Perfect Match

In the dining room, Liz Williams acheived a balance between the formal and the relaxed, pairing soft textures with subtle shades. At the request of the homeowners, who entertain often, the designer specified a round table. A comfortable settee and groupings of creamware round out the space.

A soft but tailored vignette in the formal living room encapsulates Williams’s aesthetic to a “T.”

Even the formal living room has a casual aura about it, thanks to grounded silhouettes and loads of Rogers & Goffigon linen. A Swedish Mora clock from A. Tyner Antiques presides over the scene, adding definitive personality. The handwoven work on paper over the mantel is by local artist Stephanie Wheeler, and was sourced from Webb-Marsteller.

Benjamin Moore’s Grecian Green unifies the spacious kitchen, a collaboration between Jane Hollman of Studio Entourage and architect Linda MacArthur. The pair designed the space to open up to both the formal dining room and a family-friendly den. Williams added drum-style ceiling fixtures with green and brown trim to harmonize with the rich wood countertops before layering in neutral accents.

The master bedroom boasts forged-iron Niermann Weeks custom bedside chests and a handsome heirloom writing desk. A crystal Currey & Company chandelier sparkles from above, completing the mix of masculine and feminine.

Rustic vessels from Webb-Marsteller are perched upon brackets culled from A. Tyner antiques.

The pair of rustic vessels flanks a chicken-wire wardrobe Williams outfitted with a voluminous curtain, adding softness to an oft-used storage piece.

The home’s architecture, conceived by Atlanta architect Linda MacArthur, bears all the hallmarks of a traditional English country dwelling, while its floor plan is custom fit for this family’s contemporary way of life.

The family room embraces the airiness of the adjacent pool deck via expansive French doors. Staying true to that spirit, assemblages of transparent demijohn jars and primitive paddles serve as appropriate accents for a room that spills out to the pool.

Understated landscaping and hardscaping by the pool, added three years ago by landscape architect Ed Castro, have matured into an elegant and complementary setting.

Willow-colored wicker chairs from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn outdoor pillows draw upon the serene palette inside and create a cozy seating area around the outdoor fireplace.

Willow-colored wicker chairs from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn outdoor pillows draw upon the serene palette inside and create a cozy seating area around the outdoor fireplace.

Strinking the right balance between family-friendly and entertaining-ready is no simple task, but Atlanta interior designer Liz Williams isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. This much is evident in her work for Buckhead residents Katherine and Chip Reed.

“We met when both of our middle children were in the same preschool class,” the designer recalls. “That was 10 years ago now.” It wasn’t long before the Reeds requested that Williams adorn their new abode, designed by Atlanta architect Linda MacArthur, on the foundation of a razed ranch in the heart of Buckhead.

Built from the ground up, their dream home was intentionally free-flowing and full of light, necessitating a calm, cohesive approach to decorating that allows the rooms to blend beautifully into one another.

The residence, says Williams, has taken shape over more than a decade, a fact that speaks to the timelessness of her work. Beginning with the basics, the designer gradually made her way to bedrooms on the upper floors.

Downstairs, the kitchen, which opens up to both a casual den and formal dining room, captures her design acumen. The countertops, cabinetry and color were chosen by MacArthur and Jane Hollman of Studio Entourage during construction, but Williams intuitively parlayed the vintage green shade into coordinating fabrics, furnishings and fixtures–including an assemblage of creamware that adds a layer of interest a wall of built-in cabinetry. Truly the hub of the house–the young family completes homework from the island, enjoys meals from the breakfast nook and up with a book in the den–the casual room covers all of the bases.

In the family room, a large wall behind the sofa was brought to life by a series of framed botanicals in earthy tones, while the down-to-earth effect was enhanced by an ultra-durable ottoman the couple’s boys “practically live on.”  This hardworking room opens onto the pool, where Williams complemented the Ed Castro–designed landscape and hardscape with watery hues that harmonize with the home’s interior.

Replete with dressmaker details and a deft mix of old and new, Williams’s serene palette, developed through the years, serves as a consistent breath of fresh air. “This has been such a fun project,” says Williams. “After 10 years, we’re even better friends.” And if her strengthened friendships with the Reeds are any indication of a job well done, the designer couldn’t have a happier pair of clients.