How do I know that every marble bust, cast-iron fireback, and seventeenth-century copper pot in this home tells a story? Perhaps because I grew up with them all.
Built in 2022, the Bannister house belongs to my mother, Suzette Bannister, and represents a lifelong passion for the thrill of finding priceless antiques and works of art hidden in flea markets and curious storefronts for pocket change or a handful of euros. Together, the collection infuses character and timeless beauty into a home that I couldn’t wait to share with our readers.
“When I first visited an architectural salvage store in the 1980s, I saw all of these elements—from doors and windows to arches and artworks—that were old and worn, yet gorgeous,” says Bannister, who sought out more of those treasures during trips to Europe over the following years. “I’ve always wanted to build a house from the ground up and incorporate those things, and this was my chance to finally do that.”
Set on 1.5 acres in the Green Valley area, the 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath house is what Bannister describes as “French meets English Cottage meets Southern Living. It’s all built on one level [with no stairs], because I hope to live the rest of my life here. I knew how I wanted rooms to flow from one to the other, and how I wanted to be able to function in those spaces,” she adds. “So, I sketched out a rough plan of how I wanted the house to be laid out and worked with the architect and the builder to design it in a way that made sense.”
Conceptualized by Architect Kevin Culhan, rooms were designed to accommodate fixtures in uncommon sizes, such as tall and narrow antique French doors that were installed on custom hinges. Painted in Provençal hues like celadon and lavender, the doors became the guiding inspiration for Bannister’s approach to interior design.
Vaulted ceilings and large windows bring the serenity of the outdoors in, while vintage glassware, antique crystal chandeliers, and mixed metals throughout amplify the light—including mirrors that once brightened my grandmother’s home. A chef’s kitchen and guest rooms with their own en-suite baths reflect our family’s love of cooking and hosting friends. And if you look closely, many of the original paintings are signed by an unexpected artist: me.
“The house is exactly as I imagined it, and I wouldn’t change a single thing,” says Bannister with a smile. “It’s my forever home.”
Green Valley Home Photo Tour
A commissioned original painting by local artist Allison Ford flows above a Carrara marble fireplace in a light-filled living room. Three antique sunburst mirrors found in Provence, France, reflect back serene hues, and decor mixes textures and metals like mercury glass, gilded frames, and alabaster vases from Italy.
In a colorful vignette, custom draperies bring hues of the sky into the primary bedroom. A photo of August Rodin’s The Kiss sculpture is a memento of a trip to see the 1996 Olympics Rings exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta
Just around the corner from the entrance of the home is a salon-style wall of small original paintings found in French flea markets (known as brocantes), some of which are over 200 years old.
An open-concept floor plan allows the living room to flow seamlessly into the bright, spacious kitchen, designed to encourage friends and family to linger long over delicious meals. A nineteenth-century French cast iron fireback anchors the space, a striking contrast to the timeless Milano quartzite countertops. Gleaming copper and bronze accents—from modern fixtures to an antique French chocolate pot—bring warmth to the classic neutrals.
In the dining room, a classic example of a vintage trumeau mirror hangs above an antique French oak buffet, with delicate hand-carved details that pair perfectly with a sophisticated modern chandelier. Louis XVI dining chairs upholstered in Belgian linen invite intriguing conversations between guests, while a painted cast iron bust of a boy gazes back toward the kitchen. French gray accents pull the diverse collection of pieces together.
The home office revolves around a custom table made from reclaimed pine.
The bar wall is a head-turning feature of the kitchen that glimmers with vintage glassware, brass rails and faucets, and a hammered metal sink. The entire bar was designed around Bannister’s favorite watercolor painting of a cluster of grapes. The art of wine appreciation is in harmony with a collection of artworks from across Europe: a sandstone bust of a woman with grapes in her hair, a classic Guy Buffet piece of a waiter with champagne, and a scene of French cheese and wine. “When guests come over, they always end up gathering in the kitchen,” says Bannister. “So we purposefully designed the kitchen to have other entertainment and work spaces, like the bar, for pouring wine or prepping food.”
