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!
Rhoda, this house is lovely!! I look forward to the design house every year but I’m so excited to see your photos because it so much more thorough then the magazine coverage will be!! Hard to pick a favorite here… there are just so many good ideas. Thank you so much for sharing. And, I’m super excited to meet you at Haven in a couple of weeks!! ~ Jennifer
Loved it, thanks for the tour. I bet you came home with a few ideas of your own!
Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my mouth. Oh heavens. I didn’t think it could get any better than Ballard but paired with SL – well, I guess it can. That home is a dream. I love every single detail about it. I would love to visit it and see it in person. I bet you were in photography Heaven. I bet you were flashing away like a mad woman cause I know I would have been. Can;t wait to see the rest! If my flittering heart can even stand it.
That’s pretty much my dream house! Makes me want to move to the South, because here in California, that would easily cost a couple mil. ~sigh~
Yes this is a very adorable house so far. I am liking the purse hook thingy. Great idea! where was the t located in family room? or was there one. Love the sitting area gingham paint walls!
That is a beautiful house! I love me a big ol’ porch and a swing. 🙂 Looks like I need to make a trip to see and drool in person.
I’m amazed at how livable the house seems even though it’s so beautiful! I think you’re right on track with the Ikea cabinets and I love their farmhouse sink, too. Can’t wait to see the rest of the house!!
Thanks for such a fabulous tour Rhoda! I noticed that there was a skirted sink (yes?) in the kitchen by the doorway. I’m thinking that would be terrific for all kinds of tasks. Lots of clever ideas. A fun day for you and the girls!
I tried to see it last weekend but it was closed! Hoping to see this weekend. Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to see those Ikea cabinets. Senoia is a great little town and chock full of cute shops. Check out Beyond the Door if you get a chance, great stuff and local artist wares. Also, have you seen the net zero house by Bosch and furnished by Jill Sharp Brinson/Ballard in Serenebe? Loved it too!
Just toured it last week & will be blogging about it soon!
Thanks so much for sharing – it is so pretty! Take care, Laura
Wow! That’s a heck of a lot of awesomeness in one post! You are soooo lucky to get to do all these fun things! I’m with you about the ikea cabinets. Go for it! I would do the same if I was in the market for kitchen cabinets. And you look adorable on the swing…love the way your top coordinated with the rest of the pic. Yeah, I notice stuff like that. 😉
Oh my, I just found my dream home!!! Can’t wait to see part II! 🙂
WOW! WOW! WOW! I need to take a road trip to GA! I have not been able to get to an idea house since they had one in Oxford, MS. I can’t wait to sit a spend some time studying these pictures. Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to see it in the magazine, but they never have enough pictures for me!
Oh wow! I’m so glad that you took pictures and are sharing them. I feel like I’m getting to go on the tour with you. I can’t wait to see part 2!
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
It is beautifully done, but personally I need more color. I love the vignette of old wooden boxes and the 3 baskets hanging vertically on the wall.
Thanks for sharing since I can’t get there myself.
Thank you for sharing Rhoda!
An interesting tidbit regarding The Walking Dead. A child star in the show, who plays Carl, the son of the main character is Chandler Riggs. Chandler lives in my neighborhood in Towne Lake, and his mom and I taught together at Bascomb Elementary School. I don’t normally watch shows in this genre, but knowing Chandler and watching him grow up got me to watch it and I am hooked now! Should you decide to watch, be sure to look for Chandler!
Love that porch! So inviting with the colorful pillows. And that lantern above the front door and the lantern in the dining room! And the paint treatment. Everything was just perfect! Thanks for sharing it with us! So many great ideas to glean!
Rhoda…thanks for all they great pictures!!! I really want to get there in person so see it. What a great house.
I live in Senoia and wanted to go to the idea house with some of my teacher friends this summer! Now I can’t wait! Just curious, did you go on to Main Street? There are some awesome decor shops there and Founders restuarant is great for lunch with the ladies!
It’s so pretty, I love that it looks like you already live there! Awesome mix of old and new!