Now this is ridiculous. Climate change is going to be way worse than anyone understands.
Josie in from Berlin.
Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
August 27, 2023
who knows 100 degrees, berryville, jackie, josie Leave a comment
Now this is ridiculous. Climate change is going to be way worse than anyone understands.
Josie in from Berlin.
November 10, 2021
who knows 1850 jail, berryville, construction, demolition, pandemic project, romey, salon, the natural mane 2 Comments
Jumping way ahead. The Natural Mane in its new state.
As a successful salon business owner for over a decade, Romey knew she should own her own space instead of renting. Any idea when the best time to take a financial risk and do that is? Never! So when is the second best time? During a global pandemic, of course. It takes a special kind of vision to fly directly into the vacuum. Here is Romey’s story.
Before: The Barbershop
The discussion quickly became a reality in late 2020 when the 1850s era Berryville jailhouse (that had been a barbershop for many years) came on the market. Here is what the space looked like before it was purchased.
You can’t quite tell from here, but that floor is 5 layers of flooring all tottering on joists that are about to give up the ghost.
Before buying the building, finding a contractor and spitballing what renovation would cost was the next step. Also an in-depth inspection. Needless to say, Romey kind of knew what she was getting into. Kind of only because a building from 1850 always holds surprises. This was going to be a hell of a project!
Demolition
The barbershop was utterly removed, the attic was exposed and cleaned out, the floor was removed, and lo and behold the bones of the building began to emerge. But first, a permit.
One of those unexpected finds was a chimney basically hanging in space. It had to go. But the architecture review board had to approve first since the skyline changed.
Uh oh, an unexpected chimney ready to crash down and kill somebody (the beams are from the contractor)
But first a slight delay waiting for a building permit. Thanks to Allen Kitselman, all of this permitting happened as smoothly as possible.
Floor and Plumbing
All that flooring? Gone. And all of the joists? Replaced. Plus the basement was parged and lined with plastic. While the floor was missing, the plumbing trade got started bringing the building’s water system to code. Everything was replaced.
For a while, it was fun to walk on the skinny boards that sufficed for a floor.
Stonework
Repointing the stone was also an unexpected expense, but one well worth the investment. just look at these walls.
The rest of the space was framed for drywall.
Drywall
Drywall is always surprisingly fast. And then it was up!
Painting and Lights
Finish work is always a thing. Romey picked out flooring (local hardwood), wall, and trim colors, and supervised their proper application.
Now look at this. The space is coming together.
That eye for lines, color, and design shows right through.
Birthday Dinners
So what do you do in February with a space that is coming together and two February birthdays? A dinner party in the space. Cyn and Ant joined us to celebrate the new space and the old people.
By this time Romey and I had a habit of meeting for cocktails after work to check out progress. This was a fun tradition and made the stress of renovation turn into celebration. Magic.
This temporary window was installed to appease the architecture review board. Allen comes through again!
Moving In
A one day move in included shampoo sink, work stations, retail, heck, everything. Even some lights moved. Claudio was more than useful. Moving two blocks is way harder than moving 1000 miles.
The Completed Space
Several months later, the final move in (originally planned for January) happened in March. And the salon was reborn in a fabulous, unique space.
A perfect blend of old features like the beams and the stone with sleek modern design befitting a place of beauty-making.
All told the project was an absolutely excellent way to spend the heart of the pandemic. A new beautiful space built in the interstitial time. Risk taking like this is brave, to be sure, and it usually pays back.
Be brave.
Coda: The Stained Glass
Six months later, the stained glass panel designed by Romey was installed. Now the space is complete.
November 21, 2016
music berryville, BORH, music, photography, video, woodshedders Leave a comment
The Woodshedders at the Barns of Rose Hill, November 19.
The Woodshedders BORH 2016
Trunk o Merch
Shoe
December 28, 2014
music, nature, river berryville, c spout run, concert, downstream project, shenandoah moonlight, shenandoah river, where's aubrey, winchester star 1 Comment
The upcoming Where’s Aubrey concert Saturday 1.3.15 is a benefit for C Spout Run and the Downstream project (both working to clean up the Shenandoah and its tributaries). (See the Winchester Star article posted below.)
who: Where’s Aubrey joined by special guests the Bitter Liberals
what: Benefit concert for C Spout Run and the downstream project
where: The Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville, Va. 22611 * (540) 955-2004
when: Saturday January 3rd, doors open 7:30, music starts at 8pm
tickets: $20 in advance and $25 at the door >> http://bit.ly/Aubrey-river << (all proceeds to non-profits)
Thanks for your generous support of live music and an ecologically sound community. Merry new year to all!
Here is an article from the Winchester Star about the concert.