http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/ Luxist Comments for Albemarle, The $100 Million Listing http://www.luxist.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.luxist.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/They are entirely English -derived and very well done. Certainly many levels of quality above most of the "estates" that you generally feature.
The kitchen prehaps appears "American" because of the windsor chairs, but has English precedents, as well. The Spelling house shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as this house- this house is miles above it in quality!
Do I find it stylish? No. Easton's work tends to have a certain stiffness, which is evident here. But there is no question of the superior quality.
By the way, Easton is not an architect. He is an interior designer. There is an architect's office that he works with, whose name escapes me.
This is one of very few American houses that actually deserves to be called an "Estate".
ps- notice the extensive number of candle sconces in the English Chinoiserie dining room- the room must look AMAZING at night, when lit entirely with candles, which is how, I am sure, that she lights it!]]>Oct 31st 2009 2:46AMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/Oct 31st 2009 4:30AMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/
C'Ville Virginia is lovely countryside and frankly you could put a concrete box in the middle of a rolling meadow and people will say how lovely. The landscape work of this property is as expected so no real surprises although nothing 'wow' as a $100M tag would expect. For that much money I'd think more specimen trees and/or quaint out-building structures using native stone.

I like Easton's interior designs when given smaller spaces as his own personal residence by him (since sold) known as 'Balderbrae' hit all the right marks. It was a lovely French-inspired cottage. His grand architecture works - see also Bracebridge Hall in Maryland - just are uninspired and bulky. This neo-Georgian just seems big for the sake of being big and is largely uninspired with its facade. The indoor rooms seem to cross that line between being reserved wealth and "look at me I'm rich" presentation.

Just my opinion but too much of a 'Dynasty' cloned feel (and era of construction) yet if you good to the Woodside CA home - Filoli - that was the basis of that '80's TV show it is tastefully reserved inside and the exterior has far more detail to it.

If this had been designed by a Mark Alan Hewitt or a Fairfax & Sammons it would've looked, the day after completion, less "new" and more like it had been Kluge's country seat held for generations. I will give props that at least it doesn't have a basketball court or a 10-car garage front and center which too many folks think is 'klassy'.

I cannot see this fetching a dime over $30 million and even that would be too generous as there isn't enough land. Far more interesting, historic and secluded homes - for less - to be found in Northern VA's Hunt Country of Upperville and Middleburg (like the noted sale of Llangollen a couple years ago) which make buying a property under 500-acres in C'ville less enticing. If she included the winery then maybe it would be pitched in the $50M mark but even then dubious to command that price. ]]>Oct 31st 2009 12:34PMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/
As a 40 something lifelong Georgetown resident who's been going down to Charlottesville with his family of UVA alums for 30+ years (i.e., someone who also knows the Plains/Upperville/Middleburg area) I can't argue with any of your points -- thanks for the great read....and good luck, Pat, you're gonna need it!
]]>Oct 31st 2009 1:15PMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/Nov 1st 2009 1:14AMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/Jun 19th 2010 5:38AMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/http://www.luxist.com/2009/10/31/albemarle-the-100-million-listing/This'll go for less than 20 mil in the end...this lady is seriously crazy.
I'm a born and bred Virginian, and I love Charlottesville, and this estate, bAut there's no WAY I'd pay that much.]]>Nov 3rd 2009 11:47PM