You all are in for a FUN treat today! Wait til you see this house. I got an invitation to preview the Southern Living Idea House down in Senoia, GA (south of the airport) last week and I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw that it is a restored farmhouse. It did not disappoint at all. My friends, Debbie and Jen and I ooohed and ahhhhed over all the beautiful furnishings and the architectural details in this house.
We found out from talking to the Southern Living folks that the house was in a state of ruin when it was bought and moved next door to a new foundation. The farmhouse was restored and added on to and now it’s ready for the 21st century.
The party was to celebrate the partnership of Southern Living and Ballard Designs new tabletop collection, which was highlighted at the event. Beautiful collection of tableware! And Ballard Designs furnished the house, so you know that’s a good thing.
Are you ready? You know I always take a ton of pics and as usual, I’ll have to split this up in 2 parts.
A large sign listing sponsors is outside on the corner. The little town of Senoia, GA is where the house is located. This was my first time visiting Senoia.
Interior Design: Tracery Interiors of Mtn Brook, AL/Rosemary Beach, FL
We found out that Senoia is a full-fledged movie town and lots of movies and TV shows are filmed here. We met the producer of The Walking Dead, and he lives across from the house in a brownstone (just over there) and shoots the show full time in Senoia. He loves living there away from the traffic in Atlanta.
Very cool bit of trivia to learn! I’m not a huge fan of zombies, but apparently teenage boys think this show is the bomb.
The house sits on a pretty corner all picturesque and stately. Very Southern, don’t you think?
Think old farmhouse updated for modern life. That’s what this house is all about.
Southern Living and Ballard Designs, two of my favorite brands.
They greeted us on the porch with drinks and pretty tables.
And what a front porch this is.
With a swing and sitting area on one end, wow is the word to describe this. Love old fashioned porches like this. My grandma in Florida had a porch very similar with a swing sitting in this same spot at her house. I have fond memories of swinging in that swing as a youngster.
So I couldn’t resist trying out that swing for a bit.
Love the pair of planters flanking the front door.
Inside the the foyer, this wall grouping was beautiful.
Turn to the right and there’s the living room, dining room and kitchen.
This pretty console table was behind the sofa with all sorts of pretties grouped together.
The living room was very neutral, but definitely not boring.
The sofa in the living room looking back towards the foyer.
A vignette on the floor in the corner. Love old things, don’t you?
The coffee table looked artfully arranged, but almost as if someone could sit right down and be at home.
Check out the dining room nook, a wall of windows. And do you see that ginormous lantern? Yep, that’s the one I just bought for my dining room, the Calisse! I gasped when I saw it hanging there.
And here’s the kitchen and it’s a beauty. Guess where these cabinets are from? Can you believe this is an Ikea kitchen? I haven’t spilled this yet, but I’m leaning heavily towards getting these cabinets myself in my new house. The door style is Adel and they are beautiful.
Seeing this kitchen just further pushes me towards Ikea. It’s a stunning kitchen and I would happily love it.
On one side of the kitchen, these stacking open shelves display the new tabletop collection of Southern Living/Ballard Designs. Pretty, aren’t they?!
Another look at those beautiful cabinets, I’m really diggin’ that chevron rug too.
Displays on the countertop.
Close up of the cabinets.
Nice!
The dishwasher even had a paneled door to match, I thought that was very clever.
One more shot, I can’t get enough of this beautiful kitchen.
This was some clever storage on a nearby wall. Hanging baskets from Ballards.
Right next to the kitchen, this beautiful little sitting area was prettily adorned.
Check out that paint treatment, I really really like it.
The console is decorated with some vintage finds.
A back mudroom with hooks and brick floors.
Staircase going up to the 2nd floor.
We loved these café curtains. So cute! And that long row of hooks could come in handy too.
Cows and antlers and schoolhouse lights. A nice combo in a farmhouse.
The laundryroom is off this area too.
With chalkboard paint and a pretty sink.
Upstairs is a guestroom.
Sitting area.
Sliding barn doors
This hardware seems to be easy to find now and I’d love to find an old door and do this on my closet door instead of the bifolds. One day!
Headboard and striped shams.
Pretty bathroom with vintage style tile. Love this! Maybe I’ll do some vintage tile in my bathrooms eventually.
Cute little sink.
A Southern sign. In Jawjah…did you get that one? 
So, Micah from Old Try, the Southern team behind these cute vintage typography signs, stopped by to tell me the meaning of this one. I’m usually pretty good at this Southern stuff, but this one stumped me a bit. It means ATL, GA. Say each letter out loud, with a Southern drawl. Cool! I’m really liking their signs. Check out their site, I love their story.
From upstairs looking down.
So, that’s Part 1 of the house and I’ll show the other 1/2 next week! It’s beautiful, inside and out! What did you think? Do you love this house as much as we did?
