#3 - 455 Park Ave

Name: Thomas & Danielle Philipose
Address:  455 Park Ave SE
Bedrooms/Baths: 5bed/3Bath
What year was home built:  1920    
Style of home: Grand Victorian
When did you purchase your house: Fall 2014

Danielle and Thomas Philipose did not grow up down South. She’s from Paducah, Kentucky and he’s from Denver. But this couple has fully embraced a hallmark of Southern life: front porch hospitality.
 
Neighbors and friends gather year-round on the Philipose porch, which anchors a Grant Park block that epitomizes the neighborhood’s tight-knit community.  It took some patience, though, before the couple could throw the first porch party.
They were living on Atlanta’s westside and were newly married when they first found and bought the true two-story gem. But it was a year and half later before they were able to move into their new home. The house needed significant renovations, so they turned to the local firm Hagan Architects. The strategy with the renovation was to strike a balance between maintaining the historical integrity of the Grant Park home while incorporating the modern trends and conveniences.
Dani and Thomas decided to keep the interior colors cool and simple, so that as time goes on they can add fun pops of color, including the work of local Atlanta artists. For them, the house is still a work in progress with plans for much more to come. Part of their vision for a family-friendly home has already come true: they now have a young toddler who races around the house, and they also have a well-mannered 204-pound “fur baby” who keeps a watchful eye over Park Avenue. This family loves being steps from the park, and frequently packs up the stroller to take advantage of the frequent festivals. House in the Park weekend is one of their favorites.
It’s no surprise that the Philipose porch became a central gathering point on Park Avenue not longer after they moved in. During their renovation, they regularly came by to see the progress and got to know all their neighbors during their visits. But the guy directly across the street had been on the block the longest, and he was quiet and little intimidating. Finally, they broke the ice and he shared his stories of living on Park Avenue since the early 1970s and raising his family here too. Although that neighbor has since passed away, his spirit lives on and the Philipose porch carries on the neighborly tradition of that first compelled Dani and Thomas to join the Grant Park community.
 
 

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