Text by Lauren Gentry Walker
When Atlanta, Georgia-based designer Pebbles Nix took on the project of updating her home, she decided there was no time like the present to create a family-friendly haven perfect for welcoming and hosting loved ones. As self-proclaimed extroverts, she and her husband, Robert, along with their young son, Guy, knew they would need a space to entertain their groups of friends and prepare their once-a-month extended family dinners. “We wanted it to be a fun and happy home,” says Pebbles. “You can feel comfortable in every room. We use the entire house, and that’s what we wanted.”
The designer first discovered her love of interiors and décor from her late mother. From her knowledge of antiques to her natural way of creating a welcoming atmosphere, Pebbles says her mother made sure her family always had a comfortable yet beautiful place to come home to.
After moving to Atlanta to enroll in design school, Pebbles ended up making the city her permanent residence and gained experience by working for a residential designer and a hospitality design firm before striking out on her own in 1998 and opening Pebbles Nix Interiors in 2005.
When Pebbles and her family first moved into their home, they realized it needed a little more work than they originally thought. After taking a couple of years to mull over their wants and needs for the property, they then began working with Wright Marshall, owner of Revival Construction, on the design and architecture before beginning the renovations.
“After my mother passed away, I channeled my grief into my design work and rebranding to Pebbles Nix Interiors,” says Pebbles. “It’s truly been a labor of love.” The family knew they needed to replace the house’s windows and siding and wanted to remodel the powder room, which also acts as a laundry room. They worked with an architect to elevate the rustic exterior to a more formal Colonial style and added plenty of functional updates.
While the designer says she loves all of the rooms in her home too much to pick a favorite, each space is filled with special touches, family heirlooms, and storied pieces. Pebbles has a passion for mixing the old with the new and wanted each room to have a combination of things she grew up with and things she and her husband have collected together. “I really feel like every room needs a touch of whimsy,” she says.
One of the house’s most eye-catching details—the pink bar area—is a tribute not only to Pebbles’s favorite color, but also to her grandmother, Pinky, and her mother, Pokey, who also shared a passion for the happy hue. The vibrant space opens up onto the patio, which is outfitted with pink chairs, and makes the ultimate statement when guests enter the home.
The theme of family history continues throughout the house. In the living room, an updated white marble fireplace balances the warm caramel and pink tones. The round black decoupage coffee table belonged to Pebbles’s mother, while one of the antique side tables belonged to her husband’s family. The designer says the den is the heart of the house and acts as a family hangout and breakfast area.
The art above the custom sofa was a fixture in Pebbles’s childhood home, and watercolor paintings of her dogs flank each side of it. The light and bright kitchen only required creamy white paint on the cabinets and new hardware from the Matthew Quinn Collection. “The renovation process was so great for me to experience, because it gave me more insight for my clients,” says Pebbles. “It really was not a stressful project, and we couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out.”
