With stately columns, a grand fireplace, second-story windows, and soaring
twenty-five-feet-high ceilings, this elegant room is seemingly fit for royalty,
hence the home’s aptly regal name, Camelot.
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the newly constructed Camelot summons an old-world
charm that is encapsulated in the visually impressive grand salon. The grand
salon is both formal and elegantly comfortable in design; however, the space
wasn’t created for the style preferences of a specific homeowner. Instead, the living
room space was designed to be part of a show house. In 2008, Nikki Bachrach and
Stephen Pararo of Atlanta-based Pineapple House Interior Design participated in
the Atlanta Symphony Decorator Show House, showcasing the talent of local
designers.
“In a show house, the committee strives to find a house that is inviting,
interesting, has parking, and offers an attraction for attendees and
fundraising events,” says Bachrach. “Show houses are [also] a wonderful opportunity for everyone to be inspired—the participants and the viewers.”
Bachrach and Pararo created a European-influenced motif, which includes a
musical element as a nod to the symphony sponsor. Appropriately complementing
the existing old-world architectural details of the room, the designers
maintained a neutral color palette and focused on eclectic additions. A
nineteenth-century Italian bench, eighteenth-century French armoire, 1930s
Spanish Cuenca rug, and petrified wood drink tables are a few of the salvaged
antiquities that bring stylish history to Atlanta’s Camelot.
To keep the distinguished space in the twenty-first century, the designers were
sure to incorporate modern lines and pieces such as the étagères and transitional sofas. “Many people have treasures that they have either collected or inherited from
their family that they want to tastefully blend with more modern furnishings,” says Bachrach. “This room is a great example of how to blend time periods and styles.”
The Pineapple House designers also balanced the old-world rarities by using new
and renewable materials throughout the space; the sofas are upholstered in
bamboo fabric, some of the throw pillows are covered with mohair, and the
draperies are fabricated from wool.
How the designers arranged the furniture, artwork, and lighting in the sizable
yet narrow grand salon remained the most significant design aspect. “The challenge was to make the large room feel cohesive, intimate, and
interesting,” says Bachrach of the space, which measures twenty-four by fifty-one feet. As a
solution, the designers created three defined seating areas. “The gathering area near the fireplace has seating with various personalities.
The seating can be adjusted and moved for enjoying the fireplace, playing
games, etcetera,” explains Bachrach. “The center of the room is the anchor and brings weight to the lofty space. Two
large sofas face each other and are sprinkled with drink tables, inviting large
gatherings, relaxing, and conversation. The third is the music area, featuring
a grand piano, which invites musical opportunities and laughter around the
instrument.”
