Sneak Peek at 2012 HGTV Green Home in Atlanta

Last Thursday, I got to attend a press preview of the new 2012 HGTV Green Home located in Serenbe, an eco-friendly community south of Atlanta, and I’m excited to share a sneak peek with you this week. You may have seen the photo of the exterior of the home I posted on Facebook shortly after my visit.Described as a “modern family farmhouse”, the 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home is inspired by historical Southeastern culture and architecture. It was designed by Atlanta architects Steve Kemp and Georgia Muncaster of Kemp Hall Studio, who were on hand to celebrate the completion of the project along with developer Steve Nygren, of Serenbe, builder Curtis Peart, of FrontPorch Custom Homes and Renovations, landscape architect Ed Castro, of Ed Castro Landscape, along with HGTV house planner Jack Thomasson (who just so happens to be an Atlanta resident as well) and interior designer Linda Woodrum (who is a Southerner as well, hailing from Hilton Head, South Carolina).(l-r) Thomasson, Nygren, Kemp, Muncaster, Peart and Woodrum (even they wore the show home booties!)

Together, this group has created a custom home that is not only eco-savvy but soul-stirring and extremely livable, which should dispel any myths about modern green homes being cold and uninviting.

It’s a sight to behold, sitting atop a fairly steep slope (I’m sure none of you can relate to that). While guests can enter the ground level of the home from the front, the driveway is actually at the rear of the home off a gravel road across from a generous swath of trees. Notice the solar panels visible on the side of the roof.Rear entrance from detached garage/carportTrex decking, drought-tolerant and native plants, bluestone pavers and a fieldstone retaining wall pave the way inside.Whether you enter through the front or the back of the home, there are stairs to climb (three stories total), so it’s not handicap accessible or ideal for those with mobility issues. I imagine it was a chore to get all the furnishings moved in. But the effort is well worth it…

Family room featuring local art and cool casual furnishingsDining area connecting family room and kitchenKitchenThe kitchen features Energy Star appliances, Moen faucets and fittings, DEX concrete countertops and Shaw Floors Epic hardwood. While the kitchen, dining area and family room are arranged in an open layout, there are plenty of cozy rooms tucked around the central public space that we will explore next time.

Mark your calendars to tour the 2012 HGTV Green Home in person starting May 4. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit the Serenbe Institute for Arts, Culture & the Environment and Chattahoochee Hills Charter School. You can also enter to win the home as part of HGTV’s Green Home Giveaway starting April 14.

Would you live in a home like this? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.