ROLEREVERSAL

THE TABLES ARE TURNED IN VIRGINIA’S HORSE COUNTRY, WHERE CHILDREN LEAD THE WAY FOR GENERATIONS OF MEMORIES

- KRISSA ROSSBUND,ADAM ALBRIGHT

The adults in a family are most commonly responsible for orchestrating Christmas. They shop for patent leather Mary Janes and tiny bow ties to be worn by their children at the school pageant. They schedule the family portrait that will grace holiday cards sent to friends and family. They delicately unwrap a bevy of nostalgic ornaments that remind of Christmases past, and they supply the kitchen with all the necessary confections to embellish gingerbread houses with architectural sweetness.

But at Beau and Dea Van Metre’s Middleburg, Virginia, expanse, their children—granted, their adult children—played seminal roles in the development of the house’s personality. First, their daughter Ashley led them to Kerry Delrose. The New York designer created interiors so decadent in design frills that Santa surely lingers with his cookies for a bit before carrying on to deliver gifts at his next stop.

“Ashley and her husband hired Kerry to decorate their home in North Carolina,” Dea says. “They introduced us to him after that. We met him at The Plaza Hotel in New York for an initial meeting, and we had instant chemistry.”

The Van Metres’ house, originally built in 1934, has been in the family for more than 40 years. Beau’s father had taken possession in 1984 and built a new wing that would eventually host two weddings—Beau and Dea’s in 1989, and their daughter’s in 2000. But after Beau’s father passed, the house became too much for his stepmother to tend to. The neglect, in addition to a dated scheme, required attention and work.

Enter Chris Van Metre, Beau and Dea’s son, who is a home builder. He envisioned glory, but it would require a facelift.

During the renovation, Chris discovered original stone walls behind stucco. He carved out a large bedroom suite for his younger sister, Alison, from an area up the back staircase that was once staff quarters. He also added an apartment for the Van Metres’ assistant, Alba, above the garage.