Atlanta homes: Carl Mattison's home in Grant Park

Home and Garden

Photos: Grant Park renovation and home tour appearance years in the making

This amazing Grant Park home has been renovated and rebuilt from its original 1905 form.

Built in 1905, the free-classic Queen Anne home has 3,200 square feet. Rob Smith and Carl Mattison renovated the home, which has five bedrooms, three baths and an additional bathroom in a new pool cabana. Their home will be on the Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11.

Smith and Mattison display their eclectic taste in their Grant Park home's dining room, mixing decor like their 1920s buffet, purchased at the original Lakewood Antiques Market in Atlanta, and whimsical narwhal art. They keep the room cohesive by starting with a neutral wall color, in this case Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray.

The stylish dining room melds vintage and modern influences by mixing pieces like the Circa 1920 Spanish Torch Rectangular Chandelier from RH and chic table and chairs from Cost Plus World Market. The bright chairs infuse color into the open kitchen and dining area.

A glittering gold Christmas tree and leaping reindeer add hints of yuletide cheer in the dining room.

The remodeled kitchen now opens to the dining room, with large casement windows and a big island, and appliances and plumbing from Pirch. Mattison and Smith wanted to renovate this room since they moved in in 2009, but they needed time to decide on the design. They finally completed the changes in 2015. "We are more than happy that we waited to 'get it right,'" said Mattison, an interior designer.

The custom range hood is Mattison and Smith's favorite style element in their home. They worked with Keystone Millworks on the cabinetry in their renovation, which also includes quartz countertops from Daltile. The homeowners designed the hood to match the trim of the home's windows. "We admire it daily," Mattison said.

A new island and the now-open kitchen creates an appealing space for entertaining in the historic Grant Park home. The Circa 1900 Gaslight Pendants from RH over the island bring vintage charm to the functional kitchen. The barstools, from Cost Plus World Market, and the charming Christmas tree display add to the room's inviting feel.

Homeowners Carl Mattison and Rob Smith purchased their Fulton County home in 2009 and loved that it had so many original 1905 fireplaces. Now they've sprinkled Christmas decor onto the mantels and stairway, adding pinecones for a hint of natural decor. "We love to collect pine cones during our travels or when we wander out," Mattison said.

Holiday decor on the foyer mantel includes stockings for Mattison and Smith, and a quirky treasure from the past. The center stocking is a two-footed sock from Mattison’s childhood. Ornaments in an apothecary jar and a berry wreath and garland complete the cheerful display.

The piano, topped by the homeowners’ nutcracker collection, is a new Boston upright. Smith, the pianist in the family, often surprises Mattison by playing pop songs by ear, no practice necessary.

The Christmas collection is colorful and affordable, since it's largely from Target.

The vintage theme continues in the tranquil guest bedroom.

The master bedroom, painted in Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray, was actually once an upstairs kitchen, when the home functioned as a duplex. The rustic side tables are handmade by Smith, who used fence boards he collected from an old home in Dania Beach, Florida.

The original mantel in the master bedroom, gray tile surround, artwork and plush floor rug showcase the "vintage today" style that designer Mattison sought in his home.

The master bath was created when the homeowners demolished the closed-in porch and built a two-story addition. The new space features fascinating hexagonal tile from Specialty Tile Products, and lighting and mirrors from Rejuvenation in Ponce City Market, with walls painted Sherwin-Williams Gray Matters.

The homeowners' "vintage today" style is evident in the living room, with a leather sofa from RH and coffee table from Scott Antique Market all backed by walls painted Sherwin-Williams Gray Matters. A snowflake garland on the mantel and pinecones on the coffee table evoke a festive holiday feel.

The rich staircase boasts detailing and trim work that dates to 1905, when the home was built. When homeowners Rob Smith and Carl Mattison renovated the free-classic Queen Anne-style home in 2015, they restained the stairs with a custom mix of ebony and red mahogany. They worked with Round Here Renovations and Adam Stillman Residential Design on the updates.

Holiday cheer spreads throughout the Fulton County home with another set of stockings and an advent calendar adorning the living room mantel. Penguins, polar bears and snowflake decorations bring a winter vibe into the home.

The original pocket doors were turned into swinging doors in 1929 when the home was converted into a duplex. In their 2015 renovation, the homeowners returned the doors to their original style and gave them a fresh stain. They worked with Round Here Renovations and Adam Stillman Residential Design on the changes to the home.

For front porch sitting, there's a sofa and two chairs from Pier1 Imports. The shutters along the side provide some privacy, and the Craftsman-style coffee table was made by Smith.

Smith and Mattison renovated the home's detached garage, believed to have been built for the original owner's Model T, and turned it into a pool cabana, complete with a full bathroom and kitchenette.

The interior of the pool house was designed for no-fuss function. The furniture, which includes chairs and coffee table from West Elm and a sofa from Ikea, was selected because it was simple yet stylish and easy to clean.

The pool, by Atlanta's Dive In, was installed in the backyard in 2014, five years after they bought the home. It was the first step in landscaping and making the backyard the entertaining space they wanted.

The homeowners took brick from a fireplace they removed and used it as herringbone floor pavers of their pool cabana. They also reused their old kitchen cabinets in the kitchenette.

Homeowners Rob Smith and Carl Mattison bought their historic Grant Park home in 2009. The home, which was built in 1905, will be on the Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 6-10 p.m.

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Built in 1905, the free-classic Queen Anne home has 3,200 square feet. Rob Smith and Carl Mattison renovated the home, which has five bedrooms, three baths and an additional bathroom in a new pool cabana. Their home will be on the Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11.

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