Southern Comfort

A new portico, dark shutters and lush landscaping by E. Graham Pittman & Associates, Inc. enhance the home’s classic architectural lines.

Accented with Schumacher patterned pillows that play off the glossy blue walls, a navy sofa anchors an elegant grouping in the formal living room. The artwork above the sofa is through Gregg Irby Gallery.

A pleasing rhythm of blue hues fosters an elegant sense of serenity in the formal living room. The window treatments were fabricated by Checks & Valances.

t Arched openings and a fluted barrel-vaulted ceiling enhance a formerly ho-hum corridor that leads from the front foyer to the keeping room. The runner is from Myers Carpet of Atlanta

A patterned wallcovering by Thibaut creates a dynamic backdrop for a mirror from Westside Market in the first-floor powder room. The sconces are from Peridot West.

Patterned Quadrille fabric updates the traditional dining chairs while playing off the lavender grasscloth wallcovering in the formal dining room. The tabletop decor is from Gramercy and holiday greenery is by M. Delia Designs for Lucy’s Market.

Relocated to a sunny corner of the house with views of the landscape, the new kitchen is outfitted with fine cabinetry by Phoenix Millworks, polished marble countertops and a custom hood designed by Beck. The velvet green chairs are from Foxglove Antiques & Galleries.

A family heirloom and treasured possession, antique china adds a personal touch to an elegant butler’s pantry outfitted with powder blue cabinetry and Modern Matter hardware.

Previously the kitchen, the laundry room boasts a cheerful vibe thanks to a floral wallcovering by Thibaut plus plenty of storage with a built-in desk.

Matching sofas and two pairs of lounge chairs—all covered in fabric from Charles Stewart—create a comfy spot to gather in the family room, which is humorously referred to as the ballroom for its ample footprint.

A copper sink and gold plumbing add an appealing touch of bling to a tony bar with custom cabinetry by Cameron Thurman of Phoenix Millworks and polished Calacatta Bettogli marble countertops. The linear light is from Visual Comfort & Co.

A large painting by Ally Sheppard through Gregg Irby Gallery complements the primary bedroom’s pleasing blue and green color palette. A rug from Myers Carpet of Atlanta anchors the bed, which is dressed in bedding from Matouk through Gramercy. The chandelier is from Currey & Company.

The primary bathroom includes both a stand-alone shower with multiple jets and a shapely soaker tub from PDI Atlanta.

Appointed with custom white cabinetry, stone tile and brass accents, the spa-like primary bathroom exudes timeless elegance that befits the historic architecture.

Drawn to its lush setting and classic architecture, Jessie and Andrew Somoza decided to start a new chapter in a 1930s-era Georgian Colonial on a hilly, wooded lot in Buckhead. After becoming acquainted with the home’s charms, quirks and outright problems, they hired architect Ross Piper, builder Stuart Grubb and interior designer Sande Beck, who had designed their former home, to help them make it their own. “They wanted it to feel unique and personal,” says Beck. “Traditional but updated.”

In addition to adding new moldings, arches and other bespoke details, Piper and Beck reimagined the floor plan to create more functional spaces and improve the flow between them. In the process, they flipped the location of the living and dining rooms and relocated the kitchen to the other, brighter side of the house. The pair also reconfigured the upstairs plan to create a more spacious primary bathroom. “We made this house what it always wanted to be,” says Piper.

The transformation starts outside, where a new portico with classic columns frames the stately white brick home’s front door. While the front foyer is largely unchanged, arched doorways and a fluted, barrel-back ceiling enhance a formerly unremarkable corridor that leads to the new keeping room. “Arches loosen up the architecture in a way that’s still classic and pull you from one room to the other,” says Piper.

Blue accents likewise impart a comfortable cohesion. The formal living room’s walls, millwork and ceiling are covered in a light, high-gloss blue, for example, creating a dramatic, traditional backdrop for a tailored navy sofa accented by patterned upholstery, pillows and antique dishware. “The mix makes things more interesting and balanced,” says Beck.

Indeed, in the new formal dining room, a traditional brass-and-crystal chandelier illuminates a classical wooden table and chairs with new seat fabric that plays off the lavender grasscloth wallcovering—a nod to the wife’s favorite color. “It’s so beautiful and unexpected that it almost takes your breath away,”
she says. “It feels inviting.”

The new kitchen, by contrast, feels open and expansive. Formerly the sunroom, the space now sports large iron windows that frame beautiful views of the bosky property. White lanterns illuminate the white marble island, which is adorned with millwork that pays homage to a diamond-like motif on the glass flanking the front door. The detail can also be found in the butler’s pantry. “It makes the house flow,” says Beck.

As a result of the changes, the owners now enjoy formerly unused spaces, often entertaining guests in the spacious family room, which is conveniently located next to the relocated kitchen, or sitting by the fireplace in a pass-through keeping room with shiplap paneling. “We all worked together and got a great outcome that couldn’t have turned out more beautifully,” says Beck. “It’s welcoming, inviting and very comfortable.” 

INTERIOR DESIGN Sande Beck, Sande Beck Design, (404) 808-0557; sandebeckdesign.com ARCHITECT Ross Piper, Ross Piper Architect, (404) 343-1980; rosspiper.com BUILDER Stuart Grubb, S.G.P. Construction, LLC, (404) 851-3006 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Graham Pittman, E. Graham Pittman & Associates, Inc.