Atlanta Style Now

Inspiring looks and bright ideas from the 40th annual Decorators' Show House & Gardens

The 2010 Atlanta Symphony Associates Decorators’ Show House & Gardens, situated in Buckhead’s prestigious Tuxedo Park, provided a grand canvas for many of the South’s foremost design talents, who deftly transformed its elegant expanses into 28 sophisticated designer spaces. Inside, world-class art from the likes of Ed Ruscha, Kimo Minton and Andy Warhol decked the walls, while fine furnishings filled spaces such as a charming solarium and cheerful greenhouse overlooking the lily pond. The home’s gracious front entrance welcomed visitors to the tour in style, and the abundant gardens conjured up remembrances of Claude Monet’s famous “Giverny,” for which the show house was named. An unforgettable opening night party, signature gift shop from Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts and convenient Maestro’s Market were just a handful of the additional attractions that made this Decorators Show House a must-see event—and a fitting way to encapsulate its four-decade legacy.

 

Easy Elegance
G-l-a-m-o-u-r! That’s the word that best describes Shon Parker’s intimate dining room. Creating the feeling of a space put together over time—a “collected” approach—Parker’s goal was to bring a more casual ambience to a space that’s too often rarely used. Surrounded by shimmering draperies in charcoal silk taffeta, the cocoon-like room featured a mix of furnishings running the gamut from an Art Deco sideboard to contemporary tufted chairs. The result: an informal space with formal flair. Tim Coughlin and Shon Parker, Shon Parker Design Inc.

TABLE AND BUFFET Shon Parker Design Inc. CHAIRS Smith Grubbs & Associates WHITE DEMILUNE & CHANDELIER Baker CLOCK AntiqueAtticDothan.com SCREEN Raymond Goins SCONCES The Urban Electric Company RUG Stark Carpet CHARCOAL SILK FABRIC Duralee CONVEX MIRROR Baker Furniture ART Kimo Minton through Tew Galleries ACCESSORIES Tony Duquette by Baker, Beverly Bremer Silver Shop and Smith Grubbs & Associates

 

Form & Function
Design Galleria’s scheme for the kitchen highlights symmetry and repeats the soft curves found in the architecture throughout the house, such as mirrored doors over the ovens inspired by the home’s clerestory window. A new pewter-and-scagliola hood from the Matthew Quinn Collection for Francois & Company is framed by book-matched slabs of marble; sourced from Italy by Marmi Natural Stone, they were artfully sculpted to follow the lines of the hood. Two square islands eliminate the traffic issues one long island would have presented multiple cooks and provide more usable countertop space, too. The most ingenious part? Out from under the seating island, a large wood countertop can slide out and connect the two. Matthew Quinn, Mary Kathryn Timoney, Robin Pittman, Patricia Danzig and Laurie Lehrich, Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio

CABINETRY Downsview Kitchens COUNTERTOPS Marmi Natural Stone WOOD ISLAND COUNTERTOPS Craft Art RANGE HOOD Matthew Quinn Collection by Francois & Company FAUCETS Matthew Quinn Collection by Rubinet TILE BACKSPLASH Renaissance Tile & Bath LIGHT FIXTURES & ACCESSORIES Stanton Home Furnishings UNDERCABINET LIGHTING WAC Lighting PAINT COLOR Benjamin Moore Pashmina REFRIGERATORS, RANGE, OVENS, WARMING DRAWER & HOOD LINER Dacor DISHWASHERS Hadco

 

Natural Beauty
Natural textures, warm tones and unique objects are hallmarks of Jimmy Stanton’s work. And in the keeping room, Stanton used them with aplomb. Overscaled furniture, accessories, art and lighting ground the space (adjacent to the kitchen), giving it a sense of permanence and calm. The room is at once both modern and rustic, organic and chic. Jimmy Stanton, Stanton Home Furnishings

ALL FURNISHINGS, FABRICS, ART & ACCESSORIES Stanton Home Furnishings

 

 

