Anitra Jackson discovered her passion for interior decorating late in life, by going back to school when she was 44 and earning a certificate in the field from Georgia Perimeter College.
“I eat, live, breathe decoration and design,” said Jackson, owner of Bedazzled Interiors who also works in The Home Depot’s sales and services division.
She’s turned loose her eclectic style and passion for decoration on a foreclosure she purchased in Fairburn.
“While populating my space, I also took into consideration the blessing of my home came at the misfortune of another, so I was extremely careful not to overextend myself financially,” she said.
Before closing, she had to invest in repairs to bring the house up to building code. When it came to the decor, cost-effective decisions included buying in-stock and off-the-shelf accessories, furniture and architectural details such as molding, and installing wallpaper for texture instead of more expensive wall treatments.
“Some of the design elements I have introduced may not make sense to some, and that’s OK because decor is like art, there will always be many interpretations,” she said.
Snapshot
Resident: Anitra Jackson, interior decorator
Location: Fairburn
Size: About 2,800 square feet, four bedrooms, two and a half baths
Year built: 2005
Year bought: 2009
Renovations: Jackson purchased the foreclosure through HUD Pemco, which established an escrow account for repairs that resulted in those costs being added onto the home's purchase price. The bulk of the budget was allocated for the replacement of flooring. She purchased cheaper closeout flooring, which enabled her to install hardwood floors throughout the first floor.
Architectural style: Traditional brick
Interior design style: Modern classic with an eclectic twist. Growing up in Los Angeles, Jackson was influenced by the city's glitz, but that was combined with the decor styles she saw displayed by the large Asian population in her neighborhood. "Their homes and beautiful gardens gave me a Zen feeling that I've always connected with," she said. "And, of course, my African-American heritage is also represented in my decor. My goal was to create a peaceful soothing environment that feels like you are in a spa retreat; but also give you the glitz and glam you might experience in a boutique hotel."
Favorite design feature: The writings on the wall. The quote "Peace be still" is displayed in the foyer, so that guests understand the most important design feature created in the home is an atmosphere of tranquility, she said. Other phrases in the home include: "With God all things are possible," "Take time to smell the flowers," "Champagne wishes and Caviar dreams," "Renew" and "Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." Home design is all about creating an environment in which you love to live and thrive in, she said.
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