Private Quarters: Renovated Candler Park bungalow for family of four

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Photos: Renovated Candler Park bungalow fits family of four

This 1920 bungalow was transformed into a single-family home.

Chris and Brian Fitzgerald bought their 1920 bungalow in 2007. When they purchased the home, it had been converted to a triplex, so they worked with contractor Mike Dooley and designer Walter Mazzanti to transform the property back into a single-family home for them and their two daughters.

Chris and Brian knew it would take a lot of work and renovation to make it fit for their family. Their home will be on the Oct. 1 Candler Park Tour of Homes.

Chris painted the ceiling of her front porch Sherwin-Williams Silver Strand, a more subdued nod to traditional sky blue porch ceilings. Fitzgerald consulted Stephanie Andrews of Balance Design for all her exterior paint colors.

A black Barcelona chair, passed down to Chris by her parents, now sits in her Candler Park family room. The leather chair lends mid-century modern charm to the 1920 bungalow.

Modern art by Robert Fitzgerald hang above the fireplace in the living room, which has windows and mantel from the 1920s.

An upholstered bed, bedding and colorful, whimsical art from West Elm set the stage for an inviting guest room.

Chris and Brian remodeled their kitchen in 2012, opening the room to the dining room and creating a vibrant family-friendly space where Chris and her daughters like to bake. “It was completely horrible before,” said Chris. Silestone counters and Merillat cabinets from Diversified Cabinet Distributors add a modern spin.

Modern wood counter-height Barstool Barstool chairs from Blu Dot offer a convenient seating at the sleek Silestone counters in the renovated kitchen.

Blue glass pendants from Lighting Loft contrast with bright yellow kitchen walls.

Chris Fitzgerald and her husband, Brian, installed industrial stainless steel shelving in their kitchen in lieu of more cabinets. Cups, bowls and cookbooks are part of the decor on open shelves that don’t close off the space or obscure the sunny yellow walls. Christopher Oquendo/AJC FILE

Art in Maribelle and Violet Fitzgerald’s room displays inspirational phrases, hashtags and quotes, including one from one of Violet’s favorite books, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.” The girls created these pieces themselves at The Beehive Atlanta. A mantel holds figurines, photo props and art.

With dark gray walls as a background, the bright blue pendants and colorful artwork in the kitchen really stand out. On the walls, paintings by Robert Fitzgerald (Brian’s brother) mingle with graphic art from Kibbee Gallery in Atlanta. Keeping much of the collection in the family, the Fitzgeralds also display their children’s artwork along a magnetic strip.

A table from Crate and Barrel and mid-century Eames shell chairs anchor the dining room. During renovations, the Fitzgeralds closed a large opening between the dining and living rooms to create separate spaces.

In the dining room, a large, whimsical painting by Robert hangs on the wall next to a piano the couple bought secondhand, which their 9-year-old daughter now plays.

When they renovated their home, they worked around the existing windows. Prior to the renovations, a kitchen was in the space that would become their master suite. The row of windows from the old kitchen provides natural lighting in the new master bath.

The couple softens their modern style and clean lines with cozy furniture, like the sofa and chairs from Crate and Barrel.

Leather and wood chairs with mid-century design from Crate and Barrel create a sophisticated seating area, while a graphic rug from Target lightens the darker hardwood floors.

Built-in shelves that frame the living room fireplace are filled with a colorful mixture of titles and genres. A wooden table lamp from Direct Furniture Outlet softens the room with a touch of traditional style.

A square rug from Target ties in with the creams and grays found throughout the living room, while adding a dash of pattern and texture to the space. A gas fireplace insert, made with an antique basket by Chimney Mischief, and leather and wood chairs from Crate and Barrel lend the room a comfortable vibe. “That’s more like where the adults hang out,” said Chris.

Brian and Chris Fitzgerald, who both work in sales – he at M-D Building Products and she at Rebels Footwear – bought their Candler Park home in 2007, when it was still a triplex. After working with contractor Mike Dooley to transition the house into a single-family home, they moved in with their two daughters, 10-year-old Violet and 9-year-old Maribelle.

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Chris and Brian Fitzgerald bought their 1920 bungalow in 2007. When they purchased the home, it had been converted to a triplex, so they worked with contractor Mike Dooley and designer Walter Mazzanti to transform the property back into a single-family home for them and their two daughters.

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