Newly Open Style Updates a Contemporary Atlanta Home
Sweat equity over seven years opens up a 1980s home for a Georgia couple who loves a challenge
Town to town, up and down the dial ... Janice and Greg Raab's careers in radio meant a lot of moves — 14 homes in all since 1983, including in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Atlanta. The couple has embraced these relocation opportunities and fallen in love with taking on the challenges of fixer-uppers. Both have the keen eye to see beyond bad cosmetics to a home's potential, and they do as much of the work as they can themselves.
And here's a novelty: They like to pay as they go. Yes, these are patient folks who save up for each home project without going into debt. After living in a traditional home in San Francisco, they fell in love with this contemporary 1980s home in Atlanta and worked on it room by room as money and time permitted for seven years. The kitchen was Janice's favorite renovation story, so we'll focus on that.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Janice and Greg Raab
Location: Atlanta
Size: 5,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
And here's a novelty: They like to pay as they go. Yes, these are patient folks who save up for each home project without going into debt. After living in a traditional home in San Francisco, they fell in love with this contemporary 1980s home in Atlanta and worked on it room by room as money and time permitted for seven years. The kitchen was Janice's favorite renovation story, so we'll focus on that.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Janice and Greg Raab
Location: Atlanta
Size: 5,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
The home has an organic style, with fieldstone, wood and a palette of grays, browns and tans infusing it with a warm look. The Raabs kept this aesthetic in mind throughout the renovations.
The couple balanced saving original features and removing those that weren't working. The fieldstone fireplace, cedar ceiling and black tile floor are original.
"When we moved in, the black tile covered the entire first floor and made things really dark," Janice Raab says. "We thought really hard about how much of it to save and how much of it to replace with bamboo flooring, which lightens up the space."
Raab is also huge fan of George Nelson pendant lights, and she was thrilled that they worked so well with the scale and style of the house. She placed several of them placed throughout the first floor.
"When we moved in, the black tile covered the entire first floor and made things really dark," Janice Raab says. "We thought really hard about how much of it to save and how much of it to replace with bamboo flooring, which lightens up the space."
Raab is also huge fan of George Nelson pendant lights, and she was thrilled that they worked so well with the scale and style of the house. She placed several of them placed throughout the first floor.
BEFORE: The original kitchen was dated, dark and cramped, and it wasn't a welcoming hangout. The couple enlisted their dear friend, Reed Ericson of Studio R Squared, for design help.
"It was great to work with such a good friend, as we could take as long as we wanted and completely change our minds about things, and he just rolled with it," Raab says.
"It was great to work with such a good friend, as we could take as long as we wanted and completely change our minds about things, and he just rolled with it," Raab says.
AFTER: Bamboo floors, travertine backsplash tiles, amber pendant lights and an onyx waterfall countertop add organic warmth to the contemporary, clean-lined kitchen. For an even more modern touch, the cabinet grain runs horizontally.
The Raabs balanced splurges and savings during the renovation. For example, they splurged on onyx and LEM Piston bar stools, and saved by using an induction range that did not require an expensive gas line.
They were not happy with the way the slender hardware looked with the refrigerator's heft, so a helpful oven installer finagled two extra oven handles from GE to use for the refrigerator, which were a much better match.
The Raabs balanced splurges and savings during the renovation. For example, they splurged on onyx and LEM Piston bar stools, and saved by using an induction range that did not require an expensive gas line.
They were not happy with the way the slender hardware looked with the refrigerator's heft, so a helpful oven installer finagled two extra oven handles from GE to use for the refrigerator, which were a much better match.
Stools: LEM Piston Bar Stools, Design Within Reach; pendant lights: LBL Cypree Pendant; countertops: quartz, Silestone; cabinets: custom, oak with wenge stain, Cabico; all appliances: GE Monogram
A bar replaced an awkward old media desk off the kitchen. The couple saved a portion of the home's original dark tiles, providing a connection between the kitchen and the dining space.
This dining room within the large, open living space is just off the kitchen. The waterfall counter on the buffet/bookshelf emulates the L-shape waterfall in the kitchen. It's crafted of the same cabinet oak with the wenge stain and onyx countertop.
The couple travels light, and they like to outfit their homes to match diverse styles. The burled ash dining table is one piece that the couple has taken with them over the years from house to house (along with Greg's beloved vinyl collection — beyond that, there are very few exceptions).
Pendant light: George Nelson Ball Lamp, Design Within Reach; buffet: custom using Cabico cabinets, oak with wenge stain
The couple travels light, and they like to outfit their homes to match diverse styles. The burled ash dining table is one piece that the couple has taken with them over the years from house to house (along with Greg's beloved vinyl collection — beyond that, there are very few exceptions).
Pendant light: George Nelson Ball Lamp, Design Within Reach; buffet: custom using Cabico cabinets, oak with wenge stain
Studio R Squared designed all of the cabinetry, including this large unit that splits the stairs connecting the dining room and living room.
The inspiration for the large cabinet came from a Modern Atlanta home tour. "I'd seen a piece like this set on stairs during the tour a few years ago and snapped a photo of it," Raab says.
The inspiration for the large cabinet came from a Modern Atlanta home tour. "I'd seen a piece like this set on stairs during the tour a few years ago and snapped a photo of it," Raab says.
Just beyond the dining room is the upper deck, complete with an option for dining outside. This is a two-story deck that extends across the entire back of the house. The decks are very private; during the seasons when the leaves are filled in, there's not another house in sight.
One of the first things the couple did was add new stainless steel cable railings on both decks and the front walkway.
One of the first things the couple did was add new stainless steel cable railings on both decks and the front walkway.
Raab scored the outdoor furniture via Craigslist. The original set cost around $1,200 retail, but she purchased all these pieces for $600.
Due to career changes, the couple had to leave their labor of love just after completing it, and are unsure of where they'll land next. While they are sad to leave, they look forward to finding the next diamond in the rough and slowly but surely bringing it up to its full potential.
More: See the rest of this house
Due to career changes, the couple had to leave their labor of love just after completing it, and are unsure of where they'll land next. While they are sad to leave, they look forward to finding the next diamond in the rough and slowly but surely bringing it up to its full potential.
More: See the rest of this house