Analyze This

THE ANNUAL DECORATORS’ SHOW HOUSE & GARDENS opened this spring to a chorus of admiring comments as visitors entered “Camelot.” The new Georgian-style residence, owned by Mark Bhaggan and William Hale at 3750 Tuxedo Road, was built with the help of architectural designers Craig Headrick and Boyd Leyburn of HLP Architects. And, per tradition, the show house benefitted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

What a showplace! Once through the front door, a quick glance revealed a softly textured living room to the right and a library with quatrefoil–patterned carpet to the left. Straight ahead, French polished walnut consoles led the eye through the entrance hall to the grand salon, a huge formal space arranged into intimate groupings. Beyond these and other enchanting rooms, there were still grand gardens to explore and an infinity pool to beguile.

Here, this year’s featured designers share their design solutions—and inspirations.

Entry Hall,
Shon Parker Designs
Shon Parker

“Baxter, a bronze greyhound, greets you in the entry hall. On the walls, we overlaid an eggshell finish with a high-gloss varnish, which gives the room a bounce of light. That curve at the ceiling makes the space feel grander and softer, too. Because of the second-story opening, this room called for symmetry; balance makes it more pleasing to walk through. Aren’t those classic modern walnut consoles beautiful? I wanted them to be open and not stuffy, so the room feels airy. And their linear forms lead the eye to the grand salon beyond. I wanted the space to feel wider, so I didn’t put a rug on the travertine floor, which would have created a bowling alley effect. The fresh Tiffany blue used for accents is a hot color; I’m painting my own hallway with it right now.”

 

Grand Salon,
Pineapple House Interior Design
Stephen Pararo, Nikki Bachrach and Leah Bailey

“We wanted to convey the impression that this is an old home, with furniture handed down and put together somewhat casually. The grand salon is enormous, so we wanted to make it a formal reception area broken up into more intimate areas. Around the fireplace, you could have conversations within smaller groups or a larger group could gather around that massive marble coffee table. We intentionally used a variety of chair styles from slightly different periods, using fabrics and colors to pull them together. And then, in this traditional house, we juxtaposed two fairly modern étagères beside the fireplace. We used the metal-and-glass pieces to get the same kind of contrast we see in Europe—old houses with new, modern influences. Throughout the room, we opted for large-scale art instead of accessories; even the items on the étagères are art pieces, significant but fairly simple.”

 

Dining Room,
Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts
Randy Korando and Dan Belman

“It’s sort of like putting a moustache on the Mona Lisa—deciding to glaze the Zuber-style wallpaper. We’re fans of that wallpaper. It’s just slap-you-across-the-face-beautiful, but it was too bright for the room. The glazing gave a new room an aged look. We also tried for an alfresco effect. Instead of a chandelier, we used an antique French bronze lantern. And Randy created an interior gazebo, running struts up the ceiling and applying latticework on the wainscoting and in the niches. Without the lattice, the room wouldn’t have been nearly as romantic. Finally, the French composite Four Seasons stone figures—which were 7 feet tall, including pedestals—added a touch of Old World elegance. The room feels very old money, very grown-up.”

 

Breakfast Room,
McLaurin Interiors
Maria McLaurin Nutt

“I didn’t want to do a country look.  I was aiming for a breakfast room with 1920’s to 1930’s updated appeal. The curved lines of the round walnut pedestal table, the chairs with some Greek influence and the metal chandelier set the stage. The Baker rug has both a contemporary and also an Art Nouveau/Art Deco look. That period, after all, marked the beginning of today’s modern design. I tried all the usual items on that narrow mantel. In the end, I came up with two Art Deco clocks—one alabaster, one brass—and a chiming brass German timer. I do like to bring in things with some history, like the clocks. Typically I wouldn’t use silk draperies in a breakfast room, but the glamorous kitchen called for them. This is a place where you can be comfortable with family.”

