Contemporary Craftsman (continued)
Atlanta designer Wendy Blount captured her client's bohemian-chic personality with a mix of modern and vintage pieces and included a few personal statements -- literally.
Fuqua liked Blount's free-spirited blending of design icons, flea-market finds and vacation treasures. "I like to call it 'the new modern,' " Blount says. Putting their heads together on the oddly shaped living room, for instance, the two dismissed traditional ideas about furniture placement and instead focused on how Fuqua would use the room. After she talked about Sunday-night Sopranos parties, Blount envisioned a cozy seating area where a custom sofa and ottomans could be mixed and matched depending on the occasion.
"It's a U-shaped sofa with removable ottomans. You can pull them out and put a table in there for eating or put the ottomans back in to turn it into a guest bedroom," says Blount. The Manuel Canovas silk curtains that envelop the space bring high style to the TV room, although Blount chose practical carpet tiles as a floor covering, anticipating future spilled wine or similar mishaps.
"This place feels a little bit like an Alice in Wonderland house," says Blount. "It has funny passageways, round windows and a rabbit etched in the front-door glass -- all these magical touches." By a happy coincidence, the house was once owned by one of Fuqua's favorite art teachers -- something she didn't know until she had already moved in.
Because of the playfulness of the house and Fuqua's artistic nature, the two approached each room in a nontraditional way. The bedroom is designed around a Santa Fe-made "bird bed" that Fuqua bought on a trip to New Mexico. A painting of an oversize red pear is treasured by the homeowner because her father gave it to her as a graduation gift, so she asked for it to be a focal point in the newly redone dining room.
Blount welcomed the challenges of these personal items and went a step further. Before Fuqua left for a trip, the designer asked for a list of favorite words and phrases. "Lauren is a spiritual person and a big fan of words," says Blount. "I wanted to include phrases that have meaning for her around the house, as a gift."
One of Fuqua's catchphrases, FOLLOW YOUR BLISS, is now prominent in the breakfast room over the French doors. As is fitting for a room that celebrates happiness, Blount designed the area for lingering. She started with a traditional round table and a modern light fixture that Fuqua already owned, then chose two wingback chairs for comfort and height. "It's a traditional look," says Blount, "but with one of Kelly Wearstler's great fabrics to make it interesting."
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