This renovated Columbus, Georgia home was designed to last

Katherine and Bill Turner longed for a fresh alternative to the prevailing, tradition-steeped aesthetic—i.e., “country club chic.”
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Photograph by Emily Followill
Photograph by Emily Followill

As happens in the South, Chenault James and Katherine Turner discovered they had people in common. An interior designer in Columbus, Georgia, Chenault is also one of the triplets who run Pappy & Company, a Louisville-based family business that preserves their great-grandfather’s bourbon legacy. Coincidentally, Katherine’s Kentucky-reared roommate at UGA was one of Chenault’s childhood friends, known to speak often of the Van Winkle sisters.

The metal base on the breakfast room’s Caine dining table by Beau Studio echoes the dramatic metal windows. The painting is by Bill’s cousin Lulie Wallace.
The metal base on the breakfast room’s Caine dining table by Beau Studio echoes the dramatic metal windows. The painting is by Bill’s cousin Lulie Wallace.

Photograph by Emily Followill

The James and Turner families quickly became friends in close-knit Columbus, which made it natural for them to collaborate on remodeling the latter’s early-1940s home. Chenault’s husband, Edward, owner of Hammerhead Carpentry Co., provided custom work for the Turners’ renovations and first-floor addition.
Katherine and her husband, Bill, had returned to his hometown of Columbus after several years in Charleston. The pair longed for a fresh alternative to the prevailing, tradition-steeped aesthetic—i.e., “country club chic.” Says Chenault, “Katherine has a contemporary flair and wanted to step outside the box a little, rather than follow in the older generations’ footsteps.”

A subdued scheme was imperative from the outset, as Katherine preferred the palette of pale blues and grays that had characterized her previous homes. To complement the neutral tones, Chenault incorporated colorful paintings by Charleston-based artist Lulie Wallace, one of Bill’s cousins. “Art is one of the only areas where I will be brave,” Katherine admits.

The playroom connects to the living room and front hallway, keeping the kids within earshot of their parents.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Dedicated to regular ADAC and AmericasMart visits, Chenault is a former Atlantan who keeps up with trends but prefers items with a sense of staying power. Forgoing heavy draperies and Persian rugs put the focus on elegant architectural details like metal windows, a molded-stone mantelpiece, an arched transom, and a hexagonal coffered ceiling. “I didn’t want to worry about the house going out of style in a few years, and Chenault has this way of making things updated but timeless,” Katherine says.

The Turners tapped architect Jack Jenkins to design a spacious addition, including a stately white-brick portico, broad front hallway, and serene new master suite. Antique doors add Old World flair to this new space—just as they do in the kitchen, a freshly reoriented room that now spills into a sunny breakfast area and living room, with the kids’ playroom just beyond. And, as befits her Kentucky heritage, Chenault added a built-in bar to the handsome study—perhaps for enjoying a glass of Pappy Van Winkle?

Pale fabrics may seem difficult to keep clean, but the Turners selected ones that are scrubbable and less likely to fade. “We sleep with three kids and the dogs in the bed,” Katherine says with a laugh.
Pale fabrics may seem difficult to keep clean, but the Turners selected ones that are scrubbable and less likely to fade. “We sleep with three kids and the dogs in the bed,” Katherine says with a laugh.

Photograph by Emily Followill

Pro resources 
Interior design Beth Kooby Design, bethkoobydesign.com.
Entry hall Console table: Aidan Gray, aidangrayhome.com. Sconces: Niermann Weeks, niermannweeks.com. Hanging lantern: Urban Electric Co., urbanelectricco.com. Paintings: Lulie Wallace, luliewallace.com. Rug: antique Oushak.
Kitchen Countertops: Calacatta Caldia, Stone Connection, stoneconnection.com. Custom cabinetry: Hammerhead Carpentry Company, hammerheadcarpentryco.com. Cabinetry paint color: “SW7012 Creamy” by Sherwin-Williams, sherwin-williams.com. Hardware: French patinated iron knob with backplate, Millennium Hardware, millenniumhardware.com. Apron-front sink: Whitehaven by Kohler, us.kohler.com. Faucets: bridge style in polished nickel, Perrin & Rowe, perrinandrowe.co.uk. Island paint color: “SW-7046 Anonymous” by Sherwin-Williams. Chandelier above island: Parc Monceau, parcmonceauatl.com. Tray on island: Pappy 15-year bourbon barrel stave bowl, pappyco.com. Counter stools: Dornie from Holland & Co., hollandandcompany.com. Counter stool fabric: “Lattice” in fawn by Galbraith & Paul, galbraithandpaul.com. Zinc hood: custom by Hammerhead Carpentry Co. and Cotton Custom Metals, cottoncustommetals.com.
Living room Wing chairs flanking fireplace: Hickory Chair, hickorychair.com. Fabric on wing chairs: Cassaro Serengeti SR511/244, cassaro.co. Steel doors and windows: R.G. Ironworks, rgironworks.com. Throw pillows on sofa: Lacefield Designs, lacefielddesigns.com.
Playroom Chair fabric: Jonathan Adler for Duralee, jonathanadler.com. Antelope-patterned carpet: Karastan, karastan.com. Pillow on sofa: made from vintage Kilim.
Boys’ room Wallpaper: “Woods” No. 69/12150, New Contemporary II Collection from Cole & Son, cole-and-son.com. Bedding: Jane Wilner Designs, janewilnerdesigns.net. Sheeting: Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com. Gray blanket: Pendleton, pendleton-usa.com. Antler-patterned pillows: VixenGoods, etsy.com. Bedside table: Elton Side Table #GTAB317, Noir, noirfurniturela.com. Rug: Fallon FAL-1036 from Surya, surya.com.
Will’s room Reproduction map wallpaper: Murals Your Way, muralsyourway.com. Window shade fabric: “Laveno Barre Mache” in white-and-orange stripe by C&C Milano, cec-milano.com.
Master bedroom Area rug: Rocko in champagne by Stark, starkcarpets.com. Drapery fabric: Lotus by Galbraith & Paul. Coverlet: Coco Matelasse with blue tape by Jane Wilner Designs. Long pillow on bed: Lotus by Galbraith & Paul. Bedside tables: A. Tyner Antiques, swedishantiques.biz. Bench fabric: “Breakwater” in pale blue by Christopher Farr Cloth, christopherfarrcloth.com.
Master bath Freestanding tub: Parisian by MTI Baths, mtibaths.com. Tub filler: Georgian Era by Perrin & Rowe, rohlhome.com. Drapery trim: filigree Belgian lace 977-56023 in pearl by Samuel & Sons Passementerie, samuelandsons.com. Fabric on bench: “Garden of Persia” 175030 in dove, by Mary McDonald for Schumacher. Cabinetry hardware: Briston by Rejuvenation, rejuvenation.com. Vanity mirror: antique Venetian from A. Tyner Antiques. Sconce: Fleurette wall sconce #WL 180 by Aidan Gray. Sink: Memoirs by Kohler. Faucets: Georgian Era in polished nickel by Perrin & Rowe.
Pool Vintage spun aluminum outdoor furniture: Chenault’s own, recovered in yellow Sunbrella fabric, sunbrella.com.

This article originally appeared in our Spring 2016 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.

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