Inside Out

A timely renovation by architect Charles Heydt and designer Kay Douglass breathes new life to an Atlanta entrepreneur’s family residence

Written by Sejal Bhima Photographed by Mali Azima

Featured Homes . Homes

June 2019

Located off the family room, the covered loggia features seating from Janus et Cie and a South of Market coffee table.

In the foyer, designer Kay Douglass offers a glimpse of the home’s chic yet whimsical design scheme.

Douglass kept the dining room’s existing chandelier and used its form as inspiration. Custom chairs sidle up to a black lacquer table from Holland & Company. Silk drapes and decorative objects, South of Market.

“We try not to have a feature that distracts you from the rest of the room. When you walk into a space, it’s important that it just feels good and quietly unfolds.” —Kay Douglass

While the kitchen boasts a clean, clutter-free look, it’s not short on function. Dual islands offer ample storage as does an adjacent walk-in butler’s pantry that’s complete with a steam oven, microwave and more.

Douglass relocated the breakfast table to this bay window next to the kitchen. To add interest to the airy nook, she selected a raffia light fixture from South of Market.

Douglass tempered the traditional paneling of the study with more modern selections from South of Market.

Plush seating makes the family room a cozy spot to gather. The clover ottomans are from South of Market and the artwork is by Susan Hable Smith.

New steel windows and doors brighten up the terrace level and provide easy access to new amenities, such as a covered terrace and pool cabana. The table, chairs and light pendant are from CB2.

“It’s great to feel like we’re in a new home without ever having changed addresses. You can bet we’re ready to do this again in 10 years.” —Bonneau Ansley

Landscape architect Alec Michaelides led the backyard’s redesign, which included removing overgrown landscaping to allow for better views of the pool from the terrace level. Astroturf, both cost effective and environmentally friendly, was utilized throughout the yard.

As the founder and CEO of Ansley Atlanta Real Estate, Bonneau Ansley III is privy to some of the city’s most desirable homes. But no matter if it’s the biggest, brightest or most beautiful home on the block, there’s one steadfast piece of wisdom he’ll always impart to clients: When your home hits the 10-year mark, it’s time for a refresh, he advises. And like any great leader, Ansley is in the habit of practicing what he preaches.

It was just over a decade ago that Ansley and his wife, Jennifer, sought out architect Charles Heydt to draw up a Dutch Colonial-style home in Buckhead’s Peachtree Battle neighborhood. (Its classical interiors were previously featured in the December 2008 issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.) But true to principle, the couple began to think about their home’s next phase as they approached this milestone.

“If you love your neighbors and location as much as we do, moving wasn’t an option,” says Ansley. “We also have two growing children, so the way we live now looks much different than it did 10 years ago. A lot changes in that time, and it’s important your home reflects that.”

So that their family could remain firmly planted in their beloved Buckhead neighborhood, the couple returned to Heydt to map out new possibilities for their home. The fresh plans called for a complete design overhaul and saw the addition of a generous back porch running the length of the house, providing multiple access points to the backyard. Other functional upgrades include dual islands in the kitchen (one for meal prep and baking, the other for dining and homework) and steel windows throughout, which brilliantly flood the newly revamped interiors with natural light.

To complete their vision of a lighter, brighter and more modern home, the couple tapped interior designer Kay Douglass, whose design resume includes Ansley Atlanta’s Buckhead offices and the family’s vacation home.

Douglass employed a minimalist but warm approach, balancing clean lines and sleek surfaces with a playful periwinkle palette and earthy textures. “The nice thing about this renovation is that they’re now surrounded by exterior space. We were careful about making sure all the fabrics flow nicely, because if you open all the doors, it feels like one continuous space,” she says. “The Ansleys are wonderful hosts and we wanted to give them the ultimate space to entertain.” The new outdoor spaces—from a serene loggia to a pool cabana—tick that box. “When evaluating homes, instead of just counting bedrooms and baths, I count places,” notes Ansley. “Ask yourself, ‘What are the cool places and spaces that this home has?’ That’s really where you’ll be living.”

ARCHITECT Charles Heydt, Pak Heydt & Associates, LLC, (404) 231-3195; pakheydt.com
INTERIOR DESIGN Kay Douglass, Kay Douglass Interiors,(404) 995-0802; southofmarket.biz
BUILDER Mike Hammersmith, Mike Hammersmith Inc, (404) 351-5227; hammersmithatlanta.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Alec Michaelides, Land Plus. (404) 238-9595; landplusassociates.com