Architect ties European estate to setting near Athens

Home and Garden

See photos of Kim and Lee Barton's house sits on 11 acres on the Oconee River near Athens. They hired Atlanta landscape architect Joe Gayle to create a cohesive landscape plan to tie in with the home's European style.

BY JULIE HAIRSTON: When Kim and Lee Barton bought this house near Athens in 1996, it sat amid 11 acres of red clay on the shoals of the Oconee River. The couple hired Atlanta landscape architect Joe Gayle to coax a cohesive vista to surround the home's European lines. "We chose Joe because of his interest in Italian and European landscape architecture," said Kim Barton. They created the inlaid stone pattern next to the porte cochere as a unifying focal point.

The pool and fountain anchor the terraced hillside rising in front of the front of the house. Willows and hemlocks frame beds of seasonal color. "We wanted to keep it casual, not fussy," Barton said.

Six years later, the couple rebuilt the house for their growing family, adding some 1,800 square feet of living space and renovating this entrance foyer. They added the groin ceiling, columns and cherry wood floors. The antique front doors date from the 1700s and operate with their original hardware. In fact, even the windows open. The arch motif established here is repeated throughout the Barton home.

To the left of the foyer, this clubby home office employs hunting prints and arched bookshelves to make night and weekend work a less burdensome endeavor. Stephen Pararo of Atlanta's Pineapple House Interior Design helped the Bartons achieve a look that was attractive without being imposing. "Our goal was to keep it comfortable," Barton said. "We didn't want to overdecorate."

Beyond the foyer to the right, the formal dining room is elegantly lit by a French chandelier. The table seats eight and leaves plenty of space for diners to circulate. The dining room and living room flow together and open to a broad slate patio overlooking the shoals. The Bartons frequently entertain, opening their doors to family, church groups, community gatherings and political fundraisers. "We wanted a house that would function well for events," Barton said.

The Barton family moved out of the house for an entire year in 2002 while renovations opened up one entire side of the house. "We really poured ourselves into this project," Kim Barton said. Now, the Bartons have decided to move on. They have put their home on the market for $5.695 million. Wes Vawter of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty is handling the listing.

Opposite the dining room, the living room is anchored by a baby grand piano and a stone fireplace following the arch motif. Here, antiques mix comfortably with more contemporary pieces to preserve the room's touchable qualities. With three children, the Bartons wanted an environment that could take a few bumps and sticky fingers in stride.

Outside, the slate patio with its concrete balustrade stretches the full length of the living and dining rooms. Comfortably arrayed with groups of patio furniture, it creates an inviting addition to the home's floor space for parties and encourages guests to mingle.

Downstairs at terrace level, the den offers a more casual environment with plush, contemporary furniture in vibrant colors. An expansive snack bar nearby keeps munchies close at hand. A covered terrace outside looks out on the lawn through arched portals.

Upstairs, the master suite -- which includes a cavernous sitting room with a desk, private bathroom and built-in custom cabinets -- strikes a more formal air. Its charms include a draped cornice over the bed, a graceful antique armoire and a crystal chandelier dating to the 1700s. The walls are covered in a lustrous striped silk. During the 2002 renovation, the Bartons also added a private balcony that opens from the bath and dressing area.

The lady's bath takes its inspiration from an 18th century boudoir, complete with chaise lounge and gilded accents. The bath area includes steam showers and a morning kitchen.

Tasseled drapes and a tray of antique crystal toilette bottles create an elegant tableau next to one of the windows in the lady's bath.

These ornate golden plumbing fixtures show the careful attention to detail that characterizes the Barton home.

The cushioned window seat in the private sitting room of the master suite shows the soothing chocolate and blue hues that dominate the room's decor. The room provides a quiet space for reading and reflection as well as offering scenic views of the estate grounds.

This daughter's room upstairs takes on a decidedly modern tone with black furnishings and a modernist painting. Brushed steel accessories add to the postmodern motif, while the flowered duvet and matching pillows provide a softer, more feminine counterpoint.

The mirror, clock and lamp combine shape and texture to convey a sophisticated distinction to the daughter's bedroom. The muted blue blends softly with the silver accents, creating a subdued backdrop that allows the metallic accents to glint without overwhelming.

On the terrace level, another daughter's bedroom exudes a different feeling, with vibrant jewel tones and hand-crafted furnishings. The folk art mirror frame evokes the color and shape of the nearby abstract paintings. The padded bench provides a comfortable perch for phone chats with friends or a handy parking spot for the book bag after school.

The Bartons added this 35-foot glass vestibule with a graceful spiral staircase during the 2002 renovation, which also added a family room with a hand-coffered ceiling by Mark Whitlock on the main level and a full kitchen below for al fresco dining by the pool. "Before, the house was not connected in any way to the pool," Barton said. "This was the way to connect the two spaces." The renovation included custom cabinets by Bill Fletcher in both the upstairs and downstairs kitchens.

This cherub statue heralds visitors to the pool at the Barton home. The pool's patio is terraced for graceful entertaining and flanked by handsome stone walls.

The vestibule towers above the pool, which can be viewed through the curved glass by anyone descending its limestone steps. The manicured gardens surrounding the pool were developed to harmonize with the verdant surroundings of the shoals. "When we first looked at the house, we weren't interested in moving," Barton said. "But we were really drawn to the land [and] all the trees."

The guest house, which includes a four-car garage underneath, is set far enough away from the main house to provide plenty of privacy. Its design follows the classic European motifs established in the main house, such as arched doorways, stucco exterior and a rooftop cupola. The estate also includes a tennis court, a stone bridge and a cascading waterfall created by landscape architect Mark Grubar that is as practical as it is appealing. It controls runoff from the property when it rains.

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BY JULIE HAIRSTON: When Kim and Lee Barton bought this house near Athens in 1996, it sat amid 11 acres of red clay on the shoals of the Oconee River. The couple hired Atlanta landscape architect Joe Gayle to coax a cohesive vista to surround the home's European lines. "We chose Joe because of his interest in Italian and European landscape architecture," said Kim Barton. They created the inlaid stone pattern next to the porte cochere as a unifying focal point.

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