Travel the World through Architecture The holidays are over and your summer tan is a distant memory. It probably feels like time for a vacation! But travel is difficult right now, so that weekend in Paris might have to wait. Why not (safely) explore hidden gems you can find right in your own town or…
Last week we discussed buying an older home with character, but what does that mean? Let’s take a refresher on the most common architectural styles you’ll find in homes throughout the U.S. Colonial Colonials are one of the most common homes styles in the country, especially in the Northeast, where they first found traction in…
Architecture can be beautiful, moving, inspiring…and occasionally very odd. Sometimes, you need a little craziness to spice up your city! Take a journey with us to explore architectural oddities in some of our Nest locations: National Museum of the Marine Corps Located just half an hour from Nest Realty Fredericksburg, the National Museum of the…
Historic Building Materials from Grass to Glass Think American homes were always cubes of 2 x 4’s, drywall, and aluminum siding? Think again! Throughout American history, many different building materials have contributed to a wide range of architectural styles. Read on to learn more: Indigenous Architecture The Native Americans who lived across North America before…
The beauty and grace of historical architecture attracts many homeowners eager to live in a piece of history. But although many historic homes have features that are still useful today, some original architectural artifacts are best left in the past. Here are several important home features that owners of historic dwellings should strongly consider upgrading:…
A Brief Guide to Dating Authentic Old Houses Classic architecture goes in and out of style, but never completely goes away. Whether you’re on a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive, or exploring a neighborhood to potentially purchasing a historic home, it’s sometimes easy to get confused about whether a home is actually old or if it’s…
Architectural Home Features with a Cool Purpose Sometimes, architectural details only serve one purpose: to look pretty or interesting. But in many historic homes, an archaic detail that lends charm to the structure may once have had an important function beyond the aesthetic—often helping the home’s residents stay comfortable before the invention of modern HVAC.…
Take a journey through hometown history with architecture Sometimes we take it for granted that where we live has always been more or less the same. But from the smallest village to the largest city, change happens constantly; nowhere is quite the same as it was 50, 100, or more years ago. Most places have…
by Tom Seabrook Welcome to Nest’s Historic Highlights. In this series, we delve into tidbits of history, architecture, and lore that hide in plain sight in the Charlottesville area. The estates of the two early presidents who called Albemarle County home are very well known. James Monroe’s Highland has been the scene of exciting archaeological…
Have you ever looked at something on your home and wondered, why is that even there? Where did it come from? Why the heck do we call it that? Let’s explore the inspiration behind classic architectural features you might run across in your town…or even in your own home. Read on to learn more, then see if you can spot…