PHOTOGRAPHS (THIS PAGE) BY ALEA MOORE
TS LOCATION MAY BE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF Atlanta, but this charming farmhouse has
roots in the coast of North Carolina. Homeowner Alea Moore grew up on the Outer Banks,
where a light color palette, natural woods, and plenty of sunlight define the beach cottages that stud
the barrier islands. That coveted vernacular informed the house Alea designed with her husband,
Andy. “The coast is at the center of both of us,” she says. “We wanted the house to reflect that, too.”
The couple embraced city life in Atlanta for years, which enabled them to build the photography
business they cofounded and start a family that now includes four daughters. But the desire for open
spaces called the couple to the countryside. When a pastoral plot of land in Brooks, Georgia, became
available, they knew it was the ideal place to situate a family home, surrounded by pecan and
oak trees.
Although they’re not builders, they are visual types with an itch to make their home a personal,
hands-on project. They were determined to act as their own contractors. “We did a lot of homework,
and one day we took a piece of graph paper and sketched out a plan for the house,” Alea says. “It helps
that Andy sees things in that ‘builder way.’ I’m the dreamer, and he figures out the logistics.” Their
design includes a big front porch, exposed beams, a lot of windows (52, to be exact), and custom
cabinetry—all the makings of a happy, livable beach cottage-modern farmhouse hybrid.
The challenge was to build a new house that didn’t feel too new, however. “We love age and
history,” Alea says. “The hardest part about deciding to build from scratch was the fear that we
wouldn’t have the character of an old house.” To add patina and warmth to the interiors, fallen
red oak logs from their property were taken to a local mill and turned into lumber for floors, stair
railings, mantels, and other architectural features.
Because the abode is home to young girls and furry pets, furnishings were chosen for their
durability and unfussy style. That unpretentious attitude is reflected clearly on the floor in the
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
