Secret Agent House

Midcentury House Renovation
Athens, Georgia
The renovation of this midcentury-modern house reflects a delicate balance between honoring its history and updating it for contemporary living. The house retains much of its original character, rare for houses of this vintage, and contains many sought after midcentury design features. The updated design celebrates the elegance of those midcentury roots through attention to detail and a seamless integration of programmatic updates. A reimagined kitchen layout enhances the flow between spaces, with the kitchen opening to connect to both the living and dining rooms. A scullery, discreetly tucked away, enhances the functionality and size of the kitchen without disrupting the house's clean lines or taking away space from the living and dining rooms. Materials and details draw directly from the existing house to ensure the renovation feels like a natural next to the original design. To provide modern comforts, the home now includes a second Accessible primary suite, offering flexibility for hosting or multigenerational living. A hidden bookcase door at the suite’s entrance pays homage to the house's intriguing past owner, who neighbors claim was a CIA intelligence office. The existing primary suite gains a new mudroom, creating a practical space for laundry and canine care. The connection between the interior and exterior has been strengthened with the addition of an outdoor cooking space, ideal for entertaining and embracing the home’s gardens, designed by Athens-based City Garden Company. These changes enhance the house's functionality while preserving its charm, ensuring it remains a timeless setting for modern life.
Project Team:
Structural — Armentrout Matheny Thurmond
Landscape — City Garden Company
Builder — BGR Design + Build






