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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Four Beautiful Homes–2012 edition

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This year, the 2012 Cathedral Tour of Homes is delighted to present four beautiful landmark Atlanta homes that exemplify the best of Atlanta’s architectural heritage, with 21st century updates from some of the most talented architects and designers in practice today. The Tour of Homes presents a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into these fabulous houses and grounds that represent the enduring legacy of Atlanta architecture and design.

The Tour of Homes will take place on Sunday, January 29th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Tickets cost $30, and include entry to the Inspiration House (open on January 29, and February 2-5, and February 9-12). For more information and ticket sales, please visit www.cathedralantiques.org.   For architecture and design fans within driving distance of Atlanta, this is an event you can’t miss! The Cathedral Antiques Show and Tour of Homes is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Cathedral of St. Philip, and this year’s beneficiary is All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD). For more than 50 years, AADD has been Atlanta’s foremost nonprofit provider of support services to children, adults, and families living with developmental disabilities.

Last fall, I interviewed the designers, architects, and homeowners involved with each home on the tour. When seeing the beautiful homes, and meeting the homeowners, it became clear that each house had its own story. It was fascinating to uncover the story and relay it in the descriptions that I wrote – I enjoyed every minute of my assignment!  My write-ups were included in the special Cathedral Antique Show insert in the February Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, now on newsstands.

Photographer Emily Followill documented the homes with her camera; Emily’s work has appeared in numerous publications including Veranda, Southern Living, Traditional Home, Garden & Gun, and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.  Emily donated her time and talents to this wonderful fundraising event, and the pictures are breathtaking. She graciously allowed me to use some of her pictures for this post; please visit her website (click here) for wonderful examples in her interior, garden, and lifestyle photography portfolio.
And so, without further ado, a sneak peek into the homes that will be on the Cathedral Tour of Homes this Sunday! 

Northside Drive

This custom French Normandy style house was the result of a collaboration between architects Spitzmiller & Norris and interior designer Suzanne Kasler; the homeowner gave the renowned architecture and design teams carte blanche to create a highly livable and beautiful space that would work well for both family life and entertaining.

The architects characterize the house as having a whisper of French Normandy – they did not strictly adhere to the style, but rather took aspects of it. Of particular note are the chimneys, which find their precedent in the 17th century architecture of western coastal France. The elegant pointed arch limestone door surround, the cedar shake roof, and the subtle color scheme of the bricks and shutters complete the soft European aesthetic of the house.

Inside the house, the light wood floors and open and connected feel of the floorplan work seamlessly with the French Normandy style of the exterior.

With this superb architectural backdrop, Kasler expertly sequenced color and texture throughout the rooms, and used a mix of the antique, the vintage, and the contemporary to achieve a timeless yet also fresh feel to the house. The interiors of the house were featured as the cover story of House Beautiful in 2008, as well as in Kasler’s book Inspired Interiors.

This house is a wonderful example of the new traditional aesthetic in Atlanta; the architecture, design, and landscape are all rooted in the classic foundation that Atlanta loves so much, but with a wonderful relaxed elegance.

Nancy Creek Road

This majestic English-Manor style home, designed by William T. Baker, follows in the grand tradition of Buckhead estates and combines a high level of craftsmanship and design. The subtleties of English Manor style architecture are captured with the incredible attention to detail in the house.

The English clay tile roof and the limestone accents reflect Tudor architecture, as does the stone cladding, imported from Pennsylvania. Even the mortar was researched to match time honored traditions.

The amazing interior details include hand carved doors and wainscoting with Gothic inspired designs, and an intricately carved oak staircase. The library’s plaster ceiling incorporates an Elizabethan pattern, and is a particular highlight.

The formal dining room has beautiful details, including a minstrel gallery (not seen in this photo).

While the house presents a formal appearance, the floorplan represents the more casual way in which families live in the 21st century. At its heart, this is a family house, and the flow and design of the house work beautifully for the homeowners and their children. The family spends much time in the kitchen-family room, a space that is simultaneously airy and open, with its soaring ceiling, as well as comfortable and relaxed.

