Château Chic

Classic Charm In the living room of this Braselton, Georgia, residence, a lofty ceiling with rough-hewn beams creates a spacious feel, as do a wall of French doors that open onto a screened porch and outdoor kitchen area. Interior designer Gretchen Edwards outfitted the room with subtle pattern—as seen in the drapery, herringbone sofas and overscale-plaid coffee table. “I love the combination of geometrics and different shades, but it’s all really taken from the rug and drapery fabric,” the designer says.

Mix Masters The kitchen features details such as a rough-hewn wood planks on the ceiling and a bronze-and-stainless-steel custom hood made by Calhoun Design and Metalworks. Mahogany-stained cabinetry by Karpaty Cabinets creates a furniturelike effect, while oversize subway tile from Renaissance Tile & Bath features a subtle pattern. The barstools are through Hickory Chair and the drapery fabric is Duralee.

An antique kitchen scale from Foxglove Antiques adds a touch of whimsy in the kitchen.

In the breakfast nook, French doors open onto a side courtyard. The dining table is custom through Nottingham Antiques, the chair fabric is Duralee and the chandelier is Currey & Company.

A mirror from Foxglove Antiques reflects a trio of bird accessories from Joseph Konrad.

A work by Jane Ingols hangs above a hall bench from Webb Marsteller, which provides a chic resting place for odds and ends.

Spanning 20 acres, the home’s grounds were transformed into an outdoor oasis by landscape architect Richard Anderson, architect Yong Pak and builder Alan Webster. Here, a stately pool house, showcasing Pak’s trademark attention to symmetry and detail, holds court in the backyard.

Textures are at play in the formal dining room, which boasts stone floors and boiserie French paneling on the walls, painted Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray.

Fabric-paneled walls and wall-to-wall carpet from Underfoot Design create a softness and warmth in the master bedroom, despite the room’s large proportions. The headboard is by Norman Hasty Carpentry, the drapery fabric is Thibaut and the bedside table is from Webb Marsteller. The chandelier is Visual Comfort through PDI, and the wall fabric is Duralee, upholstered by Bruce Wiley.

Fabric-paneled walls and wall-to-wall carpet from Underfoot Design create a softness and warmth in the master bedroom, despite the room’s large proportions. The headboard is by Norman Hasty Carpentry, the drapery fabric is Thibaut and the bedside table is from Webb Marsteller. The chandelier is Visual Comfort through PDI, and the wall fabric is Duralee, upholstered by Bruce Wiley.

Decorative vessels in the master bedroom add a touch of glamour.

The oval-shaped master bath showcases recessed vanities, a freestanding Kohler tub through PDI and a chandelier by Visual Comfort, also through PDI.

A personal vanity was among Teresa’s requests for the master bathroom, so Edwards designed a custom table with Norman Hasty Carpentry.

Another example of the homeowner’s handiwork is a back porch swing featuring intricate details; it also provides an idyllic spot to lounge or to visit with friends and family.

The wine cellar provides an intimate space for the couple to entertain, while detailed stonework and steel doors help showcase their collection. “As wine enthusiasts, we love to entertain, especially with our large family during holidays and on special occasions,” says Teresa. The wooden table was handmade by Allen, who picked up woodworking upon retirement. Edwards custom monogrammed the dining chairs with the Hughes’ initials.

The wine cellar provides an intimate space for the couple to entertain, while detailed stonework and steel doors help showcase their collection. “As wine enthusiasts, we love to entertain, especially with our large family during holidays and on special occasions,” says Teresa. The wooden table was handmade by Allen, who picked up woodworking upon retirement. Edwards custom monogrammed the dining chairs with the Hughes’ initials.

The wine cellar provides an intimate space for the couple to entertain, while detailed stonework and steel doors help showcase their collection. “As wine enthusiasts, we love to entertain, especially with our large family during holidays and on special occasions,” says Teresa. The wooden table was handmade by Allen, who picked up woodworking upon retirement. Edwards custom monogrammed the dining chairs with the Hughes’ initials.

Here, the home’s overall Normandy-style architecture is evident. To accommodate the Hughes’ vision of a French country home, Pak incorporated classic French windows and doors—sourced from Menuiserie Thareaut in Normandy— into the overall design. Limestone surrounds, a slate roof and stucco exteriors also convey a French-inspired feel. A screened porch and outdoor grill area feature a table and benches that Allen built from black walnut, which was recycled from trees he cut down on the property.

After living at Chateau Elan for 16 years, Teresa and Allen Hughes, a pair of retired empty nesters who love to travel and entertain, decided to put down roots in the sprawling town of Braselton, Georgia. Equipped with 20 acres of land, the Hughes knew they’d require a design-build dream team to complete the job, so they enlisted the talents of architect Yong Pak, interior designer Gretchen Edwards, project manager Alan Webster with Benecki Homes and landscape architect Richard Anderson. The result: a French-inspired manse whose striking, Normandy-style architecture and carefully layered interiors create a timeless retreat that feels connected to the outdoors.  

“Teresa’s dream was French country, and I loved everything about that,” says Edwards. “She’s traditional and conservative but didn’t want it too formal.” To achieve this vision, the team incorporated French-inspired details throughout, including limestone surrounds and stucco on the exterior, and a Venetian-style plaster finish on the walls of the foyer, living room and breakfast room. A boiserie French wood paneling adds interest to the formal dining room. Pak also incorporated soaring ceilings and an abundance of authentic French windows and doors sources from Normandy, which let in plenty of sunlight and take advantage of the property’s views. “Those are the real deal,” says Pak. “I tried to bring the outside space in. This house lives very modern but we tried to bring a Normandy country house feel to it.”

To complement the architecture and keep living areas from reading too sparse, Edwards paid close attention to scale, layering antiques, patterns and organic elements to add warmth and bring the outdoors in. “I always love bringing elements of nature,” she says. “It was very easy to accomplish that here. Everywhere you turn and look, there’s a gorgeous nature vignette out every window.” 

In the expansive living room, Edwards broke up the space by creating a seating arrangement featuring herringbone sofas from Webb Marsteller and a pair of chairs that belonged to the Hughes, which she reupholstered in a Duralee fabric. To cultivate a sense of ease, Edwards also incorporated subtle patterns and neutral hues borrowed from the rug and nature-inspired drapery fabric. 

While many of the home’s walls are plaster, Edwards took a different approach for the sizable master bedroom, enveloping the oval-shaped space in softness by paneling the walls in a Duralee fabric and covering the floors with wall-to-wall carpet. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the outdoors. “It like stepping into another world,” she says.

The same can be said for the overall result, thanks to a hardworking team who spared no detail in catering to the Hughes’ every need. “I couldn’t be more pleased,” Edwards says. “It’s so rewarding to me that they enjoy living here and are as comfortable as they are and enjoy it as much as they do.”

ARCHITECT Yong Pak, Pak Heydt & Associates, (404) 231-3195; pakheydt.com INTERIOR DESIGN Gretchen Edwards, Gilstrap Edwards Interior Design, (404)869-4401; gilstrapedwards.com BUILDER Alan Webster, Benecki Homes, (404) 250-0999; beneckihomes.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Richard Anderson, Richard Anderson Landscape Architect, (404) 892 1788; richardandersonla.com