IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT OR renovate a contemporary-styled home in Buckhead, where traditional architecture remains the norm,” says Jon Berndsen of luxury custom homebuilder The Berndsen Company. So, when homeowners Debra and Rod McCowan purchased a home in the community and turned to Berndsen to renovate it, he was happy to take on what he describes as a distinctive and exciting project.
The McCowans happened upon the home as they drove through the neighborhood while visiting their son during the throes of COVID-19. “It was a fateful trip,” explains Rod McCowan. “We drove around because everything was shut down, and we came upon the graceful, rolling beauty of Buckhead. This particular home was on the market at the time. Debra prefers European heritage design, but I like Pacific Northwestern modern minimalism; it was funny that we both fell in love with this particular home.”
Originally designed by architect Keith Summerour of Summerour Architects with formal gardens by landscape architect John Howard of Howard Design Studio, the home’s traditional exterior was reminiscent of French Normandy architecture. “We also loved how the home was set within intimate English estate-style grounds,” McCowan says. “Sitting at the top of a hill, the backyard slopes down to the creek and woods; it’s like living on the edge of Central Park. From our first visit, the house had us. It’s a sanctuary in the city, minutes from Midtown.”
The sellers, designer Angela Bromenschenkel of Beeren Bromenschenkel Design and her husband, Fred, became fast friends with the McCowans. “The good bones and architectural charm were there, and while the home was beautifully designed by a professional, we wanted to renovate the interiors to reflect our vibe,” McCowan says. “We didn’t set out to fix anything; we loved what our new friends had created. We wanted to shift the mood to a minimalistic interpretation of Parisian interiors with a subtle inflection of mid-century modern and art deco style through new artwork, accessories and furniture that reflect how we live. The classic style of the 1950s and ’60s speaks to our souls. Plus, we spend a lot of time in Europe and felt that quiet Parisian minimalism was the interior language we wanted to pursue.”
The Berndsen Company has an extensive network of architects, landscape architects and designers throughout the Atlanta area. Decades of cultivated partnerships enable every project to benefit from collaboration and a shared vision among professionals, this project being a case in point.
As is customary on projects of this magnitude, the Berndsen team worked closely with the original architect and landscape architect to reconceptualize spaces. Outside, new gardens were added in the front to complement the existing formal gardens at the rear and sides of the home and to underscore the quiet elegance of the architecture. Inside, Berndsen completely reimagined every room of the home’s three levels, elevating each space with meticulous luxury craftsmanship while reducing visual clutter and unifying all spaces into a cohesive statement of quiet calmness. A unified color palette serves as the backdrop, allowing both existing and newly added architectural elements to shine.
On the main level, Berndsen, collaborating with custom cabinetmaker Karpaty Cabinets and the former owner/designer, implemented the homeowners’ request for a single, serene color and materials palette across the open-concept spaces, many of which visitors see as they step into the foyer. “The stunning new kitchen with high-end appliances, custom cabinetry and honed Statuary Classico marble is a showpiece,” Berndsen says. A full-wall metal range hood in classic French style, and marble that flows seamlessly over integrated control knobs, down the front of the range and continues up the backsplash, creates an uninterrupted sculptural effect. Oversize lanterns above the island echo the refined French aesthetic.
McCowan chose neutrals from Farrow & Ball’s collection of harmonious off-whites and grays to flow throughout the home to create unity and calmness. “All of the colors in the palette work together,” he says. The library walls are the sole diversion from the palette; they are painted in a moody bluish gray that can read as black depending upon the light. “The room is a dream come true for us. We love to spend time reading the literary classics,” McCowan adds. To further coordinate the hues, the homeowner ordered custom book jackets from Juniper Books in Boulder, Colorado. “We didn’t want the library aesthetic to be changed by the book spine colors,” he says.
High-end finishes—marble, rich plaster on walls and ceilings, wood-paneled walls, extensive moldings and fine hardware as jewelry—provide European sophistication and serenity. The Berndsen team reworked two of the four fireplaces in the living room and the keeping room off of the kitchen, using marble surrounds with a French flair. “The architecture still speaks French, but the tempo has changed,” McCowan says. “It reads cleaner, and the disciplined grays provide structure without weight. The main rooms breathe as one calm field, with the library’s mood adding contrast.”
