The address is 2628 Charlesgate Ave, Decatur, GA 30030.

The price is $550,000.

This quiet street, nestled in the heart of tiny residential Midway Woods, has managed to remain relatively unchanged over the last 70-or-so years. A collection of Cape Cod-style structures built during the early ’50s sit far back from the curb, a callback to a time when yard space was a hallmark of the American Dream.

That being said, some things have changed. Ask around this tight-knit community (maybe track down a member of the strong neighborhood association), and they’ll tell you that Midway Woods has been experiencing its own quiet influx of new residents as, one-by-one, the classic New England structures are renovated and reconstructed for modern tastes.

Open Floor Plan

Such is the case with 2628 Charlesgate Avenue which, in 2017, experienced a down-to-the-studs renovation of its own. Judging from the outside, it’s clear the builder did a good job of keeping the local flavor, with a new roof and durable HardiePlank to withstand the test of time. But it’s the inside — with a wide-open floor plan and modern aesthetic — that really shines.

Heavy wooden double doors lead to the main area downstairs, a flowing dark-hardwood path that leads from the dining area to the living room, to the kitchen. Ideal for family time or entertaining, space is unified by bold panelboard running along the length that complements the custom cabinetry in the kitchen.

For the budding (or Michelin-ranked) home chef… let’s focus on the kitchen for a moment. Stainless appliances and fixtures (along with the slate-scale color palette that just works) are married to a vast expanse of white marble countertops on the island and cooking area. Along with subway tile and a contrasting statement backsplash behind the stove, the kitchen comes together as the place to which guests will gravitate. Definitely a centerpiece room.

At the back of the living space, a bank of glass doors leads out onto a north-facing lanai, large enough for a big grill and a bigger table, and just adjacent to a screened-in portion, for a best-of-both-worlds outdoor experience. Beyond the back porch, a gently sloping green lawn ends at a perimeter of high trees and dense shrubbery for an air of privacy.

Back inside, the master bedroom rests on the ground floor, in the southwest corner of the home. Adjacent, a master bathroom boasts an oversized shower with some exceptional tilework and enough space for two to get ready in the morning; alongside, a super-efficient master walk-in closet-meets-laundry that also exits to the bottom of the stairwell — can’t beat centrality on laundry day (while still being closed off from the common area).

At the top of the stairs, a massive landing begs for a personal touch. The south-facing windows grant abundant (but not direct) natural light, and there’s one corner that lends itself perfectly as a reading nook. Otherwise: a window-side conservatory-meets-library-meets-meditation space? Go for it. It’s not too often that a home contains such an abundance (200-plus square feet) of communal “imagination room,” so we have a feeling that its utilization will be as unique as a family’s individual dynamic. In short? Have fun with it!

This landing, in turn, grants access to the three remaining bedrooms, a collection modular enough to suit a variety of family needs. One bedroom, in the northwest corner of the house, features its own full bath; the other two share a full bath (but there are two sinks and a lot of counter space, so again, this home was designed with a bustling family and a full morning schedule in mind). Lastly, every room has closet space to burn, so storage is a no-brainer.