Centennial house in Atlanta

Southern Living, Aug 1996 by Nesmith, Lynn

Our Idea House, located in Buckhead, celebrates a renewal of craftsmanship while it instills a desire to dream.

History proves that good design and understated elegance never go out of style. Our Centennial Idea House has just such an enduring look and feel. Located in Buckhead in Atlanta, the house was designed by Frederick Spitzmiller and Robert Norris of the Atlanta residential design firm Spitzmiller & Norris, Inc., and built by Jim Brown of JWB Properties, Inc.

From the street, the home presents a warm and inviting facade. To create a sense of nostalgia, the designers combined sloping rooflines, windows of different sizes and shapes, and a variety of dormers. Covered porches, a loggia, and a rear terrace provide welcoming connections to the outdoors.

Landscaping also adds to the home's established look. "Our goal was to create a landscape scheme with a welcoming blend of the formal and informal," says landscape architect John Howard.

He and his partner, Benjamin Roden-Lupton, used an appealing mix of shade trees, large boxwoods, and English ivy. A lace-bark elm, cryptomeria, and saucer magnolias add a sense of scale.

STUDY

To the left of the foyer as you enter the house, the study offers a cloistered retreat. Walls and trim, fauxfinished in a chocolate brown, refine the sense of enclosure. A light-brown rug gives the floor texture. Against these dramatic surfaces, designer Candy Lloyd of Candler Lloyd Interiors, Inc., placed a writing desk with a gold-tooled leather top. The desk offers sophistication and a functional work surface.

For a spirited touch in this serious room, a pair of wing chairs are upholstered in a brown-on-brown, cutvelvet novelty fabric animated with stylized lions.

KITCHEN

The lure of the kitchen in this house is overly strong. It's truly a cook's delight-large and flexible but arranged in an efficient layout. An L-shaped island carves out a circulation pattern without impinging on the work triangle. SieMatic cabinets boast a soft-green stain finish.

A banquette (at left) tucked into a sunny corner of the kitchen elevates this eating area to a gathering place. Candy chose a playful animal print for the valance and plump pillows to line the banquette.

FAMILY ROOM

There's a logical flow through the house, but each room retains its own special character. A tray ceiling fashioned of butt-joint panels, a built-in window seat, and a large fireplace imbue the family room with cozy comfort. Perfectly suited to the home's traditional architecture, furniture from various Ethan Allen collections fills the room. A pair of plaid club chairs and a dark-green chenille sofa were selected with relaxation in mind.

LIVING ROOM

Our Centennial House offers an open floor plan with subtle boundaries that establish a sense of separation between spaces. "A neutral color scheme provides the understated elegance that the living room required," says Candy. "But it's also a great starting point that offers flexibility for the rest of the house."

DINING ROOM

The color palette unfolds with bolder tones and varied hues as you move into rooms adjacent to the living room. In the dining room, details and furnishings echo a similar blend of formality and friendliness. "We tried to make each room of the house its own little world," says Candy. "And then include unifying elements to create a truly cohesive home."

Painted red walls provide a dramatic background for a mahogany double-pedestal table surrounded by Chippendale armchairs. A large breakfront dominates the wall opposite the niche, while formal silk plaid draperies accentuate French doors.

GIRL'S BEDROOM

An engaging medley of details, decorations, and furnishings highlight this bedroom. A circular window treatment accents the dormer window. Tucked under the dormer is a special touch-a delightful window seat. The plump seat cushion and accent pillows make the sunny nook an inviting spot, and built-in storage below makes the attractive space practical as well. Built-in bookcases line the opposite wall to keep dolls, books, and other treasures close at hand.

MASTER SUITE

Attention to architectural details and a masterful mixing of fabrics and patterns continue in the master suite. Botanical wallpaper enlivens the bath, where corner mirrors define separate dressing areas. The handsome marble flooring is accented with tumbled-marble insets. In the bedroom a Wedgwood-blue-and-cream pattern sets the stage, while a tufted-back upholstered chair in a lively checked pattern adds a punch of color. Large windows open the room to the wooded site.

MEDIA ROOM

State-of-the-art electronic equipment sets the mood for this room in the lower level. Because the television is the focal point, no windows or other architectural embellishments were required. Walls are painted the color of cappuccino to enhance a sectional sofa, upholstered in a lively pattern of red, brown, green, and purple.

BOY'S BEDROOM

For the boy's bedroom (at left) Candy chose a playful set of bunk beds (reflected in the mirror) with arched headboards and footboards. A madras fabric gives the room a masculine feel.