The Nicolson House, which looks much the same as it did in the nineteenth century, is one of the few remaining houses designed by the Atlanta architect Walter T. Downing (1865-1918). Although Downing's buildings included public works, he was best known for residential architecture for the affluent of Atlanta. (William Perrin Nicolson was a prominent physician and dean of the Southern Medical College.) Now converted to a bed and breakfast, the renamed Shellmont is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Atlanta city landmark.
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Downing's style was eclectic, here with both Renaissance and classical details, including coupled Corinthian columns on the porch, fluted pilasters at the corners, the large shell and swag relief on the second floor front, and floral motifs. The two-story house with a hipped roof has an asymmetric floor plan. |
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| The house is clad in clapboard siding as well as tongue and groove vertical siding on the first floor projecting bay. Note the diverse fenestration--from the round headed curved sash window on the projecting bay to the leaded glass windows of the upper story. |
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