Natural light pours in through the clerestory windows along the top walls of the renovated kitchen in Kirsten and Leo Boyd's home at 4. S. Wilton Road in Richmond.
Two steps down, through an arched doorway, there is the family room, where again light pours in through windows at two levels. A vaulted ceiling and new dormers add architectural interest and a sense of openness to the home, one of nearly 200 homes and other venues in this year's Historic Garden Week tour, which kicks off Saturday.
"I wanted as much light as possible," Kirsten Boyd said. Renovations in 2010 also improved the room-to-room flow in the home in the Ampthill/Wilton area. Dan Ensminger was architect on the project, and John Gray of Peak 3 Construction was the builder.
Home renovations, gardens, architectural features and interior design are showcased in this year's Historic Garden Week, presented by the Garden Club of Virginia and its 47 member clubs.
The statewide event is in its 79th year and features 31 local tours. Proceeds benefit garden restoration projects across the state.
"No other state in the country really does what Virginia does. It's considered one of the largest open houses in the country," said Ruthie Cogar, co-chairwoman with Holly Braden and Elizabeth Wallace for the Richmond tours. They are members of the Three Chopt Garden Club, which is the sponsoring club for this year's Richmond tours.
About 3,400 volunteers are involved statewide. Planning for each year's tour starts about 18 months in advance.
Organizers said the tours are expected to draw about 25,000 visitors who pay to see homes and gardens.
Gardens this year may be further along than normal because of a warmer than usual spring. Temperatures averaged almost 10 degrees above normal last month, making it the second-warmest March on record for the Richmond area, causing daffodils, tulips and other spring bloomers to peak early.
"We are not worried. We know something wonderful will be in bloom," Cogar said, mentioning peonies, climbing hydrangea, iris, poppies, bleeding heart and jasmine as possibilities. In addition, floral arrangements will be on display.
The tulips planted around a fish pond at the home of Anne and Alexander Kempe bloomed ahead of schedule, thanks to the warmer spring. So much for the elegant display Anne Kempe had hoped to treat visitors to.
But there is plenty more to catch the eye inside and outside the Kempe home at 6615 Three Chopt Road, one of seven homes in the Three Chopt/Westhampton area on the tour.
It's easy to imagine breezy summer evenings in the Kempes' renovated pool area, which includes a pergola-covered lounging area with a wood-burning fireplace flanked by matching pool houses: one with an outdoor kitchen, one for showering and changing. The patio flooring is bluestone tiles, matching the bluestone hearth and mantel.
The pool area's perimeter is planted with rhododendrons, camellias, daphne and Endless Summer hydrangeas, and a towering magnolia at one corner serves as a living wall for the spacious outdoor room. Dogwoods and roses also dot the landscape.
The Kempes' clapboard Georgian house built in 1924 has a cozy family room that was part of an addition that included a larger kitchen. In the kitchen, honed absolute black granite countertops, two islands, white custom cabinets, Mexican tile floors and a cupboard original to the home — stained an eye-popping green — create an inviting food-preparation and entertaining space.
"I enjoy the outdoors, so I like to bring the outdoors in," Anne Kempe said. "I like a relaxed, comfortable place for my family and for me."
The architect on the main house renovations was Terry Cox, with construction work by John Robertson and company.
Architect Jay Hugo of 3North did the pool renovations, with the construction by Grace Street Home Additions, which also did renovations of a carriage house on the property. Kempe said she also works with interior designer Susan Lankenau.
Other renovations to the Boyds' 1939 Colonial-style clapboard home included converting a dining room to a library. The kitchen was also bumped out to what used to be a screened back porch.
Originally, the plan was to have a skylight in the kitchen, Kirsten Boyd said.
"It evolved into this," she said, referring to the bank of clerestory windows. "I think this is kind of what makes this kitchen," Boyd said.
The windows, the Carrera marble countertops in white with gray veining and white cabinets make for clean lines in a bright and roomy space. Oak floors provide a hint of country kitchen feel.
"My husband loves to cook. I love to cook," Boyd said. "The kitchen works just really well. Somebody can be prepping. Somebody can be cooking. It cleans up well."
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