7 minute read
Going Country
Going Country EMBRACING THEIR LOVE OF THE LAND, AN ATLANTA FAMILY LEAVES THE CITY AND SETTLES INTO A REFINED YET PASTORAL RETREAT
Written by SEJAL BHIMA Photographed by EMILY FOLLOWILL Styled by ELEANOR ROPER
Country Strong Sunny, a miniature horse, makes an entrance in the breakfast room, where an extra long table off ers the perfect spot for both meals and game nights. Keeping durability top of mind, designer Lauren Davenport Imber opted for vinyl seat chairs with a Lee Jofa wool fabric on the back, while the host chairs feature a sturdy leather front and linen back.
Southern Simplicity In the keeping room, Davenport Imber transformed a beloved chair once belonging to the wife’s grandmother with fawn hide and leather. The table and pedestal are from Scott Antique Markets.
WWHEN THE HOMEOWNER of this country estate gets a call from her interior designer, Lauren Davenport Imber, she’s likely knee-deep in a project, and not in the fi gurative sense. “I’ll give her a ring with a design question,” says Davenport Imber, “And it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for her to say, ‘Well, at the moment I’m pouring sweat, digging holes in the ground for a new fence.’” While it may seem like a chore to most, it’s exactly where this homeowner wants to be; fi rmly rooted in her family’s 100-acre wooded property in Whitesburg, Georgia, which is a striking contrast to the city life she shared with her husband and two sons just years before. “They describe themselves as fi fth-generation Atlantans who decided to run for the forest,” Davenport Imber adds with a laugh. In their search for trading city lights for starry skies, they happened upon a verdant parcel of land that ticked all the boxes. It
Neutral Note above Davenport Imber took a lighter approach in the living room where velvet armchairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams off er an elegant spot for cocktails and conversation. The bench featuring lucite horse legs is from Scott Antique Markets and the art on canvas is by Emily Pope Harris. opposite Cerused oak paneling graces the home’s entry. Antique demilune tables from Huff Harrington fl ank the space.
was close enough to Atlanta for the husband’s daily commute to work, contained a river ideal for fi shing and boasted plenty of acreage for hunting and riding horses as well as room to add a chicken coop and introduce new animals to their brood.
While they worked on cleaning up the overgrown land to also make way for vegetable gardens and fruit trees, the property’s existing home similarly needed attention. Built in the 1980s, the couple enlisted architect Steve Dray to reconfi gure its layout to better suit their lifestyle. A downstairs bedroom was turned into a bar area for entertaining while the master suite was expanded, among other changes.
The wife was brimming with ideas on how to decorate, but knew she needed some expert help in pulling it all together. In a moment of serendipity, she happened upon Davenport Imber’s leave-behind card while picking up fl owers at her local fl oral shop in the neighboring community of Serenbe. Davenport Imber’s sister is the shop’s proprietress.
Formal Matters To dress up the dining room, Davenport Imber suggested the addition of built-ins and millwork. The hand-painted velvet drapes are complemented with an elegant mahogany table passed down from the wife’s grandmother. Other heirloom pieces in the space include Georgian sconces and Wedgewood china.
Surface Play A reclaimed oak island takes center stage in the newly redesigned kitchen. Venetian plaster on the hood and sink wall helps add a sense of history to the space. The light pendants are by Bevolo.
“We hit it off right away,” recalls Davenport Imber. Approaching the home with a like-minded vision, they paid respect to the surroundings with wood accents in the form of beams and paneling while also incorporating natural materials such as wool, linen and leather at every turn. “I’d call the home’s aesthetic an elegant take on rustic living,” says the designer. “But there were two things we were always conscious of—dogs and dirt.” To that end, the designer sensibly opted for Peacock Pavers in the main living spaces to withstand muddy paws.
Weaving cherished family antiques into the home’s design was also a priority. From the dining room’s Georgian sconces to silverware on display in the kitchen, each piece shares a familial story. “We were keen to make the home look like it had been around for generations, and the heirlooms and antiques we used really enhance this idea,” says Davenport Imber.
And while the family has only called it “home” for a short while, the couple hopes it does indeed become a place their children and future generations gather, she notes. “They ultimately came out here for more family time and less distractions, and it’s really a pleasure to continue shaping this home into a backdrop for just that.” See Resources, Back of Book.
Private Collection A peek into the pantry off ers a glimpse of the couple’s heirloom serveware that has been passed down through generations, which is also displayed in glass-front cabinetry. below A wooden archway leads to the wife’s home offi ce and laundry area. The textured accent wallpaper is by Phillip Jeff ries.
INSPIRED BY THE HOME’S SURROUNDINGS, DAVENPORT IMBER INFUSED NATURAL MATERIALS, SUCH AS WOOD AND WOOL, THROUGHOUT THE HOME.
Better with Age above A sheer linen slipcover over an antique wood chair balances the study’s masculine elements. The vintage etchings, found at Scott Antique Markets, were gifted by a close friend. right A fanciful mural-style wallpaper from Anthropologie adds panache to the petite powder room. opposite Although newly built, thoughtfully stained wood in the bar imparts a cozy, aged feel meant to welcome and embrace guests.
Come One, Come All The couple renovated and added on to the property’s existing stable, and the wife enjoys riding horses as part of her daily routine. Recently, they also welcomed potbelly pigs Milly and Bubba to their brood.
Rustic Romance Wood and stone elements, along with a copper tub, blur the lines between inside and out in the master bathroom. opposite In the master bedroom, sage green walls provide a soothing backdrop while a grouping of botanical prints references the couple’s love of nature. A toile Lee Jofa fabric depicting a wildlife scene has a similar eff ect.
Love of the Land clockwise from left The residence boasts many outdoor spaces to enjoy the surrounding views. Little One, a Porcelain d’Uccle Bantam. The couple renovated and added on to the existing stable; the wife rides horses as part of her daily routine. opposite The home’s aesthetic is an elegant take on rustic living.
