Leave it to a worldwide pandemic to finally make a house a home. That
“house” might be a 600-foot condominium in Vinings or a sprawling
estate in west Cobb but, regardless, they all became “home” when we
were encouraged to stay inside for days and weeks at a time.
I was just barely granted more space in time for quarantining when, last
Valentine’s Day, I sold my one-bedroom townhouse and closed on a 120-yearold,
three-bedroom house just south of the Marietta Square. The adorable,
renovated craftsman-style house appealed to me for many reasons, reasons I
never could have known would give me many “thank goodness” moments as the
outside world shut down. The large front porch, the many windows, the larger
living spaces, the fenced backyard for my dogs, the friendly neighbors and the
peaceful, .7-mile walk along the Mountain to River Trail to the Marietta Square
all made quarantine life much more bearable.
8 COBB LIFE | MAY 2021
letter from the
EDITOR
While I certainly missed personal
interactions and had to adjust to the
rigors of working from home, that
time gave me a chance to learn more
about my home, and how I would
belong within its walls. I filled two of
those large walls with peel-and-stick
wallpaper (a project that I would not
advise one to do solo, but turned out
well and was so worth it). I hung
artwork and pictures and grazed the
blank spaces daily to try to figure out
what was missing. I bought patio
furniture and a grill and planted
flowers and decorated shelves.
I also learned more about the
neighborhood, including one of my
neighbors and her home, which is
featured on page 20 of this issue. She
and I spoke at length about how lovely
and transformative the south side of
the Square has become with its
carefully restored historic homes,
massive trees and easy walks to the
Square. Ten years ago, real estate
agents might have advised their
clients to look past our old, charming
homes in need of some love. Today,
the offers are piled high the minute
one hits the market.
Whatever your home might be, I
hope you were able to fill it with a
little bit of love, care and reflection
over the past year – and maybe even
some wallpaper.