Homes on parade
Local showcase event is in its 50th year
Consider the Parade of Homes a tasting menu of some of local builders’ best work: 31 ready-for-market houses, each one from a different local design-build company, on display for two weekends in October. The annual event is celebrating its 50th year this fall, and kicks off October 5 and 6 and continues October 12 and 13.
Presented by Roy Wheeler Realty and Movement Mortgage, the event, which takes place in some of the best neighborhoods in Charlottesville and its surrounding counties, features homes with top-of-the-line amenities: gourmet kitchens, spa-like master baths, and beautiful interior and exterior designs. The houses range from the low-$200,000s to over $1 million.
Said Kristin O’Connell, executive vice president of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Assocation, “Whether you are new to Charlottesville, contemplating a potential move or just have an interest in home design, this is a wonderful way to sample the remarkable quality and craftsmanship of our local builders.”
The event is free. Find more information at brhba.org.
Custom creation
U-Fab launches new line of furniture
One-stop shop? U-Fab is gunning for the title. The Berkmar Drive fabric shop is upping the ante, adding to its already popular services like creating custom window treatments, headboards, bedding, and cushions, with a new line of customizable furniture from a Texas-based company. Introduced in August, the offerings—which include sofas, love seats, chairs, recliners, and ottomans—come in 10 different looks like the Ripley (“a classic English arm with modern comfort”) or the Robinson (with a picture frame back), each with a lifetime warranty.
Each sofa, the most expensive piece in each collection, tops out at no more than $1,099—just add the cost of fabric on top of that. The new line is a natural extension of U-Fab’s custom upholstery service, on which the business has hung its hat since 2008. Visit ufabstore.com to find out more.
Color lovers
New paint biz makes its debut
You may think that sunflower yellow is going to look good on the walls of your guest bathroom, but sometimes ideas are better left unrealized. Or, better yet, it’s best to ask for a second opinion. That’s where the folks at Pigment come in: The newly established creative arm of Piedmont Paint and Finish in McIntire Plaza specializes in color (as the name implies), aiding you in choosing the right one and even recommending custom paint finishes (murals, graphics, or glazes) too.
Creative director and lead designer Christy Baker provides individualized color consultation at your home or in the shop, where you’ll also find “re-fabbed furnishings with an upcycled-modern aesthetic.” Think antique desks painted pale lilac and full-length mirrors in bright turquoise. The store also features the work of local artisans, like Aaron Baker, whose custom leather drawer pulls adorn a few pieces in the showroom.
Visit pigmentcolordesign.com for more information and to see the shop’s featured artists and products.
Take your pick
“American Pickers” to film in Charlottesville
Want your 15 minutes of fame? The History Channel’s “American Pickers” is coming to Charlottesville in November and the producers want to find “interesting local characters with interesting items” to be on the show.
The program, which airs Monday nights at 9pm, follows two of America’s best pickers, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, across the country looking for unique and valuable treasures in junkyards and barns throughout America. Specifically, in our area, they’re trying to find everything from early Halloween items and strange wood carvings to airline collectibles and folk art. For a complete list of what they’re looking for, go online to visitcharlottesville.org/visitors/americanpickers.
