A Serenbe Retreat Pairs Understated Interiors with a Southern Sense of Place

Clad with white oak accented with natural materials like stone, copper, and thermally broken steel, the California-inspired ranch seamlessly blends into the landscape.

Custom wood wall paneling with a scallop motif creates a powerful first impression in the front foyer. The console table is by Anees Furniture & Design through Paul+.

A stone fireplace mantel from Chesneys juxtaposes the white oak and plaster walls in the open living room. The swivel chairs by Bungalow Classic are covered in fabric through Ainsworth-Noah.

In the great room, a sofa by A. Rudin through Jerry Pair anchors a convivial seating area. The Chinese ceramic jar lamps are by Rose Tarlow through Jerry Pair.

Wishbone chairs by Carl Hansen through Design Within Reach surround a custom walnut dining table by Skylar Morgan in the open dining area.

A Hector Finch pendant through R Hughes illuminates a moody powder room.

The spacious open kitchen includes a curved window banquette with a marble Tulip table by Saarinen through Design Within Reach. The pendant is from The Urban Electric Co.

White oak, marble, and plaster define an open kitchen with lofted ceilings. The cabinetry was custom crafted by John Bynum Custom Homes and the barstools are by Powell & Bonnell through R Hughes.

A sofa and lounge chairs by Janus et Cie upholstered in Perennials fabric surround a stone fireplace on the covered porch of this Serenbe ranch.

Painted cabinetry coordinates with the cement tile flooring by clé tile in a multipurpose space that includes laundry, a pet cleaning station, and a flower-arranging area.

Walnut side tables by Skylar Morgan flank a bed by Lawson-Fenning in the spacious primary bedroom suite. The chandelier is from The Urban Electric Co.

A sculptural freestanding tub by Waterworks invites relaxation in a spa-like primary bathroom suite. The mirrors are from R Hughes.

Brainstorm Bronze by Sherwin-Williams creates a moody milieu in one of the guest suites. The curved velvet headboard with nailhead trim is from Bungalow Classic.

Polished nickel sconces with fluted glass shades from Waterworks flank a mirror from RH in a handsome guest bathroom. The Perla Veneta quartzite countertop is from Marmi.

Thermally broken steel windows by Brombal comprise three sides of the rambling ranch’s light-filled office.

A marble fireplace mantel from Chesneys juxtaposes the wood paneling in the office. The artwork is by Wellon Bridgers through Pryor Fine Art.

Fabricated by deBeer Granite using quartzite from Marmi, the custom sink adds a touch of drama to a powder room.

Reproduction limestone pavers are from François & Co. in a relaxing outdoor living area. The landscape was designed by Land Plus Associates.

Eager to spend more time with their grandchildren who live in the Atlanta area, a California couple acquired a wooded 3-acre lot in Serenbe and commissioned Heyward Russell Studio, Westbrook Interiors, John Bynum Custom Homes, and Land Plus Associates to create a one-level abode with ample entertaining space and a strong connection to the outdoors. “This is really a rambling California ranch with a bit of Southern flair,” says architect Matthew Russell, pointing to the low-slung massing punctuated by pitched rooflines, substantial stone chimneys, and deep covered outdoor spaces.

Indeed, the three-bedroom home pairs white oak siding with rugged stone chimneys, copper accents, and a clay-tile roof, while thermally broken steel doors and windows forge a visual connection to the surrounding woods. “The material palette is simple, clean, and minimal, which adds to the feeling of tranquility,” says Lauren Russell, noting it also reinforces its connection to the landscape, “so it feels rooted. There’s a sense of permanence and authenticity.”

Because most of the house is one-room deep, natural daylight spills into nearly every space from multiple directions, with the harshest southern light filtered by a pergola over the limestone patio along the side of the house.

White oak continues inside in the form of flooring and ceilings, fluted door jambs, and handcrafted cabinetry, complemented by plaster, stone, and sumptuous fabrics. Even the fireboxes were carefully considered, project designer Amanda Leibson notes, their interiors lined with antique terracotta laid in a herringbone pattern.

Leaning into the client’s appreciation for midcentury modern design, Barbara Westbrook and her team introduced a mix of custom, new, and vintage furnishings with clean lines and minimal decoration. Housed within a bank of cabinetry in the open kitchen, for instance, a curved banquette and rounded table and chairs soften the architecture, while an organically shaped chandelier overhead continues the theme.

Elsewhere, restraint gives way to moments of levity. An expanded multipurpose space between the garage and house incorporates a flower-cutting station, storage, laundry, pet bath, and even a dog crate built into the island. The powder room cuts an even moodier milieu, pairing dark-tinted plaster with a dramatic custom marble vanity, sculptural mirror, and asymmetrically placed pendant “to shake things up a little bit,” says Westbrook. “People should come out of the powder room talking about it.”

For Westbrook, the finished home succeeds precisely because its architecture and interiors never compete for attention. “This home is about material and detail as opposed to a lot of decoration,” she says. “If it had been plopped down somewhere in California, it would fit right in.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER Barbara Westbrook, Barbara Westbrook Interiors, (404) 355-9430; westbrookinteriors.com ARCHITECTS Matthew and Lauren Russell, Heyward Russell Studio, (334) 322-0125; heywardrussell.com BUILDER John Bynum Custom Homes, (678) 725-2848; bynumhomes.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN Land Plus Associates, (404) 238-9595; landplusassociates.com