Then artist Martin Dawe and his partner of 14 years, Chris Yokom, purchased their Loring Heights home in 1999, they knew a renovation project would follow. While they loved the basic structure of the home, particularly the octagon-shaped room on the front of the house, Dawe knew the structure held more potential.

However, he didn’t rush into a remodeling endeavor right away. Instead, he took his time, getting to know each space in the home, learning how the natural light played throughout the day, checking out the exterior views from every angle of each room. Only after Dawe knew every aspect of every room was he ready to tackle the re-design of his home. So, in 2005, he sought out Randy Glazer, president of Glazer Design & Construction, and the two got started on what would become a personal artistic expression.

Structurally speaking, Dawe and Glazer basically gutted the house, raised the ceilings and added the master suite to the back of the house. Dawe’s goal was to create a home with a “modern medieval” essence to it. Much of his inspiration came from the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii. The overall result is reminiscent of a personal art gallery, which the lighting and colors reinforce.

Of course, given Dawe’s profession, that is not to be unexpected. The owner and sculptor for CherryLion Studios, Dawe’s work is on display throughout Atlanta. He is best known for the bronze circle of Atlases, called the World Athletes Monument, which is displayed at the intersection of Peachtree and West Peachtree streets. His work also can be seen at the Fulton County Juvenile Court Facility, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain. Next spring, look for a new sculpture to take root at Terminus in Buckhead.

Many pieces of Dawe’s work also can be found throughout his home, although it’s not limited to sculpture. For instance, in the octagonal room, a painting and photograph by Dawe grace the walls, and another photograph by Dawe hangs over the bed in the master bedroom.

Dawe took advantage of his artistic skills during the renovation as well. After searching for the floor tile he had in mind, Dawe finally found it; however, the price was far higher than he planned to spend on flooring, so he took a different approach. He decided to cast the floor tiles himself at his studio. He created molds of brushed granite to simulate the texture he wanted, and then cast the tiles out of concrete mixed with mica.

Another example stands in the kitchen: Dawe’s counter containing the Dacor cooktop. Constructed from a walnut tree, Dawe worked with Glazer and his team to run the cooktop’s downdraft vent through one of the legs, under the floor and outside. Likewise, Dawe had a custom marble-top table made, which, at first look, seats four to six people. However, after inserting extensions under the copper caps on the steel legs, the table lifts from a “coffee table” status into a full-fledged dining table that seats 10 people.

Perhaps the best asset of Dawe’s house is the natural light that fills every nook and cranny. This, too, was by design. The home now contains 13 exterior French doors, which not only provides an abundance of natural light but also lovely views of the yard and park that sits across the street. Throw open those doors to catch a cool spring breeze, and you’ll never believe that the city is literally right around the corner. “The scenery always changes,” Dawe says. “The placement of everything is to take advantage of the natural light and views.”

Overall, Dawe says his home is very creative and comfortable. “The whole building is a sculpture for me,” he says. “It’s all gut. You walk in and say, ‘That works.’” It certainly does.