Country Idyll
The bounty of nature was embraced around every corner of the 2018 Serenbe Designer Showhouse
EARTHY EUROPEAN
Kitchen ■ Meredith McBrearty
Designer Meredith McBrearty envisioned the kitchen as a cheerful and inviting hub with European farmhouse flair. With the bonus of serving as the showhouse’s spec representative, McBrearty selected many of the finishes, which meant adding slats and beams by Authentic Reclaimed Flooring to the vaulted ceiling to embrace the scale of the space while fostering warmth. A spacious island is ideal for a laid-back evening of cooking and entertaining friends. “When I think of a house at Serenbe, I think of it as a getaway,” McBrearty says. Accessories in earth tones, like the mounted horns and mortar and pestles from Robuck, provide depth. “You have to get beautiful pieces that make the space sing,” says McBrearty. —Grace Donnelly
CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS Caesarstone FAUCETRY AND SINK Renaissance Tile & Bath BACKSPLASH Marmi Natural Stone APPLIANCES Jenn-Air LIGHTS Circa Lighting CEILING SLATS AND BEAMS Authentic Reclaimed Flooring STOOL, SCONCES Skylar Morgan Furniture AFRICAN GEMSBOK, KUDU AND ANTELOPE HORN MOUNTS, OIL ON CANVAS, STILL LIFE OF RABBIT IN A GILT-WOOD FRAME, GLASS BOTTLES, MOOSE PADDLE MOUNT, MORTAR & PESTLES Robuck TERRA-COTTA JARS, FRENCH BREAD BOARDS Foxglove Antiques & Galleries EGYPTIAN KHOTAN RUNNER Moattar, Ltd.
PRETTY & PRACTICAL
Breakfast Nook and Butler’s Pantry ■ Anna-Louise Wolfe, Anna Louise Wolfe, Ltd.
Anna-Louise Wolfe leaned into her dressy style for the main dining space. “I am traditional, therefore I thought, ‘Why not go ahead and do a skirted table and pretty china?” she says. She overlaid ikat fabric with a print of branches, birds and flowers that exuded a country farmhouse feel, underneath Ginori dinnerware. Aviary motifs in the monogrammed napkins and bookcase accessories join earthy elements, such as rattan chargers and bamboo flatware. Wolfe played off the white shiplap and butler’s pantry cabinets painted Benjamin Moore’s Kitty Gray by lining the bookshelves with blue grasscloth. Chairs covered in blue leopard print and casual linen check treatments demonstrate Wolfe’s fondness for pattern, also found in the porcelain and boxes, and the antiqued mirror finish on the iron sconces in the butler’s pantry. For a turn of the head, she commissioned Mary Carpenter to create a contemporary acrylic work of art that offset the traditional and country choices. —Lori Johnston
BREAKFAST ROOM CHANDELIER Circa Lighting ENGLISH GEORGE III LADDER-BACK MAHOGANY SIDE CHAIRS Parc Monceau FABRIC Vervain 19TH-CENTURY ENGLISH CHILD’S CHAIR Parc Monceau IKAT TABLECLOTH Cowtan & Tout Rapallo in taupe BIRD & FLORAL PRINT FABRIC Manuel Canovas Pavillon de Bidaine in Corail BRONZE IRON DRAPERY HARDWARE B3lla and Malik GRASSCLOTH Cowtan & Tout ACRYLIC ON CANVAS Mary Carpenter SERENBE PHOTOS Mary Clary Photography BUTLER’S PANTRY CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS Caesarstone SCONCES Circa Lighting PAINT Benjamin Moore
CASUAL WELCOME
Foyer and Upstairs Landing ■ Anna Wooten Loggins, A. Wooten Interiors
Designer Anna Wooten Loggins highlighted original artwork in the foyer and upstairs landing, anchoring the halls with a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallpaper. Black accents create a high-impact look in these intimate spaces. “The art is contemporary and the colors are contemporary, so I really wanted to mix in some older elements,” Loggins says. Adding in antique touches—like the Persian rug in the foyer and 19th-century industrial pendant upstairs—Loggins deftly constructed a compelling intersection of old and new in these transitional areas. To keep her compact spaces from feeling too heavy or crowded, she leaned on neutral fabrics, playing with textures rather than patterns, and used high-contrast, solid black window treatments to draw the eye toward the natural beauty just outside the windows. —Grace Donnelly
GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER Phillip Jeffries ANTIQUE WALNUT CONSOLE William Word Fine Antiques WHITE CERAMIC LAMP Circa Lighting MIRROR Made Goods MEDALLION OUSHAK RUG Keivan Woven Arts ARTWORK Townhouse by Robert Brown ARTWORK IN STAIR LANDING Lynn Sanders through Gregg Irby Gallery ANTIQUE PENDANT Interiors Market UPHOLSTERED SOFA FABRIC Romo USA LUMBAR PILLOW Leaping Leopards by F. Schumacher BLACK MUSHROOM SIDE TABLE B.D. Jeffries BLUE PERSIAN RUG Keivan Woven Arts ART COLLAGE Anne Irwin Fine Art, Spalding Nix Fine Art and Gregg Irby Gallery
OPERATIC OM
Upstairs Office ■ Robin LaMonte, Rooms Revamped Interior Design
Robin LaMonte’s holistic approach to design delivered a sanctuary-like space with Italian influences in the art and accessories. “I wanted the room to be an inspirational place,” she says. She envisioned the homeowner listening to Luciano Pavarotti or Andrea Bocelli in a calming environment with spaces to read in the recliner or work at the Beau Studio walnut table without distraction. “It’s very Zen. That, to me, is what Serenbe is,” she says. The herringbone pattern of the Thibaut wallpaper played into the organic nature of the community. Freeing the space of clutter and tchotchkes allowed pieces such as the bell-shaped Swedish clock and a hand-painted Italian chest from William Word Fine Antiques to get their due. —Lori Johnston
WALLPAPER AND ROMAN SHADE FABRIC Thibaut RUG AND RECLINER Verde Home CHEST AND CLOCK William Word Fine Antiques ART Spalding Nix Fine Art WALNUT TABLE, BENCH, IRON STOOLS, SERVER, CERAMIC DRAGONFLIES Beau Studio TABLE LAMPS Currey & Co. FLOOR LANTERN AND ACCESSORIES ON CHEST AND TABLE Pottery Barn WOVEN BASKET AND BURNT TEAK IN ACRYLIC Made Goods MARTINI TABLE Southern Design Source
STYLISH SALON
Guest Suite ■ Rebecca Cartwright and Alicia Held-Morris, R. Cartwright Design
Inspired by Serenbe’s diverse, cultured community and the showhouse’s emphasis on original artwork, this guest suite serves as a French salon getaway for the creative woman. To make the space “feel collected, not decorated,” designers Rebecca Cartwright and Alicia Held-Morris relied heavily on antique furnishings, including a settee with a refurbished Ralph Lauren cushion, a Belgium chest and alabaster floor lamp. Combined with modern pieces, including a concrete mirror and a vintage-inspired custom campaign table from Aronson Woodworks, the mix of old and new elements creates a bohemian flavor. Vibrant stitched art made from deconstructed silk textiles by Debra Smith, placed in the bathroom and on two walls of the bedroom, inspired the layering of fabric and textures, which resulted in a sculptural aesthetic. —Grace Donnelly
CAMPAIGN TABLE R. Cartwright Design for Aronson Woodworks TALL BACK CHAIR AND HAIR-ON-HIDE SIDE CHAIR Lee Industries SETTEE WITH CUSHION Vintage, with Ralph Lauren fabric WOODEN SIDE TABLE The Old Wood Co. CHEST Foxglove Antiques & Galleries WALLPAPER Designers Guild WHITE CONCRETE MIRROR Gabby Home BLACK LAMP WITH LINEN SHADE Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort ART LIGHT Visual Comfort CHAMBRAY PILLOW AND BLACK, WHITE AND GREY PILLOW Kravet RED PATCHWORK PILLOWS Ralph Lauren SCONCE Visual Comfort MIRROR Noir Furniture ART Debra Smith and Sharon Booma (Olson-Larsen Galleries) ROMAN SHADE Custom, Kravet fabric BATHROOM CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS Caeserstone TILE AND FAUCETRY Renaissance Tile and Bath
