A down-at-heel Antebellum mansion has been brought back to its former glory (and then some) by American-Irish couple Michelle and Eamonn, who’ve restored Dixie Manor in a very special way...
Photography: Mimi Erickson, Mimiericksonphotography.com | Words: Anna Shelswell-White
It’d be fair to say that, when it comes to important life decisions, Michelle and Eamonn don’t do things by halves. During a trip stateside almost 30 years ago, Athlone-born Eamonn met Connecticut-based Michelle. Within six months, they were married and they haven’t stopped since. The couple settled down in Ireland in a 15th century monastery called Strawberry Hill House in Offaly in 1998, which was featured in House and Home in 2000.
“It was a complete restoration, but we absolutely adored it and threw our all our energy into making it our own,” Michelle recalls. Next up? Italy. Here, they restored a beautiful ruin set in the Tuscan hills, but family commitments saw the couple return to the US.
The brief was to find a new American home with a nod to their much-loved life in Europe. The answer lay in a house located about 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta, in a historic town named Covington.
“We saw Dixie Manor on the hill, overlooking the small square downtown. Instantly, I said ‘That is our house!’ I just knew it,” says Michelle. As luck would have it, the house was for sale. What’s more, it was clear that it was inspired by European travels. Italianate in style, it’s a classic Antebellem mansion, a brick-built home.
With the help of a local estate agent, Michelle and Eamonn viewed the house within hours. It revealed 12-foot ceilings and giant windows, so the light just poured in. The woodwork was all original, simple and elegant. “It was just timeless,” reminisces Michelle.
“The agent called the owner. At this stage, we had four hours until our flight back to Italy. A very tense hour of negotiation later, we had decided on a price,” adds Michelle.
The couple now live there with their 14-year-old daughter, Gigi, and their two Boxer dogs, Enzo and Chelsea. “For me, it was the whole package. There has never been a night, upon returning home, that I haven't said, ‘look at the house. She is so gracious and beautiful’,” says Michelle. “This, of course, gets the usual laugh and eye roll from our daughter – but it’s true, there’s something just very serene about the way it sits quietly on its hill.”
Take the tour of their beautiful Antebellem mansion, below!
HALL Eamonn mixed white paint with some black and then a bit of umber to make the walls soft and warm, but still chalk-like. “We only like white walls. They’re peaceful and calming,” reveals Michelle. Original woodwork has been brought back its former glory and the ground floor has been reconfigured for modern family life: the original small dark kitchen at the back had no view, so was moved to the front of the house where the grand parlour would have been.
LIVING ROOM The white sofas are the Söderhamn models from Ikea. “We do love to collect books,” Michelle acknowledges. “Eamonn is a bit of a history enthusiast and hardly passes an Irish history book that doesn’t seem to follow him home – but some books we buy just because they are gorgeous, like art,” she says. The chandelier is one of a pair from the estate of designer Jean Paul Gaultier. The table is from US furnishing brand Restoration Hardware. Its size is ideal for entertaining. “I love that everything piles onto it – appetisers, drinks – just everything,” says Michelle.
KITCHEN Michelle prefers clean, simple pieces for serving – they sold their Waterford Crystal and ‘good’ china years ago. The cabinet in the kitchen holding dishes and glasses is from the 16th century. Part of an organ in a church in Arezzo, Italy, at over ten feet tall it’s a commanding piece. “We redesigned our entire kitchen to find a place for it,” says Michelle. “I love it because it’s beautiful and special, yet one of the most convenient and usable pieces we own.”
DINING ROOM White walls are a great foil for Michelle’s many collectibles and objects.
PANTRY In the pantry, shelving is from a restaurant supply store; this space doubles up as the laundry room.
VERANDA The mid-century lights on the veranda are from Anthropologie home
MASTER BEDROOM The teal velvet duvet is from Anthropologie. As far as bedsheets go, Michelle buys nothing but white: “I love the clean feeling of getting into a white bed. I found a seller on Amazon that does these crazy high thread count sheets for bargain prices,” Michelle reveals.
BATHROOM In one bathroom, an ornate mirror works beautifully against tonally similar tiles.
BEDROOM A masterclass in how pink can be restrained yet feminine too, this room has a light touch thanks its use of fabrics and colour. Look for a similar Venetian-style mirror at auction or estate sales and the mosquito netting is a simple way to make a princess-worthy feature.
GUEST BEDROOM Cane is so hot right now: this bed in one of the guestrooms was sourced from Restoration Hardware.
BACK GARDEN AND VERANDA The 40-foot-long glassed-in sun porch is a favourite of both Michelle and her pet dogs. “It’s just a lovely place to sit with your coffee and a book. Warm from the sun, views over the garden and loads of bird and wildlife for added interest. Very Zen,” she says. The couple put in the salt water pool and frescoed it to match the blues they had seen in Italian villas. Olive trees were brought in to surround the outdoor brick entertaining area too. Michelle imports seeds from Italy and grows 14 different types of tomatoes, as well as peppers, courgettes, lots of greens, plus citrus and fig trees.
https://youtu.be/V26xwYKd3YY
