Natural Selection

Contemporary lines, contrasting hues, warm organic elements—the 2019 Serenbe Showhouse highlighted a Scandinavian sensibility with a dose of Southern charm

Written by Jeanne Lyons Davis Photographed by Jeff Herr

June/July 2020

Starting Point

KITCHEN & DINING | A. WOOTEN INTERIORS

The open-concept dining room and kitchen harnesses the power of contrast. Crisp white cabinets from Bell Cabinetry pop against the black textured backsplash, creating a palette that harkens Scandinavia. “I wanted to draw people into a clean and inviting space that fits the relaxed lifestyle of Serenbe,” says designer Anna-Wooten Loggins. As the lead finish designer for the showhouse, Loggins threaded the kitchen’s black and white palette with natural textures throughout the 3,300-square-foot home. The dining room continued the high-contrast pairing, adding touches of blue in the form of stools and artwork to dress it up. She also kept real-life functionality front-of-mind, furnishing the space with a round table and comfortable, upholstered chairs. The room shifts to any situation—like big family dinners or work-from-home office.

CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry BACKSPLASH Renaissance Tile & Bath COUNTERTOPS Ciot; fabricated by CR Home APPLIANCES Dacor FLOORING Authentic Reclaimed Flooring FAUCETRY Kallista through Ferguson PENDANTS Circa Lighting STOOLS Iron Studio with Holland & Sherry fabric

Livable Design

LIVING ROOM & PORCH | MEANS + CARNEY INTERIORS

Art, created both on canvas and through nature, was the catalyst for the living room designed by duo Angela Means and Danielle Carney. “We wanted to feature original works from as many local and emerging talents as possible,” the women said. Limited wall space did not deter the designers, who appointed 17 works throughout the room, including one painting that hung from the windows to add depth, warmth and privacy to the rest of the contemporary-leaning interiors.

The porch is a continuation of the living room, which they dubbed “Modern Woodlands” thanks to the unencumbered natural views paired with streamlined furnishings and a gallerist’s approach (treating everyday objects as art). The duo adorned the space with decorative elements crafted of natural materials like stone, woven grasses and wood to blur the lines between indoors and out.

Family Room WINDOWS Windsor Windows & Doors ELECTRONIC WIRING Electronic Home SOFA and SWIVEL CHAIRS Lee Industries ETOSHA CHAIR Jiun Ho via R Hughes DRAPERIES Schumacher TABLE LAMP Circa Lighting RUG Moattar STONE TOP TABLE Emissary ARTWORK Britt McGraw, Kate Waddell, Blayne Macauley, Kellie Lawler, Lisa Rote Porch RATTAN CHAIRS Blaxsand BAR CART Made Goods

First Impressions

FOYER, LAUNDRY & POWDER ROOM | MICHELE GRATCH INTERIORS

When designing the powder room, Michele Gratch wanted to pack a big punch. A wallcovering by Anna French makes a bold statement, complementing the floating soapstone vanity. “Using patterned paper, especially stripes, made the space look bigger,” shares Gratch. “The design continues on the ceiling to draw the eye up.” In the foyer, Gratch juxtaposed the home’s Scandinavian simplicity with a warm Turkish rug. Since there was very little wall space, she utilized the patterned barn doors to display an abstract work by Karina Bania. Gratch pivoted in the laundry room with a more traditional and colorful Anna French wallpaper. “I love pattern and color and wanted this space to feel more like a beautiful escape than a room for drudgery,” she laughed. “Even the most utilitarian spaces can be beautiful.”

CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS LG Hausys LIGHTING Circa Lighting WALLCOVERINGS Anna French through Thibaut Foyer OUSHAK RUGS Keivan Woven Arts ARTWORK Anne Irwin Fine Art UMBRELLA STAND and WALKING STICKS Mélange Mudroom SHADE Thibaut Powder Room SINK Ciot FAUCETRY Kallista through Ferguson MIRROR Made Goods Laundry ACCESSORIES William Word Fine Antiques and Made Goods

Warm Embrace

MASTER SUITE | REGAS INTERIORS

When walking into the master bedroom, one immediately feels enveloped by the space. Although the room’s footprint is intimate, designer Kim Regas mixed luxurious layers and contemporary furnishings throughout the inviting retreat. “Because of its small size, we capitalized on its height. The bed crown and drapes were raised to the ceiling, helping unite the room instead of dividing it.” While Regas generally leans toward warmer tones, she brought the peacefulness of Serenbe’s surroundings indoors with a sea of soothing and cool blues and grays. The bathroom also reflects that sentiment, with a distinctive, tonal and textured wallcovering unifying the rooms. Throughout her mostly traditionally decorated master bedroom and bathroom, Regas pulled in the home’s overall modern sensibility with streamlined light fixtures and accessories.

