Small Spaces: Close to Home

In the cypress-walled kitchen, a 19th century French work table is the perfect place to make a quick meal. Click here to see more photos.

LUCILE CLARKSON ... ON DESIGNING SMALL SPACES Multiuse furniture, minimal accessories and streamlined upholstery and window treatments cut down on clutter for a clean look. The flow of rooms is expanded with broad windows, open doorways, threshold-spanning carpets and room-adjoining bathrooms. Scale is paramount in the compact kitchen, staircase and seating groups, as well as furniture that soars upward without crowding floor space. A pale, monochromatic palette keeps things light and airy, while bull's eye mirrors in the children's room add the illusion of extra depth.

Long before the Georgia drought forced homeowners across the state to cut back, Tom and Lou Glenn of Sandy Springs decided to fill in their backyard swimming pool, which, since their two daughters were grown, was not often used. The Glenns called on landscape architect Richard Anderson, who demolished the pool and created a grassy courtyard in its place.

The Glenns knew that their daughters would be starting families soon and wanted to give them a private and spacious place to stay during visits. Anderson recommended architect Yong Pak, who created a classic gray-shingled guest cottage to complement the main house and the updated back yard.

A frequent scene for entertaining during warm months, the courtyard and guest patio today form a well-loved spot. Through open French doors, drinks are served from a small butler's pantry-style kitchen constructed from rare sinker cypress, which gives it the distinctive, rich color. Inside, a surround of windows opens the view to the outdoors.

Lucile Clarkson, a favorite designer of the Glenns, signed on to decorate the interiors but also worked with Pak to modify a few elements. The original layout retained the upstairs as an unfinished loft, but Clarkson knew that additional bedrooms were a must. They planned a Jack & Jill bathroom to adjoin the two new rooms—one of the most charming elements of the completed design.

Downstairs, Clarkson re-covered a sofa and loveseat from the Glenns' basement and arranged them in a seating group to anchor the room from the center. A window seat provides a comfortable place to curl up with a book while taking in the idyllic views outdoors; cabinets underneath store cards and games to be played on the nearby table. 

Just beyond the living area, an open door to the master bedroom invites a peek inside, where the softness of the bed helps balance the rusticity of the living room while extending the living space. The master bed once belonged to Tom's mother; Clarkson traded its ornate canopy for check fabric and coordinating Roman shades for a more architectural look. Tall, sturdy case pieces give strength without taking up floor space, while multiuse items, such as an antique chest at the foot of the master bed, store blankets and also provide extra seating or a place to throw a coat at the end of the day.

"What I love most about designing a guesthouse is recycling things from the main home and from storage that weren't seeing much use," says Clarkson. "In this case, we took pieces that were his and hers and combined them for a look that was both masculine and feminine, and suits the taste of any guest." Family pieces from each add a familiar comfort.

A built-in window seat becomes a nook for storage and relaxation, while built-in bookshelves are transformed into display cases for the Glenn's collection of Jugtown pottery. The antique card table is a family piece. Click here to see more photos.

It's a look that's personal for the Glenns—but not too personal, says Clarkson, who scaled back on keepsakes so the space was both neat and hospitable to visitors. "We enjoyed taking their collections and creating displays for them, rather than scattering them about the house," she says. Clarkson organized their collection of ceramic Jugtown pottery—with additional pieces picked up in Highlands and Atlanta—on built-in bookcases. This minimalism makes final touches such as lamb lamps behind the sofa and an antique feeding trough on the coffee table all the more eye-catching. An iron chandelier keeps the elements throughout the house consistent, for an old-fashioned, country town house feel.

"The Glenns are very open to new ideas, so I had a lot of fun working with them," says Clarkson. She and Lou took a trip to Barnesville, Georgia in search of the perfect mantelpiece: a wood beam salvaged from an old barn, which, when combined with the materials for the siding, cabinetry, beadboarding and floors, gives the new construction a rustic, time-weathered appeal.

Tucked in a far corner of the room, a custom wrought-iron railing, based on one from an old French house, decorates a small, compact staircase that leads the way upstairs, where twin painted black iron beds, salvaged from the basement, are topped with antique quilts for an authentic look and feel. An old-fashioned linen press provides a place to keep clothes in the absence of a closet, while a monochromatic palette and a carpet spanning the threshold maintain the flow between the rooms. Framed silhouettes accent the walls above the twin beds, while the main bedroom stands out for its lofty bedding and organic accents, such as a collection of framed botanicals and a pair of bamboo wicker bedside tables.

"We wanted to imagine that our grandchildren would get on that bed with their grandmother," says Lou. It's a house that's comforting and tranquil, which is just what the Glenns—and Clarkson—were after.

DESIGN DETAILS
INTERIOR DESIGN
Lucile Clarkson
Lucile M. Clarkson Interiors
(404) 351-3414

ARCHITECTURE
Yong Pak
Pak Heydt & Associates
(404) 231-3195
pakheydt.com

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Richard Anderson
(404) 892-1788
RichardAndersonLA.com