Benjamin Disraeli, a former British Prime Minister once said, “The secret of success is to be ready when your opportunity comes.” I was not ready, or at least I thought I wasn’t. Back in the fall, my friend Brittany Johnston, who also happens to be an extremely talented interior designer, came to me with an idea for the magazine. She thought it would be a great idea for Augusta Magazine to host a design showhouse.
At first, I loved the idea until she divulged the time frame. Six months! My reaction suddenly became, well, shall we say, less than favorable. In fact, I thought my friend had lost her mind. Who in their right mind would dare tackle a project of this size in such a short time frame? Not to mention, I had never done anything like this before and did not even know where to begin. Needless to say, I needed a moment to seriously consider it. Within 24 hours, I called Brittany back to tell her, “I’m in.” I mean, I would have been insane to turn down this opportunity. When, if ever, would I have the chance to be a part of something like this again? Carpe diem! From that moment until the moment we held the opening cocktail party in early March, life seemed to move at warp speed.
The home itself has always been one of my favorites on Walton Way. Built in 1926, the Italian Renaissance home is breathtaking. When Morgan and Justin Bundy purchased the home in April 2017 they knew they had quite the project. We are thankful they took a chance on this idea. A huge thank you to Meybohm Real Estate, Holmes Custom Construction, Gerald Robinson’s Paint and Decorating, Greig McCully and his team at Fireside Kitchens & Grills, Greg Poteet, Matt Raulerson, Brittany Cason Johnston, Wesley Cadle, Laurie McRae, Elizabeth McGee, Mariah Sellers, Julie Gary Taylor and many others for making this experience so incredible!
If you did not get a chance to come out and see the home during the tour, you’re in luck! We have dedicated the majority of this issue to the Southern Designer Showhouse & Gardens. Amy J. Owen did a phenomenal job photographing the home. The best part, however, was being able to raise awareness and money for SafeHomes of Augusta. It was truly the opportunity of a lifetime and we are extremely grateful to have played a small part.
-Ashlee
Article appears in the May 2018 issue of Augusta Magazine.