The New Rustic
The 2020 Serenbe Designer Showhouse revealed a blend of refined and honest elements through luxurious yet designed-for-living spaces
Mastering the Mix
Living Room // Lorraine Enwright, Intuitive Dwellings
Concepting the interior canvas of a home can be daunting, but not for Lorraine Enwright of Intuitive Dwellings. As the lead finish designer, she curated the distinctive details, such as hardware and lighting, that defined the Serenbe Designer Showhouse. Describing the aesthetic as “transitional modern,” Enwright started by mixing reclaimed and organic materials with modern lines and finishes. “We wanted to capture the casual, artistic design flow of Serenbe with a sprinkle of modern elegance,” she shared. “Reclaimed and natural materials combined with modern forms and finishes create a visual yin and yang of comfort and sophistication.” This creative push and pull is seen in the living room, where a statement steel mantel and beveled quartzite fireplace serves as a sleek counterpoint to reclaimed beams overhead. Enwright also crafted a vignette of smaller pieces to soften the room’s soaring 14-foot ceilings, invoking scale and intimacy. “Mixing a bold, colorful and modern painting with smaller black-and-white framed compositions provided both the drama and the scale that’s perfect to bring the space together,” she says.
this page and previous spread QUARTZITE FIREPLACE, TILE BACKSPLASH & ISLAND MSI CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design APPLIANCES Signature Kitchen Suite FAUCETRY Ferguson KITCHEN PENDANTS Circa Lighting WHITE GEAR TABLES Paul+ COFFEE TABLE Showroom 58 ARTWORK, WHITE BOWL, FRENCH SMELTING POT & OYSTER STICKS Huff Harrington Home STRAW WOVEN CHAIR, BUFFET, CHAMPAGNE CRATE, SHUTTERS, BLACK WOODEN BOWLS & FRENCH GRAPE PICKING BASKET Unrefined Home STONE SCULPTURE & BIRD BOWL dk Gallery ANTIQUE FRENCH DOOR, LEATHER POT, EGG BOX & BLACK VASE B.D. Jeffries WOODEN PLATTER SCULPTURES, WHITE OVAL EGG & RECTANGLE PLATTER Signature Contemporary Craft
Well Grounded
Kitchen and Dining Room // Elizabeth Ferguson Design and Bell Cabinetry & Design (kitchen)
The kitchen and dining room have always been the heart of the home, but after an unparalleled year, it’s become our hardworking haven, notes Elizabeth “Buffy” Ferguson of Elizabeth Ferguson Design, who complemented elements like the kitchen’s lime-washed oak and quartzite waterfall countertops with an earthy palette rooted in natural tones and textures and punctuated with pops of black. “We wanted to create an elegant yet comfortable environment—a retreat with personality and warmth where friends come together, families are raised, and the beauty of everyday life unfolds,” she says. In the open-concept living-dining room, pairing elegance with versatility was key, so Ferguson opted for stylish form and function. Hide barstools, brown velvet pillows and leather slipcovered chairs create a sense of elegant ease, while a round table is conducive to conversation. “Combined with a comfortable settee, you can spend hours working or enjoying long dinners with friends. The materials hold up to the reality of everyday life yet have a beautiful elegance.”
TILE BACKSPLASH & ISLAND MSI CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design APPLIANCES Signature Kitchen Suite FAUCETRY Ferguson FLOORING Authentic Reclaimed Flooring PENDANTS Circa Lighting ANTIQUE SCALE, TRAY & LARGE BOWL Bungalow Classic IVORY BOWL & CUTTING BOARD Dixon Rye PAIR OF ANTIQUE SERPENTINE CONSOLE TABLES & LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD BAROMETER William Word Fine Antiques WAVY GLASS MIRROR, SLIPCOVERED CHAIRS, FRANK BARSTOOLS & PATTERSON TABLE Holland MacRae ARTWORK Kim Buckelew
Screen Time
Screened Porch // Whitney Durham, Whitney Durham Interiors
At Serenbe, porch living is not just an extension of home, but a way of life, as evidenced by this peaceful perch designed by Whitney Durham of Whitney Durham Interiors. “I wanted the back porch to feel whimsical and cheerful with a graphic punch,” says Durham. She nodded to the interior with a more neutral color palette that complemented the bold exterior while pulling in a darker gray and cream leopard rug, black and white floor lamp shades, and original artwork by Carrie Penley. Within the sea of neutrals, she made a splash with exotic butterfly drapery panels by Schumacher and an eye-popping vintage coral bar cart. When it comes to using the space, whether alfresco entertaining or enjoying some time alone, Durham believes in the power of connecting the two spaces. “You should treat your exterior spaces as an extension of your home,” she says.
