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Houzz Tour: Atlanta Designer Renovates Her Own Home
A mother-daughter design team works with contractors to remodel the house and build a design studio over the garage
Atlanta interior designer Allison Moran and her husband, Crawford Moran, were looking to downsize around the same time she and her daughter were looking for just the right office space for their design firm, Wesley Interiors. The couple wanted a light and bright home within walking distance of the BeltLine’s walking and biking trails. They found a home in the Collier Hills neighborhood that met their requirements for location and size but little else. Having worked with The Berndsen Co. for over 25 years, Allison knew the general contractors would be up to the challenge of fully remodeling a home with structural issues and creating a beautiful design studio over the existing garage.
The house was dark, so Allison, Jorie and Berndsen reconfigured several windows along the back. “A lot of the appeal of this house is the beautiful terrace and yard out back. We wanted to be able to see that from the front of the house,” Jorie says.
The front door also lets in natural light. Berndsen had it custom-made. One of the more interesting details is the wood around the door handle. “The intent was to have as much glass as possible, but with such big glass panes, there was not enough room down the sides for the handle,” he says. Meeting this challenge inspired this nice architectural detail.
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The front door also lets in natural light. Berndsen had it custom-made. One of the more interesting details is the wood around the door handle. “The intent was to have as much glass as possible, but with such big glass panes, there was not enough room down the sides for the handle,” he says. Meeting this challenge inspired this nice architectural detail.
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This photo was taken from the entry. “The layout was chopped up and odd,” Allison says. “One of the biggest things we wanted to change was the stairs. You walked in and bam! — there’s this door down to the basement, with the stairs to the second floor wrapping around it. It was not a nice thing to walk in and see, and it blocked the view of the backyard.”
Berndsen reconfigured the staircase, flipping it around to face the back of the house. He clad two sides of it in tambour panels — slatted millwork with a fluted look. He hid the basement door within the paneling to create a nicer entry view.
“This house needed a lot of love,” Allison says. The house had undergone several renovations over the years, and Berndsen found that some of the structural work was unsound, and that there were uneven floors and ceilings. Getting those things right was a big part of the down-to-the-studs remodel. The previous remodels also had resulted in oddly arranged windows. The new configuration of windows provides better views and improves the balance. Now the view of the backyard is visible from the front entry. “Lightening up the house was a big part of the renovation,” Jorie says. “Now there is a big wall of windows along the back you immediately see as you walk in.”
Berndsen reconfigured the staircase, flipping it around to face the back of the house. He clad two sides of it in tambour panels — slatted millwork with a fluted look. He hid the basement door within the paneling to create a nicer entry view.
“This house needed a lot of love,” Allison says. The house had undergone several renovations over the years, and Berndsen found that some of the structural work was unsound, and that there were uneven floors and ceilings. Getting those things right was a big part of the down-to-the-studs remodel. The previous remodels also had resulted in oddly arranged windows. The new configuration of windows provides better views and improves the balance. Now the view of the backyard is visible from the front entry. “Lightening up the house was a big part of the renovation,” Jorie says. “Now there is a big wall of windows along the back you immediately see as you walk in.”
The tambour panels continue along the staircase wall and provide a great spot for a large piece of art and a bench. Crawford loves music, and Bob Dylan is one of his favorite artists. New York artist Steve Cookson composed this silhouette of Dylan out of balloons. A brass art light highlights the piece, which is based on the classic Milton Glaser poster included in the musician’s 1967 greatest-hits album.
Shop for the right bench for your space
Shop for the right bench for your space
Here is the new staircase. “The original house did not have elaborate trim; it was pretty streamlined. So we wanted the remodel to be in keeping with that,” Allison says. The new wrought iron railing has a clean look, provides dark contrast and adds a hint of modern style.
