showing off

Like an orchestra, a showhouse requires a wide range of specialists to harmonize their talents. For Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles’ 2023 Home for Holidays Designer Showhouse, over 20 esteemed interior designers brought their A game, outfitting their assigned living spaces with both creativity and luxury in mind.

Their blank slate was a 12,500-square-foot home in Atlanta’s exclusive Chastain Park neighborhood. It was originally built for clients of Kit Castaldo, principal of Atlanta-based Kit Castaldo Design. “They are from the West Coast and wanted that clean, crisp California environment with warm wood tones,” she explains of the vision. “They also wanted the inside to melt into the outside.”

Alongside architect Castro Design Studio, builder Pradera Group, and landscape designer Floralis, Castaldo delivered a home marked by California cool inside and out. Ultimately, when the clients decided to relocate, the idea of a showhouse was born.

Enter Brad Hanner, Associate Publisher with media group Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. Hanner masterminds multiple showhouses across the East Coast with the goal of showing both consumers and tradespeople the upper echelons of all things home.

“Each designer takes their one room up eight levels from where it would be in reality,” says Hanner of the designer-led (versus client-led) experience. “We also partner with top brands. For example, this house has all Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances. From the main kitchen to the outdoor kitchen, you are seeing some of the country’s most elite appliances all in one place. It just takes a showhouse to another level,” he adds.

Orchestrating all the moving pieces of a showhouse of this caliber is “a lot harder than it looks,” admits the publisher. But the rewards are worth the effort. “We debut some of the industry’s most impressive advancements,” he explains. “We invite over 100 builders from throughout the Southeast to walk through and see products in action. At our showhouses, you know you’re seeing the latest and greatest.”

And the greatness goes beyond just individual features. Held mid-November to mid-December, this 2023 holiday-themed assembly was a room-to-room showcase of the Southeast’s interior design talent. Without the limitations of client preferences or lifestyle demands, the creativity of participating designers was unbridled, resulting in some truly notable compositions.

While she had already specified its permanent interior features, like tile, cabinetry, and plumbing fixtures, Castaldo decided to continue her relationship with the home and participate in its “show home” iteration. As a result, she oversaw styling and furnishings for the kitchen, breakfast room, scullery, butler’s pantry, and vestibule.

“It’s a modern classic kitchen,” says the industry veteran. “There are two 12-foot islands—one for seating and storage and the other for a workspace with integrated stone sink.” The chocolate-glazed white oak cabinets contribute an approachable warmth to the high-functioning space.

Appliance-wise, the kitchen is fully outfitted with over twenty appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove to handle everything from rigorous cooking to casual snacking and easy beverage accessibility. Two Cove 24-inch Panel Ready Dishwashers ensure seamless cleanup while a variety of Sub-Zero products (36-inch Designer Column Refrigerator and Freezer, a 24-inch Undercounter Refrigerator, and 24-inch Panel Ready Refrigerator Drawers) preserve the freshness of the homeowner’s fresh ingredients.

Other features include a 24-inch Wolf E Series Transitional Coffee System, several Sub-Zero 24-inch Designer Wine units, a Sub-Zero 36-inch Tall Combo with Ice Maker, and a 60-inch Dual Fuel Wolf Range with a 48-inch Wolf Ceiling Mounted Hood in white glass. Plus, the scullery boasts a 30-inch Wolf M Series Contemporary Stainless Steel Handleless Convection Steam Oven, a real game-changing appliance. “It’s an important cooking tool for the health-conscious,” Castaldo says.

Meanwhile, the show home’s honorary chair, Barbara Westbrook, shaped another key living space: the expansive family room. “The kitchen had a very California feel, so we just played off that vibe,” says Westbrook, principal of Westbrook Interiors. “For such a large room with high ceilings, we went with good-sized upholstered furniture to fit the scale and created a couple of different seating areas.” Muted greens, rusty browns, and some cognac nod to the wintertime theme.

One of Westbrook’s favorite room designs was the primary bedroom by Chris Holt of Holt Interiors. “Our rooms actually looked like they belonged in the same house,” she explains. “It was very cool and creative, with a California vibe. I always feel more comfortable with a little breathing room, nothing overstuffed, and he achieved just that,” she describes of his approach.

Since this event was held during the holidays, the designers added seasonal décor to their rooms, giving the public a double dose of inspiration. For many in the Atlanta area and beyond, the holiday house is an annual tradition; they meet for lunch or brunch and tour. It’s the perfect way to get in the holiday mood.

But there’s more to the story than top-notch interior design. For Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, showhouses like this are a chance to give back to the community. Ticket sales benefitted Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a nonprofit with over 60 pediatric specialties and programs. “We are so blessed to have this resource in Atlanta, and it’s an incredible cause,” says Westbrook.

Each showhouse has its own personality, and this one infused a little bit of California into the more traditional architectural styles common to Georgia, especially Atlanta. Touring the luxury home room to room was a feast for the senses, with plenty of oohs, aahs, and wow moments around every turn.

Ultimately, the house ended up selling for over $7 million, a landmark price for Chastain Park, notes Castaldo. “Decorated for a showhouse or not, this is an impressive house. Inside and out, it’s just a dream.”