THE VIRGINIA HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF ATLANTA IS WELL- known for its historic bungalows built from the 1910s to the 1930s when it was founded as a streetcar suburb. It is equally well-known for its modern, vibrant retail, restaurant and nightlife scene. It’s this symbiotic relationship between residential and commercial vibes that creates the walkable and friendly atmosphere that Hannah and William Jones wanted when they were looking to buy their first home together. “We wanted a project and first saw this bungalow on a Thursday before a holiday weekend when the real estate company was having an open house,” says homeowner Hannah Jones. “I think we lucked out because a lot of people were traveling over the weekend. We visited the home every day during the open house because when we walked in the first time, we knew it was the right house. Unlike other homes we toured, this home felt like one in which we could live for a long time; it felt special, and we could see our future here.” As a bonus, Jones’ job is just two blocks away—helping to cement the walkable lifestyle she envisioned for her family.
She turned to Instagram for design ideas and to find a designer, where she connected with Dawn Heuer of Heuer Design Collective, who Jones says was the only designer she ever considered for the job. Heuer is a nationally recognized designer known for her approachable yet refined aesthetic. She has designed sets and home interiors for national television shows and advertising campaigns for networks, including Netflix, Bravo, HGTV and FOX. In addition to her design services, she has launched a store, The Design House by HDC, that sells unique vintage finds and sustainable goods from women-owned brands worldwide. “I started The Design House as a fun place where everyone feels welcome,” Heuer says. “When I first moved to Atlanta, some stores were intimidating to visit, even as a designer. I wanted to create a nonintimidating design store that can be a resource for all.”
When working on design projects, Heuer says, “I love being a part of a client’s story. I believe that a home should not be perfectly polished but should reflect a cozy style and feel lived-in and authentic to the homeowners. It is a place to make memories.” It was this design aesthetic that led the way to turn the Joneses’ historic bungalow into a fully renovated and expanded home where the young couple could grow a family.
Heuer added designer Taylor Maher to the team, along with architect Mark Arnold and Phoenix Contracting to help fulfill the Joneses’ wishes for their home renovation project: add personality and style while keeping the design comfortable and livable. “At first I spoke with Dawn and Taylor about renovating the existing bungalow, but then along the way we realized that it would be silly not to go ahead and add a second story now, while we weren’t living there, with bedrooms for the family as it grew,” says Jones. “I wanted a lot of personality added to the home and did not want a boring, modern look, so gray was out. I love natural stone and wanted some dramatic stones throughout the home. I really wanted something that was a reflection of our family and insisted it be both stylish and comfortable.”
“By popping the top, we gave the Joneses space to grow into their life and their family over the years,” says Heuer. “With four new bedrooms upstairs, we then were free to turn the former bedrooms downstairs into roomy main living spaces that were more functional.” One bedroom became an office, and the other became additional space that was added onto a newly designed living room.
Arnold, who lives and works in the Virginia Highland community, has renovated many of the historic bungalows in the district. “We really didn’t change the footprint of this home other than to add a rear porch and deck,” he explains. “We added a second level with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a laundry room that would work for the family for many years. We achieved all of this without changing the basic bungalow look from the street level.” A new freestanding carriage house with guest quarters above it added on the east side of the home provides a layer of privacy from neighbors.
Historically, families who lived in these bungalows in the early 1900s moved to the suburbs when they decided to have children, so most are not equipped with the spaces needed for a growing family. The design and construction teams were able to add what the Jones family needed, almost doubling the square footage, so the couple could make this a forever home, preventing it from being torn down like other homes in the neighborhood have been in past years. “I always advocate for renovating versus tearing down and building new,” Arnold says. “New homes often don’t match the scale and massing of nearby historic homes. The four walls of this house have been here for decades; we rearranged them so they are good for many more generations.”
The living and dining rooms remained situated in the front of the home, while the back two-thirds of the main level was modified to provide a butler’s pantry and a much larger kitchen, now open to the new living room. All bedrooms were relocated to the upper-level addition, with a new staircase to access them. “The kitchen is now the full width of the back of the home,” Arnold explains.
Heuer introduced eye-catching natural stone in the kitchen to meet the homeowner’s request, choosing a dramatically veined Calacatta Gold for the island countertop, backsplash and range hood. A demure, neutral “Pale Oak” paint color from Benjamin Moore on the cabinetry matches the creamy background of the stone while allowing the slab to take center stage. “We spend 90% of our time in the new kitchen, the living room and on the back deck,” says Jones. “The kitchen layout works perfectly.” When she has guests over, everyone gravitates to the huge island, which Heuer outfitted with clean-lined chairs from The Design House upholstered in a textural white bouclé fabric.
Bathrooms received special natural stone, too, as did the new living room, with a marble fireplace surround. In the primary bathroom, a waterfall effect of stone countertops spills down the front of custom, matching double vanities that bookend a freestanding tub, which is a period-appropriate addition to the home.
The design team worked together to change the front facade of the home, creating a modernized entryway where a sunporch once stood, with full-length wooden Kolbe VistaLuxe glass windows and doors that look like steel. Larger windows on the front of the home provide more natural daylight into the interiors. While the exterior brick remained, it was whitewashed to match the new creamy white siding on the newly added second level.
Changing the front of the home provided an opportunity for the designers to create an engaging and interesting new foyer. They designed a custom cabinet for the entryway, which became a showstopper painted in Farrow & Ball “Preference Red” with paneled cane insets. Functional bench seating and shoe storage make the stylish design practical, utilizing every inch of precious space. A colorful tile floor complements the cabinetry and also is endlessly practical when it’s time for cleanup. “Hannah trusted us and the process,” says Heuer. “She was a dream client who gave us the freedom to use the colors that spoke to us. That’s why this home turned out so successfully; it is a perfect design case study.”
Jones pinpoints the new entryway as one of her favorite spaces. “I love the color and pattern,” she says. “It really sets the stage for the whole house and wows without being over the top.”
Heuer worked in a mix of antique, new and existing furniture to make the home feel lived-in and suited to its storied past. “The homeowners had a lot of artwork and some interesting furniture passed down from their parents,” Heuer explains. “The furnishings mix works in the open, flowing layout while also honoring the home’s past. Hidden gems, such as arched case openings throughout the home, maintain architectural character.”
Jones loves the finished result. “I recommend Heuer Design Collective to everyone I know,” she says. “Working with the firm was absolutely unbelievable. Dawn made it easy to work in a digestible way; she didn’t give me 20 chairs to choose from but paired it down to three or four. I never had to be the bad guy; Dawn always handled that for me. And she was spot-on in reading the room and determining my likes and dislikes when she presented ideas. She made the high moments better. Dawn knows when to celebrate the milestones during the process. She treated this project like it was her own home.”
Heuer says this was a dream project and a dream client. “I am very proud of how this home turned out,” she says. “It is an amazing home built for incredible people.” *
Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and fine art.
Heuer added designer Taylor Maher to the team, along with architect Mark
Arnold and Phoenix Contracting to help fulfill the Joneses’ wishes for their home renovation project: add personality and style while keeping the design comfortable and livable.
