Tour an Unforgettably Bold 5-Bedroom Home in Atlanta

Go big and stay home: That’s basically Sonal Patel-Cochran’s motto. “I’ve always gravitated toward more of everything in a house—more color, more pattern, more texture,” she says. “It makes doing simple things like hanging out on the couch feel kind of adventurous.” So when she and her husband, Russell Cochran, bought their five-bedroom house in Atlanta, GA—a major upgrade from their two-bedroom condo—Sonal was raring to deck it out with statement decor inspired by her passion for travel. For starters, she had all the trim painted dark and medium grays. “Since lighting also sets the tone of a room, we put in big, eye-catching kinds,” she says. The couple turned to designer Lisa Gabrielson for a hand with the furnishings, requesting unexpected shapes, not-shy patterns and funky textures with global flair. It’s a mix that manages to feel both worldly and cozy. Says Sonal, “People walk into our house and go, whoa. That’s how I like it!”

The art—two pieces by Parvez Taj—is the view in this breakfast room. More pattern plays: chairs with paisley-like detail from Urban Outfitters and a triangle-accented rug from West Elm.

Dark gray cabinets are striking in a kitchen, especially when set against a white backsplash with Moroccan-style tile from Walker Zanger. A white quartz-top island surrounded by black Arhaus counter stools also has high-contrast, high-impact style—yet it’s easy to clean after crafting marathons. Above it, Sonal hung two giant lanterns by Savoy House in a finish that plays off the cabinet color.

“It seems counterintuitive, but color and pattern chaos in my office motivates me,” says Sonal, who designs textiles. That explains the eclectic combination of woven baskets on the wall and layered rugs on the floor. The desk, with pyramid legs and a sleek glass top, has big-time presence. Adding to the glam mishmash: orange poufs from Surya, a blue-and-white ikat chair from Anthropologie and curtains made with indigo-dyed fabric by Lewis & Sheron Textiles.