FORMAL AND FREEING
Master Bedroom ■ Gretchen Gilstrap Edwards, Gilstrap Edwards Interior Design
As soon as designer Gretchen Gilstrap Edwards encountered Casamance’s Nuee fabric, she thought of Serenbe’s lush foliage. Used for master suite draperies, the textiles provided the starting point for this relaxing retreat. Luxe bedding pulls deep purple and gold accents from the drapery while—in contrast to how she might style a typical in-town Atlanta home—Edwards played with a simplified palette and textures like the sisal rug. “I wanted it to reflect the appreciation of nature and to be calming and peaceful,” she says. Touches like the reading chair create a welcoming retreat. Pairing contemporary art in the bedroom and bathroom with traditional pieces such as the upholstered Bernhardt bed and antique side tables lends an updated feel to the period furnishings. —Grace Donnelly
FRENCH LOUIS XVI TABLE AND COMMODE William Word Fine Antiques CALLA LILY TABLE LAMPS The Robert Allen Duralee Group OMBRE VELVET PILLOWS Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings PRETTY POUF SLIPPERS Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings UPHOLSTERED BED Bernhardt DUVET COVERS, SHAMS, COVERLET, TRAY AND TOWEL Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings DRAPERY Casamance through Ernest Gaspard & Assoc. SISAL RUG Miami Circle Floor Coverings MODERN RUG Azra Oriental Rugs “BUTTERFLY” ARTWORK Carrie Penley BATHROOM CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS Caesarstone ROMAN SHADE Casamance through Ernest Gaspard & Associates SIDE TABLE Hickory Chair TILE AND FAUCETRY Renaissance Tile and Bath
BOHO BEAUTY
Powder Room ■ Julie Holloway, Julie Holloway Studio
The powder room is a snapshot of Julie Holloway’s signature style, mixing Bohemian vintage with hints of country and modern touches for a look that nestles comfortably in the organic landscape of Serenbe. “I spend a lot of time there, so I feel that I really understand the vibe,” Holloway says. “I wanted it to be welcoming, warm, informal and definitely not stuffy.” The John Muir Tribute Tree print, which Holloway says echoes the streetlamps in Serenbe, sets the tone for a natural atmosphere and plays off the scale of the large powder room. The Dune Stripe Schumacher window treatments and the vintage rug add a charming contrast to the buffalo check chair and Kate Spade lamp. —Shannon Dominy
BUFFALO CHECK CHAIR Anthropologie RUG Threads and Knots Rugs TABLE Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors CORBIN MINI ACCENT LAMP Kate Spade FRAMED ART Historic Roswell Antiques & Interiors WINDOW TREATMENT Dune Stripe by Schumacher BAMBOO SHADE Blindster JOHN MUIR TRIBUTE TREE PRINT Natural Curiosities
NATURAL ELEMENTS
Front and Side Porch ■ Melissa Galt, Melissa Galt Interiors
“I wanted it to feel like you were in the woods, surrounded by nature and a part of nature,” says designer Melissa Galt of the covered side porch. Custom leaf-patterned steel screens separate the space from neighbors, while maintaining a connection to the garden area. Sofas and chairs from Kannoa reminded Galt of bird’s nests, and the blue rug evokes the raindrops that echo off the tin roof. To balance a mix of materials for “visual and physical texture,” Galt chose a custom table constructed from glass, wood and metal to pull all the elements together. For the front porch (see page 107), Galt’s unique take on classic Adirondack chairs and Kannoa breakfast table in aquamarine create a welcoming place to visit with neighbors. —Grace Donnelly
