Lakeside Luxe
A French Creole-style abode edging the banks of Grange Lake transported visitors into an oasis of laid-back luxury at the 2015 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Serenbe Designer Showhouse.
Front Porch // B.D. Jeffries
Serenbe’s verdant landscape informed the earthy, organic scheme of this front porch (below and opening spread) designed by the in-house design team at B.D. Jeffries. A live plant wall serves as a striking piece of art while also providing privacy. A custom live edge maple table showcases unique botanicals and hornets’ nests, creating unusual but artful accents. “The table is both beautiful and functional,” says designer Kati Hardwick. “It’s wonderful for hosting parties or casual gatherings.” At the opposite end, woven wicker chairs and a low-slung teak table capture the relaxed country lifestyle that has become synonymous with this pastoral community.
Dining Room // Amy Morris, Amy Morris Interiors
Taking a cue from the dining room’s abundance of natural light, Amy Morris outfitted the windows with an elegant Jim Thompson fabric. “With three walls of windows, heavy drapery would have been a disservice to the room, so I opted for a sheer fabric that would let light filter in,” she says. The window treatments’ ethereal appeal is complemented by an oversize figurative oil painting and a cascading glass chandelier. Morris selected a persimmon Oushak rug to anchor the ribbed dining table and antique chairs, playing up her affinity for mixing old and new. A French console, graphic horn mirror and gilded iron stool also bring the designer’s signature style to life.
Living Room // Lauren DeLoach, Lauren DeLoach Interiors
Taking a soft, serene and slightly feminine approach, Lauren DeLoach describes the living room as a reflection of her personal style. Relishing the opportunity to act as her own client, the designer employed elegant fabrics to inject new life to furnishings such as antique French armchairs, while elevating accent tables with unexpected textures. Cast concrete garden stools were transformed into drink tables, and a lattice iron coffee table keeps things airy while allowing a full view of the Turkish rug. In lieu of artwork above the mantel, DeLoach made a bold statement by hanging antique Spanish doors procured from The Nicholson Gallery. “I have a real soft spot for antiques and exquisite details,” she says.
Kitchen // Monte Hewett Homes, Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios, Huff Harrington Home
A collaboration between Atlanta’s top design firms, this standout kitchen is an ode to the home’s Arcadian architecture. Michael Morris, director of interior design at Monte Hewett Homes, and designer Melissa Nagle of Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios employed a monochromatic color palette to allow unique design elements such as the custom hood, handmade charcoal-colored backsplash and honed Piertre Gray marble island counters to shine. “We reinterpreted the traditional subway tile shape to look like brick that had been there for years,” says Morris. A metallic finish introduces an industrial vernacular, as do the metals rods connecting the suspended open shelving. Meg Harrington and Ann Huff of Huff Harrington Home furthered the charm with brass barstools, artwork and copper accents.
Master Bedroom Suite // Tami Ramsay and Krista Nye Schwartz, Cloth & Kind
Krista Nye Schwartz and Tami Ramsay’s penchant for thoughtful design is thoroughly evident in this tranquil master suite. “We always gravitate towards designs that are richly layered with history and heart,” explains Schwartz. Here, they began by selecting a graphic linen fabric by L’Aviva Home for an accent wall. The pattern was designed by women from the tribal villages of Hazaribagh, India, who create the striking motifs as part of a matrimonial ritual. On the opposite wall, an artful vignette displays a painting by Clay McLaurin along with arrowhead collections and African masks. The rest of the space, including a stylish master bath and entry hallway, features custom details that play up the room’s soulful aesthetic. “It’s important to be intentional and edited with your design layers,” says Ramsay. “This way, they read as chic and subtle instead of overwhelming.”
Guest Bedroom // Christy Dillard Kratzer and Heidi Pierce, Dillard Pierce Design Associates
Christy Dillard Kratzer and Heidi Pierce deliver soft sophistication in this guest bedroom, which lives larger than its small footprint thanks to a subtle color palette. “There’s really a sense of calmness and tranquility that washes over you when you enter Serenbe, so we wanted to replicate that feeling in here,” says Kratzer. A custom gray hand-plastered wallcovering from the Dillard Pierce Collection serves as the backdrop for a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings. Accents such as an iron wall sculpture and weathered antique doors add intrigue and pay homage to the home’s wooded surroundings.
Family room // Shayelyn Woodbery, Shayelyn Woodbery Interiors
The terrace-level family room designed by Shayelyn Woodbery exemplifies the home’s cozy yet stylish sensibilities. Nixing the traditional sofa-and-chairs setup in favor of an arrangement that wouldn’t impede flow in this high-traffic area, Woodbery introduced velvet swivel chairs flanked by a mix of low-slung stools. “Using both pen shell side tables and upholstered ottomans felt fun and less predictable,” the designer says. “Plus, they can double as seating during large gatherings.” Olive green walls and a playful, flying-ducks drapery fabric pull the look together while nodding to Serenbe’s lush, bucolic setting. A nearby Parsons-style bar-top table provides an intimate spot to enjoy a game of cards or a drink prepared in the kitchenette.
Office // Jason Mitchell, SmithBoyd Interiors
Brimming with visual panache, this office by Jason Mitchell captures the dynamic character of the designer’s late grandmother through details that offer a snapshot into her life. “She was a seamstress by day and bootlegger by night,” explains Mitchell, who transformed a vintage sewing machine into a well-appointed bar. Atmospheric abstract art pays tribute to his grandmother’s pensive nature, while plush textures hint at her sense of style. A handsome carved desk showcases a treasured collection of magnifying glasses that also emulate Mitchell’s icon. “Her home was full of them due to her poor vision, so it sparked my own passion for collecting them,” he says. “She’s undoubtedly a huge influence in my life.”
