Making History
Past and present collide in glorious fashion in this reimagination of a historic Ansley Park home
OFFERING BOTH INTIMATE AND GRAND spaces on a more than 1-acre lot in Ansley Park, the sprawling early-1900s shingle-style abode seemed like an ideal home for a cosmopolitan couple who envisioned themselves hosting fundraisers, galas and large social gatherings when itās not just the two of them.
Although recently updated with a spacious rear addition by architect Linda MacArthur and Ladisic Fine Homes, the design-minded couple asked interior designers Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos to make it feel more like them. āWe respected the homeās history and made the whole place live in a modern way,ā says Williams.
Indeed, the designers laid new hardwood flooring to better match the updated flooring in the addition, sanding and refinishing the original trim to match. Some details werenāt so sacrosanct: Housed in a segmented arch niche, for example, Saint Laurent marble now clads the fireplace, replacing the more ornate wood detailing. āIt adds a bit of grandeur,ā says Williams.
That was also the idea in the dining room, where the original fireplaceās forest green tile inspired the color of the hand-painted wallcovering, which has gold ink veiningāa nod to the Japanese concept of kintsugi, in which broken pottery is repaired with the still-visible element. āI wanted the walls to speak for themselves,ā says Papadopoulos, āelegant, graphic and beautiful.ā One of many brass accents, a multiglobe brass chandelier enhances the sense of drama.
Fabric-covered walls likewise establish the mood in the cozy first-floor office, fostering an enveloping milieu for a wall of handcrafted wooden shelving with an integrated desk. And a wood veneer wallcovering creates the illusion of depth in a pantry-turned-luxe bar outfitted with brass-framed glass shelving and cabinetry painted in the same blue hue as the island in the adjacent kitchen.
The palette flows into the family area, where a painterly blue-and-white rug anchors a low-slung Italian sectional and contemporary chairs around a fireplace with a contemporary mantel. āIt reflects the blues in the pool and green from the landscaping,ā says Papadopoulos.
Indeed, the space opens to a large terrace overlooking a square swimming pool with scalloped cornersāone of several outdoor living areas by landscape architect John Howard, who selected a simple plant palette punctuated by strategically placed flowering trees that will add color and fragrance. āItās a study in greens and textures thatās designed to bloom throughout the year,ā says Howard.
While requiring an all-hands-on-deck approach, the designers completed the project in time for the homeownerās graduation celebration. As requested, however, the place works just as well for quiet nights at home. āThey and their pets use and enjoy it,ā says Williams. āIām proud of the fact that theyāre so comfortable here.ā
INTERIOR DESIGN Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos, Mark Williams Design, (678) 539-6886; markwilliams-design.comĀ BUILDER Malone Construction Company, (404) 351-3991; maloneconstruction.comĀ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Howard Design Studio, (404) 876-7051; howarddesignstudio.com