DRAPERY, PILLOWS, DINING CHAIR CUSHIONS & LAMPSHADES Schumacher TEAK SOFA & ALUMINUM LOUNGE CHAIRS Summer Classics BAR CART Chairish through Fig House Vintage TABLE LAMP & FLOOR LAMP Circa Lighting DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS, GARDEN STOOL & MIRROR Ballard Designs CUSTOM FRAMING Express Framers COFFEE TABLE Antique Factory PHEASANT SALAD PLATES Elaine Burge RAFFIA GLASSES Amanda Lindroth LEOPARD OUTDOOR RUG Myers Carpet WINDOWS AND DOOR Windsor Windows & Doors
Well-Dressed Room
Primary Bedroom and Bathroom // Patrick and Meghan Sharp, Mister + Mrs Sharp
Inspiration can strike at any turn. For Patrick and Meghan Sharp of Mister + Mrs Sharp, it was the bespoke menswear along London’s historic Savile Row that inspired their primary suite design. “There’s something magical about the traditional, formal tailor shops of Savile Row, many of which have an edgy modern design bent,” shared Patrick. “Imagine grey woolen suits on busts under a Sputnik light next to an Eames chair. We worked to pull traditional and modern pieces together, along with fabrics that mimicked menswear to have the same feel.” To translate the idea into the space, they started with a beautiful tufted bed covered in a dreamy grey flannel, followed by windowpane and plaid fabrics that cemented the menswear-inspired theme. But the push and pull of masculine and feminine features throughout the spaces was pivotal, so to balance the handsome plaids, they opted for a statement bolster covered in Schumacher Pyne Hollyhock chintz. “It’s like the floral tie of a gentleman’s suiting ensemble—the ultimate finishing touch,” shared Patrick.
COUNTERTOPS, MARBLE WALLS and FLOORING MSI PLUMBING Ferguson CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design WILLEM SIDE TABLE, K. KIRBY ABSTRACT ARTWORK, TOWNSEND SIDE CHEST, HOLDEN BED, ANTIQUE CHAIRS & DELMAN LAMP Sharp Furniture Co. POUFFES, MOTSWIRI CABINET, FLOOR LAMPS, BASKIN PRINT & JOHN LISTON STEEL SCULPTURES R Hughes FOXTROT RUG Patterson Flynn Martin ABSTRACT ARTWORK Kayce Hughes CUSTOM WHITE BEDDING Sharp Furniture Co. WINDOW FABRIC Schumacher
Restful Retreat
Bedroom and Powder Room // Stephanie Andrews, Balance Design
Multifaceted and mindful were cornerstone concepts for Stephanie Andrews of Balance Design when designing her guest retreat. “The Serenbe lifestyle is rooted in nature, wellness and beauty, so we wanted to incorporate those qualities into the design,” she noted. “Our hanging bed accentuates the high ceilings, yet also allows for a restful break to swing and look out the window.” Intentional details are sprinkled throughout the spirited space, which can easily transition from bedroom, office or place of reprieve in a pinch. An abstract mural draws the eye up the 16-foot ceiling, punctuating the space with a cheerful yet soothing statement. Hues from its playful palette continue into the powder room with its perfectly moody mauve hue. The swinging bed, however, is the prized focal point of the two spaces. “Growing up in Pennsylvania, my parents had a hanging bed on a sleeping porch and my sisters and I would hang out for hours,” says Andrews. This nostalgic, ethereal touch brings the room full circle, making it the perfect destination for answering emails or reading a page-turning book.
DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES & BOOKS Balance Design HANGING BED Custom by Scialabba Construction & Renovation ARTWORK Penny Treese, Courtney Khail and Christina Kwan CEILING MURAL Lulu and Georgia PILLOWS Schumacher Powder COUNTERTOP HanStone TILE MSI PAINT Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink
Warm Welcome
Front porch, entry foyer and laundry // Maggie Griffin, Maggie Griffin Design
First impressions make a lasting impact, so when Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design conceptualized the collective vision for the front porch, entry foyer and laundry room, she knew she wanted to strike the right chord of welcoming meets memorable. “I wanted the design to be fun and intriguing, yet connected to the earth tones used throughout the space,” she says. For the front porch, Griffin contrasted the distinctive dark exterior with intentional pops of aqua and red, adding a global, collected layer with decorative jars and demilune tables. Moving into the entry and laundry room, she layered neutrals in shades of cream, white and oatmeal, plus a touch of black. While utilitarian in
nature, Griffin believes that even the hardest working rooms of the house can—and should—be beautiful. Besides the usual mainstays of the laundry room, she incorporated a chippendale wing chair, desk and cozy bench to sit a spell. “The space is designed to be used beyond folding laundry,” says Griffin. “From working on the computer to reading a book, the room is practical, comfortable and most of all, beautiful.”