Bedroom FABRICS Thibaut DRAPERY HARDWARE Crown Hardware HEADBOARD, CHEST and BENCH Beau Studio LIGHTING Circa Lighting BEDDING Peacock Alley RUG Designer Carpets WINDOW ART Jim Seitz through Huff Harrington CONSOLE Englishman’s BIRDCAGE and MIRROR Foxglove Antiques & Galleries EGG ART Fred Cox Fine Art LAMPSHADES The Lamp Shoppe CREAMWARE Interiors Market Bathroom FLOOR and SHOWER TILE Renaissance Tile & Bath TUB MTI WALLCOVERING Thibaut VANITY MIRRORS John Little

Heightened Beauty

UPSTAIRS BEDROOM & BATHROOM | COLEY CUTTINO INTERIORS

When conceptualizing the guest room, Coley Cuttino was inspired by the clean showhouse finishes selected by fellow designer Anna-Wooten Loggins. “Like many houses, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so I tried connecting my room with the kitchen,” she shares. Cuttino followed suit with a similar high-contrast black, white and natural color palette, starting with the distinctive canopy to optimize the height of the room, but with sheer panels so as not to weigh the space visually. Iron details and white plaster walls contrast with organic materials, like the detailed floors and woven rattan globe pendant. “I used textiles to warm up the space,” says Cuttino, who also covered the adjoining bathroom with a textured Phillip Jeffries woven grass cloth, pulling in the greys and black from the tile and vanity.

Bedroom CHEST Foxglove Antiques CUSTOM BED AND DRAPERY Home Accent, Inc. FAUX-BOIS BENCH B.D. Jeffries LARGE SCALE ART Chelsea Fly HIGHBOY Holland MacRae SISAL RUG Myers Carpet TABLE LAMPS Circa Lighting CEILING PENDANT Serena & Lily BEDDING Peacock Alley HEADBOARD AND BEDSKIRT FABRIC Pindler with Schumacher stripe CANOPY FABRIC Schumacher WINDOW and BED DRAPERY FABRIC Pindler Bathroom CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry TILE FLOORING Renaissance Tile & Bath COUNTERTOPS Ciot PLUMBING Ferguson WALLCOVERING Phillip Jeffries TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS Weezie Towels FRAMED ARTWORK Kate Merritt Davis, Jana Ink & Paper

Tailored Design

UPSTAIRS BEDROOM & BATHROOM | KENSON INTERIORS CO.

When Kenson Owens sought inspiration for the bedroom, she looked no further than outside. “The natural setting of Serenbe inspired me,” she shared. “It embodies outdoor serenity—a peaceful reprieve from the bustling city.” Calm, comfortable and warm were the ethos of the space, which she channeled with contrasting grays and blues that, like the great outdoors, vary in tone throughout the day. While dramatic contrast was a common Scandinavian thread, she used softer tones on her clean-lined, but plush bed canopies. The bathroom’s hand-painted organic wall coordinates with the bedroom, and the ebb and flow of the suite is versatile to suit anyone. “The room isn’t overly serious, so I designed a space that would be ideal for the young or young at heart.”

Bedroom RUG Eve and Staron Studio WALLCOVERING Holland & Sherry CANOPY FABRIC Fabricut; Ferrick Mason and Samuel & Sons through Ainsworth-Noah EURO PILLOW Fermoie through Jerry Pair; fabricated by Designer’s Workroom BEDDING and COVERLET Peacock Alley BLANKETS Rosemary Hallgarten through Holland & Sherry MIRRORS James Kendall Higgins through Amy Meier CONSOLE LAMP Rose Tarlow through Jerry Pair BENCHES Oly CHANDELIER Palecek CHAIR Design Within Reach DRINK TABLES Dixon Rye SMALL TABLE LAMP Carol Leskanic through Amy Meier ACCESSORIES B.D. Jeffries ROMAN SHADE Osborne & Little through Ainsworth-Noah; fabricated by The Designer’s Workroom CONSOLE TABLE ARTWORK Susan Hable through Bungalow Classic LARGE PAINTING Kristin Blakeney through Gregg Irby Gallery Bathroom SHOWER TILE Renaissance Tile & Bath CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry COUNTERTOPS Ciot FLOOR TILE Porcelanosa WALLCOVERING Porter Teleo through Travis & Company STOOL Made Goods SKETCH Kristen Giorgi SHOWER CURTAIN Clarence House through Jerry Pair; fabricated by The Designer’s Workroom

