When our design team at Design2Sell was asked to stage one of the rare new construction homes in Buckhead’s popular Garden Hills neighborhood, we were excited at the chance to create a living environment that shows off all the features of this beautiful home.
As soon as we were contacted by Realtor Joanna Bonny on behalf of listing agent Artur Tomczak of First United Realty, Inc., we spent a lot of time analyzing the details of the home and all the special features of each room, then called on our vast knowledge and design expertise to choose furnishings that would highlight the best attributes of the home.
Its strategic location between Piedmont and Peachtree Roads makes Garden Hills a sought-after neighborhood. The area is bordered on the north by Pharr Road and on the south by Lindbergh Drive. The neighborhood has the allure of a community of yesteryear with winding streets lined with old growth trees, wooded traffic circles, and a quiet atmosphere, but is just minutes away from a vibrant urban area.
Development of Garden Hills began in 1925 when a prominent Atlanta attorney, Phillips Campbell McDuffie, formed the Garden Hills Corp. and began the first of three phases of development. McDuffie’s vision was to create a country club community with a swimming pool and a community clubhouse as a centerpiece. Most of the homes in McDuffie’s original plans were built in the 1920s and early 1930s. Other sections became a part of Garden Hills later in the 1930s and after World War II. The oldest streets in the neighborhood were given historic district status in 1987.
Today Garden Hills includes around 750 homes that have been constructed over the past 10 decades, as well as some multi-family units and commercial development on the edge of the neighborhood. Over the years, the housing styles have evolved to meet the needs and desires of an ever-changing population. The eclectic array of homes range from Tudor to Craftsman, Georgian to 1950s ranch, with contemporary homes scattered throughout the neighborhood.
Our first impression of this all-brick home is that it fits right in the established neighborhood. The exterior design incorporates traditional, European, and contemporary elements and the interior is sleek and modern.
The three-story home has 6,000 square feet of space and is listed at $1,895,000. There are six bedrooms and five-and-a half baths with a bonus bedroom, a flex room, a home theater, and a dedicated wine cellar on the lower level. The luxurious master suite features a dry bar, his and hers walk-in closets, and a spa bath with a heated floor and a double shower. There are 10-foot ceilings on the main and lower levels with nine-foot ceilings on the second floor.
High end features include designer lighting and custom cabinets throughout, top-of-the-line appliances and fixtures, and eye-catching Calacatta quartz countertops in the kitchen.
One of the most striking features is large expanse of glass throughout the home, providing a view of the ancient trees and lush foliage that has earned Garden Hills the designation of an urban forest neighborhood.
We knew we didn’t want to distract from the fabulous view, so we left the windows bare to bring the outdoors inside and make the greenery part of the décor.
Like many contemporary homes, this one features an open floor plan with white walls and dazzling white oak hardwood floors with dark brown and black accents throughout including black railing in the modern staircase, dark cabinets and bar stools for the kitchen island, and black hardware in the kitchen and butler’s pantry.
To complement the architectural features, we chose a palette of pale neutrals with chocolate accents throughout the entire house and added a few pops of color here and there to add character to each room. We used contemporary artwork in muted tones and rugs with a subdued pattern all through the house, while accent tables are metal and glass.
The breakfast area, just off the spacious gourmet kitchen, features a round table of pale hammered metal surrounded by metal chairs in a chocolate brown lattice pattern that picks up the color of the leather bar stools at the kitchen island. A faux animal hide rug defines the space.
In staging the great room, we chose contemporary furniture with clean lines and a monochromatic rug to play up the size of the room and to avoid overshadowing the view to the outdoor deck through the sliding door. The plush sofa and upholstered chairs are close together, creating an inviting area for a tete-a-tete by the fire. We hung contemporary paintings in soft colors on the walls and placed sculpture and other decorative objects in strategic spots.
On one side of the banquet-sized dining room, a wall of windows offers a view of the outside. The opposite side features a stand-out wall of dark coffered panels. Cream upholstered chairs around a starkly modern table set the stage for many memorable meals.
A distinctive chaise lounge catches your eye when you enter the luxurious master suite. We continued the neutral color scheme in this room, relying on the greenery outside for a touch of color. The art above the platform bed complements the trees outside the window. Other touches include stylish lamps on glass-topped tables and distinctive sculptural pieces.
We staged one room as a home office to appeal to self-employed buyers or those who bring their work home. The glass-topped pedestal desk is functional and sophisticated at the same time. Chocolate leather chairs and unique artwork complete the look.
With six bedrooms and a bonus room, most families will have space to spare. We turned one bedroom into a sitting room, with a cream sectional sofa, glass and metal tables and pops of cerulean blue.
When we stage a home, our goal is to strike a perfect balance between sophistication and comfort so buyers can feel at home and picture themselves living there. We highlight the best features of the home and create a pleasing ambiance to appeal to prospective buyers. The result—Realtors rack up sales in record time. To learn more about our luxury staging services, visit us online or contact us at 678-505-1433.