C. chapter of the National Associa-tion of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).Then, in February, an already locally-hon-ored gourmet kitchen was named categorybest (“kitchen above $150k”) in the 10-statesoutheastern region.

Winning projects include: a rear elevationpoolside recreation solution; a FrenchCountry gourmet kitchen (the southeasternregional winner); an open kitchen plan ina traditional interior style; and a lower-levelbuild-out to designed for use by three gen-erations.

French Country Kitchen Is Localand Regional COTY winner: Resi-dential Kitchen Over $120,000

For Dr. Rick Layfield and his wife KellyLayfield, the search for their dream kitchenstarted shortly after they purchased their3,700-square-foot, four-bedroom home inClifton eight years ago.

“The kitchen suite was a primary sellingpoint,” Kelly Layfield said of the 400-square-foot room.

But she found the rear of the house darkand dated. Sightlines to the children’s back-yard play areas were not well-aligned. Andthere was a visually obstructive bulkheadover the primary food preparation zone.

Also, the pentagon-shaped food prepara-tion island and dining counter wasn’t wellsuited for in-kitchen dining. And the cor-ner breakfast area was cramped — makingit hard to access a door to the back porchwhich used to be a pathway to the family’soutdoor grill.

Fortunately, Kelly Layfields’s first meet-ing with designer John Benson was produc-tive from the start. He proposed a rectan-gular food preparation island with a gran-ite surface, parallel with the two corners ofthe cook’s work zones.

Benson also helped Layfield explore thelighter, more textured hues she had beenseeking: marble subway tile wall covering;surfaces in Granite Bianco Antico; whitecabinets with glass facings; and an ovenbacksplash in a white quatrefoil tiling. Thecoffers, likewise, are delineated in a whiteand grey duotone.

“This is just the balance I was looking for,”Layfield said. “It feels like home.”

Open Floorplan Defines Casual ButElegant KitchenResidential Kitchen; $80k to$120k; COTY Honorable Mention

Steve and Melynda Britt’s four-bedroomcolonial in Vienna offered considerablecharms when the couple purchased it 10years ago.

There was a nicely finished library andliving room, a formal dining room and asizable family room in the back half of thehouse with a 13-foot cathedral ceiling fram-ing a lovely view of mature landscaping.

For Melynda Britt, the larger goal was akitchen footprint that offered an efficientwork space — integrated with the surround-ing great room.

“Since the emphasis was on a more intel-ligent use of limited square footage,” SunDesign’s Durosko said, “we thought custom-built-ins would help create better coordi-

nated work zones.”Critiquing the kitchen now, Britt is

amazed at how much more effectively thesolution works on several fronts: The foodpreparation island protects the cook’s worktriangle, and is positioned for easy serviceto the family room; the beverage station,an effective space divider, is accessible fromboth the breakfast area and family room;the coffee bar is situated between doorsleading to the dining room and the break-fast room, out of the chef ’s way; thekitchen’s mosaic tile flooring has been re-placed by a refinished hardwood flooring.

“We can now comfortably entertain 20-25 guests,” Britt said. “Better yet, the spaceis really warm and comfortable.”

Finished Lower Level Offers Multi-Gen Family SolutionCOTY Honorable Mention

Eric Park and his wife Tina, both physi-cians, were already quite busy 10 years agowhen they purchased a 3,400-square-foottwo-level neo-colonial in Falls Church.

“Our plan all along was to create a fam-ily home,” Tina Park said. “We saw the lowerlevel eventually playing a part in our dailylives, but were only using it for storage. Itwasn’t until my mother began regularlyhelping us with the girls that we began look-ing at the house more closely.”

At first Park’s mother, Kay, would stay inthe guest room, but gradually everyonestarted looking at ways to increase avail-able privacy.

It’s at this point that Sun Design Remod-eling enters the story.

“A basement conversion is challenging,”said Sun Design’s Liz Lee-Sint, who guidedthe Park project from concept to comple-tion, “especially when it’s going to bemainstreamed with the rest of the house.”

For Kay, the top priority was a suite withall the features of independent living, in-cluding a private entrance, a comfortablemaster suite and a fully functional kitchen-ette with dining for four.

On a separate note, the Parks envisioneda 195-square-foot family fitness center anda children’s play zone with custom built-ins.

Describing the finished décor as “modernAsian contemporary,” Tina Park stressedsimple lines, soft tones and open visuals.

“It’s really the nicest place in the housenow,” Park said. “And it satisfies so manydifferent needs that it’s become our maingathering place.”

House and grounds reconciliationjudged this year’s bestExterior Solution/COTY Grandaward winner

As Monte Zaben tells it, the rear eleva-tion to his 8,300-square-foot colonial inFredericksburg was so sun-exposed it wasuncomfortable sitting by the pool he hadjust installed the year before.

After researching several options, how-ever, he stumbled on Sun Design’s portfo-lio of indoor-outdoor solutions, and set upa meeting.

