COZY COTTAGE

Photography by Michael Patch

A home inspired by faith & the city of love

Led to Lynchburg by job openings and a desire to share their faith, Toni and George Perry moved the day after Christmas in 2021. They bought their stone cottage in June 2022, after renting it as an Airbnb. As it had been a rental for years, the house needed some work, but the Perrys knew in their hearts this place was meant for them. 

Toni and George first met at the Eiffel Tower — a yard-sized replica that George built in 2007 for Toni’s “Evening in Paris” party. Fast forward two years, and Toni needed another one for one of her retail clients. She called George, and at this second meeting, sparks flew. The city of love brought them together; they started dating and never looked back. The original Eiffel Tower replica now has a place of prominence in their yard, and throughout the house, references to Paris can be found. 

With her family hailing from Italy, Toni grew up in an environment where hospitality and food were important. Putting her upbringing into action, Toni worked as a professor of culinary arts, as well as in the fields of broadcast, journalism and event marketing. George has worked as a machine builder, with a penchant for building furniture and other items as well. Desiring a career change, in 2021, Toni came to Lynchburg to begin work as an instructor at Liberty University. She teaches digital media and journalism as well as apologetics for Liberty’s Rawlings School of Divinity. The Perrys have a deep faith and feel that God led them to each other and to the Lynchburg area. 

An Ebenezer stone
Upon deciding to buy their stone home, the Perrys knew just what they wanted to name it: the “Ebenezer Stone Cottage.” Ebenezer is Hebrew for “stone of help.” Toni says, “This home is the biggest small cottage in all of Virginia, and God provided it.” The house sits in a wooded setting surrounded by greenstone paths and stone walls. An exceptional stone arch has been lovingly maintained and expanded. 

Irises, peonies, lilies of the valley and Lenten roses are among the many perennials in the gardens. A sweet small front porch with a red door welcomes guests into the house. Accenting the green siding are splashes of cream and brick red, which helps the home blend into its natural setting. Stained glass accents hang around the front door and throughout the house. 

The tombstone of George’s great-great grandfather resides in the side yard. He was in the Grand Army of the Republic. Due to eroding letters, the original one was replaced by the U.S. government, and George was able to salvage it. It sits under a lovely butterfly bush and near a sweet devotional garden dedicated to their dog Isabella. A deck runs along the back of the house, allowing the family to look out over all of the wooded gardens. 

The heart of the home
Moving inside, the kitchen is the heart of the home for the Perrys. For Toni, the culinary world is a passion, so the Perrys put extra thought into the kitchen. The late and renowned Loretta Carroll, who owned Fine Interior Painting, painted the kitchen a pale yellow. Red accents are found on the doors, cabinet pulls and small appliances. Stainless steel appliances are nestled into the white cabinets that sit atop a brown tile floor. Intricate brown-and-white granite countertops add texture to the space and blend the floor tiles with the cabinets. George used salvaged barn siding to create hanging pot storage on the walls. A small antique wooden table handmade in the 1800s in Arizona allows for eating in the kitchen. 

A light-filled sunroom flows off the kitchen, as windows cover three of the walls. The shared wall with the kitchen is covered in white beadboard and has a passthrough into the kitchen — remnants of what used to be an exterior window. A navy sofa with bright yellow accent pillows sits beneath the passthrough, facing the woods and gardens below. A red leather recliner and multicolor paisley club chair unite many of the colors found around the house. 

The sunroom space is also used as a dining room. A blue-and-yellow plaid tablecloth pulls in the blue and yellow from the sofa and adds a softness to the space. A pewter chandelier hangs above the table with navy blue shades attached to it. Blue-and-white plates reside on the walls and indoor plants provide additional warmth. A unique antique cabinet with a glass-top case houses flatware and a collection of the Perrys’ favorite items. A variety of porcelain Limoge boxes and other assorted collections can be seen on display. Another favorite item in the case is a 1700s leather-bound dictionary of fables. 

Sentimental favorites
A living room and office reside along the left side of the house. George applied the wainscoting to the office, turning what was once an ordinary bedroom into a space more suited for Toni’s office use. He also transitioned an ordinary closet in the room into a pantry for storing grocery items and cleaning products. Coral walls provide a warm, cozy feel to the space. A Tiffany glass lamp situated in front of the windows overlooking the back deck bounces a prism of light around the room. Two smaller Tiffany lamps provide ample task lighting and a gorgeous rolltop desk serves as the actual workhorse for the room. An antique glass-front cabinet allows Toni to display her collections of vintage glassware, teddy bears and other figurines. Toni fell in love with Eze while living in France and has a map of the location displayed in her office. 

In the soft green living room, a stone fireplace is the star of the show. Bookcases flank either side of it allowing Toni to exhibit favorite items. Her most treasured item on the bookshelf is a wooden box filled with get-well cards and personal notes. These are heartfelt reminders of Toni’s leaning on her faith, friends and family during a recent battle with stage four bladder cancer. 

A brown leather sofa, a white loveseat and a brown leather chair provide seating for the room with a metal, glass-top coffee table in between all of them. A pair of mirrors, which were repurposed by Lynchburg’s own CMW Inspired Furniture, hang behind the white sofa and were created from the backs of outdated elders’ chairs from Grace Church in New Jersey. Another favorite item in the room is a hanging wall clock that George’s dad made for him.

Bedrooms fill the upstairs of the house. A guest bedroom is painted a lovely shade of blue. All of the décor in the room corresponds to this, from the navy-and-white paisley bedspread to the area rug on the hardwood floors. White lace curtains provide privacy but let the light flow into the room at the same time. A glass window-turned-art piece hangs above a white dresser. It reads, “The Lord is in this place.” Toni purchased this at a consignment shop and adores it. In the hallway, artwork of Paris shops and an Eiffel Tower clock add to the French décor theme. 

The bright and cheery yellow main bedroom features a cream matelassé and blue-and-yellow plaid curtains. A pair of oak side tables and two oak chests round out the storage in the room. A portrait of their beloved dog Isabella hangs on the wall. Numerous squirrel décor items are found around the whole house, but in this room in particular, as they are a favorite of the family. 

The Perrys have fully decorated the basement using furniture they brought with them from their New Jersey home. A second den provides another space to hang out with friends and family. Blue tile floors set the color scheme for the space. A cabinet system allows storage for photo albums, a display case for family pictures and books and houses the television. A gas fireplace warms the space, residing next to Toni’s prayer chair. 

The basement also incorporates another bedroom, bathroom and a huge workshop for George. Family pictures line the walls, including a black-and-white photo of George’s grandmother in 1931 on her high school trip to Washington, D.C. Also included are photos of George’s great-grandfather, Toni’s grandfather and a personal memento. Brought together at a professional engagement, Toni and Howdy Doody’s Buffalo Bob became friends, and a signed etching by this famous TV icon now adorns her wall. 

The Perrys’ cottage is full of love — for God, family, friends and pets. Thomas Jefferson once said, “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty and in the point of life.” Any visit to the Perrys’ cottage, where the French influence is strongly felt, enumerates these things. History is honored, beauty is abounding and love for God is all around. ✦