546 Grant Street
Veteran Grant Park residents Scott and Amy Martin, formerly of Cameron Street, purchased 546 Grant in June 2008. This home has long held special meaning to them, as it was an experience here that inspired them move to Grant Park back in 1996. “We’d just moved to Atlanta, and were friends with the previous homeowners at that time,” says Amy. “They invited us over for dinner one night. After dinner, we went out to the front porch where various neighbors stopped by to chat as the evening played on. We knew at that point Grant Park was the right neighborhood for us. And a few months later we bought our first home here.”??
Two kids, a dog, a cat and several years later, Scott and Amy were shopping for a larger home when 546 Grant Street came up for sale. They jumped at the chance to snag the home that they’d always admired. The classic Victorian, built in 1903, boasted a large yard and spacious layout, which easily lent to entertaining friends and family. They also loved the peaceful sound of the fountain and goldfish pond in the front yard.
The home contains many original architectural features, including pocket doors, eleven foot ceilings, picture molding and heart-pine floors. The seven-foot-wide central hallway is a key distinguishing feature of the home, as are the columns on the front porch. Most of the home’s original hardware is intact, and whatever was missing has been carefully replaced with salvaged antique hardware. The home also features four individually unique fireplace mantels.
Over the years, the home has seen many changes. Like many homes in Grant Park, it had once been converted into a duplex. When it was changed back to a single-family home several years ago, the interior layout was changed with the kitchen becoming the master bath and an original bedroom turning into the dining area. Part of the original kitchen was also converted to a much-needed his-and-hers closet space while a hallway leading from the master bedroom was utilized for a new bathroom. As a duplex, a second set of stairs and a door had led into the living room. When the stairs were removed, the door was replaced with a lovely stained glass window.
The home has recently been expanded to make way for a larger kitchen and an additional bedroom and bathroom, with the new areas of the house mimicking many of the features of the original home. In the past year, Scott and Amy have renovated the kitchen and the hallway bath, and are just completing a remodel of the master bathroom. They’ve also added wrought iron railings by the steps leading up from the street as well landscape lighting in the front yard. You’ll also notice they’ve furnished their home with an eclectic collection of family heirloom pieces mixed with more contemporary furnishings.
As Scott and Amy renovate, they seek to add modern comforts while retaining the home’s historical sensibilities. Of course, it was the home’s original charm that drew them to Grant Park in the first place.
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