A Bright Spot

PLAYROOM | PEBBLES NIX INTERIORS

On the terrace level, Pebbles Glenn Nix masterfully created a screen-free haven that was cheerful yet considered. “I wanted a colorful, happy playroom that sparked creativity,” shared the designer and mother. In lieu of heavy upholstery and bean bags, Nix anchored the space with four delightful and durable mid-century chairs bursting with vintage Palm Beach personality. She designed a custom ottoman table that was the perfect height for board games, art projects and snack breaks. “I wanted clean lines to complement the interior and outside of the house, with pops of intentional colors to keep things playful.” Bold and beautiful House of Harris fabric hangs in the windows and is inset in the cabinet panels in the adjoining “pooches corner,” a sweet nook designated for dogs and packed with storage. “Even the most practical places need some color and fun,” she shared.

PANELS House of Harris with Dogwood Fabrics trim from Travis & Co. FABRICATION Barbie Shuping ANTIQUE CONSOLE TABLE Parc Monceau WOODEN ÉTAGÈRE Holland MacRae CUSTOM PAINTINGS Mary Carpenter CHANDELIER Circa Lighting FRAMED DOG DRAWINGS and DOG PILLOW FABRIC Anne Bohne Art

Lovely Landing

UPSTAIRS LOFT/OFFICE & STAIR HALL | VIRGINIA CHEEK DESIGNS

Inspired by its distinctive Scandinavian details, Virginia Cheek leaned into the loft’s modern disposition, sprinkling in welcoming appeal. “We continued the thread of high-contrast colors mixed with warm elements, like the floors and book installation,” says Cheek. The built-in shelves created a framework for the space, with a custom bench nestling perfectly inside and adding warmth with the mohair upholstery. She notes that the faux-bois Zak+Fox ceiling paper was a bit out of her comfort zone, but she was thrilled with the end result. “Transitional spaces can be tricky, similar to a foyer that’s too large with no detailing to break up the white ceilings and walls,” shares Cheek. “This unique ceiling treatment did just that—broke up the white space in a way that seamlessly transitioned the downstairs to the upstairs.”

CEILING WALLPAPER Zak+Fox through Holland & Sherry NICHE WALLPAPER Westfall & Kitson through Bradley PAINTING Holly Addi through Gregg Irby Gallery CENTER TABLE Joseph Konrad CONSOLE TABLE, LAMP and DRINK TABLE Bungalow Classic BENCH Nicholson Gallery CONSOLE CHAIR Made Goods UPHOLSTERED BENCH Westside Custom Upholstery BOOKS E. Lawrence Ltd. HIDE Saddlemans SCONCES Circa Lighting ACCESSORIES and FRAMED FIGURE DRAWINGS Max & Company THROW PILLOWS Designs by Sudi upholstered in Christopher Farr Cloth through Holland & Sherry and Romo Fabrics

Natural Instincts

LANDSCAPE AND PLANTERS | FLORALIS GARDEN DESIGN

Since it’s inception, the Serenbe community has sought to celebrate its lush, natural setting in a functional but thoughtful way. To enliven the grounds of the Showhouse, Lucinda Bray and Tyne Martinez of Floralis Garden Design first added structure with evergreen gardenias, rosemary and grasses. Next, they organically layered in white-blooming kalimeris, blue and white flowering catmint, foxgloves, bearded iris and other mixed perennials to add consistent color throughout the growing seasons. “The painted exterior provided the perfect backdrop for cast-stone containers with a mixture of evergreens and flowering seasonal plants, chosen for both their prolific color and textural qualities,” shares Bray. As the season progresses, these plants bloom with shades of purples and blues and glints of pale yellow. “These hues and flowering cycles blend hardscape and landscape seamlessly, creating a welcoming entry to this home.”

CONTAINERS Trust Stone LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION Coggin, Inc. HARDSCAPES AND HOME CONSTRUCTION South Haven Builders

Beautiful Blueprint

Architecture | Serenbe planning + design

ARCHITECTS STEVE DRAY and Cecilia Winston are masters of the Serenbe aesthetic, having designed countless homes in the Georgia hamlet. The community has a renowned welcoming presence, which the design duo honored while still sprinkling a modern sensibility throughout the project. The expansive 3,300-square-foot home, which was built in collaboration with South Haven Builders, features clean lines anchored with classic elements like sweeping ceilings and warm wooden surfaces that highlight the natural surroundings of the home. “The design is influenced by rural, Scandinavian dwellings with the use of daylight, natural wood and simple massing,” says Dray. “By using familiar features, like the exposed rafters and barn doors, with a unique exterior color, we struck a nice balance between modern and traditional.”