Luke and Laura Graham inherited mold and asbestos when they bought a 100-year-old Decatur home. The residence is now free of those toxins and includes items passed down from family members.
In 12 weeks, the Grahams, who own Haremere Properties, developed a new floor plan, gutted and remodeled the home, which has 11-foot ceilings, into a Victorian farmhouse.
“Even though the house was so rundown when we visited, it still felt really grand because of the size of the rooms and the height of the ceilings,” Laura said. “You could see the potential, even though you were worried about breathing.”
Snapshot
Residents: Luke and Laura Graham
Location: Decatur
Size: 3,200 square feet, five bedrooms, three baths
Year built: 1914; remodeled in 2013
Year bought: 2012
Renovations: Total renovation over 12 weeks left only the foundation, some of the 11-foot ceiling studs and the hardwood floors. "We loved the floors. The old floors have much prettier colors. We worked hard. It was quite an ordeal to retain those," Laura said. They added a half-story with dormers and now three bedrooms, a bathroom and a family room are upstairs. Before ripping out anything, the Grahams considered how they and their three young boys (ages 6, 4, and 1) would use every space, down to which bowls would fit in which drawers in the kitchen.
Architectural style: Victorian farmhouse
Interior design style: Modern, simplified English country
Favorite interior design features: A mix of old items — such as antique sconces and leaded 9-foot mahogany glass doors that Laura's grandmother found — and new items such as the Carrara marble kitchen countertops and shower floors.
Favorite room: Her kitchen, which was designed to feel like a Paris bistro and is simple, clean and modern, she said. In addition to the Carrara countertops, the kitchen also has a 36-inch Bertazzoni range, special ordered hardware with an antique nickel finish from Lee Valley, subway tile backsplash with a light gray grout and open glass cabinets. "I have three children and cook a lot. I put a lot of drawers in so that makes it easy for children to unload dishes," she said.
Favorite outdoor feature: The 20-foot camellias and azaleas, which make the mostly new home sit comfortably in its environment, Laura said. "It was really rundown, but it was a beautiful setting," she said.
Landscape designer: Frank Wigington
Resources: Scott Antique Markets, Circa Lighting, Lewis and Sheron Fabrics, Restoration Hardware, Art Stone Granite and Marble
Paint colors: Farrow & Ball's Light Blue, Clunch, Pale Powder, Down Pipe and Wimborne White; Benjamin Moore's Moonlight White and Chelsea Gray
Decor tip: Don't buy furniture and trinkets to fill a space and create a staged effect, Laura said. "Buy only when you love something and preferably when it's useful, and the home will age well with you and reflect your personality," she said.
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