It’s hard to imagine Richmond as prime real estate for a hunting lodge, but, in the 1880s, when the sprawling Tudor that graces the west end of Cary Street Road was constructed, that’s exactly what it was. The six-bedroom lodge was built among lush gardens originally designed by landscape architect Charles Gillette.
Many Richmonders know it as Windemere or the VanderHoof estate, after the physician who turned it from hunting lodge to home. It passed through the hands of multiple prominent Virginia families and also served as a temporary governor’s mansion. In darker chapters, it was sold at auction. But through the decades, the home has become a landmark for Richmonders as they travel the Cary Street corridor. Its size makes it impossible to miss, and its generous setback gives it a stately presence.
Now it’s landed in the hands of its most recent stewards—a philanthropy-minded couple with three grown children and a dog.
Together since college, the couple’s love for each other and their city is clear. As they navigated how to make this house a retreat for their family, they aligned on a desire to preserve the integrity of this imposing structure. But where they began to diverge was their vision of the actual design. The husband is drawn toward historical architecture, particularly Tudor style, hence the excitement over his new home. The wife, on the other hand, is partial to spaces that are modern, light, and airy…