This Morningside home is both cosmopolitan and comfortable

This sophisticated family home draws from the best of European and American ingenuity

December 23, 2020

2075

Johanna and Jonas Reisinger were attracted to the modern simplicity of this white house on a quiet Morningside street—as well as its structure. “Coming from Stuttgart, Germany, Jonas wanted a house made of cinder block and concrete, not wood frame and plywood, which is so common in the U.S.,” says Johanna. “Our home is basically a bunker—you can’t get a cell-phone signal unless you walk outside!”

Johanna and Jonas Reisinger describe their style as “a blend of European simplicity with Southern comfort.” After all, Johanna is a native Atlantan, and Jonas grew up in Stuttgart, Germany. A modern home in Morningside, originally designed by architect Brad Heppner, provided a polished setting for distilling the best of both their worlds.

The inviting living room sofa by Rolf Benz was made in Stuttgart, Germany, Jonas’s hometown. A rug from Moattar picks up shades of purple found in the club chair and kaleidoscopic art by local painter Mark Boomershine. “Mark and I share a similar background, coming from multigenerational car-business families in Atlanta, and we’ve both moved onto our next chapters now,” says Johanna. “I love the California vibe the painting brings to the space.”

ill Musso and Jessica Park of Musso Design Group incorporated family antiques into a modern interior.

“We wanted a ‘wow’ moment in the entryway,” says Musso, who paired a lively Phillip Jeffries wallcovering with this sculptural chair by Agrippa, based in Spain.

Interior designers Bill Musso and Jessica Park of Musso Design Group incorporated family antiques and rich colors while keeping the clean lines intact. The residence was built in 2008, but its open floorplan, eye-catching staircase, and large-scale windows still feel up to date and striking, says Bill. “The house almost feels like something on the West Coast—modern and classic,” he adds.

The sunny dining area benefits from floor-to-ceiling metal windows overlooking the pool. A custom leather banquette by Bjork Studio is a subtle reference to streamlined upholstery in a luxury car. It’s softened by floral pillows and rosy velvet club chairs. The walnut table has a live edge. “Johanna and Jonas like stories behind things and how artisans work,” says Musso.

|An impressive—but low-maintenance—backyard includes a pool, hot tub, and “Zen garden,” with artfully arranged planters and river rocks. Lounge chairs from RH and an outdoor table and chairs from Tritter Feefer offer seating in the sun or shade.

The designers and homeowners mixed European-made furniture with custom and sentimental items. A music room is filled with inherited pieces of a timeless style from Johanna’s late mother: a vintage Eames chair, a reupholstered chaise, and framed album covers.

“We call this the music room, and it’s a hidden gem,” says Johanna. “It’s nice to begin small dinner parties there with a cocktail.” Framed record albums that belonged to Johanna’s mother add charm and a warm, personal vibe. A vintage Eames chair—still pristine in white leather—stands out against the walls and bookcases painted “Iron Ore” by Sherwin-Williams.

The designers kept the color palette neutral in the master bedroom to create a restful space, with a throw by Missoni adding subtle pattern and texture.

The home’s vintage spirit, sleek lines, and clever engineering are fitting for the owners, who both long worked in the auto industry. “Our years working with Mercedes-Benz have certainly influenced our style,” says Johanna. Cases in point: a cantilevered, “draw-bridge” entry door into the basement and loft-style, floating metal-and-wood stairs. “The materials feel organic and luxurious at the same time, much like a luxury vehicle,” adds Johanna. “With a car or a home, you certainly want comfort and style. Those details matter.”

RESOURCES | Interior design: Bill Musso and Jessica Park, Musso Design Group,
mussodesigngroup.com Architecture: Bradley E. Heppner Architecture, bradleyeheppner.com Landscaping: Pengelly’s Landscape & Garden, pengellyslandscape.com Entryway Wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries, phillipjeffries.com. Chair: Agrippa America, Agrippa-america.com. Rug: Designer Carpets, designercarpets.com. Mirror: Arteriors, arteriors.com. Living room Console: Switch Modern, 670 14th Street, switchmodern.com. Sofa: Rolf Benz, rolf-benz.com. Swivel chair and fabric, side table: Donghia, donghia.com. Rug: Designer Carpets. Table: Context Gallery, contextgallery.com. Art glass: SkLO, sklo.com. Dining area Dining table: Switch Modern. Custom banquette: Bjork Studio, 1200 Old Chattahoochee Avenue, bjorkstudio.com. Banquette leather: Holly Hunt, hollyhunt.com. Chairs: Phase Design, phasedesignonline.com. Chair fabric: Romo, romo.com. Music room Rug: Moattar, moattar.com. Barrel chair fabric: Armani, Armani.com. Master bedroom Nightstands: Mr. Brown London, mrbrownhome.com. Throw: Missoni, missoni.com. Console: Pricinsky Custom, Inc., pricinskycustom.com. Back yard Lounge chairs and sectional: RH Modern, rhmodern.com. Table and chairs: Tritter Feefer, tritterfeefer.com.