During Historic Garden Week, 200 Va. homes open to public

Richmond-area homes and gardens

Even while she was living happily in a large Tudor house, Molly Hood always admired a cozy carriage house around the corner.

She particularly loved the living room with the old stone fireplace, and she loved that the house was painted yellow. Bright colors are her favorites.

When the house went on the market, she and husband Rick moved quickly to purchase it. They oversaw an extensive renovation and have lived there since 2006. It's still painted yellow.

"I feel like I'm finally home," she said.

Their home, at 6205 Tapoan Place near the University of Richmond, will be on next week's Historic Garden Week in Virginia tour of Richmond-area homes and gardens. The Hoods' home will be part of Tuesday's Three Chopt/Westhampton tour. A historic Bon Air tour will take place on Wednesday, and a Manakin-Sabot tour will be held Thursday.

In all, more than 200 private homes and gardens around the state will be showcased during Historic Garden Week, April 18-25. Known as "America's Largest Open House," the program is the oldest and largest statewide event of its kind in the nation. The statewide tours typically attract more than 30,000 visitors and have generated more than $14 million since the first tours in 1929. Proceeds benefit the restoration of historic landscapes throughout Virginia.

Despite the gloomy economy, Garden Week organizers have seen "only positive signs" about attendance this year, said Suzanne Munson, executive director of Historic Garden Week in Virginia.

"People are looking for something fun and easy to do to brighten their spirits," Munson said. "Calls, letters and e-mails requesting information are pouring in from throughout the country, from California to Connecticut."

The Hoods' home was built in 1898 as a carriage house, and over the years it also has served as a schoolhouse. Originally, it was little more than the living room with the fireplace. Over time, other rooms were added, including two small upstairs bedrooms.

Enlisting the expertise of Grace Street Home Additions, the Hoods - Rick is an architect and owner of Ellwood Thompson's market - modified the home substantially, without sacrificing its charm or character. They wound up with, among other features, a new downstairs master bedroom, a new kitchen, a garage and an inviting back porch with ceiling fans that make enjoying the outdoors possible on even the hottest days.

The living room and the fireplace received a facelift but otherwise remain in place and offer historical context. The kitchen, with its high ceiling, skylights and vibrantly colored trim, is the heart of the home.

"I've always liked primary colors," said Molly Hood, a longtime member of The Boxwood Garden Club, a sponsor of the house and garden tours. "It's just a real happy feeling to be in a place that's got a lot of color, at least it is for me."

A small seating area off the kitchen, next to a bank of windows overlooking the back porch, eliminates the need for a den. The design fit in well with the Hoods' desire to downsize as empty-nesters; their daughter, Weezie, lives in North Carolina and is planning to marry this summer.

"We like the idea of using every bit of space," she said.

Furnishings include a mixture of Scandinavian pieces, English pieces and family pieces. Much of their artwork is from Virginia artists.

She hopes those who tour her home will come away with an appreciation for lively colors and an enthusiasm for trying bright hues themselves. She also hopes they get a sense for how much it feels like home to her.

"This is where I belong," she said.

Contact Bill Lohmann at (804) 649-6639 or .

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