Some people use paint colors as an accent. Candace Klein and Mark Hay used aboriginal art and a vibrant kitchen appliance.
“I’m proud of my blue range,” Klein said. “It’s a very striking feature when you walk into the house.”
Those were finishing touches on a yearlong renovation that gutted the first floor and added a second floor master suite to the Virginia-Highland home. Hay and Klein weren't the first to renovate the property, which once was a duplex, but their changes may be the most comprehensive. On Dec. 5-6, the home will be featured on the Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes (vahitourofhomes.org).
Snapshot
Residents: Mark Hay and Candace Klein and their pets, Max, Madison and Peanut. Hay is a professor at Georgia Tech; Klein is president of Klein Contracting Corp.
Location: Atlanta's Virginia-Highland neighborhood
Size: 3,000 square feet, four bedrooms, three baths
Year built/bought: 1925/2014 (moved in March 2015)
Builder, architect and contractor: Renewal Design-Build
Architectural style: Craftsman bungalow with Prairie-style influences
Favorite architectural elements: Large windows with red trim (that matches their Citroen 2CV), and built-in cabinetry and kitchen seating.
Type of renovations: Demolition began five months after buying the home and the design process. Renewal Design-Build removed a fireplace and load-bearing walls and added support beams. The front door was repositioned to accommodate a staircase that leads to the new second story with a master suite. The master bathroom features a cast iron tub, separate vanities with quartz countertops and a walk-in shower. The suite also includes a coffee bar, laundry room and walk-in closet with custom storage. French doors lead from the bedroom to a covered balcony.
Downstairs, they changed the orientation of the dining room, sitting areas and kitchen, which now has a breakfast nook and bar/drink station. They added custom kitchen cabinets and built-in sliding shelves. A tiered kitchen island features a waterfall countertop made of blue flower granite. A gas fireplace surrounded by tile and ledger stone was added to the living room, which has built-in bookcases and custom millwork.
Interior design style: Craftsman, mixed with elements that show their love of travel, marine ecology and rescue dogs.
Favorite furniture: Stickley furniture, tractor seat bar stools and the custom dining table made with Acacia wood.
Favorite artwork: Wood carvings, stone carvings, woven baskets and paintings from Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Chile, Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Guam, South Africa, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Egypt and Thailand.
Resources: Furniture from Room and Board, Christopher Bailey of Industrial Chic and Kudzu Antiques & Vintage Home Store. Fixtures from Kohler. Appliances by Viking, Marvel and Sharp.
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