Homes

It took 18 years for Jennifer Johnson and her husband, Ben, to determine exactly how they should update their historic Virginia-Highland house. They both started their careers as attorneys, and, according to Jennifer, the decision to open restaurants (which include the General Muir, West Egg Cafe, the Canteen, Fred’s Meat & Bread, and Yalla) was just as carefully considered.

Homeowners gave this Atlanta architect and designer, Ili Hidalgo-Nilsson, a challenge: Design a spacious house for a family of five that still “reads” as a cottage and fits all the requirements of a historic Decatur neighborhood. This popular modern farmhouse style fit the bill.

Sally Singletary loves interior design. But, for her, home furnishings will always be the supporting cast. The true stars are original artworks. “Some people want art to blend into the background, and others want their art to be a focal point. I definitely lean more toward the latter."

Tucked away on a quiet street less than two miles from Chastain Park is a home that blends classic design with rustic charm and boasts amenities befitting a luxury resort.

Susan Hable never expected to move to Georgia. She and her husband, Peter, bought the early-20th-century Victorian-style cottage in Athens on a lark—as a second home, a respite from the frantic pace of Brooklyn.

An intentionally minimalist lake house allows this high-profile couple to hang out in one big room—with a gorgeous view all around.

Marietta may be hundreds of miles from any beach, but a coastal vibe washes over every room at Jamie Krywicki Wilson’s house, about a mile from the historic square.

Technically located in Miramar Beach, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is often confused with a town—perhaps because of the name’s similarity to the city of Destin, located 10 miles west.

Buckhead’s grand Spotswood Hall, with its pedimented portico and soaring Ionic columns, wasn’t an obvious choice for architect Frances Flautt Zook’s favorite house in the city. “I’m not a mansion kind of person,” says Zook, who is better known for transitional design. “But this is a house I really respect.”

Its fanciful turret is apparent from the street, but up close, romantic details appear, including dogwood flowers pressed onto original gutters, custom slate roof tiles, and perfectly patinaed painted brick. “It would be nearly impossible to replicate today,” says architect Brandon Ingram.