Buckhead estate maintains its historic bloom

Owen Halpern and Lawrence Pritchard kept many of the details in their 1935 home when they bought it. The house will be open it to the public for the first time April 5 on the 29th annual Buckhead in Bloom historic home and garden tour, sponsored by the Atlanta Preservation Center.

Text by KATIE LESLIE: The Pemberly home, designed by architectural firm Cooper and Cooper, was built in 1935 for Dr. and Mrs. Green Warren. Much remains unchanged in the house since it has had only two owners in the decades since. In the 1970s, the Dillon Winship family took over the estate. Current owners Owen Halpern and Lawrence Pritchard bought the home in 2007.

Owen Halpern (left) and Lawrence Pritchard share their home with two standard poodles, Henry and Louie. The Halpern-Pritchard house is open to the public for the first time Sunday on the 29th annual Buckhead in Bloom historic home and garden tour, sponsored by the Atlanta Preservation Center. For details, visit www.preserveatlanta.com

The foyer, with handpainted silk wallcoverings, leads into a larger space with original black-and-white linoleum tile, once considered chic flooring until marble tiles came into vogue, Halpern said. The yellow walls and faux marble columns are also original to the space. The roughly 6,000-square-foot home has one set of dramatically curved stairs leading to the upper level.

The couple shares a love for animals that is reflected in their furnishings, such as the painting over the sofa. This formal living room showcases a 17th century Flemish tapestry depicting Mithridates, King of Partha. Baccarat crystal is found throughout the home despite the men's rambunctious poodles.

The wood-paneled library in the front of the home showcases the couple's antiques, such as a 19th century French Boulle-style secretaire. Except for the artwork over the mantle, the men kept the walls largely bare to showcase the woodwork.

Halpern and Pritchard, who sell high-end furniture, gifts and accessories through their OwenLawrence boutique, said the former owner's color palette matched their taste, like this terra cotta hue on the dining room walls. Halpern said the Warrens loved to entertain in the 1930s and '40s. They hosted a premiere party at their home for "Gone With the Wind," attended by Clark Gable himself.

This great room was added to the home in 1980, Halpern said. The light-filled space is perfect for parties and entertaining, especially as it overlooks their courtyard. "It was just as elegant, beautiful and livable as you can imagine," Halpern said of the home.

Halpern commissioned this unusual buffet from Georgia Tech design professor Peter Pittman, known for building non-functional furniture as works of art. This is one of few, if not the only, functional pieces of furniture Pittman has created, Halpern said.

The couple divided the great room into two separate seating areas. Here, cabinetry tucks away electronics while books frame some of the men's art collection, such as this Andy Warhol "Greta Garbo as Mata Hari" painting.

The couple displayed this Todd Murphy painting in their store before deciding to purchase it for themselves, Halpern said. Guests have varying reactions to the piece, which depicts a tiger leaping toward a woman.

Mrs. Winship decorated much of the home with a classic Chinoiserie feel, such as this cheery breakfast room with Asian-inspired wallcoverings and drapery.

Halpern and Pritchard redesigned the kitchen in 2008 for a fresh, updated look. Adding heated tile floor makes a noticeable difference in the winter, they said.

Mr. Winship's hobby was woodworking, as evidenced in this whimsical powder room with a Venetian-inspired nook.

The original staircase leads to the four-bedroom top floor. Louie, a standard poodle, accompanies Halpern.

Having moved in just two years ago, the couple is still making this house their home. They plan to tackle the master bedroom as an upcoming design project, but until then, pooches Louie (left) and Henry make themselves comfortable on the master bed.

Halpern spends his morning with coffee and a newspaper in this sunny space, he said. His collection of stoneware platters are by Rock Hard Pottery, and the rattan furniture comes from the couple's store.

Pritchard loves to relax in the loggia overlooking their garden, he said.

In addition to classic landscaping, a flowering vine grows along the home. In the far back of the property, the avid gardeners keep a cutting garden for fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Potted urns are found throughout the garden, many of them coming from their store on Howell Mill Road.

The courtyard off the great room is punctuated by this lush fountain.

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Text by KATIE LESLIE: The Pemberly home, designed by architectural firm Cooper and Cooper, was built in 1935 for Dr. and Mrs. Green Warren. Much remains unchanged in the house since it has had only two owners in the decades since. In the 1970s, the Dillon Winship family took over the estate. Current owners Owen Halpern and Lawrence Pritchard bought the home in 2007.

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