 

Keeping Room,
Beasley & Henley Interior Design
Troy Beasley and Stephanie Henley

“The keeping room is where you start and finish the day. The concept for this room is really modern classic. It’s comfortable, sophisticated, cozy and exciting. Seating keeps the space functional; this sofa is 113 inches, longer than standard. And my salon chairs, as well as the lounge chairs, were meant to be comfy-cozy. I like the play of colors—that pear green and that curry next to the charcoal. Throw in some antique elements, like the oversize French stoneware urns, and you add a sense of history within a new environment.”

 

Living Room,
Womack Interiors
Cheryl Womack and Alison Womack

“It’s a novel idea that people might actually use a living room. You could come here after dinner to sit with friends. We’ve always wanted to do a soft, neutral room, where texture-upon-texture gives you more interest than color. And where elements relate, like the curve of the sofa reflects the curves of the bench. It’s nice to have that little pull-up bench—something that doesn’t match anything else—for entertaining or as an accent. We blended the modern with the antique, no one piece overwhelming another. And the glazed ceiling directs your focus to the Italian-inspired lantern fixture with antique milk glass. Pearlescent and metallic ceilings are so trendy now and make a room more modern. Our faux artists used three paint colors and came up with what we call a champagne shimmer.”

The Retreat,
Harmonious Living by Tish Mills
Tish Mills

“Edgy but peaceful—that’s what I wanted to show in the retreat; I’d use it for relaxing, reading and dreaming. I kept bold color and strong elements around the perimeter of the room, and I kept the middle quiet, using neutral colors so that people could enjoy the boldness from a safe place. Furniture focal points soften the corners of this linear, almost-square room to bring you back to the middle, so the rhythm isn’t disrupted. All of the colors—including the chocolate, turquoise and platinum in the wallpaper—were drawn from the 2009 Color Forecast. The pink crocodile-skin slipper chair is a fun, surprise element. And the mirror, framed with mother-of-pearl, plays off the console’s driftwood finish, contrasting positive against negative.”

Upstairs Sitting Area,
Stanton Home Furnishings
Jimmy Stanton

“I’d call my room’s style rustic transitional. My favorite items are the driftwood chandelier and the one-of-a-kind pillows. The old vintage elm coffee table is modern but has a simple feel. The tufted sofa, upholstered in a heavy linen, has that Belgian look and makes a statement in itself. People loved Helen Durant’s layered goat painting; it’s primitive yet almost modern. On the walls and ceiling we did Benjamin Moore’s Ashley Gray to make the space—decorated in warm browns and grays—peaceful. People want comfort in this kind of updated way.”

 

Library,
Douglas Weiss Interiors
Douglas Weiss

“I don’t look at the covered books as books. It’s all about color and tex­ture as a backdrop. My focus was to make the paneled library inviting and warm with color and shape. Brighter colors make a bolder statement, and scale gives the room that useful spin. The rug is a classic design, but done in a larger scale and with brighter colors, it feels newer. I added curves to the library’s rectilinear shapes with the alabaster chandelier, an oval side table and that big mirror. And I upholstered a transitional barrel-back chair with a traditional apricot cut-velvet. Combining modern and traditional elements makes design relevant for today.”

 

Master Bedroom,
C. Weaks Interiors
Carole Weaks

“I wanted the master bedroom, with three different seating areas, to be intimate despite its large size. We were concerned that it wouldn’t hold together. But because we used fairly monochromatic colors—blush and variations of white and cream—and art with the same color depth, the space seems cohesive. Everything is of the same tone and coloration. A large room does not have to be over-embellished to be luxurious. There is a lot of negative space, yet the room has a sense of purpose. You could sleep or work here, and the French painted settee and antique French slipper chairs could be used for watching television. We went with a queen-size bed for more intimacy, too. The bed is part of the room but not the focal point.”

