Just one glance at builder Michael Ladisic’s Peachtree Park house would be enough to give even the most casual observer a sense of the craftsmanship, design, and creativity that went into its creation. With an exterior made of Texas limestone and painted brick, dramatic windows, and gorgeous green outdoor areas, including a picture-perfect courtyard, the home is a feast for the eyes. But step inside the iron front doors and listen to Ladisic speak about building the home, and it quickly becomes obvious that the home is much more than a visual feat, but a story of patience, persistence, and perhaps most important, passion.
Although he had been interested in architecture and building since he was young, Ladisic didn’t set out to pursue those passions professionally. Instead, he went to law school at Wake Forest before moving to Atlanta in 1986. After a short stint at a local law firm, he started his own phone business, selling phones and brokering phone systems for various clients. In 1993, Ladisic and his wife hired someone to renovate their first Peachtree Park house, but were ultimately unhappy with the results. “We decided to finish construction ourselves,” he says. “A friend of ours liked it and asked us to work on his home, which led to more projects—but it was still just a hobby at that point.” But by 1998, his hobby became a full-time profession with the launch of his company, Ladisic Fine Homes. Since its founding, Ladisic estimates he’s worked on more than 300 projects in Buckhead.
The crown jewel of those projects is easily his personal residence, which marks the fourth house Ladisic and his family owned in theneighborhood. Ladisic purchased the lot in 2013, after having his eye on it for 17 years, and teamed up with architect Linda MacArthur to bring his creative vision to brick-and-mortar life. “Michael didn’t want to do a classic Buckhead house,” she says. “He wanted something different, so we went with a mashup of motifs, from California contemporary and a wine-country aesthetic to the coastal feel of Rosemary Beach.”
Nearly every aspect of the home has been designed for entertaining and engaging with loved ones, whether that’s Ladisic and his wife’s four adult daughters, or the 200 friends the couple recently had over for a holiday party. To that end, the home has a spacious, open kitchen, complete with a custom hood accented by brass, as well as extra large pantries so small appliances can be stored out of sight. A neutral interior color palette, as well as ample windows for light, create an airy ambiance throughout the space. There’s also a fluid flow throughout the home, with one open space pouring into the next: a back kitchen features doors that all open onto the porch; a sitting room next to the kitchen allows guests to chat while someone is cooking; both the foyer and dining room feature dramatic staircases. “There’s a lot of space in the house, but not a lot of rooms,” Ladisic says. “We wanted everything to be a transitional space that’s conducive to allowing everyone to interact with each other, but still get away to have their own space if needed.”
And when Ladisic himself wants to get away, he retreats to his favorite room in the house: The Mancave, which has eight televisions,including one over the urinal, plus a sleek bar and glass wine cellar for entertaining. “It’s definitely more of a bachelor feel,” Ladisic says with a laugh. “It feels industrial with concrete and barn wood and just a very different space from the rest of the house.”
With its Mancave and countless other unique elements, the house has caught the attention of press, design connoisseurs, and everyday dwellers alike.
