Cararra marble, contemporary couches and velvet curtains aim to emulate the upscale look of hotels like the W in restaurateur Johnny Carino’s and Austin Williams Carino’s Sandy Springs townhome.
“It’s very hotel chic,” said Austin.
It was the first home purchase for the pair, who were married in New York City in 2011 and who had to select all the finishes for their Atlanta townhome in a two-day period. Austin’s creative flair and his choices were a pleasant surprise for Johnny, who downsized from a four-story townhome in Dallas, Tex.
“He put together colors I never, ever would have thought matched,” he said.
Snapshot
Residents: Johnny Carino, owner of Chef Johnny Carino Innovations and the namesake of the Johnny Carino's Italian restaurants, and Austin Williams Carino, general manager of Aveda at Lenox Square, and their dogs, Dolce, Ecko, Gucci and Ella.
Location: Sandy Springs
Size: 2,500 square feet, three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
Year built and bought: 2013
Builder: Ashton Woods
Architectural style: Georgian
Favorite architectural features: The crown moldings, built-in bookcases and detail around the fireplace, which add character to new construction, Austin said.
Interior design style: Transitional
Favorite interior design elements: The use of natural stone and marble in the kitchen and master bathroom. In the kitchen, the quartz Silestone countertops have the look of Cararra marble while being more durable and the backsplash is Cararra marble in a checkered pattern, Austin said. In the master bathroom, gray subway tile is offset with natural stone in a rectangular shape. "I can be very modern," Austin said. "Johnny is more traditional. So I had to bring those two together, which is more transitional."
Favorite furniture: The custom Italian leather couch with stainless steel legs in the living room, which Austin designed, along with the ottoman. Johnny, who has preferred large pieces of traditional-style furniture he can sink into, enjoys the couch this way: "I put the ottoman against the couch and just sprawl out on that."
Favorite find: The wooden table with bench seating and chrome legs, which Austin found at The Dump.
Favorite outdoor feature: The oversized patio, which is still a work in progress, they say.
Resources: Furniture and accessories from Stanton Home Furnishings, West Elm, Restoration Hardware, Jonathan Adler, One Kings Lane and various shops in Dallas. Sherwin-Williams' Mindful Gray is used throughout the home.
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