Well Composed Home

Miraculously Saved

Kyle Sturtevant — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:49:53 +0000

The craziest thing happened to me the other day. I was a little early to a committee meeting that was being held in a local architectural firm’s office so I took my seat at the conference room table hoping to catch up on some e-mails when an amazing photograph caught my eye. You see, this Home has been one of my family’s favorites for years. It had stood out as a crowning jewel on the waters. {My wife will tell you that it had been her favorite first and that I just merely stole it ~ but, don’t believe this, it’s completely untrue}.

Lake Burton Masterpiece

Sorry ~ I took these photos back in 2010 (before I started blogging and before I understood the importance of conveying a story through photography) and I totally missed the boat house.

Side View!

Just the other weekend, we were talking about how we wished we knew who had designed such a beautiful Home. And then, there it was. Hanging on the wall of Harrison Design Associates. Turns out, this was a project in which Greg Palmer and Bulent Baydar had worked on together back in the mid ’90s. Bulent happened to be in the office at the time and so he came up to give me the skinny. The home was also one of his favorites, but, he shared with me the challenges they faced especially with restoring the existing boat house to conform with current lake regulations. And, I’m thrilled that they didn’t relinquish the fight one bit. For most us who frequent the lake, we have come to love the way this beauty stands out proud on the point as you turn the corner to get to Anchorage.

After the Storms

Then the storm of 2011 plowed through. A miserable tornado, reaping havoc and crushing everything in sight. Coming up Wildcat and Moccasin Creek jumping over to the open channel, picking up speed, and then pounding the point of these banks head on before tearing all the way down to the marina. You’ll notice that both of the homes to the left are completely gone as well as the one to the right.

There’s the Boat House

In some unbelievable manner, this home was miraculously saved. Incredible! Maybe it was due to superior design. Maybe it was particularly well-built. Maybe she was just lucky ~ lucky beyond belief. Or maybe, just possibly, it was spared on pure beauty alone.

We may never know, I’m just absolutely thrilled she’s still around!

All my Bests,

Kyle

Here’s a secret…

Kyle Sturtevant — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:46:28 +0000

I came across a post today that struck such a chord with me that I felt compelled to share some thoughts on it here. Ever wonder what it is about those that seem to be at the top of their fields. Those that have achieved that pinnacle mark and are esteemed above and beyond the majority of their peers. Those that are striding ahead, even in difficult times, as millions of others appear to be stuck in the mud. I think you can boil it down to this one singular approach. Check it out. That’s it; an Extraordinary Singleness of Purpose. In short, a focus on what matters to you. It’s a shame that we do not spend more time and energy instructing our children on the impact of a focus on purpose. Don’t get me wrong, I fully support our educators. My wife is an educator. Her mother was one. My mother was one. Heck, my mom was even the founder and namesake of one of the most respected schools for children with learning disabilities in the state. Yet, I’m not sure that we go far enough beyond the training of academics to set kids imaginations on fire and then help them chart the course for realizing their dreams.

All of the greats have had this. Oprah knew exactly what her picture of success looked like and then she shaped her entire life / career into a model for making that happen. Adele knew that she had something special and then kept pursuing excellence until the rest of us saw it and began to catch on. Steve Jobs envisioned a new reality for the world and then dialed it in with laser like focus to be able to present it in a way that would sway the masses. Tiger Woods had focus…until he started focusing on something else. And, then there was Michael Jordan who was an amazing example of focus. Not a star from the get-go. He had to work hard. It has been reported that whenever he felt that he was deficient in an area, he would seek out the advise from multiple sources and then work tirelessly to master the element. I’ve even heard that he had employed the services of as many as five coaches at one time, each working on a different discipline of his career. Another little fact here ~ immediately after Michael had been named NBA rookie of the year, he went back to one of his college coaches and asked “what do I need to do to work on my game”? I love that. So many guys who find themselves in that position would think that they own the world. He saw it as only the start, and that he had a lot to learn.

