Home meets couple’s goal to simplify

Julie Palmer and her husband, Mike, were able to downsize in the Villas at Blackberry Run, but they still had space for a pool at their Dallas home. Palmer, a sales director with Mary Kay, chatted about their place in the active adult neighborhood, which is within the Seven Hills master-planned community and about 10 minutes from their former Kennesaw home.

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Photos by Christopher Oquendo / AJC Special

Even though they were downsizing, Julie and Mike Palmer thought it was important to have a pool. The lot sizes at the Villas at Blackberry Run made it possible for them to build one in the courtyard.

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Julie Palmer said they like the house because it ‘is not quite as choppy’ as their old home in Kennesaw, which was geared more toward a family. ‘It’s nice to have an open space, and we can talk and hear each other,’ she says.

Getting there

Take I-75 north to Exit 278 (Glade Road) and turn left. At the third light, turn right onto Ga. 92. Turn right onto U.S. 41. Go past Ga. 92 and turn left at the light onto Cedarcrest Road. Turn right onto Seven Hills Boulevard. Turn right onto Blackberry Run Trail. The Villas at Blackberry Run will be on the left.

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Q. How did you end up buying in the community?

A. Our children are all out of the house, and we were looking to downsize and make things simple. No basement. No stairs. Not a lot of upkeep. We just kind of stumbled into the neighborhood [when] we were out just driving around one day. And in all honestly, as funny as it sounds, this was simply the neighborhood that just appealed to us. Every time we drove by, we saw neighbors outside talking.

How did the floor plans fit what you needed?

I work from home, so it has a detached casita, which made a perfect office. The lot size was probably the most important thing, because we did add a pool. The only thing that separates the homes is our personal courtyard, kind of a side yard. That’s our private space. The pool had to be in the courtyard.

Why was the pool important?

Mike and I are both from Texas. We had a home in the Houston area that we absolutely loved and we had a pool, so we always enjoyed the years with the pool. During the summer, we were in it almost every day.

How is the style different from your previous home?

The home we moved from was really just geared more for a family. We had the formal dining, the formal living room, the den, all the bedrooms. This is not quite as choppy. It’s just the two of us. It’s nice to have an open space, and we can talk and hear each other.

Has the community lived up to what you expected with the neighbors getting together?

There are all different kinds of things. Every month, it’s just something fun and different. They do a once-a-month social event. They’ve done things where they go courtyard to courtyard and see how everybody’s done their yard. They’ve done a “who’s coming to dinner” month — you’re a hostess, but don’t know who’s coming for dinner. The girls do a movies night out; the guys have a night out.

At a glance

Mike and Julie Palmer’s home has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and about 2,600 square feet of living space. They purchased it in February 2008.

The Villas at Blackberry Run

Address: 57 Shoal Creek Way, Dallas 30132

County: Paulding

Information: 770-917-8082, The Villas at Blackberry Run

Price range: $224,900-$250,000 (base prices)

Homes: 78

Square footage: 1,843-2,100

Lot sizes: About one-fifth of an acre

Standard features: Fenced courtyard with patio, vaulted ceilings, fireplace, walk-in closet in master

Amenities: Two pools, 10 tennis courts, two basketball courts, all-purpose play court, volleyball court, clubhouse, garden, amphitheatre, picnic pavilions, walking trails, lawn maintenance

Homeowners fees: $186.25 a month ($350 initiation fee)

Developer/builder: Windsong Properties

For sale

$269,900: 348 Shoal Creek Way, Dallas 30132. A new 3-bedroom, 3-bath home with a fenced courtyard, permanent stairs to the attic and a stacked stone fireplace.

$239,900: 398 Shoal Creek Way, Dallas 30132. A new 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with a study or optional third bedroom and a covered patio in the fenced courtyard.

Recent sales

$330,000: 385 Shoal Creek Way, Dallas 30132. A new 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with a sunroom, front porch, fenced courtyard and permanent stairs to an attic.

$277,000: 245 Shoal Creek Way, Dallas 30132. A new 3-bedroom, 3-bath home with a detached guest suite, screened porch, sunroom and fenced courtyard.