 

Kitchen,
Cornerstone Design Inc.
Yvonne Amon

“I love this kitchen. The sensuous lines of the island would ignite any cook’s imagination. Our cherry, Louis Philippe-inspired cabinetry takes you back to the old furniture-making tradition. You see this look in French and Italian antiques. There’s egg-and-dart hand-painted trim and mahogany ribbon inlay and the medallions feature satinwood, mahogany and sapele wood. There’s only one stain, but each wood—cherry, ash or ebony—takes that finish a different way. This kitchen was designed for entertaining; there’s storage and function behind all those finely crafted doors. The appliance wall has double refrigerator-freezer units and two ovens. The 15-inch-deep wall cabinets can handle platters and chargers. This kitchen is elegant, but at the same time it’s livable.”

 

Designer Resources

ENTRY HALL Shon Parker Design Inc., (404) 784-7463; shonparkerdesign.com. ACCESSORIES: Circa Lighting; Baker Furniture; Lamp Arts; MacRae and Robert Allen/Beacon Hill Showroom; Shon Parker Design Inc. ART: Stewart Helm; Tew Galleries Inc.; Shon Parker Design Inc. FABRIC & TRIM: Duralee Fabrics. FURNITURE: Smith Grubbs & Assoc. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Walls and trim, Linen White.

GRAND SALON Pineapple House Interior Design Inc., (404) 897-5551; pineapplehouse.com. ACCESSORIES: Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc.; Ernest Gaspard & Assoc.; Foxglove Antiques & Galleries; Grizzel & Mann; Holland & Co. Antiques; J. Nelson; Jerry Pair & Assoc.; Lee Jofa; The Nicholson Gallery; Travis & Co. ANTIQUES: Parc Monceau Ltd. ART: James Lahey, Fay Gold Gallery; Molly Sawyer, Mason Murer Fine Art; Anatoly Tsiris, Trinity Gallery; Fred Reed Picture Framing. FABRICS & TRIM: Pillows, Beacon Hill; Brentano Inc. through Donghia; Houles USA Trimmings; Metaphores; Nobilis; Phillip Jeffries; Pollack; Passementerie Inc.; Samuel & Sons; Fabricut; Kenneth Meyer & Co. Inc. through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc.; Lee Jofa; Nobilis through Jerry Pair & Assoc.; Romo through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc.; Houles USA Inc. trimmings. FURNITURE: Tables, Bradley Hughes; Calcutta Gold marble coffee table, Pineapple House Interior Design; upholstered furniture, Dessin Fournir through Grizzel & Mann; upholstered bench, Parc Monceau; TCS Designs Inc.; IRON: Robert Bell. LIGHTING: Niermann Weeks; Grizzel & Mann; Dessin Fournir. MARBLE: Marble Creations by Testa Inc.; coffee table, G&L Marble Inc. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints, Rosing Paint Center, Pineapple House Grey. PAINTER: Abel Mejia, Look Better Painting. QUENCA RUG, Rugs by Robinson. STONE MANTEL & OVERMANTEL: Francois & Co. WINDOW TREATMENTS: Bradley Hughes; Donghia Showrooms Inc.; Fabricut; Powers Drapery & Upholstery Workroom. SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Cristi Harris, Pineapple House Interior Design Inc.

DINING ROOM Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts, (404) 233-3400; boxwoodsonline.com. ACCESSORIES: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts. ANTIQUES: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts. FURNITURE: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts. LIGHTING: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts. LINENS: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Trim, Tranquility AF-490 (satin); ceiling, Windmill Wings 2067-60 (flat) and Summer Blue 2067-50 (flat). ZUBER-STYLE WALLPAPER: The Gentleman Soldier, Indianapolis, (317) 776-8790. WALLPAPER INSTALLATION: Renee Smith, Clay Smith, Renew Your Walls. WINDOW TREATMENTS: Valerie Cleveland, Sew What.

