George Washington slept here, and you can too. A new townhome-turned-vacation rental is worth the stay just for the modern take on presidential style. (Photo courtesy of The George of Old Town)
Martha Peterson has been flipping homes for more than 20 years, but when she came upon this century-old home in Old Town, she knew she wanted to keep it in the family. Once owned by George Washington (a pied -a-terre to his Mount Vernon estate 10 miles away, if you will), the house had been converted into apartments and fallen into disrepair over the years. Peterson and her son, Chase Whitley (a recent college grad who officially joined his mom’s business with this project), worked closely with historians at Mount Vernon to return it to its former glory. But, don’t look for stuffy interpretations of the founding father here. “We had a lot of fun with the history of the house, but we wanted to make it approachable,” says Peterson. “I would say it’s the cleanest, newest version of itself from what it was 100 years ago.” For more information, or to book a stay, visit thegeorgeofoldtown.com.
The wallpaper, from Mural Sources, in the foyer depicts pastoral scenes from notable Virginia landmarks, such as Mount Vernon and Monticello. Dental molding (pictured) was added throughout the house and is the same style as the molding in the foyer at Mount Vernon. (Photo courtesy of The George of Old Town)
The bright paint color (Porcelain Edge from Fine Paints of Europe’s Mount Vernon Colour Collection) was inspired by a similar color in the dining room at Mount Vernon. (Photo courtesy of The George of Old Town)
An outdoor patio, with furniture and rug from CB2, adds another pop of color. (Photo courtesy of The George of Old Town)
The house includes Federal-period design nods throughout, including a classic gold convex mirror with an American eagle above the bed. It was purchased at a local antique store.(Photo courtesy of The George of Old Town)
