Rebecca Galla-Jones knew designer Jenny Rothman with HammerSmith understood what she and her family needed, from one of the first comments as they walked through the Buckhead cottage.
As they walked to the half-wall in the kitchen, Rothman told her it needed to be removed. Galla-Jones appreciated the option of working within the space, instead of adding a new kitchen onto the home and not making every room usable.
“We always had the intention from when we originally bought the house that we were going to do something with it,” Galla-Jones said. “We didn’t want to redo the kitchen and put this box at the back of the house and everybody stays in that.”
Snapshot
Residents: Richard Jones, Rebecca Galla-Jones and their children, Fiona and Phoebe, and cats, Rufus, Pip and Edith.
Location: Buckhead
Size: About 2,100 square feet, four bedrooms, two baths
Year built: 1936
Year bought: 2002
Architectural style: Cottage
Contractor: HammerSmith, based in Decatur
Renovations: The home originally had two bedrooms and one bathroom, all on the first level. First, the couple added the upstairs in 2003, just in time for the birth of their first child, Fiona, who turns 12 on March 26. Then, working with Rothman, they renovated the kitchen and living space, finishing in 2014. The changes included removing that half-wall that improved the flow from the kitchen, dining room and family room. They also turned the front room — which was a screened-in porch — into an office and created a new screen porch. Now, the family can be in the kitchen, family room and office and still be in close proximity to each other, due to the open layout, Galla-Jones said.
Interior design style: Cottage
Design consultants: Carpenter Jean-Pierre Marsaudon; Shellie Christman of Shellie Christman Interior Design
Favorite interior design elements: The Brocante antiques from France, where the couple lived, and the earth tones in the walls, countertops, fabrics and backsplash. Most of the walls are painted gray, which is Galla-Jones' favorite color. "While I appreciate and enjoy color in the world, I enjoy having a calm home space with a muted palate," said Galla-Jones, a yoga instructor.
Resources: Furniture from Ikea and overstock.com. Pillows from stores such as HomeGoods, Target and Pottery Barn. Lamps and chair covers from World Market.
Decor tip: Be willing to rework and reuse pieces, as Galla-Jones has done with items found at estate sales. "Sometimes we just need to repurpose the things that always existed, whether it's with a can of spray paint or recovering them or putting them in a room in a new way."
