FLORIDIAN FLAIR WRITTEN BY Jeanne Lyons Davis STYLED BY Jill Sharp Weeks PHOTOGRAPHED BY Brian Bieder INTERIOR PHILOSOPHY CO-OWNER MANDY MAYERS FASHIONS AN ALYS RETREAT WITH MOROCCAN-INSPIRED DETAILS THAT PAIR PERFECTLY WITH FLORIDA S CRYSTAL-BLUE COAST. 74 atlantahomesmag.com APR.2017
opposite Alys Beach Town Architects Erik Vogt and Marieanne Khoury-Vogt designed the 3,400-square-foot Alys Beach home for Mandy Mayers and her husband. right Textural details abound. 75
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above Mandy Mayers, co-owner of Interior Philosophy, stands on the second story of her Alys Beach home. opposite A 5-foot-tall brass lantern, custom-made in Morocco, anchors the combined kitchenliving area, where more than 1,000 sandblasted white oak pieces create a square pattern on the custom ceiling. YOU WON T FIND SEASHELL decoupage lamps or tiki torches at this chic Florida retreat. Atlantan Mandy Mayers who co-owns interior design firm and shop Interior Philosophy with Jessica Roan equipped her family s Alys Beach oasis, nestled along the coveted 30-A highway, with character-rich design details that both maintain the relaxed cadence found in Mediterranean abodes and push the envelope aesthetically. Unexpected structural details, executed by Alys Beach Town Architects Erik Vogt and Marieanne Khoury-Vogt, and a profusion of layered textures, materials and patterns infuse this Florida vacation home with laid-back sophistication. While the revered retreat, completed in 2014, is tucked right off the Gulf of Mexico, visitors will feel transported to an enthralling global locale upon stepping inside. We fell in love with the location, as the property was on the Gulf Green, says Mayers, who previously owned a home down the road in Watercolor and decorates for clients in the area along with business partner Roan. The lot s previous owners had begun house plans for the property with Erik and 77
Marieanne that were beautiful but more contemporary than Mayers taste. The architects tweaked the layout to reflect Mayers softer vision, adding unexpected details to garner an approachable Moroccan aesthetic. The 3,400-square-foot home s white stucco walls are evocative of those found along the Mediterranean as well as the 30-A coastline. White oak fills the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home in both the floors and the living room s dramatic ceiling, where more than 1,000 oak pieces were sandblasted and assembled to create stunning square details. Remarkable design elements, in fact, abound, including the powder room sink: In lieu of a runof-the-mill bowl, Mayers and her team sketched a star design for a simple yet substantial addition. In one of the master bedrooms all of the home s four bedrooms were designed with adjoining bathrooms the vaulted ceiling features rounded beams that were hand-chiseled to look distressed and not perfectly curved. Along with dreamy design details, Mayers and stylist Jill Sharp Weeks outfitted the abode with eclectic finds, such as woven baskets, nubby throws and patterned accessories sourced from Atlanta-based Interior Philosophy, for a Moroccan environment that feels playful yet refined. But what s an enchanting beach house without a view? Throughout the process, Mayers made it a point to spotlight the Gulf Coast right out the door. From the placement of the pool on the roof to the height of the kitchen sink window (Mayers is 5-foot-3) to the positioning of other windows in spots with prime views including the bathrooms she gave the landscape outside as much attention as the interior finishes. When we first sat down with Marieanne and Erik, we said that our first priority was to maximize the views, says Mayers. We definitely achieved that goal. See Resources, Back of Book. above A serene driftwood work by Sandee O. from Interior Philosophy sets the tone for the tranquil dining space, where an industrial zinc-topped table with a metallicfinished iron base holds court next to the limewashed oak chairs and gold-speckled cowhide rug. left The soapstone hearth boasts circular clay balls while stacked birch logs add a decorative touch below the contemporary gas fireplace. opposite A grey Lee Industries sofa and textured throw pillow add subtle yet substantial details to the light-drenched living room. 78 atlantahomesmag.com APR.2017
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One of the best views in the house is from the guest bathroom. Mayers opened up the bathtub window, as well as the wall above the vanity, so those views could be enjoyed from the adjoining bedroom. Patterned tiles from the Cement Tile Shop fill the oasis. opposite Varying neutral hues fill the bedroom, where a three-tiered coco-bead chandelier from Interior Philosophy hangs from the vaulted ceiling, which features handchiseled, rounded beams. 81
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, MAYERS MADE IT A POINT TO SPOTLIGHT THE GULF COAST RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR, GIVING THE PROPERTY S VIEWS AS MUCH ATTENTION AS ITS INTERIOR FINISHES. 82 atlantahomesmag.com APR.2017
above In the upstairs bedroom, Mayers didn t want bright colors to take away from the serene palette. She chose an assortment of oatmeal tones, adding fun elements such as fur-trimmed pillows and an antique lumbar pillow with hints of color. left In lieu of another neutral suite, the first floor s only bedroom, which has access to the courtyard, channels a Moroccan playfulness. opposite, clockwise from top A custom headboard and colorful throw pillows from Interior Philosophy add punch to the first-floor bedroom. Potted plants add a touch of nature to the bedroom desk. Like the rest of the property, the powder room sink offers a twist on the traditional, with its star-detailed bowl that Mayers designed to add panache to the stone vanity. The streamlined bathroom boasts a trough-style cement sink and custom steel oval mirrors by Mike Hammersmith to keep the spotlight on the Gulf views just outside the windows. 83
INTERIOR PHILOSO- PHY CO-OWNER MANDY MAYERS FILLED THE ABODE WITH ECLECTIC FINDS FOR A MOROCCAN ENVIRONMENT THAT S RELAXED YET REFINED. above The bunk room, which sleeps four, is shipshape thanks to its white siding and coastal-inspired linens from Interior Philosophy. right The loggia boasts wooden planters from Lucy s Market to complement black-patterned Ann Sacks tiles and patinated copper pipes. opposite When deciding whether to put the pool on the ground floor or the roof, the impeccable Gulf views offered no contest. 84 atlantahomesmag.com APR.2017
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