Asian Influence
East meets elegance in a character-rich contemporary bungalow.
Designer Teri Duffy’s longtime appreciation for Asian antiques piqued when she saw the collection of rare and exquisite pieces scattered throughout her client’s Sandy Springs bungalow. She couldn’t believe her luck, because stacked in his living room was a complete set of 10 door panels carved with floral motifs that convey meanings such as longevity and good fortune.
Duffy’s vision for a contemporary, Asian-influenced bungalow evolved from those 10-foot-tall panels and other antiques in his collection, some of which are 1,000 years old. She unfolded the screens, believed to be from the 18th century, and gave them the prominence they deserved by stretching them out in front of the windows.
“The screens alone just really captured my emotions,” says Duffy, owner of T. Duffy & Associates. “We painted a clean palette so that all of these very rich antiques would step forward visually.”
Throughout the bungalow, which also boasts an Asian-influenced garden, she consciously edited the 18th-century furniture and paintings from the Ming dynasty that homeowner David Markovich researched and purchased while on business in China for two years. Duffy selected each piece with a purpose—and to make a statement.
In the living room, the 8-foot-high ceilings were raised to 12 feet to accommodate the spectacular screens. White walls reinvigorate the once-dark room to focus attention on the screens, painted beams, wood details and carved Chinese furniture. New Noir burlap chairs, a linen sofa and silk lavender pillows provide a neutral backdrop for the scaled-down compilation of Asian antiques. This marriage of antiques and modern elements continues throughout the bungalow.
“All of this was his collection,” Duffy says. “I just took it a step further, so that it would show up and give it a more fresh, contemporary blend.”
INTERIOR DESIGN Teri Duffy, T Duffy & Associates SOFA Verellen through South of Market BURLAP CHAIRS Noir through jdouglas at AmericasMart COCKTAIL TABLE Baker PILLOW FABRIC Jim Thompson FLOOR LAMP RH WALL PAINT Pointing by Farrow & Ball OUTDOOR SEATING Palecek HARDWARE Matthew Quinn Collection KITCHEN TABLE Vintage