4 homes soon to hit the market in Madison via Veridian Homes

This blog post highlights a custom-built home located at 8522 Lewinsville Rd. in McLean, Virginia, offering a detailed look into its features and amenities. Situated on just over a half-acre, the property provides both convenience and a private setting. The house, constructed in 2008, spans 6,840 square feet across three levels and includes six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The interior design emphasizes luxury and attention to detail, evident from the moment one steps inside. The main level and all bedrooms are adorned with cherry hardwood floors, providing a cohesive and elegant aesthetic throughout. The formal dining room showcases intricate three-piece crown molding and detailed woodwork, adding a touch of classic sophistication. The kitchen is designed for both functionality and style, featuring dual sinks, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. It seamlessly opens into a family room, which is equipped with a gas fireplace, creating a warm and inviting space for gatherings. The family room also offers direct access to a den, providing additional versatile living space. The primary bedroom is a significant highlight, characterized by its tray ceilings and recessed lighting, which enhance the room's spaciousness and ambiance. This master suite further boasts two walk-in closets, offering ample storage and organizational solutions for personal belongings, making daily routines more streamlined. The en-suite bathroom complements the primary bedroom with a walk-in shower, providing a modern and accessible bathing option, alongside a bathtub for those who prefer a relaxing soak after a long day. Outdoor living is equally prioritized in this property. A flagstone patio extends from the house, presenting an ideal setting for outdoor dining and entertaining. The expansive half-acre backyard offers considerable space for various outdoor activities, gardening, or simply enjoying the natural surroundings. The lower level of the home has been recently updated with luxury vinyl plank flooring and includes an additional bedroom, along with significant storage areas, increasing the overall utility and liveability of the residence. For those interested in this property, additional photographs and contact information for Jack Wang at RLAH Properties are available online. This custom-built home represents a blend of refined interior design, practical living spaces, and a desirable location. #McLeanRealEstate #CustomBuiltHome #LuxuryLiving #NorthernVirginiaHomes #RealEstateMarket #HomeForSale #InteriorDesign #OutdoorLiving

This article highlights a unique real estate opportunity in New York City: the simultaneous availability of two distinct apartments within a former Gilded Age mansion at 17 East 63rd Street. Built in 1901, the five-story limestone mansion initially housed prominent New York families before being converted into apartments after World War II. These units, characterized by their high, coffered ceilings, chandeliers, and French doors leading to Juliet balconies, rarely come onto the market. By an unusual coincidence, the second-floor apartment and a combined third-and-fourth-floor duplex were listed for sale within five days of each other, each with a different broker. The second-floor unit, apartment 2, has been owned for the past 35 years by Shirley Maytag King, widow of the grandson of the Maytag appliance company founder. This apartment boasts 15-foot ceilings, a remnant of its past as the mansion's ballroom, and is listed at $4.2 million. It includes 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a private elevator, a formal dining room, and two working fireplaces. Broker Paul Kolbusz notes that its price reflects the potential need for kitchen and bathroom updates, despite its historical significance and prime location near Central Park and the Frick Collection. The duplex, apartment 3/4, has been continuously owned for over 20 years and spans 4,200 square feet, significantly larger than the second-floor unit. Listed at $16.995 million, it features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, five fireplaces, and a primary bedroom that is 22 by 26 feet, larger than many living rooms, with two separate en suite bathrooms and dressing rooms, one with its own fireplace. The apartment, designed by Thomas Britt, also showcases an enormous great room with coffered ceilings and floor-to-ceiling French-door-style windows. Broker Elana Schoppmann emphasizes its 'grand scale' and 'royalty-like' living experience. The current owners combined the third and fourth floors in the early 1990s when the upstairs neighbors moved out. Both brokers involved are open to the idea of a buyer combining these two apartments into a single, three-story residence spanning approximately 6,300 square feet. Such a combination, however, would