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“My husband was hired with a goal of bringing Auburn into a new age,” Leath said. 

It only made sense to bring the home — built in 1938, just over 80 years ago — into a newer, prosperous time. The home under the care of the Gogues, Auburn's former first family, was more antique driven, said Jon Thompson, executive director of city and community relations, special events and estate operations. 

Thompson said the public wing of the house was restored to exactly how the house was first designed with a few contemporary twists from the Leaths. 

Vinnie Nathan, dean of the College of Architecture and Design, gave “invaluable input.” Leath said she helped shop around for some of the accent pieces, keeping her frugal heart in mind with each purchase. 

She enjoys shopping in Home Goods, North Carolina shops like Hickory Park, Summer Classics and Matheson Interiors out of Montgomery. 

Summer Classics, owned by Auburn alumni Bew and Wendy White, donated a major supply of furniture. 

The Duncan Phyfe dining table remains in the collection of timeless pieces standing just below Birmingham-based artist David Nichols' whimsical and calming triptych. The colors resemble Auburn like a distant cousin. It hangs against an eye-catching navy blue wire-glass cloth. 

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Leath backed away, down past the mahogany front door and across the corridor into the next room slowly. 

"It changes," Leath said as she shuffled farther back to take in the varied angles of the piece. "It is beautiful." 

The timing was troubling, Leath said, but allowed them to throw in their two cents on the design. Renovation to the 80-year-old house began after the Gogues announced their departure in fall 2016 and concluded in spring 2018. 

The intention was to have the house ready for the first family before hiring and then before start date.

“The good part was that because [of the delays], Ms. Leath and Dr. Leath had the opportunity to come in and make it a home, a home that reflects them,” Thompson said. 

Leath said she wanted to be certain the house had personality, in contrast to it being designed in a vacuum. And sure enough, it emulates the Leath family's personality combined with their priority of comfort. 

She said she wanted guests to know it was thoughtfully done — less of a museum, more of a home. 

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Just to the right of the entry way sits an enchanting piece of art from Caracole named "Top Shelf," and just like the naming of the piece, it holds tight a secret: It entertains. 

Leath opens the piece's dense double doors to reveal spirits and glasses galore. 

"Sometimes we entertain right here," Leath said and smiled. "People love it." 

The doors open up to face a room of three seperate and intimate seating arrangements. Leath said she remembers the visit the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen made as she looks around.

An East African impala, shot by the University president on a trip to Uganda, watches over the well-lit room. 

Just through a rounded archway, one finds a room opening up to the formal garden and a green area surrounded by Japanese Maples. 

The windows give light to the room that will soon house a black Steinway Grand Piano. Soon, Auburn will transition to a Steinway school, and it only seems fit that one sit in the house of the president, she said. 

All the beauty and comfort aside, the conservatory lies waiting for guests to stand in awe — starting with the stone flooring and crawling all the way to the glass ceiling. 

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Leath said the glass is similar to light-sensitive glasses. When it is hot outside, the glass lets in less light and vice versa. By far, it is her favorite addition to the house. Adorned with AU gold plates and sound-proofing technology, the conservatory serves them well, she said. 

"None of this existed. Susie Gogue really wanted this," Leath said. "There were no private living quarters in the president's house. They lived in this part of the house and had bedrooms upstairs. Now, there is a wing. It is a much better long-term solution." 

The designs strike Leath with a sense of, "This is Auburn. This is beautiful." Her eyes light up as she walks through each of the entry ways, pointing and divulging all of the thought and work that went into each decision. 

Leath said she is lucky her husband has a similar style and that deciding which direction they would take their home was not too difficult. 

"We have, in the past, walked through a China store in different directions and met an hour later saying we found a pattern we really liked and, sure enough, it was the same," Leath said. 

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The Leath's space features a large master suite, powder room, laundry room, kitchen and breakfast room downstairs. The upstairs, where guests stay when they visit, has two guest rooms, a recreation room, another set of bedrooms, offices and an exercise room.

The private wing is brand new, and Leath said they have settled in well. When they are home with time, which is rare, they like to cook. The first lady cooks from Cuisine at Home magazine. Sage and pesto-stuffed chicken is on the menu when she takes to the kitchen. Italian, Leath said, is her husband's strong suit. 

Personal elements fill the house like "The President's Gardens," a book seated in eyesight. The Leaths are gardeners. 

Her sons plan to join them for the holidays, one having recently been married. Although the house was just recently topped off with finishing touches, the Leaths and their team of decorators are now working on the Christmas decor. 

"It'll be nice to have everyone together," Leath said. 

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