Atlanta is such a welcome escape this time of year when we in Newport will not have leaves on the trees for another 2 months. I’m dreaming about my former home town as I write. Two points make the old Northwest Atlanta residential area so memorable and outstanding. ~It is extensive, going on for seemingly miles, a jewel in a fast growing large city. It is this development, however, that tends to mask the very relevant second point. ~that Atlanta was built in the center of a hardwood forest.

You’ll be aware of this as you scroll through my images with those tall arboreal treasures adding their majesty to the homes. So many residents take advantage of this gift, giving careful attention to siting their houses and putting a great deal of thought into landscaping…starting with first impressions along the driveway (as in the Feature image).

Sweeping lawns, of course, are a signature design detail.

Hills intersect many of the neighborhoods with streets and driveways gently curving to take advantage of this topography…to include creeks!

All a backdrop for a handsome diversity of residential architecture in my former neighborhood that is laudatory!

A tip to take home from this blog…give as much design consideration to the utilitarian side of a home as to the front facade.

A post on the Northwest residential area of Atlanta would not be complete without noting one of the most elegant (former) private homes in America, Swan House. Now a museum, it was designed for the Inman family in 1928 by esteemed Atlanta classical architect, Philip Trammell Shutze, who also designed the gardens. Capturing this gem late one afternoon with the soft shadows playing across the lawn was a lovely bit of serendipity (for more on Swan House, you may wish to reference my blogs LINKS).

Remember….Spring is just around the corner…someplace.