Thoughtful design and a cheerful palette turn a drab Georgia house into a welcoming family abode.
When designers Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole first visited the Smyrna, Georgia, home of Karee Lang and Page Porter, they saw no discernible signs of the couple’s personalities. Despite large windows and open spaces, the rooms felt dim and generic. Intense color schemes and heavy furnishings seemed as anonymous as a furniture store showroom. “The house was so impersonal,” Kelly says. “They didn’t have family pictures up, didn’t have art that meant something to them, and there was no reflection of their lives together.”
She and Joann set out to make the homestead as vibrant as its occupants, adding meaningful pieces and an array of global influences. The personal touches start in the foyer with a hand-carved Thai lotus art piece, which reminds the owners of past overseas excursions and serves as a focal point against pebble-gray walls.
To achieve a urban farmhouse look that Karee wanted, the design team surrounded a rustic table with comfortable upholstered chairs perfect for lingering after-dinner conversations. The chandelier’s whitewashed finish blends softly with the sideboard, Parsons chairs, and linen curtains. Because the dining room flows into the foyer, a neutral color scheme of cream and black was used in both spaces to allow the textures and patterns to take center stage.
The designers introduced a Southwestern motif with artwork. “I chose the pair of horses in the kitchen because Karee grew up with horses and she just loves them,” Kelly says. She continued the urban rustic theme with a farmhouse table and wooden chairs with metal backs. The kitchen update included new lighting and hardware with an airy feel that instantly modernized the space. Kole and Kandrac balanced elegant marble countertops and backsplashes with the casual appeal of a farmhouse table and western touches.
The bedroom continues the soft mien of the adjacent rooms, as a cream linen headboard blends with the gray tones of the walls and flooring. Seafoam-blue walls set a serene tone and neutral linen bedding keeps the focus on the beautifully manicured backyard. At the end of the bed, a bench was added so Pia, the family dog, could climb onto the high bed. An abstract piece by artist Kristin Blakeney of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, hangs above a corner chair, adding color and interest in the same tone. “It’s so ethereal and it represents the calmness and stillness of the room,” she says. “The whole house is about comfort.”
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