Here’s Part 2 of the Southern Living Idea House!
The porch, kitchen cabinets, sink and the chest are definitely gorgeous! I can’t wait to see the next set of pictures.
What an awesome day that must have been Rhoda hanging out in this ridiculously gorgeous house! Oh my oh my. I got my ballard magazine the other day and it had all their tabletop stuff and I love it. This post gave me some great ideas for our kitchen with the dark shelves and white cabinets as well as the hanging magazine/book racks. Do you think maybe they would let me move in for just a bit? hehe. Can’t wait to see ya soon!
LOVE this house. Love Ballard and Southern Living. Can’t wait for part 2. I need to go visit this house the next time I’m over in Atlanta to visit our families. 🙂
Spectacular home. I would be happy just living on front porch! I love how they rescued this beauty. It speaks to my heart.
I love Southern Living and Ballards, also. I miss living in the south and the beautiful homes there. Thanks for sharing!
Really loving that IKEA kitchen! I had no idea their cabinets were so pretty. Does anyone know the price point?
Linda, it just depends on how big your kitchen is. I went to Ikea & got an estimate for my kitchen for around $3300. Not bad compared to the others I’ve gotten.
Beautiful kitchen! Thank you for the post!
What colour white were the walls painted to match the particular white of the ikea cabinets?
HI, Elise, I’m not sure what color white that was in the SL house.
I love how they rescued this house and brought it into modern times. Thanks for showing this as I got many ideas for our little house. I have been drooling over those Southern Living items since I saw them in the Ballards catalog.And you should definitely go with those cabinets, Rhoda. They are gorgeous!
I think this is my favorite house you have ever posted. I really like the cabinets and the different pictures especially the grouping on the fireplace. My taste!!
Love the exterior of the house and that porch is great. Love the hydrangeas in the planters! I’ll be honest though, I was disappointed in the furnishings. I just thought there was too much stuff in most places. I’m not a less is more type person, but some of those groupings are almost cluttered looking.
Will be interesting to see the bedrooms.
tina
Oh to have a porch that big and grand! Definitely my favorite part!
I love it so much! all of it! thanks for sharing!
I do like this house, Rhoda. Lots of ideas, I love. Shared your post on FB.
Somedays it is easy to be jealous of you Rhoda!!:) What a beautiful home. I did see the Southern Living products in my latest Ballard catalog. Everything is beautiful.
That front porch was my favorite. Thank you for always having the best photos to share. Definitely will have to take a Sat and friends over there to see this house since I am only an hour away.
Rhoda I happen to find you one evening a few months ago during one of my searches for a decorating item and have been hooked ever since. I love your blog, your sweet sweet parents and the renovations that are happening on your soon to be home, love it all.
Wondered if you could email me your location in Atlanta since I just live west of there and definitely want to attempt to come help paint the next time you have a gathering to do so. Thanks a bunch.
Hey, Carolyn, thank you so much for the offer. I am not sure that we will have another painting party. We are starting the walls on Monday & have a painter friend coming in to help us, so once those are done we will almost be finished with painting projects for now. Thank you though!
Darn, I want to see more, hate to wait! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this beautiful home.
(I have several 30-something year old friends who love The Walking Dead… I watched a couple of episodes and was surprised it was enjoyable as it was, but I haven’t watched more because I actually do enjoy sleeping at night and it’s not the most settling show to watch before bed. *grin*)
Love this house and so glad it was “saved”. Wish I had an Ikea store near me. Those cabinets are beautiful.
Great pics, Rhoda! I pinned a few for inspiration. 🙂
Can’t wait to see part 2!
xoxo
Really enjoyed the tour…..looking forward to seeing more! I’m sure there are times you get tired of schlepping your camera and taking all these pictures for us, but be assured, we appreciate ya!
I have a nice, large home, but boy, is it ever stuck in the early 90’s decorating style. I tell people, “my house is stuck in the 90’s, and my hairdo is stuck in the 70’s.” HA! Both are so true. I’m not much for change. But this farmhouse is so much more my style now rather then these oriental rugs, mahagony furniture, and endless brass fixtures I have everywhere. Oh well, maybe one day change will come…even to me.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing the tour. Loved the kitchen and the planters on the front porch, and I love that Ballard’s and Southern Living have teamed up. This house is a nice farmhouse, but it didn’t ‘wow’ me like some of the former SL houses did. I like a little more color.
OH MY WORD! love it! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. When I read the title I thought it was the old one in Senoia but was quickly thrilled to see if was this one. I loved the lights in the kitchen. The island reminds me of Ina’s. I ADORE that gingham paint treatment…hmm where can I use it? I see they jumped on the barndoor bandwagon, but it does fit with a FARMhouse. Can’t wait for part 2.
happy friday!