Fair Haven is an architectural tour de force that marries updated elements of neo-classical style with local materials to create a spectacular home reminiscent of an Italian villa. The 7 bedroom, 8.5 bath home is delightfully sited on 15 lovely landscaped acres in the heart of Rappahannock County.
The broken pediment front edifice opens to a front foyer accented by stone floor, ogee crown molding with a dental frieze and arched openings at either end. Directly across from the front door, wide double-hung glass doors open to the central courtyard lined by a covered gallery on three sides. The courtyard features intricate herringbone brick floors and a hot tub.
The western end of the front foyer opens to a suite of three bedrooms, each with its own luxurious bathroom, commodious closet and wide windows that open to the central courtyard. Two of the bedrooms have fireplaces and the third has its own outside access to the rear gardens.
The eastern end of the foyer opens to a large living room with random-width hardwood floors and an Italian marble fireplace surrounded by an ornate mantel. There is a private office behind the living room which is currently being used as another bedroom.
Another hallway, with access to the screened porch, leads to a great room with a kitchen, a dining area and living spaces. The kitchen features gorgeous cherry cabinets and is nominally separated by a granite topped pentagonal island. An arched fieldstone fireplace with a raised hearth and slab cherry mantel designates the seating area and the wide-open dining area opens to the central courtyard.
A deep, cool screened porch, a glass greenhouse and brick terraces adjoin the kitchen. Behind the kitchen is another bedroom, laundry room, a butler’s pantry and access to the garage.
A large addition was added beyond the butler’s pantry. It includes a grand office and library on the main floor and an exercise room and another garage on the lower level. The upper level is a spacious open studio/performance space with soaring ceilings and large Palladian windows.
The 15-acre lot is a mix of meadows and stands of shade trees, interspersed with woodland gardens, ferns and ornamental shrubs. It is the ideal habitat for many species of birds and other wildlife. There are excellent pastoral and mountain views from the shady front lawn.
Fair Haven is in the central part of Rappahannock County near the communities of Castleton and Laurel Mills where there is an excellent general store. Rappahannock and surrounding counties offer endless recreational possibilities. The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are 20 minutes away, providing one of the country’s most scenic drives and many miles of hiking trails. Located about an hour and a half from Washington, DC, and just over an hour from Charlottesville, the property is well situated for a weekend getaway or a full-time residence. Fair Haven has potential to generate considerable income as a short term rental property.
