apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I saw these photos too!

Do you know that I immediately though of our place when I saw them too!

I like the wall unit by the dining table. Maybe we could put something like that under our tv for nice tableware that would be close to the tv.

ooh baby! i grew up in reston (although not in one of these lovely homes). if it weren't so far from dc/the metro, i'd totally go for one of the mid-centrury style homes. i love how they're set in the middle of trees and actually have some land around them. so pretty.

Chic, superchic. But I have a soft spot for Reston's mid-century architecture as well as that of Sarasota. Would give anything to own one of those houses.

Goodman also designed a more urban community within DC called River Park. (I live there.) Pei-inspired townhouses with glass, glass, glass, and open floor plans. The apartment building is pretty cool from the outside as well.

Holy shit!

I've never done this before. That comment was supposed to be an email to my wife.

How embarrassing.

Oh well, the story of my life.

ha! art, that's pretty funny...

it's been a few days full of bugs and mishaps on AT, so you've officially joined the club.

oy vey.

on top of that I was distracted and meant to say "under the tv and close to the table" not under the tv and close to the tv.

This is strange...I work in Reston, and I'm not quite sure which buildings you're talking about....maybe I'm just used to the architecture and didn't realize how unique it is?

High-strung...yes.

Utopian....not sure.

But maybe that's just me, since I prefer a cabin in the woods to a loft. Those pictures are lovely though and Northern Virginia is definitely a unique community.

[pardon me while i wipe the drool off my chin.]
beautiful!

All of these photos can be seen in the book "Classic Modern."

Here's the link on Amazon. You can even see one on the Amazon listing on "search inside this book."

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Modern-Midcentury-At-Home/dp/0684867443/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196833527&sr=8-1

I've heard of a couple of cool mixed use projects in Reston. I didn't know they were so into "design". I'm a huge fan of mid-century modern.

Reston was one of the first "planned communities" and was intended to redefine suburbia. In addition to inventive design, the idea was to encourage a mixed-income demographic; most early developments were townhomes and apartments, so income variations among neighborhoods weren't as obvious, and there were no country clubs -- all pools, tennis courts, etc. were free to all residents. It was meant to be green, too -- lots of bike paths to encourage ditching the car, and 75% of the trees were to remain standing in any new development.

It's very, very different now; only the rich can afford Reston. The pics on this post are gorgeous, but also reflect Reston's radical change over the past several years.

There is another planned community (if you will) in the Virginia 'burbs (I can't remember the name of it) which was more traditionally suburban, i.e. exclusively single-family, no facilities, etc, - however the houses are all spactacular mid-century - just a bit earlier than Reston - mid fifties if I recall correctly. There *is* a website, if I can just remember the name of the darn place.

dn, you may be thinking of the Kentlands in Gaithersburg, MD.

http://pages.montgomerycountymd.com/kentlands/

dn,

Are thinking of Hollin Hills.
http://www.hollinhills.org/
Love going out there on a Sunday - driving around and going to open houses. The prices like everywhere else have gone through the roof - even for the fixer-upper.

If it is Hollin Hills your thinking of check out
http://www.hollinhills.com/hhh.html
Homes for sale in Hollin Hills - Great potential if you are into the mid-century modern.

I used to live up in Northern VA. Reston is just another pit of overpriced McMansions amongst the ever-expanding sprawl of The DC Suburbs™.

Go into the city. There is far more interesting architecture and culture to be found.

A couple of people beat me to it. Hollin Hills, a little gem off the Parkway on the way to Mt. Vernon. If you're headed that way anyway, there's a Wright house at Woodlawn, right near Mt. V.

http://www.delmars.com/flwtrip/pope1a.htm

Yes, Hollin Hills NOT Kentlands.

Chicago has more than our share of mid-century gems tucked away in the suburbs. We were streets ahead for a while.

The rich aren't really in Reston...they're in Great Falls proper.

I grew up in Fairfax City (1986-1980) and then Vienna (1980-1990) which is right next to Reston and when I was young these areas were very affordable, but now they have changed and grown and sprawled for the worse. I remember when Tyson's Corner Mall was only 1 level and Tyson's II was forest. Sigh...I long for the good old days before the crappy McMansions and super traffic. It was a magical place to grow up in because it was so close to DC and all the wonderful museums but when I went back in 2000 (briefly) for a job I was horrified how it had changed and I immediately got fired and moved to Charlottesville!

Oops...I meant to say I was in Fairfax City from 1968-1980.

And St@cy...a large number of the old-money rich are in McLean too.

I grew up in Reston and live very close to Hickory on the lake but I have to say, something about these photos just doesn't add up. I can't put my finger on it, but they don't look like Hickory interiors (they look bigger and nicer). I walk though the neighborhood frequently and I've been in many of the houses but I've never seen interiors like the ones pictured. I have wanted to buy there for some time now, the houses have nice light. . . but they are true labours of love! A lot of them haven't been updated and have original kitchens, bathrooms, etc. They're beautiful but overpriced and in need of some serious work usually (roof problems, old plumbing, window replacements etc. . . ). It drives me nuts that some of the residents try and sell for so high, thus importing more yuppies, everyday. But if I ever stumble upon a pot of money, hell why not go for it?

Tis true, Reston is filling up with the uptight wealthy who are pushing the idealistic hippie types out, but there's still some good little pockets here and there, you just have to be vigilant in your search.