Little Black Book of Atlanta: Midtown

One of four articles Arisha published in The Collective Atlanta, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Luxury Collection’s first-ever digital magazine.

When you arrive in Midtown, this pedestrian-friendly destination that boasts acres of beautiful green spaces with an abundance of fun attractions, might surprise you with its neighborhood feel despite being in an urban environment. Midtown Atlanta is located between Downtown Atlanta and the affluent Buckhead area to the north and large annual events such as Atlanta Pride, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, and Music Midtown at Piedmont Park contribute to the impressive 6 million visitors it draws annually. It is often called “the Heart of the Arts” since it is home to the Woodruff Arts Center, The High Museum, Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), Fox Theatre, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the forever growing presence of the film and television industry.

The neighborhood is defined by the City of Atlanta to include the business district with Peachtree Street, Historic Midtown, the residential area east of Piedmont Avenue and to the south Piedmont Park as well. However, The Midtown Alliance defines a larger, “Greater Midtown” area of approximately four-square miles that also includes the neighborhoods of Ansley Park, Sherwood Forest, Atlantic Station, Home Park, and Loring Heights.

Nevertheless, Midtown’s history is opulent. It all started in 1848, when an American railroad man named Richard Peters purchased the southern half of Midtown, between 8th Street and North Avenue, to use the pine forest there for fuel for his downtown flour mill.

Over the next 40 years, Peters gradually subdivided sections of these land lots off for a gridded residential area. He then built his home in 1883, an elegant Queen-Anne-Victorian on the block bounded by North Avenue, Piedmont Avenue, Ponce de Leon Avenue, and Myrtle Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home is now called Ivy Hall (pictured above) and in 2008 it was beautifully restored by the Savannah College of Art and Design and serves as the prestigious university’s literary arts and writing center.

As Atlanta grew, spectacular mansions were constructed along Peachtree Street and in 1910 the Encyclopedia Britannica listed it as one of the finest residential areas of the city, along with Ponce de Leon Avenue. Today, it is the second largest financial district in the city and hosts an exquisite collection of high rises and luxury condominium towers where exclusive restaurants, night life, and fabulous shopping follow.

So, while being known as “A City in the Forest” under Atlanta’s famous tree canopy and simultaneously possess desirable high rises, restaurants, and city life, Midtown Atlanta has proven itself for being an exciting place to work, play, live, and make memories no matter your age or family status. No wonder so many people move here each year!

Speaking of moving, these two Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Luxury Collection listings are the crème de la crème of luxury living in the heart of Midtown.

1301 Peachtree Street NE Unit #3C Atlanta, GA 30309

Located in One Museum Place, one of Midtown’s most desired gated communities in the Arts Center district, this move-in ready home features a spacious floor flan, private elevator entry, state-of-the-art Gaggenau appliances, and gorgeous quartz countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s also walking distance to The High Museum, Piedmont Park, Colony Square, Marta, and more. View the full listing here and if you want this phenomenal home to be your forever home, please contact Realtor® Kay Prevatte at 404.956.4646.

45 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd Unit 2202 Atlanta, GA 30308

This is a rare opportunity to live in the insanely lavish W Residences that feature a variety of luxury upgrades such as Elfa custom closets, Gaggenau appliances, and designer light fixtures that will take your breath away. View the full listing here and if you can imagine yourself living in such opulence while floating in the sky with 180+ degree city views, please contact Realtor® and Luxury Home Specialist Brian Woodworth at 404.583.1437.

The Little Black Book of Atlanta is a new blog series by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Luxury Collection that revolves around our beautiful Atlanta neighborhoods. View our Midtown listings here or stop by our incredible Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Midtown office and chat with an expert.

Little Black Book of Atlanta: Buckhead Village

One of four articles arisha published in The Collective Atlanta, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Luxury Collection’s first-ever digital magazine.

