Southern Living Idea House - Senoia, Georgia

Senoia, Georgia, is a small town about one hour south of Atlanta that is famous for its historic district AND for being the town of Woodbury in the hit show, The Walking Dead!  It is a charming place and is the location of the 2012 Southern Living Idea House link to magazine website. Southern Living has been completing "Idea" houses for over 20 years.

Enter Senoia, 25 miles and 100 years from Atlanta, where the main street looks like a scene out of Driving Miss Daisy—because it actually was.  The town doubles as a back lot for popular film and TV projects such as the classic Fried Green Tomatoes and AMC’s current hit, The Walking Dead.  But dig a little deeper and you will find a community committed to eco-friendly construction—right down to the electric cars parked in front of the diner.

This year's house was originally a 1830 farmhouse relocated to this area and enhanced. I visited the house this week with several friends and was very impressed with the work of the architect and builder who rendered and constructed the expansive design and the interior design team who created such wonderful space. The house has recently been sold - no surprise to us - and the buyer is considered "local" - not more than 25 miles from this location.

The "farmhouse" is part of an historic area development just off of the main street in Senoia.  The development promises to be a lovely setting when completed.

About Senoia and Historic Development Ventures, LLC: Winner of the 2010 Georgia Renaissance Award, the Historic Senoia Project is a downtown redevelopment initiative undertaken by Historic Development Ventures, LLC which includes an in-town urban living, dining, and cultural experience and boasts shopping, attractions and oodles of ambience.  Many of the vacant parcels of land in Senoia's Historic District have been acquired for the purpose of constructing period infill development, designed with a dual purpose: to blend seamlessly with the town’s early 1900’s architecture  while serving as a back lot for film and television production at nearby Raleigh Studios - Atlanta. The scope of Senoia’s revitalization includes retail/commercial, office/professional, a 4 star boutique hotel, and in-town residential elements, masterfully planned to offer modern amenities and technology within the context of a historic sense of place. Learn more athistoricsenoia.com.

This was a wonderful visit - best told by showing you the photos I took.  I will mention some of my "idea" take-aways which is, after all, the whole concept!

It was such a bright and sunny day that some are somewhat washed out - but I don't have the heart to complain about such a nice bright and sunny day!

Nice plantings - I liked the stepping stone area on side of house.    

I loved the whimsical and colorful artwork but din't find out much about it in the resource book we received.  Unfortunately, I had not asked when there.  I do love "cow pictures" and am commissioning my artist friend, Bette, do do an acrylic or oil cow picture for me.  

The back of the house was very entertainment friendly.  I thought the retrievable canopy that will provide much needed shade int he summer months is a great idea!

Loved this color combination and that set of chairs was wonderful - totally washed out by sunshine coming in window.

The house had a lot of neutral rooms with hints/splashed os color such as in this bedroom.  I loved the sink basin - a duck egg blue base with wood-toned top - it looked very authentically very old! 

Love the spaciousness of this front porch which actually continues on the right side.  You could live your whole life out here!

I continue to be amazed by Ikea kitchens.  This whole kitchen with exception of lamp fixture was from Ikea - nicely done.  The dining area (wish I had better photo) was in a windowed alcove and very cozy!

This area was called the "keeping room" but we thought of it as the media room with the TV on the lovely console.

The master was not my favorite room  I loved the chairs and the color-scheme - not as excited about the artwork and the odd reindeers above bed.

These photos speak for themselves - nice views in every direction. 

Nicely decorated for the holidays with wreaths draping across most mirrors - an idea that I could use.

Views of neighborhood and plans.

One idea we really liked - waist-level hooks for purses and hats as you travel between garage and house - unfortunately, I have WAY too many!

Another VERY clever idea  - an easily modified naughty and nice list - situated in the laundry room using chalk paint!

WOW - nice visit!