Palmer Kay Design infused their clients’ love for horses and Western aesthetics into their Georgia home by way of wrought iron accents, raw wood elements, and a serene palette. Offering stunning lake views from every angle, and peppered with personal mementos, this lovely abode exudes rustic elegance and promises to be a tranquil retreat for their client’s retirement years.
From the designer… Our clients’ inspiration home is one they found online while doing research into building and likey costs between $3 – $4 million. They wanted something with a similar look and feel for a fraction of the investment – a pretty big challenge. Architect, Mitch Ginn, designed the structure with a cozy footprint. The main floor has 1600 square feet, and the upstairs has 1200 square feet and includes two bedrooms, a bonus room, and loft. All of the bedroom windows face the lake which makes for a very serene, inviting space for guests.
Our clients are avid horse people and spend their vacations out west hiking, and enjoying the scenery. Since they plan to retire in this home, it was important to them to bring in elements from the west, in addition to materials you might see in luxury barns and stables. They are drawn to wrought iron and other metals, raw wood and muted tones, and they are fierce minimalists. They wanted their home to feel very personal in that they didn’t want it filled with a lot of designer accessories devoid of meaning so we spent a lot of time editing their current furnishings and accessories, and carefully curated select pieces of furniture, art and objects.
The laundry sits next to the kitchen and is quite a nice space for a small footprint. We reimagined it as a multi purpose room (which the clients loved), and it is now part scullery, part laundry, and part home office. We kept the doorway open to the kitchen to allow the natural light to flow through, and the laundry machines are set back so that you don’t see them. When standing in the kitchen, all you see are the office elements of the room which blend harmoniously with the kitchen.
We had one major hiccup during construction that we laugh about now, but it wasn’t funny at the time. The fireplace from the inspiration home has a very specific design. We were able to source the limestone locally and went to great lengths to explain that we wanted specific colored stones in a pattern that was very specific to the photos that we gave the stone mason. We even hung the photo in the house while it was under construction. During a two-week timeframe when my clients were on vacation, and my team was traveling for conferences and client meetings, the fireplace was built. However, it was a fireplace material and design that we had never seen before. Needless to say, it was a big undertaking to completely demo and rebuild the fireplace to the correct design.
The family has a rich military history with some amazing black and white photos that we incorporated into the loft and hall niches to create just the right touch. However, we did not include them in photography to respect the client’s privacy. Likewise, we did not photograph the bonus room, beautifully filled with awards and memorabilia. When not riding or caring for their horses, you will find him relaxing in the bonus room, and she will be cozied up with a book in the loft. Sweet Finn, their golden, will continue to greet guests at the door with a toy.
Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Palmer Kay Design · Photography: Rustic White Interiors · Architect: Mitch Ginn and Associates · Builder: Martin Dodson Homes