likely require board approval, as the building operates as a co-op. The mansion is also noted for being a rare 30-foot-wide limestone townhouse, sometimes referred to as the H. Bramhall Gilbert Mansion after its first owner. Neil Diamond is mentioned as the owner of the duplex penthouse on the fifth floor, a fact that dates back to a previous article from over 20 years ago. This simultaneous listing presents a unique opportunity for a buyer to acquire a significant portion of a historic Gilded Age mansion, offering expansive living spaces with original architectural details and the potential for a grand, custom-combined residence in a highly desirable New York City location. #GildedAge #LuxuryRealEstate #NewYorkCity #MansionApartments #RealEstateListing #UpperEastSide #HistoricHomes #CoOpLiving #ArchitecturalDesign

The author explores the proliferation of "Giant White Houses" (GWHs) in affluent American suburbs, a phenomenon observed firsthand with the demolition and reconstruction of a neighboring property in Arlington, Virginia. These GWHs are characterized by their immense size, white facades with black accents, and a blend of architectural styles. The house next door to the author's, for example, features five bedrooms, six baths, and 5,600 square feet, listed at $2.5 million, reflecting a trend seen across various cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, and Boulder. The article delves into the economic drivers behind the construction of these large homes. While the average size of new single-family homes has not drastically increased nationwide, GWHs, built for the wealthy, are significantly larger. Homes over 4,000 square feet now constitute 14% of new builds in the Northeast, up from 5% in 1999. Developers, like James McMullin of MRE Homes, justify the large scale by economic necessity, as the market rewards square footage. High land and construction costs, coupled with administrative burdens, mean developers must maximize square footage to achieve an 8-15% profit margin. The verticality of GWHs is another prominent feature, influenced by the popularity of urban lofts with high ceilings. Modern construction techniques, such as glulam lumber and stronger steel, make it easier and more affordable to build taller structures. The house next door to the author boasts 10-foot ceilings on the first floor and 9-foot ceilings upstairs and in the basement, creating a sense of detachment from the street and neighbors, akin to the increasing size of SUVs for a feeling of security and status. The GWHs, though large, often lack the ornate fripperies of earlier McMansions. Architectural critic Kate Wagner defines McMansions not by style but as a type of house reflecting a "house as consumer product" logic, driven by continuous upgrades and specific social functions. These homes prioritize interior amenities like large entertainment suites, great rooms, and restaurant-scaled kitchens, effectively interiorizing social functions that once occurred outside the home. The sealed windows and towering presence further isolate residents from their community. The monochromatic white and black aesthetic of GWHs is also analyzed. Developers like Jon DeHart explain that white is a "fan favorite" because it appeals to the broadest market, reflecting a desire for the "least offensive possible" design in spec homes. This trend is heavily influenced by the modern farmhouse style popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines of *Fixer Upper*. However, the GWH has evolved beyond a pure farmhouse, incorporating elements of minimalism. Wagner notes that minimalism, once associated with elite taste, has become a signifier of class and sophistication, even if the GWHs themselves are maximalist in scale. This "normie minimalism" suggests a clean, crisp, and purposeful clarity. The article also touches upon the role of real estate data platforms like Zillow and Redfin. These platforms have changed how people interact with architecture, focusing on consumer product aspects and investment potential. The high value of land in areas like Arlington means that smaller, older homes are often bought by developers, demolished, and replaced with GWHs, contributing to a housing crisis where "starter homes" are increasingly rare. The house, in this context, becomes less a home and more a financial investment, a "vehicle for investment," where uniformity in design is preferred to ensure marketability. Ultimately, the author reflects on the transformation of his own neighborhood, where once diverse middle-class homes are steadily being replaced by GWHs. This shift signifies a demographic change, moving from middle-class to affluent and then to very rich residents. The author anticipates his own home will eventually be sold to a developer, dismantled, and replaced by another GWH, illustrating the pervasive nature of this architectural and economic trend across America. #GiantWhiteHouses #SuburbanDevelopment #RealEstateTrends #ArchitecturalStyle #HousingEconomics #McMansions #ModernFarmhouse #MinimalistDesign #SpecHomes #ZillowInfluence

