Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Kim Anderson never thought she’d return to Atlanta, where she spent much of her childhood. Her father’s job at the Atlanta Falcons brought the family to Roswell when she was in middle school. After graduating from Stanford University, she headed to New York, where her parents had moved when her dad was named executive vice president of football operations for the NFL. She then moved to London, where she met her British husband, Alex. Eventually, the couple relocated to New York, happily settling in Brooklyn for several years.
Yet, she felt a pull to the city she grew up in. “I realized I hadn’t fully experienced Atlanta and how it had expanded and transitioned into what it is today,” she says. After living through the pandemic in a one-bedroom apartment, Kim and Alex decided they needed at least one more door between them. Her parents had moved back to Roswell, so the couple—along with Kim’s brother who also lived in New York—decided to move south. “We said we’d give it a shot, and we could always go back to New York if it didn’t work out,” she says.
Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Kim and Alex saw 30 houses in four days. “We knew East Atlanta was our vibe. We were trying to replicate our quality of life in Brooklyn,” she says, emphasizing the importance of walkability. “We love big, walkable, diverse cities.” The couple also prioritized older homes with charm and a good kitchen layout.
They eventually landed on a 1930s Prairie-style craftsman bungalow in Ormewood Park with details like original picture railings and wood paneling. The home also had a number of modern updates, including an addition with a primary suite, laundry room, and screened porch, satisfying the couple’s need for design with practicality.
Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Kim is creative and regularly features her DIY projects on Instagram, such as how to turn a filing cabinet into a planter and how to apply a peel-and-stick backsplash. She immediately got busy furnishing and decorating the house, doing most of the design work herself. “My vibe is comfortable. I want people to feel at home and warm,” she says. Color was important, as was texture. “I love rattan and burlap, but I softened it with a lot of feminine touches. It’s an eclectic mix.”
That mix includes a number of secondhand items sourced from estate sales, flea markets, and thrift stores—including a $25 wingback chair from Goodwill that Kim had reupholstered—as well as new items, such as a sofa from West Elm. There’s also art by Black artists and personal touches, such as portraits of her parents. A prized accessory is her grandfather’s collection of books by Black authors, which she proudly displays in bookcases, which, she points out, were crafted by a professional cabinetmaker. “I know my DIY limits,” she quips.
Photograph courtesy of Kim Anderson
Kim is happy to be back in Atlanta and loves the house she and her husband chose, noting that her design philosophy is that a home is always a work in progress. “Our house is a reflection of our style and our story, which is ever-evolving,” she says. “I’m excited to keep adding things here and there throughout the years.”
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