Happy Monday! You still have time to visit this beauty of a showhouse this week through Sunday, June 28th. Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine along with developer Benecki Homes, Linda MacArthur Architect and honorary chair, Melanie Turner and their talented team including over 15 of the top interior designers in the southeast, have outdone themselves with this year’s Villa Flora. We know how challenging a showhouse can be, then throw in the COVID shut down, and it could have easily gone awry. But this stalwart team kept calm and designed on.
Welcome to Villa Flora |Photo credit David ChristensenCustom corner by Melanie Turner Interiors
Here’s a quick tour to whet your appetite for more…starting with the stately and welcoming exterior. You’re then quickly drawn to the back yard view of the six acre property. This family room by Melanie Turner Interiors provides cozy, custom luxurious seating, inspiring art and a view of the sparkling pool.
Look closely for design details like this exquisitely simple trim in Phoebe Howard Decorator’s primary bedroomEthereal triptych by the late Todd Murphy defines the main hallwayRobert Brown Interior Design mixes lines and curves | Photo by David ChristensenBrittany Cason Interior Design mixes styles masterfully.Luxurious canopy bedroom by Pickering HouseDreamy canopy and bedroom by Jared Hughes Design
Which canopy bed is your favorite? Hint, there’s one more… Also the hand painted Gracie Studio wallpaper in Jared Hughes Design room is a stunner.
A quiet oasis by The Design Atelier | Photo by David Christensen
We’ll close with this soothing indoor lap pool, original to the home, updated by Melanie Millner of The Design Atelier with these handmade hammocks. Click the link to see ticket information. What a terrific way to kick of your summer!
We are thrilled to design the Entrance Hall to the fabulous Penthouse of a one-of-a-kind textile loft, which is this year’s Designer Showhouse! Knowing our space will offer visitors a first glimpse into the amazing designs of fourteen other designers is absolutely wonderful, certainly humbling and slightly scary. But, we’re up for any challenge!
Above is a shot of our blank canvas when installation was first beginning. A stunning light fixture by Currey and Company is hidden beneath a bit of protective wrapping, but will be revealed tomorrow – on opening day!
Another sneak peek into the luxurious life of an interior designer… Packing, securing and transferring furniture, artwork and more to the penthouse for installation.
We cannot wait for the first guests to arrive and be greeted with this brilliant wallpaper design by Mitchell Black. It’s dramatic, luxe and oh so sophisticated.
As we mentioned above, the house officially opens tomorrow, September, 9th and is open through Sunday, October 2nd. All proceeds from the designer showhouse will directly benefit the Art Farm at Serenbe, a cause we believe is so worthy. Buy your tickets here – you won’t be disappointed with a visit to this outstanding showhome!
Check out this link for a rundown of all the 2016 Serenbe Showhome designers. We’re so grateful to be in such brilliant company!
Phoebe Howard’s master bedroom suite was sumptuously styled and a fantastic take on classic design. We’re ready to move right in!
One of our favorite design elements in the showhouse was the gilt ceiling in Amy Morris‘ lady’s lounge space. That light fixture hanging from that stunning ceiling was a showstopper.
The soft lines and mix of textures in the dressing room were such a lovely fit for the space!
And Jonathan Savage‘s bedroom and bath were the epitome of “guy glam!” His masculine theme played well with luxurious touches any man would enjoy coming home to.
The next bedroom we toured took us to an exotic locale. Andrew Brown‘s space really is a true escape and made us want to stay and enjoy the space for a while.
Next up – a diversion to the game room. Our friend Ginger Brewton created a space filled with personality and we were thrilled to help accessorize the room!
From one cheery space to another, the bathroom and bath by Parker Kennedy Living is abundant with chic, chinoiserie style!
The last space we visited was by Mark Williams Design Associates and it was all about texture, texture and more texture! It drew us in and welcomed us home.
It was a perfect ending to a fabulous home tour!
If our tour highlights piqued your interest, plan a visit to the Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens. We promise – you will not be disappointed!
And don’t forget… be sure to stop by the steve mckenzie’s showroom for discounted tickets. Enjoy and happy touring!!
