My Favorite House- A Once in a Lifetime Post

Hello everybody!  How are you guys?  I feel like it's been forever since I've talked to you.  It has been so busy around here at Beacham & Company! You would not believe it!Anyway, while I LOVE to be busy I miss getting to spend time with you guys... so in order to make it up to you I am offering you a once in a lifetime post.

If you've ever read my blog before, I'm sure you know my COMPLETE OBSESSION with this house. I have gone on and on about it in the past... In fact, in a very strange way it's the house that got me to start this blog. When I saw this post on Holly's blog "Things That Inspire," I contacted her to ask her a few questions. She told me a little about blogging, and here I am.

So, to continue with the story, I started this blog, but never featured the house... And then Holly wrote about the house again, but this time on the AH&L blog in a post called Twenty Beautiful Homes, Take Two. While that post was up, I decided it was finally time to feature the home on my blog and show some never-before-seen pictures of the house. And guess what? People out there were reading... first of all, I got to meet Margaret Bosbyshell, who was the interior designer for the home. I got to go to lunch with her and her daughter. I loved just sitting and talking to them... of course I went on and on about my love for the famous green wallpaper. Thank you again so much for lunch Margaret. I loved meeting you guys. Someone else out there was reading too, and she agreed with me that this is the best looking kitchen she had ever seen, and you know what? SHE BOUGHT THE HOUSE!! (Home was listed by Linda Williams and Neno Schildgen of Beacham & Company) Can you believe it?? Is that the most amazing blogging story you're ever heard, or what? Well, it gets better. The lady who was buying the house asked me to lunch. So I got to meet her, and she's amazing! It's like we had been friends for years. We talked about our mutual love for the house, and there was an instant connection. And the story gets even better. Right after I had lunch with her I had to call architect Duane Stone about a completely unrelated topic, and we started talking about the house. I am not sure if I have mentioned this before, but he did a total renovation of the house. I wasn't sure until I started talking to him what exactly he was responsible for, but it turns out it was a lot. He agreed to meet me and the new homeowner over at the house and walk through it with us. And not only that, but he brought presents! Duane brought pictures of the house before he designed the renovation, and he also brought the plans. I was like a kid in a candy store. So, for this post I went back through all the pictures of the house I have taken while it's been on the market. Usually when I go shoot a house I take "test pictures" that I never end up using. In this case I actually saved them, so I have a few "undoctored" and never-before-seen pictures of my own I am going to show you just to give you a sense of how much the house has changed. The above picture shows the front elevation before Duane started working on it. You may notice it's missing the now famous rotunda. Here is a picture of the side of the front elevation. You can see how they expanded the top level... This is the plan of the front elevation as he originally drew it. You can see it does not have the rotunda. It actually kept an entrance similar to the one on the original house, but before they started construction he and Sumter Bradwell (the builder) both thought it needed a little something more. And that's how they created the rotunda! When we were there I noticed that the windows were actually curved, which I had never noticed. You can see the curved windows in these "test photos." He also showed us the photos of the original back of the house. The thing that looks like a chimney was actually an elevator shaft, which has since been removed. This view is of the side of the house. This is a photo of what it looks like now. Can you believe the difference? And this is a picture of the garage/guest house before it was renovated. And this is a picture of it now. This picture is from the front and the other picture is from the side, but you can see the improvements. This is a photo of the side porch that leads into what is now the dining room. Here is a picture I took of the same area the first time I went to the house. It seems like the gate and columns are the same, but the dining room is all new. This is the side of the house looking into the dining room before Duane's renovation... And this is the beautiful window he and Sumter added. You may recognize the dining room from the cover of "The Beacham Series" a while back. Well, until I met with Duane I thought that the dining room was all Neel Reid. Wrong. Does this look familiar? With this once piece of paper Duane convinced me he is a genius. He created the room I dream about. This space is always in the back of my mind, setting the bar for architectural elegance and mastery. These are the doors we saw above through the columns. Even the drawing is breathtaking. I want to say a special thank you to new homeowner and for Duane Stone for including me in the meeting. It was better than meeting the author of your favorite book. Duane, you did a masterful job, and to this day it's my favorite home in Atlanta. Congratulations to all!

A visit with Keith Summerour

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting with Keith Summerour.  If you read this blog, you know what a thrill that was for me. He gave me a tour around his building.  I was amazed.  It's gorgeous. It's near Atlantis Station, but you would never know it.

So this picture shows it within the context of it's surroundings...

Once you walk in the courtyard it's like being in a different world!

Aren't these arches beautiful?

Can you imagine walking up these stairs every day?  How could you not be inspired?

The stairs are a copy of Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library stairs in Florence, Italy.

My favorite part about this space is the exposed ceiling and the windows.  There is such amazing light in here.

So, as I was talking to Keith I officially decided he's a genius.  You can see his genuine passion shine through when you talk to him!  We sat and talked for a while, and he told me about this article he wrote about rammed earth.  It was not something I had ever really thought about, but the more I listed to him, the more excited I got about it.  For me, that's the mark of an exceptional person, when their passion is contagious.

I asked if I could share the article with you guys, because I had an inkling it would be every interesting to you are well, and Keith was nice enough to say yes! So here it is...

Rammed Earth Walls For The Farm By: Keith Summerour

In the never ending search for cost effective, yet substantial construction techniques, I am forever finding that our predecessors had perfected cost efficient, locally supplied buildings long before modern construction technology entered the scene. In fact, one of the oldest, most long lived erection concepts is the use of dirt. That’s right, soil when compacted to 50% of its normal volume becomes 60% the strength of concrete and lasts, well, practically forever. This ancient building type has been employed for thousands of years. Sections of the Great Wall of China, churches, plantation houses and garden walls have used this method throughout human history.

