A European-Inspired Estate Balances Elegance and Ease in Atlanta

Architect Brad Heppner was guided by balance and symmetry on this grand family estate, combining traditional charm with modern touches.

An Italian marble round table from M. Naeve and Una Malan stools bring sculptural balance to the entry.

The lacquered bar, built by Kingdom Woodworks and finished in Benjamin Moore’s Regent Green, occupies a prime spot near the entry hall.

A Christian Liaigre console anchors the foyer beneath a reproduction mirror from Ainsworth-Noah.

Behind the Christian Liaigre table in the dining room, Todd Murphy’s dramatic painting illuminates dinner parties.

In the salon, a clay-and-gold-leaf artwork by George Dunbar hangs above a Dmitriy & Co. sofa in an alabaster wool.

On the opposite side of the salon, Apparatus lighting and a Jo Peterson painting grounds the room in artful sophistication.

The grand kitchen features custom cabinetry by Kingdom Woodworks and honed soapstone from Pietra Luxury in Stone.

A striking Dedalus stone vanity from Pietra Luxury in Stone and a Phillip Jeffries wallpaper make for a jewel box of a powder room.

Designed to be a place for lounging, the keeping room offers up plenty of seating with the Quintus sofa and Anees swivel chairs. A work by artist Ed Nash adds oomph.

In the primary bedroom, a Jean de Merry bench upholstered in a Liaigre wool sits at the end of the custom bed.

Highland House chairs flank the primary sitting area, providing front-row views to the lush backyard.

Visual Comfort & Co. sconces add soft illumination to the custom Kingdom Woodworks vanity in the primary bathroom.

The guest bedroom is serene in green, complementing the neutral tone of the custom bed upholstered in a Holly Hunt fabric.

Landscape architect Shane Griffin created a formal, European-inspired garden that connects the main house to the pool house. A covered lounge area makes poolside entertaining easy.

From the front door, there’s a clear view of the backyard, where, thanks to Griffin’s landscape design, an expansive lawn retains formality while also serving as a laidback space for children and pets to play.

Nothing delights a design team more than clients who love architecture. Such was the case for architect Brad Heppner and designer Meredith McBrearty. When Heppner’s longtime clients approached him, they asked for something new yet rooted in tradition. “They wanted a formal base,” says Heppner. “And they entertain often, so it was crucial to have space for gatherings, but the day-to-day couldn’t feel overwhelming.”

The house—which was built by Garrett & Ingols—stretches gracefully across the property, with the main residence linked to guest and pool houses by elegant formal gardens designed by Shane Griffin of Planters. Like the home itself, “there’s a very European aspect to the landscaping,” notes Heppner.

To play upon the architecture, the owners brought on McBrearty to furnish the interiors. “The wife came to me with images from French designers like Jacques Grange, Jean-Louis Deniot, and Christian Liaigre,” notes McBrearty. The designer translated that inspiration into a soft, monochromatic scheme to create interiors that, she says, “really reflect who they are.”

The palette of creamy ivories, soft blues, chocolate browns, and deep greens threads through the home, enlivened by varied textures and carefully considered art. The foyer sets the tone with its groin-vaulted ceiling and, just beyond, a bar coated in a pine-colored lacquer. “Props to Brad,” laughs McBrearty. “It’s a prime location for entertaining—drinks are served as soon as you walk in.”

A touch of sheen also enlivens the dining room with reflective wallpaper on the ceiling that highlights a Todd Murphy painting that glows during dinner parties. When not gathered around the table, guests linger in the salon, where McBrearty added intimacy with separate seating zones. Artwork plays a starring role with a Jo Peterson painting above the fireplace facing a clay-and-gold-leaf piece by George Dunbar on the other end. “Art helps crown a space,” muses McBrearty. “It gives a home soul.”

For everyday life, the kitchen and keeping room are “where all the activity happens,” notes Heppner. Warm oak cabinetry and limewashed beams temper stone floors in the kitchen, while the lounge space’s sectional and swivel chairs provide a place to “crash down,” says McBrearty.

As a respite from their consummate hosting and busy family life, the clients can escape to their light-filled, monochromatic primary suite. “It’s just a calm and airy space,” says McBrearty. Much like the rest of the home, it’s both elegant and comfortable. “The house is very refined,” says Heppner. “But the longer you spend in it, the more welcoming it becomes.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER Meredith McBrearty, Meredith McBrearty Interiors, (202) 390-2912; meredithmcbrearty.com ARCHITECT Brad Heppner, Bradley E. Heppner Architecture, LLC, (404) 745-9339; bradleyeheppner.com BUILDER Garrett & Ingols, (404) 402-3009; garrettandingols.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN Shane Griffin, Planters, Inc., (404) 261-6002; plantersgarden.com