An Extraordinary Singleness of Purpose. This is so perfect. You don’t need to be pursuing ”Rock Stardom-ness” to go after this. What you need is a purpose that resonates. One where passion and intention when combined with focus can create magical results. We see this all the time in the lives of people we encounter everyday. People who are changing the world through bold new approaches with charities. Entrepreneurs who are starting revolutions by finding like-minded souls to champion their innovative new ideas. Or Businessmen / Artisans / Professionals who have chosen to pass on the concept of increasing revenue by ‘becoming all things to all people’ in order to refine their talents and strive for excellence.

We builders are pretty fortunate. You see our profession allows us to directly touch the lives of our clients everyday and thus establishing purpose. Building and guarding the dreams of those who hire us. Whatever your passion is, pursue it with intention,Let it become your purpose and then Dial it in. Ramp up the Focus. Make it your area of excellence. And, leave the world a better place.

All my Bests,

Kyle

Which one would you pick?

Kyle Sturtevant — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:29:48 +0000

I Love to find patterns. Patterns in the marketplace. Patterns in emerging developments. Patterns in people’s behaviors. The crazy thing is though, so often I fail to see any of the patterns in my own life. While driving from one project to another last week, I began to connect a few of the dots. You see, I’ve never considered myself to be defined by one single architectural style. In fact, I can find beauty in a home regardless of being a part of any particular vernacular. I’ve adored some Greek Revivals. Pined over the beach cottage bungalow. Respected true southern estate homes. And, revered the English Country Manor. But lately, I find myself piling up a collection of similarly styled homes while trying to articulate my own future Dream Home.

Some of these you may recognize from previous posts. Check out here, here and here.

McAlpine Tankersley Masterpiece

McAlpine Tankersly Masterpiece

Peter Block Beaut

While these are relatively famous, there are others that consistently distract me as I shoot around town.

Brookhaven Baby!

Hidden on Blackland

Such Subtle Style

Now this one is quickly becoming my favorite.

So Perfectly Situated

A Pure Delight

Everything about this home is just simply comfortable. I love the low roof lines, the beautifully shaped dormers, the offering of the shaded recesses, the strength and refinement of the masonry and the mixture of both colors and textures. And then there’s the magnificent landscape…so well taken care of. For me, the home states to the world that you’ve made it and yet you have the least little desire to flaunt it. The whole ensemble makes me feel at ease.

I think if you wanted to get technical, each of these homes would fall into the category of the French Country genre. labeling them though, is not much of a concern to me. What is of interest is that there is a common thread running through the entire collection. It is the way they make me feel. Perfectly at peace. Now that’s how I want to spend my days.

All my Best,

Kyle

Well Worth the Ticket

Kyle Sturtevant — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:21:19 +0000

Hey All ~ Quick post here about an outstanding event that I went to last Thursday evening. It was the Atlanta Symphony Associations Decorators Showhouse. These are always incredible tours, not only because of the unsurpassed talents of the participants involved, but also, because of the spectacular venues which they are able to showcase. And this one was nothing less than amazing. We were lucky enough to actually have a private guided tour put on by the ICA&A and led by none other than Jonathan Lacrosse. If you want to get the skinny on anything pertaining to Atlanta Homes, History and Heritage, go to Jonathan. It’s incredible how much he knows about the Icons, the family’s, the stories and the legends that went into the formation of this fine city.

This Home, originally designed in 1929 by none other than Phillip Trammell Shutze, is affectionately known as Knollwood. In reality, it would be better to refer to her as Knollwood II. James L. Dickey Sr., an early Atlanta business giant, bought approximately 400 acres here and had several buildings constructed on the property. Could you imagine, 400 acres right off of West Paces Ferry Road, a stones throw from the downtown. Crazy. Over the years though, pieces of the land were broken off and subsequently changed hands. Mostly from friend to friend (I love that…shame that it somehow seems to have faded away with the years). In 1911, William Kiser took ownership of about 18 acres of the land and the former version of Knollwood. He elected to have the original “summer house” demolished and began establishing the plans for his families dream Home.

Now, on with the tour.

