The living room draperies inspired the palette of kelly green and neutrals. bet t er hom es a n d g a r dens sep t em ber bhg.

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1 Punchy patterns and big accessories give the home of Susie Stern and Clark Davis its youthful energy. This photo: Eric Davis and Katie Ehrlich at the zinctop table. Opposite: The living room draperies inspired the palette of kelly green and neutrals. Z2

2 Life, Well Blended Trading color for calm, an artist mom of six still gets the graphic look she loves. by jody garlock photos rob brinson produced by lisa mowry styling annette joseph

3 As an artist, Susie Stern loves to play with color and she once had the home to show for it. The walls were purple in one room, red in the next, and yellow in another. Then she met designer Melanie Turner while on vacation in Florida and stepped into her white-walled home. Something clicked. I realized that I had painted walls bright colors thinking they became art, when I should have let them be the canvas for artful things, Susie says. The Zen of Melanie s home overwhelmed me. That encounter led to a revamping of the 1960s home that Susie and her husband, Clark Davis, share with their blended family of six, ages 16 22, and five pets. Before the makeover, Susie s art projects were strewn about so she could work on them near the kids. Sleepovers meant 12 boys crashing on the floor and sofas. There was a point where one son wanted to turn the sunroom into a place for pillow fights, Susie says. Melanie s first step in calming the chaos was to paint all the walls white and stain the oak floors a dark brown to streamline the space. Then she divvied up the spaces. Every room needs a purpose and organization, Melanie says. We designated what the rooms would be used for, and gave them a facelift to bring in the family s youthfulness. The sunroom became Susie s studio, with a big table for projects and plenty of homework spots for the kids. Clark s man den got a pair of huge chaises that seat the whole family in cushy comfort for movie night. Finally came the fun. Splashes of kelly green throughout the house give Susie her color fix. Sculptural, oversize furniture and accessories add interest and a sense of playfulness. Large-scale items light fixtures, sofas, patterns on fabrics make a room seem more artsy, Melanie says. For Susie, the updates have been lifechanging. Instead of having a house I m constantly trying to problem-solve, I have one I can enjoy, she says. Melanie said she d make my home so nice I wouldn t feel like I needed a vacation, and she did just that. Grasscloth-covered walls warm the living room, right. It s that extra layer that adds depth, says designer Melanie Turner. The neutral walls welcome bold pattern; birds on the chair fabric and lattice-motif draperies nod to Susie s love of gardening. The gray front door, left, once red, reflects the shift to toned-down color.

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5 I wanted to do something creative and fun, Melanie says of the painted stair runner and photo gallery, right. The family gathers in the den, below. With doors removed, a coat closet became a striking focal point in the entry, below right. I m always looking for ways to unify and streamline. For example, instead of having photos scattered throughout the house, we designated the stairway for that one purpose. Melanie Turner interior designer ZZ6 For buying information see page XXX.

6 The sunroom, once a hodgepodge of old furniture, is now Susie s art studio and office. It was a way to contain my projects so they didn t ruin the calm in other rooms, Susie says. Side-by-side Parsons desks, left, provide spread-out space for paying bills and painting watercolors. Susie s old kitchen table, vintage chairs, and a rope-covered pendant from a flea market all unified with a coat of white paint form the generous crafting and homework station, below. Home Rules Designer Melanie Turner offers her can t-miss tips for giving a home a style boost. Simplify backgrounds. Melanie prefers light walls and dark floors. The contrast brings a feminine/masculine balance so everyone feels comfortable, she says. Use color strategically. The larger the piece, the more neutral it should be, Melanie says. Save the color for pillows, draperies, a rug, or throw. Those four alone will give you more color than you think. Toss on pattern. Pattern instantly updates a room, even if all you do is add a pillow or two, Melanie says. Don t be shy: A too-small print defeats the purpose. continued on page Z12 Z8

7 style wise who Melanie Turner where Atlanta Design mantra Edit, edit, edit. Less is more. Your eye needs places to rest. WHERE TO SPLURGE Large-scale art. It sets your room apart from everyone else s. If you re on a budget, enlarge your kid s art. RULE TO BREAK Everyone thinks trim needs to stand out, but I prefer painting it the same color as the walls. best way TO SPEND $100 Dark gray velvet chairs and linen chaises keep the den on the masculine side. Painting the brick fireplace wall white lightened the space dramatically. Pillows. They re such an affordable way to give a room a pop of color, texture, and graphics. For me, the perfect pillow is a 22-inch square with no welting. resources SOME PRODUCTS SHOWN EDITORIALLY IN THE BETTER LIVING SECTION Pages Z2-Z12: Interior designer Melanie Turner, Turner Davis Interiors; 404/ ; turnerdavisinteriors.com. Page Z2: X table, pillows Turner Davis Interiors (see previous). Light fixture South of Market; southofmarket.biz. Barstools and chairs fabric Lee Industries; 800/ ; leeindustries.com. Pages Z3-Z5: Window treatment fabric F. Schumacher (to the trade); 800/ ; fschumacher.com. Wallcovering Phillip Jeffries; phillipjeffries.com. Mirror Julian Chichester; julianchichester.com. Sisal rug Designer Carpets (to the trade); designer-carpets.net. Sofa and chairs Bungalow; bungalowclassic.com. Coffee table Club Cu (to the trade); clubcu.com. Page Z6: Green paint on stairs Duron; duron.com. Sunburst mirror JM Piers Designs; jmpiersdesigns.com. Gray chest Hickory Chair Co.; 800/ ; hickorychair.com. Page Z8: Green desks West Elm; 888/ ; westelm.com. Page Z12: Chaises, chairs Lee Industries (see previous). Owl accessories Pieces; 404/ ; piecesinc.com. Chest below TV Turner Davis Interiors (see previous). Window treatment fabric F. Schumacher (to the trade) (see previous). Side table Oly Studio; olystudio.com. n Z12 portrait: erica george dines OF BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MAGAZINE CAN BE OBTAINED LOCALLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR DEALER LOCATIONS, CONTACT MANUFACTURERS LISTED.