Four Beautiful Houses–the Peachtree Battle Home Tour 2014

The Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour takes place today,  May 6th, and the houses this year are absolutely amazing.  This is my favorite house tour of the year, and and the funds raised go directly to  Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Here is a sneak peek of the four houses on the tour, with a description of each house (the house descriptions in italics were adapted from the write ups in the brochure).

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3124 East Pine Valley Road

This classic Colonial home was designed by the renowned architect Philip Trammel Shutze and built in the late 1920s. Upon purchasing the home in 2009, the homeowners promptly engaged friend and interior designer Kay Douglass to oversee the construction and interiors.  Although the home’s interior was virtually gutted during renovation, all of the original details were either kept in place or restored to their original state.

Interiors are awash with subtle shades of off-whites and grays, while bold fabrics and pops of color liven the house at every turn. Décor is minimal, but bold shapes and strong lines create the perfect family atmosphere. 

(As a side note, a fellow blogger told me that the interiors of this house were featured in Veranda in 2011).

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1230 Peachtree Battle Avenue

I love the gate of this house, which is flanked by perfectly proportioned Bevolo lanterns.  I had never noticed this house before, mainly because the property is so private and the gate further protects the property from viewing from the street. It’s also on a quieter section of Peachtree Battle, not the part that is on my usual dog walking route.

I selected this view from the pictures that I took, because it emphasizes how the house relates to the beautiful lot. The trees that define the property are mature and beautiful, which really enhances the feel of the property.

Built in 1950, this traditional Atlanta home was purchased by the current homeowners in 2012.  Immediately attracted to the serene, pastoral property with views of neighboring horses from the back patio, the owners knew they had come across something unique. The home had been expanded by previous homeowners, but before moving in, the mission was to give this traditional Southern belle a modern facelift that would appease a tendency towards minimalism while housing an active young family of five.

In order to achieve their goal for the interior, the owners enlisted the help of Kay Douglass and Dixie Peebles from South of Market. Known for their “clean-lined, less-is-more” approach, Douglas and Peebles were the perfect partners for the project.

In the interior, the floors were whitewashed and the and the walls were whitened, simple changes that yielded dramatic effects. The home’s floor plan was adjusted by moving the original dining room to the center of the house.  This not only created a better flow throughout the main floor, but also allowed the room to take on additional importance.  On the exterior, a unified color was chosen across the shutters and exterior brick to uphold a feeling of Southern elegance. The end result is an unexpected, clutter-free interior with a light and bright feel that opens up onto a tranquil, rural landscape.

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525 Manor Ridge Drive

This classically styled Buckhead home was purchased by the current homeowners in 2012. Since moving into the home, the homeowners have focused on utilizing previous renovations to the home as a canvas for creating bright and open spaces with a transitional style that compliments an extensive art collection. The homeowners relied heavily on two of their closest friends, Mary Margaret Nevin of Nevin Interiors and Blair Clarke of Voltz Clarke in New York, to help develop and curate their vision for the new home.

A more modern scheme for the home’s traditional floor plan was crated, and the designers reflected the homeowners young and energetic lifestyle by creating brighter and more casual spaces. The diverse art collection portrays multiple mediums and completes the home’s cheerful interiors.

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413 Manor Ridge Drive

In 2001, the current homeowners purchased this 1938 New England style home from the home’s original owners.  With the original architectural plans for the home in hand, the homeowners turned to architect Norman Davenport Askins to update the kitchena nd master bathroom and expand the footprint of the home with a new family room, while maintaining the architectural integrity of the original home. For the interiors, the homeowners worked with Lilla Costello, who helped capture their vision for a casual and relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

In 2007, the homeowners again embarked on renovating their home to accommodate their growing family and turned again to Mr. Askins to design the addition. This phase of renovation included the addition of the downstairs master suite and an outdoor living area, complete with a fireplace.  An existing screen porch was also enclosed.

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It’s going to be a beautiful day – sunny and warm, the perfect weather for a tour of homes.  For more information on the tour, please visit http://www.choa.org/support-childrens/events/peachtree-battle-home-tour.  Tickets can be purchased at any of the houses. I hope to see you there!

Date:
Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Time:
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location:
Peachtree Battle Neighborhood
Tickets:
$35 per person day of tour purchased at any of the homes.

House Tour locations.  Note: You may begin at any of the homes.

1230 Peachtree Battle Ave.
3124 East Pine Valley Rd.
413 Manor Ridge Drive
525 Manor Ridge Drive

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Four beautiful houses–the Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour

For those of you in Atlanta (or willing to make the drive into town), a little reminder that this Tuesday May 7th is the Peachtree Battle Friends Spring Home Tour. After a one year hiatus, this wonderful tour is back, and the funds raised go directly to one of my favorite causes, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Although I have not seen the inside of the houses yet, I was given permission to take a few exterior pictures as an enticing preview of the tour.  The house information is adapted from the brochure that is available on the day of the tour.

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.


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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.


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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!


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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!


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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.


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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.

To visit my store, Quatrefoil Design, click here 
To subscribe to my blog by email, click here. 
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here. 
Twitter: @TTIBlog 
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.