When Mae Charles Barnes and her husband John Dyslin were dating, they often talked about where they’d like to live after they were married. At the time—16 years ago—Mae Charles was living in a house on East Paces Ferry Road and had her sights set on a “nice, deep lot” down the street, she says. The quiet, tree-lined neighborhood within walking distance of Buckhead’s top restaurants and shopping attractions was ideal. And, although a small, vacant house was on her dream lot, she could envision a beautiful new home in its place.
It wasn’t long before John asked Mae Charles to marry him—and asked the owner of that small, vacant house to sell. Both said yes. “So, we bought the property, tore down the existing structure, and hired an architect to design a new home,” he says.
The architect they selected was Stan Dixon, who, although now recognized as one of the most influential designers in the Southeast, was just starting his own firm at the time. Dixon designed an elegant and inviting 6,500-square-foot house for the couple based on pictures Mae Charles had collected over the years from books and magazines. The home, with its charming brick and stone exterior, reflects both Normandy and Tudor styles and is filled with character and attention to detail inside and out.
The five-bedroom house features an open family room with exposed beams and an oversized fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with a large island and walk-in pantry, and a breakfast room with a vaulted ceiling and antique French paver floors. Doors lead from the breakfast room to a stone patio, complete with fireplace. The house also boasts a finished basement with a home theater, playroom, wine cellar, and bar. A three-car detached garage includes a guest suite overhead.
Mae Charles especially loves the home’s classic lines and gracious proportions. “The rooms are the perfect scale—not enormous, but welcoming and cozy,” she says. She also likes the large windows, which bathe the rooms in natural light. One of John’s favorite features is the entablature in the library, which is based on a design found in the dining room at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Virginia home.
A unique feature is the location of the dining room, which is in the center of the house. “In most homes, the dining room is a separate room and off to one side,” says Mae Charles. “Our dining room is in the heart of the house, and we walk through it every day. As a result, we use it often, not just for entertaining.”
The couple recently listed their home for sale after deciding to move closer to their children’s school. “The decision to move wasn’t easy,” says Mae Charles. “We love this house, but our lives these days revolve around our daughters’ activities.”
This Buckhead home, located at 603 East Paces Ferry Road, is on the market for $1,699,000. For more information, contact Bonneau Ansley of Ansley Atlanta Real Estate at 404-480-4663 or bonneau@ansleyatlanta.com.
All photographs courtesy of Ansley Atlanta Real Estate
