Historic Neel Reid Restoration - T.S. Adams Studio Architects, Inc.

In Atlanta’s exclusive Buckhead neighborhood, the grand Federal-style house designed by Neel Reid is an architectural standout.

The 13,500-sqaure-foot residence, which is 106 years old, has attracted a lot of local attention in the last several years, all for the wrong reasons: It was rapidly deteriorating and in dire need of someone to save it.

“It’s a legacy house in Buckhead,” says Timothy S. Adams, AIA, whose eponymous architectural studio was commissioned to restore it. “And Reid was one of the classical architects in Atlanta; this, the original house in the area, was one of his signature projects.”

Structurally in good shape—many of the original windows, made of old-growth heart pine, were still intact, as were much of the interior architectural millwork and decorative elements—the house needed system upgrades, updates, numerous repairs, and revamping and expanding to make it more livable for a 21st-century family.

To honor the residence’s past, the team sourced materials, including the slate for the roof, from original suppliers or replicated elements to Reid’s exact specifications as laid out in the original plans, which are on file at the Atlanta History Center.

To add insulation and upgrade the systems without interfering with the architectural elements, Adams and his team stripped some of the exterior siding and worked from the outside inward.

Insulation was blown in from the outside, and the team carefully removed the ceilings, which are unembellished, and cut holes in the plaster walls around the intricate detailing to update the plumbing.

The sunroom was restored. Views to the garden are through ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows. Photos by Emily Followill Photography

“The owners understand what they have and respect the area, and it actually was their idea to do it this way,” Adams says. “It would have been a crime to pull the architectural elements apart because they were in good shape.”

The team also designed a back porch and a garage and what Adams calls “a sympathetic addition” that connects, through a 5-foot by 5-foot corridor, to the house, mirroring its scale and detail. It houses a family room, an office, and a guest house.

“It’s a seamless transition between the new and old,” he says.

The house’s ancillary sleeping porches and bedrooms were reconfigured to create baths and closets that are more in keeping with contemporary lifestyles. A large new kitchen and breakfast room (the house had two kitchens, one original and one from the 1970s) were carved out by combining several outdated spaces.

New handmade doors and windows were crafted to replace those damaged or historically inaccurate; and original radiators, fireplaces, sterling silver hardware, and sterling silver light fixtures were restored.

“The owners decided to keep the steam heat to retain the spirit of the project,” Adams says. “That’s not something most people would do.”

The decorative railing on the front porch, which always caught Adams’ attention as he drove by, was replicated as per Reid’s plans, but it’s made of a synthetic non-rot material instead of wood to better withstand the elements.

One of the more intricate and time-consuming projects was the restoration of the water-damaged Zuber wallcovering mural in the dining room, a task that took a team of specialized artisans several months to do.

“Everybody in the community is ecstatic about the restoration,” Adams says. “When people found out that the house had been sold, there was a lot of concern that it was going to be torn down and subdivided—the lot’s big enough for two houses. The project has generated a lot of excitement.” TB