Reader Project
Our Custom Tudor in Virginia
This is our custom Tudor in Stafford Virginia. It was an unusual joint venture with a custom builder in the area. We were responsible for all plumbing, low voltage wiring, all cabinet work – the entire kitchen & butlers pantry as well as all the bathrooms (six so far). We still have a whole floor to finish downstairs, much of which is above grade – all with 9′ ceilings. We will tackle that as funds allow.
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House designed by my wife (civil engineer) and built jointly with Quaker Custom Homes. It has 5 Bedrooms, two of which are full master suites. The remaining bedrooms all have their own private full baths and walk in closets. Five adults live here comfortably. Our next big project is to finish off the lower level, much of which is above grade.
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Our Kitchen - I installed everything but the granite. We did our own plans, and purchased and installed everything ourselves to save money. It works very well! Schuler cabinets are made very nicely. (Not as nice as the custom built seen in this magazine, but very functional and much quicker from start to finish). This is an unusual kitchen in that it accommodates 4 cooks (plus me on occasion). There are two Kitchenaid built in refrigerators, a 48" all Gas DCS Range with griddle and two gas ovens, plus a 30" Miele dual rotisserie electric convection oven with Miele Speed oven above. There is also a 30" glass top electric cook top by Miele. For cleanup there are two Fisher & Paykel dish drawers and a GE Monogram Dishwasher. The prep sink and main sink are both solid copper which wears extremely well. Our favorite appliance is the DCS range - it is very well made and the gas ovens work better than we imagined possible. An all gas range is significantly less expensive than its "dual fuel" counterpart. Enough so to pay for the Miele Rotisserie convection oven. The kitchen is the centerpiece of the home.
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Ordered the cast stone fireplace mantle & surround over the Internet from Milestone design in Amarillo TX & installed ourselves. The Milestone folks were WONDERFUL to work with, and I highly recommend their products. However, I was glad we are both engineers - this stuff could come off the wall real easily if not secured to studs properly and built on a strong base. We designed the framing to accommodate it. It arrived in Virginia via Tractor trailer and was packed in sturdy wood and cardboard shipping crates. You also need to have a fondness for puzzles... The end results are more than worth the work!
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Mixing distressed Alder and the "heritage finish" black in the kitchen worked out very well. - note how nicely the cabinet ends are finished. You are looking through the opening to the Butlers pantry that connects the kitchen to the large 22 x 16 dining room. The second built in Refrigerator is in the Butler's pantry along with an under counter beverage cooler. The butlers pantry also connects to the mud room/ downstairs laundry and office with outside entrance.
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Another cast stone Milestone mantle - my "practice" mantle before tackling the big one in the family room. This is in the foyer - a large octagon shaped room that directs traffic to nearly every corner of the house.