Approach from Woodhaven Road

An aspect common to signature Shutze site planning, is to have the driveway sweep through the landscape, often approaching from the rear of the Home, winding around the side to a comfortable drop zone in the front, allowing every side there a share of character and dignity. Often making it difficult to distinguish the true front from the rear.

First Stop…Headed to the Garden

Thought the kids would love this shot

Gotta Love a Great Gate

Ahhh, the gardens. That’s good stuff.

Cabana

View back toward the Home

And the Pool.

If you zoom in, you will notice the molded brick surround on this side facade. No lack of detail here.

Venturing into the side yard

I love to explore…

Gazebo

Cool

Limestone Chairs

Very Cool

Not bad.

Wow!

And then; there’s the limestone porte cochere…Incredible!!!

Yep, evey piece of the ensemble is limestone. Really, really, really Cool.

I would love to share with you some photos from the interior, but, out of respect for the ASA Show House team and Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle Magazine, who will be running a future piece on the designer spaces, I’ll refrain. It is something else though. As you could imagine, a tremendous effort was made through the design process for transforming each of these interior rooms without compromising the integrity of the original design intent.

The tour will be open up until May 13th, so if your looking for a great Mother’s Day idea, don’t say I never gave you anything. Or, if you just want a chance to take in the sites of a true Atlanta landmark, check it out before the opportunity is gone forever. Certainly well worth it.

All my Best,

Kyle

Touches of Blue

Kyle Sturtevant — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:12:56 +0000

So, I’ve been sitting on a post for a while now, but, hadn’t been able to pull it all together. While watching the events unfold in the news with North Korea, the timing seemed to be right. What a miserable, pathetic, impotent attempt at proving something to the world. The worst part though was when the “State” run media outlet made the announcement of the failed launch with the directive for everyone to turn their attention to a gathering where a very important unveiling was about to take place. Kim-Jong-”Ick” enters the stage and stands all puffed up and waiting for a sheet to be pulled off of his newly commissioned bronze statues of both he and his father. Ridiculous. The part that really tore me up was to watch all of those good people standing around, brain washed and mind-numbed, looking on in adoration of this psychotic dictator. Truly oblivious as to how repressed they really are.

We in America though stand sometimes oblivious to how good we truly have it. For the longest time now, we’ve been listening to people fret over another coming doom, Another wave that will do us all in. A double dip. Triple dip. A government that is run amuck. A world economy that is teetering on a fatal collapse. And while I certainly do not want to make light of the struggles that some families are still going through. I do want to express that I feel that we have lost sight of how great our country legitimately is. That we are not hearing about how remarkable the American spirit genuinely has proven to be. This country was built by courageous men and women. And, that there is a rich history of individuals defying the odds to overcome unbelievable obstacles and push forward to a better life for him, his family and his community.

This piece wasn’t at all a rant. Even though it did feel kind of “soap box-ish”. My desire with it, and what I truly wanted to express, was that there is a whole lot of good going on. A lot of great things are happening irregardless of the difficult times that we face.

You know, as I look around, there are signs of life coming up everywhere. Really positive stuff.

Beacham and Company

Yep, they’re everywhere. Positive signs popping up all over the place.

So you can probably tell how excited I was to find this in my inbox.

The Invite

With an invitation as elegant as this, how could I refuse. I’ve been to one of these reveals before and it was beyond impressive. And from what I can gather, they’re getting better and better as they go. The feature home for this event was somewhat unique. With a spectacular location, right on the fringes of the “Duck Pond” Neighborhood. (I love that aspect of Atlanta, pockets of pure gold tucked in nooks and crannies all around the fine city). This home was right in the heart of the action.

