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by Dylan Roche
Erica Burns took on the project of renovating and furnishing this weekend escape nestled in the rolling hills of Middleburg, Virginia, for a young urban family, she knew it was a project that would combine tradition with modernity. “This client did have a vision, in that it should feel layered and be a mix of different styles. They did not want a typical ‘country’ house, as they lean toward a more modern aesthetic,” she says, “but also wanted it to reflect that it is a weekend getaway in the Virginia foothills.”
What Burns created was layered indeed: a conversation among many eras, finishes, and influences. Beyond the home’s stucco-and-stone exterior, the interior’s plaster walls and stone floors—with their traditional and historical aesthetic—proved to be the perfect backdrop for the globally inspired furnishings Burns would arrange to create what she describes as a “collected rather than decorated” atmosphere, rich with character.
The moment one enters the foyer, the home’s bold style becomes apparent: dramatic light fixtures frame a wall tapestry and highlight the natural stone checkerboard floor. Just beyond, the library with its brown-drenched walls serves as a moody and inviting retreat, contrasting with the airy, bright kitchen, complete with creamy cabinetry, gleaming soapstone, and stained walnut.
“We focused on keeping a similar balance from room to room so one did not overshine the other,” Burns explains. “While one room may be dipped in a bold color, another features a great pattern on the floor, and another is about the unique lighting. When placed together on a table, all the finishes are congruent, with each having a different scale and depth to avoid competition.”
Burns’ talent for juxtaposition is especially apparent in this design. The primary bathroom’s Calacatta Monet marble never feels out of place beside the subway tiles along the wall. The kitchen’s burgundy Lacanche range gives contrast to the softness of the cream colors around it.
Burns calls the style a curated, eclectic mix. “The key is to avoid overly trendy items and instead use classic pieces and shapes from different eras,” she says. “Mid-century lighting can mix well with 19th-century French antiques, as both styles are iconic.”
The home even reflects a forceful combination of creativity and practicality. Inconspicuously hidden behind a bookcase doorway is a playroom for the family’s young children, where the walls are covered with climbing holds and brightly colored furniture is low to the ground. Both fun and functional, its secret nature makes it unobtrusive to the rest of the home’s sophistication.
Burns’ vision makes this country house welcoming and impressive, cozy and formal all at the same time, and full of surprises around every corner.
ARCHITECT: Thomson & Cooke Architects
BUILDER: Thorsen Construction
INTERIOR DESIGN: Erica Burns Interiors
Exterior Photo by Jennifer Hughes | Interior Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
© Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 16, No. 6 2025