Emi Piez originally thought she would buy a turnkey house. When she saw the eclectic and historic homes in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood, with its access to MARTA and the Beltline, she decided to tackle a renovation.
The two-year project required hiring several professionals, including an architect, interior designer and contractor, along with learning about the state’s income tax credit for rehabilitating a historic property and regulations from the neighborhood’s historic preservation committee.
“Honestly, I had such a wonderful team that was so knowledgeable,” she said. “They knew what questions to ask and helped me through the process of making decisions.”
Credit: Text by Lori Johnston/ Photos by Reynolds Rogers
Credit: Text by Lori Johnston/ Photos by Reynolds Rogers
Her revived residence is on the 2019 Historic West End Tour of Homes on June 22.
Snapshot
Residents: Emi Piez, an executive assistant for Portman Holdings, her mother, Mary Beebee, and their dogs, Henry and Raisin
Location: Atlanta's West End neighborhood
Size: About 1,750 square feet, five bedrooms, three baths
Year built/bought: 1902/2016
Architectural style: Craftsman bungalow
Favorite architectural elements: Four fireplaces, vaulted ceiling in master bedroom, covered rear deck, original heart pine floors
Design consultants: Shraddha Srivastav Strennen with S2-AD (architect), Joanne Riley with The Interior Edge (interior design), Ed Turner with Classic Renovators (contractor), Maggie Nicholson of Southern Scotch (landscape design), Julian Jackson with eXp Realty Georgia
Renovations: The house was in bad shape, Piez said, and the majority of the structure had to be renovated, including the foundation, roof, ceilings, back deck, both bathrooms and kitchen. The West End Historic District is a designated historic area and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic overlay regulations related to the design of the remodel had to be reviewed and approved by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission. She met with West End's historic preservation committee to understand the process and regulations. "Even though the majority of the house had to be updated, I attempted to preserve the elegance of the era of when the house was built and blend it with a modern touch," Piez said. She moved in during December 2018.
Cost of renovations: $270,000
Interior design style: Bohemian equestrian
Favorite interior design elements: Piez is a third-generation equestrian like her mother, which is why there is an emphasis on equestrian items and artwork of horses in the decor. Piez said she wanted to juxtapose a young, fun and feminine look with traditional furnishings and antiques.
Favorite outdoor elements: The vaulted back deck and the front porch.
Resources: Kitchen countertops by Neolith, kitchen pendant from ET2 Lighting, master bathroom flooring from Daltile, master bathroom chandelier from Maxim Lighting, second bathroom mirror from Currey & Co., doors from ETO Doors, daybed swing by Jared Foster with Porch 959
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