A Light-Filled Retreat at the Foot of Kennesaw Mountain Blends Casual Elegance With Modern Comfort

A collaborative effort by Virginia Nocharli, Greg Busch, Rhett Bonner, and Richard Anderson, this relaxed Georgia residence frames sweeping mountain views with understated architectural detail and fresh, traditional style

Written by Shannon Sharpe Photographed by Emily Followill

March 2026

White brick house with arched Dutch door, stone walkway, and lush landscaping

An arched door and curvaceous details on the exterior add an English cottage charm to the home’s white brick exterior.

Light wood cabinet with blue and white ginger jar lamps, bamboo mirror, and wall plates.

Nickel gap walls and blue-and-white touches, such as the Legend Accents lamps atop the antique chest from Bungalow Classic, infuse a coastal flair in the foyer.

White brick house with blue slate roof, dormer windows, and manicured landscaping.

The painted brick facade of the home balances English cottage references with a lighter sensibility.

White staircase with shiplap walls, wicker chair, dog, and baskets

In the foyer, an antique side table from Chairish sits alongside a Casa Gusto chair. Underfoot is a Stark rug.

Living room with white sectional sofa, patterned armchairs, stone fireplace, and wood-beamed

In the living room, designer Virginia Nocharli added accent chairs in a McLaurin & Piercy fabric for an unexpected pop.

Dining room with wood beamed ceiling, round table set for breakfast, and slipcovered chairs.

Seating by Lee Industries upholstered in Heather Chadduck Textiles creates the comfortable vibe the clients desired in the dining area.

Blue and white patterned sofa with built-in shelves displaying blue and white plates.

A custom settee in a Carolina Irving Textiles fabric is backed by decorative plates from Zsuzsanna Nyul.

White kitchen with island, rattan stools, and large windows overlooking greenery.

Paul Ferrante pendants hang above the oversize island. “The scale allows it to function like a table,” notes Nocharli of the family’s primary gathering spot.

Blue kitchen with marble countertops, brass hardware, and white dishware on shelves.

Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray pairs with Nova Blanca Platinum Gold stone countertops and floating shelves, turning everyday storage into an elegant display space for the wife’s collection of china.

Powder room with floral wallpaper, marble vanity, brass fixtures, and oval windows.

In the powder room, The Urban Electric Co. sconces are topped with green shades that play to a Morris & Co. botanical wallpaper.

Bedroom with white paneled walls, black canopy bed, blue floral pillows, and matching bench.

“We knew we wanted to repeat a fabric and pull in blues,” says Nocharli of the Meredith Ellis Textiles drapery and bench upholstery. The Oly bed is from UpCountry Home.

White freestanding bathtub with chrome fixtures, next to a white garden stool with flowers.

In the primary bathroom, ceiling-high windows and a Signature Hardware soaking tub create a light-filled retreat.

White bathroom vanity with marble countertop, nickel fixtures, and shiplap walls.

Carrying through the bathroom’s serene atmosphere, Visual Comfort & Co. sconces illuminate a dresser-inspired vanity by Rosewood Millwork.

Light green laundry room with white subway tile, farmhouse sink, and cane cabinet doors.

In the laundry room, custom cabinetry by Rosewood Millwork is finished in Farrow & Ball’s Vert de Terre. The hand-painted grid floor was designed to patina over time.

Green office with built-in cabinets, desk, and upholstered chair. Patterned window blind.

The wife’s office nods to the outdoors with custom cabinetry in Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green and a floral-patterned Soane roman shade.

Farmhouse sink with gray stone counter, white shiplap walls, and a wicker stool.

Nocharli played with contrast in the charming potting room, pairing a dramatic limestone sink with a cottage-inspired curtain in a Namay Samay fabric from Ainsworth-Noah.

Screened porch with wicker furniture, a table set for dining, and views of a pool and trees.

The screened-in porch is designed for year-round comfort thanks to Memoire Design rattan seating and a Serena & Lily coffee table.

Swimming pool with three wall fountains and a screened porch, next to a white fence.

Because of the proximity to national parklands, the team made the backyard intentionally small, allowing the pool by Bonner Buchanan to take center stage.

There are two types of design clients—those who are unsure of what they want and those who have a vision. The clients of designer Virginia Nocharli, architect Greg Busch, builder Rhett Bonner, and landscape architect Richard Anderson were the latter. The couple envisioned a light-filled retreat that embraced their property’s Kennesaw Mountain backdrop. “The wife has incredible taste,” says Nocharli. “My role was to execute her vision while bringing in a fresh perspective.”

“We didn’t want anything formal,” says the husband. So, Busch approached the architecture with restraint. The painted brick exterior references English precedents without feeling precious, while inside architectural touches such as the curved ceiling detail in the foyer add quirkiness. “It’s casual and unself-conscious,” says Busch. “It’s not trying to be something it isn’t.”

Inside, Nocharli layered materials. Nickel gap wraps many spaces, while white oak ceilings extend from the dining area into the family room. Ceiling heights vary, creating intimacy. “Dropping some ceilings adds coziness without sacrificing light,” notes Nocharli. This emphasis on illumination drove the design, and Busch prioritized oversize windows. “Our and the wife’s idea was to maximize glass without losing character,” he says.

The kitchen serves as the home’s gathering space. “The large scale of the island allows it to function like a table,” says Nocharli. For a subtle accent, she introduced powder blue on the pendant lights, then carried the color through to the butler’s pantry, which serves as an elegant area for crafting cocktails.

The dining area provides another entertaining space for the homeowners, who wanted enough room to accommodate up to five couples. Nocharli designed the room to encourage lingering, surrounding a round table with comfy upholstered chairs. Anchored by an oversize sectional designed for piling upon, the family room also captures this relaxed spirit. “It’s nothing for us to have eight people watching a game,” notes the husband.

Comfortable living extends outdoors through the sunporch, which, with its rattan furnishings and nickel gap ceilings, serves as a seasonal living room. Beyond, a pool and compact backyard designed by Anderson feel expansive thanks to the home’s elevated site and the backdrop of national parklands. “We wanted something easy to keep up with,” says the husband.

As important as shared spaces were, privacy was also prioritized. The primary suite is tucked away as a quiet retreat, with serene whites, natural light, and a freestanding tub. Playful blue-and-green florals add flair, and the room reflects the overarching theme of the house—balanced and livable. “This is one of my favorite types of homes,” muses Busch. “It’s intimate without feeling small—even when the house is full.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Virginia Nocharli, Virginia Nocharli Design; virginianocharli.com ARCHITECT Greg Busch, Greg Busch Architects, AIA, (404) 252-8073; gregbusch.com BUILDER Rhett Bonner, Bonner Buchanan, (770) 423-0249; bonnerbuchanan.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Richard Anderson, Richard Anderson Landscape Architect; richardandersonla.com

Bonner Buchanan, Greg Busch, Greg Busch Architects, Rhett Bonner, Richard Anderson, Richard Anderson Landscape Architect, Virginia Nocharli, Virginia Nocharli Design