If the walls of this Buckhead home could talk, the stories they’d tell would be legendary. After all, the couple who live here—Atlanta PR doyenne Amanda Brown-Olmstead, president and CEO of A. Brown-Olmstead Associates, and George Olmstead, co-founder of executive search firm Olmstead Lynch & Kreutz—have entertained many of Atlanta’s most prominent and influential people at their West Paces Ferry Road residence.
Built in 1940 and situated on 1.25 acres, the 9,053-square-foot home reflects a mix of French and Italian influences. The Olmsteads bought it in 1998 after seeing a ‘for sale’ sign in the yard while on a morning walk. “We’d been talking about moving from our home in Brookwood Hills, and I had actually been inside this house on several occasions,” Amanda said. The moment she walked through the door again, she felt right at home. “I already knew where I was going to place every piece of furniture.”
The house has an open floor plan that lends itself to entertaining. The foyer features a dramatic 18-foot domed ceiling. The living room can hold a standing group of approximately 100 people. And a 48-foot-long terracotta-tiled garden room can do double-duty as a ballroom for special occasions.
Ten sets of French doors open onto meticulously landscaped grounds. The Olmsteads especially love the large terrace and pool area, complete with fountain. “It’s so quiet and calm that you forget you’re in the city,” Amanda said. “The only sounds you hear are the birds chirping and the water flowing.”
Over the years, the couple has made some major renovations, including adding a garage with 2,000 square feet of office space above. The seven-bedroom home also has a library, exercise room, large finished attic, nanny suite, and carriage house with kitchen.
After 18 years, the Olmsteads have decided to downsize. They will split their time between Atlanta, where they plan to stay involved in their businesses, and Savannah, where they own a second home.
Amanda says she hopes whoever purchases the house will love it as much as she does. “It’s just the greatest home. We’ve been so happy here.”
This Buckhead house is on the market for $2,349,000. For more information, contact Betsy Akers of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 404-372-8144 or betsy@atlantafinehomes.com.