STAYCATION
Small, artful details are a hallmark of Stonehurst Place.
Stately City Stay History, eclectic style and gracious hospitality at Stonehurst Place
I
have a secret fantasy. In my dream, I have a wealthy aunt with a palatial mansion where I can escape anytime I need a break. I have no such relatives, but I may have discovered something even better: Stonehurst Place overlooking Piedmont Avenue in Midtown. On a recent weeknight, one of my favorite travel partners and
fellow historic home enthusiast, my mother, joined me for a quick overnight. The estate, originally known as Stonehurst, was built as a family home in 1896 on a large plot of land. When the last child of the original owners passed away in 1996, the home became a small bed and breakfast, which the thenowner painted a garish pink. Interior designer Barb Shadomy purchased it in 2007 and spent 17 months restoring it to its original glory, adding modern amenities and eclectic decor. High-speed internet, marble bathrooms and highthread-count sheets exist harmoniously alongside original inglenook carvings and Georgia granite. Each of the eight rooms and suites, spread across the main house and the two-story carriage house, are unique. A second-floor sitting room is stocked with current magazines and self-serve coffee.
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Innkeeper John Cardona, who came onboard in 2017 with his wife, Grace, who presides over the kitchen, welcomed us by name. After a short tour, stunning with a proliferation of flowers, multiple libraries and serious art such as pieces by Andy Warhol, Nina Mae Fowler and William Wegman, we settled into the master suite where we indulged in a pour from the gratis bottle of Chardonnay on ice and the flourless, pecan-studded “Heaven on Earth” brownies waiting under a cloche. Celebrated chef Craig Richards' Lyla Lila was just a 15-minute stroll, making it an obvious choice. We tucked into the cozy bar and ordered up a storm. Bright pink tuna crudo packed a flavor punch with aji amarillo and pickled strawberries. We opted for shared appetizer portions of crispy duck lasagna layered with cocoa bechamel and carrot-coriander puree, cacio e pepe agnolotti ravioli, and wagyu beef and black truffle ravioli. We wrapped up with a light-as-a-feather lemon cheesecake with gingersnap crust, blueberries and basil that tasted like spring on a plate. Instead of opening my laptop when we returned to Stonehurst, my mom and I took turns luxuriating in the freestanding, deep soaking tub, scented with the inn’s calming bath
Stonehurst Place sits on the largest residential lot in Midtown and is surrounded by lush gardens.
STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin
Lyla Lila's Chef Craig Richards is known for flawless handmade pasta.
salts custom made for them by the San Francisco Bath Salt Company. Afterwards, we watched a lighthearted movie, pressed the button to close the blackout shades and drifted off in the impossibly plush king-size bed. The next morning, the alluring aromas of bacon and fresh-brewed coffee were enough to rouse us. My how-the-other-half-lives fantasy came true thanks to the decadent made-to-order breakfast of eggs Florentine, crisp bacon and herbed fruit salad. It was just the pick-meup I needed to tackle the rest of a busy week. n STONEHURST PLACE • 404.881.0722 stonehurstplace.com • @stonehurstplace LYLA LILA • 404.963.2637 lylalilaatl.com • @lylalilaatl
