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Clinton Cowgill established the School of Architectural Engineering (now the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design) at Virginia Tech in 1928. Seven years later, he designed this Colonial Revival house, among others, near campus. The homeowners have photos of the construction, including the final grading being done with horse-drawn equipment.
The original house contained around 2,000 square feet on two floors. The home today embraces 3,000 square feet with a contemporary kitchen, expansive master suite, three bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms and very cozy living spaces.
Laurie Coble was undaunted by the interior needing some serious updates. “I was charmed by the original character, overall good bones of the structure and landscaping potential,” she recalls. “I knew it needed renovation, expansion and TLC, so what better than to fall in love with and marry an architect?” Van and Laurie Coble exchanged vows in 1997 right on the front steps.
Comfy Living Outside
Laurie started her landscaping ambitions with dogwood trees and a holly hedge near the stone retaining wall at the front of the property. Over the decades, these and hundreds more shrubs, flowers and trees have enhanced the natural beauty and privacy factor of living in town.
“We love being outside, developing and tending to something which will be around for a long time,” Van states. “We look forward to trips to Crow’s Nest and out to Slaughters’ Garden Center in Floyd, as well as the annual Hahn Horticulture Garden sale. We have brought home many special varieties of trees and shrubs over the years.”
The Cobles have added an outdoor pavilion, a timber frame carport, swimming pool and several improvements with concrete and brick pavers. A recent garage renovation included the addition of Van’s design studio, Laurie’s art studio space and an outdoor patio on the second floor. Still, they have more to do, planning to enlarge the original well house next year for storing lawn care tools and equipment.
The exterior masonry here is noteworthy for being Flemish bond brickwork. Where the name originated no one knows, as it has nothing to do with Flanders or nearby regions of France and Holland. The earliest known example in America happens to be in Virginia, and it is common on some buildings in Williamsburg.
Basically, two bricks are used, a header of normal size and a stretcher which is longer. The headers are turned perpendicular to the stretchers with only one end exposed. They rest above the middle of the stretchers in the rows below and above them. The two masons who worked on this addition are to be commended for matching the original Flemish bond brickwork and mortar color.
Cozy Living Inside
The couple tossed around ideas, plans and drawings for years, Laurie rejecting the first four of Van’s designs. Then, bingo, they agreed on an addition with a new kitchen, den and full bath on the main level, and a master bath and walk-in closet upstairs. The renovation by Shelter Alternatives also included a new HVAC system, window replacements, plaster repair, painting, new roof, masonry and exterior trim repair.
The spacious kitchen is strategically angled to accommodate the driveway outside. Its cream upper cupboards with wavy glass and soft moss green cabinets below the counters are popular Colonial period colors and connect visually to the wallpaper on the opposite wall, as well as original walls in the hall and dining room.
A wood table, designed and built by Van, serves as an island. The formal dining room table matches its contemporary style. Beyond the kitchen, the new den exudes warmth from its wood ceiling and floors to leather furniture, floral drapes in earth tones and a Persian rug.
Small Town Life
Laurie moved to Blacksburg in the ‘70s and Van in the ‘80s. They raised two boys and love small town living and Virginia Tech. “We follow lots of sports and appreciate the hiking, fishing and hunting opportunities afforded by proximity to the Jefferson National Forest,” Van declares. Two deer trophies in the den attest to his hunting adventures.
The vision initially in Laurie’s mind’s eye for what could be, coupled with Van’s professional perception of how to facilitate everything, has been accomplished. Their plans evolved into a delightful home that preserves the past in the original front door, trims, period wallpapers and wood floors while evolving enough into the present to offer an inspiring interior — refined, rustic and relaxing – and all in harmony with history.
Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Jon Fleming
