Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Birds of a Feather School is located outside the town limits of Purcellville, VA in the western portion of Loudoun County. It is close to the historic town of Hillsboro, located on route 9, and is a scenic drive from Leesburg and points east, as well as from West Virginia to the west. There are quaint inns and B&B's and a number of wineries en route. For more information, please consult Loudoun's Visitor's Center, www.visitloudoun.org.

The studio, used exclusively for teaching and making art, is a 575 sq. ft.1810 log and siding structure. In 2007, Swope and Carbaugh made extensive renovations to bring the building "back to life," from a hazardous, neglected shell to a welcoming, safe and warm space for artists (young and old.) It consists of two rooms, a loft, a powder room and an open porch.

The second house, wood frame and 1.5 stories circa 1930, is a personal living quarters, which is shared with special-needs cats. The dwelling has three bedrooms, two full baths, kitchen, den, library, living room, a screened-in porch and an open porch. The cats have access to all areas. An outdoor enclosure was added to the house so the cats could enjoy being in a natural habitat without any danger.

The two houses sit on 3.5 private acres in the relaxing countryside. One side of the property is defined by a meandering stream and tall trees, which Swope and Carbaugh have developed into an environmentally-friendly space to explore with students, teach art, art history, creative living, respect for the land and animals and nature-inspired workshops. The cats have been known to escort students and are often chosen as models by those in outdoor sketching classes.