Moving across the country can often be a daunting and seemingly insurmountable task. Between house hunting, packing, flying across the country and coordinating with movers it seems like an exhausting task, but for Rebekah Hanlon, her cross country move from San Francisco to Atlanta was none of those things.

Rebekah moved to Atlanta after the Wells Fargo and Wachovia merger. While she didn’t know where in Atlanta she wanted to move, Rebekah did have specific requirements for her agent. She wanted a boutique condo, similar to the one she lived in in San Francisco.

After learning about The Astoria at the Aramore, Rebekah was in love. She adored the custom finish work, detail of the condo and upgraded appliances and fixtures. She also really loved the fireplace and hardwood floors, perfect for throw rugs and cozy fires during the  winter months.

In addition to being impressed by the condo, Rebekah also loved the close knit community at the Astoira. She was especially impressed with the friendly sales staff, who often went out of their way to make sure that her move was perfect and seemless.

Now two months into her purchase, Rebekah couldn’t be happier. Living in the luxury Atlanta condo has put her within walking distance of some of Buckhead’s finest restaurants including Holman and Finch and Restaurant Eugene. She is also only seven minutes from work, making her commute a breeze.

In addition to offering residents custom upgrades throughout their homes, The Astoria at the Aramore is known for its high rise amenities, including a large gym, conference room, and outdoor patio which features a fire pit, various seating areas, spa and large pool complete with a waterfall.

For more information about how you can become a part of this exclusive luxury community, visit www.theastoriacondos.com.

You might remember the story we did on Bob and Lee Driscoll in November, well the dynamic duo is back again, only this time you can find them in a two page spread of the Winter 09 issue of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Living in Atlanta.

Upon turning to page 22, the first thing you’ll notice is a picture of Bob and Lee Driscoll sitting in their spacious and classic living room, which was custom designed with the of Astoria designer, Shelley Hall. The Driscolls created a sophisticated environment in their new home by combining Asian artwork, furniture and artifacts with sleek, modern contemporary furniture and lines. The article tells the tale of how the couple chose The Astoria as their new home and why they have grown to love the space so much. (more…)

Bob and Lee Driscoll purchased their 3,700 square foot condominium at The Astoria at the Aramore in April of 2009. The couple decided to downsize from their previous home located near Chastain Park when the large home they previously resided in began to feel like too much maintenance.

The Driscoll’s had various requirements during their search for a new home,  including a need to be close to wonderful restaurants and numerous entertainment venues. The Astoria at The Aramore fit all of these requirements, putting the couple in the heart of historic Peachtree Battle, an area known for amazing shopping and its proximity to cultural destinations like the High Museum, Fox Theater and Georgia History Museum.

The couple had an easy transition into The Astoria at the Aramore. After customizing the condo to include a butler’s pantry and extending the kitchen (more…)

It’s official. The rest of the world has finally come to recognize what Atlantans have known for years,  this is one of the best cities in the country.

The Harris Poll, produced by Harris Interactive, asked Americans in early October which state they would most like to live in if they did not live in their current state. Americans ranked Georgia the No. 14, while the city of Atlanta ranked 13th. Georgia has consistently ranked in the top 15 since 1997 and when combined with similar polls such as the the Forbes poll that was also recently released, things are looking pretty good for the Peach State. (more…)

When Mike and Donna Lamb began their search for a new home, they were looking to make a change in their quality of living. With an abundance of first class amenities and a Vinings zip code, the Lamb’s found exactly what they were looking for at Avignon at Vinings.

“We wanted to live in Vinings for its great location and proximity to our job’s and my son’s school,” said Mike Lamb. “We chose Avignon at Vinings for its location and amazing views of downtown Atlanta. From our loggia, we have beautiful views of downtown Atlanta and Buckhead.”

The Lamb’s four-story townhome includes three bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and a media room. The home features the finest in appliances and finishes including exquisite moldings, an elevator, large loggia with outdoor grilling station, ample storage and a charming spiral staircase. Donna Lamb, an interior designer used a combination of old and new items to give the home a comfortable modern feel. (more…)

Debbie Sonenshine is the winner of a $2,500 AMEX card from Kairos Development.  Jack Williams, Kairos founder and business director presented Debbie a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realtor the card at her office in Sandy Springs on August 24.

The AMEX giveaway was part of a Kairos Development incentive for Realtors to learn more about Kairos Development Corporation’s properties. The winner was drawn at random from more than 300 entrants.

“I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had won the AMEX card,” said Sonenshine. “My 36th wedding anniversary is coming up, so I plan to treat myself on our trip to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina.”

The awards and honors Debbie has received are numerous – Circle of Excellence, Coldwell Banker Hall of Fame, Top 5 Coldwell Banker Agent in Atlanta, Top 20 of Atlanta Board of Realtors … the list goes on. If that (more…)

When Michael Smith exits Peachtree Road and steps into the grand lobby of the Astoria at the Aramore each morning at 7 a.m., he does so with a smile on his face. If you have ever visited the building, you have surely seen Michael’s smile. It lights up a room. As the morning concierge of the luxury 16 story condominium located at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Peachtree Memorial, Smith’s duties include anything from checking residents into the building’s pool or gym to making sure that residents receive any packages that might arrive.

“Every day, my goal is to make sure that we get no complaints,” said Smith. “Customer service is what we are all about. We know that our homeowners live busy lives. Our job is to make sure we take care of anything and (more…)

Would you pay more to buy a quality home in an established neighborhood? What about spending a little more to cut your commute in half? Maybe you’d be willing to skip your daily Starbucks for a home in a beautiful, historic district close to downtown with great restaurants and boutiques?

If you said yes to any of these (or all) then you are part of the majority of homebuyers – location is key and often times you’re willing to pay a little more to live in the perfect home in the right location. If you want to find the perfect neighborhood to buy your Atlanta new home, Vinings is the place to look.

Vinings, Ga. is a beautiful, historic area with a small-town feel, almost oblivious to the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. Out of the way of the major routes heading to heavily populated suburban cities like Roswell and Alpharetta, Vinings enjoys much less traffic than its (more…)

Ann Schmitz is a mother of three battling acute lymphocytic leukemia, and this weekend the Vinings community is getting together to hand out support to Ann and her family. The event will aim at providing financial and emotional support, and will also help to further education about the disease. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer, and experts estimate that 5,430 people will be diagnosed this year alone. Love Street, a local Vinings gift shop, will donate 25% of their “Life is Good” merchandise profits from this weekend. In addition, the local Step It Up Fitness will also donate 25% of the profits they receive from their July 21- August 15 boot camp class. It is fundraising events like these that get the entire community involved and really make Vinings a special place. The people and business owners in this community make it a point to get involved and educate themselves about issues that affect everyday people and everyday families. So come out this weekend from Friday, July 18 at 10:00 am until Sunday, July 20 at 5:00 pm and support Ann and her family through the Ann Schmitz Fund while enjoying all that the Vinings area has to offer.

Most people don’t go throughout their day thinking about the overburdened social welfare system and the tons of kids that slip through the cracks and face very dangerous situations at home. But the Finance & Technology Director for Kairos, Amy Johnson, decided to be a friend and advocate for these children by volunteering as a CASA in Rockdale County. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and describes an ordinary citizen who is trained and then appointed by a judge to be the voice of one of these children. Amy Johnson and others like her typically only take on one case at a time, and commit to finding their child a safe and permanent home. Everyone from Karios would like to congratulate Amy, and thank her for doing something great for the children in Rockdale. If you would like to follow in Amy’s footsteps and become an advocate for a child in your community, check out the CASA national website.