Just as a reminder, here’s a full listing of all participating Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens interior designers:
This past Saturday kicked off the first open house for the Atlanta Homes & LifestylesSoutheastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens. And it’s amazing! Jill was fortunate enough to tour the house – all 20,000 square feet of it – a day early and shares a bit about her experience here with us today…
This fabulous house, designed by architect Dietrich T. Logan of Logan Design Group International and built by Bill Preston, president of Atlanta-based Paradise Builders Inc., is an amazing addition to the Buckhead area.
SUZANNE KASLER
The lovely and hugely talented Suzanne Kasler served as Honorary Chair of the interior design team behind the Southeastern Showhouse. The other designers who worked to make this home such a stunner are listed at the end of this post and can also be seen here.
Suzanne’s showhouse dining room.
Suzanne’s dining room in the showhouse features fabulously lacquered walls and ceiling – a fantastic treatment for a formal space!
Lacquered ceiling detail.
Next up is the study. Robert Brown is the creative mind behind this fantastic space.
Robert Brown’s showhouse study.
You know we love a good library, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The combination of neutral colors textures, and that dramatic artwork created a memorable space.
Barbara Westbrook‘s showhouse great room was equally as memorable due in large to her artwork selections. The scale was spot on for this generous room.
Barbara Westbrook’s showhouse great room.
The black and white color scheme in the great room felt fresh and new and was pleasantly unexpected!
Our friend Lauren DeLoach‘s showhouse kitchen design became a fast favorite. And her attention to detail – as evidenced in the next two images – is spot on.
Fine art in the kitchen… Yes, please! It was a space that was difficult to move on from.
But move on we must. And Kay Douglass‘ morning room design made it a bit easier, as it spoke to us on so many levels.
Not the least of which was her use of this beautifully “crusty” mid-century chair and her sleek green upholstery.
At this point, we’ll move on to GordonDunning with Lloyd Flanders‘ serene outdoor space, which even in the rain was positively inviting!
Even in the rain, we’d fancy a poolside lounge here!
Those umbrellas – perfection in our books!
And that’s where we’ll have to retire part one of the showhouse tour. We’re saving the bedroom and leisure spaces for part two of our post, in which we’ll highlight even more fabulous designer spaces. Please keep an eye out!
Another important item to note about the Southeastern Designers Showhouse & Gardens is that a portion of the ticket sale proceeds will benefit Safe Kids Georgia, the safety initiative of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).
We urge you to plan a visit to this spectacular showhome. And to sweeten the pot just a bit, we have tickets for sale at the steve mckenzie’s showroom for just $25/ticket, which will save you $5 off the at-the-door price of $30.
As promised, here’s a full listing of all participating Southeastern Showhouse & Gardens interior designers:
First and foremost, we need to give our friends at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles a BIG shout out, as they’re sponsoring our event – and we’re looking forward to celebrating with many of our community’s design tastemakers, thanks to them!
In addition to yummy southern-themed bites, we’ll be offering guests our party’s signature cocktail, the “Buckhead Betty,” thanks to the folks at American Spirit Whisky.
We’re almost as excited for this cocktail, as we are that Amercian Spirit Whisky will be relocating their distillery to Atlanta! Welcome to our new neighbors!
Although the company, food and drinks are sure to provide a lot of fun, we’ll also be previewing several new lines steve mckenzie’s is now carrying. This includes a fantastic brand of modern outdoor furnishings, Kannoa…
And a line of stunning nature-inspired accessories, by RabLabs, which includes unique photo frames, like this one:
The team here at steve mckenzie’s has also recently acquired some stunning antique French mirrors and objets you just have to come in to see!
Finally, Steve’s new art studio and the new McKenzie Design Services studio will be on preview as well!
We’re so thrilled for our big event coming up, and look forward to celebrating with you Thursday!
The steve mckenzie’s team is so happy to be a part of the first ever Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Designer Showhouse at Serenbe! The showhouse opened it’s doors last week to visitors of the picturesque Serenbe community, located just south of Atlanta, and will offer tours through the 28th of this month.
A rendering of the inaugural Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Designer Showhouse at Serenbe
At the Showhouse Preview Party Friday, September 12, Steve and Jill were able to glimpse the spectacular spaces making up this amazing designer showhouse – they assure us it’s worth the short drive for the inspiration and eye candy alone!
