Susan Cavagnaro, a fashion stylist, and her husband Bill, a real estate investment banker, have turned their Buckhead home renovation into a heartfelt project that reflects their love story.
When they bought the four-bedroom ranch in 2020, they intended to flip it. However, Susan soon found herself enchanted by the property, set on three wooded acres, which led the couple to decide it would be the perfect place to begin their new life together as newlyweds.
To execute their vision, they enlisted the help of architectural designer Lorraine Enwright from Intuitive Dwellings and Chris Donnelly from Brookside Custom Homes.
Early in the renovation process, they faced significant challenges when demolition was completed just as the COVID pandemic began. The project was put on ice for an entire year, which turned the renovation into what they describe as a ‘labor of love’ upon returning.
The couple had specific design goals they wished to achieve: creating light-filled spaces that promote easy flow for entertaining and ensuring long-term accessibility.
They also wanted to cultivate a strong visual connection with nature. Enwright focused on bringing elemental textures and colors into the home, emphasizing connections to earth, water, fire, and air.
The architectural design opened up vistas to welcome more natural light and offer stunning views of the surrounding nature and sunsets.
While maintaining the original footprint of the house, Enwright reconfigured the layout, raised ceilings, and added architectural details like transoms and cedar timber accents.
From the start, Susan and Bill felt a warm, inviting vibe from the home, appreciating its serene connection to its natural surroundings.
A crucial component of the interior design was the inclusion of family heirlooms. Lorraine expertly reimagined many inherited pieces, such as reupholstered wing chairs that found a new home in an elegant dining room adorned with peacock wallpaper, and a four-poster bed that now graces the guest room, which was once a library.
In the primary bedroom, a framed Hermès scarf belonging to Susan’s mother holds sentimental value and was carefully integrated into the decor.
“Almost everything in this home has some level of meaning to me,” Susan reflected, emphasizing the personal connection in every design choice.
An inspiring motif guided the design of the rooms, particularly in the homeowners’ suite, which features a special gift from Bill to Susan: a vibrant Hermès scarf showcasing bold blue and black leopard patterns.
This scarf now serves as an artistic focal point, beautifully framed to enhance the decor, and is complemented by a custom curved bed frame upholstered in blue chenille.
The suite boasts luxurious ivory wallpaper and animal print carpeting, along with framed photographs and carved elephants inspired by the couple’s upcoming trip to Kenya in 2024.
“I brought lots of elephants in here. I say Bill is like my elephant because he loves family. He’s very loyal, very supportive,” Susan remarked, revealing the deeper meaning behind her design choices.
In their spa-like bathroom, a Caribbean blue marble slab became the linchpin for a sophisticated space, complemented by gray tones and a stunning Visual Comfort chandelier evoking palm fronds.
Enwright and Susan sourced unique decorative elements throughout the project, from leopard-themed hardware pulls and butterfly wallpaper in the primary bedroom to horn hardware in the kitchen and another butterfly design in a powder room.
“Early in the project, we shopped together extensively and found key pieces that Susan fell in love with, allowing us to weave those elements into the design,” Enwright explained.
In the foyer, previously a dark and cramped space, new dormers and vaulted ceilings create an airy ambiance filled with daylight.
A custom painting of a dress by Chattanooga artist Carylon Cooper adds an artistic touch, while wall art featuring ceramic butterflies arranged in a soaring formation reflects Susan’s own vision.
“A ladybug is featured on one because that is how my mom shows up to me,” Susan shared, highlighting the emotional resonance present in their decor decisions.
The open kitchen, located in a new addition, was reimagined, transforming the former kitchen into a stylish scullery that brings both function and flair to the home.
A stunning Blue Roma marble backsplash found during an early shopping venture with Enwright, combined with French oak cabinetry and elegant plaster surrounds, creates a striking visual impact.
Among the design features is an L-shaped island topped with durable Caesarstone, designed with a trough to allow for seasonal decoration and inviting nature indoors.
On the opposite side of the island, a breakfast table with a built-in bench fosters a casual dining space.
The kitchen seamlessly connects to the living room, which has been brightened with plaster beams, giving it an airy Alys Beach vibe.
Enwright incorporated arched, zero-entry doors to facilitate uninterrupted access and views to the private outdoor patio, pool, and fountains at the rear of the property.
Cedar accents blended with modern parged brick and steel elements create a harmonious outdoor space, perfect for the timeless gathering space by the pool that Susan had envisioned.
“I want someone to walk into my home and feel warmth and an energetic connection,” Susan explained, crediting Lorraine’s philosophy that every aspect of design should appeal to the senses and resonate with the heart.
After a complete revamp of the 4,200-square-foot home, the Cavagnaros moved in at the end of December 2022.
Susan expressed contentment with the outcome of the renovations, asserting that she wouldn’t change a single element of their new abode.
Reflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic, she appreciated the time it afforded her to consider her lifestyle and design choices deeply.
“This house makes me so happy. I feel very grateful and fortunate for the whole process. And Bill loved it too, he had a lot of fun with it,” Susan shared joyously.
She recalled her mother’s words, ‘It’s nice to have a place that you are sad to leave,’ and remarked, “I pinch myself every day that I’m lucky enough to have this home.”
In their design journey, Susan Cavagnaro and Lorraine Enwright have shared their favorite places to shop for home decor in Atlanta.
Enwright highlights ADAC as a premier destination for the latest trends and products, a reliable starting point for any project.
Cavagnaro cites Westside Market as a joyful shopping experience, where each purchase supports local entrepreneurs while offering an impressive range of choices.
Finally, Enwright recommends B.D. Jeffries for its unique decor elements, often the source of perfect accent pieces for special interiors.
This renovation story stands as a testament to resilience, creativity, and the intimate connections forged between a couple and their home.
image source from：https://simplybuckhead.com/new-beginnings-the-cavagnaros/