Originally built in 1910, yet highly renovated just five years ago. It was a true treat to be able to go in and explore. An even greater thrill was to be able to hear Frank Neely, the architect who orchestrated the renovation, speak to the decisions, the detailings and the material choices that went into this magnificent project.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

As I turned the corner on my approach, I immediately knew that I was in for something special.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

Can’t you just see the detailing starting to come out. I love the slotted venting of the soffits with the horizontal brackets, the open stairway and the herringbone walkway that welcomes you as you step up to greet the home.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

You can not have a truly southern Home without a gracious front porch. I learned that the Brazilian Redwood decking had been salvaged from the home’s original interior and incorporated out here. Looks pretty good for nearly 100-year-old material.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

This side porch is extremely cool ~ and comfortable. Flanked by magnificent custom iron doors on two sides and some meticulously trimmed screened panel sections on the others. Not a single design element was left in question. Even the screen material itself was specified to be made out of copper in order to soften the tone of the light as it rests gently on its guest. Couldn’t you see the ladies of the neighborhood taking refuge in this retreat as they relax before a busy afternoon of activities begins to rev up.

Photograph by Beacham and Company

What an Entry!

Photograph by Beacham and Company

And the Kitchen.

Photograph by Terry Kearns

Now that’s pretty sweet. An awesome hand painted “rug” under the breakfast table.

All to often, we are told that, in order to have the best opportunity to resell our houses, we need to eliminate anything personal, making it appeal to as many people as possible. I think this is a case and point where if the element or detail is thoughtfully designed and well executed than it will have an endearing value that will attract more people than not.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

Two trim elements that I love here are the thickened paneled openings like the one leading to the living room and the use of the bellowed profile trim on the underside of the boxed beams. Seldom seen, but, such a nice touch. It’s all about shadow lines with this home and Frank Neely pulled it off wonderfully through the use of the mill work pieces that he selected.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

Master Bath ~ Polished, Refined, Elegant, Sophisticated. Yet Comfortable.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

And Functional.

Photograph by Beacham and company Realtors

Here the homeowner went with a sharp red for the doors, surrounded with a pale green for the casing and a rich brown on the baseboard. Bold, Funky Cool. Once again, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

Master Bedroom ~ When we were in here, we noticed that the glass in the windows had a genuine vintage feel to them even though the sashes appeared to be brand new. Turns out, they pulled the original “wavy” glass and had them re-installed into the new units creating a very authentic look.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

The mill work detailing in the entire Home was extremely well conceived. Notice the extra tall, multi-layered baseboards with the rather uncommon 6 Panel (horizontal) interior doors including vintage hardware.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

How’s that for an outdoor living space.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

Absolutely superb. The upper room bumping out with a flared lower section to emulate a roof supported by heavy brackets and enclosing a french door / side light / transom ensemble. Pure Beauty!

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

I’m calling the room over the garage for my office. My oldest son wants it for his bedroom.

Photograph by Beacham and Company Realtors

The details are everywhere. Did anyone notice the swoop roof treatment to eyebrows over the garage doors? I suppose that some contractors would consider this to be more effort than it’s worth. Not with me though. It’s the way we finish the finer elements that creates the workings of a true masterpiece. It’s what creates a remarkable composition. And, I think that most of the people who I spoke with had the same opinion. I heard over and over that the nature of this Home truly reflected what they longed for. Not only was it magnificently crafted and faithfully maintained, but you could tell that it was cherished. And when it came to put her up on the market, the market responded. The Home went under contract within two weeks from being listed…Incredible!

Thank you to Beacham and Company for hosting such a fun event, allowing us to tour an exquisite work of art and providing such an enjoyable evening.

All my Best!

Kyle

Taken Back a Bit…

Kyle Sturtevant — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:20:24 +0000

Well, we just made it back, with a bevy of young’uns in tow, from a week away at my second most favorite place under the sun. That place being St. Simons Island along the gorgeous Georgia coast. I love it for its strength in resisting the trap of commercialization. You know, a sell out of any kind has always rubbed me the wrong way. While we were there, despite the pulls of all those little guys, I was really hoping to get caught up on a little R & R. However, between football, soccer, dodge ball, four square, skim boarding, and a slew of other activities, things weren’t exactly going in my favor. It wasn’t until my wife and I snuck away for a little home tour down the backstreets and alley ways of the Isle, that I finally decided I had to set aside some time to explore one of my latest prized possessions. Not so long ago, I had received a copy of the much-anticipated, beautiful publication from Historical Concepts.

