Behind The Curated Atlanta Home With A ‘Waffle House Palette’

Although not a designer himself, Steven Leonard is no stranger to the upper echelons of the design industry. As co-owner of Atlanta’s R Hughes, one of the country’s leading trade showrooms, Steven helps curate some of the most forward-thinking furniture, lighting and textile collections in the Southeast.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the tastemaker’s own home would serve as a showcase for his curatorial eye. Perhaps less anticipated, however, is the extent to which it’s also become a playground for unexpected creative expressions. “Designing a space that reflects who I am was a luxury I’d never had previously,” he confides. “I saw this house as a big experiment that I get to live in, and I loved that.”

Steven located the perfect canvas for his concept in Atlanta’s historic Morningside neighborhood. Built in 1926, the abode boasted great bones, but its elegant framework had been obscured by several renovations over the years. Still, he saw raw potential in its simplicity: “I kept looking at it, thinking, ‘this could be amazing.’ ”

General contractor John Willis became instrumental in bringing the homeowner’s ideas for the redo to life. Keeping the existing footprint intact, the duo gutted the house down to its framing and installed a full suite of modern mechanical systems. Subsequent updates included revamping the stairs, adding bathrooms, swapping the locations of the kitchen and dining room, and building out a luxurious new coffee bar to adjoin the cooking space. Steven then adorned these complementary areas with cabinetry touting cinnamon-colored lacquer and bluestone countertops.

“This home was one of the more unique projects we’ve had the pleasure of working on,” says Willis, whose colleague, general contractor Chris Shannon, collaborated with Steven on site. Post-renovation, “The home maintained its classic exterior, but the interior was transformed into a clean, modern space.”

To unify the interior, the homeowner deployed an adventurous mix of moody colors, curvy silhouettes and dramatic gestures. In the living room, an inky-toned rounded sofa with bullion fringe bids a flirtatious “hello” the moment you enter. Behind it, prima alpaca draperies form a theatrical proscenium arch around the kitchen doorway, an effect repeated on the opposite wall. Plastering the fireplace surround with the same rich charcoal tone as the draperies established a sense of cohesion, completing the room’s shadowy lounge aesthetic.

Steven cheekily compares the overall color story to a “Waffle House palette,” offering a nod to local lore. To wit, gold, ochre and rust accents animate the slate backdrop—not unlike a harvest of leaves dancing across a midnight sky. “I’ve always been drawn to smoke-stained spaces and sepia tones,” the homeowner notes. “So, I knew this house would be very fall in feeling.”

That autumnal vibe is perhaps best captured in the dining room, where leaf-peeping is encouraged thanks to a panoramic mural of a tree-filled pastoral scene. In a feat of pure design derring-do, Steven eschewed the expected furniture plan—that is, a table and chairs floating in the center of the room—in favor of something a little less conventional. Here, a saffron-hued biomorphic sectional hugs the wall, functioning as a supersize banquette. “Pushing the seating against the wall allowed for better flow and more space to accommodate lots of people for entertaining,” he says.

While the home perfectly reflects his tastes, Steven was quick to lean on industry comrades—including architect Bobby McAlpine and designer Susan Ferrier—for advice about the more technical aspects of its design. “Getting that expert insight was invaluable,” the homeowner assures. Similarly, having excellent relationships with vendors meant that Steven could cherry-pick pieces from the blue-chip brands he and showroom namesake, Ryan Hughes, represent. These selections mingle with Steven’s treasured collection of art, which includes photography by Bastiaan Woudt and paintings by late Alabama folk artist Mose Tolliver, plus a significant piece by outsider-art pioneer Thornton Dial.

This eclectic mix not only reveals Steven’s unique point of view, but also conveys a sentiment close to his heart: that contemporary design has a place in the historical Southern home. “Part of my job, beyond bringing these collections to Atlanta, is to display them in a way that’s inspiring alongside more classic design elements,” he explains. “My house is an example of how, when you place something modern in an older home, it can still feel comfortable, appropriate and maybe a little bit exciting.”