BREAKFAST ROOM McLaurin Interiors, (770) 977-0817. ACCESSORIES: Lush Life Garden & Flowers; Baker, Knapp & Tubbs. ANTIQUES: Foxglove Antiques & Galleries. ART: Melissa Payne Baker, through Huff Harrington Fine Art. FABRIC & TRIM: Kravet Fabrics; Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc.; Grizzel & Mann. FURNITURE: Table and chairs, Baker, Knapp & Tubbs; Grizzel & Mann; Holland & Co.; B. D. Jeffries. LIGHTING: Baker, Knapp & Tubbs. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Walls, Berkshire Beige AC-2; ceiling, Dash of Curry 2159-10. PAINTER: The Paint Doctor, Archie Deese. RUGS: Baker, Knapp & Tubbs; scatter rugs, Rugs by Robinson. WINDOW TREATMENTS: R. Hopkins & Co. SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Troy and Quinn, Beasley & Henley Interior Design; Yvonne Amon, Cornerstone Design Inc.; Amy, Baker, Knapp & Tubbs; the Decorators’ Show House & Gardens committee.

KEEPING ROOM Beasley & Henley Interior Design, (404) 328-9669; beasleyandhenley.com. ACCESSORIES: Elephant Walk Antiques, Orlando, Florida. ANTIQUES: Elephant Walk Antiques, Orlando, Florida. ART: Hospitality Galleries, Orlando, Florida. FABRIC & TRIM: F. Schumacher & Co.; Kravet Fabrics; Holly Hunt; Pindler & Pindler. FURNITURE: Custom design, Troy Beasley; fabrication, Blu Wood Studio, Sanford, Florida; upholstery, Royal Upholstery, Orlando, Florida; R. Jones, Dallas, Texas.; Hickory Chair; Lee Industries, Newton, North Carolina. LIGHTING: Visual Comfort; Vinings Lighting. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Walls, Berkshire Beige AC-2; ceiling, Dash of Curry 2519-10. PAINTER: Archie Deese, The Paint Doctor. PHOTOGRAPHY: Creative Resources. RUGS: Personal collection. WINDOW TREATMENTS: Custom design, Troy Beasley; fabrication, Custom Creations, Dover, Florida. SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Blu Wood Studio; Custom Creations; Hospitality Galleries; Royal Upholstery.

LIVING ROOM Womack Interiors, (404) 256-0704. ACCESSORIES: Smith Grubbs & Assoc.; Lush Life Garden & Flowers. ANTIQUES: Parc Monceau Ltd., Barry Hutner. ART: Huff Harrington Fine Art. FABRICS: Clarence House; Jerry Pair & Assoc.; Stephen Boyd. FAUX PAINTING (CEILING & MANTEL): The Painted Finish, Barbara Lehman, Josh Gerry. FURNITURE: Tecnosedia (custom); Baker Knapp & Tubbs; Judith Rohrer; Dennis & Leen, Delmas Rushing III; Table (beside sofa): William Word Antiques. LIGHTING: Baker Knapp & Tubbs; Judith Rohrer. RUGS: Sharian Inc.

THE RETREAT Harmonious Living by Tish Mills, (404) 814-3838; harmoniousliving.net. ACCESSORIES: Studio B5B Collection through PierceMartin; Ernest Gaspard & Assoc. ANTIQUES: A. Tyner Antiques. ART: Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, New York; Stephanus Heidacker, Tew Galleries Inc.; runway sketches, Nicole Johnson, fashion designer. FABRICS & TRIM: Romo through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc. FURNITURE: William Switzer, Heirloom Furniture and Hein through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc.; Studio B5B Collection through PierceMartin. LIGHTING: William Switzer through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc.; Studio B5B Collection through PierceMartin. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Main trim, Linen White; ceiling & ceiling trim, HC-78; entrance walls, HC-72; PAINTER: The Paint Doctor. RUGS: Moattar Ltd. WALLPAPER: Romo wallpaper through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc. WALLPAPER INSTALLATION: Renew Your Walls. WINDOW TREATMENTS: R. Hopkins & Co. SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Martin Nash, Audrey King, Sally Pearlstein, Ernest Gaspard & Assoc. for help with furnishings, wallpaper and fabrics; Cathy Daley, artwork; Nicole Johnson, fashion sketches; Anne Jones for her help; Chip Cheatham, Studio B5B Collection; Melissa Van Rossum and my family for its support.

