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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

One House, Two Owners

I enjoy perusing the real estate listings, and have been watching the listings for so long that I often see a home that was listed many years ago, and is now relisted. When looking at the 'new on the market' listings a few weeks ago, I noticed that a home I had featured on my blog two years ago was for sale again. I called the post 'Light Filled and Lovely'; I love the light coming in from two sides, the elegant furniture, the touches of periwinkle throughout the room, in the throw, the vase on the mantle, the stripe on the benches, and the contrast edge of the curtains (hard to see in this picture). I later learned that this was Suzanne Kasler's former home , which is featured under the 'Asheworth Court' section of her website.

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I thought it was interesting to see the changes with the new owner. On the left: the real estate listing from two years ago, when Kasler was selling the home. On the right, the current real estate listing. When Kasler sold the home, Georgia was in the middle of a terrible drought. Now, the drought is over, and we have had the wettest spring in decades. The trees and landscaping have grown considerably, as you can see. Kasler kept plant containers to a minimum, with just a few Versailles planters along the walkway. The new owner has a few more, including two near the front door. Also, the right photograph was taken when the sun was casting long shadows on the front of the house. The picture on the left looks much clearer and cleaner because there are no shadows.

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On the left, the entry as it was when Kasler lived in the home. On the right, the entry as it is with the new owner. The new owner stayed fairly true to the furniture and decor scheme that Kasler used, with a vertical piece of contemporary art, a settee, and a side chair.

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On the left, the picture from the real estate listing when Kasler was selling the house. On the right, the living room from the new owner. The new owner's style is more casual, more eclectic. You don't see surf boards in a home too often in Atlanta! I love that driftwood sculpture on the right.

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This is hardly a fair comparison, as I did not save the old real estate picture of Kasler's dining room; this image is of Kasler's former dining room, professionally styled and photographed. Several of the pieces in Kasler's dining room were the inspiration for her line of furniture for Hickory Chair (the settee and the buffet). On the right, the same dining room as the new owner has decorated it. It looks like the new owner kept the wall color, but Kasler took the pink silk curtains that made the room pop. The new owner has a round table, which works well in the space, and I love the new chandelier. Or maybe it is the chandelier that used to be in the breakfast room when Kasler owned the house. Overall, the space is not quite as formal, but still very pretty. If I were the owner, I would have used a rug that filled the room a bit more.

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To the left, the kitchen as it was when Kasler lived in the home. See a hint of the chandelier? Yes, I think this was moved to dining room by the new owners. I wish I had saved the picture of the casual dining area of the kitchen, the big turned wood chandelier was really dramatic in the space! To the right, the kitchen as it is in the real estate listing with the current owner. It looks like a lot of things were kept the same - the subway tile backsplash, the marble countertops, the color on the walls. I love the bit of trim that is slightly below the moldings. The new owner added something on the vent - maybe antlers? It is amazing to see how different the colors appear in the professional picture - the walls look quite periwinkle on my monitor.

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On the left, Suzanne Kasler poses in her former bedroom, in an article from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. On the right, the image from the real estate listing. The new owner also has a sunburst mirror above the bed, one of my favorite looks. The new owner also has a fourposter bed. Instead of a bench at the base of the bed, the new owner has a cute little dog bed!

It is fascinating to see how a home can take on a different character with different owners (and of course, a different decor style). Yet, the bones of the house remain the same. Some people have the ability to see beyond the decor of a home to the architectural bones; I must admit, I am quite influenced by the decor when I see a home, and sometimes I like a home for the decor rather than what is really important, the flow and the structure of the house. It is helpful to me to see how one house, with two different owners, can take on a different look and feel. For more information and pictures, please see the real estate listing.


Come see what is going on this week on the Hooked on Houses Friday blog party, and Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday! Also, please make sure to stop by my 2 year blogiversary give away - a one of a kind item that cannot be found in stores!

28 comments:

  1. Very interesting comparison! Generally, I'd say I prefered Kasler's stylings, though the new owner's bedroom is also lovely (but too am a sucker for a sunburst mirror).

    You're absolutely right -- it's so easy to get wrapped up in the decor of a house rather than its bones. I'm so often turned on/off on easy-to-change things like paint color, flooring or even furniture (which I'm not even buying!) so when I house-hunt I have to consciously look beyond the superficial to see if the house "works".

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  2. An interesting comparison. In the Kasler home, I liked the continuity of the look and colours from room-to-room.

