Amenities make English tudor an oasis

Home and Garden

Amenities make Southwest Atlanta home an oasis

Ivory and James Dearing made sure their dream home had plenty of amenities. They also wanted it to be an inviting place to entertain. Two years after moving in, they completed the home's crown jewel: a full basement with a media room, coffered ceilings, wet bar, billiards room, game room, double fireplace, home gym, spa bath and sitting room. Ivory and son Jamie Dearing with the family pets (from left) Kirby, Bugsy and Rascal.

The Dearing's designed the fa ade of their 6,000 square foot English Tudor in Southwest Atlanta. The home in the Guilford Forest subdivision was built by John Wieland Homes.

Most of the homes in the neighborhood are all brick. The Dearings decided to make theirs different by using stacked stone and brick.

A round table is the centerpiece of the foyer and is often decorated to reflect the season. The Dearings use it for hors d'ouvres and drinks when they entertain

The orange, mid-century modern chair in the basement sitting area used to belong to James Dearing's mother and is about 40-years-old. Ivory Dearing cleaned the leather to make it look new.

The open kitchen has uba tuba granite on the island and countertops and stainless steel appliances.

The mustard colored living room reflects the Dearing's eclectic style. James bought the French bergere chair and ottoman at a bankruptcy sale about 18 years ago.

The basement is the jewel of the home and is open and airy with large windows. The couple designed and finished the lower level in 2007, two years after the home was built. You'll see reuse of old stuff, says Ivory Dearing, who is working on opening her own interior design firm. The pool table belonged to her husband's parents and is more than 30-years-old. She had it recovered and painted.

The kid-friendly basement has a double-sided fireplace that provides a warm glow in the billiard and game rooms. The basement has a media room with a wet bar where the family watches TV, an exercise room, a guest room, and spa bath.

The game room is where the Dearing's teen son likes to entertain his friends with foosball and air hockey tables, video games, a drum set, guitar and a flat screen TV.

Jamie Dearing, 14, is a sports fan. His mother ordered the Atlanta Falcons wall decal for his bedroom from www.fathead.com.

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Ivory and James Dearing made sure their dream home had plenty of amenities. They also wanted it to be an inviting place to entertain. Two years after moving in, they completed the home's crown jewel: a full basement with a media room, coffered ceilings, wet bar, billiards room, game room, double fireplace, home gym, spa bath and sitting room. Ivory and son Jamie Dearing with the family pets (from left) Kirby, Bugsy and Rascal.

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