Striking a Balance

Designer Brian Watford. Photo by David Christensen

In this adults-only retreat, seating pieces are decked out in warm white linen velvet, pulling up to a Lucite coffee table.

This home“s foyer is also its central hall, connecting the front door to the back; a sleek console“flanked by a pair of bright green velvet ottomans“grounds the space squarely in the middle.

Because the client“s original Craftsman-style furniture was “too literal” and “didn“t flow with the rest of the house,” Watford blended a variety of styles; with a stained-glass window retaining just enough Craftsman ambiance, Watford fashioned a masterful mix by incorporating an Art Deco sideboard, a silk chinoiserie wall covering and a Chinese Oushak area rug.

“I wanted it to feel like a lounge, dark and cozy,” says designer Brian Watford of the living room, where dark brown plaster walls add depth to the space. There“s plenty of comfortable seating, too, including a vintage daybed and a pair of cane-back, vintage- inspired slipper chairs opposite of the fireplace, intentionally low so as not to block the view as you enter the room.

The dining room is beautifully lit by a chandelier of citrine gemstones cascading through the center of a silk drum shade.

“The master bedroom is enormous, as large as the kitchen, breakfast room and family room combined,” Watford says, “so the challenge was to make such a large space feel cozy without being cluttered.” By upholstering the walls in charcoal gray wool, the designer not only wrapped the room in warmth but also found a way to control echo, given the generous dimensions. In turn, the walls became the foundation for a simple gray-and-white scheme with pops of deep turquoise throughout the space.

The modern lines of a leather-topped game table are the perfect counterpart to the shapely silhouettes of the chairs that accompany it.

Because the breakfast area is open to the family room, Watford carried over the same muted palette. “I used the same contrasting linen fabrics on the Roman shades that I used in the family room drapery, but reversed the proportion of each color used,” he points out. A dark wood table is surrounded by woven leather chairs and a custom banquette.

A stacked-stone fireplace establishes the family room as a causal space with a slightly rustic feel. “The walls needed more than just paint, so I covered them in a chevron-patterned grasscloth, adding another layer of texture,” Watford explains. It“s softened, he adds, by floor-to-ceiling linen draperies banded in a contrasting linen, picking up the turquoise blue accent color in the rug and pillows.

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles: This whole house is stunning, from start to finish. but did it originate as a whole-house undertaking? Or was it a “let’s just do one room” project that grew? Brian Watford: The challenge was unique for several reasons. This was my first client after starting my own business. I had a general understanding of the business side of this industry but it was now my responsibility to promote my business, to interview potential clients, to develop a fee structure for each project. All on top of creating beautiful, unique interiors! I was hired to do the whole house for this couple; they’re young and, at the time, were starting their family. They needed everything because they were still living with college furniture.

What were the goals set forth by the owners in terms of style, color and function? As we got involved in the design process, it became apparent that my personal style was very similar to theirs—streamlined with a mid-century modern edge. The rooms needed to be warm with an overall neutral palette and pops of color inviting you into each space. Obviously, the house needed to be very family-friendly. But it was equally important to them that we not sacrifice the integrity of the design because of the kids. A big challenge was to keep the kids’ toys from taking over every room of the house, which happens way too often. The
solution was to turn the study on the main level into the kids’ playroom. This is their space to play with their toys and watch movies and, at the end of the day, everything is put back in that room. This designated space allows the rest of the house to function best for the family’s needs.

It sounds like you struck a beautiful balance, which isn’t always easy. This was a dream job for me because my clients and I have very similar tastes, so balancing my aesthetic with the client’s was easy. They saw this as an investment and wanted good-quality pieces, and they were willing to pay for them. When I find pieces that are unbelievably beautiful—perfect for an interior I’m working on but pretty expensive—I always present the client with options of similar pieces that are less
expensive. That gives them an opportunity to be part of the decision process although they often, as with this job, purchase the original piece. My goal with any interior is to help my clients create a lifestyle that is timeless with modern sensibilities, and the best interpretation of their
personal style.

MAN OF DESIGN   Brian Watford’s Favorite Things

CAR: 1955 BMW 507
ARTIST: Cy Twombly
CHAIR: Klismos; it’s classic with modern sensibility
RESTAURANT: JCT Kitchen
KITCHEN GADGET: Folder of take-out menus (I never cook)
COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Life and Work: Malene Birger’s Life in Pictures
COMFORT FOOD: I’m from the South, so I love homemade biscuits and sausage gravy
WALLPAPER: Phillip Jefferies Rivets: Silver on Elephant Manila Hemp
WATCH: Michael Kors Oversized PU Chronograph Watch in white or black
PAINT COLOR: Pratt & Lambert Half-Tone 29-25
COCKTAIL: Dewar’s Scotch and water, no ice
MOVIE: Schindler’s List
CHARITY: Jerusalem House
WAY TO ENTERTAIN: Small, intimate gatherings in an outdoor space
TV SHOW: Mad Men
VACATION SPOT: Ibiza

 INTERIOR DESIGN Brian Watford, Brian Watford Interior Design, (404) 898-0660; brianwatford.com