Goodstone Inn

Location: Middleburg, VA

Prior to commissioning Kohlmark Group, the owner purchased a beautiful 250-acre farm in a scenic easement near Middleburg, VA. At the heart of the farm was a historic carriage house with 10 stables, two additional stalls, a large storage room for three carriages and a small apartment used by farm employees. The carriage house was in complete ruin with termite damage and rotting wood everywhere.

We were asked to completely renovate and restore the carriage house and convert it into a comfortable residence. In transforming the space, the clients wanted a large great room, kitchen and home office that could double as a guest suite. Additional bedrooms and a master suite were planned for the second floor.

A priority was placed on keeping as much of the existing exterior fenestration as possible. Fortunately, all 10 of the stable doors were left intact. To flood the bedrooms and office with natural light and provide courtyard views, custom casement windows were designed to fit behind the upper half of the stable doors. The three front doors to the carriage house were replaced with large glass doors located directly below the existing half round windows. This dramatic front elevation was repeated on the rear of the house, providing spectacular views of Goose Creek. To create entertaining and outdoor living space, a large deck was added. Using oversized material and architectural details pulled from the historic carriage house, the new deck looks original to the home and the large stone columns that support the deck are stately and timeless. Even the new roof is similar in design, character and color to the original. A cobblestone walkway was added under the covered roof on each side of the courtyard.

Interior renovations were extensive and included removal of large areas of termite infested and damaged or rotted wood. The original wood floors were replaced with distressed random width heart pine that’s both period correct and beautiful. The new interior walls were carefully matched to the original horizontal tongue and groove 1 x 6 wood found throughout the project and only a small amount of drywall was utilized, primarily in the second floor master bedroom suite where a damaged plaster ceiling had to be removed. The large master bath suite was designed with a bead board wainscot, pedestal sinks and plumbing fixtures consistent with the time period. The large room on the first floor was completely renovated and became the main focal point and living space. A stone fireplace was added at one end of the large room and the old apartment was converted into a large country kitchen that overlooks the farm. The interior doors and hardware are highly accurate reproductions and the dark colors used throughout are original to the historic carriage house.