Hunt Country Builder — Estate Homes for Virginia's Equestrian Belt
Hearthstone Design Build is the Class A licensed design-build firm crafting timber-frame estate homes and equestrian properties across Middleburg, Upperville, The Plains, and Marshall. VA DPOR #2705195817. Hunt Country projects since 2009.
What Is a Hunt Country Builder?
A Hunt Country builder is a design-build firm working at estate scale across western Loudoun and Fauquier counties — the equestrian belt that includes Middleburg, Upperville, The Plains, Marshall, Aldie, Delaplane, and Hume. Hearthstone specializes in timber-frame residences, equestrian support structures, and integrated estate compounds on parcels ranging from 20 to 200+ acres. Construction budgets for these projects typically range from $2.5 million to $9 million for the main residence.
Services Built for the Hunt Country
- Custom Timber Frame Homes — hand-cut joinery, exposed structural systems, SIP enclosure for modern thermal performance.
- Estate Renovation & Restoration — sensitive interventions on historic and pre-1900 stone and frame structures.
- Pool Pavilions & Estate Outdoor Living — cabanas, pool houses, and event-grade outdoor rooms designed as one program with the residence.
- Hardscaping & Fire Features — dry-stack stone walls, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens that anchor architecture to landscape.
- Equestrian Support Structures — center-aisle barns, run-in sheds, indoor and outdoor riding rings, paddock systems.
- Land Planning & Build-Ready Strategy — pre-purchase land evaluation, feasibility, easements, perc, and build envelope.
- Guest Houses & Secondary Structures — two-bedroom cottages, in-law suites, and studio outbuildings designed to read as part of the estate.
- Multi-Structure Estate Compounds — main residence, guest house, pool pavilion, and barn designed as one composition.
Cities & Villages We Serve
- Middleburg — cultural center of hunt country; historic in-town parcels and surrounding AR-2 estates.
- Upperville — the most established equestrian corridor in the country.
- The Plains — Fauquier RA acreage with deep equestrian heritage.
- Marshall — Fauquier hub with both in-town and rural RA/RC builds.
- Round Hill — western Loudoun foothills with Blue Ridge viewsheds.
- Purcellville — gateway to hunt country.
- Leesburg — our home base.
- Hamilton — quiet western Loudoun village ringed by AR-1 acreage.
Our Process
- Discovery — on-site walk, land assessment, scope conversation. No charge.
- Design — schematic design through construction documents with the in-house design team.
- Pre-Construction — permitting, engineering, open-book cost-plus agreement, schedule, subcontractor commitment.
- Build — one project manager, weekly owner updates, full transparency on change orders.
- Closeout — warranty walk, owner manual, 12-month follow-up.
Frequently Asked
What counts as Virginia Hunt Country? Virginia Hunt Country is the equestrian and estate belt that stretches across western Loudoun and Fauquier counties — Middleburg, Upperville, The Plains, Marshall, Aldie, Delaplane, Hume, and surrounding hamlets. It is defined by 20-plus-acre estate parcels, working horse properties, conservation easements, and a building tradition rooted in Virginia vernacular stone, timber, and slate.
Do you build on AR-1 and AR-2 zoned land? Yes. Most Hunt Country parcels in Loudoun County fall under AR-1 or AR-2 zoning, and most Fauquier estate land is RA. Hearthstone Design Build handles lot coverage, setbacks, secondary structures, and conservation easement coordination on these overlays as standard scope.
What is the typical project size and budget range for a Hunt Country estate home? A typical Hunt Country residence built by Hearthstone runs 5,000 to 12,000 finished square feet on 20 to 200 acres. Construction budgets generally land between $2.5 million and $9 million for the main residence, with additional scope for guest houses, pool pavilions, barns, and site work. Pricing is scoped against actual land conditions before quoting.
How long does an estate-scale Hunt Country home take to build? Plan on 18 to 30 months from contract to certificate of occupancy for a custom estate home in Virginia's Hunt Country. Design and pre-construction typically run 6 to 9 months, permitting and site work another 3 to 6 months, and vertical construction 12 to 18 months depending on complexity, finishes, and weather windows.
Does Hearthstone handle barns, riding rings, and equestrian support structures? Yes. Equestrian infrastructure including center-aisle barns, run-in sheds, indoor and outdoor riding rings, paddock fencing, and manure management is part of standard scope for Hunt Country properties. Site planning coordinates the residence, barn, ring, and viewshed as one composition rather than three separate projects.