Published: September 18, 2007 04:45 pm         

Of Love, Labor & Lofts

In April of 2002, I was invited by Royce and Melissa Coleman to tour the building they had recently purchased on N. Ashley St. in downtown Valdosta. As they walked photographer Paul Leavy and myself through the space, it was easy to be swept up by their enthusiasm. Where others might have envisioned an impossible task, the Colemans described in near perfect detail their future home.

Despite the hole in the floor, the dirt, the many years of paint and decay— even the back wall of the building was held in place only by virtue of a cable stretched the entire length of the roof...and the grace of God. As they described in detail how they were going to transform the space into three retail spaces on the first floor, one of which was to be Royce’s new location for his Edward Jones’ investments office, along with 3 apartments and their dream home upstairs, I understood their vision and knew, just by their conviction and determination, that someday I’d be back to write about how their beautiful vision came true. Royce and Melissa promised me I’d be the first, and this month, Paul and I went back to see it again. I had purposely not visited before the day I knew I could write about it as I wanted to see it fresh; I wanted to see if the vision they described in 2002 was what I’d see when I walked in their door. I’m delighted to say it is!

All Journeys Begin With a Single Step

Royce and Melissa Coleman had merely come to Yarbrough Furniture to buy a mattress. They had no idea their lives would be forever transformed through an innocent comment by owner Bobby Yarbrough. According to Melissa, “As we were writing the check for the mattress, Mr. Bobby said, ‘if you’ll just add a few zeroes, you can buy the whole place!’”

Royce was looking to move his Edward Jones office, and was interested in relocating downtown. Melissa serves as the Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church downtown, and he piqued their interest, so they took him up on an invitation to tour the building, fell in love, and bought it when Bobby and Bettye Yarbrough retired. “The Yarbroughs sold us the most expensive mattress known to man!”



It’s in the Details

The two buildings are now completely transformed with three retail spaces downstairs, Lisa Hannon’s Fine Art Photography, Royce’s Edward Jones office, and a space which was Truffles, but is currently vacant, waiting for a new tenant.

The second floor features three apartments along with the Colemans’ new loft home. The couple finished everything else before completing their own, and there is some disagreement between them on the term “completed.” One wonders if either Royce or Melissa will ever be done putting touches on their incredible home.

The Coleman’s loft is accessible by N. Ashley St. as well as through a back entrance off Bennie’s Alley. Walking through the front door and up the stairs, you know immediately that this is no ordinary home.

The 3,600 square foot loft has too many features to describe in this space (although meticulous Melissa has several typed pages of description she is happy to share!) but hitting the highlights, the front half of the space is open and yet somehow, they’ve managed to make it a very cozy area.

The stairwell is encircled by an artistic creation made of wood salvaged from the building. The enormous kitchen with beautiful lighting, a long island, and a mix of contemporary and traditional elements is to the right, while the dining room is to the left. A room divider that once graced the opera house in Madison, Fla. separates the dining room from the living room, which is itself separated into two seating areas. The furniture was all carefully selected, the paintings were commissioned to complement the space, and the details have been planned so well that a visitor to the Colemans feels immediately at home, although they might not be able to articulate it.

Melissa said, “We entertain and allow friends to have parties here, and it’s not at all unusual to see guests kick off their shoes and completely relax. We always wanted a home that people wanted to come to and I think we’ve achieved that.”

Down a long hallway, beautifully decorated with original artwork from Daniel Hanifan in Quitman are three bedrooms, the master suite, a bedroom/attic and storage space, and an office and guest room with a Murphy bed. The master suite features a platform bed that Royce built, with two doors from the original buildings that he refinished and hung sideways over the bed adding an unusual artistic element. A large shower is one element of the master bath – the old freight elevator uncovered during construction is another!

Their walk-in closet is the most unique in Valdosta, no question. It is actually a salvaged wardrobe that once stood in a clothing store downtown. In dozens of pieces, Royce refinished every inch of the massive bridal wardrobe, complete with is own 3-way mirror. Glass doors enclose the two closets, which feature pull out clothing racks that rotate.

Running the entire length of the outer wall is a black line, which the couple left as exposed brick, denoting where the building’s original roof line was. It’s one of the many ways the Colemans tied the old to the new, embracing the building’s history in the exposed beams, the original bead board ceiling, the original heart pine floors – adding their own artistic touches, flavors and history.



A labor of love, the Coleman’s credit their architect, Tom Miller of Ellis, Ricket and Assoc., contractor David Phelps of Phelps Construction, and Designer Jack Wooten, who helped to blend Royce’s traditional with Melissa’s contemporary tastes, along with the building’s natural beauty, to transform what was once just a vision in an empty space to the work of art it is today.