Jerry & Yvonne McFadden (of Y. McFadden LLC Interiors) with Steve and Jill at the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 2014 Designer Showhouse Kickoff Party
As longtime fans of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, we’re not surprised at the surefire popularity of this fabulous designer showhouse – and the partnership between the magazine and Serenbe community comes as a natural pairing.
If you’ve never visited Serenbe before, take this opportunity to experience some amazing designer spaces and enjoy the community while there. It’s an easy place to make a weekend vacation out of – or at least a wonderful visit and meal at one of Serenbe’s restaurants, which feature fresh, local ingredients. A treat for all of your senses indeed!
If you’re able to make it out to the showhouse (or, if you’re lucky enough to have already visited), please share what your favorite spaces are – we’d love to hear from you!
And, if you’re interested in taking your home from nothing special to showhouse spectacular, consider contacting the McKenzie Interior Design team today!
Believe it or not, this spunky light fixture has a place in just about any style space. Check out the “Sputnik Love” board on the Pinterest page for steve mckenzie’s, just to get an idea of all the ways these astonishing pieces can be used.
Here at steve mckenzie’s we love using a Sputnik to offer a modern element and provide some creative tension with otherwise classical and traditional style. They’re especially beautiful over a classic round pedestal table in a foyer or even grouped at different heights in a soaring entry! Sputniks are fabulous over a dining table because of the openness it provides – never impeding sight lines. In a bedroom they are great over the bed, and depending on the style can really bring an element of fun (bright colors) or of luxury with crystal bulbs.
The biggest pitfall to watch out for when using a Sputnik to always keep scale in mind. If using a Sputnik over a dining table, make the longest arms 2/3 of the width of the table. Likewise, when scaled too small, they can look silly especially in a grand room. If you need more of a statement, group them!
Our friends at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles also have a love for the Sputnik! They picked the chandelier, selected by Steve for the outdoor living space, as one of the noteworthy items from their Holiday Showhouse, and highlighted it in their “New + Next” feature in the February 2014 issue!
In fact, a half-page spread was devoted to the statement made by a good Sputnik. Steve McKenzie was quoted in this piece, sharing…
“Lighting is to interiors what jewelry is to fashion; a statement piece that can set the tone for the room. A Sputnik chandelier adds instant energy, texture and a sculptural element – without overpowering a space.
So, have you been turned on to finding the perfect Sputnik for your space yet?!? Or, if you’re lucky enough to already have your home bedazzled by your very own Sputnik, please share what you love most about it!
Here’s to the jewelry that is fabulous lighting and the timelessness of the Sputnik chandelier!
Late last year, our own Steve McKenzie was invited to be the designer for the outdoor living space of the 2013 Holiday Showhouse for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles! He, and the entire steve mckenzie’s team, jumped on board creating a truly memorable space, that we hope will inspire folks to think outside the box, not only from a holiday or outdoor design perspective, but for every room in their home…
Here’s a more detailed look into Steve’s design of the outdoor living room, inspired by the home’s landscape by Alex Smith Garden Design, for the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles’ Holiday Showhouse:
The focal point of the home’s generously sized veranda is a fantastic natural stone fireplace, which was used to anchor the space.
Furniture from steve mckenzie’s Grange collection was introduced into the space, offering warmth and texture. Pops of turquoise and orange offer an unexpected twist to the traditional holiday colorway, making this space relevant year round.
One of Steve’s favorite design elements in the space are the cut velvet outdoor textiles by Laurie Bell, used on cushions throughout the living area.
The outdoor furniture collection by Grange provided the perfect opportunity to be flexible with the space. Steve saw the space as an extension of the interior, and designed it so it could be used year round as well.
When not hosting a meal outdoors, move the pieces to create a conversation area around the fireplace. Round it out with this fantastic outdoor bar cart, by Grange, and a magical evening is made!
During warmer months, when the fireplace isn’t in use, Steve suggests filling it with greenery to bring in some additional color, texture, and softness.
After working on this space, we’re more excited than ever to help others create a beautiful outdoor space that speaks to the home’s interior, while still considering the unique landscape surrounding it.
To see the full page feature on this space by Steve McKenzie, click here. And keep an eye out for a post all about the Sputnik chandelier, originally inspired by the fantastically vibrant light fixture in this outdoor living space!
