391 STEAMBOAT ROAD
$1,298,000.
4 Bedrooms 3 Full Baths 1 Half Bath 3,460 Square Feet 1.05 Acres
“Happiness is being immersed in a project… old houses are the gifts that keep on giving.”
Set on the shores of Carter’s Creek, within one of Irvington’s most prized waterfront enclaves, Captain’s Quarters offers an exceptional chance to reimagine a true coastal classic. Here, the setting does the talking: long, open views across deep, protected water; a sense of privacy that feels held by the creek itself; and the quiet pleasure of living where the landscape is both beautiful and practical—ideal for boating, paddling, and unhurried days on the water.
The house is defined by time-softened timber floors, a gently bowed window, and a fireplace set against early, unshowy trim that rewards sensitive restoration. Its enduring bones and clear relationship to the water create a strong foundation for renewal—whether that means preserving its character with careful upgrades or elevating it with a more contemporary interpretation that still respects the site.
More than a home, Captain’s Quarters is a lifestyle proposition: mornings with the tide, afternoons on the dock, evenings when the light drops low over the creek. For those with vision, it’s an opportunity to craft something lasting—an Irvington retreat shaped by place, perspective, and the simple luxury of living at the water’s edge.
Approached by way of the quiet, charming Steamboat Road, the house reveals itself with easy, unforced Tidewater poise. To the rear, a broad brick terrace provides a natural outdoor room for long lunches, late-day drinks, and unbroken views across the creek, where the light and weather bring the Chesapeake landscape to life.
Inside, the atmosphere is bright and open to the water, with early wood floors underfoot, simple traditional joinery, and generous, water-facing windows that draw the horizon into everyday living. The property now invites a comprehensive renovation: a compelling canvas for a design-led buyer to restore its steamboat-era character and introduce contemporary comfort — creating a lasting waterfront home with both polish and soul.
The study is an intimate, firelit room — anchored by a deep masonry fireplace and the patina of early timber floors — a naturally quiet place for reading, working, or simply watching the day soften on the creek. Nearby, the corner dining room is washed in light, its gently bowed window creating a lovely perch for morning coffee or lingering suppers.
At the heart of the house, a bright, generous country kitchen is arranged for easy, sociable living, with an oversized island that invites gathering. Cabinetry runs the length of the space, and broad windows bring the view in; doors open directly onto the dining deck, extending everyday life outdoors for effortless entertaining.
Set on the creekfront side of the house, the first-floor primary suite is positioned for an intimate relationship with Carter’s Creek — the water close enough to feel part of the room, with shifting light and passing boats animating the view. A generous bay window creates a natural sitting spot, while glazed doors open directly onto the terrace for early morning outside and quiet evenings by the water. A fireplace adds a welcome sense of warmth and enclosure, making the room as appealing in winter as it is in high summer.
The suite is supported by a series of well-considered ancillary spaces: a separate dressing room, a walk-in closet, and a large bathroom with a long double vanity, a broad mirror, and a deep soaking tub — offering excellent scale for a future reworking into a more contemporary retreat, without losing its calm, creekside character.
Upstairs, a simple stair hall opens to a trio of corner bedrooms, each set high enough to catch the breeze and draw in the light. With windows on two sides, the rooms feel quietly airy — some framing long views across Carter’s Creek — and all share the honest character of the house, from painted trim to time-worn boards underfoot.
The level is served by one and a half bathrooms, offering a practical footprint as it stands and a clear opportunity for reconfiguration, making it well-suited to a future scheme that refines the accommodation while keeping the calm, coastal simplicity of this steamboat-era home.
Set on a rare in-town acre with 212 feet of shoreline, the property meets Carters Creek at the water’s edge—calm, protected, and always in view. A private dock extends out to a seldom-offered boathouse, making it effortless to step from lawn to boat and out onto the creek and beyond.
Life here naturally drifts outdoors: morning coffee on the terrace, long afternoons on the water, and evenings watching the creek settle into dusk. The grounds offer compelling scope to shape what comes next—whether that’s a pool, layered gardens, or a true waterfront entertaining terrace—an exceptional canvas in one of Virginia’s most scenic coastal settings.
But the true allure of 391 Steamboat Road is its place within Irvington—one of the Northern Neck’s most compelling waterfront villages, where the pace is unhurried and the pleasures are distinctly refined. Once a working steamboat port, the town has matured into a polished coastal enclave, equally cherished by weekend arrivals and year-round residents.
From the house, it’s an easy stroll to wine bars, boutiques, and galleries, with clapboard inns tucked along leafy streets where boxwoods perfume the air and the creek’s salt breeze follows you home. Irvington’s anchor is The Tides Inn—its resort, marina, and waterfront dining shaping the town’s social rhythm—while the Hope & Glory Inn offers an intimate counterpoint, celebrated for its garden bar and quietly romantic charm.
Life here is defined by small rituals and seasonal gatherings: the farmer’s market, evenings that turn into crab feasts, art openings, and impromptu dinners that reflect a growing culinary scene. It’s a place where coastal tradition feels intact—yet everything is gently evolving—making Irvington not just a destination, but a way of living.
Captain’s Quarters is not simply a house awaiting imagination—it is an invitation into the cadence of Irvington and the enduring romance of life on Carters Creek. Here, the bones are in place, the setting is exceptional, and the next chapter is yours to author.
For the buyer with an eye for craft and a love of places with provenance, the opportunity is rare: to shape a refined waterfront retreat that feels both personal and lasting—rooted in town, wrapped in water, and rich with the quiet confidence that only a truly special setting can provide.
FLOOR PLAN
