Mirrors of all sizes accentuate the openness in Kevin and James Payne-Owens’ Atlanta home. Some mirrors are antiques; others have been passed down from family members over the years. The pieces also connect to Kevin’s profession as a hairstylist.
“I have a thing with mirrors,” Kevin said.
For example, in a hallway, a gold antique mirror is strategically placed to fill an entire wall.
“My thing is: Find a really amazing piece, like a big piece that fills up the area,” Kevin said. “It makes a statement.”
Snapshot
Residents: Kevin and James Payne-Owens and their daughter, Marissa, 10. Kevin, 36, is a hairstylist; James, 37, works in software development.
Location: Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood
Size: About 3,000 square feet, four bedrooms, three and a half baths
Year built: 2008
Year bought: 2009
Architectural style: A mixture of Craftsman and row house styles, according to Kevin.
Favorite architectural feature: The exterior materials - stone, brick and wood. “I just like how strong it looks and masculine and how well-built it looked,” Kevin said. “I love a brick home because I think it’s timeless and it’s nice to have the element mixed with the stone.”
Interior design style: A mixture of old world-style, antiques and clean modern pieces is the way Kevin describes the interior design style. Antiques include the nearly 115-year-old piano, oriental rugs and the crystal chandelier in the dining room.
Favorite design decision: Black-and-white photos of family were hung all over the dining room walls above the wainscoting. “That’s one of the major things that people fall in love with every time they come in,” Kevin said. One older photo is of James’ mother before she went to the opera, and the mirror in that photo is hanging in the dining room, too.
Favorite outdoor feature: “It’s a newer home in an older area so the trees are very big. You feel like you’re not in the city, but you’re in the city,” Kevin said.
Favorite holiday decorations: Many of the ornaments are from travels to Europe, made of hand-blown glass, metal and wood. Fresh garland on the fireplace mantle and topiaries add a festive touch to the living room.
Design tip: Try a do-it-yourself project. A photo Kevin saw years ago in Architectural Digest inspired the frames over the piano. He and James found old frames and bought rope from Forsyth Fabrics, screwed in the rope and placed them on the wall.
About the Author
