A House in Harmony

Scotta and Roddy Kitchens have painstakingly transformed their almost century-old house into a beautiful family home that charmingly celebrates its historic origins.

by Lisa Cundey

When it comes to interior design, some people just have a knack for it—a natural instinct that fosters a good sense of style, taste and vision. Often, true visionaries recognize beauty and value that others overlook, whether the object in question is the most sought after creation of modern times or a forgotten, dusty cast-off waiting in the wings to be revived.

Many years ago, when Dr. and Mrs. William R. Kitchens first became friends with William Frank McCall Jr. of Moultrie, Ga., they considered his knack for interior design an added bonus to his talents as a renowned Southern architect. But what Scotta and Roddy didn't anticipate was how McCall would tap into their own personal reservoirs of style and offer them advice that would guide their design and decorating endeavors for a lifetime.

In 1980, the Kitchens family moved from Atlanta to Augusta for Roddy to join a busy cardio-thoracic surgical practice at University Hospital. By 1985, they had outgrown their home and were contemplating the purchase and renovation of an old house, about the time when restoring old houses on "The Hill" had come into vogue. "We knew that the money we invested in restoring an old home would increase the overall value of the property," Scotta says. But the couple considered their architect friend Frank McCall's input a necessary requirement before purchasing the property. And approve the property he did—whole heartedly.

The Edgar P. Sawyer Home, constructed around 1915, was deemed a great purchase by McCall for many reasons. Historically, the home spoke to Augusta's rich past. Sawyer, a lumberman and businessman from Oshkosh, Wis., built the house and an identical second house as mirror images of one another on a large piece of property on Pickens Street in what is now known as Historic Summerville. The twin houses served as winter residences for Sawyer's two children, daughter, Nia Sawyer Chase, and son, Philetus H. Sawyer, whose descendants remain in Augusta today.

Architecturally speaking, the house was stunning. Intricately detailed crown molding and solid mahogany "Morgan" doors probably were a luxury of Sawyer's lumber connections. And each of the house's 10 fireplaces are surrounded by different mantles, an architectural detail that points to the possible influence of well-known Augusta architect Henry T.E. Wendall. "We don't know for sure if Wendall designed our home, but there are several architectural characteristics that reflect his style," Scotta says.

Practically speaking, the four-story house provided more than enough room for the Kitchens and their three children, considering that they would not be housing the large housekeeping, grounds and stable staff that traveled with the Sawyer family during winters in Augusta.

The Kitchens live mainly on two floors of the house, which functions much like today's modern two-story family home. The third floor, modest in it's construction, serves as an attic and playroom area, but in the early 1900s the Sawyer family used the uppermost floor as living quarters for their staff and a school room for their children.

The underground basement level of the home is a maze of storage rooms and corridors and houses the original boiler heating system, fondly referred to as "King Tut," probably because of its enormous size. A large brick barbecue pit also can be found in the basement, though Scotta confesses they have never fired it up.

Finally, in his assessment of the home, Frank McCall pointed out that unusually large bedrooms and walk-in closets should seal the deal. Atypical for Southern homes in the early 1900s, the large spaces made it possible for McCall to design a floor plan renovation that would reassign space and update the second floor in several key areas, thus bringing the sleeping quarters and bathrooms toward a more functional modern arrangement.

ith McCall's help, stage one of renovations was completed and the home's overall layout, style and color scheme were determined. "Basically, Frank helped us discover our decorating preferences at an important time in our lives and fostered our appreciation for architecture, artwork and furnishings. We were such close friends and he knew our lifestyle so well that he even helped us decide which bedrooms the children should have and where to place our furniture."

The foyer and living room function beautifully together when entertaining large numbers of guests. By dividing the formal living room into a unique arrangement with furnishings, McCall ensured the receiving space behind the couch and within the foyer remained intact. Plush, comfortable furniture grouped around the fireplace offers seating for a large gathering, while restored 1940s wooden armchairs in front of the window define a more intimate space. The Steinway grand in the corner of the room was crafted the same year as the house and also restored by the Kitchens. "I love to save things,"says Scotta. "Over the years I've found many forgotten, aged furnishings and artwork and searched for talented craftsmen and women who could bring them back to life." Scotta explains that many of the home's other decorative accents have been antique store "finds" that she purchased for "next to nothing" then restored with her own tender loving care and elbow grease.

