LOCATION

Wardensville, WV

This generous 2 Bedroom 2 ½ bath mountain home strategically set on 2 ½ acres of heavily wooded mountainside bordering the George Washington National Forest, was designed and sited to maximize the passive solar gain the site offered and to leverage the stunning mountain, stream and wildlife ambiance of the adjacent national forest. This mountain home was designed to accommodate the owners growing family, their love of nature and hate of home maintenance. The house is virtually maintenance free with a standing seam metal roof, Hardi siding, aluminum clad wood windows and concrete porches, built to be open and airy on the interior, with high vaulted ceilings and generous natural light but built to maximum energy standards. With wide plank wood floors throughout, wood detailing, wood doors, monumental stair to the second floor loft and bedrooms, the house retains a warm, cozy feeling as the house fills up with family and friends at holidays and special events.

The house features a wide and welcoming 6 x 30 open front entry sitting porch; a large master bedroom suite with large vaulted master bedroom with wood burning stove, bath with roll in shower, walk in closet, home office and covered sitting porch built over a natural spring fed creek; large vaulted living-dining-kitchen space with wood burning stove and 8 foot tall french doors which open out to the forest and onto a 15 x 20 screen porch over the creek adjacent to the house. Above the kitchen and utility rooms is a large open loft overlooking the living room, bedroom and bath. Finally, there is also a large powder room, full laundry/mud room, pantry, 2 car garage, grilling deck and a full attic above the garage for storage.

Overall the house was designed to comfortably accommodate 2 or a raucous gang of 12. Designed as a weekend retreat to evolve over time into a retirement home and family retreat center, the house was built with sturdy, energy efficient bones and lots of space for the family to grow into over the years and decades to come. With it’s adjacency to the national forest this retreat transforms seasonally from a secluded summer haven from the urban life of the family, into a fall color spectacular, winter wonderland full of wildlife and natural beauty and a blossoming spring wildlife and bird sanctuary.

Photographer: Andy Ramirez