Forget Los Angeles—Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Hooper made Georgia their home and never looked back

The young family found a quiet life in Atlanta

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Breckenridge

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

If any couple needs a place to nest, it’s Alexandra Breckenridge and her husband, Casey Hooper. They married in 2015, had baby Jack in 2016, and then daughter Billie came along in 2017. “We do things quickly,” says Alexandra, smiling. Along the way, she was cast as the nurse/soulmate/ex-wife of Kevin Pearson on NBC’s hit show This is Us. The role cemented her career, already hopping with gigs on American Horror Story and The Walking Dead, which brought her to Atlanta. Casey, whom she met at a Grammys after-party while both were living in California, was wrapping up years of touring the world as lead guitarist for Katy Perry.

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Wallpaper also livens up their breakfast nook. “I’m pretty sure the first time I saw it, I thought it was sea creatures,” says Alexandra. “Then I realized it was floating fruit, but I loved that it was super fun and also light.” She found it in the store Walnut in L.A.

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

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Upgrades to the kitchen lightened this room, including a new backsplash, pendants, and hardware.

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

In the current family scenario, the foursome is happily ensconced in a quiet community just outside Atlanta in a two-story house they’ve made their own. “The previous owners had a very different style from us, and the entire house was more traditional,” recalls Alexandra. “It felt like Christmas in the ’90s, kind of like the McCallisters’ house in Home Alone.” Casey remembers lots of brown, dark reds, and heavy drapes. Fortunately, Casey’s mother, Rebecca Cartwright, is an interior designer who followed them to the South part-time, so she helped them reimagine the circa-2008 cottage into a lighter, more relaxed abode.

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“They wanted Jack’s bedroom to be a place that adults would enjoy too,” says designer Rebecca Cartwright, who is also the toddler’s grandmother. A custom daybed anchors the bedroom, which features a wallpapered ceiling that looks like wood.

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

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Alexandra wanted a tall desk that could double as a sewing table (when time permits, she loves to make quilts). Rebecca commissioned this striking piece from Aronson Woodworks. Alexandra’s collection of vintage Hollywood black-and-white photography decorates the house.

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

“They have an eclectic, boho look influenced by living in California,” says Cartwright. Furnishings from laidback-cool companies like Bobo Intriguing Objects and Serena & Lily fit the bill, along with a contemporary desk for Alexandra’s office that the designer had made by a woodworking company known for its unique glazes. Cheeky wallpaper and Hollywood photos add personal touches.

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A lumbar pillow from the Citizenry and graphic blanket contribute a boho vibe. “Rebecca has an amazing knack for picking up on personal style,” says Alexandra.

Photograph by Anthony Masterson

Alexandra and Casey give credit to Georgia as the real draw. With its thriving entertainment industry, both are able to work on projects close to their new home. “The rural areas of Georgia have an amazing sense of community we were lacking in L.A.,” says Alexandra. “We wanted our children to grow up in a place where they could play and ride their bikes that didn’t feel like a big city.”

This article appears in our Winter 2018 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.

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