1201 Key Drive

Invisible from the street and set on two and a quarter acres of woodland with American Elms, fig trees, pine, magnolia, wisteria and dogwood, this one of a kind property is a true sanctuary away from the bustle of modern Alexandria. With four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the low slung Main House, designed in 1939 by Frank Lloyd Wright-trained architect, Charles Callander, remains nearly unchanged from 1940. Designed for entertaining, the home features a variety of gathering spaces, inside and out, including a screened in porch built around a giant sycamore tree, a second story balcony overlooking the large expansive yard, and outdoor access from all main level rooms to brick seating areas and a covered patio. A separate 1700 SF two-story guest house overlooking a large swimming pool was designed by another Wright apprentice, Jone Thurmond, and compliments the design of the Main House with similar architectural details inside and out.

MAIN LEVEL: A cypress-lined entry hall leads to a spacious living room with verdant views of the large expanse of lawn. In Wrightian-style, many of the furnishings were designed for the house by Callander including a sofa that follows the dramatic living room curved window. Additional original features include curved wood paneling; waterfall cascading staircase; lighting; hidden blinds; built-in cabinetry, desks and dressers all in cypress; and surprise details such as a nook for an old-fashioned telephone and a bell the original owners used to summon the maid. There is a main level bedroom with Murphy bed and built-in dressers. The kitchen retains the original cabinetry and hardware with multiple storage cupboards and built-in shelving. A formal dining room includes a mahogany dining set designed by Callander. Beyond the kitchen is a breakfast nook with built-in liquor cabinet and silverware drawers. The breakfast room leads to the large screened on porch with Wright-inspired lighting. The dining room, bedroom and living room all provide outside access through multiple double doors to additional seating and hidden patios.

UPPER LEVEL: Upstairs is divided into two wings with a total of three bedrooms and two full baths. The master bedroom, similar to the living room, has wrap around windows with sweeping views of the lawn. The  children’s wing has a “boys” double bedroom with two built-in desks and and smaller “girls” bedroom which are now used as a den and an office, respectively. Both wings have original bathrooms with multiple built in storage closets and drawers. The upstairs landing has double doors that lead onto a secluded balcony which previous owners used as a perch for bands when they entertained large parties.

BASEMENT: The semi-finished basement includes ample storage space, a wine cellar nook, a full bath and a  paneled bonus room, formally the maid’s quarters. This level also houses laundry, additional freezers and mechanical systems.

GUEST HOUSE: With features such as warm cypress paneling, a cascading staircase and horizontal brick   exterior, the Guest House echoes the architecture of the Main House, but has a more modern feel. Soaring ceilings and two levels of windows make this residence bright and airy. The open living room, kitchen, and dining room overlook the swimming pool and a main level bathroom with sauna allows for direct access to the pool. Upstairs are two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and, like the Main House, a large balcony area.

POOL: The 20’x50’ heated swimming pool was installed by the previous owners and was completely rebuilt in 2011. 

LAWN AND GROUNDS: The Main House has beautiful front and side lawns and multiple outdoor seating areas with pergolas, patios, balconies, decks and a screened-in porch. The entire property is designed for outdoor entertaining! Much of the grounds are wooded with a variety of native flora and mature trees, including not one, but two, “Notable Trees,“ including a Notable Champion red maple, the 5th largest in the state of Virginia and estimated to be 270 years old. 

GARAGES: The Main House features a detached two-car garage with porte-cochere entry way with original tile floor. The Guest House includes an attached garage for three cars. There is also a circular driveway and plenty of room for additional parking on the gravel driveway.