When Adam Perry and Ben Ratossa bought their home in Avondale Estates in 2016, they knew it would need renovations before it would be their dream home. Since both are over 6 feet tall, they often had trouble navigating the second floor, a finished attic with sloping walls and low ceilings.
“It wasn’t very functional, especially for somebody who’s on the taller side,” said Perry. “The master bath before, you had to be in Cirque du Soleil to get in the shower because it was tiny and in a slant.”
» Photos: Cozy Avondale Estates cottage gets industrial makeover
The couple worked with builder Jessica Murphy of Her Cave Atlanta to completely renovate the first floor in 2016, opening up the floor plan and completely renovating the kitchen. They added architect Allyson McCarthy of Truco McCarthy to the team in 2019 when they renovated the second floor, raising the ceilings and and rearranging walls to make the space more functional.
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Residents: Adam Perry and Ben Ratossa, their two cats Tyson and Lilly and their two dogs Sadie and Bob. Perry is an insurance underwriter, and Ratossa is a logistics manager for a healthcare company.
Location: Avondale Estates in DeKalb County
Size: 2,645 square feet, five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Year built: 1951
Year bought: 2016
Renovations: First floor renovation in 2016 removed walls, rebuilt kitchen, replaced all floors and rebuilt the dining room. Second floor renovation in 2019 added dormers to the roof, replaced exterior siding and paint, replaced all floors, restructured interior walls for functionality and built out the master bedroom and bath.
Project consultants: Architect Allyson McCarthy of Truco McCarthy and builder Jessica Murphy of Her Cave Atlanta
Architectural style: Industrial cottage
Favorite architectural elements: Exposed wood beams, stair railing and new dormers on the roof
Interior design style: Transitional with hints of industrial
Favorite interior design elements: Large island in the kitchen and mix of warm woods and metal with clean transitional style
Resources: Furniture and decor from Bed Bath & Beyond, Finders Keepers Consignments, Pier 1, Sharian Rugs, Ashley HomeStore and Target. Materials from AGM Imports Granite & Marble, CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio, Floor & Decor and The Tile Shop. Appliances from Frigidaire and Pirch.
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