Senoia Selected Again for Next Idea House

Last year Senoia was the site of Southern Living Magazine’s 2010 Idea House. It was a first for the area and the magazine’s first time to feature a brownstone. Now history is repeating itself with the Nov. 15 announcement that Senoia will feature Southern Living’s 2012 Idea House. It is the first time the magazine has chosen a home in the same community for a second Idea House.

 

“Great films deserve even better sequels, and we just couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring our readers the next installment in the renaissance story of Senoia,” said Kristen Payne, Executive Marketing Director, Southern Living. “We’re heeding the calls to serve up more from the town of our award-winning 2010 Idea House.”

 

Historic Development Ventures co-owner and Raleigh/Riverwood Studios partner Scott Tigchelaar said the 2012 Idea House, in the style of a Southern country farm house, is located at 57 Morgan Street adjacent to the Gin Property where last year’s Idea House is located. Renovation on the nearly 4,000 square-foot 2012 Idea House is underway and will be ready for the opening next June. The two-story house was built in the early 1800s and was constructed with wooden pegs and featured hand-hewn beams. It is one of the oldest homes in the city, Tigchelaar said.

 

The Morgan Street house came with the Gin Property re-development site and we wanted to find a way to save it, Tigchelaar said.

 

“This is the first time Southern Living has come back to the same location. To have such a highly read magazine choose Senoia the first time around was an incredible honor,” said Tigchelaar. “But to have them come back again is amazing and beyond our wildest expectations.”

 

Tigchelaar said Southern Living used to feature three Idea Houses at a time. That changed to two homes featured last year, with one in Louisiana and the other in Senoia.

 

“In 2012 the magazine will feature only one Idea House, the one in Senoia,” Tigchelaar said. “And we expect next year to break the record for visitors.”

 

Making the Nov. 15 announcement, Southern Living said the 2012 Idea House will be a revival of an early 19th century cottage-style farmhouse “whose makeover has been masterfully designed by the noted team of architects and place makers at Historical Concepts from the neighboring Peachtree City.
Completing the team is John Bynum Custom Homes, Inc., one of the Atlanta area’s premier custom home builders, nationally-recognized interior design firm, Tracery Interiors and Senoia’s Historic Development Ventures, LLC.” CONTINUE READING >>