Built in 1900, the residence located at 35 Lafayette Drive NE in Atlanta, Georgia is deeply rooted in the historic Ansley Park community, but this home may be the definitive line where late Victorian architecture crosses over into the contemporary movement. From one perspective, the house is reminiscent of the period era with a brick façade and narrow windows, while another viewpoint portrays bold lines and stacked geometric shapes defined by a surplus of low lead content glass and rare zinc siding. A 2008 renovation of the home saw an expansion of steel and glass, adding to the modern style that gradually waxes and wanes throughout the innovative floor plan and redefines the split level concept.
Inside the grand wooden front doors, still remaining traditional, the home opens to a stately great room with trey ceilings, ample lighting, a fireplace and angled walls capped with thick crown molding. The traditional-style sentiment lingers into the prominent formal dining room, but moving through the spaces the disposition of the dwelling morphs into another world. The only connection between old and new is the gleaming hardwood floors.
A floating steel staircase and steel-supported floor system introduces guests to a waxed metal wall that serves as the backdrop to the open-air industrial kitchen featuring Miele appliances exceeded in awe only by the gorgeous walnut counters.
An immense invisible wall defines another spacious living room interconnecting inside and out with the interior living spaces responding seamlessly to the natural area and gunite pool that peacefully sit on the other side of the glass. Flowing up to the second floor is an open staircase that looks straight down on the spaces below and up into a guest bedroom, also walled with floor-to-ceiling glass.
Modifying the vibe back to a less revealing sentiment, the master bedroom transforms the stark contemporary ambiance to a subdued simplicity with low ceilings, soft lighting and carpet under foot. Privacy returns to this large but intimate space defined by narrow windows and nontransparent walls.
The spa-style master bath lies on an elongated floorplan with a marble tiled and floor, a frosted-glass shower and a new take on the claw-foot tub emblazoned with gold and serving as the focal point of the space.
The other bedrooms and spaces in the home continue the pattern of contemporary to traditional to contemporary. The rooftop terrace tops it all off, where skyline views overlook Ansley Park’s beloved Winn Park. Various other terrace-level spaces lie around the outskirts of the home as well, from patios to a pool deck and guest house.
The neighborhood is just as attractive as the house and was originally designed for Atlanta’s elite. Motor-car friendly, it was reserved for those Georgians who were fortunate enough to own a car and was home to the governor’s mansion for a period. Today, Atlanta has grown up around Ansley Park, surrounding it with arts and commerce. Near the Woodruff Arts Center and the High Museum of Art, this is one of Atlanta’s most prolific neighborhoods. The phrase “life is good” is an understatement for those Atlantans who opportunely call Ansley Park home. This five-bedroom, five-bathroom home will undoubtedly become the crown jewel of the neighborhood and a constant source of pride for the distinguished future owner of 35 Lafayette Drive in Atlanta, Georgia.
Five Bedrooms, Five Full and One Partial Bathrooms
Offered at $3,995,000
35 Lafayette Drive
Atlanta Georgia 30309
Jim Getzinger
404.307.4020
404.874.0300
jimgetzinger@atlantafinehomes.com