Light & Bright
For the design of this dining room, Meg Adams knew that she wanted to employ aqua set against a soft neutral backdrop. To that end, she found the perfect Obsorne & Little fabric and had an Empire-style chandelier custom strung with real turquoise to serve as the room’s crowning jewel. Blue also abounds inside the painted Swedish vitrine as well as in the lively birds nesting beneath a Louis Philippe mirror. Anchoring the space is a reclaimed wood table topped with a slab of honed Calcutta gold marble from Levantina, its delicate curves continuing the room’s soft symphony of shapes. Linen-garbed seating—including five chairs and two benches—complements the lines of an antique Swedish bench fronting the window, from which sun streams all morning long. Meg Adams and Emeleni Solis, Meg Adams Interior Design

CHANDELIER Marjorie Skouras Designs CHAIRS, ARMOIRE, LAMPS AND ACCESSORIES Foxglove Antiques & Galleries GILDED MIRROR The Stalls FABRIC Osborne & Little through Grizzel & Mann Inc. RUG Keivan Woven Arts SWEDISH VITRINE CABINET Foxglove Antiques & Galleries CHEST AND BENCH A. Tyner Antiques TABLE BASE World of Rugs & Furniture MARBLE SLAB ON TABLE Levantina LINEN STOOLS Meg Adams Interior Design

 

Making an Entrance
Inspired by the architectural stairwell and black-and-white marble floor, Christy Dillard
created an entryway with Neoclassical glamour and ample charm. Using a large-format, hand-stenciled damask wallpaper as her foundation, Dillard mixed materials and textures with uncompromising ingenuity. A pair of Louis XVI-style consoles, topped with slate blue marble, greets visitors and acts as a chic alternative to a traditional entry table. The blue hue is repeated in a sumptuous slipper chair down the hall, part of a smart seating group that encourages guests to linger. A 19th-century Swedish settee from Bjork Antikt was altered, giving it a backless silhouette, and upholstered in a hand-stenciled Greek key fabric for a graphic effect. Custom canvases and aged gold “Jessica” chandelier from Bradley-Hughes add contemporary appeal that ushers this room into the 21st century and beyond. Christy Dillard, Dillard Design Group

CHAIR George Smith through The Mercantile RUG Designer Carpets CUSTOM WALLCOVERING & FABRIC Heidi Pierce through Bradley-Hughes CONSOLE & COCKTAIL TABLES Parc Monceau SOFA Bjork Antikt LAMPS Donghia MIRRORED SCREEN Edgar-Reeves ART Heidi Pierce through Bradley-Hughes

 

Sit a Spell
In the secondary entry—this one in the lounge area—designer Cindy Davis put a timeless yet modern twist on traditional style. Contemporary art is juxtaposed against sophisticated, faux-painted walls. And by pairing a classically shaped sofa and armchair in an unexpected finish with an iron-and-stone cocktail table and luxe rug, Davis raises the bar on melding unique colors and textures. Cindy Davis, C. Davis Luxury Lifestyles Design

RUG Sharian CHAIR Beau Holland Studio SOFA Stanton Home Furnishings ART Pryor Fine Art

 

Glass Act
Creativity was key in transforming this greenhouse into a lush oasis perfect for entertaining. Here, a Swedish-inspired dining area is illuminated by a one-of-a-kind chandelier; custom-crafted by Randy Korando, the metal fixture is fitted with glass bottles that double as vases and votives. Other unexpected touches include purple sea glass imbedded in the flooring, carrying out the cool color palette drawn from orchids, palms, ferns and smartly selected succulents throughout the space. Meanwhile, the outdoor seating area features what seems to be classic Barcelona chairs. Only upon touching do you realize that they’re made of concrete. Finally, an assortment of reclaimed furniture and accessories round out this design team’s vision of a luxe yet eco-friendly retreat. Randy Korando and Dan Belman, Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts

ALL FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts

 

