Family builds ideal abode in ‘funky’ town

The city of Mountain Park is a neighborhood of old and new homes situated along winding roads in the woods.

It is also a stone’s throw away from the strip mall mania of Ga. 92, but you’d never know it.

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Sean Drakes/Special

Kim and Scott Mills built their home in Mountain Park, northwest of Roswell, eight years ago.

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Sean Drakes/Special

The Millses bought a separate lot to accommodate the septic tank for their 3,200-square-foot home, which they call Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired.

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Sean Drakes/Special

The kitchen has a dining area, plus the family often watches television in there.

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Until 1927, Mountain Park consisted largely of summer cottages, but it has evolved into its own enclave northwest of Roswell.

That seclusion and sense of nature is what led Scott and Kim Mills there eight years ago.

“It’s a pretty funky little place,” Scott Mills said.

When building their 3,200-square-foot home, the couple needed a large lot because the area is on septic tanks. The Millses bought another piece of property to accommodate the septic tank, and that move caused them to angle the home on the lot. A nearby creek determined the setback.

Kim, an interior designer, and Scott, a public relations executive, call their home Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired. It includes earthy touches such as a wooden vanity in the powder room and curved concrete fireplace in the living room.

Scott Mills made the vanity “with the help of a friend and a lot of power tools.”

Coolest feature: Scott Mills loves the walking trail he carved and the natural surroundings of his home. They built a swing daybed on the deck off the master bedroom.

“I wanted to lie down and see the trees,” he said.

Kim Mills likes the floor plan that doesn’t waste space and takes advantage of the view. “For us, it’s perfect,” she said.

Decorating style: “The house is 90 percent Kim. She knew what was going to happen in every room,” Scott Mills said. “She has an ability to think in 3-D.”

His wife calls her style a mix of eclectic and contemporary. “The color palette is what brings it over from contemporary. Real stark doesn’t live well.”

She collects vases and finds editing herself sometimes difficult. “We’re constantly moving things around.”

Their son Tyler’s room includes a retro Led Zeppelin print and is divided into two rooms when the folding doors are pulled out. It’s handy when Tyler, 14, has a friend stay over. Kim Mills said she kept a designer’s touch in her teenager’s room and tried to include him in the process.

Tyler picked out the colors for the room. “I just directed him,” she said.

Most cherished item? If the house were on fire, Kim Mills would grab her two cats and her wedding ring.

“The rest of it is just beautiful things,” she said. But as she thought more about the question, she added that she cherishes their artwork, especially those pieces created by friends.

Future project: The Millses plan to renovate the kitchen and install new counters and an updated sink.

“When we moved in, things were budgeted to a certain point. Practicality drove that,” she said.

Heart of the home: The kitchen draws the Mills family together. There’s a television, and Tyler often does his homework there. Scott Mills also brings his laptop into the room.

The family also spends a good amount of time in their formal dining room. “We try not to leave it ostracized. It’s a cool room,” Kim Mills said.

Tips for good living:

“Enjoy your house. You don’t have to have a big house or perfect furniture. Make the best of your house,” Kim Mills said.

Clear away clutter. “The disarray of the house affects how you feel,” she added.

Angle your furniture. “You’ll get more from your chairs,” she said.

Don’t ignore the television — arrange furniture to make viewing pleasurable.