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Houzz Tour: Black, White and Wood With Soft Organic Touches
A designer found on Houzz starts from scratch, giving her clients comfort and style in their new forever home
These homeowners, parents of three daughters, made a move toward their retirement years when they bought this forever home outside Atlanta. Design-wise, they were starting some scratch, so friends recommended Meriwether Design Group. After checking out the designers’ work on Houzz, the couple called the firm to help them make their new build their own. Designer Meriwether McAdams had a hand in every inch of the design, including the cabinetry, finishes, lighting, furniture and architectural details such as ceiling beams, paneling and a new fireplace surround.
“They were getting close to having an empty nest, and this house is within walking distance of Marietta Square,” McAdams says. The square is a popular draw in Marietta, as it’s full of cute shops and restaurants. The couple knew they wanted neutrals, particularly contrasting black and white. The designer worked closely with them to add comforting organic and soft touches that keep the black-and-white contrast from feeling too stark.
“They were getting close to having an empty nest, and this house is within walking distance of Marietta Square,” McAdams says. The square is a popular draw in Marietta, as it’s full of cute shops and restaurants. The couple knew they wanted neutrals, particularly contrasting black and white. The designer worked closely with them to add comforting organic and soft touches that keep the black-and-white contrast from feeling too stark.
“My clients had seen a black-and-white kitchen they loved that really sparked the whole design,” McAdams says. From the front entry, there’s a view of almost all the public spaces. This presented a bit of a challenge. “The view goes through to a pretty dynamic kitchen, so I wanted to draw the eye with a wow factor in the dining area,” McAdams says. “This light fixture is very woodsy and striking.” It also helps anchor the dining area within the open floor plan.
With lots of strong, straight lines and black-and-white contrast, McAdams knew it was important to add soft and organic touches. “I’m always working for ways to soften things,” she says. “The chandelier has a softening and natural effect. The banquette seating and the draperies also add softness.” She dressed the dining area’s windows with a faux Roman shade in a tawny tan color and gauzy lined sheers.
The couple also like midcentury modern style. “We got bits of it into the house here and there,” McAdams says. The new faceted sideboard has a tinge of midcentury spirit, as does the abstract painting above it. The curved arms and upholstery on the dining chairs are a fresh take on midcentury style.
Browse dining chairs in the Houzz Shop
The couple also like midcentury modern style. “We got bits of it into the house here and there,” McAdams says. The new faceted sideboard has a tinge of midcentury spirit, as does the abstract painting above it. The curved arms and upholstery on the dining chairs are a fresh take on midcentury style.
Browse dining chairs in the Houzz Shop
On the other side of the space is the main living room. “The husband wanted ceiling beams, so we added these, which are stained white oak,” McAdams says. “Also, the fireplace was a problem. He didn’t like the way it looked.”
Her fireplace redesign had two important parts. One, preventing the TV from dominating by using 12-by-24-inch black tiles on the surround behind it. Two, embracing the wall’s asymmetry and enhancing it with stained white oak boards that match the ceiling beams. “I told them we should offset it, that we could make it asymmetrical and make it a feature,” McAdams says.
The pair of metal coffee tables draw the eye and also emphasize the asymmetrical feel. They are two different sizes, have two different finishes and their angles are askew. “These two dynamic pieces set the stage. They are the yin and yang of the room,” McAdams says.
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Her fireplace redesign had two important parts. One, preventing the TV from dominating by using 12-by-24-inch black tiles on the surround behind it. Two, embracing the wall’s asymmetry and enhancing it with stained white oak boards that match the ceiling beams. “I told them we should offset it, that we could make it asymmetrical and make it a feature,” McAdams says.
The pair of metal coffee tables draw the eye and also emphasize the asymmetrical feel. They are two different sizes, have two different finishes and their angles are askew. “These two dynamic pieces set the stage. They are the yin and yang of the room,” McAdams says.
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McAdams knew she’d have to add significant elements in the kitchen to stand up to the 10-foot-high ceilings. The large wood vent hood creates a focal point. The designer wrapped it in a white oak band to add an organic touch and tie it to the ceiling beams.
Next she added two large cabinets on the countertops that match the tall proportions of the kitchen and the scale of the hood. “I love that these give them both display space and the practicality of appliance garages,” McAdams says.
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Next she added two large cabinets on the countertops that match the tall proportions of the kitchen and the scale of the hood. “I love that these give them both display space and the practicality of appliance garages,” McAdams says.
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The black paint inside the display cabinets makes the white accessories inside stand out. The wall sconces add some curves to the kitchen and some black accents to the range wall. The backsplash is elongated subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. Gray grout accentuates the pattern.
There’s a large pantry just off the left side of the kitchen, so there’s plenty of storage. McAdams used as many drawers on the lower cabinets as possible. “I’m a stickler for adding as many drawers as I can,” she says. “They are more efficient and better for aging in place than cabinet doors.”
