Modern dream home in DeKalb County is years in the making

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Photos: Modern dream home in DeKalb County is years in the making

This DeKalb home is a modern masterpiece of concrete, wood, glass, aluminum and stucco.

Concrete, wood, glass, aluminum and cementitious stucco were selected for the exterior because of their low-maintenance qualities and connection to nature. The 8,500-square-foot home, designed by Erik Lewitt of Plexus r+d and built by contractors Milani Homes and Apex Homes, is on the June 10-11 MA! Architecture Tour in Atlanta.

A traditional goldfish tank wouldn’t fit with the modern look of the DeKalb County home. Instead, the homeowners selected a jellyfish tank and then surrounded it with a wall of wood next to the dining table from Cantoni.

Look closely, and you’ll see jellyfish in the tank and the special attention paid to the wood wall surrounding the tank. The pieces of wood are cut at different angles and lengths. “It would have been so simple if we just nailed the plank to the wall, but you have to see this piece of millwork by itself,” said homeowner Amir Nejad, who handled the millwork details.

Playful spaces in the home include the living room, with red swivel leather chairs from Cantoni and a sliding wood door to the office. The layout and design were inspired by things Amir Nejad liked, and didn’t like, about homes he saw in his work with his former construction company and with his current company, Royal Custom Cabinets.

Cambria quartz countertops continues as a waterfall edge on the island, which is the focal point of the new home’s kitchen. In the kitchen, Nejad included reclaimed wood, including on the island and pantry door.

The handle-less cabinetry, made by Nejad’s company, are a sleek element in the contemporary kitchen. The pendants, from Masterpiece Lighting, don’t block the views of the white cabinets or the reclaimed wood accent wall, which includes a door that slides open to the pantry.

The Cambria quartz backsplash and countertops have a seamless effect amid the cabinets, which have sensors that enable them to open and softly close. The appliances are by Miele.

Long bands of windows beckon natural light and emphasize the setting around the home. The hue of the Cantoni sectional and fireplace warm the white family room. Nejad designed the table and built it from the same reclaimed wood used in the kitchen.

Throughout the new home, which is on the June 10-11 MA! Architecture Tour in Atlanta, the angles and cut-outs in the walls bring interest and a way to display accessories, and even a fireplace.

The use of glass, wood and walls with no trim or molding continue the minimalist flow upstairs. “Everything had to be perfect,” Amir Nejad said.

The bedrooms also have angled walls and a monochromatic palette. The bedroom, one of six in the home, has furniture from Cantoni, like elsewhere in the residence.

Nejad intentionally used wood accents and millwork in select areas of his contemporary DeKalb County home. The rustic wood helps soften modern spaces, said Nejad, owner of Royal Custom Cabinets.

Most of the bathroom decisions, including the freestanding tub, frameless glass shower, plumbing fixtures and tile, were made at Pirch in Buckhead. The toilet is by Toto. The bands of windows in several sizes offer different views of the private, wooded setting.

A tub from Pirch rests on tile floors, which resemble the wood used on the balcony. The finish is Monocoat, an eco-friendly, water-based product. It’s one way that homeowner Amir Nejad wanted to make a connection between indoors and out.

Expansive glass and bands of windows offer views of the pool and patio area, as well as the use of concrete, wood, glass and cementitious stucco on the exterior. “We wanted the house to look very natural, and at the same time, we wanted them to be a no-maintenance material,” Nejad said.

The rear of the half-acre property is adjacent to a nature reserve, which offers privacy for the resort-like pool area, complete with an outdoor kitchen, stunning waterfall and furniture from RH.

The modern, angled design continues outside with an impressive waterfall that cascades from the top of the outdoor kitchen area.

Panels of glass replace the traditional banisters on the staircase in the DeKalb County home.

The basement has large windows and exterior views, but when Amir Nejad is at his golf simulator, the focus is on the virtual course in front of him.

Nejad gets into the swing of things in the basement. The golf simulator is from Full Swing Golf, with furniture from Cantoni outfitting the finished space.

Instead of a traditional door, the entrance to the home office is covered with a sliding door with textured design. “It’s a plywood door, but when you look at it, it looks like a drop of rain on the water,” said Nejad.

Amir Nejad and Bogna Kabat and their daughters, Mersedeh and Victoria Nejad, moved into their modern home in Atlanta in 2016. Nejad, who owns Royal Custom Cabinets, oversaw the interior design and created the cabinets and millwork.

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Concrete, wood, glass, aluminum and cementitious stucco were selected for the exterior because of their low-maintenance qualities and connection to nature. The 8,500-square-foot home, designed by Erik Lewitt of Plexus r+d and built by contractors Milani Homes and Apex Homes, is on the June 10-11 MA! Architecture Tour in Atlanta.

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