Private Quarters: Eclectic ranch in Atlanta

Home and Garden

Private Quarters: Eclectic ranch in Atlanta

The living room's oblong shape presented decorating challenges, but larger statement-making pieces, such as a basket on the wall, helped balance the space, Betsy Clay said. Lanterns with candles, from Antiques & Beyond, hang above a wall of cabinets that store Christmas china and other items. For a new look, the doors were remade, distressed and painted, and molding was added to the bottom of the cabinet.

The home's exterior has whitewashed brick. The home had red doors and black shutters, but the couple repainted the door in a warm gray and the shutters in a charcoal gray, Betsy Clay said. Crown molding and canned lighting are two of Clay's favorite elements throughout the home.

Decor tip: Layer along the way. The couple, who previously lived in New York City and Washington, merged furniture and items they individually collected to create a unique style that represents them, Betsy Clay said.

A choppy ranch house wasn’t going to work for Justin and Betsy Clay. The couple frequently entertains friends and family and plays host to a neighborhood supper club and parties to celebrate engagements and holidays. An updated Atlanta ranch offered an open floor plan with ample outdoor space, as well as “quirky” extras such as an outdoor shower. -- Text by Lori Johnston

In the living room, a Bernhardt couch is one of Betsy Clay's favorite pieces of furniture. From Atlanta's Savvy Snoot, they purchased the tables in front of the couch and recovered chairs that originally had red and gold brocade. A wire basket from Boxwoods is positioned between the two chairs.

Creating the dining table was a family affair. Betsy Clay's mother found the table at a dumpster, and her husband's grandfather built the round topper and drilled it into the existing table, to increase the tabletop. Kelly Wearstler's "Bengal Bazaar" fabric in an organic design is placed underneath a glass top, and acrylic chairs surround the table.

A painting above the mirrored bar (from Scott Antique Markets) in the dining room was created by guests at their 2010 wedding. It's a conversation piece that also has an interactive element. "Instead of doing a wedding book when we got married, we did a canvas and let people paint on it and make their mark," Betsy Clay said. "Everybody that comes into the house looks at it and tries to remember what they did on it."

The gray-and-white striped wall in the dining room, which Betsy Clay says draws in people's eyes and gives the illusion of a larger space. On the same wall, a mirror from The Dump was transformed by Clay and her mother, who covered up the black shiny finish with gray paint and car polish.

The previous owners updated the kitchen, adding Bosch appliances including a gas stove with five burners and two ovens.

Wedding photos are grouped together for a collage wall in Justin and Betsy Clay's home.

Squared off Bernhardt chairs are positioned in front of the bed, which has a custom-made headboard, are covered with a monotone cheetah print.

"On Sundays sometimes we'll sit there in the morning and read the newspaper and have coffee. They're functional as well as comfortable chairs," Betsy Clay said.

The bedroom also has a large mirror from Ikea. The skull artwork, purchased at an art gallery in Atlanta, contrasts with the gray walls and hints of gold and yellow in the room. "I love the colors in it and the way it works in that kind of space," Betsy Clay said.

The couple updated the master bathroom, adding porcelain tile on the floor and in the shower. The wall of the shower also was changed, to build out the glass frame between the shower and the toilet. For cost savings, the couple was able to keep the vanity - which they faux painted - and a mirror, but added more modern sinks, granite countertops and new hardware.

The deer head connects with Betsy Clay's upbringing."I am originally from south Georgia and used to hunt. I saw that piece in an art gallery in Atlanta and just fell in love with it. It was such a whimsical nod to being from south Georgia and hunting."

The exposed brick wall in the bonus room originally was the outside of the home. Unique items in the bonus room include two drawings of Roman-style busts, from Kay Fuller Interiors in Albany. The room's gray and blue color palette and linen fabrics create a "beachy" feel, Betsy Clay said.

The three-quarter bed - an unusual size - in the guest bedroom is Betsy Clay's childhood bed. "I love that it's the perfect size for the bedroom. It's more of a traditional bed but framed with the modern art to give it a new look," she said.

The guest bathroom has a dark painted wall and white marble countertops. The couple found two vintage maps - one of New York and one of Washington D.C. - at Scott Antique Markets and had them framed at Hobby Lobby.

The outdoor shower is a quirky feature that the couple wasn't sure they would ever use but have discovered its benefits after yard work and outdoor activities.

A gray washed stain added a weathered look to the deck, which has a gas grill and an island.

A gray washed stain added a weathered look to the deck, which has a gas grill and an island.

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The living room's oblong shape presented decorating challenges, but larger statement-making pieces, such as a basket on the wall, helped balance the space, Betsy Clay said. Lanterns with candles, from Antiques & Beyond, hang above a wall of cabinets that store Christmas china and other items. For a new look, the doors were remade, distressed and painted, and molding was added to the bottom of the cabinet.

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