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Monday, May 2, 2011

Peachtree Battle House and Garden Tour

I can't believe it is already May!  May is one of my favorite months in Atlanta, and one of the highlights of the month is the the Peachtree Battle Friends House & Garden Tour, which always takes place on the first Tuesday in May.  Some of the most beautiful houses I have seen through the years have been on this wonderful tour - I highly recommend it.  This year's tour is Tuesday, May 4 from 10 am - 2 pm, and proceeds benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The Peachtree Battle area of Atlanta is truly one of the most beautiful residential areas in the city.  The area encompasses three historic Buckhead neighborhoods, and many of the homes were designed in the 1920s-1940s.  The Peachtree Battle area is known for its gracious but well scaled lots, and beautiful architecture that represents a wide range of classic but eclectic styles that sit at ease in the neighborhood because of their well thought out scale, proportion, and design.  This area of Atlanta is one of my favorite places to walk my dog, as the architecture and landscaping provide great inspiration for me.  

Four homes are on the tour this year.



553 Peachtree Battle Avenue
Quick iphone picture of 553 Peachtree Battle


Situated on the highest hill of Peachtree Battle, this timeless French Provencal house is the home of two doctors and their young daughters. Originally built in 1950, the current family has lived here for almost 10 years. Upon purchasing their Peachtree Battle home, they envisioned a place where they could raise a family, entertain, and collect art and antiques. They desired a space that flowed well for entertaining but also felt like a home. The way the home rests upon the lot, the conveniences and quaintness of Haynes Manor, and the proximity to schools and hospitals satisfied their immediate needs, but also provided a potential for expanding.



330 Woodward Way


After a devastating fire in June 2004 that caused a total loss to their dream home outside of Savannah, the current homeowners decided to start fresh and to build their second dream home in Atlanta. Architect Charles Heydt of Pak Heydt and Associates was commissioned to design their new home to look as if it had been part of the established neighborhood of Haynes Manor for years. The plans for the Dutch Colonial featured a facade of fieldstone from Cashiers, North Carolina, five bedrooms, and an open floor plan to accommodate a young family and casual entertaining. Because outdoor living space was equally important to the homeowners, Hedyt incorporated a front porch with gas lanterns into the home's design, as well as a side courtyard with a fountain. In the backyard, a saltwater pool was added for more family and entertaining time and entertaining friends. From their times working in the low country, the couple turned to Gwyn Duggan of Gwyn Duggan Design of Savannah to focus on the home's kitchen and baths. Their collaboration resulted in many accolades, including being named "Kitchen of the Year" by Southern Accents in their 2009 Annual Design Awards and a feature article in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle in 2008.

Personal note: I wrote a blog post on this house in 2009 (click here to see post), and have been inside this lovely home.  It is absolutely beautiful - I can't wait to see it again on the tour!



2928 Habersham Road


Quick iphone picture of 2928 Habersham


The colonial house at 2928 Habersham Road was designed and built by architect Harold McKenzie in 1955 for his own family. McKenzie took great care in designing the house plans and gave special attention to the natural landscape and creek that wraps around the property. He built a massive stone retaining wall to add architectural appeal and to provide protection during heavy rain so that the house was shielded from rising waters from the creek.

The current owners purchased the house in 2007. They fell in love with the classical architectural details of the home, the wonderful natural light throughout the house, and the meandering creek. They thought it was a perfect family house and one they could enjoy for years to come. Some minor renovations were completed throughout the house in 2007. Once the updates were made, the couple's mothers (Sally Draughon of Previews Interiors and Antiques in Macon, Georgia and Susan Reid of Stringer Reid and Associates in Dallas, Texas), who are both interior designers, worked with them on the design of the interior. It was important to the homeowners to consider the style of the house and make the front rooms more suitable for formal entertaining, while the back of the house needed to be casual for their growing family. They feel they succeeded in balancing these needs. While some items were inherited from grandparents and parents, the couple enjoyed incorporating things they picked up on travels, at antique shops and even flea markets. 

Personal note: I have been in this house several times, for parties and kids' playdates, and it has that 'je ne sais quoi' quality of feeling so right, so put together, so elegant - and yet so livable. There is something very special about this house and its interiors!



2375 Havenridge Drive

This Garrison Colonial style house was built in the 1940's but it was not until 2007 that it was purchased and lovingly renovated by the current owners. Devoted residents of Haynes Manor, the homeowners went in search of a house in the neighborhood that could accommodate the needs of their growing family, while fulfilling their desire for an elegant and comfortable home. This Havenridge house had all the potential elements that were important to them, but it needed a lot of work both inside and out. 


The homeowners enlisted their friend and interior designer Charlotte Cahoon of Herndon Interiors, to help bring their ideas together and create exactly what they envisioned for their new home. Together they transformed the exterior of the house with custom millwork for the portico, porte-cochere, and smart new paint colors. The interior of the home presented a real challenge; the desire to maximize light meant replacing all of the windows and in some cases, adding windows. The existing screen porch was cleverly transformed into a serene sunroom, with the help of Harrison Design Associates. Both the architect and the interior designer collaborated with the homeowners to create a peaceful place for family to gather.  

Cynthia Ziegler was hired to transform the kitchen to a family friendly space and maximize storage; a neutral color scheme was chosen to create a calming effect for this often chaotic nucleus of the home.

In the end, all of the aspirations for this challenging but rewarding project were
achieved, resulting in a house that is charming and sophisticated yet never relinquishing its most appealing quality - comfort.







Come back and check this post later, I am going to try to update it with exterior pictures of the other homes.  In the meantime, if you are in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend this tour of homes.  It is an amazing tour, and benefits such an outstanding cause.


Peachtree Battle House and Garden Tour - http://www.choa.org/Support-Childrens/Events/Peachtree-Battle-Home-Tour

Date:
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 - Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location:
Peachtree Battle Neighborhood
Tickets:
$25 per person day of tour purchased at any of the homes.

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13 comments:

  1. A very painless way to support Children's Healthcare.

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  2. This is the best tour of homes in Atlanta. I always take part of the day off. I only wish it could be on a weekend, but that is my only complaint! It is great.

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  3. Sounds like a great tour - will indeed check back later to see the exteriors and will look forward to seeing the interiors as well!

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  4. What a fabulous tour! Wish I lived closer to attend and for such a great cause!

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  5. What beautiful homes. I adore home tours and recently volunteered for one in an historic area of Denver. I posted about the experience and provided photographs on my blog, pristinecristine.blogspot.com-if you are interested in visiting more home tours ;-) Thank you for sharing-I am excited to see more photos.

    Cristine

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  6. Hello,

    What a beautiful homes, Thank you

    Jérôme

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  7. A great tour. Who doesn't love peeking inside the lives of others!

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  8. Gorgeous homes for a great cause...so wish I could be there!!

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  9. Good morning, Holly!

    How are you doing today? Having a good week so far? I hope you are!

    Atlanta... there's something about that city. I haven't been there yet but I'd love to know it someday. I see so many gorgeous homes there! It's amazing.

    Great post, my friend!


    Have a Happy Day!

    xo

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

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  10. Love your blog!! I also love the 330 Woodward Way home. I have loved it since I saw it on your blog in 2009. I would love to get a better idea of the upper floor layout: bedrooms, etc. Please share if you are able to! Wish I lived near Atlanta, I would definately be touring!

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  11. Thanks for the tour! Love the 2928 Habersham house!

    Homeowner Insurance

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  12. Truly inspiring houses for an inspiring endeavor. That's great.

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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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