Romancing the Ranch

Decorator Melissa Welker turns a basic 1960s Atlanta abode into a coolly collected bungalow inspired by family heirlooms and British design

- BY CAMERON BEALL

AS ALMOST lifelong Atlanta dwellers, Susannah and Alex Bartko didn't hesitate when they found this quirky 1960s ranch in their preferred school district. It wasn't the home itself that grabbed the couple's attention but rather the property—with its flat, walkout backyard (a rare find in the hilly city) and its coveted location on a quaint cul-de-sac, making it the ideal spot to raise their 7- and 9-year-old daughters.

Cherished Piece Melissa accented a passed-down maple chair with a slipcover and velvet cushion to make it plush enough for the family room.

The house had good bones, but the outdated layout needed a little rejiggering. As avid entertainers, the Bartkos felt it was important that the home flowed well from room to room. To tackle the renovation, the couple enlisted the help of local designer Melissa Welker of Melissa Lacy Design. The goal: Create a less choppy floor plan to help the place live larger and function better for their family. “It needed some basic upgrades but also more depth and character,” says Melissa, who integrated inherited and one-of-a-kind pieces throughout for a collected-over-time look. “Adding soul to a home is so important, and having that element of patina was just as necessary as a more functional floor plan.”

Opening Statement To set the tone, Melissa dressed up the small but mighty entry with a movable center table and a large-scale painting to pack a punch as soon as you come in the home.