ajc.com 2008 Holiday Guide
DEL.ICIO.USLeila Ross Wilburn designed homes that lasted
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/29/07
At a time when it wasn't common, or probably even fashionable, Leila Ross Wilburn had an unusual career. And she was so good at it that much of her work still stands for us to see today.
Wilburn, a 1902 Agnes Scott College graduate, was a self-taught architect who designed houses. She opened her own architectural practice in Atlanta and stayed on the job until her death in 1967.
 Reneé Hannans Henry / Staff | ||
| Chris (left) and Tim Russell in their living room on Adams Street in Decatur. Their 1915 home was designed by noted architect Leila Ross Wilburn. | ||
 Reneé Hannans Henry / Staff | ||
| The Russell's master bedroom. The Decatur Home tour features several homes designed by Wilburn. | ||
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On Dec. 7 and 8, visitors to one of Decatur's first historic neighborhoods can see Wilburn's work up close, during a home tour that showcases many of her plans. Some of them were built from Wilburn's first book, "Southern Homes and Bungalows," that includes photos of the residences on Adams Street and other surrounding blocks.
"As an architect, businesswoman and entrepreneur, Wilburn created a unique place for herself by promoting the home as a woman's area of expertise," said Sarah Boykin, an architect and former Decatur resident who drives main streets and back roads in search of Wilburn's architecture. She has been known to knock on the doors of strangers, plan book in hand, introducing homeowners to the architect who designed their houses. "Wilburn's ambition was to design houses that were functionally innovative, affordable and available for prospective homeowners and builders throughout the South."
In 1907, when two developers bought land that was to become Decatur's first residential subdivision, Wilburn came up with the designs. And she had another connection to the area: She lived in one of the houses with her mother and siblings.
In the late 1990s, the area became known as the MAK Historic district, a roughly that encompasses Adams Street, McDonough Street and Kings Highway. The city gave the area historic designation after neighbors rallied to protect the area from encroachment by Agnes Scott's expansion plans.
"At first, we were excited about being the city's first historic district," said Brian DeVinck, who helped spearhead the historic project. (He moved to Chicago three years ago, giving up a house he restored on Kings Highway.) "But as we started searching and found the Leila Ross Wilburn link, we got even more excited. We know she was not trained as an architect in a school, and because of that, her homes are not textbook examples of certain styles. They're always a little eclectic, but that actually gives her work a certain charm. There are several homes in the neighborhood that I could never place as hers, but looking at her plan books, they must have been."
The large and functional plans resonated with Robin Miller, who moved to Decatur with her husband Marty Samuel in 2001 and bought a Wilburn house on Adams Street. "I really like pre-Depression era homes," said Miller. "I was pretty adamant about getting one. I had a whole laundry list of what a house had to have before I'd even go look at it. This house was a last-minute find — in fact, I never saw it in person. I agreed to buy it from the pictures."
Built in 1924, the brick house has what Miller calls "good bones and good flow." It was laid out to maximize the flow of air through the central rooms, with a side veranda that opens to the living and dining room. There's a sleeping porch in the back and lots of natural light throughout. A previous owner finished the attic without raising the roof, and that floor now holds two bedrooms and two baths. Miller and her husband restored the house, stripping off two dozen layers of paint from woodwork and walls; adding a rear porch; and repainting the exterior. There are two original fireplaces and a coal chute in the basement. "There are still some scary-looking implements down there where they stored coal in the basement," said Miller.
Tim and Chris Russell have lived in their two-story Wilburn house for three years. The 1915 residence had four bedrooms and 1 1/4 baths, and lots of old paint.
"There were layers and layers on the woodwork," said Chris Russell. "We refinished floors, stripped woods, re-did lighting and hardware, added a kitchen and family room and put a bedroom and bath upstairs. We now have about 3,200 square feet."
The couple also refitted six fireplaces, restored the pocket doors and refinished light fixtures. For repairs and expansion, they ordered wood to match what was already in the house.
"We could do all that because the bones of the house are really nice — tall ceilings, fireplaces in all the bedrooms," said Chris Russell.
Six years ago, Joe and Mae Bergin were also newcomers who fell for the MAK area and the arts and crafts style of the houses.
"We came from L.A. and were looking for an historic, old house," said Joe Bergin. "We were pleasantly surprised to find as much arts and crafts styles in Atlanta as there are."
The Bergins got a copy of the original house plan and using photos they found of the four-bedroom house, they restored the 1915 structure. They reproduced period mantels for the fireplaces; used bricks from torn-down buildings; repainted in period colors; and stripped and repainted the porch ceilings. Their last project was the kitchen.
"It was circa 1990s," said Joe Bergin with a laugh. "We brought it back to a period look, with Shaker-style cabinets. We uncovered what we think was the original tile floor of basket weave tiles in light blue and white that we left in place."
The main goal of the project was to keep as much of the past intact as possible, said Joe Bergin. It fits with the couple's collection of period antiques, including a 1907 upright piano and a 1919 telephone.
"This is the original floor plan; nothing has been altered. When you walk in, you think it's been here for a long, long time."
It was that look that drew Robin Miller to the neighborhood first. It was only after she moved in that she realized she had a Wilburn house.
"Her floor plans really work — that's a signature of her houses," said Miller. "They're functional; people can really live in them. They've withstood the test of time."
IF YOU GO
25th Annual Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes
• 5:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8
• Tickets: $25 at the door; $20 in advance from Decatur retail outlets including Intown Ace Hardware, the Seventeen Steps, Bicycle South and the Seen Gallery.
• Proceeds benefit the Decatur Youth Fund and the Decatur Preservation Alliance.
• Information: 404-371-9583; www.decaturtourofhomes.com