The living room of the writers cottage is a warm, inviting space where a resident can curl up on the sofa and create. The fabric on the sofa was donated by Robert Allen. The hand-knotted rug was donated by Verde Home and the lighting by Workstead.
Vignette in the writers cottage. Fabric donated by Robert Allen, coffee table from West Elm.
The living room of the writers cottage is a warm, inviting space where a resident can curl up on the sofa and create. The fabric on the sofa was donated by Robert Allen. The hand-knotted rug was donated by Verde Home and the lighting by Workstead.
Overview of the open space that functions as kitchen, sitting area, and work space in the artists cottage.
The living room in the artists cottage is tucked into one end of the large open workspace. The designers were inspired by the natural environment of Serenbe to create this space. Fabrics were donated by Robert Allen. The sofa is slipcovered in an outdoor fabric by Robert Allen so it is easily washed. The end table was fashioned from reclaimed mill beams donated by Cherry Hollow Farms. Art by Steve McKenzie and Xavier Neuner. The light was donated by Workstead.
Close up of the bedside table in the writers cottage. Lighting donated by Workstead.
The design team left most of the open space of the artists cottage flexible for artists to configure how they work. Pictured here is an easel lit by flexible lighting donated by Workstead. The teak modern chairs in the foreground were upholstered in fabric donated by Robert Allen. The art is by Steve McKenzie.
A movable work table was placed under the window in the artists cottage so that an artist can move it to a position that best works for their process. Art by Steve McKenzie.
The desk, donated by a local resident, was positioned to allow a writer or composer to enjoy the beauty of nature while working.
The desk, donated by a local resident, was positioned to allow a writer or composer to enjoy the beauty of nature while working.
A repurposed café table and chairs donated by Marie Nygren and painted by the design team create the perfect little dining spot in the writers cottage.
The kitchen sink in the writers cottage looks out over the front porch. The reclaimed wood shelves were created from donated lumber from Cherry Hollow. The counters in both cottages were made from a donated quartz by Cosentino and fabricated via a donation of Top Shop Stone. Dishware in both cottages were handcrafted and donated by R Wood Studio.
A view of the writers cottage kitchen showing the juxtaposition of the old farm pie safe and the new counter workspace. Pie safe donated by Marie Nygren.
Opposite the sink in the writers cottage is the range and ample workspace to help visiting artists feel at home during their stay. The range was made possible by Bosch. Cherry Hollow Farms donated reclaimed lumber for the open shelves and pottery by R Wood Studio.
The open shelves are fabricated from reclaimed beams from old mills donated by Cherry Hollow Farms. The white hand-thrown pottery was donated by R Wood Studios.
The writers cottage bedroom is a light-filled retreat where an artist get cozy to read or write. The headboard was designed by the designers and is upholstered in fabric donated by Robert Allen. The two side tables were repurposed from a donation by Marie Nygren, and the design team painted them teal to make them blend. The curtain is enhanced with a drawing of the beautiful tree that stands in front of the two cottages. The bedside lamps were donated by Workstead.
The writers cottage bedroom is a light-filled retreat where an artist get cozy to read or write. The headboard was designed by the designers and is upholstered in fabric donated by Robert Allen. The two side tables were repurposed from a donation by Marie Nygren, and the design team painted them teal to make them blend. The curtain is enhanced with a drawing of the beautiful tree that stands in front of the two cottages. The bedside lamps were donated by Workstead.
The bedroom in the artists cottage was intended to be a soothing retreat for contemplation. Lighting donated by Workstead, painting by Steve McKenzie
The ample shared deck between the two cottages is intended to be a meeting place to share meals and creative ideas. The table and chairs were donated by AuthenTeak.
Steve Nygren and Rusty Smith at the ribbon cutting
Steve Nygren and Rusty Smith at the ribbon cutting
Art Farm ribbon cutting
Kerry Howard with Marie Nygren
Steve McKenzie
Rusty Smith talks with guests.
Art Farm ribbon cutting
Art Farm ribbon cutting
A thriving arts community has always been part of the vision for Serenbe, the Chattahoochee Hills community founded by Steve Nygren. With the opening of two new artist cottages, its nonprofit Institute for Art, Culture, and the Environment will be able to host more artist residencies than ever, as many as 20 this year alone. The cottages launch the new Art Farm, located on land donated by the developers.
To build the cottages, Serenbe partnered with Auburn University’s Rural Studio. Founded in 1993, the program gives architecture students hands-on experience in building affordable housing. The Art Farm residences will be models from the studio’s 20K House, a line of dwellings that were originally designed to cost no more than $20,000. The collaboration provided Auburn with an opportunity to test more commercial designs, says Rusty Smith, Associate Director.
For visitors, the cottages provide a peek at small house living, and they will be open to the public January 16, 17, 23, and 24. Noted Atlanta designers Steve McKenzie and Kerry Howard created the interiors, enlisting many well known vendors to provide furnishings. Generous donations included lighting from Workstead of New York, TOTO plumbing fixtures, Bosch appliances, Robert Allen fabrics, Selamat design, Marmoluna tile, R. Wood pottery, Cosentino counters, Top Shop fabrication, AuthenTeak outdoor furniture, Cherry Hollow Farm reclaimed wood, and Verde Home rugs.
The first artist to stay in the cottages will be the spoken work poet, Anis Mojgani, in residence January 29 to February 27, with a performance January 30 at The Inn at Serenbe. For more information, see Serenbe Artist in Residence.
