Low Maintenance Lifestyle Brings Buyers to Avignon at Vinings

After years of battling traffic and shuttling their son to school in Buckhead, Mike and Donna Lamb were ready to make a major move. Along with convenience, they went looking for a home with less responsibility than the 6,400 square feet and yard that they had in Marietta.

The family found both those features last June at Avignon at Vinings, a community of 170 condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes within walking distance of the Vinings village.

“We decided we wanted a lifestyle change and that’s what Avignon offered,” said Donna Lamb. “I work downtown and have an easy commute, only eight miles. My husband works at the Home Depot corporate offices at the top of the hill near our new home. And we’re much closer to my son’s school, his friends and his activities.”

The Lambs’ four-story townhouse provided the freedom from landscaping and extensive maintenance that their larger house required. “I was really ready to give up the large yard and all the work that comes with it!” said Donna Lamb. “It’s been so nice to have a little spot to take care of, where I can add color in planters.”

With 4,700 square feet in their townhouses, the family didn’t have to downsize too dramatically. “We did give up some space but this is more than ample for the three of us,” said Donna Lamb.

The bottom level of the home features a garage and media room, as well as a built-in bar and full bath. The main floor boasts a formal dining room, a butler’s pantry, a family room and a kitchen with a breakfast bar.

“The nice thing about this plan is that we really use our dining room a lot more than we ever did,” said Donna Lamb. “Usually, that room is completely unused. But here, we sit down together four or five days a week in the dining room.”

The third floor has a master and guest suite, each with their own glamorous baths. The Lambs’ son claimed the fourth level – “the penthouse” – with spectacular views of Buckhead and downtown. But the entire family enjoys the top-floor loggia with its outdoor fireplace and kitchen.

“We were able to customize the space with a kitchen, a refrigerator and a flat-screen TV,” said Donna Lamb. “We also had the flexibility to add an elevator, so it’s easy to transport everything we need up there. It’s like an outdoor room.”

As avid outdoor lovers, the Lambs were thrilled to find Avignon within a few short strides of the Vinings Village and its shops, restaurants and entertainment.

“We loved that this is a walking community,” said Donna Lamb. “We can walk out of our complex and have everything at our finger tips. We’re both very outdoorsy and athletic, so being able to walk instead of getting in the car is a great asset.”

Donna Lamb, whose job involves construction projects for the government, was particularly taken with Avignon’s design and style.

“I was very impressed with the level detail and finish here,” she said. “”Being in the design and construction business myself, that was very important to me. At Avignon, it’s just superb. Add to that the Cobb county location and it was easy for us to narrow down our choice pretty quickly.”