Soothing Sanctuary

A banquette with bullion fringe adds formal flair. The art is by Shawn Dulaney and Michael Abrams, both through Sears Peyton Gallery.

The tranquil color palette was inspired by the homeowner’s affinity for duck-egg blue. In the living room, the soft hue was incorporated into the Samuel and Sons sofa tape. The sofa is by Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture; the rug is Fibreworks.

Farrow & Ball’s Lotus wallpaper serves as the foundation for the bold yet understated dining room. Century Furniture dining chairs, upholstered in Downey by Christopher Farr Cloth, sidle up to a classic-meets-modern dining table by Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture. The chandelier is by Arteriors.

For a more relaxed setting, Howard selected seating in plush fabrics to maximum the coziness factor. The slipper chairs and ottoman are Mrs. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture and the sconce is Visual Comfort.

Lighter washed finishes in the breakfast room offer a relaxed and casual feel. Oly’s pierced resin light pendant in a classic drum shape gives the space a dose of whimsy, while artwork by Claudia Thomas also plays up the room’s serene scheme.

An antique chair graces a hallway.

Windows in the galley-style kitchen capture beautiful natural light and open onto the home’s backyard.

Envisioning a soft, tranquil retreat, the master bedroom features a slight nod to Swedish design, says Howard. The custom bed is by Stephen Plaud and the bedside table is Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture. A crystal chandelier by Niermann Weeks is through Ainsworth-Noah and the painting by artist Dusty Griffith is through Pryor Fine Art.

Envisioning a soft, tranquil retreat, the master bedroom features a slight nod to Swedish design, says Howard. The custom bed is by Stephen Plaud and the bedside table is Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture. A crystal chandelier by Niermann Weeks is through Ainsworth-Noah and the painting by artist Dusty Griffith is through Pryor Fine Art.

Decorator Phoebe Howard’s work needs no introduction. With rooms so comfortable you’ll want to sit and stay awhile, Howard’s divinely welcoming spaces have become synonymous with modern Southern style.

It’s no wonder then that many clients, like the owners of this classic 1920s home, return to her time and again to capture some of the Mrs. Howard magic. Howard had worked with the couple on their previous homes in Florida and Virginia, and when a job opportunity led them to Atlanta, they reached out to her once again after purchasing an English Tudor home in one of the city’s most picturesque neighborhoods, Brookwood Hills.

“This neighborhood just oozes charm. It’s a place where you can make your way down any street and you think every home is cuter than the next,” says Howard.

While buying a property in this historic district usually involves a renovation (many homes date back to Brookwood Hills’ inception in 1922), the couple was so pleased with the previous homeowners’ thoughtful updates that Howard was able to focus solely on cosmetic changes. The first of which was freshening up the exterior by painting both the brick and trim white for a crisp and clean first impression.

For the interiors, Howard took a cue from several magazine pages the wife had filed away for inspiration. “The common thread among the images was a really pale turquoise color that we began to refer to as ‘duck egg,’” recalls Howard.

She wove the soft hue into the home’s tranquil design scheme, most notably in the dining room, where they “wanted to have a little fun,” says Howard. She enveloped the entire space in the soothing shade, beginning with Farrow & Ball’s whimsical lotus-inspired wallpaper and then applying the color to everything from the woodwork and curtains, down to the rug for a seamless look. “Instead of breaking up the space, we went full force and really saturated it with duck egg,” she explains. “This room proves that even a soft color palette can have impact.”

Howard opted for a more understated approach in personal spaces such as the family room and master bedroom, both of which highlight the layers of softness and serene femininity that have come to distinguish the designer’s work. Given her clients’ demanding work schedules, the rooms offer the couple a relaxing environment to decompress after long days. “Since I’ve had the privilege of working with them before, they trusted that I knew what would work for their lifestyle, which in turn really pushed me to create something beautiful and personal,” says Howard. 

“The home was adorable to begin with as it had the charm of an old house, but now with a lighter palette and modern touches, it also feels very fresh,” she adds. “I knew what the end result could be, and them trusting that vision gave me a great goal to work towards. I feel really lucky to have them as clients.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Phoebe Howard, Mrs. Howard and Max & Company, (404) 816-3830; phoebehoward.net