Sunday, August 23, 2009
Northcrest Tour 2009
On April 26th Northcrest's Hoe 'n' Hope Garden Club had their yearly Tour of Homes for 2009. The garden club does this to help promote the neighborhood, highlight unusual or original homes and gardens, and raise money for the maintenance of the main entry planter (beneath the Northcrest sign). This year the tour featured 3 homes and the Northcrest Swim & Tennis Club:
3636 Northlake Drive
3433 Archwood Drive
3378 Regalwoods Drive
3524 Bowling Green Way
To view photos of each along with snaps I took of the interiors and exterior gardens, click the tour brochure image. Here's the text from the Tour brochure:
3636 Northlake Drive - Owners Phil and Lora Buonpastore
Phil and Lora's 1963 A-Frame was featured in an early 1960s full-color spread in the Atlanta Journal, and again in the Winter issue of Atomic Ranch magazine. It retains many of its original features - yellow exterior, hardwood floors, mint-green Jack & Jill bath, and the colorful, mid-century "beach ball" pendant light fixture in the living room.
This home is also one of the few in Northcrest with five levels - including a full basement, and is also the only A-Frame with a complete "A" structure (others stop on the right side of the roof line).
Phil and Lora have made a number of improvements, installing energy-efficient windows and doors, replacing the roof, and updating the 1980s Poggenpohl kitchen (won by the original owners in a contest) with quartz countertops.
An avid DIY couple, Phil and Lora embarked on an adventurous basement renovation in 2006, and have completed 85% of the work on their own. Formerly located off the laundry room at the rear of the house, the basement is now accessible from the family room, thanks to some invasive and inventive concrete work. The new basement features plenty of living/entertaining space and significant additional storage. The updated family room features new drywall and insulation, and an under-stairs storage area with a door constructed primarily of wine corks.
Exhausted from the two-year project, Phil relaxes in the new basement, while Lora designs a plan for the upcoming renovation of their Jack & Jill bath.
3433 Archwood Drive – Owners Scott and Heather Markle
The Markles almost moved out of Northcrest...
They loved the neighborhood and their home, but missed some fo the amenities found in newer homes. More than anything, they wanted a real master suite with a proper tub and shower. Before Scott persuaded her to get married and move in with him, Heather had an apartment with a garden tub - and she missed it terribly. The Markles even met with a Realtor. Reminding them how great the neighborhood and their home are, it was actually the Realtor who convinced them to stay on and simply add the things they were missing.
So the Markles found a great contractor (it helps to have on in the family), and set about creating their dream home. They extended the house with a two-=story addition in back. The top half is a new master suite including a sitting room, two-sided fireplace, and master bath with walk-in shower and Jacuzzi bathtub. Their old bathroom is now a walk-in closet. The Markles also focused on improving the energy efficiency of the home with a new insulated metal roof, HardiPlank siding on the addition, and new double-paned windows and doors throughout.
With this renovation, the Markles strove to maintain all of the things they love about Northcrest, while also incorporating many contemporary features. The result is a home that mixes the best of mod and modern. And the Markles are happy to have created their perfect home.
3378 Regalwoods Drive – Owner Matt Keller
Matt Keller's love for mid-century modern homes began three years ago, when he drove through Northcrest one afternoon to avoid rush-hour traffic. Looking to purchase his first home two years later, Matt wanted a bargain-priced midcentury home, near 85/285, in need of serious restoration. It wasn't until he'd seen a few homes in Northcrest that Matt realized he'd been here before.
He definitely found what he was looking for. Years of neglect forced a complete gut job - yielding six dumpsters of plumbing, wiring, drywall, insulation, flooring, and a perfectly preserved possum.
Working with a friend full-time, Matt renovated with the home's midcentury style in mind, updating and adding his own personal style - modern, earth-friendly and organic. Lowering and removing walls created an even more open floor plan, while many of the original framing materials were re-used to create interesting new features - a built-in desk, bedroom closet, and a reinvented Hollywood-style walk-in shower. Materials from a poorly-constructed addition were recycled into chunky, angled chairs.
Other unique features include modern, industrial lighting and a bomb shelter original to the house.
From the ground up - insulation, flooring, drywall, trim, even re-staining the tongue-and-groove ceiling - this renovation should be 85% complete for the tour. Matt has definitely turned this former potential tear-down into a neighborhood gem!
3524 Bowling Green Way – Northcrest Swim and Tennis Club
We invite you to make the Northcrest Swim and Tennis Club the last stop on your tour. Gather with friends and neighbors to chat about the homes you've seen, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and learn why the Club is truly a neighborhood landmark.
Founded in 1962 by original Northcrest homeowners, the Club quickly became a hub of Northcrest living, with an award-winning swim team and social and recreational activities for both kids and adults.
Today, you'll find an affordable, enjoyable, resort-like experience - reminiscent of a 1960s country club - with its modern trapezoid-shaped pool, Tiki Hut snack bar, two lighted tennis courts, event pavilion with built-in party-sized barbeque grill, multipurpose athletic field and children's play court, all situated within a 3.5 acre park setting.
A packed social calendar features twice-monthly themed dinner parties and social events throughout the season. On most Friday nights, you'll find members firing up the grill for a relaxed, informal poolside "bring-your-own" dinner party.
In the last few years, the Board of Trustees has successfully implemented a "grass-roots" operating plan (nearly every aspect of the Club's day-to-day operation is handled by volunteer members), securing the Club's future as a valuable neighborhood asset.
Ready to join? Call (404) 592-3381 or visit our web site at www.northcrestclub.com for details.
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3 comments:
OUtsanding coverage of a tour that I hate I missed. The only thing that might make this article better-- and this is only a minor quibble-- would be more pictures of Matt's place showing his renovations.
I would have taken more images of Matt's house but he seemed hesitant when I asked as there was much "in progress" so I decided to restrain myself.
I have a few pictures from Matt's house that he let me take in the converted Hollywood bath and the basement shelter...take a look if you want T Bird:
http://homesweetsplitlevel.blogspot.com/2009/05/2009-northcrest-tour-of-homes.html
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