Photo by Lauren W. Glenn for Southern Living; used with permission
The main-level primary suite at the Southern Living 2025 Idea House in Charlottesville, Va.
Looking for a fun fall getaway? One of the best we took recently was a trip to Charlottesville, about a two-hour drive from Alexandria, where you can tour the Southern Living 2025 Idea House now through Dec. 21. Purchase your tickets at keswick.com.
A portion of the tour proceeds benefit local charity partners.
We recently enjoyed a visit to the Idea House and it did not disappoint! We actually got some wonderful ideas from the house, from interior design to landscaping and much more. We especially loved the primary suite coffee bar, the framed sayings from famous rock songs in the living room and the fun teen bedroom.
Photo by Lauren W. Glenn for Southern Living; used with permission
The Southern Living 2025 Idea House in Charlottesville, Va.
The tour from pickup to drop-off went off without a hitch — after purchasing our tickets online, we pulled into a well-marked parking lot situated near Keswick Hall & Golf Club, a luxury resort partnering with Southern Living on the project. The resort features a championship Pete Dye golf course and interiors that reflect the same elevated Southern style celebrated in the pages of Southern Living.
From the parking lot, we were picked up by a comfortable shuttle that took us into a gated community, Keswick Estate, adjacent to the resort, straight to the Idea House, about a 5-10 minute drive. From there, we were welcomed by staff who checked us in. We took about an hour-and-a-half touring the incredibly decorated home, oohing and aahing over all the details.
Photo by Alexandria Living
The coffee bar in the primary suite at the Southern Living 2025 Idea House in Charlottesville, Va.
We were allowed to take photos and it was not overly crowded although crowds begin to pick up as we were leaving. Afterward, you can pick up brochures on the property, from all of the vendors and artists represented in the home and have a glass of wine courtesy of Southwest Mountains Vineyard, located in Keswick.
Charlottesville-based experts brought the home to life: Developer Molly Hardie; builder Alexander Nicholson; architects Rosney Co. Architects; designer Charlotte Moss & Co.; and landscape architect Waterstreet Studio.
For all the details, be sure to pick up the 24-page guide to the Idea House, which breaks down each room in the house that sources each vendor name.
Afterward, we were picked up by the van, then got in our car and drove a few minutes into the resort, located at 701 Club Dr., where we had a wonderful brunch at Marigold by Jean-Georges.
Photo courtesy of Keswick Hall
Marigold by Jean-Georges at Keswick Hall
Whether you're touring the Idea House's modern homestead by day or sipping wine from one of the nearby vineyards by night, Keswick Hall is the perfect home base for travelers seeking timeless design, gracious hospitality, and a true taste of Virginia living.
