Curated Elegance
Photos courtesy of Amy J. Owen
Stepping inside the Watkinsville home of Nina and Chad Keller you feel an immediate calm. The soothing palette of soft whites, creams, golds and pale blues were an easy pick for the Kellers when decorating their new home.
After months of looking for the perfect lot in Athens, the couple settled on one in Rowan Oak (Oconee County) to build their dream home.
“The one thing we both wanted was space,” Nina says.
Their previous home, one the couple had purchased together, was much smaller. Since Nina and Chad are from the Athens area, it was important for the couple to have enough space for both families to get together during holidays and special occasions.
The Kellers chose TS Adams Studio Architects, LLC, out of Atlanta, to design their home.
Nina worked with Grace Brackman, of Maggie Griffin Design from Gainesville, Ga., to decorate in elegant neutral tones with a miminalist chic style. Each room has been perfectly curated to create a feeling of hospitable warmth.
“Working with Grace was so easy, we just clicked,” Nina says. “I really felt like she understood my style and the look I wanted to achieve.”
What is most impressive about the Kellers home is the tidiness. The couple, who have a five-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, keep their house in order most of the time — Nina admits she’s a bit obsessive about items having their place.
“Everything has a place,” she says. “When you are done using something, simply put it back in its proper place.”
Quite frankly, it’s every woman’s dream to have a house that is always tidy, but it’s rare for most of us.
The heart of the home is the open concept chef’s kitchen and living room. Light and airy, the room is often filled with guests, whether it’s hosting family for the holidays or friends to cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs.
A small breakfast table serves as the weekday spot for family meals.
A curated wall of botanicals, just off the main living space, leads into an elegant master suite. The master bedroom is a relaxing retreat for the couple at the end of a long day.
The envy of every woman, however, is the closet. Nina worked with Nicole Broadnax of Edit. By Nicole to design her custom closet, which has an entry off the master bath and can also be accessed from the hallway leading into the master bedroom.
Natural light was another important factor for the couple. French doors were installed in most of the downstairs living spaces, facilitating the ease of indoor/outdoor living. A covered outdoor living space, complete with a grilling counter, is ready to entertain outside during all four seasons.
“We love to eat outside,” Nina explains. “Especially this time of year.” The yard also has space for a pool in the future.
Another well-planned design element is the mudhall, located just off the family’s living space, heading towards the garage. The hall is a handy space for the kids, and Chad, who owns Precision Landscape Management, to take off their shoes and hang their book bags. It also has a bathroom with access to the outside for when the couple decides to build the pool.
“That way the kids can come take off their wet clothes before heading upstairs to change,” Nina explains.
Upstairs, two guestrooms and the children’s rooms, are just as beautifully decorated as the rest of the home.
A large playroom with gorgeous barn doors serves as the kids’ domain and easily conceals their toys and activities.
At the end of the day, the couple wanted to have a comfortable, safe place to raise their family.
“We really just wanted a neighborhood that our kids could run around in when they get older,” Nina explained. “I feel like we have definitely found that here.”
