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Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Kate Kiefer Lee and Andrew Thomas Lee had already hired Atlanta-based Hayes Little Studio for a light refresh of their Ormewood Park residence when another house nearby became available. The listing boasted a pool and bonus space—ideal for their three young daughters—in the neighborhood they cherished. “We went to see it, and I fell in love with it immediately,” Kate says. The combination of historic bones and modern additions—like tall ceilings, skylights and a wall of windows—won over the couple, so they packed up and moved half a mile.
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
With a blank canvas, they again brought in Hayes Little Studio. No wall color or light fixture went unchanged, resulting in what the studio calls equal parts soothing and bold, and “feels the way a rocks glass sliding across a piano sounds.” Rustic elements, like natural wood cabinetry and stools in the minimalistic kitchen, mingle with rich, jewel tones and abstract motifs in textural rugs.
“They really think outside the box,” Kate says of the duo, adding she was drawn to their collaborative spirit and eye for staging special vignettes of “unique little moments.”
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
From the start, the vision centered around the Lees’ art collection, ranging from works by the late Reverend Howard Finster and renowned Civil Rights photojournalist Steve Schapiro to Andrew himself, an accomplished photographer known for his work with many of the South’s top epicureans. The Lees are also proud stewards of several works by Austin, Texas-based photographer Bryan Schutmaat, including one of Goonies-esque children hanging on the foyer’s brick fireplace. “We call them the welcome committee,” Kate jokes. On the walls, vintage pieces handpicked from Gillian Bryce Gallery are layered alongside their own kids’ projects.
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Only rivaling the art is Kate’s book collection. While she gives away many of them via the Free Little Library in their front yard, the avid reader and writer keeps her favorite tomes in her home office—her happy place—wrapped in Kelly Wearstler wallpaper. Recently, she launched Long Story Books as a digital shop, with a brick-and-mortar destination in Inman Park planned for next year.
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
When the family isn’t reading, drawing, or practicing piano together, they enjoy cooking meals and entertaining guests around the long dining table or deep sectional sofa. Ultimately, a sense of comfort was the guiding principle in all decisions, from the furniture and pillows to the kitchen flow.
One thing for sure: there’s never a dull moment among this colorful bunch.
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