WHAT LIES BENEATH Behind the classic facade of a traditional, Southern-style estate, designer Kay Douglass fashions an extraordinary—and unexpected—design scheme

WHAT LIES

BENEATH

BEHIND THE CLASSIC FACADE OF A TRADITIONAL, SOUTHERNSTYLE ESTATE, DESIGNER KAY DOUGLASS FASHIONS AN EXTRAORDINARY—AND UNEXPECTED—DESIGN SCHEME

Photographed by Mali Azima Written by Elizabeth R. Ralls Produced by Clinton Smith

right Rich, dark wood fi nishes on the walls, fl oor and ceiling were replaced with a light-and-bright palette. The white paint color used thoughout the home is Benjamin Moore's Sea Pearl. Douglass commissioned the artwork by having a custom-designed fabric stretched over a canvas frame. She based the pattern of the cabinet doors on a design that she had seen while vacationing in Italy. The chairs are from South of Market and the vintage wire stools were found in France. opposite The foyer hints at the unexpected interior that lies beyond. In true Douglass fashion, the minimalist space places importance on just a few special objects: the old (the homeowners’ prized Mies van der Rohe daybed), the found (a straw sculpture from the south of France) and the new (a hide rug). previous spread The homeowners, parents to three young children, loved the fl oor plan of the classic estate home, but wanted to update it with “fresh, modern fl air,” says designer Kay Douglass. The family room is refreshingly clutter-free; here, “overscaled pieces help create a simplifi ed and harmonious, yet practical, environment for a young family,” she says.

FFROM THE STREET, YOU’D NEVER GUESS that this Atlanta home’s traditional facade belies a minimalist, clutter-free interior designed for an active family of fi ve. But the fi rst hint that this refi ned Southern manor is anything but expected occurs the closer you approach the home, thanks to shutters and bricks painted in an identical, monochromatic white. “A unifi ed color across the shutters and the exterior upholds its feeling of Southern elegance,” explains designer and South of Market owner Kay Douglass, who was hired on to give this Southern belle a more modern facelift for a young family that had recently relocated from Florida. That light-and-bright feel was precisely the aesthetic the homeowners wanted to infuse into the interiors, which at the time of purchase consisted of mainly dark, rich browns. The clients’ charge: “Out with the old energy, in with the new energy,” and whitewashing the fl oors and whitening the walls was Douglass’s fi rst order of business. Known for her clean-lined, less-is-more approach, Douglass, who is also a master editor, decided to adjust the home’s fl oor plan by moving the original dining room

The homeowners, says Douglass, were open to a less traditional take on the dining room, so she opted for two graphic tables— one round and one square—which are surrounded by South of Market’s armless Jules dining chairs and anchored by a pair of identical iron chandeliers. Orange silk-and-cotton panels add dimension to the space, while round wooden bands (possibly from a barrel) add graphic interest to the space above the fi replace.

above Douglass opted to move the dining room to the center of the home to allow for a better fl ow throughout the main fl oor. The sofa and stools are from South of Market. below Douglass unifi ed the colors of the shutters and the brick to give it a contemporary verve, while retaining its feeling of Southern elegance. opposite In the breakfast room, an upholstered banquette is paired with modern pedestal tables, vintage chairs from France and an overscaled drum pendant light fi xture.

to the center of the house, which would not only create better movement throughout the main fl oor, but also allow the room to take on added importance. Never one to shy away from scale—or experimentation, for that matter—Douglass opted to give the dining room the air of a restaurant or gathering space by specifying not one but two dining tables, in contrasting shapes (one is round, the other square). Mixed with soft, upholstered chairs, identical iron chandeliers and dramatic orange draperies, the result is a space that’s as spare as it is sophisticated—but also large enough to accommodate a dinner party or cozy enough for an intimate dinner. There was one room, though, where the homeowners challenged Douglass to depart from the neutral palette, and that was in

In the study, pairs of overscaled pieces create a “simplifi ed, harmonious, yet practical environment for a young family,” says Douglass. “The use of strong colors as accents around purposeful upholstery pieces pulls together the modern with the old.” The chaises, woven desk chairs and orange stools are from South of Market. The owners' collection of color photography features works by artist Stephen Wilkes, which are set against lacquered walls painted in Pratt & Lambert's London Fog.

the study, where the designer fulfi lled their dream of creating a striking, lacquered-gray retreat. As she did with the dining area, the designer juxtaposed pairs of overscaled pieces with brilliant white and orange accents. Beyond making a dazzling design statement, the room also serves as a functioning home offi ce and quiet retreat. “It was important to the family that each and every space be used to maximum effi ciency,” says Douglass of the dual-purpose room. Equally paramount to the homeowners, who had worked in the furniture business in the past, was incorporating some of their favorite pieces, but with “a fresh, modern fl air,” says Douglass. And the entry, she says, is the perfect example. “The foyer is the positive result of using our client’s favorite piece”—the chaise from their previous residence—“with something ‘found,’ a straw sculpture sourced from the south of France that adds the perfect burst of color.” It’s precisely that kind of burst, that signature “spice” that Douglass is known for weaving into her projects, which not only unites the modern with the old, but also propels this interior from pretty and practical to punchy and powerful. But with this designer at the helm, that’s every bit expected. SEE RESOURCES, BACK OF BOOK.

DESIGNER KAY DOUGLASS EMPLOYED A ‘LESS-IS-MORE’ APPROACH IN DECORATING THE RESIDENCE, BUT DID SO WITHOUT SACRIFICING STYLE AND COMFORT FOR THE FAMILY OF FIVE WHO CALL IT HOME.

The homeowners love to entertain and often open all the doors between the house and the terrace, which overlooks the infi nity pool and lush, green lawn. opposite Douglass’s design philosophy is about simplicity and editing a space down to its essence. In the master bedroom, color and texture enhance the home’s existing architecture, which includes the original stone mantel.