This Antebellum Mansion Inspired Gone With The Wind – And It’s For Sale!
The 1936 novel Gone With The Wind was an instant hit, and three years later producers were scrambling to make it into a movie. Meanwhile, a mansion in Covington, Georgia was gaining recognition as a historic masterpiece. The home was built exactly 100 years before the novel came out. The antebellum-style was exactly the kind of home that author Margaret Mitchell imagined her story would take place in. Since, the home has become a renowned bed and breakfast, wedding venue, and filming spot. The best part? The historic mansion can be yours for a starting bid of a cool $1 million.
An 1800s Home
According to The Twelve Oaks, the mansion was built in 1836 by Judge John Harris. The property was then bought by Robert Franklin Wright at the end of the Civil War for one thousand dollars.
Since then, the home has had multiple owners and subsequently has carried different names. Each exchange of the property came with refurbishings and additions to the home that have brought it to its current, elegant status. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Classic Tale Comes To Life
In addition to winning awards and being featured by numerous news outlets, the mansion was the one suggestion that author Margaret Mitchell made to film producer David Selznick regarding Gone With The Wind. Three years after Margaret published the story in 1936, David bought the film rights to the popular book.
He planned to build a set and start shooting. However, when Margaret saw a photo of the home in the Atlantic Journal, she knew it would be the perfect fit for the story. She sent the news clipping to David and wrote that she envisioned this as the home of protagonist Ashley Wilkes.
A Famous Bed And Breakfast
Today, the mansion is known as The Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast. While the term "bed and breakfast" makes the home seem modest, it is anything but. The upgraded mansion isn't just a historic landmark but it is also a venue for weddings and a popular place to film.
When you first walk into the mansion, you will see this spacious living room to your immediate left. Chandeliers are a trademark of the home, apparent in nearly every room. In addition, the home features several fireplaces, large windows, and hardwood flooring.
An Antebellum Oasis
Despite being remodeled several times over, the homeowners have been sure to preserve the antebellum-style that the house is known for. The antebellum architecture is apparent in the home's exterior due to its box-shape, precise symmetry, wrap-around porch, and large pillars.
On the interior, you have intricate designs along the walls to bring the external extravagance inside. Grand dining rooms were a focal point of the antebellum home. In the photograph, we can see that the room's architecture is illuminated by elegant furnishings and, of course, an eye-catching chandelier.
The New Kitchen
Despite the large windows that look out to the backyard, the kitchen is dim due to the lack of direct sunlight. White cabinetry prevents the room from appearing dingy, while high-end appliances maintain the upscale feel of the home.
The house has 11-foot ceilings throughout its 11,000 square feet. A swimming pool in the backyard leads to a gazebo. There are three acres of gardens that can be admired from the covered porch or walked through.
The Hollywood of the South
The mansion is in Covington, Georgia, which is often called the "Hollywood of the South" since more than 100 films and television shows have been filmed there. Located about 30 miles from downtown Atlanta, the Twelve Oaks has been the shooting site for around a dozen films and shows.
These include The Vampire Diaries, Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys, Halloween II, and more. The cabinet-turned-desk pictured above is staged with a copy of the book Gone With The Wind to pay homage to the story.
The Frankly Scarlett Junior Suite
One of eight available suites, the Frankly Scarlett room maintains the old-fashioned feel more than most of the others. The bedframe is more traditional with a tall awning that most beds no longer offer. From this room, you can also view the surrounding pillars of the mansion.
The detailing in the wooden furniture featured in most of the rooms compliments the designs in the walls that are specific to antebellum architecture. Large windows allow ample lighting as well as views of the surrounding trees and gardens.
Every Space Is Utilized
This bathroom was recently remodeled to include built-in shelving and allow for a clawfoot tub. The clean, white look helps to open up the long but slim space. Dark curtains add depth while the detailing in the tile flooring makes the space far from plain.
Located 30 miles from downtown Atlanta, the bed and breakfast offers the feel of the country without being too far from an urban setting. Paintings on the walls help preserve the traditional decor while upgrades prevent the mansion from feeling aged.
Katherine's Mirror Image Grand Suite
From Katherine's Mirror Image suite you have three large windows through which you can see the surrounding gardens. While many of the rooms come with a queen-sized bed, this one comes with a king-size.
The large bed is made all the more glorious with its oversized headboard made of soft materials. A copper, clawfoot tub is inside of the room, but there's also a ribcage shower in the bathroom space. The antique shower is only available in a few places around the world.
