Studio Dixon Rye Restores a 1932 Tudor Home in Buckhead With a Fresh Vision

The architecture of the circa-1932 Tudor home, originally designed by the esteemed Atlanta firm Frazier & Bodin, is what initially attracted Studio Dixon Rye to the project.

Work by artist Donna Mintz through Sandler Hudson Gallery creates a focal point above a Claremont demilune table through Dixon Rye.

In the entry, a custom marble table by Studio Dixon Rye, stands proudly like an Italian garden sculpture—a notion amplified by the tree grove hand-painted by local muralist Tommy Taylor on the walls.

A desert-red rug by Nordic Knots seemingly blends into the pair of sofas, reupholstered in Nevada Mohair Velvet with contrasting piping. Above the mantel, a photograph by Erik Madigan Heck holds court.

Playful fabrics, such as the diagonally striped drapery by Robert Kime and the Élitis fabric covering vintage chairs, bring fresh, vibrant layers to the historic home.

Designer Bradley Hüsemann-Odom’s favorite space in the home, the dining room wows with its Benjamin Moore Farmer’s Market-painted ceiling and amber glow cast by the vintage pendants.

Benjamin Moore’s Alfresco enlivens the ceiling, while a record player cabinet, custom-designed by Studio Dixon Rye in a corresponding blue, doubles as a bar.

Translucent coffee tables from 1stDibs soak up natural light streaming in the wide wall of windows, while the Sister by Studio Ashby fabric on the reupholstered sofa mimics the historic iron grills on the windows.

The balancing act of old and new continues in the kitchen, where a Workstead pendant adds a colorful element of surprise. Creamy, gentle neutrals soften the space.

A dining nook is outfitted with a custom banquette designed by Studio Dixon Rye and a table from Holland MacRae.

Benjamin Moore’s cheery French Quarter Gold covers the built-in cabinetry in the mudroom.

A hand-painted mural and custom rug runner by Patterson Flynn continue onto the second floor, infusing a dose of whimsy to balance the antique wood details.

A rich tapestry from William Word Fine Antiques hangs behind the navy blue bed. The windows are treated with James Malone Fabrics and a rug from Moattar covers the floor.

In the primary suite, the bathroom plays as a foil to the bedroom: dark veined marble held in tension with powder blue millwork, blackened iron, and reeded glass.

In the primary suite, the bathroom plays as a foil to the bedroom: dark veined marble held in tension with powder blue millwork, blackened iron, and reeded glass.

When the current owners of a 1932 Tudor in Buckhead first contacted Bradley and Peter Hüsemann-Odom—the dynamic duo behind Studio Dixon Rye—for an in-home consultation, they were focused only on the foyer and dining room. Then, as their conversations evolved, so too did the scope.

“The architecture immediately drew us in,” shares Bradley, noting the home boasted many of its original elements designed by the esteemed Atlanta firm Frazier & Bodin, including the iron windows, paneling, and room proportions still intact. “You don’t come across that kind of integrity very often.”

Over two years, the project unfolded gradually, with ample attention given to studying the home’s existing vernacular and scheming how new layers of color, materials, and furnishings—apropos of the energetic, young family living there—could cohabitate.

“Historic homes like this ask you to slow down,” shares Peter. “We spent a lot of time making sure
every decision felt like it belonged to the house, rather than competing with it.“The reward is a residence that is simultaneously vibrant and singular, while continuing to honor the antiquity that makes the home so desirable.

That included bringing on Alspach Construction & Electric LLC for renovation work, bringing life to the distinguished, custom elements. Studio Dixon Rye also commissioned a hand-painted mural by local artist Tommy Taylor that wraps the foyer with a grove of blue trees sprinkled with birds and fruit that extend up the stairwell and establish the palette for the interiors beyond. Then, the grand staircase was dressed with an abstract stair runner, created by stitching together a strategic assortment of shapes and colors. “It ended up feeling like a piece of art that happens to run up the stairs,” adds Bradley.

Introducing such bold hues into a house—particularly one built around darker wood and traditional detailing—is no small feat, but the Hüsemann-Odoms were up for the challenge. Rather than trying to neutralize the historical elements, they embraced them and leveraged colors that playfully dialogue with the architecture—a masterful approach that made the interiors feel more like a vivacious cocktail party rather than a formal, old-fashioned event.

In the den, a lacquered, sky blue ceiling draws the eye upward, while a matching blue record player cabinet livens up one corner, and a trio of translucent, sculptural coffee tables throws technicolor shadows like stained glass. The mudroom’s molding and built-in cabinetry are drenched in sunshine yellow. Green enamel pendant lighting evokes a sense of modernity above the kitchen island. And, around the dining table, a diagonally striped rug in rich jewel tones, geometric-patterned chairs, and chartreuse-hued window treatments pack in personality.

“The dining room is one of my favorites because it captures the spirit of the entire project,” says Bradley. “The coral ceiling and amber pendants create this warm glow that feels unexpected in a Tudor house, but somehow perfectly at home there.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Bradley and Peter Hüsemann-Odom, Studio Dixon Rye, (404) 883-3939; dixonrye.com ORIGINAL ARCHITECT Frazier & Bodin RENOVATION BUILDER Alspach Construction & Electric LLC, (813) 354-8530; alspachconstruct.com