The Garden House

The Garden House is the perfect place for two couples, or a group of five, to gather in a secluded setting in the center of the village of The Plains. The newly-renovated 19th century farmhouse shares a front garden with a one-bedroom guest house, The Artist's Cottage (listed separately on Airbnb). Excellent restaurants, a coffee shop, and art galleries are just around the corner. The Plains is a center for equestrian events, biking, and vineyards in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. The space The yard, with its canopy of trees, surrounds the house and offers so much privacy that you forget you are in the center of The Plains and can easily walk to all that the village has to offer. The house is on a narrow one-lane street, so not much traffic drives by. There is parking on site for three cars comfortably, four or more if you park creatively. Enter the house from the large covered front porch, and walk into a hallway with coat hooks and a long bench to throw your bags on. From this point on, abandon any ideas of what you think a 19th century farmhouse looks like. The interior decorating was inspired by a collection of prints from mid-20th century photographs found in a Florence market. We chose furnishings with a mid-century modern vibe. We have, however, left a few sections of the fascinating structure of the house visible. Be sure to notice the beautiful wavy glass in the some of the original windows. The kitchen is spacious, with a handmade dining table in the middle. It is equipped for cooking generous meals with two sinks, gas stove, plenty of counter space, cook ware, table ware, and linens. The living room, with a gas fireplace, has comfortable seating for gathering and watching television, and a game table. For added convenience, there is a full bath with shower on the first floor. The laundry room is on the first floor, and it is shared with the housekeeper when she cleans the cottage next door, typically on a mid-week day. An outside door to the laundry room gives her access with a specific key. Guests will be notified and can lock the door between the laundry room and their living space. The two bedrooms are on the second floor and separated by a hallway. The floors throughout the upstairs are the original pine boards, beautifully refinished. Both bedrooms are spacious, and have en-suite bathrooms and wall-mounted televisions. Bedroom One has a queen and a twin bed, and two small closets. Two windows, looking out on the front garden and the backyard, offer wonderful light. The bathroom has a large shower with a rain shower head. Bedroom Two, with a queen bed and one closet, is a fun bedroom/bathroom combination. A curtain can be drawn for privacy. A private toilet room is off of the bath area. A stand-alone, legged tub sits in the center of the bath area, perfect for relaxing after a day of biking, hiking, riding, or visiting wineries. French doors open for fresh air and views of the private back yard. The back yard is for guests of The Garden House only. The deck is accessible from the kitchen, hallway and living room doors. It has seating for four at a table with umbrella. There is also a paved patio in the yard with a picnic table, Adirondack chairs, barbecue grill, and fire pit. The railroad through town is only a block away, so you will hear the whistle of the train during the day and night. Only a few guests have found the trains a little too loud. Others enjoy it. We provide ear plugs for light sleepers. The Garden House is the perfect spot to get away. Every detail has been considered with comfort, cleanliness, convenience, and charm in mind. Guest access The house and backyard are exclusively yours to enjoy. The front yard is shared with The Artist's Cottage. When there are guests at the cottage, they have priority to the table and chairs in the front yard just outside their door.