Fresh Appeal
Janie Hirsch wanted to design a powder room that was sassy and feminine—but with masculine appeal, as well. She turned to the Furniture Guild in Canton to create a custom vanity with a shagreen-look leather inset, taupe milk paint finish, travertine top and a Vitraform sink that’s the first of its kind in the country. Composed of gold leaf set between two glass bowls, the sink is lit from beneath for a glamorous glowing effect, while a polished brass faucet with crystal lever handles sparkles like jewelry. In stark contrast to the black absolute granite floors, pale green walls brighten the small room while adding dimension that might have been lost in a more typical neutral. Hammered brass lanterns from Baker impart a floating effect while two mirrors and works of original art render the room artfully balanced. Janie K. Hirsch, J. Hirsch Interior Design

SINK Vitraform through Elegant Additions FAUCET THG through Elegant Additions CUSTOM VANITY The Furniture Guild MARBLE COUNTERTOP Legacy Granite LEATHER ON VANITY Edelman Leather RUG Moattar, Ltd. LARGE MIRROR & CHANDELIER Bradley-Hughes VANITY MIRROR, SCONCES & ACCESSORIES Baker, Knapp & Tubbs TILE FLOOR Sherman Interiors WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore Silken Pine TRIM COLOR Benjamin Moore White Dove

 

Entertaining with Ease
The entertaining gallery, designed by Kim Regas, is a multipurpose space located near the living room and library—the ideal spot for reading the paper, sipping a glass of wine or catching up with a friend. Featuring a subtle mural and Italian settee, sitting for a spell never looked so good. Kim Regas, Regas Interiors. LLC

MURAL Fred Cox through Classic Arts TABLE & FLOOR LAMP Foxglove Antiques & Galleries CHAIR William Word Antiques SETTEE Parc Monceau CURTAIN FABRIC Lee Jofa

 

Lush & Luxe
Because it overlooks a grand and intricate garden, designer Bill Hudgins opted to make the terrace more serene and subdued. Adding contrast to the restrained color palette is a mix of textures, including synthetic wicker chairs and a cast-stone Corinthian table that also serves as the striking pièce de résistance. Exotic Japanese maples offer shade while perfectly clipped American boxwoods act as accessories in sleek, metallic-glazed planters. Other choice greenery includes a dwarf myrtle topiary and lush grass arranged in handmade containers. The combination of neutrals and earthy greens makes this terrace the ideal spot to relax and recharge, while the gorgeous view also makes it the perfect setting to entertain. Bill Hudgins, Lush Life Home & Garden

ALL FURNISHINGS, ACCESSORIES, PLANTS & CONTAINERS Lush Life Home & Garden

 

Simple Sophistication
Carole Weaks is known for creating elegant spaces, and the solarium that she designed was no exception. Upholstered pieces decked out in neutral fabrics from the Cameron Collection at Ainsworth-Noah filled the room. With an abundance of natural light flooding the space, and her selective use of color, Weaks created a scheme that was soft and pretty, but not overly sweet or feminine for a public area. An antique rug and contemporary art add to the room’s air of simple sophistication. Carole Weaks, C. Weaks Interiors

UPHOLSTERY Cameron Collection through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates PILLOW FABRICS Zoffany and Christopher Hyland through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates COCKTAIL TABLE Parc Monceau ART Tew Galleries RUG Sullivan Fine Rugs CURTAIN FABRIC Stratum through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates

 

Casual & Comfortable
“Fresh” best describes the poolside cabana on the home’s terrace level designed by Cheryl Womack and Alison Womack Jowers. Against a crisp white backdrop, wicker and rattan furniture team up with a large painting from Pryor Fine Art to set a tone of carefree elegance. Pops of pale blue show up in everything from glistening blue-and-white glass bottles to the blue ceiling, even a blue ceramic garden stool. Alison Womack Jowers and Cheryl Womack, Womack Interiors

SOFAS & CHAIRS PierceMartin PRINTED PILLOW FABRIC Alan Campbell through Ernest Gaspard & Associates ART Pryor Fine Art CEILING FAN Aria Ventilatori through Grizzel & Mann

