Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
As the founder of Coastal Living magazine and the mastermind behind the first 20 HGTV Dream Homes, Jack Thomasson has helped form the tastes and wants of homeowners for decades. For his own house in Roswell, he made it personal. “Of every dream house I’ve done, I’m most proud of this,” Jack says.
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
The starting point for it all was a 1950s cottage—only 700 square feet—that sat on bucolic farmland near Roswell’s bustling Canton Street corridor. “I looked at the cottage’s architectural style and took off,” says Jack, who applied his residential planner skills to incorporate the original house into an expanded version. He and his partner, Christian Strong, have their primary residence in Florida, but they live here when spending time with Jack’s daughters, Dustin and Sidney.
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
The understated front porch, foyer, and one daughter’s bedroom are all from the original cottage, but then, Jack added on a larger, U-shaped structure with farmhouse elements. “No wasted rooms” became a mantra during the design process. The end result is a one-story home surrounded by views and access to the outdoors.
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Vaulted ceilings are a signature element, from the 26-foot-high versions in the great room and kitchen, lined with stained white oak, to equally interesting versions in the girls’ bedrooms, owners’ bedroom, owners’ bath, kitchen, and guest bedroom. Floors are reclaimed wormy chestnut from a North Carolina barn, adding to the rustic character. Jack also asked his mason to arrange bricks vertically, with heavier mortar in spots, a look inspired by a historic barn he saw in Macon. “There’s definitely a masculine vibe,” admits Jack.
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Although Jack comes from an industry with a keen eye toward trends, this house largely ignores ever-changing opinions. A move away from great rooms? He doesn’t agree, noting that the great room/dining area/kitchen is the home’s main gathering place—no bonus rooms, offices, or basements here. The idea that open shelves don’t belong in a kitchen? He and Christian, the cook of the house, use theirs daily.
This won’t be his last home project, but Jack hints he may be here a while. He admits, “I didn’t do anything here with the thought of resale.”
[Editor’s note: After this story went to press, Thomasson put the home on the market, listing it for $2.4 million.]
RESOURCES | Residential planner Jack Thomasson, the Home Department Landscaping Gibbs Landscape, gibbslandscape.com Exterior Paint: “Cotton Balls” by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com. Lanterns: Gas Lanterns by Sheryl, gaslanternsandlights.com. Foyer Chairs: Cantoni, cantoni.com. Lamps: Arteriors, arteriorshome.com. Great room Light fixtures (also in dining area and kitchen): Arteriors. Sofa and upholstered chairs: RH, rh.com. Side chairs: The Porch on South Main, theporchonsouthmain.com. Horse painting: Patrick Taylor Fine Art, patricktaylorfineart.com. Dining room Chairs: The Porch on South Main. Paintings: Masterpol, masterpol.com. Kitchen All appliances: Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, subzero-wolf.com. Bar stools: RH. Owners’ bedroom Painting: SaSa Art, sasa-art.com. Lamps: Scott Antique Markets, scottantiquemarket.com. Owners’ bath Light fixtures: Lumens, lumens.com. Custom mirror: Joe Mastro Custom Iron, 678-600-4580. Pool area Furniture: RH.
This article appears in our Fall 2021 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.
