About Arlington, VA
Arlington is a county in Virginia, located just on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, DC. It was originally included in the parcel of land donated to form the new nation’s capitol; Arlington (then called ‘Alexandria County’) was Virginia’s contribution, to be combined with Maryland’s contribution to the north and east.
During the abolition era, a great deal of political controversy arose regarding the rights of Arlington residents to own slaves and hold adequate representation in Congress (Washington, DC residents still struggle with issues of representation), leading congress to return the tract of land to the Commonwealth of Virginia at that time.
It was renamed Arlington, to avoid confusion with the neighboring city of Alexandria, and it has since then flourished as an area enjoying the benefits of both a de facto portion of the nation’s capitol, and a member of a well-established Commonwealth.
Regions of Arlington
The county of Arlington includes many unique regions, each with its own culture, signature architectural style, history, and town center. Since they are technically not towns (according to the laws of its charter, Arlington is not permitted to have towns), these areas are referred to as “urban villages”.
Some of the significant urban villages in Arlington County include Ballston, Clarendon, Courthouse, Crystal City, Lyon Village, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Shirlington, Virginia Square, Westover, Williamsburg Circle, and Palisades. Arlington County also contains over 50 residential districts, each with a unique architectural composition.
Arlington Architecture
Residential architecture in Arlington county varies widely from urban village to urban village; you can find detailed descriptions of most of these areas by clicking on the links below. The sub-region generally referred to as “Arlington” usually describes the central region between Route 66, I-395, and the Potomac River.
Many of the developments in this central, ‘downtown’ region of Arlington are luxury condominiums, with a few neighborhoods of townhouses and single-family homes mixed in. Due to its prime location, condominium real estate in Arlington is highly desirable, and many condo communities provide a large collection of commodities.
Arlington Painters
Painting and decorating condominiums involves a focus on creating unique and individualized interior spaces that incorporate the view provided by the prime location (many condominium homes in Arlington are located in high rises and have a stunning view of the Potomac River and the city skyline), while creating privacy and expressing the personality of the individual homeowner.
Since space is limited in many condominium interiors, one of the major goals of condominium decorating involves creating visual space, which can be achieved with light colors, subtle color variations, and sophisticated color contouring. Cool colors tend to create a sense of space, as well as promoting a relaxing feel. But it is important to develop a color combination, using a variety of paint colors, textures, and other decorative techniques, that truly expresses your individual style.