It’s elegant—it’s exciting—and it’s here. The Southern Living Idea House has opened in Senoia. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to visit the house over the next few months, and what they’ll find is an innovative and fresh approach for everyday living.

“People will see a home that’s very comfortable. It’s designed for a family to live in, yet maintains its understated elegance,” says Jamie Elliott McPherson, CKD, Allied ASID and principal of Hearth and Home Interiors in Newnan. He was selected by Southern Living as the interior designer for the Senoia Idea House project, part of the group of premier professionals who worked together to bring the Idea House to life.

“There are places for the kids to do their homework or hang out and play Wii and separate formal areas defined by features like antique pocket doors,” Jamie adds. ‘There’s even a spectacular lounge for the adults, where they can sit beneath an awning and enjoy their favorite cocktails under the night sky. All in all, the Idea House functions incredibly well for today’s families.”

Set in the heart of Senoia’s redevelopment, the Southern Living Idea House is a 3,700-square-foot, 3.5-story brownstone that boasts features such as a rooftop terrace and elevator, courtyard, garden and potting shed.

Terry Pylant, a partner with Historical Concepts, the award-winning architectural firm that designed the Senoia Idea House for Southern Living, says that visitors can expect to see “something that isn’t done today. The house is very traditional in detail but is simple and timeless with a plan that’s open and light. It has a really nice feel spatially.”

He explains that the nature of townhouses can be challenging, due to the footprint size and having an entire side or two without windows. But the team met their challenges head on.