A midcentury-meets-industrial duplex in Lake Claire gets a colorful facelift

Jessica Davis turned this gem and into a vibrant abode among the trees

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In the family room, a low-slung sofa doesn’t hinder the view of the wooded ravine outside the windows. The rich teal color of the sofa and vibrant rainbow rug embrace the young family’s love of color. Designer Jessica Davis showcased their art collection by creating a gallery wall around the TV.
In the family room, a low-slung sofa doesn’t hinder the view of the wooded ravine outside the windows. The rich teal color of the sofa and vibrant rainbow rug embrace the young family’s love of color. Designer Jessica Davis showcased their art collection by creating a gallery wall around the TV.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Atlanta is known as the city in a forest, but an intown home that is literally tucked into the woods, like this Lake Claire duplex, is a rare find. When designer Jessica Davis met the young owners, who bought the house to use as their second home while working in the film industry, she knew she had to showcase its lush views.

The diamond in the rough came with its quirks. When the clients purchased the home, it was divided into upper and lower units with no interior staircase connecting the two spaces. Both floors featured awkward open-concept layouts that made it difficult to differentiate between living and dining areas, as well as dated bathrooms that needed a little sprucing. The homeowners found Jessica on Instagram and asked her to inject their home with her vibrant style and rework its layout to make it more livable, but also renter-friendly for when they are away.

The awkward layout of the family room provided space for a secondary seating area behind the sofa that Jessica outfitted with rattan lounge chairs that add cool texture. “They swivel, so you can face in or turn around to take in the view,” she says. “It’s a good morning coffee spot.”
The awkward layout of the family room provided space for a secondary seating area behind the sofa that Jessica outfitted with rattan lounge chairs that add cool texture. “They swivel, so you can face in or turn around to take in the view,” she says. “It’s a good morning coffee spot.”

Photograph by Emily Followill

Cushy Couture Jardin sofas in the sunroom off of the main living room are the perfect spot to lounge and be enveloped by nature. A lime green-and-blue rug from Loomy pulls in some of the living room’s colorful flair, while neutral seating and accessories maintain the space’s serenity.
Cushy Couture Jardin sofas in the sunroom off of the main living room are the perfect spot to lounge and be enveloped by nature. A lime green-and-blue rug from Loomy pulls in some of the living room’s colorful flair, while neutral seating and accessories maintain the space’s serenity.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Jessica wanted her clients’ young daughter to feel like she was in her very own treehouse. The Blu Dot desk and chair are fun, yet practical. A single sculptural pendant brings an element of playfulness without blocking the view. “She loves color, and we chose a trundle bed so she could have sleepovers,” says Jessica. “It’s a space that can grow with her.”
Jessica wanted her clients’ young daughter to feel like she was in her very own treehouse. The Blu Dot desk and chair are fun, yet practical. A single sculptural pendant brings an element of playfulness without blocking the view. “She loves color, and we chose a trundle bed so she could have sleepovers,” says Jessica. “It’s a space that can grow with her.”

Photograph by Emily Followill

Jessica treated the lower-level space like its own apartment. She leaned into the room’s industrial feel with a stainless-steel backsplash in the kitchenette, barn doors and exposed hardware leading to the office that doubles as a guest room, and polycarbonate windows above open shelving. The cabinets feature white oak hardware from Nest Studio, her own luxury cabinet hardware line, that tie into both the room’s utilitarian look and the outdoors. To maximize storage and help define spaces, Jessica continued the kitchen cabinets along the wall behind the sofa but painted them a different color. “It makes that section of cabinets feel like a credenza behind the sofa area,” says Jessica.
Jessica treated the lower-level space like its own apartment. She leaned into the room’s industrial feel with a stainless-steel backsplash in the kitchenette, barn doors and exposed hardware leading to the office that doubles as a guest room, and polycarbonate windows above open shelving. The cabinets feature white oak hardware from Nest Studio, her own luxury cabinet hardware line, that tie into both the room’s utilitarian look and the outdoors. To maximize storage and help define spaces, Jessica continued the kitchen cabinets along the wall behind the sofa but painted them a different color. “It makes that section of cabinets feel like a credenza behind the sofa area,” says Jessica.

Photograph by Emily Followill

For the upper level, which includes the primary bedroom, daughter’s bedroom, and an open-concept living space, Jessica cleverly divided up the interior with a stylish banquette that keeps the sofa from feeling like it’s in the kitchen. Low furniture and retractable shades keep the focus on the view. Luckily, the tile and layouts of both the kitchen and baths were in good shape, so Jessica made some small swaps that left a big impact. “The interesting thing about the baths is we did a light reno, but then made them fresh with new hardware or a different base cabinet,” says Jessica.

On the lower level is an office that doubles as a guest room for renters or in-laws. Jessica connected the two levels with a new interior spiral staircase that allows the clients to use their home as one complete space, or to lock off the lower level for renters. She treated the lower space as its own apartment, complete with a new kitchenette that embraces the home’s industrial vibe. Happy blue cabinets are contrasted with a utilitarian stainless-steel backsplash and a small-scale dining table can also be used as an island.