 

Pretty in Pink
Inspired by fashion as well as the fresh beauty of cherry blossoms and dogwoods, designer Melanie Turner struck the perfect balance of high style and high function in this sunroom. Throughout the space, the designer used indoor furniture cleverly covered in outdoor fabrics. A resin-top table, with a gold bangle-like base, is one of the room’s most fetching elements. But it’s more than a mere fashion statement; its custom height makes this table the perfect spot to dine, read or work. Shying away from heavy textures and patterns, Turner gave the space a light and airy ambience with a white, taupe and pink palette, accented with turquoise and gold for chic appeal. Other stylish highlights include a vintage ’50s dresser, a gilded sunburst mirror and gorgeous artwork by Todd Murphy. Melanie Turner, Turner Davis Interiors

SOFA, CHAIRS & TABLE Bradley-Hughes MIRROR Julian Chichester CURTAINS Pindler & Pindler DRESSER Vintage John Widdicomb ART Todd Murphy FRAMING Caroline Budd Framing ACESSORIES Grizzel & Mann, B.D. Jeffries and Erika Reade Ltd.

 

Double Take
Corey McIntosh divided his sitting room into two symmetrical spaces—one side featured top-tier furnishings (opposite page), the other a strikingly similar look for less (this page). The goal was to show that good taste comes in a variety of price points and that pieces can be mixed and matched to create the perfect, personal space, whether by mixing a high-end sofa with a less-expensive coffee table or choosing affordable upholstery while splurging on one-of-a-kind art. McIntosh proved that the options are limitless and that good design is within reach of every budget. Corey McIntosh, McIntosh Interiors

FURNITURE Baker, Knapp & Tubbs FABRICS ON PILLOWS Kravet and Donghia WALLPAPER Heidi Pierce through Bradley-Hughes CUSTOM RUGS Sharian ART Tew Galleries, Thomas Deans Fine Art and Emily Amy Gallery LIGHTING Lamp Arts Inc. and Innovatoins in Wallcoverings ACCESSORIES Smith Grubbs & Associates and Stanton Home Furnishings

 

Oh, Boy!
Barley twist beds define the young gentleman’s bedroom by Yvonne McFadden and Helen Marie Rutter of Summerour Interiors. Sophisticated tailored fabrics, fine photography and a subdued color palette evoke a grown-up’s space while remaining age appropriate. Helen Marie Rutter and Yvonne McFadden, Summerour & Associates

CARPET & RUNNER Eve, Inc. LAMPS The Urban Electric Company TABLE & STOOL Holland & Company CLOTHING Sid Mashburn COVERLETS & ACCESSORIES Scout for the Home WINDOW SHADE FABRIC Knoll Textiles BED SHEETS Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray ART Lumière Gallery

 

Child’s Play
Designer Margaret Norcott set out to inspire young imaginations in this fun and quirky crafts suite, its warm color scheme inspired by the floral Roman shade. Recycled art works reminiscent of folk pieces were an intentional choice because, “I didn’t want the art to be intimidating,” she explains. “I wanted children to look at it and feel that they could reproduce the piece.” The art works are placed high on the walls, out of reach from messy little fingers. But a bevy of nooks and cubbies were built at accessible heights, making cleanup and organization a breeze. Likewise, the rug comprises modular carpet tiles from InterfaceFLOR; single tiles can be replaced easily in the event of a paint or glue spill. Margaret Norcott, Milieu Design Group Inc.