Just Released !!!

I have been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this for quite a while, but, to be honest, I truly thought that I knew what to expect. I had anticipated it to be a study on historical perspectives. One of which, is certainly aesthetically beautiful. One where I could learn a thing or two on the layering of applied moldings. Or maybe even gain a better understanding of the relationships of period construction. However, what I found was strikingly unique. A deeper message hidden underneath. One that caused me to take a step back and pause to reflect a bit.

Too often, we think about classical architecture primarily in regal terms such as columns, entablatures, balustrades and pilasters. When in reality it is about how succinctly the pieces of the composition fit together. How well the living environment makes one feel. How meticulously the structure is nestled into its surroundings. And, how perfectly the home displays the personality of its inhabitants. Under this definition, a home of a classical nature is no longer relegated exclusively to the upper echelons. Thus, as it happens to be, there was a period of time when there was a generation or an era of people who got it. And, they were committed to establishing just such a Home.

While some of the feature homes on these pages are certainly of a noble stature, there are quite a few, if not more, who represent a more modest disposition. These homes are described to have been fashioned from other residences in the region whose owners could have been “farmers or whalers or shrimpers or stevedores”. A common citizen who worked hard at his profession, who was somewhat frugal, appreciated what he had and was willing to invest in it. These owners understood what was valuable. And you can see it in the Homes that they imparted on us. Somewhere along the way, I think we lost touch with these traits.

Here’s a glimpse of what I am talking about.

Historical Concepts Portfolio Work

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Historical Concepts Portfolio Work

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Historical Concepts Portfolio Work

And now for my favorite one:

Historical Concepts Portfolio Work

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Historical Concepts Portfolio Work

Simply beautiful.

Yeah, I chose a lot of beach properties, because, well, I was at the beach. Irregardless of the locale though, you will find a similar approach to all of their projects. And the result ~ Genuine, Authentic, Elegant and Sophisticated. What more can I say.

Very little when compared to how they have so eloquently expressed the methods and rationales for reaching such effects.

“We also paid attention to the ways buildings work together, not only with their surroundings but also as collections of structures serving a community”. (emphasis mine)

“We start by analyzing the character of the land, the heritage of the region and the vision of the client…The magic comes when you put them together to express the complex soul of a place”.

“Houses should not just be academic exercises in proven architectural canons. They need to feel right, both in the places where they stand and to the people who live in them”.

By taking the level of design to such an exhaustive detail, reaching far beyond the boundaries of the Home’s walls, a lasting gem of immense value is created which will be treasured and cherished for generations to come. Not just by the Home’s inhabitants, but also, by their families, friends and the collective community or society as a whole. We all stand to benefit from it. And we are all much richer because of them.

If you love beautiful architectural photography. If you would consider yourself a “Home Enthusiast” of any fashion. If you’re looking for pure inspiration. You really need to pick up a copy for yourself. Or, to take it a step further, Follow Historical Concepts on Facebook and catch the next public book signing for your own autographed edition. More importantly, lets take these lessons to heart and start incorporating them in our own households and neighborhoods.

Enjoy!!!

All my Best,

Kyle

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Spring, Spitzmiller, APC and The Grant Mansion

Kyle Sturtevant — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:50:13 +0000

