Wes and Mary Kathryn Price desired a convenient location for their family when they relocated from a small town in South Carolina to Atlanta.
The family moved to Atlanta for Wes’ job with PriceWesner Bedding, a division of Cameron Bedding, a fourth-generation family business that manufactures Spring Air mattresses, box springs and other private labels.
Mary Kathryn was familiar with the Buckhead area because of annual shopping trips she, her mother and her sister had taken to Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. Assisted by Cathy Davis Hall with Harry Norman, Realtors, the couple focused on that area of Atlanta because of its proximity to stores and restaurants. They also were seeking strong schools for their three children: Wes, 16; Mae Margaret, 13; and Caroline, 10.
“Cameron (S.C.) has about 500 people with a flashing light and a gas station. It’s about 20 minutes to the nearest grocery store,” she said. “I told Wes I wasn’t interested in living out. I wanted to live intown.”
No. 1
Chastain Park cottage
The four-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath home on Lafayette Way in Atlanta’s Chastain Park neighborhood was precious, Price said. The home, built in 1945, had a shingle exterior that added to its storybook look. Its professionally landscaped yard was featured in a 2006 tour of gardens. They had to consider whether the home, originally listed for $775,000, had enough space for their family and guests.
No. 2
European renovation
The five-bedroom, 3 ½-bath home on Lafayette Avenue N.W. in Chastain Park had an ivy-filled front yard and had been updated throughout. The kitchen boasted a tumbled marble subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances, and it opened to a light and airy family room with views of the side garden, patio and fountain. It had interesting features like pocket doors as well as built-in bookshelves in the living room, study and master bedroom. The master suite also had a vaulted ceiling, French doors and a Juliet porch overlooking the patio and garden. The home, built in 1960 and originally listed at $700,000, also had an unfinished basement, which they could finish to their liking.
No. 3
Riverfront residence
The five-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath home on River Glen Trace N.W. had a scenic setting on the Chattahoochee River, and outdoor spaces included a screened porch, courtyard and patio leading to the river. The kitchen and master bathroom was updated in the home, built in 1980 in Atlanta’s River Chase neighborhood. But with a steep original list price of $1.38 million, the family was considering renting the home for about $4,000 a month. They needed to consider what type of investment they wanted to make – rent or purchase.
The Choice
No. 2
The couple knew the Lafayette Avenue home was the one for them because of the space and setting. “I saw visions with this home,” she said. They put an offer on the home at the end of March and closed at the end of April. Price said she’s glad to be able to have room for guests without having to play hopscotch with the rooms, as they did in their previous home. She’s also happy to be five minutes from Publix and able to take quick trips shopping or to the movies with the children.