Tour a Timeless Trilith Home Filled with Curves, Character, and Global Style

“We tend to wallpaper dining rooms and bathrooms, so it was nice that the client wanted to do something unique in the kitchen,” says designer Buffy Ferguson of the head-turning Cowtan & Tout wallpaper in a sage and teal colorway.

Stained wood shelves above brass brackets display the client’s collection of serveware, pottery, and art. The windows above the sink look onto the garden for foliage-filled views indoors and out.

The dining room features a custom table from Holland MacRae and chairs in a Schumacher stripe from Bungalow Classic.

Cabinetry by Bell Cabinetry & Design sets the scene for morning pick-me-ups. The roman shade features an olive branch motif, a nod to the husband’s love of Italy.

An Italian console is topped with an ethereal landscape by Michael Dines in the sun-drenched foyer.

In the living room sitting area, the leather coffee table features brass bit details that give it an equestrian air. The custom painting is by Charlotte Terrell.

The living room conversation nook is outfitted with leather swivels by Verellen through Holland MacRae topped with velvet pillows.

The loggia is a continuation of the open living space, inviting repose on a slipcover-style sofa from Lee Industries. A distressed cabinet houses the wife’s garden supplies, and a trio of aged cocktail tables adds versatility.

The keeping room is a family-favorite hangout and features pillows in fabrics by Holland & Sherry and Zak+Fox, which inspired the deep-mustard walls.

The powder room is an enchanting space, with a misty woodland wallpaper by Bradley. The double brass sconces are by Visual Comfort & Co.

“Painting the hall floors white helped the house feel like an older home,” says Ferguson of the upstairs hall, which accesses the kids’ rooms. The horse figure is an homage to their youngest daughter, an avid equestrian.

The primary bedroom is a neutral-hue oasis that brims with visual interest. The cane bed is a casual juxtaposition to the ornate gilt mirror above the plaster fireplace.

The primary bath is decked out in marble from Renaissance Tile & Bath, adding movement and contrast to the muralled walls of the nearby soaking tub alcove.

A crystal chandelier adds sparkle to the primary bath alcove, which is swathed in a hand-painted mural by Charlotte Terrell. The black soaking tub enhances the drama.

The game room is a laid-back retreat for the couple’s adult and teenage children. Ferguson outfitted the space with plaid drapes, midcentury chairs, horse-leg stools, and a pool table.

A third-floor turfed balcony boasts a chic and modern feel.

Architect Lew Oliver drew inspiration from villages in the south of France to design the home’s facade. 1023 Construction built the home and Chau Wall designed the landscape.

Ensconced in brick and stone, the open-air entry hall of this European-inspired villa practically begs exploration from passersby along the great lawn of Trilith, the new-urbanism community south of Atlanta. Not only is the exterior nature of the space itself intriguing, but the possibilities it presents to progress into the house are beguiling too. One can continue ahead onto the loggia, turn left into the stand-alone octagonal study, or pivot right through a glazed glass doorway into the foyer.

“The layout meanders beautifully, making it feel like an older home and inspiring a curiosity to discover what’s around every corner,” says designer Buffy Ferguson, who orchestrated the home’s timeless interiors in collaboration with architect Lew Oliver and builder 1023 Construction. Oliver—who crafted Trilith’s master plan—drew inspiration from villages in the south of France. “The homeowners loved the warmth and organic quality, which has an archeological feel to it,” he says. “Everything has an earthy appeal, and it feels very related to the setting and the garden.”

The floor plan’s twists and turns inspire refuge and repose. Playful touches like a third-floor tower lounge, a duo of terraced balconies, and a game room above the garage offer a place for the homeowners’ adult children to pile in and play—or rest—during cherished visits.

Ferguson fluently extended the architecture’s visceral impact, devising a harmonious mix of refined surfaces and plush textiles, antiques, and modern pieces, all while melding the husband and wife’s favorite design aesthetics, English and Italian. “The wife and I collaborated closely, and we share a love of English design,” says Ferguson. “We blended the two styles by using English elements to lay a traditional base and added Italian touches to impart a modern feel.”

The result is both sophisticated and inviting. The kitchen feels like an English garden come to life, with wallpaper in a foliage motif climbing skyward around a custom copper range hood. The marble-topped dairy table and Lacanche range add French flair, and the brass-bracketed open shelving and dual inset glassware displays invite the eye to explore.

Walls transform into works of art in the powder room, where an atmospheric landscape wallpaper is punctuated by a dramatic, floating soapstone vanity, Italian-style mirror, and brass sconces. The soaking tub in the primary bath is surrounded by a custom mural by Nashville fine artist Charlotte Terrell, which rises to meet a vintage-inspired pendant that accentuates the alcove’s ethereality.

    The homeowners, avid entertainers, were keen on a multitude of spaces in which to host family, friends, and colleagues. Off the kitchen, the open floor plan is made for mingling. The dining area is laid-back yet refined, with a wall-to-wall banquette that invites curling up to savor a meal. Beyond, a quartet of leather swivels composes a cozy conversation nook and entrée to the loggia, where a deep, slipcover-style sectional beckons. “I like a lot of what I see in Mediterranean buildings where the elements of refinement are paired with rustic details,” says Oliver, noting the example of the stone and brickwork in relation to the timbered ceiling of the loggia. “It feels very comfortable and grounded.”

Ferguson outfitted the third-floor tower room and its adjacent terraced balcony into a contemporary lounge. But the hangout with the most traffic is the one that requires the most twists and turns to access. Situated between the kitchen and the soothing, light-filled primary suite, the keeping room features deep-mustard walls, a color Ferguson pulled from the plaid and floral throw pillows. “I love a dark, moody room and always try to include one in my projects,” she says. Here, location, color, and texture converge to wrap the family in comfort.

INTERIOR DESIGNER Buffy Ferguson, Elizabeth Ferguson Design, (706) 773-3295; elizabethfergusondesign.com ARCHITECT Lew Oliver, Lew Oliver, Inc., (706) 754-7667; lewoliverinc.com BUILDER 1023 Construction; 1023construction.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Chau Wall, Chau Wall & Associates; chauwallassociates.com