Among the most desirable and wealthiest places in Metro Atlanta, Buckhead Village is the heart of opulent Buckhead where West Paces Ferry Road, Peachtree Road, and Roswell Road all converge. In 1838, Henry Irby purchased the 202.5 acres of that present intersection for a shockingly inexpensive $650 and then built a tavern and grocery store. The area was called Irbyville, and the tavern became a welcoming stopping place for many locals and travelers that were passing through. Legend has it that at some point in the early years of his ownership, Irby killed a large buck deer and hung its head in a prominent location for everyone to see. Soon enough, people started referring to this meeting place as “the buck’s head” instead of Irbyville. Irby upheld his ownership of Buckhead until he died in 1879.

By the late 1800’s, Buckhead Village blossomed into a rural vacation spot for Atlanta’s wealthy, where many started building regal mansions situated among the area’s dense forests and rolling hills. Catering to the most affluent clientele today, this luxurious neighborhood in the city known as “The Beverly Hills of the East,” is the center of Buckhead’s extravagant shopping, vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and decadent culinary scene.

Buckhead contains the highest concentration of upscale boutiques in the United States where the majority are located at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, sister malls that are located diagonally across from each other at the intersection of Peachtree and Lenox Roads. The malls are the home of exclusive designer boutiques, mainstream national retailers, and beautiful department stores. In the center of Buckhead Village, The Shops Buckhead Atlanta (pictured above) is an eight-block complex that allows visitors to mix and mingle in a comfortable but luxurious setting. With unique restaurants and more than 50 luxury retailers such as Jimmy Choo, Dior, and Hermès, The Shops has a lovely ambiance for shopping with loved ones or grabbing a bite to eat with an admirer.

Buckhead Village is a top Atlanta destination for residents of other neighborhoods, but for Buckhead residents, the village is simply part of their daily routine. Whether stocking up on groceries at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Lucy’s Market, dining at Lobster Bar, or selecting a custom flower arrangement at Boxwoods, visitors and locals alike will find many reputable neighborhood fixtures here. In fact, recent land prices have topped $10 million per acre as developers compete for the coveted consumers for whom this neighborhood is a daily crossroads.

The neighborhood is also home to the king of all Buckhead condos, the St. Regis Residences, a central Buckhead Village landmark. Buckhead Village features many mid- and high-rise condo options along Peachtree Street while magnificent homes are embedded just a block away along West Paces Ferry.

A home in Buckhead today, is a home in one of the most prestigious area in Atlanta and these two Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Luxury Collection listings are immaculate examples of luxury living in the Buckhead Village.

3052 W Pine Valley Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305

Designed by architect Ken Johnson, this mid-century modern architectural masterpiece is 0.6 miles from Buckhead Village. Constructed with granite stone & glass, this breathtaking home is located on a peaceful, wooded street off of W Paces Ferry. View the full listing here and if you find yourself mesmerized by its technology and beauty, please contact Luxury Collection Specialist Debra Johnston at 404.312.1959.

2520 Bohler Road NW Atlanta, GA 30327

This Harrison Design custom estate sits on a semiprivate lot that faces a horse farm and is 2.2 miles away from Buckhead Village. This work of art features a light-filled study, a white and marble kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and a Control4 automation system throughout. View the full listing here and if you want this dream home to elevate your life, please contact Realtor® Dustin Kimberly at 404.702.0481.

The Little Black Book of Atlanta is a blog series by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Luxury Collection that revolves around our beautiful Greater Atlanta neighborhoods. View our Buckhead listings here or stop by our incredible Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Buckhead office and chat with an expert.

5 Stunning Spas For Getting Back to Nature

One of four articles arisha published in The Collective Atlanta, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Luxury Collection’s first-ever digital magazine.

Nature is calling and telling you to relax and rejuvenate. Demanding, even, but that is not a surprise considering nature is a force that cannot be reckoned with. As we continue to prosper and make something of ourselves, our lives will continue to stay busy so it’s important to take time to unwind and to check in with ourselves. And, we must say, a lot of work goes into creating a serene environment. The immaculate architects, designers, estheticians, masseurs, therapists, beauticians, holistic practitioners, and more behind it all, clearly did not disappoint for these ultra-luxe spas to be where they are in status and embedded in breathtaking location. So, pack a bag and put on your slippers. We’re going to the spa.

