When searching for a place to call home, Atlanta designer Kevin Francis O'Gara stumbled on an unusual option: the apartment developer's office. "My home used to be the sales office for Hedgewood Homes while they were building the neighborhood, so it had a conference room, office, and sitting area for prospective buyers," says the founder of Kevin Francis Design.
Though that may not have been the first choice for less imaginative homeowners, Francis saw the potential: "It was such a blank slate when I moved in, but all the finishes were fantastic, from the alabaster walls to the cream tile in the kitchen," he gushes. Plus, with his experience selling handmade rugs and curated decor, O'Gara had all the tools on hand to reimagine it.
Converting a corporate space to a residential one had its challenges, however: "There were no closets in the home," O'Gara recalls, meaning he had to get creative with storage in unexpected places. An emphasis on the public-facing living and kitchen areas meant that the bedroom and study were lacking in windows and thus, precious light. Plus, the space's former life left somewhat of a sterile quality.
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O'Gara solved the latter two conundrums by adding depth and texture—both literal and figurative. He leaned into the back spaces with moody palettes and layered antiques and art to give the white box a homey feel. "It meant a lot for me to be able to use antiques from my mom and grandparents, especially pieces that I grew up with, which really elevate the design and make it feel extra personal," says the designer. "I really believe every room benefits from one old brown wood piece of furniture to ground the design, so I’m happy to see these types of pieces making a comeback."
Kitchen
"I’m completely spoiled by my fabulous kitchen, which features bleached oak cabinetry and a built-in espresso maker, and was designed by Hedgewood cofounder Pam Sessions," says O'Gara. He added barstools from his own collection and antique lithographs to make it his own.
Living Room
The area rug, gray barrel-backed chair, and alabaster lamp are all from Kevin Francis Design. "My sources really run the gamut, from Home Depot to the antique store down the street," says the designer.
Sectional: Article. Mirror: Ballard Designs. Coffee table: Antique/Parc Monceau. Portrait art: Josh Young. Embroidered pillows: West Elm. Blue Ikat pillows: Vintage/Antiques & Beyond. Queen Anne dining chairs: Antique with China Seas fabric. Round pedestal table: Anthropologie. Campaign desk: Antique. Rattan chairs: Mainly Baskets Home.
Study
Shown at top.
Since the study—in contrast to the bright, open living room and kitchen—gets little to no light, O'Gara went all in on making it feel moody and inviting. "The wallpaper in my study is definitely a favorite moment of mine because it’s such a visual surprise that unfolds as you walk into the room," says the designer. "It’s been such a conversation starter and people are always so intrigued by the pattern when they peek through the doorway; I love how it draws you into the room."
Office
O'Gara framed architectural plans from his childhood home to hang over his desk, an antique campaign-style piece whose drawers provide plenty of storage. The ever-changing bulletin board atop it also serves as a kind of rotating art piece. "With every vignette, I tried to add one old thing that would elevate the design and give a storied, collected look, even if it was just a small accessory," says the designer.
Bedroom
"I try to place a mirror somewhere in every room to give the space more dimension," says O'Gara. The technique is especially valuable in a small space like O'Gara's bedroom. Since the room offered little by way of wall space, he hung dark curtains across the windows to serve as a backdrop for the bed.
Selendi area rug: Kevin Francis Design. Chest of drawers: Antique. Mirror: Vintage. Headboard: Wayfair. Nightstand: AllModern. Quilt and shams: West Elm. Drapery: West Elm. Throw pillows: Williams-Sonoma Home Abstract painting: Kevin Francis Design Lamps: Kevin Francis Design
Q&A
House Beautiful: What was the inspiration for the new design?
Kevin Francis O'Gara: With the wall of windows in my living room, I wanted to emphasize the airiness of this space so I layered shades of cream to create a light foundation for this room. I pulled pops of blue into the accents (my favorite color), which tie in my Cairene rug and complement the warm wood tones on my dining table and antique desk. This color palette also reflects the kitchen, creating a beautiful blend that’s light and inviting during the day but glows at night.
To contrast the bright living space, I went dark and moody in my bedroom and study. I pulled gray velvet curtains across the entire bedroom wall to add depth and contrast to the space (which actually helps the back wall recede, making it feel bigger!). I painted the study a rich dark brown and hung a bold crane wallpaper to make this room feel extra special. It’s where I watch movies and TV and also doubles as a guest room, so I wanted it to feel like an escape from the world.
HB: What was the trickiest part of the project?
KFO: One of the biggest challenges of this space was the lack of natural light in the bedroom and study. These rooms have just one smaller window, but instead of fighting this constraint, I embraced the dark and moody look in these rooms to create cozier spaces that actually feel much larger. Also, my apartment doesn’t have a closet since it was designed as a sales office, so I maximized the storage furniture in each room, using armoires and dressers to store my clothes!
HB: Where did the majority of the budget go?
KFO: The majority of my budget went to upholstered pieces like my living room sectional that I knew I would get lots of use out of, provide the perfect setting for entertaining friends and use for a really long time. I also invested in a large, custom-sized rug from my new Iconium collection for the living room to really give the seating area a beautiful foundation. I really designed that rug with my living room in mind, using a sun-faded palette and cream background that feels light but is still practical!
HB: How did you save money/DIY/get crafty?
KFO: I love a mix of high and low, and my sources really run the gamut, from Home Depot to the antique store down the street. I also scored the pedestal dining table from an Anthropologie outlet in Augusta—it was so worth the five-hour drive! I painted a lot of the artwork myself, and got creative with found pieces, like framing old architectural plans from my childhood home that I hung above my desk.
HB: Any other memorable details?
KFO: My poodle Leopold probably spends about 90% of his time on my living room sectional—it’s like his little runway. He loves walking down the sectional and looking out each window to keep an eye on every passerby!
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