Source: AJC Private Quarters

3040 Wellington Road

3040 Wellington Road

Robert and Sharon Henry fell in love with this Bill Harrison-designed home in Alpharetta as they were falling in love with each other. They bought it while they were courting and embarked on a renovation that would culminate with the wedding reception in May 2003. With a blended brood of four children, they needed lots of space. “We wanted to create a Brady-Bunch scene,” Sharon Henry said.

Now that their childre are grown, the Henrys lavish their nuturing urges on Boston Terriors Abigail and Arthur. Sharon Henry is writing a series of children’s books, ‘The Adventures of Abigail and Arthur,’ with the canine pair as hero and heroine.

The front foyer showcases black granite floors and a floating staircase. The dark granite adds a dramatic counterpoint to the gleaming white brick of the exterior.

Living room

Living room

The two-story living room is bathed in light from the bank of windows overlooking the pool. The Henrys removed shutters from the windows to make the most of the natural light. The living room fireplace burns with either gas or wood and the chandelier also lowers on a hydraulic cable for cleaning, like the one in the foyer. Eggplant drapes on the windows are matched in the bookshelves’ interior. An antique Italian clock ornaments the mantel.

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Rich tones of aqua blue and gold adorn the master suite. Robert Henry faux-painted the tray ceiling himself and loves the shimmer. “In the morning, when the sun comes through the windows, the whole ceiling kind of flickers,” he said. The master suite has a sound system that is separate from the systems that feeds into the rest of the house.

With tavertine marble and dual sinks, the master bath contains lots of built-in extras, including a small television and a fireplace. His and hers closets adjoin the bath, and a morning kitchen is tucked discreetly between the bath and bed chambers.

Sharon Henry loves to cook and the couple enjoys entertaining. The airy kitchen, the last of the couple’s renovations, is characterized by its bounty of storage, including slide-out racks like these next to the stove and refrigerator. The kitchen sink features a swing-over arm from the island sink next to the stove to allow pots on the stove to be filled in place. The illuminated water gloss-fronted cabinets make choosing the right china easy.
 
The keeping room adjacent to the kitchen includes a credenza on the left that contains a retractable flat-screen television.
Wine Cellar

Wine Cellar

The 1,200-bottle wine cellar is lined in pecky cypress and a California Gold state floor. In addition to its serving capacity, the airtight, temperature-controlled room includes a high-output exhaust so cigar smokers can retreat for a puff without offending other guests.
Downstairs, the terrace level maintains a more casual tone. The sitting area next to the bar contains artifacts paying homage to Robert’s Native American heritage, including a hunting bow and a ceremonial spear. The built-in cabinets on either side of the fireplace are maple.
Billiards or a movie? The entertainment area downstairs offers a multitude of choices. The Henrys recovered the billiards tables, replacing the harsh green felt with a softer pumpkin color. The media rooms offers viewers plush chairs and couches to lounge on. The walls are adorned with luminous painted lithographs by artist Jim Buckles that suggest fanciful dreamscapes. In the back of the room, built-in media shelves slide out to offer a wide selection of entertainment.
The Henrys converted an open patio into this comfortable sunroom featuring the same slate flooring that adorns the wine cellar. “We love arches, so we made arched doors,” Sharon Henry said. The pool house includes a cypress ceiling, a fireplace, a full bath and a kitchen with teak cabinets.
Pool

Pool

The Henrys commissioned the design and construction of this 52-foot pool, which they covered with Plexiglass and lit from beneath to create a dramatic dance floor for their wedding reception. “This is a great house to entertain and have a party in,” said Robert Henry.

Landscape architect Joe Gayle, who created White Stone Manor’s eye-catching gardens, designed this discreet herb garden for Sharon Henry just outside the kitchen. In addition to providing her with abundant fresh flavors for her favorite dishes, the garden offers a quiet space for solitude and contemplation. “I wanted to create something European, where we could just pause and reflect,” Sharon Henry said.
Spare Bedroom

Spare Bedroom

This cozy nook over the garage awaits the return of one of the Henry’s daughters, who has completed medical school and plans to do her internship in Atlanta. The daybeds in the room, made of antique rattan from the West Indies, had to be hoisted into the room through the windows. The Henrys are thrilled to have one of their children back in the house, if only for a little while. But when family departs, they said, the 15,279-square-foot, seven-bedroom house feels a little oversized. They have put it on the market for $4.45 million, hoping to reinvest the money in a smaller Atlanta house and a vacation home. Alex McGraw and Annemarie Russo of Jenny Pruitt & Associates, Realtors are handling the sale.