This screened-in porch is off the living room. The brick on the fireplace wall is painted the same color as the exterior of the home. “Our goal for the porch was to make it as comfortable and practical as possible,” McAdams says. “Because it’s not very big, I knew we could fit something bigger and cushier on one side but needed something light on the other.”
The open profiles of the sling chairs keep the porch from feeling too full of furniture. The wood side table, root ball, plants and wood ceiling add natural touches. Beyond the neutral tones, green was the only accent color the designer used throughout the first floor.
The fully finished lower level is walk-out. There’s another outdoor room underneath this porch.
The open profiles of the sling chairs keep the porch from feeling too full of furniture. The wood side table, root ball, plants and wood ceiling add natural touches. Beyond the neutral tones, green was the only accent color the designer used throughout the first floor.
The fully finished lower level is walk-out. There’s another outdoor room underneath this porch.
McAdams wanted to keep things simple in the powder room yet still do something interesting. “When you walk into this room, you face the black wall,” she says. The strips are nickel-gap boards painted black. “This is an inexpensive thing to do that says something,” McAdams says.
The counter and high backsplash on the vanity play off the nickel-gap. The wall-mounted matte black faucet blends right in. The backsplash has a ledge on top for placing a candle or flowers. The mirror is backlit, removing the need for wall lighting. The limited color palette in the room makes the diamond-pane window and the beautiful wood of the vanity stand out.
The counter and high backsplash on the vanity play off the nickel-gap. The wall-mounted matte black faucet blends right in. The backsplash has a ledge on top for placing a candle or flowers. The mirror is backlit, removing the need for wall lighting. The limited color palette in the room makes the diamond-pane window and the beautiful wood of the vanity stand out.
“This couple, they are really ‘people’ people. They love to have friends over and have a lot of fun,” McAdams says.
In the basement, the husband had a vision for the curved bar and the circular shelving. The designer and her cabinetmaker put it all together and made it work. The bar has metal strips inlaid in horizontal lines that elevate the look.
“I also did not want the TV to be center stage,” McAdams says. She extended a board across the stone veneer wall and placed the TV on it.
In the basement, the husband had a vision for the curved bar and the circular shelving. The designer and her cabinetmaker put it all together and made it work. The bar has metal strips inlaid in horizontal lines that elevate the look.
“I also did not want the TV to be center stage,” McAdams says. She extended a board across the stone veneer wall and placed the TV on it.
Photo by Meriwether McAdams
“In their bedroom, we went with a blue-and-white palette and a large upholstered headboard,” McAdams says. The colors are soothing. The accent wall behind the headboard is a calming blue-gray, and the rest of the walls are a soft cream. On the accent wall, the designer added angled millwork to make it the main feature of the room.
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“In their bedroom, we went with a blue-and-white palette and a large upholstered headboard,” McAdams says. The colors are soothing. The accent wall behind the headboard is a calming blue-gray, and the rest of the walls are a soft cream. On the accent wall, the designer added angled millwork to make it the main feature of the room.
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Photo by Meriwether McAdams
The high wingback shape of the headboard creates a cozy moment in a room with a high vaulted ceiling. The nightstands and lamps continue the faceted and angled themes seen on the dining room sideboard and the living room cocktail tables.
The high wingback shape of the headboard creates a cozy moment in a room with a high vaulted ceiling. The nightstands and lamps continue the faceted and angled themes seen on the dining room sideboard and the living room cocktail tables.
McAdams repeated the blue and white in the primary bathroom. There’s a freestanding tub and a separate shower stall.
Rather than adding a small niche, McAdams added an alcove in the shower. It can also serve as a seat or a shaving ledge. The alcove gave her a chance to bring in a significant amount of accent tile. The geometric patterns within this blue mosaic draw the eye. Also, look closely to see how McAdams oriented the white picket tiles horizontally inside the shower and vertically on the wall to the right. “This was a chance to mix things up a bit,” she says.
The couple love their new home, which embraces them as they prepare to launch into their next phase of life. “What was so pleasurable about working on this project is that they really relied on me as a designer. I really took that to heart,” McAdams says.
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The couple love their new home, which embraces them as they prepare to launch into their next phase of life. “What was so pleasurable about working on this project is that they really relied on me as a designer. I really took that to heart,” McAdams says.
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design professional
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three daughters
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Size: Four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designer: Meriwether McAdams of Meriwether Design Group
The front entry, which has been refreshed with patinaed touches, sets the style tone for the house. “The exposed brick wall was their idea,” McAdams says. “The husband was especially into the aesthetics during this project. He even faux-painted the bricks himself.”
The chest of drawers is one of the only pieces of furniture the couple brought with them from their previous home. “They had done their decorating in the 1990s and things have changed a lot,” McAdams says. “We started from scratch, except for this chest and some of the girls’ bedroom furniture.”
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