Private Quarters

Designer wallcovering gives a serene vibe at Druid Hills home

The 1920 neoclassical home contains 6,000 square feet, four bedrooms, four baths and two half baths. The home, located on 2 acres, was on the 2018 Druid Hills Tour of Homes. Text by Marena Galluccio/Fast Copy News Service.(Christopher Oquendo www.ophotography.com)

Dining chairs with gingham upholstery encircle a table in the eat-in kitchen. Crystals dangle from the sconces next to windows with views of the Japanese maples on the Druid Hills property.

The 1920s sleeping porch was converted into the home office. An antique gaming table from Antiques Gallery of Sarasota, a vendor at Scott Antiques Market, and acrylic chairs are placed on an antique Persian rug.

A turn-of-the-century Italian chandelier is a glamorous addition in the renovated kitchen. The countertops are quartzite, and the cabinets were custom built by now-retired David Couture.

Homeowners Judy and Tony Ragunas designed, installed and painted the coffered ceiling with herringbone inlay in their home office.

During the 2014 renovation, plaster molding was installed on the ceiling to enhance the room's European flair, and a plaster mantel and surround were added to the fireplace. The wood flooring was custom cut and finished with hand-nailed top nail holes to mimic the original flooring.

An early 20th century cowbell from Switzerland hangs on the wall in Tony and Judy Ragunas' kitchen.

The neoclassical home's interiors include a mix of antiques and collected works of art. The trio of early 20th century paintings on wood in gold frames are from Venice. At the stair landing is an oil on linen painting by France Jodoin from Pryor Fine Art.

The salon's standout elements include a RH chandelier with faceted crystal spheres and the fireplace surround. The French doors lead to the sunroom.

The renovation of Judy and Tony Ragunas' 1920 Druid Hills home includes the family room with paneled walls. The plaster cove crown moldings, however, are original to the home.

Hand-painted chinoiserie Gracie wallpaper lends the dining room to an Asian design.

Keith Abney's "Spring on the Dale" (right) and a piece by David Kidd are among original art throughout the home.

A Louis XVI French trumeau shows the homeowners' appreciation for European antiques in their neoclassical home in Atlanta.

The fireplace surround in the salon is original to the house, but homeowner Judy Ragunas said a previous owner painted it.

The master bath was expanded by using a former sitting room off the master bedroom. Murano glass chandeliers and sconces join raised metal sinks with fleur de lis detailing. The bathroom also has original heart of pine floors and Indonesian teak curio cabinets. Christopher Oquendo/AJC FILE

The renovated sunroom features a coffered ceiling and herringbone limestone floor. The Venetian chandelier was purchased at Vetreria Artistica Gritti, a Murano glass factory in Italy.

A trio of bar chairs pull up to the granite countertop in the kitchen of the pool house.

A canopy daybed from Pottery Barn, along with a hanging rattan chair from Pier1, are one of the many places to sit around the pool.

More than 15 Japanese maples were added to the 2-acre Atlanta property, which now contains more than 60 Japanese maples, including several that are over 50 years ago, say the homeowners. Tony and Judy Ragunas created a series of outdoor rooms, including an area around the firepit.

A spa was added to the pool after the homeowners moved in during 2012, to further give a resort-feel to the backyard in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood.

In the summer, the original indoor fountain was replumbed to convert it from a faucet spigot that ran down the drain to a recirculated pump system.

Homeowners Tony and Judy Ragunas and their children, Madeleine and Vince, moved in 2012 into a 1920 neoclassical house in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood. Tony works in private equity, and Judy is a stay-at-home mom.

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The 1920 neoclassical home contains 6,000 square feet, four bedrooms, four baths and two half baths. The home, located on 2 acres, was on the 2018 Druid Hills Tour of Homes. Text by Marena Galluccio/Fast Copy News Service.(Christopher Oquendo www.ophotography.com)

By Marena Galluccio

June 20, 2018

Judy Ragunas spotted a hand-painted wallpaper in multiple design magazines and was enticed by the chinoiserie pattern with birds and branches. When she redecorated her dining room, she decided to splurge — and wait — on the designer wallcovering.

The process took a year to sketch the drawings, measure the wall space for a custom fit, finalize the drawing, paint the wallpaper and ship it from China. Then only one local installer was available to apply it in the dining room of her home in Atlanta’s historic Druid Hills neighborhood. Now, the wallpaper reminds her of travels and gives the room a tranquil air.

“It takes me away. It just has that Asian serenity to it that we like,” Ragunas said. “We’ve always found that very peaceful.”

Homeowners Tony and Judy Ragunas and their children, Madeleine and Vince, moved in 2012 into a 1920 neoclassical house in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood. Tony works in private equity, and Judy is a stay-at-home mom.

Snapshot

Residents: Tony and Judy Ragunas, children Vince and Madeleine, and pets Chestnut, a Cavachon, and Whiskers, a tuxedo cat. Tony works in private equity and Judy is a stay-at-home mom.

Location: Atlanta's Druid Hills (the home was on its 50th anniversary home tour in 2018)

Size: 6,000 square feet, four bedrooms, four full baths and two half-baths

Year built/bought: 1920/2012

Architectural style: Neoclassical

Favorite architectural elements: The limestone pillars and porch

Renovations: A kitchen renovation in 2014 included expanding the eat-in area and installing a Viking oven and cooktop range, Sub-Zero fridge and freezer, quartzite countertops and custom cabinetry by now-retired David Couture. A plaster ceiling detail was added to mimic the island, and a plaster surround and mantel were installed at the wood-burning fireplace. The master bedroom also had ceiling detail added, and the master bathroom was expanded by using the former sitting room. An upstairs hallway skylight was added with custom glass paneling to match the existing transoms. The original sleeping porch was converted into a home office. In the basement, they removed the original asbestos furnace and added a movie and game room and a wine cellar. The pool house and its kitchen were renovated with a cypress vaulted ceiling and cypress fireplace mantel.

Renovation consultants: Castles & Cottages (contractor); architect David Hicks of Architect Studio

Interior design style: Traditional

Favorite interior design elements: Antiques and collected works of art, by Pierre Bonnard, Keith Abney, France Jodoin, Ben Pond, Maria Fortuny and Claudio Missagia.

Favorite outdoor feature: The pool house and outdoor space, which includes a pool, fire pit and dining areas. "It is like having your own resort," Tony said.

Resources: Furniture from Scott Antique Market. Lighting from RH. Piano by Mason & Hamlin. Gracie wallpaper through J Nelson and installed by Conner Wallcovering.

Tip: Display artwork on an easel, like the homeowners did with Pierre Bonnard's "Paysage du Cannet" in their family room.

About the Author

Marena Galluccio

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Designer wallcovering gives a serene vibe at Druid Hills home

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