ACCENT WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore Crowne Hill Yellow RUG Flor CURTAIN FABRICS Duralee, Schumacher and Kravet CHAIRS Room & Board ACCESSORIES Matilda’s Closet

 

Classic & Colorful
Peggy Snider-Houghton and Tracy Davis of Closets and More banish the boredom of washing, folding and ironing clothes in the updated laundry room they designed. White-painted traditional doors offer a crisp counterpoint to the ruby red washer and dryer, making the space cheerful and welcoming, too. Peggy Snider-Houghton and Tracy Davis, Closets and More

 

Sensuous Style
Talk about star power. Designer William Peace isn’t a name dropper, but the furnishings he incorporated into this library were designed by some of the rock stars of the style world—an Edward Fields rug, a wood-turned Moulthrop bowl, a Jan Showers cocktail table and an Andy Warhol lithograph, to name a few. What’s more, a rotating mix of fine art found its way into the room each week of the showhouse’s three-week run, including photography, sculpture, paintings and other works on paper from local galleries. Against the sensuous, tactile backdrop created by Peace, the art became the star attraction—no name dropping required. William B. Peace, Peace Design

RUG Edward Fields Carpet Makers through Tai Ping Carpets CUSTOM SOFA Grizzel & Mann COCKTAIL TABLE Jan Showers through Grizzel & Mann SIDE TABLE & LAMP Dessin Fournir through Grizzel & Mann CONSOLE TABLE Niermann Weeks through Grizzel & Mann STOOLS UNDER CONSOLE TABLE Robuck & Co. Antiques DRAPERY FABRIC Classic Cloth through Grizzel & Mann ART Andy Warhol through Alan Avery Art Company MOULTHROP BOWL Signature Shop & Gallery

 

Understated Approach
Inspired by the late British garden designer Russell Page, Marcia Weber of Marcia Weber Gardens to Love took an understated approach to the design of the loggia. And while the space was quietly elegant, it did not lack for originality. Against the home’s classic Georgian architecture, Weber juxtaposed contemporary furniture, whimsical light fixtures from The Urban Electric Company and simple yet unique plantings, all of which seem right at home in this semi-private space. Marcia Weber, Marcia Weber Gardens to Love

FURNITURE Kolo Collection PLANTINGS Marcia Weber Gardens to Love CHANDELIERS The Urban Electric Company

 

Luxe & Inviting
For this Venetian-inspired master bedroom, designer Patricia McLean chose a George III Japanned cabinet as the most prominent piece, its scarlet red reappearing throughout the room. Two magnificent panels of de Gournay wallpaper, for example, feature the red hue; set in custom bamboo frames, their height seemingly expands the space. Additionally, they’re beautiful foils for the room’s gold silk wall covering, enhanced by elegant window treatments—in this case, scalloped and box-pleated—that are McLean’s signature. Meanwhile, multiple seating groups, including a curved-back Venetian canapé paired with a custom quatrefoil-shaped ottoman, provide ample places to read or discuss the day’s events. A 15th-century Italian figurine—plus hand-carved wooden birds strategically perched through the space—adds character while ribbon-hung pictures lend a feminine touch. Patricia McLean, Patricia McLean Interiors Inc.

HAND-PAINTED PANELS De Gournay through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates FRAMING Patricia McLean Interiors Inc. SECRETARY Deadwyler Antiques CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS & RIBBON R. Hopkins & Company Inc. VENETIAN CANAPE AND GILDED FOOTSTOOL William Word Fine Antiques MONOGRAMMED PILLOW Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings FLOOR LAMPS Lamp Arts Inc., Edgar-Reeves Lighting & Antiques and Patricia McLean Interiors Inc. OUSHAK RUG Rugs by Robinson BIRD FIGURINES Regalo Antiques OIL PAINTINGS Robuck & Company Antiques, William Word Fine Antiques and Spalding Nix Art & Antiques BOOKS AND ACCESSORIES H.G. Robertson Silver & Gifts, William Word Fine Antiques, Deadwyler Antiques, The Gables Antiques and Regalo Antiques

 

Luxe & Inviting
For this Venetian-inspired master bedroom, designer Patricia McLean chose a George III Japanned cabinet as the most prominent piece, its scarlet red reappearing throughout the room. Two magnificent panels of de Gournay wallpaper, for example, feature the red hue; set in custom bamboo frames, their height seemingly expands the space. Additionally, they’re beautiful foils for the room’s gold silk wall covering, enhanced by elegant window treatments—in this case, scalloped and box-pleated—that are McLean’s signature. Meanwhile, multiple seating groups, including a curved-back Venetian canapé paired with a custom quatrefoil-shaped ottoman, provide ample places to read or discuss the day’s events. A 15th-century Italian figurine—plus hand-carved wooden birds strategically perched through the space—adds character while ribbon-hung pictures lend a feminine touch. Patricia McLean, Patricia McLean Interiors Inc.