The interior design of the house was largely orchestrated by Nancy Warren, who created both formal and casual areas with a wonderful livability. Nancy incorporated many fine furniture pieces and artwork that the homeowners already possessed, as well as new finds especially suited for the house. The result is a house that flows in both color and style in a seamless manner, and truly reflects the homeowners. 

Tuxedo Road

The setting for this 1930s Georgian Revival house is truly idyllic; positioned on one of Atlanta’s most prestigious streets, the entrance is lined by an allée of trees that beautifully frames the house and provides a fitting entrance to this one of a kind house.

The homeowners have lived here for over 30 years, and are only the third owners of the house. A strong passion for their home is seen in the extensive renovation projects that have taken place through the years; although they have taken great care to maintain the original integrity of the floor plan, every space has been updated or expanded in some way to create a more family friendly and light filled design.

In recent years, significant updates and renovations to the upstairs have taken place. A grown son’s bedroom was recently transformed into a luxurious guest suite, and a custom designed mural was hand painted by Ray Goins in the entry and stair hall. Designer Beth Webb was involved in the recent renovations and the new streamlined direction of the upstairs décor.

A recently renovated bathroom with a striking curved tile wall.

A detail shot of a treasured object also shows some of the beautiful architectural detail that abounds in this classic house.

The strength of the architecture provides an ideal backdrop for the owners’ collection of treasured items from their extensive travels throughout the world. Each item has a story and a memory, reflecting a lifetime of adventure and experiences. Walking through the rooms in the house is like going on a journey around the world, and makes the décor of the house a deeply personal reflection of the passions and interests of the homeowners.

Nawench Drive

I could not put interior photos of this house on the blog, but it is absolutely magnificent - Jackye Lanham at her best! Those of you who get to see it in person on Sunday are in for a treat.
Nestled into a private wooded lot, this stone and white clapboard house imparts a sense of great age, and yet the house was completed only a year ago. Architect Stan Dixon looked to American architectural references as inspiration for the design, in particular the pre-revolutionary farm houses built of stone found in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County.

For the interiors, the goal was to create a modern house with an older feel, and an atmosphere of relaxed elegance that reflects the homeowners’ Southern heritage and love of family. The layout of the interior and the architectural details were carefully considered to support these goals. Several comfortable gathering spaces were created for the family, which are used for different purposes through the seasons.

Interior designer Jackye Lanham’s goal was to complement the integrity of the architecture, yet also reflect the personality and Southern roots of the homeowners. This was achieved by featuring the owners’ collection of antiques and family heirlooms, and using historical colors and natural fabrics with heavy weaves to work with the period of the architectural inspiration. Lanham’s signature touches and mastery at the art of the vignette add unique character to the décor.

Although great care was taken to reflect the beauty and aesthetic of 18th century American design, the house is also thoroughly reflective of family life in the 21st century. In recognition of the superb quality of the design of the house, D. Stanley Dixon Architects received the prestigious Shutze award for excellence in classical architecture for this house, establishing it in a unique place in the architectural legacy of Atlanta.



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39 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous! Every single image. M.

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  2. I have been driving in from Nashville for this tour, ever since you started promoting it on your blog! This year's tour looks like the best one yet! Can't wait.

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  3. Thank you for allowing me to tour from afar! Amazing!

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  4. Thanks for the TTI preview. Glad you couldn't resist, )if you know what I mean).

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    1. I hope you are able to go to this one, Terry....the money is for a great cause, and you would absolutely love each and every house!

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  5. Love, Love, Love that outdoor patio with the fireplace! Fabulous!!

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  6. Great houses -I so wish I could be there!

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  7. Loved your coverage of this marvelous tour last year and looking forward to reading more about it again. Stan Dixon's house is such a tasteful and appropriate interpretation of vernacular American architecture. In trying to make bigger and better, so few architects really capture the crucial importance of size and proportion. Without having seen the inside, it looks like he is well deserving of the Schutze prize.

