From the jovial family crest on the wrought iron gate to the hand-crafted wooden tables, Sebastian Haase's German heritage permeates his two-story Craftsman bungalow.

Sara Hopkins/Special (ENLARGE)

Stephanie and Sebastian Haase added many family touches to their renovated Morningside home.

Sara Hopkins/Special (ENLARGE)

The master bath, with its central tub and two-entrance shower, is Sebastian's pride.

Haase and his wife, Stephanie, bought the 90-year-old home in Morningside five years ago when it was a one-story home in need of repair.

"We wanted to live in the city — it was ideal. We like a garden-style neighborhood," Sebastian Haase said.

They spent a year renovating before moving in.

"I build it; she pays for it," said Sebastian Haase, who is currently renovating another Atlanta home.

Stephanie Haase works at SunTrust Mortgage. Her husband does real estate investing and renovating in addition to running an online travel agency.

The couple kept the basic floor plan and expanded on it. They designed the home together and then turned it over to an architect.

"We had great, great arguments over it, and we are still friends," Sebastian Haase said, chuckling. "I do the outside, and she does the inside."

Stephanie Haase's favorite room is the renovated sun porch with its stunning mix of onyx and marble floors.

"This is where we sit and read the AJC," she said. As she walks through the home, the family dogs, Bogey and Samantha, are close at her heels. (They like to keep track of all visitors.) For their hard work, the dogs get their own beds in the master bedroom.

The great room off the kitchen is where the couple likes to hang out. They saved some of the original hardwood floors and mixed them with new flooring for a seamless effect.

The couple describe their house style as eclectic. They used accents, such as doors, that look old and fit with the home's architectural style. Beveled glass in a set of interior French doors and an antique-looking wood stain are details that tie together the renovation.

Before the kitchen redesign, the couple poured over shelter magazines for ideas. They used glass doors in the kitchen to display dishes and installed granite counters to offset the cream-colored cabinets. Last but not least, Sebastian Haase made sure to include double ovens.

"My husband cooks really well and uses every pan in the house," Stephanie Haase said.

In the TV room, several personal treasures create an authentic atmosphere. A friend from Vermont built the green marble coffee table. A wooden chest in the room features the family name and crest — a trio of hares represent the Haase name, which means hare in German. In addition, Sebastian Haase's father, Bernhard Haase, made the intricate inlaid wooden table with a hunting scene.

While the renovation is impressive, the most interesting feature is the master bath, or more appropriately, "the spa." It is Sebastian Haase's favorite room. The couple situated the garden tub in the center of the room and built his and her entrances to the shower room. The light-colored granite counters sit atop cherry cabinets. The rest of the room is covered with travertine tile.

The backyard also underwent a major renovation. The couple removed pine trees but planted similar-sized trees to meet city code.

Sebastian Haase eventually wants to make room for a pool. For now, the couple will make the most of the patio and outdoor space.

"We live outdoors and we grill," Sebastian Haase said.

HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Morningside home was renovated from three bedrooms/two baths to four bedrooms/3.5 baths. Square footage bloomed from 2,100 to 4,200 square feet.

• After figuring out the first floor plan, the challenge was to create a pleasing second floor. The couple also considered their neighbors when adding the second story. One room doesn't have a window on the outside wall to avoid looking into the neighbor's rooms.

• The master bath features a shower room with three separate shower heads and his and her entrances.

RELATED LINKS

• Photos: See more of the Haase home

• Previous Private Quarters

• Home & Garden

• ajchomefinder.com

• 2007 Home Sales Report

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