Druid Hills Mixtape: Blending Modern Comfort with Colonial Grandeur

This project began as an unusual story, a testament to the dynamic nature of high-end residential interior design in Atlanta. We were deep into designing a beautiful Grant Park home when my clients shared surprising news: they were selling and moving to Druid Hills!

At Violet Marsh Interiors, we believe true full-service interior design means adapting to our clients' evolving lives. We immediately pressed pause, and once they closed on their stunning Druid Hills residence, we began the exciting process of re-envisioning our selections for their new space, determining what elements could transition and what new pieces would elevate their new home.

Druid Hills holds a special place in my heart as an Atlanta interior designer – its wide streets, historic homes with generous setbacks, and lush gardens exude a unique dignity and charm. It’s the perfect backdrop for a warm modern, layered design approach.

Initially, this family had furnished their Grant Park home rapidly during the pandemic, relying on quick solutions from Wayfair and Amazon to meet the immediate needs of their two young children. Our challenge in Druid Hills was to infuse the home with the luxury, comfort, and personalized style characteristic of a Violet Marsh Interiors project.

For the family room design, we used their existing plush sectional. To elevate the space and introduced our signature layered design, we brought in a luxurious wool rug and a sophisticated leather ottoman, perfect for both family comfort and elegant entertaining. The room's existing steel gray walls and bright white trim provided a chic backdrop, allowing us to add depth and personality with custom throw pillows.

The "before" was functional, but our additions softened, warmed, and refined the space, complementing the room's magnificent windows overlooking the garden.

BEFORE

We selected this wallpaper for another area of their previous home and it just so happened to match the navy blue dining room so we installed it on the ceiling. We switched out the wall sconces for something more modern but kept the drum chandelier. Added a new rug, leather chairs (which are easy to clean with young kids) a mirror, and an oversized sideboard. They have a lot of art so we hung that around which makes it feel personal and meaningful.

This moody dining room is now an ideal setting for quality time and great conversations, offering a unique sense of drama and warmth. Who doesn't love a cozy fireplace in their dining space for those cooler Atlanta evenings?

The before is below. White ceilings! How plebeian!

BEFORE

In the formal living room they kept the sofas, drapes and chandelier so we augmented with an oversized convex mirror and a blue and gray textural rug and some silky pillows. That mirror is my new bestie!! You basically can see the entire main floor through it! At the time of the photoshoot we were still waiting for the new coffee table to arrive. It seems that with every project there is one outlier that can not make it to the party on time.

We didn’t spend a lot of time on the guest room but we added existing art to brighten up the dark blue and new furniture to give their frequent guests lots of space to get comfortable. We kept the plantation shutters but added black out Roman shades for comfortable sleeping. They love to read and I thought these nightstands look like a stack of books.

The original inspiration was from the rug below. They loved this rug so we tried to find something equally cheerful and vibrant. I really wanted to add a green wallpaper to the ceiling. I love green, blue and orange together but alas, it’s only a guest room.

BEFORE

Step into the most transformed room of the house! The primary suite. With every creative project there are constraints and here, we worked within the constraints of the wall color and we kept the chandelier (for now!)

First we dream it and make a digital collage.

Then we build it. Clients have to trust us and trust the process and then be patient while it comes together. The digital collage always falls soooo flat compared to the real thing. All of that product photography is so helpful but it’s just not as brilliant as the three dimensional space. The warmth, the patina, the texture of the wood… it all adds to the feel of the finished space.

That wallpaper though. It’s stunning! They loved it so much that we then papered the vestibule and their bathroom. All different papers and each one super beautiful.

The before is quite different, eh hem drab. We switched the orientation of the bed and furnishings to allow for larger nightstands on each side.

BEFORE

We infused a lot of texture. We have a sculptural dresser and nightstands, a colorful rug, a few layers on the bed, draperies, roman shades, and an upholstered headboard. I love the shape of these lamps. They are super fresh.

A pulled back view. The light textiles break up all of the gray and make it cheerful.

Thank you for following along. The end.

Whether you're embarking on a new build, a whole-home renovation, or reimagining a specific space like a custom kitchen or bath, Violet Marsh Interiors specializes in creating layered, warm modern interiors that reflect your style. We manage every detail, from art selection and custom drapery to paint color, wallpaper, rugs, and lighting, ensuring a cohesive and stunning result.

If you're seeking a high-end interior designer in Atlanta we'd be honored to discuss your vision. Book a discovery call to begin your transformation.