UPSTAIRS SITTING AREA Stanton Home Furnishings, (404) 586-9000; stantonhomefurnishings.com. ACCESSORIES: Stanton Home Furnishings. ART: Helen Durant through the Krause Gallery. FABRIC: Stanton Home Furnishings. FLOOR COVERING: Stanton Home Furnishings. FURNITURE: Stanton Home Furnishings. LIGHTING: Stanton Home Furnishings. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Upstairs hallway walls, Grant Beige HC-83; upstairs sitting area walls and ceiling, Ashley Gray HC-87; RUG: Stanton Home Furnishings. WINDOW TREATMENTS: Designer, Stanton Home Furnishings. WINDOW TREATMENT INSTALLATION: Designer’s Drapery Workroom. SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Alyssa Cassatto, Patrick Greco and the Stanton Home Furnishings team.

LIBRARY Douglas Weiss Interiors, (404) 875-5544; douglasweiss.com. ACCESSORIES: Edgar-Reeves. ANTIQUES: Parc Monceau Ltd. ART: Fay Gold Gallery; The Lowe Gallery; Alan Avery Art Co.; Lagerquist Gallery. FABRICS & TRIM: Lee Jofa. RUGS: Douglas Weiss Interiors (custom rug); Katherine Hendrix Fine Carpets & Rugs, Glen Eden; Stark Carpet Corp. UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE: Lee Jofa (upholstered furniture); Ainsworth Noah & Assoc.; Baker; M2M; Parc Monceau Ltd.; Oval table and Corbin bronze table, Jerry Pair. LIGHTING: PierceMartin; Julia Gray Ltd.; The Lighting Loft. PAINT: Benjamin Moore Paints. Hallway, Linen White. ROUND MIRROR: Nancy Corzine. WALL UPHOLSTERY: Singleton Drapery. WINDOW TREATMENTS: Willard Pitt Curtainmakers.
SPECIAL APPRECIATION: Gerri and Courtney, Lee Jofa; Katie Hendrix.

MASTER BEDROOM C. Weaks Interiors Inc., (404) 233-6040. ACCESSORIES: C. Weaks Interiors; Mirror, Parc Monceau Ltd.; Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc. ANTIQUES: Chaise, C. Weaks Interiors; bedside consoles and settee, Parc Monceau Ltd.; Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc. FURNITURE: C. Weaks Interiors; Parc Monceau Ltd.; slipper chairs, Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc.; upholstery and custom bed, O’Kelley’s Upholstery; Edward Ferrell. ART: Tew Galleries Inc.; watercolor-charcoals, Karine Lemoire. FABRIC & TRIM: Fabric, Zimmer-Rhode; trim, Samuel & Sons. LIGHTING: Ainsworth-Noah & Assoc.; Parc Monceau. LINENS: Leontine Linens Ltd. PAINTER: Dale Stein. RUGS: Stark Carpet Corp.; Rugs by Robinson. WINDOW TREATMENTS: R.L. Stonecipher Co. WALLPAPER: Zoffany; Arena Designs.

KITCHEN Cornerstone Design Inc., (404) 504-9255; cornerstonedesigninc.com. ACCESSORIES: Cornerstone Design Inc. APPLIANCES: Sub-Zero and Wolf, Westye Group Southeast. APPLIANCE INSTALLATION: Custom Home Improvement. CABINETRY: Neff Kitchens; Cornerstone Design Inc. CABINETRY INSTALLATION: Innovative Installations. COUNTERTOPS: Prins Custom Counter Tops. DISHWASHERS: Bosch Appliances. LIGHTING: Vinings Lighting. PHOTOGRAPHY: Creative Resources. PLUMBING: Rohl. STONE HOOD: Stone Age Designs. TILE INSTALLATION: Presgrove’s Marble & Tile Co.. WALL/CEILING FINISHES: The Paint Doctor. WARMING DRAWERS: Dacor. WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM: Everpure.