Private Quarters: Troy Farina and John Ishmael's Queen Anne home

News

Photos: Transitional take on century-old Queen Anne in historic West End

This Queen Anne-style home offers extra space for entertaining.

Troy Farina and John Ishmael’s Queen Anne-style home was built in 1896. They moved in during 2016. The six-bedroom, five-bath home, painted Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams, was on the West End Tour of Homes in June 2017.

A sculpture by Celeste Williams sits on an industrial table in the foyer. Guests enter the 121-year-old home through the hexagonal foyer, which opens on either side to twin sitting rooms.

Also in the foyer hangs a photo that Farina, who is a fine art photographer, took in downtown Atlanta.

French doors separate the hexagonal foyer from twin parlors on either side. When Ishmael and Farina open all the French doors, it creates a spacious living area that flows from the sitting rooms through the foyer.

The shape of the Queen Anne-style home offers more space for entertaining in the sunny dining room, which has pocket doors to open the space or close it off for more intimate gatherings. The craftsman table, built of antique heart of pine, sits on a rug from Design Materials. The custom drapes from Nandina Home & Design bring out the red hues in the artwork.

The chair in the living room embodies the West End house’s transitional style. The antique wooden chair is covered with new leather in a quirky burnt orange color.

Troy Farina and John Ishmael use the twin parlors to either side of their hexagonal foyer as a living room and a TV room. In the living room, the light fixture, which Ishmael found 15 years ago at a yard sale, and floor-to-ceiling curtains work together to emphasize the room’s height and ceiling detail.

Farina’s photography is on display throughout his Fulton County home, including three pieces that hang to the right of the living room fireplace. Farina is a fine art photographer who often features buildings and architecture as his subjects.

Homeowners John Ishmael and Troy Farina painted their walls Simple White by Sherwin-Williams, creating a clean, soft palette to contrast their colorful furniture, pillows, draperies and accessories.

The TV room, to the left of the foyer, is decorated in neutrals, blues and greens. The painting above the mantel is by Paige Harvey, a local artist and friend of the homeowners.

The sitting room features work by local artists like Harvey and Ishmael, who created the abstract black and gold canvas painting. Ishmael owns Nandina Home & Design in Atlanta.

Ishmael and Farina have been collecting original artwork for 20 years. Their walls, painted Simple White by Sherwin-Williams, create a clean backdrop for their vibrant art collection.

A large angled photograph of a skyscraper in San Francisco’s Union Square, taken by Farina, hangs in the kitchen. “I love Troy's photography, because it’s very architecturally interesting,” says Ishmael. The light fixture was in the home when they bought it in 2016.

Homeowners John Ishmael and Troy Farina each have office spaces in their Queen Anne Victorian home. Ishmael’s is located in a corner bedroom with windows that offer natural light while he paints.

Ishmael, an artist, has furnished the painting studio with former restaurant work tables. The steel tables, one of which he found on Craigslist, are durable and easy to clean, he said.

Farina uses his home office, complete with custom desk by Nandina Home & Design, to edit his fine art photography. The hockey stick, a relic of his childhood, a couch from Lee Industries and the hints of gold in the decor keep the room from becoming too businesslike.

Custom furniture includes the velvet tufted headboard made by Ishmael’s business. The cooler colors and soft textures in the master bedroom create a relaxing retreat in the 121-year-old home.

Soothing grays and lavenders add a luxe look to the guest bedroom. Two-toned drapes span from floor to ceiling and draw the eye upward.

The stairway landing may have served as an entrance at some point in its 121-year history, which Ishmael says indicates the house probably spent some time as a duplex. Now, it is a cozy space to curl up with a book, he said. "This feels a little bit like a treehouse sitting area," said Ishmael.

Designer John Ishmael says a favorite spot in his West End home is the wraparound porch, where he and husband Troy Farina like to people watch and have a drink.

John Ishmael and Troy Farina, holding their dog Max, bought their Queen Anne Victorian home and moved in with their three dogs in 2016. The house, which was built in 1896 in the historic West End neighborhood, has six bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The homeowners used custom drapes from Ishmael’s company Nandina Home & Design throughout their home. That and their love of original artwork can be seen in the fireside sitting area of the master bedroom, which displays large paintings by Ishmael.

1/22

Troy Farina and John Ishmael’s Queen Anne-style home was built in 1896. They moved in during 2016. The six-bedroom, five-bath home, painted Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams, was on the West End Tour of Homes in June 2017.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia Tech BYU Football

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech battles BYU in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Jimmy Carter ‘forever’ stamp

PHOTOS: 2025 AJC Photos of the Year

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

More Galleries

Georgia state Capitol Christmas tree

PHOTOS: Capitol lights up for Christmas holidays

World Cup draw party TKTKT

PHOTOS: Fans attend 2026 World Cup draw party in Atlanta

Randy Beck

'No body' homicide cases in Georgia

aajc 110625 anx cobb so equine

PHOTOS: Cobb County Sheriff's Office Equine Therapy Program