Meet the Stansells Seated on the front steps of the 1920s house on a quiet street in Atlanta, Georgia, Whitney and Micah Stansell are musicians and documentary makers. The Stansells are the second owners of this home and share it with their three children. From the 14 years they've been there, Micah and Whitney have finished a number of renovations, but always with regard to the home's unique structure. Both are motivated by the character of the older home and apply those values into a simple and happy life.
A Bold Intro The turquoise painted front door using a stained glass inset is simply a tribute to this joyful palette which awaits inside. Guests are immediately greeted by bright yellow walls motivated by a ginkgo leaf that Whitney found on a morning walk through the neighborhood. The wall color is the ideal backdrop for your Stansell's amazing art collection.
A Collected Space The family room boasts a collection of vintage furniture, finds and artwork curated to reflect and fulfill the needs of the young, modern family room. The triptych above the sofa, a product of a few of those Stansell's art installations, manages to bridge all the room's colors successfully. The 1970s settee was retrieved from a barn and brought back to life with the brightly colored teal upholstery. Whitney's present most prized possession is the Candice Greathouse photograph over the fireplace.
Family Heirlooms This pristine pair of cushioned seats was passed down from Micah's grandma's They're a perfect way to inject a small generational history into a young family's house. Family heirlooms are always a good idea. You will see that below the white painted crown molding is a white image rail. In many older homes, the walls are plaster rather than drywall. Plaster is much harder and more challenging to fix; hence, a piece of molding/rail is used as a coating to attach hardware and wire, after which your artwork to. Preservation is key in caring for older houses. The Stansells cleverly repeated the teal shade on the drapery panels, but utilized white sheers on the window inside for semi-privacy whilst still allowing light in.
Always Greener The Stansell living room is minimal in layout but dramatic in colour. The gorgeous green is definitely a showstopper trimmed out in white and a great match to the tulip-base white dining table. This chamber is a good illustration of the fun you'll have mixing furniture styles. The wood-stained chairs are more conventional, but they sit comfortably at a modern dining table, with a headboard chandelier and surrounded by contemporary art. The colour green is associated with expansion, harmony and security: I'd say that's a perfect fit for Stansell family dinners.
Constructed for Storage Every home needs to be so well equipped as to have extra storage for the kitchen, plus a landing spot for coats, bags and also to drop off wet shoes. This area is just off of the kitchen and adjacent to the rear door, so in the ideal position for the way this family functions. The two shelves flanking the cased opening hide pocket doors that result in the kids' play area and powder room. While the spaces are beautifully organized I can not help but be mesmerized by the stunning area rugs in the areas. They're definitely adding artful value within this zone of the home.
Boys Town This distance hosts the two Stansell boys, who discuss this bedroom which might also be described as their own small well-curated museum of interests. Their personalities and proof of their adventures are proudly displayed around their area. When you look closely you will spy that at least one of these boys is a budding chef. They also have a small family of hamsters involving them, plus they adore yellow tractors. The boys' room is a really good example of how I approach kids' spaces: always go ashore with walls and bedding. Between their toys, novels, artwork, rugs, etc. there will be plenty of opportunity for stimulation/adding interest without getting too busy. My fave in the room? The curtains are perfectly made: they seem fun and put an exclamation point on the whole space.
Oh the Places We'll Go! The Stansells are a family of musicians and at least 2 future world travelers. Maps are a simple and affordable instrument for decoration in a child's room. It's amazing how the boys share the same wall colour as their sister but the mood of these rooms is totally different solely based on decor. The boys were fortunate enough to have a carpet woven for their own room, which by the way successfully marries all the colors together harmoniously.
Sentimental Value Everything in the young girl's room has meaning. Here is a closer look at the quilt talented to her out of her mom and grandmother. Whitney and Micah bought this vintage bed, restored it, and lacquered it red particularly for their daughter. It works perfectly with her well-organized red bookcase. Micah had the vibrant rug woven specifically for her room when she was born. Lastly, the well-preserved hardwood floors are original to the home.
Girl Power We have made it upstairs to the household's private spaces and here's a snapshot of Whitney and Micah's daughter's room. The design hasn't strayed far from the principles already created. This room boasts yet another amazing shade of green and promotes imagination and creativity. There is a collage of the girl's own artwork above her bed plus a distinctive piece above the bookcase created by Whitney representing her younger self with her own mother. The quilt was hand sewn by Whitney and her mother and the adorable crochet animals were handmade by Whitney's sister. What is that for three generations of musicians? The plan is easy, the colors are bright and the mood is happy.
It's Easy as 1-2-3 Personalization in child room decor is another affordable method to make a room feel special. As performers the messages we are communicating to our younger clients must be a bit more literal. Where form meeting function is paramount for adult's spaces, possibly educational and practical decor take precedence with young children as it did here in the boys' room. Once the area has a great base, it is easily and inexpensively altered as children's interests evolve.
The Office Next Door Micah Stansell's office is actually in the home next door. The aesthetic is a complete departure from all the family home, nevertheless it is the perfect blank canvas for him to produce and edit film and exhibitions. The upper level white space is saturated with brightness via skylights and character-rich with a vaulted ceiling, wood beams and original exposed brick columns. The whole left side of this space is decked with storage cabinets hidden by white glass doors that blend into the walls. This space is a super thoughtful minimalist dream and perfect for any creative.
