Atlanta design legends Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman bring a bit of Paris to a historic Buckhead home

The 1930s Mediterranean house in Buckhead caught the eye of a young couple who later updated the interior

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Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
Architect Norman Askins praises the classic Mediterranean style and symmetrical design of this 1930s house with stucco and black trim. A porch on one side is balanced by a porte-cochere on the other end.

Photograph by Rustic White

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
The homeowners fell in love with arched windows on the front of the house and were charmed when they discovered the motif carried throughout the interior as well.

Photograph by Rustic White

Atlanta’s historic houses, in an ideal world, are cherished but enhanced with each new generation. The classic architecture and curb appeal of this 1930s Mediterranean house in Buckhead caught the eye of a young couple who later updated the interior. “This house was on our running route in our favorite neighborhood,” remembers the homeowner, “And we were always drawn to the arched windows on the front of the house.”

The new owners hired architect Norman Askins to remodel the home, originally designed by Georgia Tech–trained architect Flip Burge in 1930. Askins praises the house’s original attributes: a “good-looking exterior,” high ceilings, and lots of windows. “It was kind of a modern floor plan for the time, like something people are doing again,” he says. “The living room is in the center, with light on both sides.” Working with interior designer Susan Bozeman—a regular collaborator of his—the two updated the kitchen and baths, plus reconfigured bedrooms and a family room, among other improvements.

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
“I love the idea of an all-black room, so we painted the foyer a Farrow and Ball high-gloss black and put Schumacher tortoiseshell wallpaper on the ceiling,” says the homeowner. “It makes such a statement when you walk in, and it’s one of my favorite places in the house.” A modern brass light fixture illuminates special pieces: a collection of framed intaglios and an antique rug and bench.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
“The antique leather screen was the starting point for this room, and it evolved into a very Continental feeling and aesthetic,” says Bozeman. The Spanish gilt screen from Mirabella Antiques is complemented by an Empire light fixture and 18th-century bench from Foxglove Antiques. The dining table is custom to accommodate a large group.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
The seating area in the living room faces a grand piano—which the husband plays—and is the site of both formal and informal entertaining, says Bozeman. Linen sofas are accented with Samuel & Sons trim and surrounded by carefully chosen antiques. The 19th-century chinoiserie table is from Parc Monceau.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Bozeman helped adapt the house for a young family while keeping the look elegant and refined. “The owners love European antiques and art, especially French pieces, so we wanted to convey an Art Deco Parisian feeling to the house,” says the interior designer. Rich colors mingle with brass fixtures and fittings throughout the house, with understated—or, in some cases, no—window treatments to allow those French doors to star.

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
“We kept the sunporch design eclectic, mixing contemporary and vintage,” says Bozeman. A star chandelier from Circa Lighting joins vintage cane chairs from Foxglove Antiques in the window-filled room.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
“The kitchen is new but looks somewhat of the era,” says Askins, who added windows over the sink to bring in morning light. Other charming features include the Zak + Fox cafe curtains and a marble island with brass legs to enhance the Parisian feeling. Pantry doors are covered in grasscloth and nail heads to add organic texture. Hand-rubbed brass pendants are from Circa Lighting.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
Resembling high-end bathrooms in Europe, the owner’s bath features marble washstands from Waterworks with brass fittings and basketweave tile.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

The homeowner applauds the design duo’s skill at melding old and new. “Norman and Susan understand Atlanta’s gracious homes so well.”

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
A rug from Mendel Tencer anchors the comfortable family room. The homeowners now use the versatile wood table from Nicholson Gallery as a coffee table, as shown here, but in the past they have turned it on its long edge to use as a console table. The chest with nailhead detailing was chosen to add leather texture.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

Norman Askins and Susan Bozeman historic Buckhead home
An upholstered headboard from the Cameron Collection is a comfortable focal point in the owner’s suite, accented with faux-tortoiseshell lamps from Parc Monceau and lampshades from Edgar-Reeves.

Photograph by Jeff Herr

RESOURCES | Renovation architect: Norman Askins, normanaskins.com Interior designer: Susan Bozeman, susanbozemandesigns.com Foyer Ceiling wallpaper: Schumacher, fschumacher.com. Living room 19th-century chinoiserie coffee table: Parc Monceau, parcmonceauatl.com. Pillows: Foxglove Antiques & Galleries, foxgloveantiques.com. Linen upholstery fabric: Arabel Fabrics, arabelfabrics.com. Trim: Samuel & Sons, samuelandsons.com. Dining room Antique leather screen: Mirabelle Antiques, mirabelleantiques.com. Chandelier and bench: Foxglove Antiques & Galleries. Kitchen Light fixture: Circa Lighting, circalighting.com. Bar stools: L. Drucker, maisonlouisedrucker.com. Cafe curtain fabric: Zak + Fox, zakandfox.com. Family room Rug: Mendel Tencer, mendeltencerflooring.com. Drapery linen: Pindler, pindler.com. Lamp shades: Edgar Reeves Lighting, edgar-reeves.com. Master bedroom Coverlet: Adelene Simple Cloth, adelenesimplecloth.com. Faux tortoise-shell lamps: Parc Monceau. Master bath Sconces: Circa Lighting. Washstand, tub, tile: Waterworks, waterworks.com. Powder room Washstand: Waterworks. French chandelier: Foxglove Antiques & Galleries. Tole sconces: Parc Monceau. Sunporch Light fixture: Circa Lighting. Cane chairs: Foxglove Antiques & Galleries.

This article appears in our Spring 2021 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.

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