IN MILTON, GEORGIA’S, BEAUTIFUL HORSE COUNTRY, WHERE SPRAWLING farms and elegant estates dot the landscape, you’ll find an exceptional 6,800-square-foot custom home that perfectly
balances classic character with innovative design. Built by Southern Homes & Restoration Group, this five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath residence represents the pinnacle of intentional design. This is a home where every detail serves both beauty and function.
For Greg Amico, president of Southern Homes & Restoration Group, this project embodies everything his company has perfected over three decades in the business. “Our motto is ‘Making the place you live, the place you love,’” says Amico. “This refers to our careful attention to design details, thoughtfully sourced premium finishes and expert craftmanship. A home you love is about creating something unique that fits both the property and the personality of the people who live there.”
Amico’s approach to building is deeply rooted in family tradition. His grandfather was a builder who constructed churches and museums from solid limestone, while his father specialized in residential construction. After a decade in investments, Amico returned to his roots in 1994, founding the company with a commitment to creating one-of-a-kind properties. Twenty-five years of building in Milton has established the company as a household name among discerning homeowners and real estate professionals who recognize its exceptional quality.
This home tells the story of clients who could choose to live anywhere in the world. With properties spanning from a horse farm in Kentucky to a residence in West Palm Beach, they ultimately chose Milton for its unique blend of rural tranquility and refined living.
The existing barn on the property initially drew them to the lot, but it was Amico’s vision of creating a contemporary country estate that spoke to the client and sealed the deal.
The 17-acre original property presented significant challenges that would have deterred lesser builders. Amico’s solution required renovating and selling the existing 35-year-old house, then dividing the acreage into three lots. Careful grading preserved the land’s character and allowed for the new home’s striking indoor-outdoor connection—a crucial element for clients who love to entertain and want their home to take full advantage of the parklike setting that backs up to Milton City Park and Preserve.
Weaving clients’ lifestyle demands with a blend of contemporary yet classic preferences, Michel Amico, Southern Homes & Restoration Group’s director of design, worked closely with the clients from concept to completion to help create this one-of-a-kind property. Upon arrival via a long, winding drive flanked with four board-fenced pastures, you are met with high-pitched limestone gables and an aged white brick facade, a wall of windows highlighting the interior staircase, and large black and gold gilded lighting.
Entry to this exceptional residence begins with a commanding 9-foot-tall black iron front door featuring six decorative glass panels, each divided by dark metal and gold muntins that create a classic geometric X-shaped pattern, offering both refinement and the practical benefit of daylight streaming in. Framed by stunning brick and stonework in warm cream tones flanked by obsidian trim and an architectural roof, the entrance sets the tone for the polished elegance that awaits within.
Step inside the captivating foyer where a custom, black diamond-centered patterned floor nods to the front doors’ X motif while a stunning crystal chandelier—large, spherical and densely packed with sparkling crystal elements—hangs from a gold chain, drawing the eye upward into the open space of the high ceiling. The chandelier is mounted on a motorized lift system, allowing the homeowners to lower it for cleaning. This is one of many examples of how visual appeal is balanced with innovative design found throughout the home.
The stair foyer’s impressive floor-to-ceiling windows span both levels, their handcrafted reeded and stained frames create a striking 30-foot grid pattern that floods the space with bright illumination while offering views of the meticulously landscaped grounds. A boxed staircase with ornate black metal balusters, with their design mirrored on the adjacent wall, serves as built-in picture frames for the homeowners’ custom artwork, which gracefully ascends the stairs. Beneath the open staircase, a wine room with custom glass doors showcases the homeowners’ vintages.
The home’s deliberate layout creates an intuitive flow for both daily living and entertaining. From the grand foyer, the two-and-a-half-story great room sits directly ahead, serving as the home’s center and featuring a spectacular floor-to-ceiling bespoke fireplace that functions as both an architectural anchor and an artistic statement. The book-matched porcelain slabs display intricate white and gold veining that creates a symmetrical, mirror-like pattern stretching from floor to ceiling. Above, exposed wooden beams in honey tones add warmth while creating stunning geometric lines across the 34-foot ceiling.
Directly in front of the great room, the formal dining room provides an elegant space with copious moldings and subdued lighting for special occasions. Behind the great room, the covered back porch extends the living space outdoors. This fluid connection to the exterior is enhanced by the room’s 18-foot glass accordion door that opens to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. The modern linear fireplace integrates effortlessly into the surround while another crystal chandelier provides ambient lighting.
To the right of the great room, a powder room with an oversize globe chandelier, textured glass vessel sink, custom high-gloss cabinets, champagne bronze fixtures and snakeskin wallpaper serves guests with warmth and style.
