Great Falls, Virginia, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Nov 21st 2010 at 1:01PM

Luxist reader BW sent us the link for today's home with the words: "This house was designed (inside and out) by the best. So I'm wondering why when you tour it does it make you want to run away from it. Just curious if anyone else gets the same feel about it."

With words like that we knew we had to investigate the grand seven-bedroom home in Great Falls, Virginia. The home was built in 1991 and is over 20,000 square feet. The listing states that the property has been renovated and expanded since its purchase to create a more classical design. Enhancements include the addition of a front entrance portico, a summer porch with an open pergola, a refurbished lower level, an additional five-car garage wing, a stone motor court with staff quarters, an upper level terrace with a Bar-B-Q pit and an outdoor winter fireplace and bar, a pool house with a pool-side bar, evening moon lighting, additional fountains and terraced lawns.

The main level has a two-story reception area with imported Botticino marble flooring, a vaulted ceiling, architectural columns and sculpture niches with recessed lighting. The home also has a library with a gas fireplace, upholstered walls and custom built-in bookcases. The formal dining room is decorated with a commissioned botanical mural and wood-plank floors with a painted octagonal motif. Other rooms include an office, breakfast room, family room, sun room and a master bedroom with a sitting area that was designed to float over the ornamental gardens on the property.

The upper level has five suites and an exercise room. The lower level is for entertainment with a theater, caterer's kitchen, wine tasting room and cellar, an octagonal dance floor, billiard room and a full-sized European bar. The property has a pool house, fountains, a koi pond, pool, pool-side bar and an outdoor kitchen. The decor is a little bit busy (way, way too much floral wallpaper) but for comfort this home ranks pretty high, it's definitely designed for a busy, happy family. This home is listed at $7.65 million.

Gallery: Great Falls, Virginia

Tags: estate of the day, great falls, virginia real estate

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rod Nov 21st 2010 1:51PM

Exterior, very nice. Interior, yikes- way over-the-top.

Ian Kaplan Nov 21st 2010 2:46PM

Wonderful house....i see no problem with it.......that an interior decorator can't fix!

John Nov 21st 2010 9:59PM

There's one thing about big houses that I always feel odd about. How many couches does one family need? It seems that when you make a 20,000 square foot home, all you are doing is adding places to seat. A formal, an informal and an outdoor seating space would seem enough for most everybody but this house just has dozens, most of which are copies of each other.

Bonnlass Nov 22nd 2010 1:48PM

My suggestion is to get another realtor. This property is way overpriced. It is almost twenty years old and they are asking almost double the assessed tax value on the residence. Other houses on this street have been under duress sale.

wowser1 Nov 22nd 2010 3:32PM

I would have to agree with BW. The interior of this house would make me want to run away too. Only thing I can think of is maybe the lady of the house loves flowers but has allergies. This may be the only way she can have them. But boy, that interior decorator should be flogged with a sample book for this one!