The Alexander Walker House in Richmond, Virginia remains a welcome landmark in its historic neighborhood. Owner William "Bill" Crosby's penchant for classical architecture is evident in each of the home's rooms.
Richmond Row House
Year Built: 1855; expanded in 1859
Architect: Unknown; at the time, Southern houses were often designed by their owners.
Style: Greek Revival, with Regency-inspired iron balconies and Italianate cornices
Current Owner: William "Bill" Crosby, senior architect, Virginia's Historic Preservation Office
Webster, a wirehaired fox terrier, sits in the front parlor overlooking East Franklin Street. The Empire sofa and upholstered bench have a relaxed air. "You can't hurt them," Bill says.
Facade
Bill Crosby leans against the original iron fence encircling his home, which has an English basement and a raised main floor that helps get air and light into the rooms.
Kitchen
Originally slave quarters, the kitchen was renovated and adjoined to the main house in the 1970s. Bill went in and stripped off the newer finishes to reveal old maple floors and a planked ceiling, which he replaced with an exact replica of the original. He also hid the appliances behind decorative paneling copied from the house's formal rooms.
Jib Door
This window has a low, in-swinging jib door—a type of Neoclassic portal that was used by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello and liberally entrenched in Virginia architecture. After 150 years, the jib door still works.
