For football fans, the Super Bowl culminates a season of euphoric highs and inconsolable lows; the Academy Awards celebrates the greatest actors for movie fans; and when it comes to the 2019 Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Garden, it’s the apex of creativity when it comes to admiring the talent of interior designers from across the region.
Now in its fourth year, the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens allows regular folk (and HGTV addicts like me) to truly ensconce our senses in the work of skilled geniuses. Touring this year’s massive Atlanta estate, guests are greeted to rooms and vignettes representing all different types of décor styles — homey countryside to clean minimalism to cool mid-century modern and everything in between. Besides viewing one-of-a-kind finishes and design pieces, the painstakingly detailed work of these 18 designers can also prompt the creative juices of everyone who tours the home — think of it like walking through a Pinterest board you’ve been creating for your own home. The event is produced by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and benefits the Atlanta History Center.
Before we detail the home’s design, let’s get into the detail of the home itself. Designed in a transitional style by Logan Design Group, this new estate was built by Southern Gentry Homes. The 13,000-square-foot Buckhead retreat sits on 5.3 acres beside a massive babbling natural pond, which provides the perfect surrounding ambience. The connection from inside to outside also appears in the many mixed-use spaces, including multiple porches, a loggia and a gigantic two-story great room that is filled with natural light. Many materials, including natural stone, painted brick, slate, wood and metals seamlessly meld together to create a true showstopper.
I started my tour in the dazzling kitchen, designed by Yvonne McFadden, where I never realized how floor-to-ceiling cabinetry (from Morgan Creek Cabinet Company) could look chic AND be practical. The room offers an especially cool moment upon the usage of the home’s natural stone wall as a built-in dramatic design element and a way to easily transition guests to the outdoors, in the form of interior designer Tish Mills Kirk‘s screened porch.
“We think of this as an outdoor keeping room,” says Tish. “The lake [pond] is so pretty, and our inspiration came from there … This is a conversation and hangout area, and we did a great mix of vintage and new pieces.”
One of my favorite rooms has to be the main level master bedroom, designed by Will Huff and Heather Dewberry of Huff Dewberry. The bedroom’s tranquil blue-and-white combo takes great advantage of such a timeless color pairing with regal finishes, rich textiles and amazing vertical lines that stretch to the room’s towering, shiplap ceiling.
Walking through the home will remind anyone how art and the power of imagination can completely customize a home. The Artist Collective helped supply much of the showhouse’s stunning artwork, making many of these pieces available for purchase. Honestly, it’s like perusing the finest gallery upon every turn, stairwell and square foot.
As anyone who knows me can attest, I’ve always loved black and white and therefore I need to highlight the home’s salon, designed by Jonathan Savage of Savage Interior Design. If this was my home, I’d be spending a ton of time in this sleek space, anchored by the huge “Bullet” art piece, from Atlanta artist Joseph Guay, above the fireplace. And I cannot tell you how obsessed I am with the clever bee embroideries, inconspicuously placed on the lounge chairs — I want to replicate that element in my own house right away.
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Whether you’re a designer-in-training, someone who appreciates the art of décor or a person in dire need of interiors inspiration, this year’s Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens is made for you. There are too many genius interior designers and rooms to go through in one article — tour the home and choose for yourself which vignette makes your heart skip a beat.
The Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens is located at 4315 Garmon Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 and runs through June 2, 2019. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Daily admission is $30 online and $35 at the door. Get more information about the event by visiting southeasternshowhouse.com.
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