House Envy: A builder’s own Inman Park bungalow is for sale

This home is the perfect blend of historic style and modern conveniences.
2040

When Jessye Archer and Vicki Berry decided to relocate from their sprawling East Cobb County home five years ago, they knew they wanted something entirely different—namely an intown house in a walkable neighborhood. The couple found the first item on their wish list when they discovered a vacant lot at 958 Austin Avenue in Inman Park. There, they envisioned building a picture-perfect bungalow that would blend in with the historical surroundings, yet have all the amenities of a newly constructed home.

Archer, a partner in South Haven Builders, worked together with Berry and local architect Paula Bishop Purtymun, to design a 3,552-square-foot Craftsman-style home that fit the lot—and the neighborhood—to a tee. Located adjacent to Freedom Park and within walking distance of the Atlanta Beltline and Krog Street Market, the house has all the elements Archer and Berry wanted, including a neighborhood with a strong sense of community and history.

Inman Park, located approximately four miles east of downtown, was the city’s first planned residential suburb as well as its first electric trolley neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Inman Park is known for its curved streets, generous lots, and eclectic mix of Victorian, Italianate, Queen Anne, and shingle-style homes and bungalows. Some of Atlanta’s most prominent citizens have lived here, including Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Candler, former governors Allen Candler and Alfred Colquitt, and influential Methodist minister Wilbur Fiske Glenn. The popular Inman Park Festival, held on the last weekend in April each year, includes a parade, street vendors, and a tour of homes.

Archer and architect Purtymun designed the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home with that historical perspective in mind. “We selected materials that were exactly the right profile—four-inch siding planks on the exterior, for example, instead of six-inch,” says Archer. Attention to detail is evident everywhere and includes Brazilian hardwood flooring on the porch; wide-plank, Italian white-oak, oil-finished floors throughout most of the interior; and stained glass windows (made by Archer’s father) in the office, which is cleverly tucked behind a stairwell.

The home’s spacious kitchen includes top-of-the-line appliances, imported stone countertops, a large center island, and a walk-in pantry. The master suite has a vaulted ceiling, two walk-in closets, and a double shower. There’s also sound-dampening exterior sheathing, Control4 home automation, an Infratec outdoor heater on the side porch, and a Liftmaster electric gate at the driveway.

The couple especially love the location. “This house really embraces Freedom Park, with gorgeous views, not only from the porch but also from most rooms in the house,” says Archer.

Despite their love for the home, the couple have decided to downsize so they can spend more time traveling. “We plan to stay in the area, but we just don’t need this much house.”

This Inman Park home is on the market for $1,399,000. For more information, contact Chad Polazzo of ReMax Metro Atlanta Cityside at 404-226-7199; or Chad@ChadSells.com

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