Surry races were the entertainment of choice along the semicircular Van Winkle Drive in Falls Church in the mid-1800s, when spectators stood on the hills and urged the drivers on to greater speeds, according to research by homeowners in the neighborhood.
Those spectators would be amazed at the size of some of the homes that dot this Falls Church road today, a mix of old-fashioned ramblers, Colonials and Cape Cod-style homes interspersed with a handful of newer, larger homes styled as English country manor homes and contemporary castles.
The custom home at 6626 Van Winkle Drive in Falls Church, now on the market for $1,999,000, features a stone and Hardiplank exterior with front and back porches that survey the nearly 1-acre lot.
Replacing the original rambler set on this gently sloping lot, this home enjoys the benefits of the landscaping of that 1950s-era home, including a towering oak tree in the front yard and 25 to 30 azaleas and rhododendrons in the back yard.
A Civil War-era track runs behind this yard, which transported guns, ammunition and food supplies to troops.
The three-quarter-mile, circular Van Winkle Drive in Falls Church may have seen a lot of local history, but residents of the about 30 homes along this street savor the peace and quiet of their neighborhood, set among woods just minutes from Seven Corners and the Beltway.
Professional landscaping enhances the existing woods and shrubs of the home at 6626 Van Winkle Drive so that during spring and summer the home rests amid a bower of blossoms and leafy trees, hidden from all neighboring homes.
The stone foundation of the home blends easily with the Hardiplank siding of the rest of the exterior, which comes with a 50-year warranty. The three-car, side-entry garage has been finished inside and includes space for a workshop and storage.
Guests can be welcomed on the slate front porch, which is partially covered by a beadboard ceiling. On sunny days, they may be tempted to stay in this peaceful spot.
The formal entrance to the home features a two-story foyer with a knotty alder front door, with a curving staircase leading to the upper level and a chandelier that complements the dining room chandelier.
This home also has a “friends entrance,” a second foyer off the front porch between the garage and the kitchen, which has a built-in computer workstation with cherry cabinets and a storage room, along with access to the garage.
A rear foyer or bar area near the back porch provides a staging area for entertaining, with a wine cooler, a copper sink and cherry cabinets. A powder room is nearby.
At the front of the home, the study has a 12-foot coffered ceiling and paneled walls that frame a picture window overlooking the front lawn and two side windows. This room holds one of the home’s four gas fireplaces.
On the opposite side of the foyer is the formal dining room, which has crown molding with cove lighting, a chandelier and two sets of French doors leading to the front porch. Adjacent to the dining room is the butler’s pantry. Next to the butler’s pantry is a walk-in pantry.
The kitchen opens into a keeping room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and French doors to the covered back porch.
The kitchen has a cathedral ceiling, recessed lighting and two appliance garages.
The upgraded stainless steel appliances include a downdraft cooktop on the center island, a built-in microwave and double ovens that are both conventional and convection ovens with a warming drawer.
In the living room, a 20-foot ceiling soars overhead and a wall of double-height windows frames a view of the woods behind the back lawn. This room has a gas fireplace flanked by open alcoves.
The upper-level balcony overlooks this space and shares the woodland view.
Privately located in the back corner of the main level is the master suite, a 400-square-foot room with wood flooring, a marble fireplace and a his-and-hers walk-in closet with built-in shelving and organizers.
The master bath has two vanities and a corner whirlpool tub under two windows.
Just down the hall from the master bedroom is the laundry room, which has a pocket door, a sink and additional cabinets.
Upstairs are four more bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet and a full bath.
One bedroom on this level is a bonus room over the garage, which has a private entrance.
The finished lower level, which has 9-foot ceilings, has a set of French doors leading to a short walk-up to the back yard.
Address: 6626 Van Winkle Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044
Community: Rich E Land
Age: Built in 2007
Price: $1,999,000
Size: More than 7,000 finished square feet on lot of .85 acres
Homeowner association fee: None
Exterior features: English country manor-style single-family home of stone and Hardiplank with front and rear porches; sloping front lawn with mature trees and professional landscaping; level rear lot with mature trees, professional landscaping including established azaleas and rhododendrons; three-car side-entry garage finished inside with room for a workshop and storage.
Interior features: Three finished levels with five bedrooms; six full baths; one half bath; two-story foyer; rear foyer with computer workstation, cabinets and storage room; formal dining room with French doors to patio and adjacent butler’s pantry; living room with 20-foot ceiling, fireplace and wall of windows; study with 12-foot coffered ceiling, paneled walls and fireplace; kitchen with adjacent keeping room with stone fireplace and French doors to covered rear porch; bar adjacent to porch with wine cooler, copper sink and cherry cabinets; first-floor master suite with fireplace, walk-in closet and bath; first-floor laundry room with pocket door; curving staircase to upper-level gallery overlooking foyer and living room; four upper-level bedrooms, each with walk-in closet and private full bath; fourth bedroom upstairs has private entrance adjacent to garage, can function as studio or home office; finished lower level with full bath and space to partition into separate rooms, French doors to stone walkup to back yard.
Amenities: Four gas fireplaces, 9- and 10-foot ceilings, high-tech wiring for Internet, security and music throughout the home; tankless gas water heater; central vacuum system, three-zone heating and air conditioning.
Close by: Minutes to Seven Corners and the Beltway
Schools: Sleepy Hollow Elementary, Glasgow Middle and J.E.B. Stuart High
Open house: April 5 and 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Contact: Realtor Gordon Ball of MacCochran Group LLC at 703/593-0393.
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