Jennifer Ladds tracked down the architect who designed her 1970s contemporary home in Vinings, inviting him and his wife over for lunch. The architect, James Hill Wylie, hadn’t been in the home for nearly 40s years, but was surprised to find that the design was left unchanged. In fact, Ladds’ living room furniture and baby grand piano was similar to the way the original owners had placed those items.
Ladds desired, however, more space in the master bathroom. Wylie, who is retired, was unable to help, but working with Atlanta-based New Mood Design, Ladds modernized and expanded the space while maintaining the hillside home’s modern aesthetic.
Snapshot
Residents: Jennifer Ladds, VP planning director at Moxie, an interactive marketing agency, and her husband, Mike Lewis, who owns a residential painting business
Location: Vinings
Size: About 3,470 square feet, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths
Year built: 1973
Year bought: 2007
Architect: James Hill Wylie
Architectural style: Contemporary
Favorite architectural features: The wood molding and beams that frame the windows in the living room and bedroom, which have a number of small balconies that go out each door. The architect’s idea was to create boxes that look out to individual vistas, which minimizes the overwhelming feel of have a huge expanse of glass in the back of the house, Ladds said. The open stairwell is situated in the center of the house and is one of the architectural elements inspired by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Renovations: In 2012, two small rooms and a hallway were transformed into a new master suite with a walk-in closet and new bathroom, plus a powder room for guests. In the master bathroom, the porcelain floors and glossy floor-to-ceiling tiles in silver gray and taupe are from Porcelanosa, which has a showroom at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. The tiles have the appearance of straw mat wallpaper. The sleek freestanding oval bathtub, which Ladds found at SwitchModern, is from Swiss designer Hannes Wettstein. The Rifra two-person “Nest” soaker tub is made of Pietraluce, a solid-surface material made of resin and titanium that is highly durable and stain resistant. “That inspired the whole bathroom. I had to have that tub,” she said. The bathroom also has a floating vanity cabinet with a walnut finish by Pedini Atlanta.
Interior design style: Modern
Design consultant: Donna Grace McAlear, designer and owner of Atlanta-based New Mood Design
Favorite interior design feature: Ladds, who was born in Canada and lived in Australia, Hong Kong, China and Tokyo, has an Asian art collection and other items from around the world. A Japanese silk screen hangs over a Chinese alter table in the hallway. Pieces in the living room include a Chinese cabinet and rugs from Iraq. A life-size Buddha from Thailand is in the master bathroom.
Favorite outdoor feature: The greyhound sculptures at the front exterior, which were left by the previous owner. Ladds, who has a greyhound and describes her love for greyhounds as an “obsession,” said the sculptures were a sign that she should live there. She requested that the seller allow her to keep the greyhounds.
Favorite stores: SwitchModern, Restoration Hardware
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