853 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

From Atlanta's Piedmont Park travel up Monroe Drive one block past Trader Joe's, Starbucks & Midtown Cinemas, to the hidden treasure of stately, renovated homes. Your head turns at the elegant fencing that frames the front yard. The electric gate allows you to drive in and park in the garage. Later, you will exit from the rear of the garage onto a short, private alley then onto Seal Street. (You never have to enter or exit on to Monroe Dr. - a special detail of this grand home). Of course the first thing you'll notice is the traditional full length Southern front porch with room for a swing at one end and plenty of comfortable gathering spaces at the other. It's the perfect position for sunsets and watching the neighbors going to and from the shops, restaurants or the city's infamous Piedmont Park. The double front doors are heavy wood and leaded glass. A beautiful stained-glass transom window is above. Once inside, the warmth of the ample foyer, with one of the homes four decorative fireplaces, welcomes you. The gleaming Brazilian Cherry floors of the foyer are also in the living room and dining room. To the right, under the wide, column-flanked archway is the living room, with windows on two sides; it is a cheery place to relax. From the foyer is the gracious dining room. Well sized for gatherings, it also has a large fireplace with gas starter. Just as the rest of the house, it features beautifully detailed windows. A lovely plate rail rounds the room with paneling below. The French door at the far end leads to the outdoor living area. Through another column flanked archway from the dining room is heart of the home, the chef's kitchen. Beautiful travertine marble adorns the floor. The Jenn-Air, 6-burner gas range (with griddle) is complemented by the Kitchen Aid convection oven and matching microwave. Wine lovers will enjoy the Avanti, built-in, stainless steel wine cooler. The large work area has granite counter-tops with stone backsplash from counter all the way up to the handsome chocolate stained cabinets. The real surprise is the pantry, step behind the glass French door and the larger-than-it-looks room runs around the corner and then some for ample kitchen storage. The full size laundry, off the kitchen, accommodates extra large capacity, side-by-side machines and has built-in shelves for even more storage. Behind the kitchen and from the dining room is the enormous back yard deck. This wonderful perch provides room enough for large parties and is fantastic for al fresco dining, quite, sunny mornings and evening BBQs. Steps from the deck lead down to a lower deck level and a small backyard with privacy fence. There is parking for 2 or 3 cars in the rear of the house including the garage. This unique two-sided car park has room for a boat plus car with openings on both the drive-way side and the rear to make for easy in and out of the property from a small, private back alley (serving just this home and two others), that leads to Seal Street. Back inside completing the main floor is a gracious half bath. The living room staircase is also a lovely architectural element with large, 19th century newels and rail plus iron balusters for a light finish. At the top of the landing is the front, left bedroom with plenty of great, natural light. The beautiful front, right bedroom also has a charming decorative fireplace. Down the hall is the fourth bedroom with a very larger reach in closet plus linen pantry. Down the hall is the fourth bedroom with a very larger reach in closet plus linen pantry. This is adjacent to the hall bathroom with a slipper claw foot tub and other new "period-style fixtures all with a marble floor. The middle bedroom has the largest closet and en suite master bathroom with jetted tub, separate deep shower, two granite-top vanities with plenty of cabinet space and a beautiful wall of windows (at the back of the house) which provide plenty of light with privacy.