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Published Monday, February 20, 2012 in Local

Photo by Jeffrey Leo

Construction is in full swing on the 2012 Idea House, which is set to open to the public in June in Senoia. It will also be the first time that the Idea House won’t be new. Instead, the current project is a restoration and enlargement of a historic home.

Southern Living: Second Senoia 'Idea House' expected to open in June

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

The folks at "Southern Living" really like Senoia. So much so they have once again chosen the small eastern Coweta town as the location of a Southern Living Idea House.

Construction is in full swing on the 2012 Idea House, which is set to open to the public in June.

Senoia was also the home of the 2010 Idea House. The Idea Houses are designer showcases of the finest trends in home design and furnishings.

"It's the only time in history that they returned to the same location. I guess the charm of this little town brought them back," said Scott Tigchelaar of Historic Development Ventures, developer of both Idea Houses.

It will also be the first time that the Idea House won't be new. Instead, the current project is a restoration and enlargement of a historic home.

It will be a house with "a green theme," Tigchelaar said. "Going green, recycling an old house is big. Plus, a lot of "Southern Living's" advertisers' customers are renovating instead of building. That is just where their market is," he said. "When they pitched the idea to the magazine and some of their advertisers and key partners, everybody was enthusiastic," he said.

Both the 2010 and 2012 Idea Houses are part of the Gin Property development, taking place on property in downtown Senoia that was formerly the site of the McKnight Cotton Gin.

The house dates from the 1830s to 1850s, Tigchelaar said. "It was on the Gin property, but it was kind of off in the corner," he said. It sat on stone piers.

"We wanted to put a proper foundation under it and move it to one of the lots we had designed to really showcase it well," he said.

The 2010 Idea House was a first, as well. It was the first Idea House located in a small town, as opposed to a typical subdivision development. It was also the first house to be open for six months, instead of three. The 2010 house was redecorated for Christmas in October.

The 2012 house will be, as well.

"We were the first ones to say... let's redecorate it halfway through," Tigchelaar said. "It helped make it the most successful Idea House," he said. "We had steady traffic the entire time."

It was when the 2010 house was being closed down that the Southern Living representatives asked Tigchelaar about the historic home.

"We were taking the furniture out, the show was over," Tigchelaar said. "The people who ran the Idea House program were here... we were going to dinner, spending some time together and sort of digesting how the whole thing had gone," he said.

"I mentioned to them -- it's been a great experience for us, we'd love to have you back one day," he said. "They said it was a great experience for them, and they'd love to come back."

They asked him about the old house, wondering what he planned to do with it. He told them he would ultimately restore it.

"They said well, when you get to that point, let us know," Tigchelaar said.

The house has gotten the addition of a garage and guest house, and now totals 3,800 square feet, Tigchelaar said. It is being constructed by John Bynum Custom Homes of Sharpsburg. The frame was put together with wooden pegs, and there are heart pine boards, he said.

The house didn't have much in the way of interior walls, so the space has been "redefined," Tigchelaar said. The design was done by Historical Concepts.

"I think Historical Concepts did an amazing job, and I think that plans will sell a ton, because people are going to love the layout," Tigchelaar said.

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