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ATLANTA HOMES & LIFESTYLES

MAY 2021

SOARING

SOARING STYLE

Cosmopolitan & Chic

STYLE

VOLUME 40, NO. 5

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HOME 60

Room for Two

Phoebe and Jim Howard return to Plaza Towers to carve out a space that’s tailored to a T 72

Going Up

A fashionable Atlanta couple traded their single-family home for an 18thfloor Buckhead high-rise apartment 82

Visual Comforts

Two traditionalist designers take on a midcentury modern pied-à-terre to create a chic study in contrasts

17 PAGE 60

STYLE 12

Dynamic Duo

Two creatives, entrepreneurs and sisters weave design magic 14

Book Look

Tailor Made

Niki Papadopoulos and Mark Williams refresh a historical Atlanta condo with crisp, classic details

LIFE 26 28 29 30 104 6 103

Property Report Calendar Naomi On high-rise living Dish The Buttery ATL End Note In Love With…Orange Editor’s Letter Ad Index

AH&L trots around the globe with Spring’s new releases 17

Mother’s Day Magic

Nancy Izlar and Darby Fallon Clark create a memorable table for generations to gather

iNTERIOR DESIGNER PHOEBE HOWARD

Delving Into Design

Photography by MAX KIM-BEE

A unique adventure led Chelsea Barry to the place she wants to call home 4

On the Cover RESIDENTIAL DESIGNER JIM HOWARD

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Classic Buckhead Living. On A Whole New Level. In every room, everywhere you look, all of Buckhead’s canopy and Atlanta’s skyline stretches out before you. Stunning views are just the beginning at this boutique collection of 45 luxurious residences with floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive terraces and sophisticated interiors designed to maximize those incredible views. Here, residents enjoy maintenance-free, resort-style living along with the peace of mind that comes with a lock-and-leave lifestyle. This is Buckhead’s most sought-after new address. This is classic living, redefined. This is Graydon Buckhead.

Broker Participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. This project has been filed in the state of Georgia and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. Picture is an artist’s rendering and may not represent the final building.

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STYLE NEWS

DYNAMIC DUO In Athens, two creatives and entrepreneurs— and sisters—weave design magic Written by

left Susan Hable (left) and Katharine Hable. above Hable Construction tote in their iconic bead patterning. top right Love is Hard Work, oil on canvas, by Susan Hable.

left to right Collage and Painted Grid wallpapers for Soicher Marin. Stoneware Beauty Mark sculpture by Susan Hable.

FROM GEORGIA TO THE WORLD, Susan and Katharine Hable collectively impart their indelible design sensibility and infectious spirit from their home base in Athens. Their business, Hable Construction, is named after their great-grandfather’s road construction business in Corsicana, Texas. Here, Susan serves as the creator and artist, while Katharine oversees sales and operations, although the two share complementary skills that extend beyond their respective roles. That simpatico relationship has led the sisters into myriad ventures (and adventures) over the past two decades, beginning with textiles 22 years ago and shops in New York City’s Soho neighborhood followed by one on Perry Street in the West Village. “Coming up in the South, and living those years in New York, that’s where we found our voice,” says Susan, who has called Athens home for the past 11 years. Katharine was lured there three years ago, both by familial ties and the supportive and collaborative creative community that distinguishes the university town. There’s always a willingness to connect and assist. “Can I help you do this? Who can do this?” are often the questions, says Katharine of the camaraderie and networking. Plus, there is the joy of having plenty of working space, which was in short supply in New York City.

STUDIO BY RINNE ALLEN; PORTRAIT BY CHRISTY BUSH; GALLERY COURTESY OF SPALDING NIX FINE ART

CLINTON SMITH

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“I have the luxury of having my studio at the back of my yard,” adds Susan. “It’s literally my haven, and I can explore so many things.” From that perch, the Hables have continued to put their creative stamp on a dazzling array of home furnishing categories with some of the industry’s most respected companies. “We don’t like to date,” says Katharine of their partnerships with their long-time collaborators. “We like to get married to our partners.” Case in point: They’ve been working with Garnet Hill for almost two decades. Other partners over the years span furniture to fashion and include Hickory Chair, Anthropologie, Alabama Chanin and Soicher Marin to name just a few. There are also designs for rugs, and later this year, a new lighting collection with Generation Lighting. Textiles, all of which are made in the United States, remain a cornerstone of their practice. Susan’s latest artwork, including sculpture and painting, is on view in a group exhibition of Georgia artists titled WELLSPRING at Spalding Nix Fine Art in Atlanta through May 14. Prolific as they are, the Hables’ designs are recognized for their soulful, authentic and organic sensibilities. As Susan notes, “As much as we say, ‘Let’s make more things,’ we are considerate about what we put into the world.” hableconstruction.com

clockwise from top left The Athens studio space. A Colorful Home book (Chronicle Books, 2015). Stonely Mirror for Maitland Smith. Bird Wing Chair and George Bench for Hickory Chair. Susan’s latest collage works on view at Spalding Nix Fine Art through May 14.

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Room for Two Design power couple PHOEBE and JIM HOWARD return to Plaza Towers to carve out a space that’s tailored to a T Written by SEJAL BHIMA Photographed by MAX KIM-BEE

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Keep it Classic

Designer Jim Howard’s classical sensibilities are on display through both the millwork and sofa he designed in the living room. To keep the space from reading overly traditional, Phoebe Howard selected a fine art photograph by Josef Hoflehner through Jackson Fine Art. The coffee table and side tables were purchased by the couple in France.

