TITLE: Frontgate Presents, Inspired Spaces
Chip Wade: “Hi I’m Chip Wade, welcome to Atlanta”
“Georgia is a place that is full of culture when you drive around Atlanta there’s so much cultural diversity, I’m one of actually one of the few natives here in Atlanta everyone else is typically transient. The beauty of that is it is this melting pot of culture.”
“This year’s show house is a very traditional estate. It has such a strong stature from the street with an architectural style that really speaks for itself.”
“I was able to able to create a very intimate little side patio area right off the kitchen. This is such a great thing to have in any home because it’s just that one little diffusing destination right off the kitchen and living room that is perfect for a little side conversation or just a morning cup of coffee.”
“The lower terrace is very regimented. There’s a lot of foundational elements, a lot of cement, a lot of tile, a lot of marble. Round sectional couches are one of the easiest and fastest ways of initially getting a feeling of circulation and softness.”
“Bring in organic materials and iconic looking planters has a way of creating a little bit of intrigue in a space that just screams, this is where the party needs to go.”
(laughter)
“Putting a space together also has to do with where it’s most often viewed from… the lower terrace actually has a dropped elevation and the entry way is up a flight of approximately ten stairs, so the rug selection is very important to make this space feel connected.”
“Okay, the planters look great, this section looks dynamite, we just got to get the other one in, get the area rugs and we’ll be good to go.”
“For guests that would come to this area, to interact and feel comfortable in a very otherwise very regimented environment… is a necessity, I feel like, for good, quality, sound, universal design.”
TITLE: Frontgate
In 1998, renowned architectural designer William T. Baker created a French-style estate in Atlanta’s tony Buckhead neighborhood. Set on two lush, landscaped acres, the 14,000-square-foot manse was dubbed Château Soleil for its golden façade.
The palatial estate hosted the 2015 Decorators Show House & Gardens event April 18-May 10, and Frontgate was delighted to be a sponsor. Leading interior designers from all over the Southeast brought their sense of style to the annual event.
Celebrated designer Chip Wade, an Atlanta native, furnished two areas – a front terrace and a side patio – with Frontgate collections. Wade, a popular HGTV mainstay, is currently the host and designer of the network’s Emmy-winning Elbow Room.
Framed by balustrades, the grand terrace overlooking the home’s sweeping front lawn is a tribute to French neoclassicism. Wade furnished the setting with Frontgate’s Roma Curved Seating collection, taking advantage of its open profile and pure lines. “The lower terrace is very regimented with a lot of foundational elements – cement, tile, marble,” Wade explained. “Round sectional couches are one of the easiest ways of introducing a feeling of circulation and softness,” he added.
“Round sectional couches are one of the easiest ways of introducing a feeling of circulation and softness.”
Building on a black-and-white color palette, he articulated the look with geometric Madison Planters and coordinating pillows. “Bringing in organic materials and iconic planters is a way of creating a little bit of intrigue in a space,” he said.
In an adjacent patio space, a Bali Daybed and matching ottoman create an alcove for indulgent, take-me-away lounging. Wade coordinated the two side patio spaces with shades of blue and trendy elephant accent pieces.
See all the outdoor furniture and decor Chip used in furnishing both Show House areas.
The Show House has six bedrooms, seven baths, four half-baths, and countless shared spaces. Focal points include a Versailles-inspired grand living room with a marble fireplace, a formal dining room boasting soaring 16-foot ceilings, and a stunning 26-foot domed marble entrance. The sprawling grounds include a formal terraced garden and a striking saline swimming pool.
Wade also outfitted a covered patio area just off the kitchen, an intimate spot he calls “perfect for a little side conversation, or just a morning cup of coffee.” For this sort of tête-à-tête, he arranged a pair of Carlisle Oversized Cuddle Chairs around a Carlisle Oval Ottoman.
The front terrace and side patio weren’t the only Show House spaces that had the Frontgate touch. Check back here for a virtual look at how other designers incorporated our style.
The Decorators Show House & Gardens benefits the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its youth education and community outreach initiatives.