HAND-PAINTED PANELS De Gournay through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates FRAMING Patricia McLean Interiors Inc. SECRETARY Deadwyler Antiques CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS & RIBBON R. Hopkins & Company Inc. VENETIAN CANAPE AND GILDED FOOTSTOOL William Word Fine Antiques MONOGRAMMED PILLOW Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings FLOOR LAMPS Lamp Arts Inc., Edgar-Reeves Lighting & Antiques and Patricia McLean Interiors Inc. OUSHAK RUG Rugs by Robinson BIRD FIGURINES Regalo Antiques OIL PAINTINGS Robuck & Company Antiques, William Word Fine Antiques and Spalding Nix Art & Antiques BOOKS AND ACCESSORIES H.G. Robertson Silver & Gifts, William Word Fine Antiques, Deadwyler Antiques, The Gables Antiques and Regalo Antiques

 

Bold & Beautiful
Two spaces in the home’s private quarters, conceived and executed by furniture designer and artist Raymond Goins, excel in the unexpected. The vestibule features a lacquered trellised wall in persimmon while the master bath—with a backdrop by Design Galleria—includes a water closet with floor-to-ceiling verre églomisé panels in a saffron palette as well as a luxurious tufted-leather door. The focal point in the bath, however, is the abstract painting of a horse, also by Goins. It defines the space and best represents the one-of-a-kind style for which the designer is known. Design Galleria and Raymond Goins, Raymond Goins Designs

HORSE PAINTING, ETAGERE & BENCH IN MASTER BATHROOM Raymond Goins Designs ACCESSORIES ON VANITY Asprey CONSOLE IN VESTIBULE & VERRE EGLOMISE PANELS IN WATER CLOSET Raymond Goins LEATHER Canary Yellow by Moore & Giles LINENS & TOWELS Pratesi CURTAIN FABRIC S. Harris DECORATIVE VESSELS Jane Marsden Antiques VANITY SEAT IN VESTIBULE Raymond Goins Designs

 

Classic Remix
Stan Topol seamlessly blended premier antiques, affordable upholstery and fine art in the living room. And while the resulting space looks effortlessly put together, nothing was left to chance. On the contrary, function and accurate space planning—the bedrock of any Topol-designed interior—did not preclude form. Through beautiful furnishings and top-tier art, Topol proves that an elegant space can actually be livable. Stan Topol, Stan Topol & Associates Inc.>> CLICK HERE to see an article for details on how this room was installed in less than two hours

CHAIRS Sherrill Furniture through Charles Ray & Associates at AmericasMart SOFA Custom by Stan Topol & Associates, Inc. FABRIC ON SOFA Nancy Corzine through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates FABRIC ON SOFA PILLOWS Clarence House through Jerry Pair CABINET Jane Marsden Antiques & Interiors PAIR OF BOXES ATOP CABINET Go Home Ltd. at AmericasMart TERRACOTTA URNS FLANKING FIREPLACE Go Home Ltd. through AmericasMart PAINTING Portrait of Lee Hall by Elaine de Kooning through Rafael Gallery, New York RUG Rafael Gallery, New York WOOL CARPET Moore Floor Coverings COFFEE TABLE Nancy Corzine through Ainsworth-Noah & Associates PORCELAIN ON MANTEL Jane Marsden Antiques & Interiors CHANDELIER Robuck & Company HORSE ON MANTEL Personal Collection of Stan Topol