Mindful Makeover

With Steve and Hala Moddelmog’s historic Ansley Park abode ringing in its 100th birthday, what better way to celebrate its centennial than highlighting the home’s century-old charms while revamping a late-in-life addition that offered little except eyesores and poorly appointed space. Cue decorator Alice Cramer and architect Caroline Rolader, who crafted a new wing with traditional elements that honor the past while employing modern conveniences.

“We ripped off the 1980s addition, and Caroline designed a wonderful kitchen, butler’s pantry and bar with an area for a standing laptop station,” says Cramer, adding that Steve works from home, loves to cook, and wanted to combine those two things into a multifaceted work station. In addition to the kitchen, a family room, solarium, guest suite and garage were also built, adding an extra 400 square feet to the original 3,700-square-foot home.

The improved, modern-leaning kitchen keeps things sleek and efficient, homing in on black elements, such as dark marble countertops, black stone floors from Materials Marketing and a Calhoun Design & Metalworks hood, offset by pale cabinets and walls. The open space looks into the newly designed, light-filled family room boasting a Roche Bobois leather sectional that’s reminiscent of a modern Parisian flat and adorned with Jim Thompson pillows.

Another new addition was a covered solarium that’s both practical—providing a covered area to enter the house from the garage—and pretty—filled with cozy furnishings, such as a custom sofa and striped pillows from Stanton Home Furnishings, as well as views of the flourishing courtyard designed by Carson McElheney.

“The addition of the solarium and garage created a wonderful opportunity for an intimate courtyard garden,” says McElheney.

The garden, which can also be viewed from both the family room and the kitchen, boasts a classic design and acts as an extension of the home. The Moddelmogs wanted a comfortable space to enjoy coffee in the morning and wine in the evening. They requested the water feature, which was created from an 1800s French stone trough and can be gently heard from the solarium.

A path from the courtyard, paved with reclaimed wood-molded bricks, leads to the newly designed front garden and veranda. The entry garden boasts American boxwoods, which are true to the time period of the historic home and play a key role in anchoring the garden’s structure and form in relation to the facade.

“I created a space that would showcase the garden and provide an axial relationship with the entry columns,” says McElheney. “A wonderful book, Garden History of Georgia 1733–1933, contains illustrations of various boxwood parterres which complement the home. The ease and comfort of the space reflect the client’s wishes for a usable extension of their home.”

Besides the marvelous makeover in the rear of the property, the heritage of the main house remains intact. The main areas, including the foyer, living room and dining room, were not altered, except for a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets and walls and staining of the hardwood floors.

Throughout the process, McElheney was mindful of the original details that make the space unique, such as the artful plaster moldings, because while the new addition is sprouting with utility, the main home is rooted in history.

INTERIOR DESIGN Alice Cramer, Alice Cramer Interiors ARCHITECT Caroline Reu Rolader, Reu Architects LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Carson McElheney, Carson McElheney Landscape Architecture & Design BUILDER Tim Powers, Powerhouse Construction SECTIONAL SOFA Roche Bobois WOODEN COFFEE TABLE South of Market RUG Moattar Ltd. PILLOWS Jim Thompson RANGE HOOD Calhoun Design & Metalworks CHAIRS West Elm PENDANT LIGHT Arteriors KITCHEN TABLE Custom GARDEN BISTRO TABLE AND CHAIRS Delphi Dining Arm Chair by Woodard from Logan Gardens DINING ROOM LANTERN Gregorius Pineo through Jerry Pair CURTAINS Holland & Sherry OUSHAK RUG Nomadic Rugs UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS Parc Monceau CHAIR FABRICS Grey Watkins and Payne CANOPY BED American Ironware BEDROOM ARTWORK Joseph Guay BEDSIDE TABLES Parc Monceau LAMPS Edgar-Reeves STAIRCASE ARTWORK Robert Rauschenberg