the 2025 Southern Living idea house
Get ready, Friends! Exciting news on the blog today. The Southern Living 2025 Idea House location has been announced and you are in luck if you live near the DMV. Under construction now, the 2025 idea house can be found in Keswick, VA- just a short drive from Charlottesville. If you know about the SL Idea House, you know! But if you don’t, I am here to tell you how incredible it is to tour these custom home sites. Southern Living partners with local architects, builders, and designers to celebrate southern style while showcasing the latest and greatest in home and interior design.
Before I get into what we know about the 2025 Idea House, I want to take you a quick tour of the SL 2015 Idea House, also nestled outside Charlottesville. Eddie and made a weekend adventure planned around taking this tour ten years ago and I still think about it so often. It is one thing to dream through the pages of magazines and Pinterest boards, but this was my first time experiencing an entire home where every corner is intentionally designed by the best in the business. May be my definition of what heaven is like :)
The first thing I remember so vividly about the 2105 Southern Living Idea House was the beautiful stone exterior. I loved how the designers payed homage to the rich history of the surrounding Charlottesville area while maintaining a classic facade that would hold true for today’s homeowners. This was done by using traditional lines when constructing the portico and choosing light fixtures that would satisfy both home-towner Thomas Jefferson and the buyers at Restoration Hardware.
I swooned over the ample multi-level outdoor living space with views of the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. Designers took the charm of the classic front porch and moved it to the rear of the home, featuring traditional white columns and an outdoor stone fireplace.
The Southern living Idea House sits just below the blue ridge near in Charlottesville, VA.
When walking into the kitchen, you are immediately drawn to the incredible natural light and creamy floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. This neutral design was created before the birth of the all-white kitchen, but I think it speaks to the timelessness of a design whose simplicity will always be beautiful. My favorite aspect of this kitchen is the large island surrounded by contrasting windsor stools, another nod to the historical setting of this home.
Complete photo credit for blog post: Laurey W. Glenn
Below you can find more photos that show the other highlights from this gorgeous southern home, including unique pajama lounge, upstair bunkroom, garage breezeway, and butler’s pantry. I also encourage you to take a look at the photo tours from Southern Living and Ballard Designs’ photo interview with Bunny Williams, the creative mind behind the 2015 Idea House.
If you enjoyed my mini-tour of the 2015 Southern Living Idea House, then please don’t miss the opportunity to visit the 2025 Idea House! Southern Listing describes this 5 acre Virginia property it as a “modern homestead” with an “emphasis on easy entertaining.” I am certain it will be another stunner. Among the local experts on the project are builder Alexander Nicholson; architects Rosney Co. Architects; designer Charlotte Moss & Co.; and landscape architect Waterstreet Studio.
Charlottesville is the perfect spot for a weekend get-away and we’ve visited quite a few times now, so reach out if you decide to plan your trip and need some restaurant and travel ideas!
XO- erin
The Southern Living 2025 Idea House will be open to the public for tours from August through December, 2025.
Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sundays 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Photo: John Messer
