Overview
The owners of this Roswell home had originally set out to purchase a remote horse farm. Though their plans changed, Joanne made sure the equestrian vibe remained prominent in the home they ended up purchasing—a large residence in a gated community. While the previous owners preferred contrasting colors, textures and accessories, Joanne created a fresh new look for her client. She started by creating a focal point for each room, using paint, accessories and lighting.
Before and After Living Room
Obvious but never overwhelming, the equestrian theme is introduced in the living room, just off the home’s front entrance, distinctive with contemporary navy, khaki and brown leather furniture. This welcoming room introduces an L-shaped open floor plan, which includes the kitchen and den. It’s the ideal setting for the casual entertaining the owners love, with guests flowing seamlessly from room to room. (Be sure to note the bridle hook on the back of the upholstered living room side chairs!)
The equestrian inspiration shines through in architectural pieces including an organic wood coffee table and a natural pine gate-leg table. Finally, Joanne introduced warm natural lighting by removing drapes and choosing pale, light-reflective colors for the wall and coffered ceiling.
Before and After Kitchen Eating Area
Because the home is just off the entrance to the neighborhood, dinnertime was often disturbed by the glare of headlights from vehicles driving by. Joanne devised an innovative solution—café curtains at eye level. She chose a fabric with airy, impressionistic designs that complemented the easygoing tones of the adjacent living room.
Joanne shifted the large light fixture over the dining area to the kitchen island, replacing it with proportionate pendant light fixtures. She also recovered the dining chairs, substituting the harsher greens and tans for the softer, more neutral palette of the living room and den.
Before and After Master Bedroom
The biggest challenge in designing this room was its potentially daunting scale—the original rug alone was 15 feet by 25 feet. The new owners asked Joanne to keep things casual and cozy with a touch of elegance. She identified the rustic field stone fireplace as the room’s top asset and made it the focal point. This was achieved by removing the traditional wood mantel, which redirected attention to the stone.
The next step was to eliminate the bulky ironwork, lighting and art on the remaining walls. In its place, she brought in contemporary furniture and a tall headboard that balances the mirror on the opposite wall. Here, too, architectural colors contributed to the relaxed, contemporary feel. The crowning glory is a large, Italianate chandelier that draws the eye to the fireplace, creating a lovely and lasting impression.
Check out Longfield FitzGerald’s portfolio for more samples of Joanne’s work.