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Parisian Flair

above Most of the furnishings and accessories spark a memory for the couple, such as the concave mirror found at a Parisian flea market and antique sideboard purchased from the South of France. opposite A console from Parc Monceau, along with a painting by Paolo Ceribelli, make for an elegant bar set-up in the living room.

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DESIGNERS PHOEBE AND JIM HOWARD’s journey at Plaza Towers could best be described as “full circle,” says the pair who renovated their first apartment at the iconic Buckhead landmark over a decade ago. They eventually went on to sell it, a decision they both came to regret. “We really missed that little apartment,” remembers Phoebe. “It was small and manageable and had such beautiful light.” Location also gave the residence high marks. Because while the Howards call Jacksonville Beach, Florida, home, the apartment served as their work base, providing an easy commute between their interiors shops in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Charlotte, as well as to design projects across the Southeast and beyond. 63

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Powerful Prints

Rose & Hydrangea by Cowtan & Tout takes center stage in the family room. The classic print inspired designer Phoebe Howard to introduce another enduring pattern—leopard—underfoot. She recalls finding the portrait of the old man “on the floor out in a field in France on a cool day.”

So when the opportunity came to purchase another unit at Plaza Towers, the couple didn’t hesitate. The apartment had been virtually unchanged since the complex first welcomed residents in 1970, prompting the need for a down-to-the-studs renovation. The Howards approached the project just as they always do—divide and conquer—with Jim taking lead in space planning and the interior architecture and then handing off to Phoebe for decorating and final touches. In a stroke of serendipity, the unit boasted an identical floor plan to their previous one, but the couple had learned a few things since then. “With just the two of us here for work, we rarely found use for a dining room,” says Jim. In its place, he created an intimate family room where the couple now spends most evenings. To complement the apartment’s classically inspired architectural shell designed by Jim, Phoebe worked through several design concepts. “I had two conflicting ideas,” she shares. “The first was an all-ivory palette punctuated by only the dark colors of antiques and art. But on the other hand, 64

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High-Rise Haven

In the open living room, plush matching sofas by Hickory Chair and swivel chairs from Bungalow Classic create a cozy gathering spot in front of the fireplace.

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GOING UP After their youngest son left for college, a fashionable Atlanta couple traded their single-family home for an 18th-floor apartment in a luxurious Buckhead high-rise Written by

TATE GUNNERSON Photographed by

EMILY FOLLOWILL

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Contemporary Cue

Purchased by the owners during one of their annual trips to Nantucket, a black metal chandelier illuminates a contemporary wooden dining table and upholstered chairs from Hickory Chair. The artwork is by Jylian Gustlin.

TURNING THE PAGE on a new chapter can be thrilling, and so it was for an urbane couple who traded their traditional single-family home for a far more modern dwelling on the 18th floor of The Charles, a high-rise condominium in the heart of Buckhead. Eager to start a new chapter, the empty nesters sold nearly all their furnishings and hired designer Courtney Giles Decker to create a whole new milieu. “It’s a lot of fun to start from scratch,” says Giles Decker. “We took them in a totally different direction.” Rendered in a palette of neutral hues accented with pops of blue, the space is a warm, sophisticated retreat that emphasizes both the expansive urban vistas and the couple’s collection of art. In the entry, for example, a colorful abstract painting by local artist Leslie Irvine coordinates well with the tufted blue velvet bench underneath it. And the walls in the nearby study are covered in a dark blue grasscloth, creating a relaxing backdrop for a camel-colored corduroy sofa and a cocktail table with a faux ostrich-skin finish. “All the texture makes it feel a little cozier,” explains Giles Decker.

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Mix It Up

above left to right Books, flowers and objets d’art adorn the streamlined cocktail table by Bradley in the living room. Clad with a waterfall-style Cambria quartz countertop, a lacquered gray island juxtaposes the more rustic wooden kitchen cabinetry, both by Pedini.

Cozy also describes the open living room, where matching velvet sofas and a pair of swivel chairs covered in a nubby wool fabric create a spot to enjoy the fireplace. Custom black metal flowers surround the firebox, adding a touch of whimsy. “They wanted a little edge,” says Giles Decker. Indeed, while the open kitchen’s perimeter cabinetry is contemporary in form, its visible wood grain juxtaposes the lacquered base of the gleaming white quartz waterfall-style island. The mix also characterizes the master suite, which is furnished with a mohair-covered headboard flanked by painted side tables underneath a tiered rock crystal chandelier. “It has some bling but with an earthy texture,” says Giles Decker. “Dressy but not flashy.” There’s a bit of flash, however, in the guest bathroom, its floral wallcovering providing a soft contrast to the vanity’s visible wood grain and sleek surfaces. “It’s a fresh take on a classic pattern,” says Giles Decker, noting it’s one of her favorites. Because it was under construction during the design process, Decker kept everything in her own warehouse as it arrived, furnishing the space just days before her clients moved in and unveiling the design in a grand reveal. Needless to say, they were overjoyed with the result. “It fits their personality—cool and contemporary but warm and inviting,” says Giles Decker. “I think we balanced it very well.” See Resources, Back of Book.

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In the Clouds

The owners adore spending time on the outdoor patio, which is furnished with stylish yet comfortable teak furnishings by Janus et Cie.

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