Get Eco-Inspired Touring This Cool Contemporary Home

Danny Seo's Naturally House is a case-study in using organic, rustic, chic elements to create a livable, environmentally-conscious home.

By: Felicia Feaster

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Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Naturally House

The brainchild of environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo, the Naturally House was designed by Steve Dray and Cecilia Winston and built by Lucas Barry. The stunning interiors were designed by Rebecca Cartwright, who also purchased the home. Built on the New Urbanist, walkable, organic farm-centered Serenbe community south of Atlanta, the Naturally House is constructed with vertical cedar woodplanks and uses the Japanese preservation technique of shou sugi ban in which wood is charred to make it waterproof. For Seo, it checks all boxes: "I think generally there is a lot of mindfulness in the design of this home that makes it a perfect fit for Serenbe," he says. "One thing is the close, intentional proximity of the neighbors, where you have a real connection to people when you're outside, but still have a sense of privacy when you're inside. The smart design of blending nature and privacy where it matters with community where you want it (like front porches) gives you the best of both worlds."

Swing Shift

Designer Rebecca Cartwright says the metal porch swing was designed to fill in an empty space on the front porch and offer a round shape amidst many square forms. "It balances it out really nicely" she says.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Designer Rebecca Cartwright recommends blending old and new elements, personal items, artisan-made crafts and artwork as well as organic elements to give your home a lived-in but still curated quality as seen in the Naturally kitchen.

Living Well

Neutral tones and fibers give this living room universal appeal.

Nature Inspired

Organic elements abound in the Naturally home, like these mirrors framed in wood cross-sections in an upstairs bedroom.

Moveable Visual Feast

Placing an eclectic array of artworks—drawings, found photographs—and keepsakes on a floating shelf means you can move things around and swap items out for new treasures when a vignette becomes old hat.

Next Level

"We had the contractor put white oak on the ceiling to embrace the architectural detail" says designer Rebecca Cartwright, of this detail chosen to emphasize the peaked ceiling in the hallway leading from the first to the second level.

Black and White

A clean black and white color palette is the design foundation of this Georgia home says designer Rebecca Cartwright.

Clean Lines

A sleek black and white master bath leads from the master bedroom to the walk-in closet on the home's ground floor.

Equestrian Theme

The terrace level of the Naturally home could be an in-law suite, but in Rebecca Cartwright's case, will be transformed into a rental unit. With its own entrance, kitchen, bath and living areas, adding these kinds of adaptable, self-contained spaces to homes is a new trend that can expand the use-value of your home.

Good to Be Home

A palette of neutrals works especially well at the terrace level. Bright whites bring light and a fresh, modern look to this rental apartment on the home's terrace level.

Soothing Pink

Designer Rebecca Cartwright says pink is "a neutral that most people look good in." This upstairs bedroom features a live edge bench a blush wall color that is both on-trend and uniquely restful.