4120 41st St N

Welcome to Happinest - the 1921 Tudor built by famed Washington DC Judge Ballard and his wife Fanny Foy as a weekend retreat in the woods. Perched under mature trees and manicured hillsides high above Chain Bridge and the Potomac Heritage Trail, this lovingly renovated home will transport you to a bygone era while being just minutes from the conveniences of DC, Arlington and McLean. The home has been meticulously restored with the highest quality materials to exude the history of the Arlington as well as the large personalities of its original owners. Remnants of the past are visibly felt throughout the house including Prohibition-era hidden passageways and wine cellar, original millwork from Georgian Pecan trees, a sunken zen garden with fountain, two kitchens, two fireplaces, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and tree top writer’s retreat - all connected by decks, gardens and terraces. Once the only home on the hillside, you now enter through the modern security gate and climb the winding driveway with perennial plantings and lighting systems. You are greeted at the top by a large brick home surrounded by terraces, decks, gardens and private spaces. The renovated gardens, copper gutters, stained glass windows and slate terraces compliment the natural setting like a cottage out of a fairytale. There is a deep tandem garage and entrances on multiple levels. The stately Tudor section features three floors of living centered on the Great Hall built for entertaining guests - Southern Belle Fanny Foy used to sing from the balcony for those visiting her home. The Pecan wood from her native Georgia has been meticulously restored and skylights have been added for a modern flair. The Great Hall leads to the pecan-wood dining room with built ins, main kitchen with vintage and modern touches and a three season porch and terrace to enjoy the gardens. Following the staircase up to the balcony, two large bedrooms share a renovated hall bathroom and they overlook the Great Hall. The hallway also leads to the dressing room of the primary multi-room suite with remodeled bathroom and it’s large wooden deck built in 2022. The primary bedroom also has two secret passages - one closet hides a staircase to a fourth bedroom below and the built in shelving system in the dressing room doubles as a staircase to the tree top writer’s retreat and cedar storage room, which is also accessible from the decks and gardens which circle the house. Below the Grand Hall is a comfortable family room with wet bar, storage, deep tandem garage, laundry room and remodeled full bathroom. A closet near the wet bar may look ordinary, yet inside there is a curved door leading to a wine cellar hidden during prohibition. The home also has a fully contained and separate section built in the 1930s with a large bedroom, renovated seconded kitchen and remodeled bathroom with its own entrance. The bedroom contains a staircase to the hidden passage in the primary bedroom suite above it. The grounds have been completely updated with new plantings, artwork, restored fountain, and lighting in 2022. Nearly every inch of the home and property was updated and ready for another 100 years of adventure and memories. Separate AC and Heating systems allow you flexibility and the absolute one of a kind layout allows you to tailor this property to your needs. The location is close to everything the NoVa and DC area has to offer, while being tucked away from modern chaos. This retreat in the woods - Happinest - is ready for you to call it home and create your part of Arlington History.