Creating an Ancestral Country Estate

Live oaks gracefully frame Brannville Plantation. A circular driveway allows guests to be dropped off at the front portico as rocking chairs beckon.

The entry hall provides a first impression of the home’s classically inspired but fresh interiors. Given the foyer’s neutral base, Ingram took the opportunity to step up the millwork with elaborate cornices and ornate casings and pediments over doorways.

“When you have so many rooms that are open and grand, we wanted to create a space that was a little bit compressing, says Ingram when describing the main gallery. “It saturates you visually and spatially with architectural detail and rich color.”

Ingram designed the sweeping curved stair case to serve as the architectural heart of the house.

The chest in the entry is Hickory Chair and the lamps are ancient Chinese. Glenn had the mirrors, which are from Mirror Image Home, hand painted to look like tortoise shell.

A bold mix of seating options in the spacious living room further add to the home’s collected effect. “It’s very traditionally based but never feels to formal or precious,” said Glenn.

Beauty meets comfort in the dining room with tapestry-backed velvet chairs and handmade Dennis & Leen crystal chandeliers. Glen brought freshness to the space with saturated color.

The kitchen opens directly onto the dining room and was designed to be every bit as elegant. This was accomplished through delicate fretwork details, white marble accents, and unique brass lighting. The cabinetry was designed by Ingram and fabricated by Morgan Creek Cabinet Company.

The cabinetry was designed by Ingram and fabricated by Morgan Creek Cabinet Company.

Glenn infused the master retreat with feminine flourishes such as a traditional four-poster bed, elegant valances, and a treasured collection of Rose Medallion china against a soft celadon backdrop. The drapery and wallpaper are Scalamandre, the large chest and ottoman are Hickory Chair, and the lamp is from Parc Monceau. The club chairs are by Charles Stewart, and the rug is Stark.

Delicate florals play up the sweet sophistication of the Princess Suite, designed for the Brannens’ granddaughters.

Glenn went for major impact in the Blue Room by enveloping it in an intricate Chinoiserie wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils. She repeated the pattern on the drapery and chairs as a nod to historic English country homes.

The “Bird & Thistle” bedroom naturally features the Bird & Thistle print from Brunshwig & Fils. The bed is by Somerset and the chairs are covered in a Schumacher Velvet.

The home’s upper level offers many moments for guests to rest their heels. Wicker rockers on the back porch balcony provide a relaxing spot to soak in the exceptional views.

Guests can also sink into the upper hall’s plush club chair with a bourbon in hand from the adjacent bar.

The bar in the upstairs sitting room offers a welcome respite. It is painted Bella Blue by Benjamin Moore.

From the project’s onset, Ingram worked in tandem with Glenn, either accelerating or scaling back a room’s architectural detailing according to her design scheme. For example, pared-down spaces such as the Africa Room feature more ornate millwork. Here, the bed is recessed into an elliptical niche for added dimension.

Flora and fauna is a common theme throughout the home, a tribute to both the Brannens’ passion for hunting and the property’s natural surroundings. In the powder room, Glenn commissioned a hand-painted Gracie wallpaper that incorporates Cherokee roses, persimmon, butterflies, quails, and other critters native to South Georgia.

The home’s abundance of historical references spills out onto the back porch, where a delicate balcony rail, inspired by the classic sheaves of wheat architectural motif, tempers the porch’s powerful composition. For the planters, McElheney gathered inspiration from drawings by Atlanta architect Philip T. Schutze dating to 1929.

Furniture by Celerie Kemble graces the beautiful and classic pool house.

Custom gates designed by Carson McElheney