Architect Kirk Marchisen has transformed his 1920s bungalow into a two-story residence that blends Craftsman details with an appreciation for midcentury and modern design.
His hands-on approach, over three decades, turned the home in Atlanta's Candler Park neighborhood into a space that fits the family of three. He reconfigured the layout, increased the size of the front porch, raised the roof and recently expanded the back of the home.
The U-shaped layout on the first level creates better flow and function, he said, from the dining room through the kitchen, into the family room, and out to the patio and backyard.
“Most every room has some sort of personal design component,” he said.
Snapshot
Residents: Kirk and Karen Marchisen, their daughter, Halle Marchisen, and their dog, Karma. Kirk is an architect at Stevens & Wilkinson, and Karen is a hair designer at Douglas & Co. Hair Studio.
Location: Candler Park
Size: 2,600 square feet, three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths
Year built: Circa 1920
Year bought: 1986
Renovations: Expanded and covered the front porch after they moved in, added second story in 2003, and extended the rear of the home and reconfigured the first floor in 2016.
Architectural style: Craftsman
Favorite architectural elements: 10-foot ceilings downstairs, front porch with a view of the park, sculptural spiral stairs and open downstairs floor plan.
Interior design style: Contemporary
Favorite interior design elements: Classic mid-century modern pieces, like Barcelona chairs, the Marcel Breuer-designed Wassily chair and Noguchi coffee table in the living room.
Favorite artwork: Family pieces, including paintings by Karen's father, Leo Gallardy, in the guest room, and a gallery wall of Halle's work in the dining room.
Favorite outdoor elements: The spacious front porch and the back patio with a concrete retaining wall and built‐in concrete stairs leading to the backyard.
Resources: Furniture from Domus, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Wayfair, Ikea, The Land of Nod and Room & Board. Lighting by Artemide. Custom cabinets from And How! Furniture in Tucker. Custom book shelf and stair rail by John Howe. Kitchen appliances by KitchenAid. Kitchen and bathroom fixtures by Kohler. Art from Queenie's Consignment.
Decor tip: Use greenery and live plants to fill your home with energy. Just use whatever is in season, Karen said. "I love putting fresh flowers and herbs in my window," she said. "I love looking at live things."
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