Before, the front of the house had a formal dining room in this spot at the front of the house. The existing kitchen was behind it; it was L-shaped and wrapped around a corner along the back of the house. “The part around the corner was an odd breakfast [and] sitting area. The shape of the kitchen was weird and didn’t take advantage of the space,” Allison says. The breakfast nook was cut off from the rest of the kitchen. Now the kitchen runs down the side of the house from front to back. An island that can accommodate six people is a fun spot for having casual meals. It also has additional prep space on the other end.
“My husband is the big cook in the family,” Allison says. “We set the kitchen up so we can entertain while he prepares the meals, and he can still be a part of things.” The windows at the back of this photo slide open to serve a bar out on the back terrace.
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
“My husband is the big cook in the family,” Allison says. “We set the kitchen up so we can entertain while he prepares the meals, and he can still be a part of things.” The windows at the back of this photo slide open to serve a bar out on the back terrace.
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
The fridge is hidden behind panels that match the cabinetry on the right. On the left are tall pantry cabinets. Polished nickel rails add a touch of glamour to the open shelves.
This is Jorie’s dog Lexie, who was over for a visit on photo shoot day. The water bowl is a sink with a drain, made for recreational vehicles, with a pot filler above it. This unique canine hydration station also has a marble mosaic backsplash.
The design team replaced a sitting room that used to be off the kitchen with a more formal dining area. It enjoys the views of the backyard. The flooring throughout the house is white oak.
Not everything in the home is light and bright. The Allison and Jorie went dark and moody with the palette of this new home bar they created off the living room. The space includes a tall wine fridge, built-in wine racks and pullout cabinetry for bottles. The countertop is a rich walnut wood.
These corner windows let in the light. Needing storage, the designers found a beautiful solution: mounting glass shelves from brackets held up by brass supports. The glassware and shelves let the light shine through.
These corner windows let in the light. Needing storage, the designers found a beautiful solution: mounting glass shelves from brackets held up by brass supports. The glassware and shelves let the light shine through.
Here’s a peek inside the slim pullout cabinet that holds bottles. This maximizes the small bar space and prevents having to dig around the back of a deep cabinet.
Another fun touch is this pull-down walnut bar shelf for serving guests during parties. Behind it, the wine fridge provides a nice view.
When not in use, the bar simply folds up, clips in and is hidden by the tambour paneling.
To create space for the speakeasy bar, the team borrowed space from this adjacent guest room. This included stealing its closet space. So the designers created built-ins that include two armoires, drawers and open shelving.
A subtle trellis pattern covers the walls. The bed has a natural woven headboard. But the sweetest touch is the matching pillows and lampshades. This is also a lesson in scale — the petite nightstands and table lamps and small-scale patterns suit the space. These elements make it pretty and cozy.
Blue flora-and-fauna wallpaper adorns the walls of the guest bathroom. “We come across so many wallpapers we love from smaller lines. We came across this one when working on another project, and we knew we were going to use it before we ever even saw this house,” Jorie says.
Brass fixtures add warmth, while a clear glass shower enclosure provides views of the lovely marble tile.
Berndsen had to fix structural issues with the primary bedroom’s ceiling during the renovation. This included using the large beams seen here. To keep them from overwhelming the space, Allison chose a patterned grasscloth wallcovering and extended it from the walls across the ceiling. “It’s just so peaceful and welcoming, and it differentiated the space,” she says.
A custom headboard stands up to the tall wall behind it and adds some pleasing curves.
A custom headboard stands up to the tall wall behind it and adds some pleasing curves.
The bedroom has a reading nook complete with a floor lamp and side table. Built-ins include bookshelves and a window seat.
The primary bathroom includes a separate shower stall and freestanding bathtub. The color palette is calm and relaxing. A trellis-like ceramic-and-marble mosaic floor tile anchors the room with a pattern.
The curbless shower stall allows the floor tile to continue uninterrupted throughout the bathroom. “The curbless shower will help us age in place here. It is safer and more updated, clean and streamlined,” Allison says.
The curbless shower stall allows the floor tile to continue uninterrupted throughout the bathroom. “The curbless shower will help us age in place here. It is safer and more updated, clean and streamlined,” Allison says.