Classic wall colors, fabrics and wallpaper patterns have stood the test of time within the Kitchens' home, thus the original investment in renovations have held their value. Over the years, the couple has added tasteful finishing touches with decorative items and original artwork acquired during their travels around the world. Roddy's passion for sailing and Scotta's sense of adventure have taken them on many excursions with friends and exposed them to an international assortment of antique furnishings and artwork. Collecting prints from abroad and framing them back home became a practice that minimized shipping costs and allowed the couple to select the right size and style of frames to coordinate with their surroundings.

The beautifully decorated main floor of the home consists of a large foyer and stair case, living room, dining room and garden room, all connecting one another through huge doorways. Large windows draw nourishing sunshine for an exotic collection of plant life in the garden room. Natural rattan furniture provides ample seating atop a colorful mosaic Italian marble soapstone floor, which is an artful masterpiece in its own right. Surrounding the room is a magnificent botanical mural, probably of Oriental descent, which hangs as panels on the walls and over the fireplace.

wood paneled archway, fitted with an ornate Italian water fountain, leads from the garden room to an exquisite dining room. Richly painted English countryside murals surround the dining room in its entirety, suggesting both a sense of tradition and playfulness among scenes from 19th century England. Rescued from a London fire, a majestic brass chandelier with beautifully cast details presides over family dinners at holidays and special occasions.

Nearby, the kitchen has undergone two renovations since the house's purchase, but the cabinets in the butler's pantry are original. Cheerful yellow wallpaper provides a soft backdrop for collections of traditional blue-and-white porcelain, Italian and French pottery, and original watercolor paintings.

Roddy's desk is tucked cleverly next to the breakfast table under a brickwork opening that was originally a fireplace. The old, roll top once belonged to Roddy's paternal grandfather, Dr. Orren William Kitchens, a general practitioner from Byronville, Ga., who Roddy frequently accompanied on house calls when he was a young boy. In keeping with family tradition, Roddy also used the desk for a number of years when he first began practicing medicine. An antique "Memory Box," which sits on top of the desk, was a gift from Scotta that holds many cards and letters of appreciation Roddy has received over the years from patients and colleagues.

Beyond the large picture window near the breakfast table, the manicured back yard and pool comprise a serene landscape. Years before water features were popular, Scotta acquired a massive terra-cotta urn fountain and incorporated it into the foreground of the pool. Chipped over time, and surrounded by boxwood parterres, the urn spills water over its sides, lending a relaxing sound as a family of brilliant red cardinals feed nearby.

Since Frank McCall's death in 1991, the Kitchens have sought professional design advice from several Augusta designers who have also become good friends. The children's bedrooms, a guest room and master bedroom suite have all been redecorated to coordinate with the rest of the home's classic interior. A crisp pleated red-and-cream toile bedskirt sweeps the floor beneath the four-poster bed of the guest room, contrasting with the bed's creamy crocheted coverlet—handmade by Scotta's late grandmother Nona Coleman of Crabapple, Ga. An antique desk and chest, and a petite fireplace complete the cozy retreat and touches of crimson throughout the room complement the bed skirt.

At the opposite end of the hallway, a dreamy light-blue bedroom is the favorite of grandchildren and new mothers. Reminiscent of old-fashioned nurseries, the pinstripe wallpaper hides imperfections often found on plaster walls of old homes, while a cove of crisp, white cabinets creates a stage for playing beneath a sunny window draped in white sheers. There's even a vanity that doubles as a changing table and a handsomely paneled built-in seat near the fireplace for snuggling up to read with the grandchildren.

The master bedroom features a brightly colored floral fabric reflecting Scotta's love of roses. Treasured portraits of the couple's three children hang above a fabric covered dresser and nearby upholstered wingback chairs in front of the fireplace are a nightly reading spot for the couple, who are both avid readers.

Joining all five of the third-floor bedrooms is a handsome library that overlooks the main stairway of the home. The wide landing cried out for attention to architect McCall, who fashioned it into a stately library with plenty of bookshelves, comfortable chairs and a reading desk near a wall of sunny windows.

One of Scotta's most treasured antique books is The Complete Home, by Mrs. Julia McNair Wright, published in 1879. She found the book in a hidden area of the attic when she was cleaning out the space for renovations back in 1985. It is from the preface of this book that she found inspiration for establishing her own home and she is fond of sharing this passage with others:

"Between the home set up in Eden, and the home before us in Eternity, stand the homes of earth in a long succession. It is therefore important that our homes should be brought up to a standard in harmony with their origin and destiny."

Though the complete origins of this 93-year-old house remain a mystery, it's destiny is surely in good hands.