A 1920s Atlanta Home is Restored Back to its Historic State Thanks to a Talented Team of Local Professionals

Towering windows cast natural light throughout the home’s grand foyer, and a custom mahogany door by Tim Simpson of Simpson Millworks greets guests.

Japanese Cranes by Iksel create a stunning backdrop for the family’s existing dining table and chairs.

In the foyer, chairs from Bungalow Classic in Schumacher Venetian Silk Velvet flank the fireplace to provide a library-like space for reading and relaxing. 

Of the impressive bar, architect Jonathan LaCrosse says, “A pair of arches were already there, so we duplicated them. We wanted that to be a dark, moody space that would create a transition between rooms.”

Architectural details like the trusses in the living room draw the eye while bringing towering ceilings inward. The contractor of the home was Bayard Builders.

Designer Helen Hanavich keeps the powder room interesting by playing with texture and tone: “We really loved the idea of earthy neutrals mixed in with pops of color.”

An upgraded kitchen island grounds the heart of the home. Pendant lights are by Visual Comfort & Co. and the cabinetry was fabricated by Kitchen & Bath Design Group.

A dining table from RH with chairs from Palecek creates a cozy eat-in breakfast corner.

Hanavich wanted to give the homeowners and parents of two young children an escape. In the primary bedroom, there is an intimate seating area to begin or end the day.

Fabricated by South Fork Timber, the cabinetry in the dressing area is painted in Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams.

The freestanding tub from Penhaglion reflects the herringbone tile from Traditions in Tile & Stone.

Schumacher Stargaze wallpaper in Bronze adorns the walls of the charming boy’s room, while Phillip Jeffries Wide Stripe in Beige covers the ceilings. Both are punctuated with gingham panels.

Monogrammed Weezie bath towels pop against Le Manach wallpaper by Pierre Frey.

Schumacher’s whimsical Paradise Birds in Blush Shimmer covers the walls in the girl’s room.

Charming architectural details such as fireplaces in the kids’ bedrooms showcase the home’s history.

When the first room past the foyer is the bar, you know you’ve entered a pad with personality. As restaurateurs with establishments serving Atlanta, Birmingham, and other areas in the Southeast, the homeowners of this circa-1920s Peachtree Heights Park abode knew an extensive renovation was needed to usher their home into something that honored the past, but also fit their family’s modern-day needs. With their clients’ careers in mind, designer Helen Hanavich and architect Jonathan LaCrosse set out to create spaces prime for entertaining—the result an approachable, vibrant residence for a growing Buckhead family.

LaCrosse’s traditionalist eye lent itself well to bringing the home back to its former historic glory. Prior to the renovation, the facade had a colonnade row with three pairs of French doors, which LaCrosse filled in to give a deep recess for a foyer that’s more aligned with its original nature (LaCrosse says that architecturally during the teens and ’20s, as is the case in this home, it was common for houses to have ceremonial front doors that opened into large reception rooms).

Sunlight bounces around the grand foyer’s glossy walls, creating a youthful playfulness that’s ideal for a family with two young children. In order to define the space and give it more pizzazz, the team opted to borrow footage from the living room to add a long, linear, pass-through bar that makes a statement in a rich, high-gloss green. Serving as an anchor for the home’s color palette, Hanavich and LaCrosse took inspiration from moody cocktail lounges to define the high-class hangout area.

Subtle splashes of green echo from the living room to the formal dining room, where there are varying shades ranging from grass to chartreuse. In the latter, walls are covered in mural wallpaper panels, which was a design risk that the homeowners welcomed. “Japanese cranes on your wall may not be for everyone, but the clients really wanted to do the house justice,” says Hanavich.

In the bedrooms, the primary room is the parental retreat, but Hanavich says the homeowners had a particular desire to make the kids’ areas exceptional. “I’ve found that adults spend so much time in kids’ bedrooms, and I’m happy to make them feel special so it doesn’t feel like a chore being in there.” Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper in the little boy’s room warms the otherwise grand space. “It’s too big and elegant for you to simply paint the walls and throw some kids’ art on them. It would have fallen flat,” says Hanavich. Opting for playful wallpaper gives a sense of whimsical maturity meant to grow as the children age.

From its spacious foyer almost beckoning to be filled with partygoers to the bar where the resident mixologist can tinker, this home exudes happiness. “And it brings me joy too,” says Hanavich.

INTERIOR DESIGN Helen Hanavich, Helen Hanavich Interior Design, helenhanavich.com ARCHITECT Jonathan LaCrosse, J.W. LaCrosse Architect, (404) 723-1844; jwlacrosse.com CONTRACTOR Bayard Builders, bayardbuilders.com LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Alex Smith, Alex Smith Garden Design, LTD. (770) 455-8878; alexsmithgardendesign.com