To make the tight primary bedroom feel more spacious, Jessica painted all of the walls and ceiling a bright, yet peaceful blue. A built-in headboard the length of the wall doubles as a storage shelf and eye-catching focal point. The wood knot sculpture above the bed by one of Jessica’s favorite artists, Katie Gong, ties into the hardware in the connecting primary bath.
To make the tight primary bedroom feel more spacious, Jessica painted all of the walls and ceiling a bright, yet peaceful blue. A built-in headboard the length of the wall doubles as a storage shelf and eye-catching focal point. The wood knot sculpture above the bed by one of Jessica’s favorite artists, Katie Gong, ties into the hardware in the connecting primary bath.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Jessica gave the primary bath an economical refresh by keeping the existing tile and swapping out the old vanity for a new floating one from West Elm. She added her own touch to the vanity with knotted pulls from Nest Studio. A trio of bubble sconces carries the playfulness seen throughout the home into the bath.
Jessica gave the primary bath an economical refresh by keeping the existing tile and swapping out the old vanity for a new floating one from West Elm. She added her own touch to the vanity with knotted pulls from Nest Studio. A trio of bubble sconces carries the playfulness seen throughout the home into the bath.

Photograph by Emily Followill

As in the other baths, Jessica touched up the daughter’s bath with some easy, yet impactful changes. She had drawers built for the existing vanity and installed coral Nest Studio hardware that pairs perfectly with a mod Justice Design sconce.
As in the other baths, Jessica touched up the daughter’s bath with some easy, yet impactful changes. She had drawers built for the existing vanity and installed coral Nest Studio hardware that pairs perfectly with a mod Justice Design sconce.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Jessica reused the sink from the old powder bath upstairs in the downstairs guest bath and had a custom vanity made to support it. “We wanted it to feel like it was sitting on a piece of furniture,” says Jessica. Half-moon pulls from her company, Nest Studio, and red hairpin legs from Etsy give the vintage-style vanity a contemporary look. A petite red sconce from Etsy makes the hairpin legs pop.
Jessica reused the sink from the old powder bath upstairs in the downstairs guest bath and had a custom vanity made to support it. “We wanted it to feel like it was sitting on a piece of furniture,” says Jessica. Half-moon pulls from her company, Nest Studio, and red hairpin legs from Etsy give the vintage-style vanity a contemporary look. A petite red sconce from Etsy makes the hairpin legs pop.

Photograph by Emily Followill

“Throughout the whole project, we always asked ourselves, ‘How do we use things that are already there and play with them to make them better?’” says Jessica. The result is a vibrant abode among the trees that highlights the home’s unique style with colorful, contemporary touches.

RESOURCES | Interior design Jessica Davis, Atelier Davis | Dining area (upper level) Wall light: Marie Antonette. Dining chairs: Lulu and Georgia. Banquette fabric: St. Frank, stfrank.com, and Logan Montgomery. Dining table: Luxe Decor. Artwork: Shanequa Gay. | Living Room Sofa: Mario Bellini, Eternity Modern. Rug: Luxury Cowhides, Etsy. Console: Lulu and Georgia. Floor lamp: Lulu and Georgia. Swivel chair: Lulu and Georgia. Marble side table: CB2 | Sunroom Sofa: Couture Jardin. Rug: Loomy. Coffee table: Blu Dot. Side table: West Elm. Planter: Pottery Barn. | Primary Bedroom Pendant: Lighting Forest. Nightstand: West Elm. Lumbar pillow: The Citizenry. Bed: Crate & Barrel. Rug: Bahia Rug, Etsy. Sconce: Schoolhouse. Knot sculpture: Katie Gong. | Primary Bath Vanity: West Elm. Vanity pulls: Nest Studio. Mirrors: Rejuvenation. Sconces: RBW. | Girl’s room Bed: Camaflexi. Ottomans: Overstock. Floor lamp: Pottery Barn Kids. Desk chair: Blu Dot. Desk: Blu Dot. Table lamp: West Elm. Rug: Jaipur Living. | Girl’s bath Vanity pulls: Nest Studio. Mirror: Blu Dot. Sconce: Justice Design. | Kitchenette (lower level) Cabinets and counters: custom. Cabinet pulls: Nest Studio. Dining table: Castlery. Dining chairs: Marcel Breuer, Forom. Wall sconces: Pure Salt. | Downstairs living area Rug: The Citizenry. Sectional: Rove Concepts. Ottoman: Rooms To Go. Side table: Sarah Sherman Samuel for Lulu and Georgia. Throw pillow: The Citizenry. Lamp: Crate & Barrel. | Guest Bath Vanity legs: The Hairpin Leg Co., Etsy. Vanity pulls: Nest Studio. Sconce: Peared Creation, Etsy. Mirror: Rejuvenation. Towel Ring: Rejuvenation.

This article appears in our Fall 2024 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.

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