The 2013 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Home for the Holidays

Please visit my new blog post too... Art, Design, Architecture, and Landscape books for my 2013 Christmas list 


It’s that time of year again!  The much anticipated Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Home for the Holidays (formerly known as the Christmas House) opened its doors on November 15, and is open through December 8th.  I was able to see the house on Monday, and it is full of beauty and inspiration. Here are some highlights of the spaces, although this barely scratches the surface – you will have to visit yourself to see all of the magnificent rooms!

The exterior of the house, designed by Harrison Design Associates and built by Dovetail Builders. Photo credit Kate Byars Photography.

Most images taken by me, except where noted.

The dining room was beautiful, with soft colors and special monogrammed chairs. Barbara Westbrook Interiors designed the room and it was a highlight.

I thought this was an artful close in shot of the dining room, which was gorgeously lit with three full size Christmas trees. Photo credit Occupy My Family on Instagram.

The stair hall was also one of my favorite spaces. The soft color scheme worked well in this transition space. It was a nice place to linger, and the gracious proportions of the space lent itself well to taking in all of the special details in the room. Interior design by Courtney Giles Interiors.

A close up of the bench in the space. It was the perfect size and scale, and the pillows are such a pretty touch.

A view from the stairwell allows an appreciation of the entire vignette on the other side of the hall.

This perspective shows the flow of the stair hall, which is a central hub of the house.

The hallway upstairs featured a high impact collection of framed intaglios. This space was also designed by Courtney Giles. I love the color palette she selected.

The mudroom, by Insidesign. Photo credit Kate Byars Photography.

Karen Ferguson from Harrison Design Associates designed this room. Harrison Design Associates selected all of the interior finishes for the house, and I was particularly taken with the floor of this laundry room, which is made up of round cork. I also love the soft drape of the sheer roman shade in this window.  The dog bed built into the wall is a nice touch!

The girl’s room by Allison Hennessy Designs was very pretty and fresh.

A vignette from the guest suite, featuring antique furniture from Parc Monceau and fabrics from Duralee. The lamp is from Circa Lighting. The designers, Heather Dewberry and Will Huff, were in the room when I visited and filled me in on the design process and the sources for the beautiful items in the room.

This room is full of beautifully crafted details – Huff and Dewberry noted that many of their clients are requesting a return to some of the custom details that make high end interior design so special. 

Note the leading edge on these curtains.  The pleated detail made with the same fabric that is on the headboard and bedskirt (not pictured) is really lovely and very custom.  

I snapped a quick instagram picture of the exterior of the house as I was leaving; the sun was setting, and the glow of the Christmas trees and the lights on the roofline were too pretty to resist. 

I pass by this house many times a week (it’s on one of my regular routes), and have watched it being built over the past year. It was so gratifying to see it complete and beautifully decorated. I highly recommend a visit to the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Home for the Holidays if you are in Atlanta.  There is nothing like seeing and experiencing a showhouse first hand, and being inspired by all of the many exquisite details.

Have you visited? What did you think? If you haven't visited, do you have a favorite image in this post?  I focused on the more traditional spaces. There were many others that were more transitional and very streamlined.  It was a great mix of styles and designs.

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58 Blackland Road NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30327

http://www.atlantaholidayhome.com 

 
November 15 - December 8, 2013

Thurs - Sat: 11am - 5pm
Sun: 1pm - 5pm
Closed: Mon - Wed,
and Thanksgiving Day

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Featuring  the following designers:

Courtney Giles Interior Design; Kay Douglass Interiors; Anthony Wolf; Steve McKenzie; Peace Design Inc.; Womack Interiors; Stanton Home Furnishings; Westbrook Interiors; Musso Design Group; Huff-Dewberry; Insidesign; Allison Hennessy Interior Design; Tracery; Harrison Design Associates; Boxwoods Garden & Gifts; Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios; Alex Smith Garden Design

For special events and weekend workshops taking place during the duration of the showhouse, please visit http://www.atlantaholidayhome.com/events.html

◊

Take a trip down memory lane and visit the 2012 AH&L Christmas house here; the 2009 Christmas House here.

Favorite design and architecture books of 2013: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/12/books-from-2013.html

2013 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2013/11/books-for-my-christmas-list-2013.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html    

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

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2012 AH&L Christmas Showhouse

For full blog post with large scale pictures, go to:
http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/12/2012-ah-christmas-showhouse.html

The Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House is in full swing – in fact, this is the last weekend to see it!  It is open Thursday through Sunday, and is in the Chastain Park area, with off site parking very nearby (with complimentary parking and continuous shuttle service) at the Chastain Horse Park, 4371 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327.

Exterior of 2012 AH&L Christmas House in the daytime. The exterior has a charming farmhouse look, and the interior has a feel of relaxed elegance. Photo by Peak of Chic.

