FINISHING TOUCHES
By SCOTTIE DECLUE • Photos By ROBERTO CALIGARIS
Quaint, clean, and simple, the stucco exterior of the modern English-style home, which was built by CPJ Custom Homes, LLC., has a neutral appearance that gives nice contrast to the foliage surrounding the house. The landscaping was done by Ken Ellison of Bloomers Lawn and Garden from Columbus, and although most of the plants are still youthful, Eddie is excited to see what the greenery looks like after a few growthful seasons. The outdoor pots and urns on the property were designed and planted by Katherine Trussell.
Passersby may have noticed a new addition to the old Chastain lot on Hilton Avenue in Columbus, Georgia. That new addition – dubbed a modern, southern English-style cottage – comes from the vision of Eddie Branch who recently bought the lot, parcelled out an acreage of land, and built the home. Custom designed by Jack Jenkins Architecture and constructed by CPJ Custom Homes, the house took roughly nine months to build and has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in addition to a spacious kitchen, dining room, and living room combo.
When looking for a new home, many people like the appeal of a well-worn domicile that’s been warmed by the memories of former tenants – a sort of patina from life. Others enjoy the idea of building a new home, one in which they can ingrain their own memories. The latter is the case of Eddie Branch, who is now one of the newest homeowners living in one of the newest homes among the tall pines on Hilton Avenue.
“In the spring of 2017, I had been living at the Eagle and Phenix Mill Condominiums for about a year and a half, and I was ready to start looking for a lot to possibly build a new house,” Eddie says. When he found out that the Chastain property on Hilton Avenue was for sale, he went to see the space and realized that the historic property would be the perfect spot for a new home. “One day, I was out looking with my agent, Jack Romeo, and he mentioned the Chastain house on Hilton that was for sale. Of course, the house was way too big for me, but I had always admired the house and wanted to take a look at it,” he adds. Eddie not only admired the house, he loved the grounds surrounding it. “The grounds were amazing, but badly overgrown since the death of Mrs. Chastain.” Eddie had lived in the Midtown area for over 37 years, and something about the neighborhood – perhaps the subtle southern charm – kept reeling him back in. As he was walking around the perennial gardens on the north side of the property, Eddie noticed how large and beautiful the space was and realized that he could easily build a nice home on the lot. After love at first sight, Eddie bought the old Chastain house, parcelled out an acre of land, and with the help of some talented contractors and his interior designer, Peggy Beck Gray of Gray Interiors, set out to build and furnish a uniquely modernized southern English-style cottage that would be suited to his exact needs.
After closing on the property, Eddie asked Jack Jenkins Architecture to sketch a floor plan and elevation. “I pretty much knew what I wanted,” he says. “Jack, as usual, did a great job, and after some tweaking, he rendered a set of plans that was exactly what I wanted.” While Jack Jenkins did the sketch, CPJ Custom Homes of Columbus was the builder for the house. “I have known the Jones family for over 45 years, and they offered a great team of professionals to work with,” he adds. Facing west to catch the sunset through the bristly pines and wide oak trees, the house at 1724 Hilton has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and sits on roughly one acre of land. A clean, beige facade made from stucco and a covered front porch with a deep mahogany door greet Eddie’s visitors. Inside, the property has hardwood floors throughout, high ceilings, large rooms, a sizeable bar, and a large covered porch with a fireplace and grilling area great for watching the football game on a cool, crisp autumn evening. The backyard is home to a very old perennial garden that Eddie has since landscaped, adding a rose garden.
“I have never built a new house from scratch, and it was a major undertaking to have such an overwhelming amount of decisions and selections to make,” Eddie says about the process. One of his favorite features about the new home is its “Smart House” capabilities. He is able to control virtually all digital components of the home from applications on his phone or tablet including his cameras and security system, his HVAC systems, irrigation system, speakers, televisions, lighting, and he can even tell his baby grand piano to play autonomously. Of course, Eddie could simply play the piano himself if he so felt, and he does.
This room evolved around the rug, which came from America's Mart in Atlanta, but there are other spectacles like a beautiful baby grand piano and a striking chandelier from Ralph Lauren. The idea to put pine walls in the room came from Eddie’s son Jason’s home. Two beautiful Bruno Zupan paint-ings stand out against the neutral backdrop. The window on the north side of the room extends out to allow space for his baby grand piano. The chandelier was purchased from Ferguson in Buckhead, the swivel chairs and sofa are from Sherrill, the accent tables are from Bassett Mirror Co., the lamps are from Couture Lamps, and the pottery pieces are handmade by Kathy Jackson from Columbus.
The dining room, which connects the great room to the kitchen, showcases a unique round table with an inlaid and flush lazy susan. The table came from The Summer House in Highlands, North Carolina. Surrounding the tables are skirted chairs from Caracole, and above the table is another stunning, modern chandelier from Elegant Furniture and Lighting. A portrait of Eddie’s daughter Kelly hangs in this space also. The painting was done by Ann Whitfield.
The kitchen opens right up from the dining room and great room and is quite spacious – there couldn’t be enough cooks. Clean, white cabinetry made by TNT Cabinets in Phenix City, Alabama store the china and silver, and appliances from Daniel Appliance like a six-burner stove and a double oven are ready for Eddie’s culinary exploration. One unique item – a faucet hanging above the stove – allows Eddie to fill pots with water without having to carry them to and from the sink. The lanterns in the kitchen from Elegant Furniture and Lighting don’t have glass, which means there is really one less thing to clean. The countertops are quartz and granite, which came from Intown.
The bar is right off the foyer, and although it has a single entrance, there is a large serving bay that opens up to the kitchen and the great room. It is perfect for Eddie’s entertaining needs. The color in the bar is Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin Williams and the wallpaper is Thibaut. A framed print from artist Bruno Zupan and two oil paintings by artist Jo Farris adorn the walls.
The master bedroom is nestled behind the kitchen and is accessible through an annex that connects the kitchen to the laundry room, the bedroom, and the garage. Eddie started with an oriental rug and dresser that were originally his and added some contemporary components like his bed from The Summer House in Highlands, a nightstand and dresser from Caracole, lamps from Couture Lamps, bedding – Duvet and Euros – from Peacock Alley, a coverlet and shams from Avasa, and master bath sconces from Ferguson. Another modernized item in his bedroom are the automatic blinds, which Eddie can control with a remote. Blinds and shutters can from The Blind Factory, in Columbus. Additionally, the master bedroom looks out over the rose garden as well as the porch.
Eddie’s spacious bath and closet attach to his master bedroom. The double wall sconces come from Ferguson, in Columbus.
Seen through the great room and Eddie’s bedroom, the back porch is inviting and would appeal to anyone who enjoys outside activities in style and comfort. The porch, which is covered, is focused around a great fireplace and has amenities like a jacuzzi from Leisure Lifestyles, grilling area, wicker porch furniture from Lloyd Landers, and a wooden table (Europe 2You) with a set of outdoor chairs from The Park Hill Collection. This is a great place to eat, enjoy Auburn football with a beer, or watch a morning sunrise with a cup of coffee.
Beyond the back porch is the backyard which has a beautiful perennial garden and rose garden. Additionally, the house came with a tennis court that Eddie has begun resealing. The court is being resurfaced by Chemseal who is also out of Columbus. SVM