Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A Reader's Renovated 175 yr old Church!

I've often admired people who have the foresight to repurpose a building from it's original use and turn it into something new and wonderful. I was very excited to receive an email from a reader who has renovated a 175 year old church in Upperville, VA - transforming it into a beautiful home furnishings & garden shop and interior design studio.

The proprietor, Wanda Crossley, previously owned English Manor Gardens & Interiors in Leesburg VA, which I posted about here. Her new venture is Matthews House and Garden - Isn't the setting spectacular? Love the formal gardens in what was a former churchyard.


The scale of this building with the charming white post fence is so pleasing to the eye.
The interiors are light filled and provide a perfect backdrop for these wonderful interior vignettes. Love the statuary urn on the pine pedestal and the rough hewn table set with china. Such a unique door - the oval inset at the top is a real stand out.
I can see from scanning this picture that I must put Matthews House and Garden on my must-visit list. Located at 9160 John Mosby Hwy in Upperville, VA (540.592.7147) the hours are Tue- Sat 10 to 5, closed on Sunday, and Monday by chance (love that!)
Notice the painting to the left - love the moody image. To me it's reminiscent of the English countryside.
Gorgeous selection of colorful pillows on this daybed.
Here are a few more interior pics. For some reason I had trouble enlarging these. I think the first picture proves that Sunburst mirrors will always be in - especially when placed in such a perfect position as this one.
The following pictures give you an idea of all the hard work and good judgment that went into redesigning this former church. Allelujah for the liberation from this dropped ceiling!

Wanda - thanks so much for reading this blog and for taking the time to send in these pictures. I hope to visit in person someday!!

33 comments:

Pat said...

This is definitely worth a trip to the country some week-end. The blue and white platters on the wall caught my eye.

Hat Lady said...

Wonderful renovation! I agree: the white and blue platters are special

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Charming...this space is just wonderful, I'd love to be able to come over for a visit!
Janell

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

FANTASTIC! Just a lovely job...and I think I saw at least 100 things I would love!

pve design said...

All I can say is AMEN that Wanda had the faith, with a little help from a higher power.
I am praying I can go there in person.
pve

Red Door Home said...

I will have to add this to my places to stop list during my next trip south. Just gorgeous.

Porchlight Interiors said...

A beautiful transformation

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

What a precious slice of heavenly goods. I love it-this is sort of a fantasy of mine-but rather to live in. The shop is flooded with the most heavenly light. The little English box-I love. thanks for sharing . la

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

& by the by-You won the YSL, Berge book from LittleAugury-touch base with your mailing info. GT

Champagne on Tuesdays said...

Beautiful! And I appreciate the comment about sunburst mirrors. I have been contemplating one and wondering if it was a fad - it doesn't appear to be, though.

Jeannine | The Small and Chic Home said...

Confession: I was flipping through posts in my blog reader and I didn't look at the blog where this post came from originally. I found myself thinking that this was Joni's Cote de Texas and that she was once again posting a gorgeous place in Texas that far removed from our little world in Virginia.

HA!

Thanks so much for sharing this. The pictures are lovely!

Meralyn said...

It's worth a trip for the shop alone, but you get so much more. Wanda and her staff are lovely and the drive to Upperville on Rt 50 is so beautiful anytime of the year. Right now all the trees are aflame!

Meralyn Autry

Unknown said...

What a wonderful transformation and great place it's repurposed for more good.

Bette

Jennifer said...

beautiful transformation!

oldchurchone said...

Thank you My Notting Hill! Wanda

the.neo.lifestyle said...

what nice natural light, i am sure its a nice to be in that shop.

Thanks

DAvid

Renée Finberg said...

you are so right.
such vision!

i love that area, including middleburg va.

the garden outside makes the building look so very special.
xx

erin said...

ok, that is really incredible! just fabulous.

Unknown said...

Amen to everything! This transformation is wonderful.
Love to make a pilgrimage....

Annie Pazoo said...

Lovely photos - I'd like to move right in!

Sharon@Sharon at Home said...

Amazing. I would love to visit their shop everything is so beautiful.
Thanks for the photos.

Brenda said...

What wonderful interior designs!The shop is filled with beauty and peace.The paintings are so... beautiful.

sherry said...

It's amazing! Even more beautiful than I imagined. Of course I am not surprised - Wanda is such a rare talent!

maría cecilia said...

Hello, what a wonderful renovation and what a stunning formal garden... would love to visit the shop but oh my god I love so far away!!! your pictures are fab!!
Muchos Cariños
Maria Cecilia

My Notting Hill said...

Thanks for all the comments. I'm with everyone - would love to visit this store soon. I wish I could take credit for the pictures but they're courtesy of the owner, Wanda.

Kellogg Collection said...

A must add to my list of stores you need to know about. Can't wait to visit it myself. But again, you found it first. ;)Cheer's Home

Anonymous said...

Wow, how beautiful, I especially love the photo of the outside. What a refreshing space she has created.

LeAnn:)

Velvet and Linen said...

Wow. This is incredible. Such inspiration for a shop owner like me.

xo
Brooke

Jeannine | The Small and Chic Home said...

Oh, I'm going to pay them a visit later this week when I'm out in Loudoun for work.

Perhaps Wanda will let me take some pics!

Janet said...

This place is amazing! My parents almost bought an old school house to renovate into a home, but in the end decided it was too much work for them.

Unknown said...

What a charming place - thank you for sharing your experience and the beautiful photos. I'm so happy to have found your blog and I look forward to future visits.

Soul Pretty said...

WoW! You have the best photos...thanks for the inspiration...

Pear Tree Cottage said...

I can't wait to see Wanda's new shop! She has incredible style. I was sad when her shop in Leesburg closed. I am thrilled she is back on the scene. It looks gorgeous from the pics!
Frances, Pear Tree Cottage

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