Q&A with Custom Clients Mary Anne & Jimmy

David Melton
20 hours ago
4 min read

Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do for a living and how long have you lived in Atlanta?

Jimmy: I was born in Atlanta and went to Marist High School. I was a fine arts major in undergrad and later got my masters in architecture. After college, I returned to Atlanta to practice architecture and served as a Principal at Perkins & Will. I also had the opportunity to work on projects in the Middle East for about a decade. From 2017 to 2019, we lived in Dubai, where I oversaw the architectural design for the firm’s Dubai office. I’m now recently retired.

Mary Anne: I’m originally from Texas, but I’ve been here for a long time now. I’m a real estate agent with Atlanta Fine Homes and have been in real estate for 25 years. Before that, I was a lawyer—and before that, a television news anchor.

Zoned R-1, which does not allow ADUs in the City of Atlanta, the structure is technically an Accessory Structure (Guest House), which varies slightly from an ADU

What led to your decision to build an ADU in your backyard?

Mary Anne: Our laundry room had become Jimmy’s art studio, and I figured he needed more space for his art now that he’s retired. I’ve got my writing loft upstairs, and we’ll do book club and mahjong out here. There are just so many uses, but primarily it’s an art studio.

Jimmy: I started thinking about the art studio when we were in Dubai, because I knew when we moved back, I would retire. I’ve always enjoyed art and drawing—it’s what led me to architecture—and I knew I’d want to do some art projects when we got back. Plus, we have six grandkids, and this would become a playhouse and dormitory for them. I had a million drawings of the ADU, and at some point Mary Anne said, “I’ve heard about this studio for years—you’re meeting with ATL ADU next week.”

Why did you decide to work with ATL ADU?

Mary Anne: Real estate agents turn to other agents to see who they recommend for a particular project. I belong to several Facebook groups, and when I put the question out there, the name ATL ADU just kept coming up again and again—and everyone had been happy with your work. So I told Jimmy, “I don’t think we need to call anybody else. I think they’re our folks.” If real estate agents like you, that’s a really good sign. We also liked that you specialize in ADUs, because there’s unique zoning involved, and we knew you had experience. You know this market, you know how to build an ADU, and you know how to permit it. I think other builders might have made promises without really knowing what they were getting into, and it would have cost a lot more.

Jimmy: I had gotten a survey a few years ago, when we first started thinking about this, and realized there were trees to deal with—and I was worried about the Chattahoochee River, which did prove to be a factor. So we knew we needed help beyond our expertise. I was willing to sacrifice a fully custom design for your predesign model, but I was really pleased with how willing you were to take on our custom ADU project and run with it.

Located within the MRPA near the Chattahoochee River, the project required coordination with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

How was your experience during design and construction?

Jimmy: From a design standpoint, Adam and I worked closely together, going back and forth with sketches, and it was a fun process. During construction, I was amazed at how quickly things moved—once we got the permit, your concrete guy was out here within a couple of weeks. The build team kept us updated throughout the project, everyone was really in sync, and the subs were very flexible.

You also managed our expectations realistically and were honest with us. I remember asking early on if it could be finished by a big birthday party, and you said no. I asked about just having the slab done, and you said probably not. You didn’t overpromise anything, and we really appreciated that. We know now these things take time, and you were able to get past all the hurdles.

Mary Anne: I barely even knew it was going on. Because the ADU is separate from the house, it wasn’t disruptive at all. And it’s close to our neighbor’s backyard and she even said, “I was surprised how little disruption it was.”

What would you like to share with others about your ADU experience from a professional standpoint?

Mary Anne: As a real estate agent, I thought a lot about the cost versus the value added to the home. One of the things we talk about in our sales meetings is how multigenerational properties are becoming more desirable. People are looking for homes with granny flats or extra space for caretakers or nannies. So now more than ever, it makes sense from an economic standpoint. You’re not just throwing money at extra space—it can actually add value to your home

Jimmy: As an architect, my main role was as a front-end conceptual designer on large projects. I didn’t do anything from early concept all the way through to punch-out, but here I got to see a project from start to finish, which was really interesting. After working on large projects around the world, I love that this 380-square-foot ADU in my backyard feels like a wrap-up to my career.