A Moody & Modern Transformation of a Unique 1980s Virginia Home

Interior designer Adrianne Bugg saw potential in a home most people might have overlooked. When she and her family bought this unusual 1980s house on 13 wooded acres overlooking Virginia’s Rappahannock River, it was filled with pistachio, mauve, orangey wood, nautical décor, and plenty of quirky original details. Five years later, it has been completely transformed into a moody, layered retreat that feels perfectly at home in its natural surroundings.

Adrianne takes us through the dramatic renovation, from opening up the kitchen and reorienting it toward the water to transforming dated bathrooms, adding rich color and wallpaper, and preserving some of the home’s most interesting original features. Throughout the house, she mixes modern pieces with antiques, artwork, and souvenirs from her family’s travels to create spaces that feel collected, comfortable, and full of character.

The result is a sophisticated yet incredibly livable retreat designed around how Adrianne and her family actually live: gathering, entertaining, cooking, and enjoying the beauty of the river and surrounding woods.