A Chic Georgia Abode Focuses on Nature and Wellness

Interior designer Rebecca Cartwright blends rustic and modern touches in this home, nestled in an arts and wellness community outside Atlanta.

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Nikhita Mahtani

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Located on the rural outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, Serenbe is a picturesque community comprising four hamlets that focus on arts, agriculture, health, and education. Designed to be a center for quiet living for creatives and their families, the newest development, Mado, wants to focus on bringing the outdoors in, but in a modern setting. This is exactly the vibe that Iowa– and Serenbe–based designer Rebecca Cartwright achieved with The Naturally House, a tree house-inspired haven.

A Jack steel swing by Gault Designs frames a dark window perfectly, lending a modern vibe to the wood exterior. Plants and white decorations break the colors up further.

The entryway serves as the most welcoming spot in the home, with a multitude of textures lending a homely feel.

The wood exterior integrates with the surrounding forest while the steel swing exemplifies modern, child-friendly living. "The swing was the jumping off point for bringing steel elements throughout," explains Cartwright. Black and white hues lend a polished look, and plants lend life and freshness.

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Knoll Cesca Chair

Design Within Reach

Three years after designing his iconic Wassily Chair, which is believed to be the first bent tubular steel chair design, Marcel Breuer created the Cesca Chair (1928).

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In the kitchen, statement lighting by Nuevo Living, blue-green cabinets, and an intricately carved wooden table juxtaposes modern living with rustic touches. The Deco ceiling accent cover plate is by Gault Designs

Artwork serves as the ultimate connecting factor in the home. Cartwright used as many local artists as possible for an original look that was all Serenbe.

The four-bedroom, five-bath home showcases ample texture and playful touches in its 3,200 square feet, such as a hidden pantry that conceals the microwave and toaster. Teal accents and swallow-printed wallpaper keep the home from looking too monotonous, and natural light envelops the three-story abode. Textiles, wood, marble, and an infinite collection of artwork lend to the cozy feel.

Swallow-printed wallpaper adds depth and pattern to the subdued kitchen color palette.

White walls allow for the natural light to really illuminate the space while soft colors prevent the space from looking one-dimensional. The living room features a Minimalist Nordic hearth by Gault Designs

Upstairs, sweeping views of the forest take center stage in the areas between the two bedrooms, so the decor was kept relatively simple. The outside porch area uses pale colors to let the expansive views take over, while the middle hallway acts as a mudroom that ties into the downstairs area with the same colors used for the kitchen.

A petrified wood stump sits between two armchairs.

The guest bedroom houses a canopy bed with white, wheat, and black bedding.

By using a combination of textures and artwork, black and white with pops of color, and modern elements like metal and glass, Cartwright has managed to create a rustic, nature-oriented family home that still boasts a modern edge, making it ideal for families and young couples alike.