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    1. The interesting thing about this house is that it is quite large - perhaps 10,000 sf - but because of the beautiful way in which it sits on the lot, and the roofline, it does not appear to be a big house. Many houses in Atlanta get a big boost in the square footage from large basements that are 3000-5000 sf.

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  8. Outstanding! Each home is a jewel, aren't they? Such a lovely time-out from my packing up my own home. xx's

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  9. Hello dear Holly,
    How are you? I do hope you entered this new year in a fantastic way!
    Oh my goodness, I really enjoyed this post !!! The houses are just beautiful and the interiors you posted here are so elegant and not overdone!! Really my style!
    Thank you for sharing! You inspired me a lot with your post of today! Thank you!!
    xx
    Greet

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  10. In love with the first home, I think its appeal is that they did not try to entirely replicate a french Normandy home!

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  11. What a "teaser!" Can't wait! franki

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    1. The Stan Dixon designed house is truly amazing - both the architecture and the interior design - this is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to see it!

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  12. Is the first house your new one by any chance?

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    1. No, although I must say, when I went into it I definitely thought 'I could live here' - which is a rare thing for me, as I am so particular about houses!

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  13. I love visiting home tours and so wish I could get to Atlanta for a look at these spectacular homes. Adore the architecture in the first home!!

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  14. Each one of those touches on particular "likes" of mine...may just have to make a weekend out of Atlanta while the tour is going on. (Been meaning to get down to see the exhibit at the High anyway)

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  15. Hi Holly, what a treat! Loved all of the homes, very pretty! We need to see more of your new home, Please! much success for this fabulous event.

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  16. Great preview of the tour. Can't wait!!

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  17. Beautiful post. Wish we could have peeked inside the Stan Dixon house. The lovely thing about the house is that it doesn't look new. Quite an accomplishment!

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    1. The house doesn't look new on the inside either - the floorplan has an old-fashioned feeling to it, yet it works well for 21st century family life. The architect said it's an 'introspective house', which really makes sense - the spaces are intimate and not focused inside, not outside.

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    2. Oops, typo, meant to say the spaces are focused inside, not outside

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  18. All stunning - wish I could attend. I recognized the first dining room from HB - was just looking at that old issue last night!
    :)

    Will your house be on the tour next year? Hope to see it, at least on the blog...

    xo Terri

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  19. This was a wonderful preview. Every single image are full of inspiration.

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  20. Atlanta architecture....the inspiration I had as a child that fueled my dreams of being an interior designer. Thanks for posting. I miss ATL.

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  21. I wish I were in Atlanta to go on the tour. The houses look lovely inside and out.

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  22. Wow! What a post to start my day. These are an inspiration. Beautiful!

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  23. Hi Holly....if I wasn't so busy trying to unpack and settle in I would be tempted to talk a friend into flying down for this. There seems to be something for everyone from charming to grand....all have a lot of character and I bet this is one fun day! Thanks for sharing and enjoy!

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  24. What beautiful photos.. I notice in the higher end homes/mansions, They use large piece of accent decor versus 20 small pieces cluttering table tops. The mantles are also done with a striking but subtle hand.
    I'll keep this in mind when adding accents to my own home.
    thank you. I enjoyed my visit to this post very much.

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  25. One of these years I'm going to make it to this home tour! Hope you're well! Have a great weekend.

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  26. Holly,
    Another wonderful glimpse into some of Atlanta's best and the photos were amazing!
    ~R

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  27. I like the one at Nancy road. I love the garden. It's one of my requirements in a house...a beautiful garden.

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  28. Wonderful houses! It's such a shame that current codes prohibit such beautiful and decorative handrailings like the one in the Georgian Revival house.
    I may have to come to Atlanta to tour these houses.

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  29. Wonderful talent! Thank you much for the wonderful inspiration. Fantastic post!

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  30. Now, that's a house tour!!! Each unique and beautiful. Ahhh....to live in the South. So happy you took us on the tour!

    xo Elizabeth

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  31. It's really the little architectural details that make the difference. The right shape in the wrong stone for the period will look "off." Kudos to these home owners for taking the time to get it right!

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