Modern Life

“You have to be careful not to over-design a modern home with too much furniture, otherwise the point of the space is lost,” advises architect and designer Joel Kelly, who helped create a thoroughly modern abode for a pair of Atlanta homeowners. Kelly warmed up the white living room with bursts of color, like the Bordeaux-colored B&B Italia chairs, and organic elements, like the standout natural tree root table. A contemporary arc lamp by Flos adds a visual punch to the room. The sofa, from Context Gallery, is accented by custom throw pillows in Zimmer + Rhode fabrics. The rug is by Stark Carpet.

The house was built to accommodate the homeowners’ wish for a central kitchen, from which the rest of the spaces flow. Leather stools scoot up to a generous island topped in the same sleek lacquered finish as the SCIC cabinetry.

The ground floor sets the tone for the contemporary ease of the home, which meanders from one space to the next. Kelly curated all of the artwork, including this abstract piece, to enhance that visual flow. “As you move through the house, the artwork genres shift to create a gallery effect,” says Kelly. The table is from Andrianna Shamaris in New York.

Built on a lot that once held a dilapidated apartment building, the couple’s home was designed with natural rock and floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize the connection to nature.

Natural quartz rock is reintroduced throughout the house, including the guest bathroom designed with the couple’s art in mind. The deep wood floors offset the sleek finishes and light colors.

Overlooking the ground floor is the light-filled office, with a curated display of the couple’s artwork on a credenza flanked by a set of leather Barcelona chairs. The slatted stairwell delivers more architectural drama.

Overlooking the ground floor is the light-filled office, with a curated display of the couple’s artwork on a credenza flanked by a set of leather Barcelona chairs. The slatted stairwell delivers more architectural drama.

The stacked quartz rock wall stars in the dining room, where an eye-catching porcelain pendant accentuates the height of the 12-foot space. Leather chairs with clean lines edge the perimeter of a custom walnut table. The chandelier is from Context Gallery.

Raised windows allow for light and privacy in the spa-style master bathroom, where porcelain tile and quartz carve out a luxurious space that includes a Duravit soaking tub and a shower that’s outfitted with tile colored to mimic teak. The plumbing fixtures are by Hansgrohe.

“The bench at the foot of the bed is a nice way to relieve the modern pieces,” says Kelly of the couple’s accent seating, which is an unexpected juxtaposition to the leather headboard and custom nightstands in the master bedroom.

The rock wall in the master bathroom showcases a different texture and hue from the stone used in the rest of the house.

After 10 years and too many weekends toiling on home repairs, Atlanta couple Savas Koutsantonis and George Michaels turned a homeowner 180. The duo traded in their 100-year-old Craftsman-style manse to build a thoroughly modern abode designed for the way they live, no longer the other way around.

“Not only were we constantly working on the next project, but also there were fully furnished rooms that no one ever walked into,” says Koutsantonis of their former house. “We desperately wanted a more minimalist lifestyle and a house that allowed a lot of natural light.” The reasons for leaving their old house provided the framework for their biggest project to date.

Wishing to remain in their Midtown neighborhood, the duo chose to build their forever house where a dilapidated 1920s apartment complex stood. “The neighbors threw a party to thank us for removing the eyesore,” says Koutsantonis. In its place they built the neighborhood showstopper.

Also stepping in was their longtime friend and Shutze Award-winning interior designer and architect Joel Kelly, who helped the pair contend with the delicate balance of planting a modern home among Midtown’s Victorians and Craftsman-style bungalows. “Even though it’s a stark contrast to the surrounding homes, it doesn’t feel like it’s out of place; it feels special,” says Kelly.

To prevent the contemporary house’s aesthetic from being intimidating, Kelly bathed the exterior in warm white paint and natural stones. “Color is crucial. Cooler whites can easily come across sterile, but the milky white creates a comforting envelope,” says Kelly, who carried the color palette indoors as well.

Stepping inside, you’re immediately struck by a sense of space. “We started with the premise that the dining room, living room and kitchen would be integrated, sort of like a loft,” says Kelly, who employed a neutral color palette and texture in the form of stacked quartz rock walls to enhance the cohesiveness of the ground floor room. Peppered throughout is the homeowners’ art collection. From abstract to tribal, the various pieces personalize the space and punctuate it with color.

“We have a couple of large rooms and a garage, so I refer to it as a condo on steroids,” quips Koutsantonis, whose overall impression of the house is “easy.” In fact, a common thread in Kelly’s design repertoire is comfort. “My first thought is how it will feel,” he says. “I want every person who walks into a space to connect to it on some level. One of my favorite things to hear is, ‘It’s not my style, but I love this house.’”

Not only did the couple gain a house with the space and feel they wanted, but they also regained their weekends. Located within walking distance to Piedmont Park, the spacious, open home is an entertainer’s delight. “If there’s a concert, then our friends know to congregate here first,” says Koutsantonis. “The great ambiance makes them want to stay.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Joel Kelly, Joel Kelly Design, (404) 221-0422; joelkellydesign.com