Massey Bungalow

2005  |  511 Candler Lane

At the 2013 Christmas Tour of Homes, Gene and Karen Massey fell in love with the town of Madison. The following Spring they purchased a loft in downtown, but by 2018 they were seeking green space and a large front porch for complete southern living; so they moved a couple of blocks away to Candler Lane. This charming street with only eighteen houses is right in town, within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Yet it offers the seclusion and quiet that is found on a street with no through traffic.

The Massey House, built in 2005, is a brick Craftsman bungalow with many iconic details – low pitched roof, deep eaves with exposed rafters, and a large covered front porch supported with massive tapered columns. This early 20th century Arts and Crafts Style has long been a favorite in America. The house interior also features an open floor plan, which was a reflection of the Arts and Crafts movement that rejected the small, boxy rooms of the Victorian era.

The open floor plan was one of the characteristics that enticed the Masseys to buy. The style of the house seemed perfect for the furnishings Karen and Gene both enjoyed – a collection of family antiques with contemporary art and furnishings. Both enjoy searching for old objects that reflect a simpler way of life. Gene has an amazing collection of antique working duck decoys and western cowboy memorabilia. Karen has given order to his collection of toys and found objects from his boyhood era, which includes a complete Roy Rogers outfit he had as a boy that his mother had framed.

Karen has a passion for Jadeite, that was made in that lovely shade of pale green. She has a feature wall in her kitchen beautifully arranged with every piece and form of Jadeite imaginable. This stunning collection is housed in a 19th century Georgia heart pine double cabinet inherited from Gene’s mother, who was a dealer and avid collector.

Another highlight of the tour is to see the hall guest bath decorated with a mural showing houses and buildings in Madison. Karen had the idea to have the scenes painted directly onto the walls by well-known local folk artist, Eugene Swain.

​This Madison couple remain young and their home fresh with contemporary art and pottery collections. This house is truly a gem not to be missed.

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