On a recent hot Atlanta day, the Davidson youngsters took their boogie boards and slid down the beautifully tiled waterslide into their pool with the meandering Chattahoochee River as a backdrop.

Sean Drakes / AJC Special (ENLARGE)

Katie and Doug Davidson wanted to keep a good proximity to Atlanta while maintaining some seclusion for their growing family.

Sean Drakes / AJC Special (ENLARGE)

This lanai, or outdoor entertaining area, is a favorite hangout for Katie and Doug Davidson and children Diane and Douglas.

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The seclusion of their home, coupled with easy access to Atlanta, is what led Katie and Doug Davidson to this area of Duluth. Doug Davidson, president of a large Atlanta-based commercial construction company, and his wife have two children, Diana, 13, and Douglas, 8. And though their chateau-style home is formal, it was designed with the children's needs as well.

The 11,000-square-foot home has four bedrooms — all master-suite size — four full baths and three half baths. Luxury builder Lewis Reeves (www.lewisreeveshomes.com) completed the home in May 2007. The Davidsons said they made all the bedrooms large for resale value. Building a home can be an overwhelming task, but it's old hat for the Davidsons; This is their fourth home in Atlanta.

Describe your decorating style: The home evokes a European style with subtle contemporary flourishes.

"We like classic design with simple, clean lines. We worked closely with Donald (Mitchell of Donald Mitchell Design) to bring in traditional European design throughout the home. We wanted our home to reflect our favorite interiors from Italy, France and England. We worked for months to bring in the finest custom, hand-crafted lighting for this house as well. We incorporated limestone in both the interior and exterior of the home so that it would gracefully weather with age."

Coolest feature? "We love the privacy of the river lot on the Chattahoochee River, and we created a custom locker unit at the side entrance for kids, including cell phone chargers." So far only newly minted teen Diana has a cell phone.

Heart of the home? Kitchen and keeping room. "Me and Douglas do our homework here, eat here and watch TV here," Diana Davidson said. In fact, Katie Davidson has dedicated two drawers in the island as "homework drawers."

Why this style of home? The Davidsons said a traditional single family home meets their needs.

Past or future project? Katie likes the guest room, but she says it needs a few finishing touches.

Describe your most cherished item: The Davidsons said this was a hard question. They couldn't come up with one item, but said "We collect antiques from Europe."

What makes your house a home? The couple decided to install French limestone throughout the home because it is easier to maintain with kids and a dog coming in from the swimming pool. "We wanted stone floors even though they're formal — they are very livable."

Katie also allows her children to express themselves. Eight-year-old Douglas' bedroom door is covered with his artwork and other items.

Tips for good living: "Relax and enjoy today. Take time to have friends and family over frequently." The Davidsons are fourth-generation Atlantans.

Do you have a tip or a nomination for Private Quarters? Email writer Chris Reinolds (creinolds@ajc.com) or call her at 770-326-8958.