Guest Bedroom // Barbara Heath, BB Heath & Associates
This Lakeside bedroom retreat by Barbara Heath was inspired by “glamping” (glamorous camping). Window treatments on either end of the plush leather bed were designed with pull-back corners to give the illusion of a tent opening, and Heath repeated their pattern—a delicate yet graphic Belgian linen print by Clay McLaurin—on the coverlet and shams. Antique gilt mirrors and a stately beside chest add elegance, as do thick drapery panels. “These were purposefully heavier in weight for a cocoon-like effect,” says Heath. “I wanted to create a space where you could close yourself off from your surroundings and really have a restful evening.”
Entry Foyer, Stair Hall and Powder Room // Lyndsy Woods, L. Kae Interiors
Lyndsy Woods brought her vision of a modern farmhouse aesthetic to life in this trio of spaces by mixing old-world charm with contemporary flourishes. Beginning in the foyer, ombré drapery and abstract artwork act as a chic backdrop for traditional barley twist furnishings. In the connecting stair hall, Woods took a bolder approach with Thibaut’s allover feather wallpaper in a rich cobalt blue colorway. A sophisticated brass mirror in the powder room, meanwhile, juxtaposes a rustic red vanity. “I love incorporating contrasting details,” says Woods. “It really elevates a space.”
Screened porch // Huff Harrington Home
Meg Harrington and Ann Huff, along with associate designers Sam Jones and Martha Douglas Peyton, bedecked a covered porch with Parisian charm—a Huff Harrington Home trademark. French linen chairs sidle up to an 18th-century Swedish table that was purchased on a recent buying trip abroad. Modern wicker stools keep things fresh and current, as does a vintage copper lantern overhead. Never ones to shy away from statement art, the team selected an abstract oil painting by Charles Ross. “We feel very strongly about including original art in every room,” says Harrington. “It brings great character and life to a space.”
Mudroom and Laundry Room // Janie Wilburn, The Jane Group
Janie Wilburn married style and function in this combination of spaces on the terrace level. She wrapped the mudroom in a deep blue-gray hue for a striking effect. An antiqued mirror console and leather stools pull double duty as beautiful accents and—respectively—a place to set down keys and an impromptu stepstool. The adjoining laundry room contrasts with its light-filled design scheme. “You have to be prepared for what happens in these utilitarian spaces,” notes Wilburn, referring to the tiled dog bath and durable quartz countertop. French limestone flooring, also a smart choice for lakeside wear-and-tear, seamlessly ties both spaces together.
Rear Terrace // Stuart Pliner, Stuart Pliner Design
Entertaining was top of mind for Stuart Pliner when designing the rear outdoor terrace. Taking into account the length of the space, Pliner created two separate seating areas. “This is ideal for families, so that adults can mingle on one side, while kids can have some fun on the other,” he says. Furnishings from Kolo Collection’s handsome Opal line anchor the adult zone, which also features a fire pit, while a custom swing and a pair of Adirondack chairs in an aqua hue set the tone at the opposite end. “I wanted to use a bright color to highlight the energy of the space,” explains Pliner. Wispy curtains and elephant print pillows add a dose of whimsy.
Landscape Architecture & Garden Design // Missy Madden and Todd Yeager, Bellwether Landscape Architects
Influenced by Serenbe’s outdoor living ethos, principals Missy Madden and Todd Yeager devised a complementary site plan that celebrates this lifestyle. “Yards aren’t just admired here—it’s very much a part of everyday life,” says Yeager. “Whether you’re hanging out with your neighbors on the porch or walking down the street to the General Store, it’s all about the experience.” To that end, the duo selected fragrant shrubs such as hydrangeas and gardenias to enhance curb appeal. Trident maple trees add visual impact with their scale and will provide much-needed shade as they mature. In the rear of the home, Madden and Yeager created a series of immaculate pathways where guests can enjoy the prime lake setting.
ARCHITECTURE J.P. Curran, currancoarchitects.com BUILDER Monte Hewett Homes, montehewetthomes.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Bellwether Landscape Architects, bellwetherla.com CABINETRY Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios, bellcabinets.com COUNTERTOPS Levantina and Cambria via Atlanta Kitchen, crhomeusa.com FLOORING Authentic Reclaimed Flooring, authenticpinefloors.com APPLIANCES Bosch, bosch-home.com BATHROOM TILE Porcelanosa, porcelanosa-usa.com PLUMBING Rohl, rohlhome.com DINING ROOM Amy Morris Interiors, amymorrisinteriors.com LIVING ROOM Lauren DeLoach Interiors, laurendeloachinteriors.com MASTER SUITE Tami Ramsay and Krista Nye Schwartz, Cloth & Kind, clothandkind.com KITCHEN AND SCREENED PORCH Huff Harrington Home, huffharrington.com GUEST BEDROOM Christy Dillard Kratzer and Heidi Pierce, Dillard Pierce Design Associates, dillardpierce.com FAMILY ROOM Shayelyn Woodbery Interiors, shayelyn.com OFFICE Jason Smith for SmithBoyd Interiors, smithboydinteriors.com FRONT PORCH B.D. Jeffries, bdjeffries.com FOYER, STAIR HALL AND POWDER ROOM L. Kae Interiors lkaeinteriors.com MUDROOM AND LAUNDRY ROOM Janie Wilburn, The Jane Group, janegroupinc.com GUEST BEDROOM Barbara Heath, BB Heath and Associates, [email protected] OUTDOOR TERRACE Stuart Pliner Design, stuartplinerdesign.com