Coastal Chic in the Atlanta Suburbs

When our clients moved to the Powder Springs suburb of Atlanta, they wanted a home that evoked coastal calm without being kitschy. An elegant combination of soft blues, greens, and terra cotta perfectly delivered this vibe, as did reimagining the heavy built-ins that were throughout the living room and bedrooms, to create an open, airy feel.

In the living room, we added floating shelves where we removed the built-in ones, painted the fireplace green, and added a new surround and a reclaimed wood mantel. We placed the Kelly Wearstler–print window treatments high to accentuate the soaring ceilings and brought in other neutral textiles with the sofa, chairs, and rug for that comfy coastal chic effect. A game table in the corner is the now perfect place for a margarita and a round of cards.

Before (below left): A giant built-in dominated the space yet lacked the beachy vibe the homeowners wanted. Before (below right): The sitting room off the primary bedroom felt more like an old-timey parlor than a relaxing sitting room.

The sitting room off the primary bedroom needed to be brightened up in a big way. We painted everything white, made it pop with gorgeous blue trim and white-washed the brick. The result was nothing less than transformational. With a gorgeous water feature and pool outside the window, the overstuffed armchairs are the perfect place to start and end the day. 

In the adjacent primary bedroom, we reupholstered the headboard, added luxurious linen bedding, and covered the bench with a hide we scored at the flea market. Where we removed the tops of the built-ins, we added open shelving, then interspersed more art and mirrors throughout the room to reflect the light. To balance the window on one side of the bed we added large-scale art on the opposite side. Bleached wood on the ceiling adds more visual interest, warmth, and texture and contributes to the airy feel they wanted.

In the powder room, we papered the walls in a fabulous grasscloth, and acrylic and brass accessories dress it up in the best way. In the end, our clients got that open, airy calming feel of the beach without leaving home.

Photography: Cati Teague