102 Mayfair Lane: Stately Home with Wooded Backyard in Williamsburg’s Windsor Forest

Jun 28 '23

Every home has a story

John Womeldorf knows that every home has a story. As an experienced realtor with a deep love for Williamsburg, John looks beyond the basic features of the homes he sells. In his “Every Home Has a Story” series, John introduces potential buyers to the aspects of a home that they can’t see by viewing it online or attending a showing. By interviewing the sellers and writing about what makes each home so special, John helps his clients go from trying to see themselves living in an unfamiliar house to envisioning their family moving into their dream home.

First Impressions

This stately colonial home in popular Windsor Forest has great curb appeal. In fact, Pat Bailey says she knew years ago that she wanted to buy this home – before ever setting foot inside.

“I put a note in the former owner’s mailbox,” Pat says. “I asked them to let us know if they ever planned to sell this place and move.”

Five years after placing the note in their neighbor’s mailbox, Pat got the call.

The funny part is that in 1999, Pat and her husband Keith had already moved their family from Northern Virginia to Williamsburg. Having visited Windsor Forest during their vacations and travels to Williamsburg, they loved the neighborhood. It was perfect for their two children, ages three and eight at the time – so they bought a house in the community.

But it just didn’t feel like home.

“It didn’t give me all the feels,” Pat says. “I mean, it was a good enough house, but the space and rooms didn’t flow like the ones here do. Plus, we just love this property. and the greenspace and woods behind it.”

With Fords Colony on the other side of those woods, and Pat says that the view will never change.

When she and her husband first toured the home on the inside, they knew her instincts were spot on. After some hullaballoo, their contract was accepted. Bonus: their young children didn’t have to change schools (or swim teams)!

Coming Home to a Peaceful Place

The 3,685 square ft. home, which was built in 1989, sits on a large .76 acre lot. With its mature trees and manicured green space, it’s the perfect backdrop for this lovingly tended home.

“We added a screened-in porch and created a two-level deck out back,” Pat says. “We have really enjoyed watching wildlife from the porch and deck, and we will definitely miss our piliated woodpecker, owls, the red-tailed hawks, and other the other beautiful birds.”

The serenity of the property’s natural setting extends into the home itself, as natural light from a bank of windows along the back spills into the main living space.

Step inside the front door to find a gracious foyer and the first of two flights of stairs (this one a more dramatic, formal “L-shaped” stairway) that features the same oak floors that extend throughout the first floor. The home was freshly painted last year, with a muted color palette throughout.

To the left of the foyer is a dining room that flows into the home’s kitchen/breakfast nook and family room. To the right of the foyer is a living room that leads into the home’s family room. The open, airy floor plan was a decided plus for the Baileys.

“Our last home had dead-ends in the living spaces,” Pat says.

The dining room is painted in muted blue and white with chair rail and crown molding. In fact, chair rail and crown molding accents run throughout the entire first floor. The front living room finished in a pale yellow and white, served the family beautifully as a music room. The grand piano is long gone, but the versatile space works nicely for a seating area or home office.

All rooms lead to a generous kitchen and family room. Decorated with navy accents, the large space boasts pristine white built-in shelving and cabinetry on either side of the wood-burning fireplace.

Of course, the heart of a home is often its kitchen and this one is sure to delight the gourmet cook (and his or her family too). With glass and white custom cabinetry, a gas stove, granite countertops, and tile backsplash, what’s not to love? The blue island, countertops and backsplash pop against the white walls and gleaming cabinetry. Contemporary fixtures complete the understated décor. There’s also a cozy but ample dining nook.

The family room flows into a spectacular screened-in porch which truly brings the outdoors inside. With cathedral ceilings, this large inviting spaces has room for a living/seating area as well as a space for dining.

The first floor also offers a stunning full bath with modern fixtures, and well-appointed laundry room.

The real showstopper, however, is a humongous bonus room which, even though it’s located above the two-car garage, is actually on the first floor due to the way the property is sloped and graded. This 17×24 space, which features a bar and a closet, can serve as any kind of living space – whether guest suite, media room or play/recreation room or home office. Just outside the bonus room, there’s another carpeted stairway leading to the home’s second level.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. Awash in sunlight from three windows, the oversized primary bedroom and en suite bathroom provide the perfect retreat at the end of a busy day. The other two bedrooms are abundant in size and share a large, well-appointed bathroom.

Throughout the home, there’s storage galore, from the large pantry off the kitchen to the walk-in closets in the primary bedroom.

Upgrades and improvements

Exterior renovations include the installation of that spectacular screen-in porch and reconfiguring the deck, to include a second level. In 2016, the Baileys replaced the roof; new gutters were added when they purchased the property in 2004.

Interior renovations include kitchen upgrades to include fresh paint and granite countertops. Carpets were removed and the underlying oak floors were beautifully stained and refinished. All three bathrooms, including the primary bathroom, were completely renovated, with new flooring, cabinetry and fixtures installed.

Floorplan

Less sexy, but just as important, the Baileys have also made the following improvements:

• Heat pump 1st level (2020) and heat pump 2nd level (2010)

• Gas furnace (2013)

• Hot water heater (2015)

• Crawlspace vapor barrier and insulation (2021)

• Water line (2016)

Leaving a special neighborhood

There have been birthday parties, cookie exchanges at Christmas and annual Superbowl parties in the winter. The couple’s son, Phil, was married on the back deck.

“It’s been so much fun,” Pat says. “We have made a lot of memories here. This neighborhood has been really special to us.”

Pat and Keith are moving to Richmond to be closer to their now-grown children.

“We have loved this house and this neighborhood,” Pat says. “And we really have no desire to leave – except we want to be closer to our kids, one of whom is expecting a baby! So, we’ll be living close to our grandbaby too!”

Pat says that Windsor Forest is the kind of community where everyone waves. There is always something going on with many social functions sponsored by the volunteer HOA. People of all ages will gather at the clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, or playgrounds.

Location is another drawing point as Windsor Forest is about a 10-minute drive to Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary.In terms of schools, it’s zoned for J. Blaine Blayton Elementary, Lois Hornsby Middle and Lafayette High School.

As a resident of Windsor Forest myself, I have raised my family here and I’m in a pretty good position to represent this community that I love to potential buyers.

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