In the United States, rammed earth structures were exposed to the public through a book by S.W. Johnson named “Rural Economy” in 1806. Rammed earth buildings lost popularity and were soon forgotten as a construction method after World War II when there was a need for quickly constructed houses and manufactured material costs dropped significantly due to industrial output for the war effort.

Today there are the same sound reasons to employ rammed earth technology in constructing a shelter or fence/wall as in the past – it is your materials from your land, it is very energy efficient, uses only locally supplied resources (it is sustainable) and fast (taking 2/3’s the time of typical masonry structures) and is very durable (you are making man made sedimentary rock). What you need to know: • Soil type - The best is 70% sand, 30% clay with low organic content. Georgia soil is ideal as long as there is not too much clay. • Testing soil for suitability – Form a ball of mud and drop from 3’-0”. The amount of disintegration indicates its viability. • Formwork (see diagram) – Two 3/4” plywood forms or metal concrete pan forms. Very well braced.

• Tamping (Ramming) – Use pneumatic tamping devices, compress soil to 50% of the its original volume. • Time Costs – Four people can erect 300 square feet per workday

Rammed earth structures can provide an exciting, cost efficient alternative to purchasing manufactured materials and also provide a unique flavor to your rural landscape. In this time of economic uncertainty, you can always count on your land, your soil and your efforts to build structures that last. Where to learn more: • Easton, David. The Rammed Earth House. Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1996 • McHenry, Paul Graham. Adobe and Rammed Earth Buildings: Design and Construction. University of Arizona Press, 1989

Thank you Keith!

So, what do you guys think? Have you ever seen any rammed earth structures? Do you think they could ever work here in Atlanta?

Interested in Owning Your Own Golf Course?

You could if you buy Troy Stowe and Glennis Beacham's listing at 2015 Trammel Road, "La Reve."

This one-of-a-kind Norman Askins/Bonner Construction home offers 7 Bedrooms, 9 Full and 11 Half Baths. It's over 72 gated acres and has a 25-car garage that can be converted into a ballroom.

If this sounds familiar, you may remember the post I did on this home a while ago... the post with all the interior pictures.

Last week I went back and shot the home with all the beautiful Summer grass and trees... You will not believe it.

Here is the winter picture.

And here it is now. All this change in only a few months!

Can you believe the difference in the Winter light vs. the Summer light? As a photographer it has always fascinated me.... The house actually looks warmer in the winter picture, but the summer pictures show its true color much better.

Here is a picture of the golf course this winter....

And here it is now. This nine hole golf course includes replicas of the 11th and 12th holes at Augusta National.

Here you can see the club house.

And here is a tee box. Wouldn't you love to play here?

And finally the back of the house. It's big enough to play football!

In other news ... later this week I will be announcing our next giveaway. You will not want to miss this!

Two breathtaking pieces of jewelry from Nastro Bello, so get ready for that!

Dutch Colonial Gets Fresh!

Janey Lowe has a new listing!
This beautiful home is located a shot walk from Chastain Park and has an amazing backyard.

Architect: William B. Margeson

4 Bedrooms
3 Full, 2 Half Baths
+/- 1.23 Acres
Jackson School District

Here's what I love about this house. When you walk up it all feels very Dutch Colonial. It has the typical roofline, appears to be one story (it's actually 3), is made of brick, and even has a divided Dutch door on the left (a door where the top can open while the bottom remains closed). The fun part about the house is going inside where the interiors are fresh and classically updated. Perfect for a modern family who wants a huge backyard and to walk to Chastain park!

For me, Dutch Colonial homes have an almost farmhouse feel, but these interiors represent classic Atlanta style! You can see the finishes are immaculate, and there is tone of space.

Love this formal living room!

And here is the dining room. You can get a feel for the layout here by looking through the foyer and into the living room.

This brick-walled wet bar runs between the kitchen and the dining room. I love exposed brick in a home!

Can you believe the space in this kitchen? I love the pattern in the wood floor. Can't you imagine cooking with all your family gathered around talking?

I love the appliance placement in this kitchen, and that there is so much counter/prep space.

Here is a shot from the breakfast area showing the layout. You can see the wet bar to the left and the dining area to the right, and the screened-in porch beyond that.

Here is another dining area lined with windows.

Can you believe this porch? These vaulted ceilings are amazing, and look at all the privacy.

This is an additional porch off the kitchen.

And this is a shot going back into the house from the screened porch. Look at those floors!

Here we are in the family room. Again, such a clean and warm room. I love the exposed brick around the fireplace. Also, you can see the divided Duch door where the top opens while the bottom can remain closed.

Did you notice the wood floors here?

And here is a better picture of the fireplace.

This is the main level master suite. The door in the back leads out to a private master porch.

Master bath.

I love this bathtub!

Do you want to go upstairs?

Isn't this a perfect family house? Wait until you see the terrace level...

And those doors open right to the backyard...

So, what do you think? Could you see yourself living there?

Don't forget to enter my Taigan Giveaway! It ends Friday, June 11th, so you still have time!

The Azalea House, Originally Owned by Charles H. Black

This one-of-a-kind home was originally owned by Charles H. Black, the original developer of the Tuxedo park Neighborhood, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Buckhead.  It was built in 1930 and was designed by the famous architecture team Frazier & Bodin.  It has been renovated twice by Harrison Design Associates. It is currently listed by Glennis Beacham of Beacham & Company, REALTORS. Click here to see the listing.

7 Bedrooms 8 Full, 3 Half Baths Carriage House (1 Bedroom) Guest House (2 Bedrooms) More than 3 Gated Acres

Please enjoy this photo tour through the home! (all photos by Rod Collins and Blayne Beacham)

To see more of this house, check out the post I wrote when it was on the Buckhead In Bloom Tour.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Blayne