Estate of Grace

Roses climb a covered gazebo area off the guest house. opposite Graceful original details of the Neel Reid English Regency style home include a metal awning and a palladian window above.

Roses climb a covered gazebo area off the guest house. opposite Graceful original details of the Neel Reid English Regency style home include a metal awning and a palladian window above.

Original elements, such as the black-and-white marble floors in the breakfast room, remain.

Architect D. Stanley Dixon, interior designer Nancy Izlar and landscape architect John Howard brought this 1920s English Regency home into the 21st century.

“While the house has formal elements and antiques, it is still very comfortable and livable,” says Izlar. The framed waxed seals are from A. Tyner.

A complete kitchen makeover by Cynthia Ziegler resulted in a fresh and more functional space. A stainless steel commercial vent hood was removed, and a larger island was installed. “The kitchen is laid out in such a way that the family can all be together,” says Izlar.

A complete kitchen makeover by Cynthia Ziegler resulted in a fresh and more functional space. A stainless steel commercial vent hood was removed, and a larger island was installed. “The kitchen is laid out in such a way that the family can all be together,” says Izlar.

The original molding of the historic home stands out against the new wallcovering in the dining room.

An underwhelming mantel in the dining room was replaced with an 1840s English gesso and carved pine mantel from Architectural Accents for added sophistication. The generously sized dining room required a touch of drama to keep it from feeling cold, so Izlar chose the Arena Design wallcovering for its lightness and movement. The wallcovering is through Ainsworth-Noah.

An underwhelming mantel in the dining room was replaced with an 1840s English gesso and carved pine mantel from Architectural Accents for added sophistication. The generously sized dining room required a touch of drama to keep it from feeling cold, so Izlar chose the Arena Design wallcovering for its lightness and movement. The wallcovering is through Ainsworth-Noah.

Izlar’s clients preferred a calm color palette, which is reflected in this sitting room. The silverleaf coffee table is by Dennis Leen through Jerry Pair, and the 18th-century Provencal armoire is from The Gables.

“Three family members are musicians, so the living room is used frequently, says Izlar. “It was bathed in neutrals with a rich blue velvet on the sofa pillows and the custom rounded banquette in the window.”

The showstopping original rounded stairway is accented with a series of antique etchings of trees.

An addition created a new home office, which gives off a tailored, slightly masculine attitude. The space includes an adjoining sitting area, and both spaces are set off by light-colored paneled walls against darker stained floors.

“The goal of the renovation was to breathe new life into this home and create an inviting one filled with elegance and comfort.” —Nancy Izlar

The master suite is awash in soothing hues. “The previous master was choppy, so existing space was absorbed into the new master when the wings were added,” says Izlar. The Panache Designs chandelier and Cameron vanity chair are through Ainsworth-Noah. The 19th-century Italian commode is from Parc Monceau.

The master suite is awash in soothing hues. “The previous master was choppy, so existing space was absorbed into the new master when the wings were added,” says Izlar. The Panache Designs chandelier and Cameron vanity chair are through Ainsworth-Noah. The 19th-century Italian commode is from Parc Monceau.

The master suite is awash in soothing hues. “The previous master was choppy, so existing space was absorbed into the new master when the wings were added,” says Izlar. The Panache Designs chandelier and Cameron vanity chair are through Ainsworth-Noah. The 19th-century Italian commode is from Parc Monceau.

An expansive elliptical lawn on the rear of the house ties the additions together and was part of the reworking of the hardscape by landscape architect John Howard.

The pool was completely updated, and a bocce ball court was a part of the redesign. Boxwoods give a structed look to the garden spaces while roses add an exuberant note.

“This project was a great example of a successful collaboration among the members of the design team. There was a lot of trust and faith in each other’s areas of expertise.” —Architect D. Stanley Dixon

The home has ample areas for outdoor entertaining, including a loggia with stairs that lead down to the pool space, which offers plenty of room for lounging. With the redesign, everything flows beautifully and seamlessly from the original 1920s house.

The home has ample areas for outdoor entertaining, including a loggia with stairs that lead down to the pool space, which offers plenty of room for lounging. With the redesign, everything flows beautifully and seamlessly from the original 1920s house.

A large covered porch is filled with generous seating from McKinnon and Harris, looking out on a lush, circular green space and manicured landscape

A generously sized bust near the pool house provides a graceful focal point in the garden.

An English Regency gem on 3 acres in Buckhead was poised for a makeover. While the home’s existing architectural details—moldings, palladian windows and a grand rounded staircase—were noteworthy, they remained rooted in the past. Enter a talented team of collaborators who were ready to bring the house in line with a modern lifestyle: architect D. Stanley Dixon, interior designer Nancy Izlar, landscape architect John Howard and kitchen designer Cynthia Ziegler.

One initial and critical design decision involved a reworking of the approach and parking areas. As was typical of a house built in the 1920s, the home’s parking area was on the rear and occupied space that could be better put to use.  “Addressing the hardscape was critical to both the functionality and the aesthetics of the project,” says Howard. “The approach and circulation were reinvented and designed on an axis with the facade.” A rear addition houses a garage on the lower level, while space for overflow parking was carved out as well. Howard also created an elliptical expanse of green, which softens the back of the home.

The house itself was in need of more cohesive space, so Dixon added two wings that blend seamlessly with the rest of the home. “When we implemented the stucco on the wings, we added colored pigment into the mix, so it would have a weathered patina,” says the architect, who had worked on the house in a small way 10 years ago. “We added this stucco veneer to the entire exterior to blend the old with the new.”

Meanwhile, the house also required family-friendly updates, so Izlar had it completely gutted. The addition of a large opening between the kitchen and breakfast room allows light to flow between the two spaces. “We also enlarged the master suite and master closets by incorporating existing space from the left side of the house into the design,” says Dixon.

Izlar, who had known the clients for years before becoming involved in the renovation, infused the interiors with a lighter touch. In the dining room, the designer replaced a dated, persimmon damask fabric with an Arena Design wallcovering that “has wonderful colors and movement, and the black trim was painted and glazed, instantly brightening the space.” A larger, 1840s English gesso-and-carved pine mantel replaced the original, creating a focal point that complements the wallpaper’s warm tones.

When it came to furniture, the designer essentially had a blank slate. “The family was moving from a bungalow in Brookwood Hills, and their existing furniture did not fit with the scale of this house,” explains Izlar. The result: a home that comes to life with elegance and subtle brushes of color, enhancing the inherent beauty of the original architecture. All thanks to the work of the design team who respected a classic while giving it a second act for decades to come.

ARCHITECT D. Stanley Dixon, D. Stanley Dixon Architect, (404) 574-1430; dsdixonarchitect.com INTERIOR DESIGN Nancy Izlar, Nancy Izlar Interiors, (404) 317-3195; nancyizlar.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT John Howard, Howard Design Studio, (404) 876-7051; howarddesignstudio.com KITCHEN DESIGN Cynthia Ziegler, Cynthia Ziegler, Inc., (404) 313-1823; cynthiaziegler.com