Rooted in Style

Nestled into the hillside and sited on three bountiful acres, this Sandy Springs abode is seamlessly connected to its nuanced interiors thanks to the design hand of Meridy King.

Nestled into the hillside and sited on three bountiful acres, this Sandy Springs abode is seamlessly connected to its nuanced interiors thanks to the design hand of Meridy King.

A once crumbling Sandy Springs fixer-upper now percolates with country-manor charms, like manicured gardens touting sculptural boxwoods.

The outside and inside seamlessly intertwine thanks to large-scale, iron-trimmed doorways that lead to the front courtyard, where family dog Rambo is occasionally known to hold court.

A beaded Carmen chandelier by Made Goods adds a whimsical touch to the feminine study.

After dynamiting the backyard, the homeowners built layers of beds and gardens throughout the property.

Two stories of covered terraces plus poolside seating accommodate overflow guests when the homeowners host parties.

An antique table from the homeowners’ collection adds rustic appeal to the living room.

A round table from Ainsworth-Noah serves feels anything but formal thanks to cane-back chairs and French doors.

King enlisted Dave Lennard to create a custom 40-inch square zinc-top coffee table to anchor the great room.

In a guest suite, French doors open onto a hillside garden with layers of blooming beds. The hanging lamps are Circa; the hearty Atlas bench is from Arteriors, and the linen curtains are Norbar.

Excavated granite boulders from the yard act as sculptural pieces by the swimming pool.

This enchanting tree house is actually a redwood stump reclaimed from California. The homeowner carved out the interior for a peaceful spot to perch in the garden. The roof is made of small wooden logs sourced from fallen trees and limbs on the property.

After years of longing for the wide-open spaces of the country but still wanting the city within arm’s reach, a family of five discovered their dream domicile in 2003 on a dilapidated Sandy Springs property. The forgotten home offered little besides good bones and three green acres worth digging into. “The house was being sold as a tear-down, but we saw the hidden potential,” says the homeowner.

Thirteen years and a handful of renovations later, the decor was overdue for a face-lift by Meridy King of Meridy King Interiors. Her mission: to highlight the home’s character while keeping in mind the lush gardens and grounds. The homeowners consider the house and gardens as one continuous space, so King channeled the great outdoors into the 10,000-square-foot house to achieve a dreamy but durable design.

Livability was a top priority. With pets, family, frequent houseguests and countless parties, the home needed to be sophisticated but resilient from the elements of day-to-day living. Easy-to-clean limestone and hardwood make for warm, rustic and ultimately forgiving floors, while elegant, fine-lined furnishings add sit-and-stay appeal.

The two-story living room is the heart of the home, where streams of natural light bounce off the crisp white walls that once sported a heavier hue that did no service to the space. The lighter surface now spotlights the wooden-framed windows, beamed ceiling and grand flagstone fireplace. King selected a soft, neutral palette that pulls from the outdoors and reflects the family’s playful personality. Cream upholstered seating adorned with pillows covered in Nancy Corzine and Galbraith & Paul fabrics pops with blues, greens and grays and complements the large abstract painting by artist Madeline Denaro from Pryor Fine Art. 

In the study, a purposely minimalistic use of color on the drapes and rug sets the stage for the room’s breathtaking original woodwork. A contemporary writing desk by Bernhardt pairs with a statement-making Carmen chandelier by Made Goods that’s dripping with elegant strands of coco beads. Relaxed refinement continues in the dining room and light-filled bedrooms, where careful consideration to color gives an effortless elegance to the spaces that share attention with sweeping views of the blooming yard.

The grounds were always revered as a continuation of the main house, with the homeowners investing hundreds of hours into making the outdoors into a true living room. After purchasing the property, the entire yard was dynamited; the unearthed soil was used to build dozens of beds and the large-scale granite boulders were incorporated to frame the yard and act as sculptural artwork. With the help of Adriana Hernandez of Arcoiris Design Gardening, the segmented yard now boasts a bounty of fruitful gardens growing the likes of herbs, hydrangeas, roses and cutting flowers, as well as quiet sitting nooks tucked away throughout the property.

“With Atlanta’s temperate climate, we spend 10 months of the year reaping the benefits of the outdoors, even when we’re inside,” says the homeowner. “Thanks to the light-filled main house opening onto acres of green gardens, we feel like we’re on a continuous vacation.” 

INTERIOR DESIGN Meridy King, Meridy King Interiors. (404) 252-3377; meridyking.com. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Adriana Hernandez, Arcoiris Design Gardening, (404) 438-9955; arcoirisdesign.com. ARCHITECT Bill Edwards, Edwards Architecture Ltd. (404) 869-2443; edwardsarchitecture.com.