Berndsen framed the bathroom mirrors with millwork for a finished look. The mirrors and skylight make the room light and bright.
Upstairs, the designers turned a bedroom into a cozy den that serves as Crawford’s office. As he loves music, “we wanted to incorporate that and create a little library,” Allison says.
Berndsen created built-ins that include drawers and shelves. Check out the way he made the shelf heights easily adjustable. Allison gave Crawford a comfy chair for reading in this corner and had his favorite album covers framed to create a gallery wall.
Berndsen created built-ins that include drawers and shelves. Check out the way he made the shelf heights easily adjustable. Allison gave Crawford a comfy chair for reading in this corner and had his favorite album covers framed to create a gallery wall.
This photo provides a peek at the wood ceiling, which plays nicely off the rolltop desk. It also shows the library lights that illuminate the shelves from above. The office is cozy and inviting, and filled with Crawford’s favorite things.
The guest room combines creams, blues and terra-cotta hues.
The en suite bathroom has a matching color palette, with wallpaper adding a linear botanical pattern.
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Not sure where to start on your home project? Click here to learn the basics
One of the biggest pluses of the property was a four-car garage built by the previous owner. Allison and Jorie took advantage of the great opportunity to create the headquarters for their design firm above it. Berndsen added a second story to the garage with a soaring shiplap-covered ceiling. Because of the way the backyard slopes, the office can be entered at ground level.
Large windows and a glass door let in natural light. A mix of track lights on the ceiling, sconces and table lamps provides plenty of great light for working.
“We had started our firm in our old house, so we had a great idea of everything we needed when setting up the office,” Jorie says. The space has lots of storage for samples, rolls of fabric and wallcoverings, large drawings and more. The design duo added two large worktables for laying out fabrics, wallpapers and other materials. For their computer work, the mother and daughter share a long desk built for two across the back wall, complete with leafy views out the windows. They also hung upholstered pinboards for tacking up inspirational images and swatches.
Large windows and a glass door let in natural light. A mix of track lights on the ceiling, sconces and table lamps provides plenty of great light for working.
“We had started our firm in our old house, so we had a great idea of everything we needed when setting up the office,” Jorie says. The space has lots of storage for samples, rolls of fabric and wallcoverings, large drawings and more. The design duo added two large worktables for laying out fabrics, wallpapers and other materials. For their computer work, the mother and daughter share a long desk built for two across the back wall, complete with leafy views out the windows. They also hung upholstered pinboards for tacking up inspirational images and swatches.
They added a full bathroom to the design studio, so the space can double as a guesthouse for overnight guests. Wicker shelves can hold toiletries and towels.
The designers chose a hexagonal mosaic tile for the bathroom floor.
A blue sliding barn door opens to reveal Allison’s personal office off the main studio space. “The barn door was original to our lake house in North Georgia. It then went to our previous home, and we brought it here with us. Jon and his team are always so accommodating with things like this. He never asks, ‘You want to do what?’” Allison says. “Things like this door make a space feel so personal.”
In Allison’s office, the daybed on the left serves as a resting spot. There are also two twin mattresses stored here for overnight guests.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Allison Moran and her husband, Crawford Moran
Location: Atlanta
Size: 3,900 square feet (362 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms and an office
Designers: Allison and Jorie Moran of Wesley Interiors (interior design) and Hazel & Grey (architecture)
General contractor: The Berndsen Co.
Allison not only had worked with The Berndsen Co. professionally for about 25 years, but also had a lot of experience working with them on her own homes, including an addition and a new build. “I knew they were an exceptional construction company. And I knew that they would be able to solve any problems. They always want their clients to love where they live and to make it function best for them,” she says.
The renovation was a down-to-the-studs remodel, but Jon Berndsen, owner of The Berndsen Co., was able to maintain and accentuate the historic charms of the home’s exterior. The house sits on a hill above the street and has a gracious front porch. Allison added a cushy porch swing, seen here, for watching the world go by.
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