Architecture Wednesday: Old Fourth Ward Victorian Revival

This stunning hilltop Victorian exudes sophistication and style, offering the perfect blend of historic charm and modern luxury; plus, it’s giving me steampunk locomotive vibes and I am here for it.

Nestled in the heart of Old Fourth Ward [O4W], just steps from the Beltline and Krog Street Market, you enjoy easy access to dining, shopping, entertainment, and more. No detail has been spared in this thoughtful renovation, from the custom three-story open staircase to the wide plank white oak flooring, to the dramatic designer lighting fixtures throughout.

The gourmet Kitchen features an oversized island, inset Keystone white oak cabinets, a handmade tile backsplash, Subzero and Wolf appliances, a quartzite-capped antique farmhouse table and a Butler's Pantry. The elegant Dining Room features detailed custom molding, an elegant bar, and imported iron doors from London.

Relax by the oversized wood-burning fireplace in the Keeping Room or retreat to the sundrenched Parlor with its dramatic archway and bay windows. A separate bedroom with ensuite bathroom on the main makes an ideal home office or guest suite.

On the second floor, you will discover three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a second primary suite with a walk-in closet, and a bedroom with a rock-climbing wall to a 'secret loft', a spacious laundry room with sweeping views and a private sunporch.

On the third level is the owner's suite, complete with breathtaking views of the downtown skyline from large picture windows. The master bath is a spa-like sanctuary, featuring a deluxe steam shower with 7 shower heads, oversized tub, and a dual marble vanity. The custom walk-in closet overlooks the historic O4W Water Tower.

Additionally, the third floor boasts a versatile 'Sky Room' with a private balcony, wet bar with a custom round window and stunning views, and a built-in daybed. Entertain with ease in the outdoor kitchen or unwind in your private hot tub. A professionally designed yard features lush plants, premium turf, outdoor lighting and majestic stonework, all framed by a privacy fence. An attached two car garage, two tankless water heaters, two laundry rooms, five new HVAC units and a new roof make this home move-in ready.

My one quibble: say what you will, I lovelovelove a black house, and I love the moody colors in some of the public spaces, but then the white great room and bedrooms make me think it’s a different home. I would love more somber, enveloping colors in other rooms.

But, what the heck, a couple of cans of paint and I’m happy!

Dwell

Architecture Wednesday: Ansley Park Traditional

Well, this is an interesting house; a new build in the heart of Intown's most desirable neighborhood, Ansley Park. The home is a testament to the finest in transitional architecture, where modern elegance seamlessly blends with timeless sophistication.

Inside, the modernity of a flowing open-concept floor plan greets you, with a main hallway. On one side, the dining room showcases curved walls and floor-to-ceiling custom iron doors. Opposite the dining room is a gracious main-level guest suite, perfect for a private home office.

As you continue your journey, a central fireplace is enveloped in Venetian plaster, positioned as the focal point of the expansive rear living space, with casual dining area and a designer kitchen with a large center island with stone countertops, custom cabinetry, and a large walk-in pantry. The open-concept family room and breakfast room are flanked with a wall of accordion doors, allowing seamless connectivity to the backyard with its meticulous professional landscaping, swimming pool, and low-maintenance turfed lawn.

A central, spectacular, floating stairwell featuring a dramatic wall of windows floods the home with natural light and leads to the primary suite with its spa-inspired bathroom featuring a freestanding soaking tub, and a marble-clad walk-in shower. Two additional upstairs en-suite bedrooms and a centrally located laundry room complete the second level.

Downstairs, the basement level features modern polished concrete floors, soaring ceilings, and amenities like a fitness studio, an additional guest suite, and an oversized entertainment room, perfect for a future theatre and game room. Outside is a two-car garage and carriage house, where a discreet sixth bedroom with an en-suite bath and kitchenette boasts a private entrance, catering to the needs of an au pair or long-term guests.

All in all, there are six bedrooms, six-and-one-half bathrooms spread across 6,239 square feet, and while I do love the clean lines, the home needs some warmth and some color—the exterior, kitchen and dining room are a good start—and some cats to make it completely livable … and I need $4.5 million.

Dwell

Bobservations

In addition to his Retinitis Pigmentosa, Carlos is also color blind; he cannot see red or green at all. The other day, as I worked on the computer, he came into the office and asked if the shirt in his hand was red. I turned, looked, laughed, and said:

“It’s white … and green … and dark blue … and gray. It’s striped.”

“It is?”

“Yes, but the shirt you have on is red.”

“It is? I should buy clothes in only one color from now on.”

Never a dull moment.

This week Kansas voters voted “YES” to protect abortion rights by rejecting a measure to allow the GOP-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright. Sure, it was just one state, albeit a deeply Red State, but heavy turnout—meaning more Democrats got off their asses and voted—was a major victory for abortion rights advocates.

CAST A GODDAMNED VOTE!

The US House passed the Respect for Marriage Act on July 19, by a vote of 267 to 157, with 47 Republicans surprisingly siding with the Democrats and voting Yes.

Tammy Baldwin, the Senate’s first openly LGBTQ+ member, is leading the charge to get the bill passed, but with the Senate equally split between Democrats and Republicans, she’ll need at least 10 Republicans to break the inevitable GOP filibuster. She says she  has five Republicans publicly committed—Susan Collins. Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman, Thom Tillis, and Ron Johnson—and said, “five additional members have indicated they are leaning in support.”

The Senate recess begins this week so the vote may not happen until September, but here’s hoping Baldwin can get the other five Republicans, and maybe a few more, to so the right thing.

Atlanta’s long-running Music Midtown festival at Piedmont Park was scheduled for next month but has been called off because, industry sources say, recent changes to Georgia gun laws prevent the festival from banning guns on to the publicly owned festival grounds.

So, guns have killed a music festival, too.

Last weekend’s LIV Golf event at the Thing 45 National Golf Club in Bedminster Bloodminster New Jersey was kind of a dud. Fewer than 1,000 people watched the Facebook Live feed for the first two rounds, and on the course, there were far fewer in attendance.

Tickets sold for $75 per day but could be had on the secondary market for $1 apiece.

A dollar.

I could get behind being Amish if this is the drag I get to wear, though I’d like to add a large hat.

And speaking of Bloodminster, Ivana Trump, the first ex-missus Thing 45, was buried at the Thing 45 National Golf Club where Thing 45 himself plans to be buried one day, though there’s no word on Melanie’s final resting place.

And he buried the ex-wife there because New Jersey land used for cemetery purposes comes with a significant tax break, so Ivana’s corpse was used to make coins for her ex.

Pig.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed legislation to further protect access to reproductive health care services in the state following the SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The legislation codifies several measures that were first included in an Executive Order issued by Baker last month, and also adopts several new or expanded measures to protect access to reproductive health services in the Commonwealth.

From a Republican.

I don’t know about you, but this looks to me like someone in the crowd is throwing hamburgers and Thing 45 thinks it feeding time.

This is Hugo Sanges Galuppo Trufelli, a thirty-one-year-old actor and model from São Paulo, Brazil. Would You Hit It?

Would you hit it knowing Hugo has an identical twin?