MAY/JUNE 2019 | SOUTHERN HOME 78I
n the face of modern life, it takes great
appreciation to view the flaws and signs of
age in an older home as assets. Not every
homebuyer is willing to work around
these traits rather than erasing them
altogether. But when Anne and Steve
Altizer of Charlottesville, Virginia, first walked
into a modest, three-bedroom home built in 1931,
they immediately envisioned what it might
become with some carefully executed renovations.
The couple couldn’t imagine removing the true
uniqueness of the original structure, choosing
instead to celebrate it in every way possible.
“The house is traditional in its architecture, but
it’s extremely quirky,” Anne says of the non-specific
style of the home. Their architect, Enoch Snyder
of Snyder Design Build, considers the structure
to be a blend of Old European, Continental, and
Southern influences. Adds Anne, “The windows
are different shapes and sizes, there are roofs
leaning this way and that, and we have chimneys
rising up from a variety of locations. Somehow,
though, it all works, and all of those elements are
what made us fall in love with the house.”
The couple did want to increase the size of the
home and add some updates, but they knew that
modernizing it didn’t have to eclipse the charm that
was originally instilled in the structure when first
built by acclaimed architect Edmund S. Campbell.
Even after the renovations and a substantial
increase in square footage, the residence still main-
tains its comfortable, welcoming presence. “It feels
gracious, as any Southern home should,” says Anne.
With its three levels of lime-washed brick, the
Previous pages: Husband Steve painted the canvas above the living room fireplace. These
pages, opposite: The Altizers love to host large dinners in the intimate yet airy dining room.
Clockwise from top left: Even with its renovations, the home’s exterior maintains its charm.
The wood sideboard adds a classic element that harmonizes with the vibrant blue-and-white
ginger jars. Rich, textured fabrics and gold accents add visual interest to the neutral living room.