Tschuggen Bergoase (Arosa, Switzerland)

Cathedral-like and glowing in the Swiss resort town of Arosa, sits the beautiful Tschuggen Bergoase Spa located right next to the Tschuggen Grand Hotel. Both are in the heart of a mountain with the Bergoase providing guests with breathtaking panoramic views and the ultimate sense of relaxation. The spa, designed by star architect Mario Botta, prides itself for being both striking and utterly mindful of their village surroundings. The 54,000-square-foot complex where the trademark steel-and-glass sails pique visitor’s curiosity, allow the sky and mountain to get into the furthest corners of the spa and flood the four levels with illuminating light.

Visitors can plunge into the gorgeous pools that reflect the Alpine granite of the walls where they can encounter water in its natural environment or experience the mountain sauna that is made of ancient rock with a variety of steamroom and sauna areas. On the menu are facials from Clarins, Sensai and Dermalogica, which includes everything from the classics to the Ultimative Sensai Tschuggen Facial. One particular detail we love is how the Bergoase believes that “Aromas, sounds, images and movements coalesce and convey a consummate feeling of wellbeing.” Hence, the Talitha, Meissa and Seginus spa rooms derive their names from the constellations above Arosa that are visible from the Bergoase. All we can say now is that the stars are definitely aligned with us and this tranquil spa. Telescope please?

The Sacred River Spa at Sayan (Sayan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia)

Immersed in the lush jungle greenery of the Ayung River valley, visitors will float above treetops on a dramatic suspension bridge before crossing into the riverside resort of their dreams. And, with public spaces designed to feel intimate and just 60 guest rooms that make the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan small by Four Seasons standards, it’s hard to believe that the luxury hotel’s grounds cover 18 verdant acres across spectacular hills offering a dizzying array of wellness based activities such as river rafting, rice field cycling tours and trekking, and a Day in the Life of a Balinese Rise Farmer experience that ends with their signature Riverstone Bathing Ritual.

“Sayan Valley has a sacred energy, and you can feel it in the forest symphony of the river, wildlife and gentle breezes,” says Ibu Fera, the resort’s Resident Wellness Mentor and a former Buddhist nun. Drawing on this energy, the resort’s spa, The Sacred River Spa at Sayan, transports you to Bali’s sekala and niskala – the seen and unseen worlds where ceremonies take place regularly to honor both.

The Sacred River Spa is comprised of three spa villas in addition to the three treatment rooms in the main spa building and are decorated with teak furnishings and batik tapestries. The spa uses local, organic products made exclusively for Four Seasons in combination with the luxurious Ila range of spa products that are imported from England. Take your pick! Our favorites are the scrub made of temu lawak (ginger) root crushed with fenugreek, cloves and turmeric for unparalleled radiance or the all-over banana leaf wrap for tropical dreams. All treatments finish with a warming shower and flower lotion.

The Bvlgari Spa Bali (Bali, Indonesia)

On a cliffside perch approximately 500 feet above the Indian Ocean, The Bvlgari Spa Bali is a secluded paradise with dramatic views where visitors are bound to become enticed by the spa’s entrance and unique reception area: an antique “Joglo” house that was transported piece by piece from central Java that has been lovingly reconstructed. The rest of the spa’s design is inspired by traditional Balinese culture and Italian contemporary style beckoning visitors to come inside. And inside, visitors can unwind in the open-air relaxation lounge where they can recline on a designer Bvlgari lounger amongst other cutting-edge Bvlgari furniture.

Equal in extravagance is the extensive menu of Balinese massages, Asian ritualistic therapies, ayuvedic treatments and herbal revivals. All treatments start with a delicate footbath with fresh flowers and a foot massage with essential oils – that is, if you aren’t ticklish. In fact, our favorite full body massages are the Bulgari Royal Lulur: an indulgent experience for couples that incorporate rituals for kings and queens of Java back from the 17th century, and the Hot Stone Therapy: a massage that opens your chakras using heated volcanic basalt lava stones on key energy points of your body. In the hands of Bvlgari’s expert therapists, you’ll be floating in the clouds in no time.

