I am as sad as I am delighted that the Atlanta Symphony Show House and Gardens opens this Friday.  I am sad because it is one of the few times each year where the ENTIRE Design Galleria team works very closely together to design and install one project.  There were moments when I thought there was no way we could pull off renovating an entire kitchen, two master baths and closets and three guest baths in three months; but with all hands on deck these last two weeks; we did it.  I am delighted because I think our efforts will inspire and excite others; we respectfully transformed a 1920′s architectural gem into a 21st century home.  We incorporated classic materials into new spaces, maintained and sometimes exceeded the level of detail in the original home and created tremendous value with each and every selection.
Thank you Malone Construction for tirelessly and patiently working with us through all these details, to Dusty Miller and Lisa Anderson in our office for managing this project, to our installation crew JD National, to Cheryl and Allison Womack, John Fernandez and Jennifer True, and Maria Nutt for adding the last 10% of wow, and to all the vendors and installers who quickly made magic happen.
Below are some pictures of some of my favorite details in the house.  Please visit the home before May 12th to experience this gorgeous home for yourself.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Kitchen Photo: Kevin Rose

The color of the scagliola hood (“Ormond” from the Matthew Quinn Collection by Francois and Co) was inspired by the existing limestone keystones in the breakfast room.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Photo: Kevin Rose

Vermont marble countertops and floating shelves complement the white fireclay sink and unlacquered brass accents.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Mens' Powder Room Photo: Design Galleria

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Mens' Powder Room Hardware Photo: Design Galleria

The men’s powder room is a favorite space complete with a walnut vanity, custom legs and moldings with bronze accents from the Matthew Quinn Collection for Art for Everyday and these super cool woodpecker handles.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Art For Everyday Photo: Design Galleria

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Mosaic Tile Photo: Design Galleria

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Hardware Photo: Design Galleria

Circles abound in her master bath with a custom marble mosaic tile floor from Traditions in Tile and a crown molding that I think Shutze himself would love from the Matthew Quinn Collection for Art for Everyday.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 Closet Molding Photo: Design Galleria

In her master closet i designed another crown that I think Shutze would love but added a modern twist with antique mirror inserts.

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 His Bath Sink Photo: Design Galleria

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 His Bath Photo: Design Galleria

Atlanta Symphony Associates' Decorators' Show House 2012 His Closet Hardware Photo: Design Galleria

Rich details exude masculinity in the master bath and closet with African Mahogany cabinetry, buffalo horn hardware, leather inlays, Michelangelo marble and antique brass and oil rubbed bronze accents.

 http://designgalleria.net/atlanta-symphony-associates-decorators-showhouse-2012-hardware-highlight/

Several of the original bathrooms had Vermont marble slab walls in the shower, so a white Vermont marble called “Montclair” was the perfect fit for the kitchen countertops and custom corner sink fabricated by Marmi Natural Stone.

Marble was the most noble of materials back in the 20’s and will be an important component to this renovation.  Specialty Tile was a perfect source for the many beautiful materials we see in the powder rooms and secondary baths.  Here we see Mary Kathryn Timoney of Design Galleria working with Arlene Holland of Specialty Tile on Miami Circle.

A deep brown marble, called Michelangelo, sourced from A&S Marble, was the most handsome find for the men’s powder room paired with a basket-weave mosaic of Michelangelo and a white marble “dot” as the floor in the water closet.  John Fernandez and Jennifer True, the designers of the men’s powder room, selected a deep coffee bean lacquer for the paneled walls to perfectly compliment the marble. The ladies’ powder room has the opposite color palette with white Statuary marble as the prominent marble.

Two of the secondary baths boast traditional patterns and marble floors paired with a white porcelain subway tile.  As with the original design, the materials are consistent with only the variation of a tan or gray stone accent.  Classic patterns of basket-weave and herringbone paired with a traditional subway pattern are the perfect fit in these spaces, honoring the original design with updated materials.

The Domino Effect

All great designs require great execution.

As Matthew noted, these amazing homes and exquisite architecture will whisper to you if you listen.  If you are, then you will have ‘heard’ the house and its owners speak and those words will have inspired a wonderful concept and a fully developed and detailed design.

Original House Architecture

The next step is to implement your plan.  This requires coordination of the interior designer, cabinet designer, craftsmen, installers, and the builder with all of his sub contractors.  Don’t forget the vendors for all the products you will need.  Hardware, lighting fixtures, specialty glass and mirror, tops, tile, and sometimes artisanal and commissioned work belong in this category in addition to fine cabinetry.

Coordinating the process

Ironing out the details

The first thing required is a detailed and accurate set of drawings for everyone involved.   Product specs and rough ins, when necessary, should be provided to the contractor so he can have the room ready when cabinets arrive.  These specs include lighting information.  Great lighting is critical to the success of any space.  Flooring, ceiling treatments, room and trim finishes will have to be selected as well as many other peripheral products in addition to cabinetry.  Product lead times need to be considered and communicated, selections approved, orders placed on time, and those items need to be on site when needed.

All of these details, when done well, keeps the job moving and on schedule.

The plan

What this all comes down to is that trade professionals depend on each other because construction and remodeling is like a dance and it is subject to each other’s support.  A successful project is the culmination of a many people coming together in a complex domino effect.  When done well, it is like a brilliantly choreographed ballet.

See the video clip below to see the concept for ‘Her’ closet and master bath come to life.

Written by:  Matthew Quinn

Knollwood 1

Knollwood Entrance

Knollwood Bell

Introducing the 2012 ASO Showhouse Before Kitchen:

Notes on the Before Kitchen:

A long narrow almost French Country island divides the kitchen from the breakfast room.  The hood and windows are out of proportion to the tall ceilings. The back door interrupts the traffic flow of the cook and the refrigerator is hinged incorrectly.

Amazing arched windows overlooking the front yard flood the breakfast room and kitchen with natural light.

Please join us next week for the next installment of our ASO Decorators’ Showhouse 2012 Blog

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