What a magnificent day this Saturday turned out to be. It started with some good times, hanging out with the tennis crowd and capturing a swift victory. It wasn’t me though. I think I need to give almost all of the credit here to Ted. {Who, by the way, runs an exceptional company called North Georgia Windows. If you ever need to get some windows replaced, give Ted a call. His standard for business is above the mark; something that we should all try to apply to our lives…focus on the good, leave all of the bad junk behind, treat people well and always do what you say you’re going to do. This is a solid operation through and through}. After that though, I shot home, got changed and headed downtown for a presentation put on by the ICA&A. It was a spectacular spring afternoon in Atlanta. Such a fine day that I couldn’t help but think how anybody could wantingly move away from this great city. As I turned the corner down a quaint little street in the Grant Park neighborhood, I found cars lined up one side of the road and down the other. Crazy, I thought, for this big of a big turn out on such a beautiful day. Surely people had other things to do. But, this was a much-anticipated event and people showed up. You see, Rick Spitzmiller, principle of Spitzmiller and Norris, was the honored guest and he was giving a presentation on the preservation of his personal home in Columbus, Georgia. It was fascinating. Really cool to see the home through his eyes. Rick had grown up in Columbus and had always personally admired the homes in the area for not only their stature, but also, their livability. As he took us through the slides, we could certainly understand the draw. These homes were stately, but, not overdone. Magnificent in their architecture. Rick expressed how he had been in the market for quite some time looking for precisely the right home to buy. Then he revealed her.

Welcome to the Jenkins Residence

Hmmm??? OK ~ stay with me on this one. Rick proceeded with slide after slide of the original detailing that caught his eye. For most of us, we saw grit, grime, brokenness and overgrown vines, He saw beauty, original intent and material applications. Proportions, specific treatments and historical correctness. It was incredible. Then he took us through the restoration. Starting with the relocation to another site. The careful reconstruction. The procurement of missing elements that fit timelessly to the rest of the composition. And then to the Final Masterpiece:

Welcome to Redland

Absolutely Beautiful!

Side View

They set the Home on an “English Basement”. (Yeah ~ that’s a new term for me too). The basement has 9′ tall walls, yet, sunk 3′ in the ground. Daylight is given to all 4 sides making the entire space very livable. This also allowed him to convert a 4 room structure into a 12 room house. Other than that, he added a rear porch and re-configured the main floor layout, all the while, maintaining the integrity of the original elements. If you ever get a chance to catch this presentation in the future, catch it. From my opinion, it is a must.

The other really cool thing about this afternoon was that the event was held at the L.P. Grant Mansion which is the home of the Atlanta Preservation Center. The APC had bought this home about 10 years ago, saving it from demolition, and they’ve been slowly restoring it ever since.

L.P Grant Mansion

Main Approach

Southern Porch

Stately Entry

Floor to Ceiling Windows

Porch Detailing

Chamfered Bases

Ride Side Elevation

Left Side Elevation

Stupendous Covered Porch

And, now for one of my favorite elements:

A Splayed Boxed Window Bay ~ So sorry the photo is tilted. I know, pretty amateurish.

And, here’s the unit all painted out. Notice the original glass.

I loved hearing the history on the house. And, this home was full of history. Mr. Grant worked for the railroad as an engineer. He was very influential and basically developed the city. As his wealth grew, he began acquiring land, later of which, he virtually donated all away. [ ie. Grant Park] He began building this home just before the Civil War. And at one point Margaret Mitchell even took a keen interest in it and invested a lot in restoring it. My favorite story of all was that at one point Mr. Grant’s grandson owned the home. It was a lot bigger then so they decided to share the home with another couple. The Jones’s. These were the same Jones’ who gave birth to the Bobby Jones while residing here. And for the Grant’s, well, they gave birth to Bitsy Grant. Yep, two of Atlanta’s most influential athletes growing up in the same home. Pretty cool huh.

You can always follow this post via Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Twitter or click the e-mail box to the right and get them deliver straight to your inbox.

Have a Great Weekend

Kyle

What’s the Thread

Kyle Sturtevant — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 03:22:06 +0000

The other night, as my wife and I were spending a quiet evening reading, she handed me the latest edition of Southern Living stating that I had to take a look because just about everybody I ever speak about is mentioned somewhere in the issue. And sure enough, it was chock full of local talent. So, I dove right in. Within minutes of perusing the content, a common theme began to materialize. A topic that is near and dear to my heart. You can probably guess it. Yep ~ Design Matters ~

via Southern Living

Right off the bat, they high-light a simple exterior renovation. Check out the before and after as shown above. But, the really cool thing here though is that the homeowner had the instinct and wisdom to seek out the highest council that he could solicit. And who did he turn to? It was Jeremy Corkern of Birmingham, Alabama and principle at Bates Corkern Studio. This firm came onto my radar about six months ago and is rapidly rising to be one of my favorites. Story after story that I hear about these guys speaks of a true genuineness that is nothing shy of admirable in todays marketplace. Curious as to what I’m talking about? Here’s a post from Holly at “Things That Inspire” that will further illustrate my point to the character of this organization.

