From the street, the Sofi house on Peachtree Road looks like every other gated Buckhead estate: a wall of ivy, a circle driveway, a porte-cochère that hints at what lies beyond.
But step inside, and you realize why this house has been featured in three movies, two television series, and a half-dozen architectural magazines.
The 14,000-square-foot home was built in 1929 by a cotton magnate who wanted a country estate close enough to downtown to be convenient. His great-granddaughter, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons, gave WACN 21 a rare tour on a recent Sunday morning.
“This house has been in our family for three generations,” she said. “We’ve tried to keep it as original as possible.”
The foyer, with its hand-painted ceiling and twin curved staircases, has barely changed since the house was built. The original chandelier, imported from Murano in the 1920s, still hangs in the center of the room.
The formal living room overlooks the pool and gardens. Original silk wallpaper lines the walls. The wood paneling is tiger oak from a tree that once stood on the property.
“It’s not just a house. It’s a piece of Atlanta’s history,” said Buckhead Heritage president Wright Mitchell, who was not part of the tour but has studied the home’s history.
The home has been featured in “The Blind Side,” “Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias” remake, and the TV series “Dynasty.” The great-granddaughter said the family has turned down several offers from production companies in recent years.
“We don’t need the money, and we’d rather just live in it,” she said.
The home is not currently on the market and the family has no plans to sell.
