Whitehaven: Five Beautiful Houses: The 2013 Cathedral Antiques Show Tour of Homes

The 2013 Cathedral Antiques Show Tour of Homes is thrilled to present five of Atlanta's most beautiful private residences. Each home is a showcase of the best in interior design, architecture, and the art of good living. The houses are open to the public for one day only, so you will not want to miss this premier Atlanta house tour! The tour is on January 27 from 11am-5pm. All proceeds from the tour benefit Refugee Family Services in Stone Mountain. To buy tickets for the tour click here.

This Fall I had the pleasure of writing about the five houses, and Atlanta photographer Emily Followill beautifully captured the essence of each house inside and out. Emily and I had a great time working with the owners, architects and interior designers to find out the story behind each house. Without further ado, we present the beautiful houses of the 2013 Cathedral Antiques Show Tour of Homes. (You may click on any of the images to enlarge.)

*******

Habersham Road

Boxwood House, one of Atlanta’s landmark estates, sits atop a hill on five beautiful acres. Designed by Philip Shutze in 1929 for the McRae family, it was modeled after Eleanor McRae’s childhood Chicago home, Stout House. The house has a stucco exterior, limestone quoins, a lead canopy and a New England slate roof, reflecting its English manor house inspiration. The irregular massing of the front façade was not typical for Shutze, but the garden façade is symmetrical and more typical of his work. The gardens of Boxwood House are integral to the romantic feel of the estate; the house and landscape flow seamlessly together to create an ideal environment for family life and entertaining.

Now home to author and tastemaker Danielle Rollins and her family, both the house and grounds were renovated a few years ago by the dream team of award winning architects Gil Schafer and Charles Heydt, acclaimed interior designer Miles Redd, and landscape designer John Howard. Miles always loved Boxwood as a boy growing up in Atlanta; in fact, it was his favorite house. He has a keen appreciation for Shutze’s work and knew exactly the direction to take the interiors to restore lively glamour to the already stunning architecture.

Of particular interest are the Chinese references that run throughout the architecture and interiors, especially the pagoda-like entrance. This historic property is truly one of the most beautiful houses in Atlanta, with its boxwood gardens, koi pond, and spectacular landscape design. The brilliant team executed the renovation perfectly, and the house is again a stunning jewel in Atlanta’s residential crown.

*******

Habersham Road*

Inspired by the country houses of France and Belgium, award winning architect Stan Dixon transformed a 1950’s colonial revival into a European country house by adding an authentic stucco veneer, a steeply pitched clay tile roof, and casement windows. The interior architecture is simple and restrained. Stan successfully rearranged the interior of the house to maximize the sunlight on the southern end of the house to fill the kitchen and entertaining spaces with light. The elegant foyer is defined by limestone floors and a new iron railing, while the stunning staircase was reconfigured to allow more light from the upper level to spill into the hall.

The artful elegance of the interiors by Atlanta designer Robert Brown in combination with Stan Dixon’s ingenious use of space creates a youthful and stylish family home. In a nod to the house’s adaptable nature, the sunroom is now being used as a dining room and the dining room as a billiards room. The monochromatic and tailored aesthetic of the interior serves as a foundation for bold accents and dramatic furnishings, reflecting the input of the owners, who appreciate beauty and also want their home to be casual and fun.

Most recently a swimming pool and cabana were added. The cabana is a visual anchor for the back garden and was inspired by French farm buildings. Limestone and wood shingles give the structure a sense of age and add visual interest.

* We are not able to publish the interiors of this lovely house; you will love it when you go on the tour. The above two photos are of the new cabana.

*******

West Andrews Drive

This charming brick house began its life as a traditional 1940’s four over four and was renovated in 2007. Situated on a sought after lot in Buckhead, the house was bought by a young family who had the vision to see that it had great bones and was worthy of renovation and was not a tear down.

Architect Norman Askins and builder James Cotton worked together to recreate this delightful house. They reconfigured the floor plan, keeping the original living and dining rooms spaces, opening up the back of the house and adding a large addition and garage/guest house. The young couple appreciates decorative detail, which inspired Askins to add exquisite architectural elements to the house. He also enlarged many of the doorways to create flow and bring light into the house.

The owners brought in the dynamic interior design team of Will Huff and Heather Dewberry who created interiors that are at once classically beautiful and also young and lively. The light color scheme, with wallpaper and intricate paint techniques on the walls, sets the stage for a beautiful collection of antiques and artwork. Attention to detail in the architecture and interior design results in a stunning example of tasteful renovation.

French doors at the rear of the house lead to the new bluestone patio, which is perfect for entertaining. The well-proportioned garage, with its lovely architectural features, seems to have always been a part of the property. The guest suite/trophy room atop the garage is exciting for its use of color and texture and for its incredible display of trophies.

*******

Howell Mill Road

Evoking Old World comfort and hospitality, this lovely new house is hidden behind a beautiful hedge. Located in the heart of Buckhead and designed by Atlanta architect Ken Lynch, the house is well suited to it's environment. The main entrance features a dramatic cedar frame arched porte cochere and the exterior materials and style are reminiscent of European country homes with stone, stucco, cedar framework, and an authentic slate roof. The unique front doors are glass and wood with metalwork and were found by owner Lilla Costello, who is an accomplished interior designer. The primary interior spaces are open and flow together beautifully, yet keep their own identity.

The interior colors and materials complement Lilla’s delightful collection of antiques, but the heart of this house is its healing role in Lilla’s life. The builder, James Cotton, had just begun to frame the house when Lilla suffered a debilitating stroke. Though others might have backed away from leading the project, Lilla insisted on going to the site most days to make the decisions that insured the project’s success. Her love for designing houses and interior spaces inspired her recovery.

The ceiling transitions and materials as well as French doors to the terrace, garden and pool area give the house an open and inviting atmosphere. The attached garage is anchored to the house with a cedar frame trellis with gates and a wall for privacy from the drive, which gives an intimate, urban feel to the house.

*******

Argonne Road

The American eclecticism of the 1920’s shines brightly in this Buckhead home. With an architectural heritage drawn from the rural villages of Normandy, a stucco façade is both friendly and romantic. The architecture firm of McAlpine Tankersley worked with Benecki Homes and Melanie Turner Interiors, using only the finest materials and craftsmen, to create this stunning new house nestled on a beautiful Atlanta hillside lot.

The house features an interplay between regal details like the elongated bay and soaring roof and humbler elements like the first floor cottage windows and shutters, wide low front door and drooping garage roofline. Balanced discipline contrasts with playful asymmetry. Concealed within is a modern interior of open spaces, rich details, and light-filled family accommodations. The house comes full circle with its modern rear elevations and embracing courtyard.

Melanie Turner Interiors is known for its timeless style celebrating architectural details and classic design. Maintaining an emphasis on simplicity and understated glamour, Turner’s interiors feature a blend of clean lines, found objects mingling with fine antiques and custom-designed sculptural furniture. The colorful and free-spirited feel of these interiors is a wonderful juxtaposition with the more traditional, European architecture of the house.