Back to the post though.

via Southern Living

Jeremy stated that what the Home needed was ” a series of exterior layers: a new paint palette, shutters, fencing and landscaping”. However, I think that he was being a little modest here. Sure, the new shutters have made a big difference, yet, it is in the type and placement that truly pays off Huge dividends. First they utilized operable shutters that are hinged with tie backs, sized properly for the openings, but, the impact comes from the use of shutters at the dormers and entry door. Other elements of significance are the use of a single light post, the bold and stately gate and fence railings and the random blue pavers on the lead walk.

via Southern Living

I love that entry door. A stunning vintage piece which shines as the focal piece. Then, there are the steps that reach out to the gardens in every direction. And my favorite detail of all. A stone pediment surrounded by painted shake. It’s kind of unexpected, but, speaks to the strength of the composition.

On to another piece:

From the Portfolio of Troy Rhone Garden Design

How cool is this one. It comes from Troy Rhone Garden Designs and I’m so glad that Southern Living chose to feature this charming little abode. The whole property screams of integrity. The meticulous landscape ties in seamlessly with the apron pavers and the pea gravel parking pad. The custom fence and the stone columns anchor the site. The foliage, the mixture of colors, the harmony and balance; they all lead to a feeling of calm because one senses that this one is here to stay. When you consider the Home, the materials are perfect. They have appropriately sized shutters, a true stucco masonry chimney, a blue capped porch and walk with hand chiseled stone steps and a gate to die for.

There was another story in the magazine that I was going to cover, but, could not come up with the photos to fully express my thoughts so I’ll let you look it up on your own. Here’s a clue, it features Phoebe Howard as she tackles a Summerour home that recently came back on the market down in Sea Island. She does such a magnificent job transforming the home into the wants of the owner that you would have thought that she had been a part of the project from the start of construction.

Anyway, the gist here is that there is no substitution for quality design. And, that high design should never be reserved specifically for the palatial estates. When it comes to enhancing the marketability one’s home this can be the key ingredient to serve as the differentiator. In a world where we have all been trained to evaluate properties entirely on the value of return on investment, I ask you, don’t you think that these guys will get there asking price. I would think that these Homes are so Well Composed that the owners will not only get their price, but, that the houses will sell in record time.

On second thought, I take that back ~ I don’t think that they will have any intentions of selling them at all.

Let’s hear it for the power of high caliper design.

All My Best,

Kyle

Topping the Charts

Kyle Sturtevant — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:30:38 +0000

McAlpine Tankersley Architecture

Truthfully, there is not a single word that I could possibly add to this, so, I thought I would just share.

To see more, please visit this remarkable new blog site by

McAlpine Tankersley

Take Care,

Kyle

It’s a Radiation Vibe Thing

Kyle Sturtevant — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:08:58 +0000

Perfection!

Here’s one of my All~Time favorite Homes, in one of my All~Time favorite communities.

The beautiful enclave of Brookhaven.

I happen to have the good fortune of driving by this beaut everyday as we have a new home going up just down the road.

I Love the patio doors, the full size shutters, the rhythm of segmented arches, the swooped gable, the motor court, the chimney, the Balance, the browns, the greens, the entire color scheme.

He looks so Comfortable, so Secure, Inviting.

Proud, Confident, yet, Understated.

He’s kicked back, basking in a radiation vibe kinda thing.

Forgive me for getting all Hippie~esk on this one, but I did spend my formative years livin’ in Athens, hangin’ on the lawn, listening to Widespread.

Have a Great Week,

Kyle