High Notes

A music-loving couple tasks Brian Patrick Flynn to enliven their traditional Sandy Springs residence

As stimulating as life in the city can be, the promise of more space and a bigger yard convinced newlyweds Brandyn Chapman and Ashley Bothwell Chapman to swap their industrial Old Fourth Ward loft for a much larger home in Marietta.

To help them furnish the space—and bring in more color than they might have if left to their own devices—they recruited HGTV star and dear friend Brian Patrick Flynn. “They wanted to infuse their rock and roll-like style into this very traditional house,” Flynn says.

For an example, look no further than the front parlor, which Flynn reimagined as a spot for the music-loving couple and their three older children to practice their instruments, which double as decoration. Flynn has been present while they practice: “It was legit,” he says.

A printed blue-and-white grasscloth wallcovering adds a modern feel, complementing the striped rug and comfortable furnishings, including two pairs of chairs—one skirted, the other bamboo with cane fretwork—around a more contemporary round cocktail table. “Putting a pattern on the wall is the easiest way to transform a room,” Flynn says.

Proving his point, a blue-and-white ombré-patterned wallcovering makes a dazzling backdrop for a round brass-and-stone table surrounded by white slipcovered chairs in the dining room. Flanking the fireplace, a pair of glass-faced white-painted cabinets displays pottery and dishware in complementary hues. “The architecture is perfectly balanced, so we embraced it,” Flynn says.

The same goes for the family room, where matching white sofas surround a tufted leather-topped ottoman in front of the fireplace. Covered in a tactile, blue wallcovering, the backs of the built-in shelving coordinate with the throw pillows and table lamps. A spiky black chandelier adds visual tension. “Every room has a little bit of edge,” Flynn says.

Indeed, the designer painted the office walls a dark, smoky gray-brown, modernizing the traditional wall moldings. The ambience is even cozier in the master suite, where framed Audubon prints—a reminder of the couple’s wedding at the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens in Key West—inspired a mossy green raffia wallcovering accented by colorful throw pillows.

Naturally, Brandyn and Ashley are thrilled with the result, and Flynn is equally enthusiastic. “It was a challenge doing something this traditional, but we put a fresh spin on it,” Flynn says. “Nothing is too over the top, but every room is packed with color and personality.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout Productions. flynnsideout.com