    It was nice to read your remark about the decor influencing your impression of a home. We are all very similar in this way, I think. It is a hard job to see the bones for the decor, but something I am getting much better at as I become more aware of architecture and interior design and layout - it was helpful that I am getting better at seeing the room through the decor when I helped my mother-in-law house hunt for her new retirement house. We saw a lot of bad decor and very few good bones, but the house she settled on had good bones, and especially good flow and layout, which was a chore to see through the horrid decor. I kept emphasizing the flow as she kept commenting on the mustard walls and wall-to-wall shag...

    Great post!

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  3. Such a gorgeous home. It's fun to see how differently people decorate their homes. Both are lovely. Hugs, Marty

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  4. I can't even get past the door. The landscaping should frame the house instead of hiding it.

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  5. I love this room by room before and after. You know I am a huge Kasler fan so seeing how someone would furnish her house is really great fun! Hats off to the sellers - they did a wonderful job of decorating after following such a class act! I like their more relaxed style, but I could do with out the surfboard.
    Another great post!
    xx-Gina

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  6. Still beautiful and what a difference some rain makes!

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  7. What a fun and interesting post. I enjoyed seeing the side-by-side comparisons. Of course Kasler's decor was more put together and well balanced.

    Thanks for sharing that with us!

    Tina

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  8. Love the comparison. It is always fun to see what people do and how they live in a house. Overall, I think the house is still quite lovely and probably a reflection of a much more casual family. Great post.

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  9. Yet another great post. I hold Kasler in such high esteem, it would be challenging to take "her" space and make it mine but the new owners seemed to do it well.

    Thank you!

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  10. It is interesting to see the difference in just two years. It does look like the new sellers tried to copy what Ms. Kasler did when the home was hers.

    Her living room looks fantastic; I think the current sellers is a bit too casual for that room (although it looks like she left those drapes).

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  11. Fascinating.
    I love the Kasler kitchen, and I really adore that dog bed!

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  12. Great post...I love being able to compare the two houses!!

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  13. I really enjoyed this post...I adore Suzanne Kasler and her style is great. The side by side photos are great. I agree with Willow Decor (Gina), I could do without the surfboard in the LR!
    Blessings...

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  14. Thank you for the comments, everyone!

    If I bought a home owned by Kasler, I would probably copy every single thing I could when I took ownership! But, perhaps the current owner just has a different style. I would love to see what she did with the family room, which was one of the most beautiful rooms in Kasler's old home (I did not put it in this post, as it was not in the new real estate listing).

    I think surfboards can be an interesting decor feature, but maybe in California - they just don't seem to mesh with Atlanta, which is landlocked (although we do have a river).

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  15. Oh my stars ... if the current owners want the place to sell, they should use the Kasler pictures!

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  16. Love to see comparisons of the homes as well as before and afters! Both have great style Joni will love that slipcovered living room! I love to see the art works and how they enhance and complete the designs.

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  17. That was so fun to see the comparisons of the same home with 2 owners.

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  18. It is so interesting, isn't it, to see the stamp of two different owners on the same house. I definitely prefer Kasler's style overall. Thanks for sharing this!

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  19. Great comparison, and a lot of work to put this post together. Kasler is one of my favorite designers. I think the side by side really demonstrates the difference professional photography (and staging) makes in images. Jane T.

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  20. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I would just say that each design was a reflection of the owner at the time. It is nice to see how they made the house theirs.

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  21. I loved the Kasler design so much more. I'm with Terry on the outside look, its needs manicuring. Inside I think its just a difference in styles levels but the surfboard only works in coastal design & frankly the size of the artwork in the entry & dining room is too small. Oh & too much furniture in the bedroom & living room. Sorry the stager came out....

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  22. I actually think the new listing is homier. It was a fun look! Thanks for the post!

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  23. I enjoyed your post. The styles of the two owners make an interesting comparison. I like the real estate sites too. There have great decorating and furniture arrangement ideas!

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  24. I love posts like this...so interesting to see the two different looks. Love how you have the pics side by side so we can compare them! :-) Not sure which I like better. I always find your post soooo interesting since I live in Marietta. :-)
    Susan

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  25. Great post! I really like the side-by-side comparison. I like bits and pieces of both and if I became the owner of that home I would blend the design from both. Surf boards serve a purpose, perhamps in my son's room, but not in my living room...unless I lived on the beach...
    Nola
    The Bloom Girls

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  26. Very cool ! Both talented decorators....I am leaning towards the second one -love the contrasts.
    Thanks for sharing - very smart of you !
    Hugs ~! Kammy

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  27. That was so interesting and fun.
    I loved the pink curtains. I think I like Kasler's style a little better

    Thanks for the exercise.

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Thank you for your comments! I strive to make my blog positive in tone, and appreciate the same courtesy when comments are made. Thank you!

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