Tour 'Watermelon and Red Birds' Author Nicole Taylor's Midcentury Modern Georgia Home

After 15 years of working for interior design firms, Connecticut-based designer Naïka Andre struck out on her own, founding NJA Interiors. At NJA, Naïka is focused on bringing clients curated, eclectic spaces that are designed to help them live with “gratitude, kindness and joy,” as she says. So, when author and producer Nicole A. Taylor and her husband, designer and artist Adrian Franks, were looking for someone to design their Georgia home, Naïka was just the woman for the job.

Nicole and Adrian bought the house sight unseen in 2020. They call it The Maroon House, "named after the maroons, or enslaved Africans who escaped plantations and cultivated vibrant communities in the American South and throughout the Caribbean in mountains, wetlands and woods," according to Taylor's website. A summer escape for the family that lives in Brooklyn, the interior required renovating and some TLC. “The renovations included a bathroom remodel, new interior paint, flooring, as well as the removal of old millwork and wood paneling,” reports Naïka.

“The design was created to celebrate their Black culture,” Naïka says of the project. “We used items by Black designers and sourced from Black-owned companies.” The three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot, midcentury modern home includes lot of nods to the family’s heritage and culture, beginning in the entryway. “The entry sets the tone for the home,” Naïka remarks. A mudcloth bench by xN studio, which works with expert artisans throughout Africa, offers a welcome place to sit. “As an added layer of personalization, we also displayed Adrian’s work throughout the foyer,” says Naïka.

In the living room, the design plan called for openness and light. The walls were painted in a warm gray (Balboa Mist from Benjamin Moore), and a rust sofa and travertine cocktail table by Black-owned furniture brand Studio Anansi keep the room feeling light and cozy. “This room gets so much beautiful light from the sliding glass doors that lead to the backyard. We wanted to highlight that with the layout of the furniture.”

“This house required some creative solutions for disguising the boiler and water system on either side of the fireplace,” Naïka remembers. “I worked with a local woodworking company to design and build custom doors to disguise them while still leaving them accessible for maintenance.” The wall and custom doors were painted in Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal. The rich, deep tone creates the perfect feature wall.

The dining room was designed to receive guests. “Nicole and Adrian are big entertainers,” Naïka explains. A dining table with removable leaves was brought in, offering the couple the flexibility to adjust the table depending on the size of the gathering. Other elements were also added for entertaining. “We added a bar cabinet with a mirror above for some added elegance.” Just beyond the cabinet, the double sliding door offers guests a full view of the backyard. “This room gets so much beautiful light,” Naïka comments, “we wanted to highlight that.”

Consummate hosts, Nicole and Adrian wanted a comfortable space for guests to sleep when they visit. Naïka designed the guest bedroom to make guests feel like they’re in the comforts of home, yet wrapped in luxury you might find at a hotel. “This room is perfect for reading, lounging and a great night’s rest,” the designer says. “It’s equipped with comfy bedding and a cozy reading chair.”

For an exciting feature in the guest bedroom, Naïka designed custom closet doors. The doors were painted in Cape May Cobblestone from Benjamin Moore, a contrast to the wall color. Featuring a tambour design, the closet is among the designer’s favorite features in this room. “I loved designing them,” exclaims Naïka.

“We added classic white subway tiles in the shower and beautiful mint green penny tile on the floor,” the designer explains of the bathroom’s design. “We wanted something fun and memorable in this bath so I designed a custom yellow floating vanity.” Hidden drawers give easy access to all the essentials while maintaining a streamlined look. “It’s a ‘wild card’ piece with an interesting organic shape and lots of texture that completely makes the space.”

Nicole and Adrian weren’t Naïka’s only clients for this project. The couple’s son Garvey has his own room and his own design needs as well. “Garvey’s bedroom was the easiest space to design in this home,” Naïka confides. “I designed his nursery years prior and the previous design organically morphed into a big boy room.” Following in his dad’s footsteps, the room comes with space for the budding artist to display his latest work. “I added chalkboard insets to his doors. He can create there every day, and his parents can leave him inspirational notes.”

The evolution of Garvey’s room required a mix of old pieces and new. “We repurposed several items, including the rug, the light fixture and the nursing chair from his previous nursery,” Naïka says. Among his new additions are custom designed bifold closet doors and a new “big boy” bed. Naïka also organized cubbies to create a mini-library. “I have so much fun designing children's spaces,” she says. “I infuse them with color, learning opportunities, safety and art.”

For two busy creatives with an equally creative son, it’s important to carve out space for themselves. With Naïka’s help, the pair have done just that in a bedroom that brings some of their Brooklyn flavor down South. “We reused the light fixture, rug, dresser and nightstands from their Brooklyn apartment,” Naïka recalls. “I designed the custom bifold doors for the his-and-hers closets to act as a focal point for the room, and painted them and an accent wall behind the bed in a hue inspired by the room’s rug.” A space-dividing wall does double-duty, sectioning the space off for an even more secluded feel while giving the room its own library. “It’s a truly special space for enjoying the quiet and finding solace,” the designer says.

“What stands out to me most about this home is how the clients use it,” Naïka says. “It’s truly their sanctuary. They are avid entertainers and often host their family and friends. It’s a magical place that functions to support their lifestyle.”