Another exterior shot taken at night when the house was all ready for visitors.  I love it when there are wreaths on the windows of a house - one of my favorite festive touches.

The Christmas House is usually my favorite showhouse of the year, and this year is no exception. The roster of design talent is top notch; not surprisingly the interiors are wonderful and the various spaces work so well together despite the fact that so many different talents had a hand in the design. The architecture is interesting, the house flows beautifully, and there are many inspirational ideas and details to be seen.

Here is a little peek of a few of the rooms – visit the showhouse this weekend to see the rooms in all of their glory, beautifully designed and decorated for the holidays.

The gentleman’s study (design by Tammy Connor) is a beautiful room.  The layout of the furniture is inspired, and the chest tucked into the niche in the wall caught my eye.  Note the glossy paint on the walls and trim, and the grasscloth used on the ceiling.  The paint color is olive by Farrow & Ball.

A picture of the gentleman's study, from the marketing materials (used with permission).

The living room by Beth Webb featured paneled walls with a limed finished.  The bookshelves in the room were particularly striking (not pictured), as the liming was carried to the back of the shelves and the shelves themselves were styled beautifully.

The dining room is adjacent to the living room, and was designed by Jim Howard.  It is impossible to tell in this picture, but the area inside the paneling had some sort of beautiful treatment - I am not sure if it is wallpaper or a specialty finish. Image from marketing materials, used with permission.

The entire house was so fresh and light, it was hard to take pictures – in fact, many of my pictures just did not turn out because of the abundant light streaming in through the windows.  Also, there were so many people seeing the showhouse that it was hard to get a picture without a person in it! 

I liked the kitchen layout (kitchen design by L. Kae Interiors), and the adjacent breakfast room and family room were two of my favorite spaces in the house (not pictured).

A gorgeous window and striking art in the main stairwell of the house.

The transition space to the master bedroom was painted in a deep rich blue-green that struck me as teal when I was in the space (Benjamin Moore Hidden Falls #714).  All of the doors in the master suite are painted in this color as well. Design by Amy Morris.

There is a One King’s Lane sale featuring items from this year’s Christmas House – it is going on right now - https://www.onekingslane.com/sales/16147.  Image above is from the One King’s Lane sale promotion, and features the nursery designed by Michel Boyd. 

For more information and directions, please visit http://www.atlantachristmashouse.com/.

Designers favorite books: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2010/12/designers-favorite-books-and-mine-too.html

2012 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2012/11/books-for-my-christmas-list.html

2011 books on my Christmas list: http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2011/12/my-book-list-christmas-2011.html

Small art, perfect for special, one of a kind holiday gifts or hostess gifts! http://quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com/category/art

To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store  (newly updated!).
To subscribe to my blog by email, click here.
To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.
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Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com

My Favorite Showhouse

I am a huge fan of the holidays, and the way that I start to get into the spirit of the holiday season is with the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House. Every year, a beautiful home is selected, the Southeast's most talented designers are enlisted to create spectacular spaces, and a showhouse is created that combines four of my favorite elements: beautiful interiors, amazing architecture, stunning art, and elegant holiday decor. I have been following the progress of the Christmas House through AH&L editor Clint Smith's tweets; I have also been reading the profiles of the designers on the AH&L newsletter and magazine. Finally, after months of preparation, the 2009 Christmas House is ready to open its doors on Saturday, November 14.

This week I had the great honor of getting a sneak preview of the 2009 Christmas House, located at 1795 West Wesley (in Atlanta). Bill Baker (whom I interviewed on the blog this summer) was the architectural designer behind the home, Mark Stevens of Southwick Real Estate was the builder, and over two dozen of the Southeast's finest designers were responsible for the interiors. Virtually everything was in place, in preparation for the opening night party. Like any home ready to open its doors to honored guests, there was a buzz of activity and last minute fluffing. It was a bit surreal to see some of the nations most revered designers doing last minute checks on their spaces; AH&L editor Clint Smith was on site making sure that everything was picture perfect for the home's premiere.

The 2009 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House. There were many busy people on site, preparing for opening day on Saturday, November 14.

I had heard buzz that this year's Christmas House is the most spectacular one yet, so my expectations were high. Without a doubt, my expectations were exceeded. My overall impression was of the beautiful flow of the spaces, which is both in part because of the architecture and the skill of the designers, who were hand picked by Clint Smith for the Christmas House.

The interiors of the home have a definite transitional flair; there were certainly elements of the traditional in every room, but the openness of the architecture and the beautiful quality of the light in the home lent itself to a neutral color palette (with quite a bit of soft gray), striking contemporary art, and a fresh interpretation of design that really reflects what people are liking now. Walking through the home was like walking through the pages of a magazine.