Combining an extended radius that stepsdown to the pool with vaulted entrance way,the structure’s architecture is welcoming.

Tapered craftsman-style piers support aseam metal roof. Inside, three distinct ac-tivity zones flow together: an open-airlounge; a cozy poolside vista with a pair ofwicker chairs; and an outdoor kitchenequipped with a traditional grill, a powerburner and refrigerators. A second levelgrilling deck is now, likewise, under roof.

Happy with the outcome, Zaben said heenjoys the outdoor kitchen so much he wasout grilling one of his specialties this pastJanuary. “We make regular use of the out-door space on just about every seasonableday,” he adds. “It’s very much a part of ourlives now.”

John Byrd has been writing about home improve-ment for 30 years. He can be reached [email protected].

Four Sun Designremodeling projectsnamed Washington-area “Contractor ofthe Year” winners.

Home Improvements Earn Awards

Photo by Bryan Burris

With its private entrance, fully operative kitchenette and dining table forfour, the new lower level allows Tina’s mother, Kay, to host bridge par-ties for friends independent of any other household activities.

Photo by Mitro Hood

BEST RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN: Sun Design’s winning kitchen solutiontakes full advantage of a 13' cathedral ceiling with a two-level windowwall. Owner Melynda Britt says the space is much better organized, yetmore accessible — perfect for entertaining.

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8 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ HomeLifeStyle Spring 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Address ................................. BR FB HB .. Postal City ........ Sold Price .. Type ....... Lot AC PostalCode ........... Subdivision ........... Date Sold

1 12995 WYCKLAND DR ........... 6 .. 8 . 2 ..... CLIFTON ......... $2,100,000 .. Detached .... 5.00 ...... 20124 ................. WYCKLAND ............. 01/16/15

2 7063 BALMORAL FOREST RD . 5 .. 5 . 3 ..... CLIFTON ......... $1,415,700 .. Detached .... 3.00 ...... 20124 .......... BALMORAL GREENS ....... 01/23/15

3 12510 YATES FORD RD .......... 3 .. 2 . 0 ..... CLIFTON ......... $1,300,000 .. Detached ... 15.62 ..... 20124 ........... PEPPER MILL FARM ....... 01/08/15

4 9407 OLD RESERVE WAY ....... 5 .. 4 . 1 ...... FAIRFAX ......... $1,225,000 .. Detached .... 0.27 ...... 22031 ........... PICKETT’S RESERVE ....... 01/09/15

5 6511 BURKE WOODS DR ....... 6 .. 5 . 2 ....... BURKE .......... $1,150,000 .. Detached .... 0.83 ...... 22015 ........ BURKE LAKE MEADOW ..... 01/26/15

6 13102 BELLE COTE LN ........... 5 .. 4 . 1 ...... FAIRFAX ......... $1,100,000 .. Detached .... 0.83 ...... 22033 ........... OAK HILL RESERVE ....... 01/15/15

7 11311 CHAPEL RD ................ 4 .. 4 . 1 FAIRFAX STATION ... $1,060,000 .. Detached .... 5.00 ...... 22039 ............ WOLF RUN HUNT ........ 01/05/15

8 8740 MOUNTAIN VALLEY RD . 5 .. 4 . 1 FAIRFAX STATION... $1,047,500 .. Detached .... 5.91 ...... 22039 ............. HAMPTON HILLS ......... 01/13/15

9 10687 YORKTOWN CT .......... 3 .. 4 . 1 ...... FAIRFAX ......... $1,005,000 .. Townhouse . 0.05 ...... 22030 .......... JAGUAR/YORKTOWN ...... 01/06/15

10 5105 BEBE CT ....................... 5 .. 3 . 1 .. CENTREVILLE ........ $802,000 .. Detached .... 0.17 ...... 20120 .......... FAIRLAKES CROSSNG ...... 01/26/15

11 6114 GARDEN RD ................. 4 .. 3 . 1 .. SPRINGFIELD ........ $729,000 .. Detached .... 0.19 ...... 22152 ................ LEE-BROOKE ............ 01/16/15

12 5413 MOUNT GREENWICH CT . 4 .. 2 . 1 ....... BURKE ............. $715,000 .. Detached .... 0.23 ...... 22015 ................ SIGNAL HILL ............ 01/15/15

Copyright 2015 RealEstate Business Intelligence. Source: MRIS as of February 16, 2015.

Local REAL ESTATEJanuary, 2015

Top Sales

Photos by Craig Sterbutzel/

The Connection

2 7063 Balmoral Forest Road,Clifton — $1,415,700

3 12510Yates Ford

Road, Clifton— $1,300,000

4 9407 Old Reserve Way,Fairfax — $1,225,000

8 8740 Mountain Valley Road,Fairfax Station — $1,047,500

10 5105 Bebe Court, Centreville — $802,000