He may lust after "Hollywood" in his songs, but Ed Roland really loves to retreat to his Buckhead townhome with his "Georgia Girl."

Joey Ivansco / Staff (ENLARGE)

Ed and Michaeline Roland both travel for their jobs, so their townhome is a place to get away from the pressures of a demanding life. Ed is the lead singer for Collective Soul. Michaeline is an executive recruiter.

Joey Ivansco / Staff (ENLARGE)

Ed and Michaeline's living room is full of photography and other treasured artworks.

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Roland, lead singer of Atlanta-based rockers Collective Soul, took time recently between touring to open his home for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He and his wife, Michaeline, have redone their three-story Georgian-style townhome into a warm, contemporary retreat.

For the uninitiated, Collective Soul came out of Stockbridge, Ga., to gain international acclaim. (Three of the five band members still live in metro Atlanta.) Nineteen songs reached the Billboard charts in the band's first seven years, and seven of those made it to No. 1. Collective Soul's latest CD, "Afterwords," debuted in the Top 25 on Billboard's album chart and was a Top 10 album on iTunes during its first week.

Their music is everywhere. The band's hit single, "Hollywood," was featured in "American Idol" commercials. The single, "All That I Know," could be heard recently on ABC's crime drama, "Women's Murder Club," and will be released soon as the second single off the CD.

What a difference a kitchen makes

Ed Roland bought the townhome while he and Michaeline, an executive recruiter, were dating. He gutted the first floor and planned to replace the kitchen with an art gallery because he never ate at home.

"It's not a good idea not to have a kitchen," said Michaeline, adding that she convinced her soon-to-be husband to change his plans.

"If I built a kitchen she said she'd stay, so I built a kitchen," Ed said, laughing.

Granite counters with stainless steel appliances and dark wood cabinets set the tone in the kitchen. Dark walnut wood floors run throughout the home.

"Now he loves the kitchen and likes to eat at home," said Michaeline, who is an avid cook.

With dark woods and warm colors throughout, the home is harmonious from room to room. Ed Roland's second passion, photography, is the dominant artwork in the home.

Designer Nora Walker helped pull the home together when Ed and his band were on tour.

"Her husband's also a musician," Michaeline says of Walker. "She's very talented."

But don't think Ed didn't have any input.

"His passion is art," Michaeline said. "He cared about the lighting on his artwork."

A black-and-white Robert Mapplethorpe photo that hangs in the dining room was one of the first pieces Ed purchased when he became successful.

"Photography is a newer art form," Ed said.

The dominant photo by Vik Muniz in the living room is rumored to be a picture of pasta drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Also in the living area, Ed has set up his piano, where he spends much of his time composing. The instrument was a gift from part-time Atlantan Elton John.

"That's where I write. I love writing on the piano now," he said as another homegrown band, R.E.M., played softly in the background.

Their dog, Shep, has a front-row seat for the creative process. Shep will sit on his chocolate-colored dog bed by the piano and stare at Ed until he starts playing.

"He loves to sit by Ed as he plays," Michaeline said.

The Rolands also have a house on Lake Keowee in South Carolina where Ed has a studio.

"Total serenity at the lake — it's beautiful, you can get inspired," Ed said.

The couple are getting ready to remodel the third floor, which formerly served as Ed's studio. It will eventually be a "killer" bedroom for his 10-year-old son, Lindsey Kris Roland.

And sometime in the future, they hope to turn Lindsey's old room into a nursery, Michaeline said with a smile.

Ed's son's current bedroom includes cork panels for hanging pictures, a chalkboard painted on the wall and his easel, so the boy can practice his creative love, painting.

The furniture is mid-century modern Heywood Wakefield, but the room is all boy with a video game system and a flat-screen TV. An oversized bean bag chair anchors the room.

Does Lindsey realize what a big deal Dad is?

"He does, but all I want to be is Dad," Ed said. When he goes on tour with his father, Lindsey likes to stay on the tour bus, with all its amenities.

"It's a moving treehouse — TV, video games, soda, snacks," Ed said.

Though not yet following in his father's footsteps, Lindsey also has a large guitar collection in the guest bedroom. (As for music, Lindsey likes the Jonas Brothers.)

"Every year on my son's birthday I get him a guitar. I have them custom made, and they're collectible. That way, I get a guitar every year, and I don't get in trouble," he said with a chuckle, adding that he has about 75 guitars of his own.

Down the hall from his son's room is the couple's retreat. The master bedroom features a handcrafted bed made of Australian walnut with cream, blue and brown accents. The river rock tub and shower with violet tones give the master bathroom a soothing, earthy feel.

Between Ed's touring and Michaeline's work travel, the couple enjoy hanging out around town.

They can often be found riding their Vespa to New York Prime or Atlanta Fish Market. The Flying Biscuit Cafe is another favorite spot.

They also frequent local music venues, such as Eddie's Attic and Smith's Olde Bar.

Where to catch the band

The band will release an EP of five songs at the end of the summer. If you want to catch them here in Atlanta, check out Arby's Charity Tour Atlanta. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Collective Soul and the Arby's Foundation have teamed up to host two events: a concert by Collective Soul at The Foundry at Puritan Mill on March 9 and a golf tournament at Chateau Elan Golf Club on March 10.

"We do the acoustic thing, and Monday we go play golf," Ed said.

Last year Collective Soul raised $250,000 for the charity.

The band currently is touring in Canada and South America. Ed said they haven't scheduled an official Atlanta date yet, but stay tuned.

HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS:

• The three-story home has four bedrooms and four baths, with about 4100 square feet of space.

• The top floor, which is soundproof, previously served as the band's studio. It is now being renovated into a bedroom.

• An extensive photography collection includes Robert Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol.

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