Jeff Deardorff spent the first few years in his Buckhead home removing massive amounts of floral wallpaper and making other renovations to the first and second floor of the “rambler” from the ’50s.
The renovations were done, then a fire in February 2009 caused by faulty wiring in the wall destroyed 80 percent of the home. The blaze happened on the same day his niece was born.
“I was in the hospital that morning with my sister,” he said, “and that night I lost everything I owned.”
Deardorff had to “re-renovate” the property, creating a contemporary residence with a cypress wood exterior and filled with custom-made furniture and lighting.
» SEE IT: Take a look inside the house
Snapshot
Resident: Jeff Deardorff, owner of Deardorff Communications, a marketing communications firm
Location: Buckhead
Size: About 4,600 square feet, four bedrooms, three baths
Year built: 1954
Year bought: 2003
Renovations: Formerly a ranch-style home with brick and shingles, the home's exterior is now tongue-and-groove cypress wood with "mitered" corners. The second floor of the home was destroyed by smoke and the first floor by flooding, so the majority of the home, from the floor up, needed to be replaced. With no need for four bedrooms, Deardorff turned the former master bedroom into a home gym, and another bedroom became an office with a tanning bed in it.
Architect: Tim Hagan of Hagan Architects
Architectural style: Contemporary
Favorite architectural feature: The floating staircase. When Deardorff first bought the house, a big block staircase took up the foyer, he said. He remembers being told it would take two to three weeks to install the floating staircase. He used a ladder to access the second-floor bedroom, but it took more than two months for the staircase to be complete. "I could walk up the ladder without any hands," he said.
Interior design style: Contemporary. The home has "clean, noncluttered lines" and a touch of an Asian flair, with kimonos and shoji screens among the decor.
Design consultant: Suzanne Williams, owner of Suzanne Williams Designs. Williams' knowledge of architecture and interior design brought a warm feel into the home, he said.
Favorite outdoor feature: The backyard welcomes different types of relaxation, such as swimming in the saltwater pool, hanging out in a cabana and dining in shade under the wisteria. "When you first drive onto the property … you kind of feel like you're in the woods," he said. "You get to the backyard and you feel like you're at the beach."
Favorite pieces: Furniture custom-made by John Henson of WelbornHenson and lighting by Yaacov Golan, president and founder of C Lighting. Donghia chairs and a Bradley (formerly Bradley-Hughes) sofa are in the living room. Other pieces are from Innovations Furniture in Norcross and Lighting Loft in the Old Fourth Ward.
Decor tip: Let your design style evolve and remain true to that style. Deardorff said his style has moved from "clutter and chaos." Now, he would rather have one piece of furniture, instead of two, if he can spend time with the creator in helping develop the concept of the piece. "It's more rewarding," he said.