I always think that entries define the first impression of a home. Barbara Howard's entry (of Marshall Howard) set the perfect introduction to this home, with the branch arrangements adorned with green, gold and cream glass ornaments. A hint of the room can be seen in the mirrors lining the wall - note the antique lighting feature in the reflection. To see the space in its entirety is a marvel to behold...you can get a hint of the beauty in the first picture in this post. (All photos were taken by me).

Beyond the entry is the spectacular living room, with interior design by John Oetgen. As luck would have it, John was there when I arrived. He said the inspiration for the room was a house in the Hamptons, as the connection between the interiors and the garden is so strong in this home (there are three French doors in the living room that open to the back yard entertainment area and pool). John's intent was to create a space that is both elegant and casual; a four season room that would be enjoyed every day of the year. Here is a little peek at my favorite vignette in the room. I have a soft spot for a piano in a home; John Oetgen incorporated a piano into the living room with a beautiful gallery wall as the background. Most of the artwork is from John's personal collection, and the blue piece in the center was painted by John himself.

Next to the piano sits a clamshell perched on a garden seat, loaded with gifts; in the room of John's imagination, guests who play the piano at holiday gatherings will receive a special gift for their efforts.

A charming cherub sculpture with a whimsical Etro velvet cap. John is known for his touches of whimsy in every room he creates, and this scene made me smile.

Another highlight of the home is the master bathroom created by noted designer Susan Ferrier of McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors (she also designed the elegant and peaceful master bedroom). There was so much stunning light streaming into this space that I actually had a hard time capturing the room's beauty on camera.

The dining room, created by Sara Steinfeld, had a chic Hermès place setting on the table. Hermès of Paris is one of the sponsors of the Christmas House, and designed a room on the second floor of the house.

I found Barbara Heath's room (owner of Mercantile Atlanta) to be particularly beautiful. Barbara was putting last minute touches on the room when I saw it, and we had a difficult time picking out which vignette to feature from the room - there were so many beautiful elements in the space. Ultimately, we picked the 'magazine perspective' of the side table, and the mirrored bed. Barbara's store, Mercantile Atlanta, is well known for its one of a kind Murano glass lamps, as seen in this picture. (Make sure to peek into the closet in this room!)

Beth Webb did the design for the 'Artist Atelier', which really captured my imagination. In this small vignette from the space, I felt completely transported into the world of an artist refining his craft (and enjoying himself too - you will know what I mean if you have the opportunity to see the rest of the room!).

This is just a small glimpse into a few of the many amazing rooms in this year's Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House. The roster of design talent reads like a 'who's who' in design:

Bob Brown, Robert Brown Interior Design

Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio

Susan Ferrier, McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier Interiors

Barbara Heath, The Mercantile

Hermes of Paris

Barbara Howard, Marshall Howard

Jim Howard, James Michael Howard

Bill Hudgins, Lush Life Home & Garden

Suzanne Kasler, Suzanne Kasler Interiors

Amy Morris, Amy D. Morris Interiors

John Oetgen, John Oetgen Design

Jared Paul, Jared Paul Interiors

Jimmy Stanton, Stanton Home Furnishings

Sara Steinfeld, Sara Steinfeld Ltd.

Courtney & Randy Tilinski, Bungalow Classic

Beth Webb, Beth Webb Interiors

Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos, Mark Williams Design Associates

Mimi Williams, Mimi Williams Interiors

For those of you who do not live in Atlanta, you can subscribe to Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, which will feature some of the rooms from the showhouse in a springtime edition of the magazine. For those of you who live in Atlanta - or within driving distance - I highly recommend a visit to the showhouse. It is a great weekend to come to Atlanta - Scott's Antique Market is going on, the weather is supposed to be beautiful, and the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House opens this Saturday, November 14, at 10 am. The Christmas House benefits the Alliance Children's Theater.

For more information on the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas Showhouse, visit the website (email subscribers, click here).

Where: 1795 West Wesley Road Atlanta, GA 30327

Dates: Open for public tours Saturday, November 14 through Sunday, December 6.

When:

Wednesday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m.
The House is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thanksgiving Day

Tickets: $20 at the door, $18 in advance through woodruffcenter.org or alliancetheatre.org

Food & Gifts: Soups, salads, sandwiches and seasonal desserts will be for sale on site at Café Noel. Holiday gifts at the special shop by Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts, Inc.

Parking: Parking is not allowed at the Christmas House. However, there will be a continuous courtesy shuttle to and from the house from the IBM Office Complex at 4111 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta 30327.

More information:

www.atlantachristmashouse.com

Finally, for an insiders perspective on the inspiration behind a room at the showhouse, check out designer Niki Papadopoulos' blog post on the room she designed with Mark Williams.