Throughout the interiors, Karpaty Cabinets’ owner, Natalia Makarova, redesigned traditionally styled cabinetry into character-filled European and contemporary looks, and helped the team rethink spaces. “She introduced me to the style of Parisian architect and furniture designer Joseph Dirand, which we leaned on as we reworked the kitchen, laundry and primary bathroom,” McCowan says.
To further unify the interiors, the team chose only a few flooring finishes. The main level’s existing hardwood floors were refinished from a highly polished black stain to mahogany satin for an understated look in keeping with the minimalistic theme. French cabochon stone flooring in utility and powder spaces provides a utilitarian yet classic European look. François & Co.’s Longere oak planks, with an aged finish, are set in a chevron pattern on the terrace-level floors. Repetition of the kitchen’s Statuary Classico marble flows throughout the primary bathroom, including on its floors and walls and in the shower.
The team removed all interior walls in the primary bathroom, opening it up to bigger possibilities, including his-and-her floating vanities, a wet room, a dressing room and a freestanding tub. “The previous design of several small rooms felt like a missed opportunity,” the homeowner says. “So we started over in that space.” Redesigned cabinetry provides a more contemporary look than the previous cabinets.
A bevy of en suite bedrooms upstairs received a facelift, with two of them reworked as home offices for the couple and a third one as a wardrobe. “There’s a French wink on the upstairs landing that leads to the bedrooms,” McCowan says. “An arched Rupert Bevan antiqued mirrored alcove doubles the available light and reflects the upgraded cabinetry on the opposite side.” The landing showcases arched doorways and cabinetry for a touch of authentic classical style.
Period furniture mixes with modern and mid-century modern furnishings, such as the Vladimir Kagan wingback chairs cozied up to the fireplace in the keeping room. “Every piece chosen could have been in a Parisian home,” McCowan explains.
The team transformed a utilitarian basement into an entertainment and wellness space at the homeowners’ request. One of the biggest wow factors of the newly finished terrace level is the professionally styled bar. “It’s a showpiece,” Berndsen says. “Rod is an accomplished mixologist, so he enjoys entertaining and treating his guests in this spectacular space.”
“Our international travels informed the creation of the bar,” McCowan explains. “Eight or nine of our favorite bars around the world influenced its design. The entire home draws inspiration from our favorite hotels and resorts from years of travel.”
Other entertainment-centric spaces on the terrace level include a den, a home theater with updated equipment and seating, a billiard room and guest accommodations. The wellness spaces, which inhabit the other areas on this level, include a fitness center and a glass-walled sauna.
By renovating the entire home, the Berndsen team had the opportunity to bring in a new lighting package and home automation technology. In keeping with the peaceful, monochromatic scheme, the Savant automation system with invisible speakers is unobtrusive on the walls; the mounted touchscreens display a scene of the landscaped exteriors when not in use and replace a plethora of panels and switches. Since some of the interior spaces were dark, new lighting helped achieve a more pleasing ambience in the interior rooms. Specialized artwork lighting highlights the black-and-white fine art photography the homeowners fell in love with and used to drive home the nod to mid-century modern design. Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta supplied the majority of their new art collection.
“This project was a natural showcase of our capabilities,” says Berndsen. “Bringing a contemporary vision to life through distinctive material applications demanded an exceptional eye for detail and flawless execution. One example is in the primary bathroom, where wall-mounted faucets emerge seamlessly through the marble that wraps the entire space. Achieving this level of precision requires meticulous planning and collaboration with premier artisans who provide the exacting execution that allows us to deliver such refined custom features.
“This was such a fun and rewarding project,” Berndsen continues. “Working with such talented designers and craftspeople to transform this beautiful home was a real treat. Debra and Rod are a truly delightful couple and an absolute pleasure to collaborate with. Working with them never felt like work—it was an experience we genuinely enjoyed.”
“We are extremely detail-oriented; if I am moving through a space and something is not right, I can’t relax,” McCowan says. “Not a single space in this home now feels that way; it speaks to what the team did for us. Every room is right-sized and purposeful—cooking, working from home, working out, reading, watching movies, and gathering indoors and out. We’re grateful to the previous owners—now dear friends—for the beautiful foundation they created, and to the Berndsen-led team for helping us carry it forward.” *
Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and fine art.
The Berndsen team reworked two of the four fireplaces in the living room and the keeping room off of the kitchen, using marble surrounds with a French flair.
