Private Quarters: Going modern in Old Fourth Ward

Home and Garden

A curved stairwell was on Randy Harris’ and John Carroll’s dream home list from the beginning. Even when it was more budget-friendly to make the stairwell more straight and traditional, the couple didn’t want to lose that feature in their home, which is among 10 properties on Sunday’s Old Fourth Ward Tour of Homes.

Morning light filters through the east facing windows into the heart of the living level and the master bedroom. Throughout the day, light crosses the windows on the south courtyard elevation. As the seasons change, the winter sun warms the interior at a low angle and the urban canopy provides shade during the summer.

Carroll and Harris handed a portfolio of home design photos from magazines to TaC Studios. “We literally took a bundle of stuff to Cara and Jose and said, ‘Here, make a house out of this,’” Carroll said. “The first plan was pretty much how the house is laid out now.” -- Text by Lori Johnston

A Victorian-era lingerie dryer - found at an antique store - hangs over a gray sideboard. A rust piece by local artist Allison Shockley also is in the foyer.

If buying a home with someone else, consider giving each person one veto over furniture. “We each had one veto-proof decision. If someone really wanted something, the other person would have to give in. We never had to use it but did come close on the couch,” Carroll said. For the living room couch, Harris had one in mind while Carroll had found a gray leather couch at Leather Creations with more clean lines, which is a signature piece in the living room. -- Text by Lori Johnston

The marble fireplace surround was salvaged from a friend who had bought a supply of random tiles from a salvage yard; it's also used in a guest bathroom upstairs. Favorite artwork: A mid-century modern piece by Howard Mandel, purchased at Atlanta’s City Issue, hangs above the fireplace.

The kitchen has Miele appliances, including an induction cooktop for energy-efficient way of cooking. The tile backsplash is by Daltile.

Interior design style: Warm modern. Dark hardwood floors complement clean lines and simple architectural details. The artwork by Matthew Ward, a local artist, is among the owner's favorite.

Warm modern. Dark hardwood floors complement clean lines and simple architectural details. Paint colors: Sherwin Williams’ Greek Villa (white)

The den's abundance of light creates a plant-friendly setting that the homeowners named the "terrarium room." Some of the furniture is handmade, and the artwork includes a photograph by a New York artist.

Upon entering the house, one is greeted by a grand piano and the curved stair. Views of the Midtown skyline and the local 'Eiffel' tower are framed from within the home.

A curved stairwell was on Randy Harris’ and John Carroll’s dream home list from the beginning. Even when it was more budget-friendly to make the stairwell more straight and traditional, the couple didn’t want to lose that feature in their home, which is among 10 properties on Old Fourth Ward Tour of Homes on Sept. 15, 2013. -- Text by Lori Johnston

The stairwell’s shape helps soften the lines in their modern home, even if it cost more to bend the steel into the correct curvature. The stairwell connects the two floors in an architecturally appealing way and creates a perfect location for the grand piano. -- Text by Lori Johnston

The bedroom level provides a gallery viewing for impromptu piano performances.

A grandfather clock in the catwalk has been in John Carroll's family since the 1800s. The Old Fourth Ward home mixes modern and antique furnishings and accessories to keep the home warm and interesting, the owners said.

A cozy guest bedroom is located on the second floor of the home. Paint color: Fawn Brindle (gray)

A sculpture in the master bedroom was free. A tenant in the Buckhead office building where Randy Harris used to work moved out and left the sculpture in the hallway for months. "The landlord said does anybody want this? Nobody did except me," Harris said. "That was a found piece of sculpture that perfectly fit in our home."

The tile spans from the floor to the ceiling. Homeowners John Carroll and Randy Harris replaced the marble top on a table near the shower with a slab of cedar they found at a shop on the way to Myrtle Beach, S.C. A Produits Neptune tub is a sleek centerpiece in the bathroom. The light filled master bath looks on the future woodland garden, with privacy only a curtain pull away.

The master suite opens to the back porch with a southern porch swing. The house is located on a small intown lot, and the site plan was dictated by a 75-year-old pecan tree that still stands in the backyard.

Size: About 3,400 square feet, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths Architects: Cara Cummins and Jose Tavel of TaC studios General Contractor: Pinnacle Custom Builders

Other neighborhoods were an option for Harris and Carroll, but they were drawn to the Old Fourth Ward’s energy and walkable setting. “It was kind of urban and gritty and cool at the same time,” Harris said. -- Text by Lori Johnston

John Carroll and Randy Harris relax in front of their Atlanta home.

Favorite outdoor feature: Dipping pool and gardens. The 5-by-15-foot pool, accessed through sliding doors in the living room and by Neptune Pools, based in Sugar Hill, is just big enough to get wet and cool off, Harris said. Favorite architectural features: The use of brick and wood, which fits into the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and is classic and timeless, they said. -- Text by Lori Johnston

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Morning light filters through the east facing windows into the heart of the living level and the master bedroom. Throughout the day, light crosses the windows on the south courtyard elevation. As the seasons change, the winter sun warms the interior at a low angle and the urban canopy provides shade during the summer.

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