Common Thread

One of interior designer Melanie Turner’s favorite items in the house, a green velvet settee by Bernhardt Design, is part of an eclectic mix of furnishings that includes a comfortable chair covered in leopard fabric from Schumacher and a sofa from Lee Industries.

Turner created layers of interest in the salon-style living room, from leopard-print pillows and enveloping hues to graphic elements.

Cubist artwork and antique pottery read as one collection when grouped together.

A lively wallcovering from Schumacher and painted moldings add a sense of drama to the formal dining room, which is furnished with a burl table and a mix of vintage chairs.

Cabinetry from Karpaty Cabinets, Calacatta Gold marble countertops and a hood from Francois & Co. completely transformed the kitchen. A Noir chandelier illuminates the Saarinen table at a new corner banquette, which is covered in fabric from Ernest Gaspard & Associates.

A custom brass and glass shelving unit offers a functional storage solution without interfering with natural daylight in the renovated kitchen.

Green walls, moldings and cabinetry define the butler’s pantry.

Brass hardware and a bamboo-style mirror accent the cheerful yellow wallcovering by Zoffany in the master bathroom.

The patterned rug, draperies and bedding in the master bedroom coordinate with the wallcovering in the en suite bathroom.

“In a smaller space, each piece should be especially special,” declares Turner.

Inspired by the existing vintage yellow-and- black floor tile, Turner outfitted the guest bathroom with painted cabinetry by Karpaty, black subway tile from Source, LLC, and a mirror by Noir. The wallcovering is by Schumacher.

Turner created a pooch “spa” with heated floors and subway tile from Daltile.

A green mirror stands out against a Cole & Son wallcovering.

Limitations often create opportunities, and Melanie Turner’s renovation of a 1930s-era Georgian in Buckhead had its share, including a restricted time line, original floorplan and a relatively small footprint in which to work her design magic.

“Smaller projects like this are an enjoyable creative outlet,” Turner explains, noting that she was actually inspired by the dated decor, which had last been updated decades ago. “The clients are young, so they’re not going to remember the 70s. It just made sense.”

Embracing the living room’s cozy proportions, Turner had the walls, moldings and traditional fireplace mantel painted in an olive green hue, which is accented by mustard draperies, antique green and white pottery and vintage artwork. “It’s layered,” Turner explains.

On one side of the room, a sofa and chair covered in chocolate fabric with white piping surround a a tortoise cocktail table with custom painted screens. On the other, a green velvet sofa settee and a bergère-style chair re-covered in a leopard print fabric create a cozy spot for conversations in front of the window. “There’s nothing prettier than a green velvet sofa,” Turner says.

Pattern also plays a crucial role. The formal dining room’s painted mustard moldings, for example, accent a boisterous floral wallcovering. It’s one of several throughout, including a bright floral pattern on a black background in the powder room, and another floral on a yellow background in the guest bathroom. “Every space has its own personality, but there’s a common thread,” Turner says.

Things are more subdued in the kitchen, which nevertheless underwent one of the most dramatic transformations, its footprint expanded into the former study. A green-painted island with a white Calacatta Gold marble waterfall-style top accents the white perimeter cabinetry and coordinates with the vinyl that Turner selected for the new built-in banquette. In front of the window, a custom brass and glass shelving unit holds plates without obstructing the natural daylight.

“(The husband) is in the restaurant business, so to be able to have the plates right there makes it easy on ‘the chef’,” Turner says.

With the main renovation complete, the homeowners are slowly adding to the interior as they collect unique pieces that reflect them, and Turner praises them for their well-considered approach. “It’s nice to be able to fill in spaces as you live in the house,” she explains. “In a smaller space, each piece should be especially special.” 

INTERIOR DESIGN Melanie Turner, Melanie Turner Interiors, (404) 250-0134; melanieturnerinteriors.com ARCHITECT Kevin J. Maher, Place Maker Design, (404) 549-4499; placemakerdesign.com CONTRACTOR Frank Wickstead, Jones Pierce, (404) 688-1050; jonespierce.com