On a quick visit to Atlanta last month I had the chance to tour Swan House at the Atlanta History Museum. Historic architecture and interior design are two of my greatest sources of inspiration and a love I share with my clients. Many of my clients chose to host their weddings at historic venues or their own homes, and draw inspiration from both as they welcome their guests with gracious hospitality.

Swan House is simply delightful. Built in the 1920s and designed by architect Philip Trammel Shutze, this large home drew inspiration from English country estates, with an Italianate application. It’s a fascinating home to walk through because it was built to look old and established, but was modern at the time. It draws inspiration from many differing (and sometimes contradictory) time periods, which lends a playful, almost whimsical tone to the interior.

The exterior of Swan House is a popular venue for wedding ceremonies in the Southeast, though the interior is not available for event use. Regardless, it’s a lovely treat to walk through!

The wood paneled library is the perfect balance of formality and comfort. I would give anything to curl up with a book and a cup of tea for an afternoon! The brown tones are perfect, and inspired my most recent Moodboard Monday. I would love to see this applied to a wedding reception!

The dining room across the hall is large enough to host a 20-person dinner party. The walls are made of plaster, so the wallpaper installer hung blank wallpaper first, then hand-painted fictional birds and flowers after the artist’s fancy. It’s original to the house and reminds me of de Gournay’s Portobello design.

The kitchen. Oh, the kitchen! So much clever storage! This is a large, hard-working, proper English kitchen that reminds me of deVOL or Plain English.

The mistress’ bedroom could have existed in so many eras! There are distinct Bridgerton vibes here, but I’m particularly in love with the reed detail on the mantalpiece!

The exterior of the property is just as lovely, but will be even more lush in late Spring and Summer!