Designed by Serenbe Planning & Design, built by South Haven and brought to life by eight Atlanta-based designers, the 2019 Serenbe Designer Showhouse — presented by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles — is one for the books. Head designer Anna-Wooten Loggins of A. Wooten Interiors says the home’s continuity makes it stand out from other showhouses. “This year, so many of the rooms flow well [because] we had such a great group of young Atlanta designers,” she tells us. Despite its four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and three stories totaling 3,300 square feet, the home doesn’t feel overly large. In fact, it feels just the opposite: manageable and cozy.
As lead designer, Anna-Wooten’s goal was to produce a home that mimicked Serenbe’s ambiance. “I definitely wanted it to fit in with the Serenbe vibe. I wanted it relaxed, and a touch modern, but still warm,” she explains. One of the roles of the lead (spec) designer is to work closely with the builders and architects to select all of the home’s finishes, which include flooring, tile, lighting, paint and hardware. With her end-game in mind, Anna-Wooten embraced the modernity of the home while emphasizing inviting elements. “Sometimes it’s hard to get a welcoming feeling in a more modern home. It was my goal to try to incorporate the two,” she tells us. “For example, most of the walls are white with pops of black and iron elements, but the floors are a super warm, yummy brown.”
Perhaps the best example of this marriage of novelty and nuance is in the main portion of the home where the kitchen, living room and dining room converge. In the dining room, designed by A. Wooten Interiors, a stunning aged-iron chandelier from Circa Lighting is a statement piece above a round, whitewash pedestal table. While iron can often conjure industrial masculinity, this fixture does anything but. When facing the staircase, with its wall of stairwell windows, the fixture’s delicate iron flowers and feminine curves break up the otherwise linear backdrop. It’s a beautiful juxtaposition and a stunning way to draw your eye from the ceiling to the floor, noticing everything in between.
The kitchen, also designed by A.Wooten Interiors, and living room designed by Means + Carney Interiors, further showcase the push and pull between a traditional and contemporary aesthetic. In the kitchen, a classic white subway tile is swapped for fresh slate, but the real star is the graphite range by Dacor. “Don’t be afraid of black,” emphasizes Anna-Wooten. “Black can still be warm and inviting if you mix it with the right textures. Almost all of the rooms feature something with black, but the house does not feel cold or dark at all!”
And she’s right. Layers of texture make this Serenbe showhouse shine. Wallpaper is found in the usual places like the mudroom and powder bath, but be sure to look up too. You’ll see it on the ceiling in various rooms including the upstairs loft. Art is another way that the designers add color and whimsy. The master bedroom hallway features a floor-to-ceiling gallery wall, with works by artists such as Renee Bouchon, Kellie Lawler and Kate Waddell. Really, the whole house is filled with artwork. Find it layered on top of windows, hovering over tubs, and even hanging in the basement playroom and the dog’s den.
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In true Serenbe style, the white walls, black details and rich brown floors only further emphasize the beauty of outdoor living. As Anna-Wooten so astutely points out, “[There is] not much color in this showhouse, but what I love about that is it allows the huge forest behind the home to sing! The green trees are the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. Your eye just goes straight back to the natural beauty of Serenbe.”
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Likewise, the second floor feels enveloped in the property’s woodsy surroundings. At the top of the stairs, guests are met with a small office and reading room designed by Virginia Cheek, complete with a velvet settee nestled into a built-in bookcase — an ideal reading spot, particularly with the enchanting perpendicular views of the treetops. In the two flanking bedrooms, towering ceilings are dwarfed by oversized lamps and impressive furniture. Each bedroom features canopy beds, another trick for pulling the ceiling toward the sleepers below.
Overall, this home captures the essence of the property while giving visitors implementable, creative ideas they can replicate. Think a lamp is too big for your home? Think again. Does your open floor plan leave you without walls for your art collection? Hang it over your windows. Think wallpaper is only for your walls? Try it on your ceiling. Visit the 2019 Serenbe Designer Showhouse now through October 19, for a laundry list of inspiration!
The house is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit the Art Farm at Serenbe. All photography by Ali Harper Photography.
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