Forget Los Angeles—Alexandra Breckenridge and Casey Hooper made Georgia their home and never looked back
“The young family found a quiet life in Atlanta.”
If any couple needs a place to nest, it’s Alexandra Breckenridge and her husband, Casey Hooper. They married in 2015, had baby Jack in 2016, and then daughter Billie came along in 2017. “We do things quickly,” says Alexandra, smiling. Along the way, she was cast as the nurse/soulmate/ex-wife of Kevin Pearson on NBC’s hit show This is Us. The role cemented her career, already hopping with gigs on American Horror Story and The Walking Dead, which brought her to Atlanta. Casey, whom she met at a Grammys after-party while both were living in California, was wrapping up years of touring the world as lead guitarist for Katy Perry.
In the current family scenario, the foursome is happily ensconced in a quiet community just outside Atlanta in a two-story house they’ve made their own. “The previous owners had a very different style from us, and the entire house was more traditional,” recalls Alexandra. “It felt like Christmas in the ’90s, kind of like the McCallisters’ house in Home Alone.” Casey remembers lots of brown, dark reds, and heavy drapes. Fortunately, Casey’s mother, Rebecca Cartwright, is an interior designer who followed them to the South part-time, so she helped them reimagine the circa-2008 cottage into a lighter, more relaxed abode.
“They have an eclectic, boho look influenced by living in California,” says Cartwright. Furnishings from laidback-cool companies like Bobo Intriguing Objects and Serena & Lily fit the bill, along with a contemporary desk for Alexandra’s office that the designer had made by a woodworking company known for its unique glazes. Cheeky wallpaper and Hollywood photos add personal touches.
Alexandra and Casey give credit to Georgia as the real draw. With its thriving entertainment industry, both are able to work on projects close to their new home. “The rural areas of Georgia have an amazing sense of community we were lacking in L.A.,” says Alexandra. “We wanted our children to grow up in a place where they could play and ride their bikes that didn’t feel like a big city.”
