9 Georgia Historic Homes That Keep Their Original Décor Intact
Step back in time with me as we explore Georgia’s most beautifully preserved historic homes! As a décor enthusiast who’s practically swooned in every antique-filled parlor across the Peach State, I’m thrilled to share these architectural treasures where the furniture, wallpaper, and even the teacups remain exactly as they were generations ago. These homes aren’t just buildings; they’re time capsules where you can almost hear the rustle of hoop skirts and smell the beeswax polish used by their original inhabitants.
1. Swan House
Holy moly, folks! The Swan House will knock your socks off with its pristine 1920s glamour. Built for the Inman family in 1928, this classical mansion makes me feel like I should be wearing a flapper dress and sipping illegal hooch every time I visit!
The home’s original furnishings, from the hand-painted Chinese wallpaper to the custom-built sofas, remain exactly where architect Philip Shutze placed them. My favorite spot? The morning room with its swan-motif everything. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a swan-shaped doorknob!
2. Hay House
Buckle up for some serious Victorian extravagance! This 18,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival mansion in Macon has me drooling over its 1860s opulence every single time. The original owner, William Butler Johnston, went on a three-year European honeymoon and came back determined to outdo everyone in Georgia.
What blows my mind is that the home still rocks its original pink and gold music room furniture, hand-painted ceilings, and, get this, a bathroom with hot AND cold running water from 1859! The walnut-paneled dining room table is still set with Mrs. Johnston’s Limoges china. Fancy!
3. Bulloch Hall
Y’all won’t believe this: I nearly fainted when I learned President Theodore Roosevelt’s mama grew up in this gorgeous 1839 Greek Revival home! Mittie Bulloch’s bedroom looks exactly as it did when she received a marriage proposal from Roosevelt’s father.
The dining room still features the original mahogany table where the family entertained guests, complete with period-appropriate silver and china. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted the authentic children’s toys scattered in the nursery; tiny tea sets and wooden horses that Mittie herself might have played with!
4. Owens-Thomas House
Savannah’s architectural crown jewel makes me weak in the knees! This 1819 home still boasts its original Duncan Phyfe furniture, imported English carpets, and, hold onto your hats, the first indoor plumbing system in the city.
The drawing room’s blue walls provide the perfect backdrop for the original gilt mirrors and marble-topped tables. What gives me goosebumps is the servants’ quarters, preserved with their original furnishings, a rare glimpse into the lives of the enslaved people who maintained this splendor.
Pro tip: Look for the unique “bridge” connecting the main house to the carriage house. It’s an architectural marvel!
5. Wormsloe Plantation: Tabby Ruins with Period Treasures
Confession time: I once tried to move into the Wormsloe estate’s museum building when no one was looking! This plantation, established in the 1730s by Noble Jones, features Georgia’s oldest standing structure and a museum house filled with swoon-worthy original artifacts.
The family kept EVERYTHING: from Jones’ surveying equipment to his daughter’s embroidered samplers. My favorite piece is the campaign desk used during the Revolutionary War, complete with secret compartments I desperately wanted to rifle through!
The original tableware, with the family crest, still sits in glass-fronted cabinets. Talk about family heirlooms!
6. Andalusia Farm: Flannery O’Connor’s Literary Haven
Literature nerds, prepare to squeal! I practically hyperventilated when I first walked into Flannery O’Connor’s bedroom at Andalusia Farm. Her crutches still lean against her writing desk, where she penned her famous Southern Gothic stories while battling lupus.
The farmhouse’s 1950s kitchen remains exactly as it was: complete with vintage appliances and the family’s everyday dishes. Even O’Connor’s collection of peacock feathers (she raised the birds) decorates the mantelpiece.
The living room’s original furniture arrangement was based on O’Connor’s specific instructions, allowing her to participate in conversations while conserving her limited energy. Heartbreaking and fascinating!
7. Barrington Hall
Hold onto your decorating hats! Barrington Hall knocked my socks off with its pristine collection of original furnishings from the 1840s. This Greek Revival mansion belonged to Barrington King (co-founder of Roswell) and stayed in the same family until 2003!
The formal parlor features the original horsehair-stuffed sofa where the family entertained guests. I literally gasped when I saw King’s desk with his actual spectacles still sitting on top, as if he just stepped away for a moment.
The dining room’s hand-painted china and crystal decanters are arranged exactly as they were for holiday meals in the 19th century. Talk about dinner party goals!
8. Hills & Dales Estate
Fashion and fabric lovers, prepare to drool! The 1916 Italian villa-style home of textile magnate Fuller Callaway in LaGrange still showcases its original upholstery fabrics, window treatments, and, get this, hand-painted Chinese wallpaper that cost more than a small house when installed!
Mrs. Callaway’s bedroom contains her original wardrobe, including evening gowns displayed on dress forms. I nearly fainted when I spotted her jewelry box still containing Art Deco pieces on her dressing table.
The sunroom features wicker furniture with the original cushions in a bold tropical print that would be trendy even today. Some decorating styles never go out of fashion!
9. The Lapham-Patterson House
Prepare for your jaw to hit the floor! This High Victorian home in Thomasville is a delightful oddball with 90-degree angled hallways, 45 windows of different shapes, and original 1880s furniture that makes me want to don a bustle and corset.
The parlor’s original stereoscope (Victorian 3D viewer) sits on a marble-topped table, loaded with the same image cards the family enjoyed. I squealed when I spotted the children’s toys, wooden pull horses and porcelain-headed dolls, arranged in the nursery exactly as they were discovered.
My favorite quirky detail? The original door hinges shaped like butterflies! Talk about Victorian whimsy!