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Towards the back of the house lies the Breakfast at Tiffany's room. While it isn't every day that you find his and hers sinks in the bedroom, the wooden style of the mirrors and matching cabinets make it fit right in with the rest of the room.
Meanwhile, a separate bathing area lays beyond the glass door past the sink. Straight ahead, up the two wooden stairs, is a study nook. The desk is situated directly in front of the window so that you can gaze at the treetops while reading or writing.
The Steel Magnolia's Spa Grand Suite
On the third floor is the Steel Magnolia room. The large canopy bed steals the show despite there being a chandelier in both the room and the adjacent bathroom. Vaulted ceilings and an arched hallway make this complex room anything but four plain walls.
A bay window and french doors add charm to the partition between the bedroom and the bathroom. A gray and white color scheme balances the busy fabric of the canopy and plays on the tile in the shower.
A Dreamy Bathroom
The bathroom off of the Steel Magnolias suite is a perfect match for the beautiful room. It may not look like it, but the tub is complete with jets. The tiled shower is separated by a dark curtain that matches the dark, wooden cabinetry.
Two showerheads plus a handheld allows for a thoroughly refreshing experience. Stainless steel fixtures add a modern touch to the space. If you look closely, you can see the glass jewels hanging at the bottom of the chandelier overhead.
Glorious Elegance
Similar to Katherine's Mirror Image Suite, this room offers a king-sized bed with the same grandiose headboard. However, in this room, the furniture is not wooden but instead is made of bronze and glass.
A thick, cream-colored rug softens the hardwood floors present throughout the house. Mint colored walls ground the room and bring an earthy feel to the extravagant space. The mirrored armoire reflects the light of the window and makes the room feel airier.
Every Corner Is New
Like the other shower we've seen, this shower offers two shower heads and a handheld. Despite having a ceiling that angles down, the shower makes the most of the space. The light tile opens up the area, while the arrangement prevents the room from feeling cramped.
The wooden plank does two things: provides a place to rest your cleansing items, and reunites the modern with the old charm of the rest of the house.
In The Heat Of The Night
The In The Heat Of The Night suite isn't meant to suggest that the room gets hot easily. In fact, all of the rooms are named after movies and shows filmed in Covington. However, the room does have yellow walls that match the theme by making it feel sunny and bright.
Beyond the bed are two narrow, glass doors that lead to a bench against a window. The extra space features a brick wall that reflects the charm of the home's classic architecture.
A Well-Preserved Bathroom
This is one of the only bathrooms in the mansion that still has the original tile floors. It also features a clawfoot tub. If you look through the mirror, you can see that the tub is one of the few that has a connected showerhead.
You can also see through the mirror that the bathroom features, unsurprisingly, a chandelier. The unique design of the window allows for light to flood in without sacrificing any privacy.
Suite Home Alabama
That's right, the movie Sweet Home Alabama was filmed in Georgia. The suite that carries the name features a quaint, little fireplace and a plush reading chair with matching foot rest. On the third floor, the room has an ideal view of the gorgeous surrounding land.
The twin beds are perfect for children, or they can be converted into a master bed. If you choose the latter, hotel workers will push the bedframes together and replace the mattresses with one large mattress.
A Deluxe Shower
Why have two showerheads when you can have three? This shower offers so many cleaning options that you could probably cut your shower time in half. The charming architecture of the walls throughout the home is carried into the bathroom.
Behind the sink, you can see where the wall's design adds a touch of character to the renovated bathroom. Two different tile designs play with the eye. A light fixture on the wall mimics an old candle fixture, again marrying the old to the new.
The Salvatore Brother's Study Suite
This room is on the first floor and was used as an actual study prior to being converted into a bed and breakfast. The impressive mahogany woodwork makes the room feel like an upscale library. Built-in shelving is lined with books and includes a fireplace.
A desk sits in front of the window for ample lighting and a pleasant view while working. A large, mirrored cabinet provides plenty of space to store clothes without seeming overbearing.
The First Bath Added
In the late 1800s, one of the renovations performed on the mansion was this bathroom, which has remained predominantly the same. The tile, tub, and shower have all been preserved so that guests can have an authentic experience.
The showerhead and fixtures look like a new product that was made to look vintage, but in fact, it is the original fixtures. The antique showerhead goes to show that sometimes the older items have the most charm.
