Perfect Translation

Perfectly complementing the upholstery, a pair of modern abstract paintings by Katharina Chapuis through Pryor Fine Art adds a contemporary flair to the well-appointed music room.

An iconic addition to one of Atlanta’s most tony avenues, the French Normandy abode is clad with stucco over masonry with limestone detailing and a distinct turret that “feels right,” says Harrison Design architect Greg Palmer.

A chandelier in 22-karat gold from Paul Ferrante plays off of the similar tones throughout the music room.

Gilt pendants by Paul Ferrante through Ainsworth-Noah call attention to the arched ceilings in the hallway, which is furnished with a 19th-century Italian chest from William Word Fine Antiques and 1930s Swedish chairs from Maison Felice.

Lueders stone floors, Venetian plaster walls and an iron railing evoke a Parisian sensibility in the main stairway.

The two-story library features plaster walls and wood paneling by Block & Chisel.

A hand-painted wallcovering by de Gournay through Ainsworth-Noah creates a stunning backdrop. The chandelier is Paul Ferrante and the artwork on the mantel is by Hunt Slonem.

An oval Louis XVI table with a walnut top by Dennis & Leen surrounded by a built-in banquette and chairs by Hickory Chair offers a spot for casual meals in the spacious kitchen.

A blue-painted ceiling and a brass hood by Francois & Co. punctuate the classic white cabinetry in the kitchen. The counter stools are by Mattaliano.

One of many blue hues throughout the home, a patterned wallcovering adorns the walls in the breakfast room while coordinating closely with the lacquered cabinetry in the nearby butler’s pantry.

Painted in Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball and accented with antiqued mirror, the butler’s pantry is both stylish and functional. The brass fixture is by Paul Ferrante.

A plush sofa from Baker and slipper chairs by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair complement the family room’s airy appeal.

Furnishings by Michael Taylor and Formations and a sizable fireplace ensure the covered loggia is just as comfortable as the adjacent family room.

Designed for indoor-outdoor living, the home boasts a spacious covered patio, beautifully landscaped yard by John Howard of Howard Design Studio and a round swimming pool.

The old idiom, pretty in pink, applies to the teenage daughter’s bedroom, which features a wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries, blush drapery fabric by Kravet and coordinating upholstered furnishings.

A damask wallcovering from Designers Guild ties in with the floor tile in the teenage daughter’s en-suite bathroom, which is illuminated by a brass chandelier from Circa Lighting.

Mirrored nightstands by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair flank a maple-framed bed by Ferrell Mittman in one of the two teenage daughter’s bedrooms.

Recessed into a niche and covered in tufted Scalamandré satin, the upholstered bed coordinates perfectly with an elegant armless sofa by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair.

Blue glass mirrors from Dennis & Leen carry the wife’s favorite color into the spacious master bathroom, where a soaker tub from Waterworks affords views of the verdant landscaping.

Polished Bianco Cristallo marble and hardware by LeMont through Architectural Accents elevate the morning bar in the master bedroom.

After dreaming for years of building a French Normandy-style home on one of Atlanta’s toniest thoroughfares, a cosmopolitan couple with two teenage daughters finally decided to pull the proverbial trigger. 

Armed with inspiration images they took during their overseas travels, the owners asked architect Greg Palmer of Harrison Design and interior designer Suzanne Kasler, who had collaborated on their former house years ago, to bring their vision to life.

The result is a sprawling stucco dwelling with limestone detailing and a prominent turret that houses an elegant serpentine stairway. Iron-paneled windows, intricate wall moldings and details such as a recurring quatrefoil motif add to the rich sense of history and character.

“It’s a house of today, but it’s informed by what they saw on their travels,” says Palmer, who worked on the project with colleague and designer Robbie Pich. “We took the best of that style and equipped it with all the modern-day conveniences.”

Distinguished by its lofty groin vault ceiling and tall arched iron windows and doors, the family room opens out onto a porch area with similar dimensions and a matching limestone fireplace, creating an indoor-outdoor experience that’s nothing if not au courant. 

Silk draperies with a subtle pattern enliven the room’s more neutral palette—one of many blue hues found throughout the decor. “The house flows in a quiet way,” Kasler says, noting blue is the wife’s favorite color. 

Indeed, sky blue draperies likewise adorn the two-story walnut-paneled library, where a quartet of tufted leather chairs surround a light blue velvet ottoman in front of an intricate stone fireplace with the same quatrefoil detailing. 

And the gray-blue ceiling in the classic white kitchen plays off both the lacquered cabinetry with antiqued mirrored doors in the butler’s pantry and the patterned wallcovering in the breakfast room—one of several throughout the interior.

“She wanted it to be chic and beautiful—traditional but not too traditional,” Kasler explains. To that end, the designer incorporated plush, clean-lined furnishings alongside antiques and modern artwork, such as a pair of abstract paintings—one in blue, the other in blush—in the airy and light-filled music room, which is distinguished by ornate wall and ceiling moldings.

The seamless blend of influences has delighted the owners, who showed their appreciation for a job well done by hosting the design team for a catered dinner. “That’s when we can really celebrate,” Kasler says. “The biggest success on any project is when the clients are happy and love the end result.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Suzanne Kasler, (404) 355-1035; suzannekasler.com
ARCHITECT Greg Palmer, Harrison Design, (404) 365-7760; harrisondesign.com
BUILDER Rick Fierer, Bildon Construction and Development, (404) 803-0415
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT John Howard, Howard Design Studio, (404) 876-7051; howarddesignstudio.com