This article explores the significant benefits of home staging in the real estate market, featuring insights from three Northern Virginia-based staging experts: Susan Campbell, owner of Lemon Tree Staging & Interiors; Monica P. Murphy, president of Preferred Staging LLC; and Leigh Newport, owner and principal designer of Staged By Design. These professionals unanimously affirm that home staging is a crucial investment for homeowners looking to sell their properties quickly and at a premium price. Susan Campbell highlights that contemporary home selling necessitates effort, stating that while any home will eventually sell if priced low enough, staging allows homeowners to achieve both a quick sale and top dollar. Monica P. Murphy provides a compelling case study of a luxury home in McLean that lingered on the market for four months due to a dated interior. Instead of dropping the price by $50,000, the owners invested in professional staging. This transformation, including on-trend furniture, rugs, art, and lighting, and updated listing photos, led to over 40 buyers touring the house at the first open house post-staging. An offer was accepted seven days later, $10,000 above the asking price. Murphy emphasizes that professionally staged homes statistically sell faster than vacant or non-professionally staged homes, often at or above the asking price, negating the need for price reductions. Leigh Newport adds that staging not only reduces days on the market but also increases the perceived value of a home, with buyers willing to pay 1 to 5 percent more for a staged property. The experts explain that home staging works by tapping into the aspirational aspect of home buying. Campbell notes that staging helps buyers envision themselves living in a beautiful home, showcasing its potential, highlighting assets, and minimizing less desirable features. Murphy describes it as a marketing strategy designed to appeal to the broadest pool of buyers, allowing them to connect with the house and imagine their lives within it. Newport concurs, citing a 2017 National Association of Realtors (NAR) study that found 77 percent of real estate agents believe staging helps buyers visualize the property as their future home. The article addresses the common question of why homeowners should invest in a house they are selling. Campbell likens it to detailing a car before selling it, emphasizing that a home is a much larger investment, and a reasonable preparation investment yields significant returns. Murphy stresses that buyers today, particularly millennials, seek move-in-ready homes and are less inclined towards DIY projects or extensive renovations. They are influenced by online trends, HGTV, Pinterest, and shelter magazines, expecting homes that align with modern aesthetics and offer convenience. Newport adds that a stager provides objective feedback and suggestions for changes, updates, or cosmetic fixes that offer high returns on investment, helping homeowners navigate the emotional process of selling their primary residence. Regarding trends, the stagers emphasize adapting to current design and paint color trends while maintaining a neutral backdrop for broad appeal. Campbell mentions that while gray has been popular, its dominance is diminishing, and paint colors should be chosen based on natural light, wood tones, and adjacent colors. Murphy and Newport discuss attending industry events like the High Point Market to stay current on design trends and keep their inventory fresh, incorporating elements like fringe on pillows and rugs for a boho-chic touch, but always with the goal of appealing to a wide range of potential buyers. Finally, the experts offer advice on selecting a home stager. Campbell recommends interviewing two to three companies for vacant properties, reviewing their portfolios to ensure their style aligns with the property and neighborhood, and confirming their flexibility to adapt to specific property needs. Murphy notes that different staging companies offer varying services, expertise, and pricing, reflecting their experience and inventory quality. Newport suggests asking specific questions about their days on market statistics, annual staging volume, sourcing of furniture, inventory refresh rates, full-time status, and insurance coverage. The article concludes by differentiating home staging from interior design, clarifying that staging is a marketing tool focused on broad buyer appeal and depersonalization, while interior design caters to individual homeowner tastes and lifestyles. #HomeStaging #RealEstate #HomeSelling #InteriorDesign #MarketTrends #PropertyValue #SellerTips #NorthernVirginia #RealEstateInvestment