Front Porch PILLOWS Schumacher Foyer LIGHT Circa Lighting WATERCOLORS Leigh-Anne O’Brien Laundry CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design COUNTERTOPS HanStone ARTWORK Kellie Lawler WATERCOLOR Leigh-Anne O’Brien
Natural Instincts
Bedroom and Bathrooms // Ashley Malone, Bennett Malone Interior Design
Taking cues from the natural surroundings of Serenbe, Ashley Malone of Bennett Malone Interior Design curated a warm and inviting bedroom by embracing the palette of the great outdoors. Pattern and art were threads woven throughout the cozy retreat. Distinctive Euro shams covered in a dashing animal-themed design by Schumacher anchors the room’s design and is punctuated by abstract art on both sides of the bed, all encompassing a nature-inspired design. “Earth tones of soft deep greens, warm neutrals and mustards brought the exterior landscape into the interior bedroom and connecting bathroom,” shared Malone. In the bathrooms, she selected a traditional Indian block print wallcovering by Molly Mahon and a punch of personality with a Schumacher shower curtain. “I love the fun pop that wallpaper brings to a space,” she said. “When I saw it, I knew it was perfect.”
BEDDING Peacock Alley ARTWORK Jennifer Gibbs through dk Gallery TABLE LAMPS Currey & Company Bathrooms COUNTERTOPS MSI CABINETRY Bell Cabinetry & Design BLOCK PRINT WALLPAPER (top left) Molly Mahon SHOWER CURTAIN & WALLPAPER (top and bottom right) Schumacher
Behind the Design
Builder, South Haven Builders // Architects, Steve Dray and Cecilia Winston
When designing the 2020 Serenbe Designer Showhouse, architects Steve Dray and Cecilia Winston of Serenbe Planning + Design and the team at South Haven Builders crafted and executed their unique vision of a reimagined farmhouse. “The inspiration for this year’s showhouse was a modern version of the single-story Folk Victorian cottage, more specifically the farmhouse style that had been disappearing from the rural South,” shared Winston. The contrast in scale from the modest exterior to the grand, spatial feeling inside was an intentional design element, with the high dormer into the foyer being the first experience of the compressed space versus the expanded space with soaring ceilings. With its intentionally simple exterior, it was painted a distinctive dark hue to distinguish itself from neighboring cottages, while still participating in the community aesthetic. “We strived for restraint on details so it can blend with the Serenbe streetscape,” noted Winston.
Green With Envy
Landscape Architecture // Lucinda Bray, Floralis Garden Design
Serenbe is deeply rooted in its natural surroundings, so Lucinda Bray of Floralis Garden Design conceptualized a beautiful yet low-maintenance design with intentional plantings that highlighted both the farm home and community. Evergreen gardenias, hinoki cypress, rosemary and grasses give the landscaping structure, while white-blooming kalimeris, flowering catmint and yellow-flowering marigolds provide consistent color throughout the growing seasons. “We don’t often plant in hues of yellow, but they melded so well with the dark color of the home’s exterior,” shared Bray. “Plus, it provided a bright sunny garden space. Everyone needs a little bit more of that this year!”
CONTAINERS Trust Stone LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION INSTALL Coggin, Inc. HARDSCAPE STONE PAVERS Hartstone DOORS & WINDOWS Windsor Windows & Doors PAINT Sherwin-Williams Caviar TRIM Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa
Special Thanks
Builder South Haven Builders southhavenbuilders.com
Architect Steve Dray & Cecilia Winston,
SERENBE PLANNING + DESIGN serenbeplanninganddesign.com
Contributing Sponsors
Authentic Reclaimed Flooring authenticreclaimedfloors.com
Bell Cabinetry & Design bellcabinetry.com
MSI msisurfaces.com
Circa Lighting circalighting.com
Floralis Garden Design floralisdesign.com
Hartstone hartstonetile.com
CR Construction Resources constructionresourcesusa.com
Signature Kitchen Suite signaturekitchensuite.com
Windsor Windows & Doors windsorwindows.com
Participating Designers
Balance Design balancedesignatlanta.com
Bennett Malone Interior Design bmidesign.us
Elizabeth Ferguson Design elizabethfergusondesign.com
Intuitive Dwellings intuitivedwellings.com
Maggie Griffin Design maggiegriffindesign.com
Mister and Mrs Sharp misterandmrssharp.com
Whitney Durham Interiors whitneydurhaminteriors.com