Imagine a cottage inspired by the delightful homes in the Cotswolds, updated with new world sensibilities and sited at the edge of an oak forest. Named for its lake-based summer evening symphonies Frogstone is soothing, quietly elegant and beautifully designed to meld with its stunning natural surroundings.
The stucco and cedar sided home is shaded by mature old oak trees and surrounded by lovely natural landscaping of native plants, flowering shrubs, sculptural trees and many blooming bulbs. Despite the wooded setting, the home has fine pastoral views of rolling meadows and forested foothills. Decks, terraces and a pleasant screened porch provide transitional spaces between indoors and out.
The intriguing front entrance is a self-contained room, separated from the rest of the house by glass doors opening to the kitchen and the sensational living area.
The heart of the home is an asymmetrical great room punctuated by interesting architectural details, unexpected angles and striking sightlines. The living area includes a wood burning fireplace surrounded by a handmade mantel, a wide bank of glass doors opening to the screened porch and a double columned opening to the kitchen. Off the great room is a cozy book shelf lined library/office perfect for reading into the night or catching up on your Netflix queue.
The dining area is defined by a broad shallow bay window that melds the lovely outdoor setting with the interior spaces. The kitchen is separated by a waist high knee wall and craftsman style pendant lights allowing the cooking, dining and living spaces to interact.
The kitchen has a central island surrounded by corian counters and maple cabinets. The appliances are top-of-the-line. From the kitchen there are stairs leading to the lower level with room for extra storage, workshop and the geothermal equipment. The geothermal set up ensures economical and eco-friendly heating and cooling. The lower level has has an exterior door.
Through double glass doors, the great room opens to a cheerful parlor-like space. The front parlor has a spacious closet and en suite full bath so it can be converted to a second master suite or overflow sleeping quarters. One could also enter the home through a convenient side entrance that has a mudroom, laundry room and another full bath.
The home features convenient one level living with a generous master suite complete with a luxurious bathroom and commodious closets also on the main floor.
The second floor includes a skylight illuminated family room, two more bedrooms and a full bathroom. There is also access to an unfinished attic area for storage.
In addition to the spectacular landscaping, the grounds include a fenced vegetable garden area with raised beds, brambles, strawberries and an asparagus bed. There is also a creative studio with an attached carport, a storage building and a three-bay tractor barn.
A woodland road leads to the meadows, a small lake and a caretaker’s cottage. The solid caretaker’s cottage is a well-maintained ranch house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full basement and a spacious deck.
Portions of the meadows are used by a local farmer for hay production and the balance is maintained as wildlife habitat, and the entire property was protected by a conservation easement in 2009. Approximately 35 acres are in a mature forest of oak, poplar, hickory and ash. There is a nice understory of dogwoods, wild azalea, mountain laurel and spice bush.
Outdoors people will enjoy fishing in the lake, exploring and hunting in the woodlands, foraging for morels and wild asparagus and birdwatching in the meadows. Frogstone is conveniently located in the northern portion of Rappahannock County. The Shenandoah National Park, home to scenic Skyline Drive, Old Rag Mountain, and many miles of trails, is a stone’s throw away. There are wineries and breweries, great restaurants and cafes, antique stores, farms and orchards, and much more. Looking for cultural activities? Visit one of the many art galleries, attend a play or a concert at one of the theaters, or visit the Rappahannock Historical Society’s museum.
Located under two hours from Washington, DC, and about an hour and a half from Charlottesville, Frogstone is an easy drive for a weekend getaway yet it feels a world away. It also offers a full time resident easy access to these two metropolitan centers and all they have to offer.
