Balanced Beauty

Atlanta interior designer Barbara Westbrook’s projects always refrain from conforming to clichés, and her sunny and chic
office, located in an English bungalow on a sleepy street off Pharr Road, is no exception. Outside, oversize porch beams and cheery red shutters heighten the curb appeal of this 1940s cottage, while inside, a comfortable mix of contrasting elements—patinaed antiques, architectural photography and her signature palette of whites and neutrals are a testament to the designer’s tactile, timeless designs. “It’s creating that little bit of tension between the modern and the old that makes it more personal,” says Westbrook.

The designer’s signature style is evident throughout the five-room office, from the contrast between its low, bright-white ceilings and stained wood floors and door frames to the commanding presence of oversize antiques, such as the Belgian secretary in the cozy entry hall. The heart of the home, though, is an open, collaborative work space with sleek white laminate surfaces running the length of the house, which allows Westbrook’s team of four to constantly interact.

To counteract the cottage’s low ceilings and make the room seem loftier than it’s eight-foot height, the designer added ceiling boards and covered beams, painting them, as well as the walls and crown molding, in her favorite whites: Chalk Gray and Glass of Milk.

In the adjoining workspace, where Westbrook pulls up her swivel stool, the designer accommodates the team’s preference for openness, the need for storage space and her own tendency to spread out all her work. “If there’s a surface, I will put something on it, so each room has a big table where you can lay everything out,” she says. A spacious
antique French baker’s table—its casters removed to fit the space—makes an eye-catching addition. Natural light and a layering of contemporary lighting—from pendant lamps and monopoint lights—shines on shelving for books, binders and woven baskets that stylishly store fabric swatches and client projects. The room’s utilitarian elegance underscores the marriage of form and function. “I like to have a place for everything,” says Westbrook. “Just because it’s utilitarian doesn’t mean it has to be ugly.”

Adjacent to the offices is the conference room, separated by an unexpected and generously sized antique French window. In her most dramatic color gesture, Westbrook painted the walls in a well-worn leather hue. Slipcovered Parson chairs, a French oak dining table, a giant patinaed lantern and a perfectly aged Swedish armoire strike chords of tradition and laid-back luxe. “I always think of our work as being modern with a dash of the old,” says Westbrook. Indeed, her “home” office beautifully captures this mix.

 INTERIOR DESIGN Barbara Westbrook, Westbrook Interiors. (404) 355-9430; westbrookinteriors.com