Features:
Built in 1939
5,878 square feet
5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms,
4 fireplaces,
Fully renovated in 2013
A sprawling, historic house in North Arlington is brimming with enough new technology to make it seem perfectly at home in the 21st century.
The Lyon Village property sold in August for $2.595 million, a record sale for the neighborhood according to John Eric l Trevor Moore & Associates (JETMA), which is under the Compass umbrella.
This 2½-story, pre-war landmark has nearly 6,000 square feet of space. Built in 1939 in the Colonial Revival style, it’s listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. While stately, a renovation completed in 2013 by Robert Morris, an award-winning local architect, added modern touches while maintaining the pre-war aesthetic. It was one of his last projects. Robert died a year later at 53.
The house sports five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, his-and-her walk-in closets, guest quarters, a bay-window-adorned office and four fireplaces. The redesign achieved an elegant mix of old and new with amenities such as media rooms, kitchen gadgets and plug-ins. The ceiling was raised. A free-standing tub and other spa-like extras were placed in the spacious en-suite. A wall of windows and French doors were installed in the back, allowing a floor-to-ceiling view of the manicured grounds.
The AV-compatible technology appeals to lovers of music and movies. The home theater has a 110-inch screen with HD that rivals commercial cinemas. Speakers are in every room, including the screened porch and back garden. A sound-buffering system insulates each floor.
The enormous chef's kitchen is the heart of the home—a bustling gathering place for friends and family. The renovation stayed true to the period but added conveniences such as Sub-Zero appliances, a new dishwasher, oven and microwave. A Lacanche French range was surrounded by handmade wooden cabinets designed by Amish artisans. A wet bar was included on the home's upper level.
Robert also gave an enthusiastic nod to conservation and sustainability. Organic materials were used liberally throughout the remodel. The reclaimed wood in the home’s flooring, for example, is debris found at the bottom of the James River, which runs from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. Robert kept the pre-war vibe as much as possible. The stone used in the renovation was sourced from the same quarry that supplied the original building material more than 80 years ago.
This grand but unassuming home can be found just north of the Clarendon Commercial District, between Wilson Boulevard to the south and Lee Highway to the north.
Lyon Village, a planned upper-middle-class urban community in the 1930s, is now a quiet, historic district of tree-lined streets and venerable houses. It is difficult to believe this property was built the same year Germany invaded Poland, instigating the beginning of World War II.