The primary suite occupies the entire right side of the home. This strategic placement ensures privacy and tranquility for the homeowners while maintaining easy access to the main entertaining areas. A master class in luxury and tranquility, the suite features a heavily trimmed coffered ceiling and cashmere gray walls with platinum-washed wallpaper. The oversize primary bathroom features a stunning polished nickel chandelier with cascading strands of fine chain in a tiered, waterfall-like design hanging above an inviting oversize, freestanding soaking tub. Positioned strategically in front of a large wall of windows, the tub offers views of the landscaped grounds while quartzite and marble surfaces and soft, neutral wall tones create a spa-like retreat.
Dual his-and-her closets the size of a bedroom showcase extensive built-in storage systems in warm, light oak. To make dressing a delight, upper cabinets, with both open shelving and closed storage compartments, are combined with a series of drawers that show off sleek, contemporary hardware in a brushed gold finish. In addition, various sized cubbies and compartments accommodate different types of clothing and accessories, while a section with multiple narrow horizontal shelves provides perfect organization for shoes and folded items.
The kitchen represents the absolute pinnacle of custom design, featuring a bold Blue Jeans polished quartzite slab backsplash with gorgeous blue, gray and white veining that extends from the countertop to the ceiling behind the cooking area. A European Indigo range hood with brass straps creates a commanding focal point, housing a coordinating professional-grade gas range below. The polished, dark blue cabinetry features glass-front upper cabinets soaring to the top of the home’s 12-foot ceilings, which are backlit to create an illuminated effect, while fluted brushed brass hardware throughout maintains the home’s luxurious aesthetic.
Art deco fluted glass pendants float above the kitchen island, where a champagne gold-finished faucet pairs with a dark undermount sink. Brass picture lights set the stage to showcase more of the owner’s artwork and lend mood to the custom mirrored bar incorporated into the home’s open scullery. The overall effect is both upscale and contemporary, with the rich color palette of deep blues, warm golds and natural stone creating an elevated cooking experience.
Beyond the kitchen, the keeping and breakfast room’s limestone fireplace provides a cozy counterpoint to the great room’s grandeur, flowing naturally into the kitchen’s refined aesthetic. This casual dining area with windows throughout is designed to bring outdoor elements inside and connects directly to the back porch through the great room, creating an ideal setup for both intimate family meals and larger gatherings.
Past the kitchen, a well-appointed laundry and a mudroom handle the practical aspects of daily life without compromising the home’s elegant aesthetic. Adjacent to the laundry, a private gentleman’s study features a classic banker’s black and brass chandelier hanging amid golden stained wood beams in the vaulted and black plaid-clad room, offering a quiet workspace separate from the main living areas—ideal for focused work or leisurely reading.
The upstairs level is strategically designed for both entertainment and guest comfort, keeping the same level of finishes, including soapstone and marble countertops, glass-enclosed showers, premier fixtures and whitewashed oak floors. To the right, a guest bedroom with a full bathroom provides comfortable accommodations, while to the left, two additional guest rooms, each with an en suite bathroom, ensure that visiting family and friends enjoy the same attention to detail and luxury as the primary suite.
Also to the left, the open recreation room demonstrates the Amicos’ commitment to architectural impact without ostentation. A striking vaulted ceiling features exposed wooden beams stained in rich, dark brown, which blend magnificently with the white and chocolate brown-painted surfaces, lending to the equestrian feeling of the estate. The geometric pattern created by intersecting beams adds visual interest while large, gridded windows flood the space with bright sunlight and showcase views of the grounds. A modern industrial-style pendant light with a dark metal shade hangs from the peak, suspended by a brass chain that complements the room’s chic aesthetic. This space was specifically designed to accommodate a family TV viewing area, a refreshment bar and a snooker table, and is one of many elements that caters to the client’s desire for a home that truly serves their lifestyle.
The exterior spaces are equally impressive, featuring a resort-style saltwater pool, a hot tub with blue stone decking and a cast stone fireplace within a post-and-beam-style cabana. The back porch, positioned behind the great room, features its own half bathroom that serves both the outdoor entertaining areas and the pool. Under the covered porch, another limestone fireplace creates an additional outdoor living space, while a complete outdoor kitchen is key to alfresco dining and seamless entertaining.
After the pool area, the property gently tapers out, enhanced by a waterfall feature visible from the great room that adds both visual and auditory appeal to the outdoor experience. Practical considerations haven’t been overlooked, with two separate, oversize two-car garages providing ample parking and storage while maintaining the home’s graceful exterior lines.
The mindful repetition of materials from inside and out creates visual cohesion, and the varied styles add interest without appearing chaotic. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this home is how it achieves grandeur without sacrificing intimacy. Despite its impressive square footage, careful planning ensured that the house feels livable for its two primary residents. Every room serves a purpose, and every detail contributes to the overall sense of polished comfort.
After three decades in the business and 25 years specifically in Milton, Southern Homes & Restoration Group has created something truly special with this custom estate. The millwork throughout is exceptional, fitting the house perfectly while looking effortlessly attractive. It’s a home that could only have been created by builders who understand that true luxury lies not in excess but in the perfect marriage of aesthetics, functionality and craftsmanship. *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