Side Porch ORIGINAL STEEL LEAF PANELS Gault Designs SOFA AND CLUB CHAIR Taos by Kannoa CUSTOM CONSOLE TABLE Mark McJunkin FIREPLACE ARTWORK Trudi Norris Fine Art ASSORTED BLOWN GLASS BALLS Raiford Gallery in Roswell CUSTOM TOSS PILLOWS, COFFEE TABLE, CHAISE LOUNGE, END TABLE, CONCRETE STOOLS AND BOX CUSHIONS Kannoa DIAMOND PATTERN PEWTER THROW Wayfair SILVERY LEAF TRAY Home Goods WARM KNIT THROW IN CRÈME Wayfair Front Porch (page 107) ADIRONDACK CHAIR WITH OTTOMAN, METAL SIDE TABLE, BREAKFAST TABLE AND CHAIRS Kannoa SERENBE WORD COLLAGE Southern Sunshine STEEL DOG Raiford Gallery
SWEET RETREAT
Guest Suite ■ Kate Light, K Light Interiors
Designer Kate Light’s take on the classic bedtime story Goodnight Moon combined youthful elements with polished pieces for an elegant but accessible guest suite. The fabric by Georgia artist Lulie Wallace for the window treatments inspired the palette and floral motif for Light’s “goodnight blooms” room. Centered around a custom daybed and inspired by the wild blossoms of Serenbe, the versatile space is balanced by layered textures and patterns. Abstract accents, such as Lindsay Cowles wallpaper on the ceiling, are juxtaposed with the rich texture of the rose-hued Lee Jofa mohair daybed fabric. A colorful work of art “shows that just because it’s a children’s room, it doesn’t mean you can’t use sophisticated art,” she says. The dome pendant, reminiscent of a broken egg, also alludes to favorite childhood tales. —Grace Donnelly
Bedroom DRAPERY PANELS Lulie Wallace through Travis & Company PAINTINGS BEHIND DAYBED Amanda Talley through Anne Irwin Fine Art CEILING WALLPAPER Lindsay Cowles through Bradley DAYBED Custom through Westside Custom Upholstery DAYBED FABRIC Lee Jofa BLUE & WHITE PILLOWS ON DAYBED Alex Conroy Textiles through Travis & Company with Samuel & Sons trim PINK PILLOWS ON DAYBED Lee Jofa with Samuel & Sons Braid Trim ORANGE PILLOW ON DAYBED Sandra Jordan through Holland & Sherry with Samuel & Sons Braid Box Trim LINENS ON DAYBED The Linen Ladies OMBRE THROW ON DAYBED Rosemary Hallgarten through Holland & Sherry FLATWEAVE RUG Moattar, Ltd., PAINTING BEHIND CHAIR Kiki Slaughter RAFFIA DRESSER Serena & Lily with Custom Bamboo Hardware through Matthew Quinn Bathroom CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS Caesarstone WALLPAPER Mally Skok through Travis & Co. TILE AND FAUCETRY Renaissance Tile and Bath WINDOW SHADE Lulie Wallace through Travis & Co. TURKISH OUSHAK RUGS Moattar, Ltd. MIRROR Julian Chichester PAINTING Stephanie Henderson through Gregg Irby Gallery CUSTOM LINENS AND UASHMAMA CANDLE & ACCESSORIES The Linen Ladies SCONCES Circa Lighting SHOWER BENCH Made Goods SHOWER ACCESSORIES Lush Life Garden & Flowers
COMFY CLASSICISM
Screened Porch ■ Buffy Ferguson and David Frazier, Elizabeth Ferguson Design and David Frazier, LLC
By layering a wrought-iron daybed and modern dining set by Harbour Outdoor with accessories such as an antique urn and wood gilt candlesticks, designers Buffy Ferguson and David Frazier infused their light-filled space with hints of classicism and contemporary flair. “By mixing those styles, it feels more comfortable because it feels lived in and curated,” says Frazier. The pair selected natural details—like tobacco leaves and antlers in an antique wooden bowl—and textures from the wicker and linen drapery to bring in Serenbe’s beauty. “Our biggest goal is to never have a room that feels decorated. We want it to feel collected. Through that collection we achieve a timelessness and luxury,” says Frazier. —Shannon Dominy
DAYBED AND CHAIRS Kolo Collection COFFEE TABLE Noir SIDE TABLES AND FRAGMENT PIECES 14th Street Antiques & Modern Home URN AND GILT WOOD CANDLESTICKS William Word Fine Antiques PLANTS Ponder’s Nursery
WARM BLUES
Living Room ■ Janie Hirsch, J. Hirsch Interior Design
