Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1544361
100 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2026 T apping on the door with freshly manicured nails and an ASMR-worthy timbre, Abigail Sylvia whispers, "There's a secret down there… coming one day, a long time away." She cackles with cheeky awareness, hinting at a basement renovation sitting patiently at the bottom of the Sylvia's future DIY list. Those who know Abigail's style would expect nothing less than a lounge space dripping with swanky speak- easy charm. Before it becomes an eclectic den, Abigail reflects on how that basement once packed a different kind of nostalgic punch. Decades ago, a brother and sister gathered with friends to play poker in that same basement, stretching games into the early morning until their parents called them to bed. The 1965 home's original owners would grow old there, eventually passing it down as an inheritance. It took time for the siblings to let go after their parents passed away. "They grew up here. I think they were finally comfortable moving on knowing that another family was going to be raised here eventually," Abigail told me. With time, they were ready to commit their beloved childhood home to the real estate market. Enter Abigail Johnson and Kolby Sylvia: engaged and on the hunt for their first home. This property was the perfect fit. When a competing investor made a higher offer, the sellers honored their lifelong memories and chose a family over a flip. As a fellow first-time homeowner and "Bob-the- Builder renovator," I could relate to their enthusiasm at closing when they confirmed that original hardwood flooring was hiding beneath old carpet. BY SARAH LEONARDO, ROOT BOUND MEDIA PHOTOS BY CEDRIC SMITH F R O M C L O S E T R O O M T O cocktail bar A P E E K I N S I D E A B I G A I L SY LV I A' S F I R S T H O M E