European style immigrates to Buckhead

Native Atlantans Woody and Meridy King used repurposed materials and antiques, somewhat spare decor and rock-solid construction to fulfill their vision of an old European country house in the heart of Buckhead.

Text by RACHEL POMERANCE: The interior and exterior of this Buckhead home are so interwoven as to reflect a marriage, which it does -- that of native Atlantans Woody and Meridy King. Of the many unusual aspects to this home, perhaps the most astonishing is its location -- overlooking a former horse pasture in Buckhead. "It's a European mutt," Woody says of his home, noting that elements hail from France, England and Italy. And it feels like a medieval castle you might find in any one of them.

Woody of Woodward King Developers built the 6,000-square-foot home and had his wife, who owns Meridy King Interiors, design the inside. Repurposed materials and antiques, somewhat spare decor and rock-solid construction take advantage of the site's expansive outdoors and fulfill their vision of an old European country house.

Built with aerated concrete called Hebel block, the material is not only energy efficient but also yields these thick doorways that give the home the look the couple wanted. When fully open, the front doors, which contain smaller doors within them, convert the foyer into a "big indoor/outdoor room, which we do anytime we're entertaining," Meridy says. "When they open, it's like taking out a wall of a house."

To help achieve a simple design, Woody prefers large walk-through rooms rather than hallways. The living-dining room is a prime example, serving as a main artery and resting place. "The way the house flows is really great," giving it a "casual, European feel." The floors are refurbished beams from a north Georgia mill, and the antique fireplace comes from Provence -- the hearth itself constructed from four slabs of yorkstone. Above it is a photograph by local Atlanta artist Rob Brinson.

The Latin phrase on the fireplace translates to "Actions not words."

"We love accessories to sparkle, but I like the house feeling like it's old," Meridy says. "It's been here, and you don't have to worry about it." At the same time, she didn't want it to look "stodgy." In this great room, she countered antiques like a church pew with accessories, like the Brinson photograph over the fireplace. In the background, a painting by Matt Lively was a wedding gift from Woody's mother.

A frequent dining spot for the immediate family -- they have two girls, Emma, 9, and Sophie, 6 -- the back porch is "very comfortable" and "user-friendly," Meridy says. She adorned the screen with curtains to "soften it up" and used chairs she calls "shabby." They will dress up the area with "candles and fun things" and a different tablecloth.

When there's a large group, this is the go-to table. "We wanted that big table because both of our families live in Atlanta," Meridy said. Over the weekend, the slipcovers were removed to accommodate the artistic whims of a bunch of 5-and-6 year olds who assembled for Sophie's "American Girl" birthday party.

Mikey, an Australian shepherd mix found at the pound, peers in from the courtyard, laid with yorkstone from an English factory.

The steps off the Kings' back porch were old street curbs from Scotland. To re-imagine them here, "we laid 'em flat," Woody says. The white paint adds character, he says, and also helps keep the girls from tripping.

Window shutters from a house in France were used to separate the bathroom from the master bedroom. The headboard is another example of innovative repurposing. It was a fence in New Orleans.

Most of the year, Meridy and Woody leave open the doors to their bedroom patio. "You hear the crickets and the frogs and all the animals," she says.

A 9-year-old's polite assertion of independence. Emma makes sure to include her last name.

Because the water is a big part of the Kings' life -- Meridy's parents sail the British Virgin Islands half the year and have a home in Destin, Fla., -- they wanted to represent the ocean when designing Emma's room. Above the windows, a stencil artist drew dolphins in a style that's less Disney, more mature. "We didn't want her to outgrow it," Meridy said. The bedroom set belonged to Meridy when she was a girl.

The kitchen sink is fashioned from an antique German blanket chest. How? By slicing off the top, crafting it into legs and repurposing the trim into molding. It's "just a cool piece" Woody says of one of his favorite parts of the house.

In the library, where one wall is fitted with an antique French armoire-turned-bookshelf, Meridy added flourish to the sofa with this tapestry. She designed the pillows, made of linen, silk and velvet.

You'd never know this chandelier is missing four arms. Charles Calhoun of Calhoun Design and Metalworks affixed them to metal plates. After getting a new life as sconces, they now adorn the living room.

Listed for $2.85 million, the sale of the home is being handled by by Linda Williams of Beacham and Company Realtors.

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Text by RACHEL POMERANCE: The interior and exterior of this Buckhead home are so interwoven as to reflect a marriage, which it does -- that of native Atlantans Woody and Meridy King. Of the many unusual aspects to this home, perhaps the most astonishing is its location -- overlooking a former horse pasture in Buckhead. "It's a European mutt," Woody says of his home, noting that elements hail from France, England and Italy. And it feels like a medieval castle you might find in any one of them.

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