Designer Janie Hirsch eschewed formality to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort that was conducive to conversation. She drew on the textures of trees, woods and grass by using Thibaut’s Palampore Leaf wallcovering, a faux-wood print chair from Century Furniture, an Oushak rug and mixed media and collage on wood by Ashley Wingo. To maintain a calm and inviting look, Hirsch sprinkled in color with art and accessories, such as the accent color from inside of the French writing desk. She also wanted to draw from the feeling of togetherness that Serenbe embodies. “That sense of community to me means gathering. This room feels like a place you can gather and sit and enjoy each other’s company,” she says. —Shannon Dominy
TOMASSO SIDE TABLE, WROUGHT IRON FLOOR LAMP, TISH UPHOLSTERED CHAIR Century Furniture WALLPAPER Thibaut Palampore Leaf OUSHAK RUG Moattar, Ltd. BILLY BALDWIN DAYBED IN JAB FABRIC, SABINA FAY BRAXTON PILLOWS, Travis & Company DESK, STOOL, SHEET MUSIC JOURNALS, ITALIAN GILT CARVED FRAGMENT LAMP Nicholson Gallery DOG PORTRAIT PAINTING WITH EASEL, OIL ON BOARD William Word Fine Antiques BONE RECTANGULAR BOX, CRYSTAL, BENTLEY COCKTAIL TABLE, FAUX SHAGREEN BOXES, DRAYCOTT UPHOLSTERED TIGHT-BACK CHAIR Kravet from Lee Jofa POD BOX WITH ANIMAL FIGURE Jerry Pair ART Holly Irwin Madison, Ashley Wingo and Jennifer Gibbs Kudos through dk Gallery ZINC TOLE LAMP English Accent Antiques RAVEN FRIEZE WITH IRON BASE AND AUDUBON LARGE BIRD FIGURE Jerry Pair STORMY SKY PHOTOGRAPH Chris Little Photography
OUTDOOR ELEGANCE
Pool Deck ■ Stefan Alexander, Stefan Alexander Interiors
“I was really trying to create an interior living room that happens to be outside,” says designer Stefan Alexander of Stefan Alexander Interiors and Peter Block Architects. The spacious, wooded pool deck offers distinct sitting areas and a dining area, and Alexander broke it up into usable zones. The designer embraced antiques, such as a dolphin side table, as well as new pieces, including one of his paintings, an Art Deco-style patio set and a vintage Italian table. As Alexander notes, arranging formal furnishings and accessories in a casual, informal way fosters a relaxed and inviting atmosphere leading to water’s edge. —Shannon Dominy
POOLSIDE CHAIR AND OTTOMAN, ART DECO IRON PATIO SET, SOFA Summer Loftin Antiques & Design PILLOW Jim Thompson Fabrics PLANTS Floralis Garden Design FABRIC WALL Kravet Dublin White Canvas URNS, DOLPHIN TABLE Interiors Market JUTE RUG West Elm VINTAGE ITALIAN TABLE Jane Marsden Antiques & Interiors NAPOLEON III UPHOLSTERED CHAIR Designer’s Own IRON SIDE CHAIR Rose Tarlow in White Holly Hunt outdoor velvet fabric
PERFECT PROPORTIONS
Design-Build Team ■ Mitch Ginn, L. Mitchell Ginn & Associates, Floralis Garden Design and Mac McKinney, McKinney Builders
Architect Mitch Ginn, builder Mac McKinney and landscape architecture firm Floralis Garden Design shaped an inviting, rustic farmhouse with multiple porches and meandering pathways. “The house is nestled in its natural environment,” says Bray. The board-and-batten exterior, stone and a metal roof bring together readily found materials for a home in the west Georgia woods, says Ginn. Floralis juxtaposed the clean architecture with natural and native plantings, such as tea olives, gardenias and azalea, that referenced Serenbe’s loose and wild landscape, with a pea gravel path connecting the spaces. Three covered areas on the main level and a lower-level patio, which led to a lap pool and stone terrace, encouraged showhouse visitors to mingle and talk, Ginn adds. The design-build team sought to blend with nature and Serenbe’s tight-knit community. “The people that have moved here, everybody’s like pioneers,” McKinney says. “They want to get to know each other and socialize together.” —Lori Johnston
