A trough holding family pewter and silver in the dining room of Shane and Ashley Schoenith’s Brookhaven home shows the couple’s interest in using rustic items in unexpected ways. The trough, purchased at Serenbe, where they were married, stands up on one end as a corner cabinet.
The family didn’t want a cookie-cutter home or interior. Instead, the home has an vintage and “old South” feel, using family heirlooms and items from outdoors.
“We like the story behind things,” said Ashley. “A lot of the things in our home are things we’ve found in antique stores or as we’ve traveled.”
Snapshot
Residents: Shane and Ashley Schoenith and their son, Wyatt, and dog, Kona. Shane, 31, works for State Street Bank in Buckhead. Ashley, 31, owns IceMilk Aprons, a gourmet line of heirloom aprons, napkins, table runners and other products.
Location: Brookhaven's Ashford Park neighborhood
Size: About 1,750 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
Year built: 1951
Year bought: 2007
Architectural style: Ranch
Favorite architectural elements: Original features such as hardwood floors with thin planks, windows and trim work around the windowsill and frames on the doors.
Interior design style: Rustic. "The style very much represents our family. My husband is very much an outdoorsman. I love the outdoors, too," she said.
Favorite interior design features: An old safe serves as an end table in the living room and a basket serves as a coffee table that holds items out of reach from Wyatt … for now. A cart from a rope mill in North Georgia holds blankets and winter clothes in the master bedroom.
Favorite artwork: Paintings from Dawne Raulet, a local artist and Atlanta mother, include one of a cow in the office and another of a deer in the nursery.
Favorite heirlooms: Family pieces include the living room mantle clock, which previously belonged to Ashley's great aunt.
Favorite stores: Restoration Hardware, BoBo Intriguing Objects (at Scott Antique Market). The chandelier in the dining room is an original piece by Mark Sage, whose items are sold by Restoration Hardware. Other Restoration Hardware pieces include the leather chair and upholstered couch in the living room, and the crib, changing table and bookshelf in Wyatt's room.
Kid-friendly decor tip: The couple brought the outdoors and animals into Wyatt's room, which has a cowhide rug and original artwork. "I wanted it to be fun and I still wanted it to be simple and something that fit in with our lifestyle," Ashley said.
Favorite outdoor feature: The screened porch is a frequent entertaining and dining area, which leads to a deck with a Big Green Egg and brick fire pit in the yard.
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