The Heart of the Earth Spa (Dien Ban, Vietnam)

Perched over a lagoon filled with lotus flowers and koi, is a seaside sanctuary shrouded in coconut palms in an idyllic location on Vietnam’s culturally rich central coast. The Heart of the Earth Spa is a part of the Four Season’s Hoi An (The Nam Hai) Resort which offers a portal to three UNESCO World Heritage sites and direct access to the country’s most celebrated beach.

The reception area of the spa (pictured above) makes a dramatic first impression. In fact, the indoor-outdoor design showcases Vietnam’s natural beauty and provides a tranquil backdrop for the variety of luxury services The Heart of the Earth has to offer. The spa is comprised of eight floating suites that feature two spacious rooms where visitors receive their selected treatments in the first and the second, is designated for their relaxation pre- and post-treatment with gorgeous views of the lagoon. The rooms also feature a beautiful relaxation deck where visitors can take a dip in the bathtub or lounge around in the cushioned daybed for two.

Inspired by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Love Letter to the Earth, the spa’s concept is formulated around stability, creativity, non-judgement, and the belief that we are connected to the earth. Therefore, if we align ourselves with its rhythm, we can achieve harmony for the body and mind. So daily at 6 p.m., the spa reception holds “A Goodnight Kiss to the Earth” ritual where visitors can write down a wish and send it off on a candlelit float to the tune of crystal singing bowls. It’s something we look forward to doing to establish inner peace and give thanks to the very planet that allows us to experience such luxury.

The Spa at Esperanza (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)

Met by picturesque architecture that complements the natural beauty of Cabo San Lucas with a palapa-style roof and original Mexican artwork throughout the space, visitors of The Spa at Esperanza typically seek only the best of luxury wellness. Part of Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, this 14-room spa where each room is designed as a private garden suite, is known all over the world for its pampering treatments that use local and organic products. It’s even the only hotel spa to carry the Marie Veronique Organic line which ingredients are native to its Baja Peninsula home.

Behind the initial, massive wooden garden gates, this lush tropical oasis becomes complete with its unique water passage experience that includes a warm-spring soaking pool, steam caves and a cool waterfall rinse. The rinse is wonderful for stimulating your lymphatic system and prepare for your treatment. So, take time to play in the water and let the glorious Cabo sunshine filter in the spa’s opulent private suite and let any lingering stress drift away in the hands of the spa’s expert therapists and masseurs. Maybe even stay a little after treatments and enjoy a couple agua frescas, made-to-order juices with delicious flavors like watermelon ginger and cucumber chili pepper. It’s your time to shine!

BUT- if you unfortunately can’t make it to any of these destination spas enveloped in nature, our condolences, but we just might have something better for your luxury wellness needs right here in Georgia. And these? They could be yours for forever. These two Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Luxury Collection listings feature state-of-the-art and truly breathtaking spa-like bathrooms, perfect for you to unwind in extravagance.

16155 Belford Drive Milton, GA 30004

Boasting Carrara, the luxurious owner’s spa bath exudes elegance while the two person walk through shower (pictured above) is as delightful in function as it is visually. View the full listing here and if this fabulous custom home speaks to your soul, please contact Realtor® Cathy Adams at 678.488.7568.

2627 Howell Mill Road NW Atlanta, GA 30327

This beautiful European home sits on manicured grounds that are adorned with specimen trees. The spa-like bathroom features a lavish tub, shower, and a window for Atlanta’s gleaming sunlight to peak though. View the full listing here and if you find yourself in love with this architectural masterpiece, please contact Realtor® David Goodrowe at 404.333.3190.

Needless to say, as phenomenal as these five ultra-luxe spas are at the art of pampering, an opulent spa day can be every day and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties is the known luxury real estate leader that you can trust in the pursuit to invigorate or simply bring profound comfort back into your life.