An Atlanta Home Transformed: How Liz Williams Interiors Blended Inherited Treasures with Fresh Design

Art played an important role in the redesign of the spaces. A display of the father’s boat paintings he collected from travels around the world adorns the family room wall, paying homage to him as well as to this riverfront home in Atlanta. The Greek Revival exterior reminds Williams of Louisiana Creole-style homes with its dual porches along the facade. Iron entry doors replaced the original wooden ones, while along the back, two-story iron arched windows frame the outdoor amenities, including an updated pool and pavilion with kitchen.

“Brook loves color,” says Williams, especially blues, greens, and pinks. Since she inherited a home filled with dark navy and red furniture, the first order of business was to brighten up the interiors with rugs, fabrics, and accessories in the family’s preferred hues. The owner had a collection of art herself that was incorporated throughout the home. “Since I’ve known Brook for so long and know what she likes, we would show her schemes and then run with the details; she trusted us to do that,” adds Williams.

The front-to-back, two-story foyer lets in abundant light and illuminates the dramatic Southern-style curved staircase that sets the tone for the interior spaces. Just beyond the foyer is the river room, which includes a piano in one sitting area seen from the entryway, as well as a second gathering space facing a fireplace. The abstract art above the mantel inspired the color scheme for the entire room. Pillows, chairs, and even the fun accessories all coordinate with the art. “The river room is the heart of the home,” says Williams. It’s an everyday room used as a passageway to other spaces. Even though the river room is large, its flexible seating options make it comfortable and feel less vast.

The formal spaces flank the foyer with the living room to the left. “The living room is Brook’s favorite room,” says Williams. It has all the hues that create a happy, quiet space for her to enjoy. A painted chest, freestanding bookcases on each side of the fireplace, and a treasured rug round out the new elements in this room. To the right of the foyer is the dining room, featuring a stunning wall mural used as a backdrop for the new furnishings. The former heavy, dark-lacquered furniture was removed and replaced with an antique table and chairs recovered in blue and green fabric, bringing out the tones of the wallpaper. A vintage sideboard and jade lamp add to the room’s transformation.

Williams typically keeps wall colors neutral and brings in color with fabrics, rugs, art, and accessories, except in bedrooms, where painted walls might be more vibrant. “In the daughter’s bedroom, for instance, I started with the fabric for the windows and bed and went from there,” explains Williams, who painted the walls blue to accent the pops of pink. Gray walls in the son’s bedroom complement the red sports jerseys and bedding.

The designer created a smooth transition from space to space in the primary suite, which includes a spacious bedroom with a four-poster bed and window niche, a quaint sitting room with a fireplace, and a dual vanity bathroom with a soaking tub. “It was a joy to work on this project,” says Williams. “And it was especially joyful to bring the homeowners’ personalities into the wonderful family home.”