Old Meets New in this Family-friendly Buckhead Residence

An antique portrait from the client’s collection presides over the living room, which contains a sofa and chair from designer Phoebe Howard’s line, Mr. & Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture, a chair from Hickory Chair, an ottoman from Baker, and sconces from Mrs. Howard.

A warm welcome for visitors, a grisaille wallcovering from Susan Harter Muralpapers features a landscape scene that runs from the foyer up the main staircase.

A large work by Stewart McDonald holds court over the fireplace in the living room. The floor lamp is from Visual Comfort & Co.

A Regina Andrew light fixture hangs above a table from Chaddock.

A wallcovering from Rose Tarlow Melrose House casts a subtle shine in the dining room. The rug is from the designer’s design shop, Mrs. Howard.

After the family room was damaged by flooding, architect Blake Segars was tasked with gutting the space and starting fresh. Fluted cerused oak wall paneling adds light dimension to the new space.

The kitchen didn’t require renovation, but Howard added some small touches, including a light fixture from Visual Comfort & Co. and a runner from English Village Lane.

In a corner area of the kitchen, chairs from Mr. Brown London surround a table from Chaddock. The antique portrait is from the client’s collection.

The library, which is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chocolate Candy Brown, puts treasured items of the homeowners’ on display.

Another area that had been damaged by the flood is the keeping room, which is located off the kitchen. The new space features a sofa from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, armchair from Palecek, and a brown chair from Baker.

The wallcovering from Susan Harter Muralpapers extends to the second-floor stair landing, where a center hall table is draped in a fabric from Cowtan & Tout.

In the primary bedroom, a bed from Mrs. Howard is draped with fabric, creating a calming, cocoon-like effect.

The client’s own artwork and furnishings add interest to the serene primary bath, which was left untouched during the renovation.

Segars reconfigured an awkward guest bedroom, which now features two separate spaces that can be closed off with pocket French doors inset with mirrored panels.

Another view of the guest room includes a desk, chair, and mirror from the client’s own collection. The grasscloth wallcovering is from Jerry Pair.

A collection of artwork adorns the back stairway and includes a mix of antique oil paintings and modern abstract pieces.

To complete the speakeasy, Howard paired the client’s artwork and rug with a custom banquette from M. Southern Design Concepts.

This Buckhead residence dates from the late 1920s or early ’30s. Hamilton Land Services Inc.—previously Carson McElheney Landscape Architecture & Design—is responsible for the manicured grounds.

Striped chaise longues and umbrellas from RH lend a classic touch to the pool area.

When it comes to design, restraint is a powerful tool. It can be tempting to gut everything and start anew, but often the most successful projects are handled with self-control and a light touch. Such was the case with this 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Buckhead residence, which dates from the late 1920s or early ’30s. The house had been well maintained throughout its history, so the current owners decided that a complete overhaul wouldn’t be necessary. With the kitchen and baths already up to snuff, the couple called on designer Phoebe Howard to work her magic on the rest of the home. “I get excited anytime I get to lay my hands on a historic property,” says Howard. “It’s a jewel of an old house. The goal was to embrace its architecture and quirky spaces, but update it with modern silhouettes and contemporary art.”

Indeed, the interiors strike a balance of old and new, featuring a combination of custom furnishings, contemporary pieces, and antiques. “The wife is an old soul who loves history and is drawn to a variety of things, including antique oil paintings,” says Howard, who incorporated several pieces of artwork and furniture from the client’s collection. Meanwhile, any additions couldn’t be too precious, as the couple has young children and dogs. “The family lives hard in this house, so we were mindful of wear and tear,” she continues.

Along with Howard, the design team included Hamilton Land Services Inc. (previously Carson McElheney Landscape Architecture & Design) and architect Blake Segars—who was initially brought on to reconfigure a guest bedroom, but was later called back to gut-renovate the family room and keeping room (a sitting area off the kitchen) after they were damaged by a flood. “We were given a blank palette,” recalls Segars. “We wanted to respect the home’s traditional architecture while creating something that’s a bit unexpected.” The focal point of the reimagined family room, for example, is a wall of cerused oak cabinetry and shelving that’s dressed up with fluted paneling. To complement the new interior architecture, Howard selected streamlined furnishings in creamy tones, which are found throughout the residence. “The palette is subdued and neutral,” says Howard, who brought in texture and subtle pattern through rugs, upholstery, and wallcoverings. One of her favorite elements is the grisaille wallpaper featuring a landscape scene that extends from the foyer up to the second-floor staircase landing. “We tried to respect this historic property by giving it a timeless, classic look,” says Howard. “At the same time, we didn’t want it to feel stodgy, as these clients are young and fun. The mix of antiques and new items feels fresh and current.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Phoebe Howard, Mrs. Howard and Max & Company, (404) 816-3830; phoebehoward.net ARCHITECT Blake Segars, T. Blake Segars Architects, (404) 550-5812; blakesegars.com LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Hamilton Land Services Inc., (404) 355-3330; hamiltonlandservices.com