Architectural design by James Knight
Photos by Kalyn Kight
Modern Custom Home Design in Powder Springs, GA
A striking modern transitional custom home designed by James Knight, with project photography by Kalyn Knight., this custom home in Powder Springs, GA makes a bold initial statement with moody, dark board-and-batten siding complemented by sharp gables, premium copper gutters, and a rugged heavy-timber front porch.
We've loved working with everyone on the Reynard team. They took the time to understand what kind of house we were wanting to build and designed a home that is even better than what I dreamed!
Bethany and Jonathan
Dark Facades & Warm Timbers: Inside a Striking Modern Custom Home
Completed construction in 2025 in Powder Springs, Georgia, this stunning 3,363-square-foot custom residence designed by James Knight of Reynard Architectural Designs is a contemporary blend of modern edge and rustic warmth.
Custom-tailored for homeowners Bethany and Jonathan, the striking exterior features dark board-and-batten siding, heavy timber architectural columns, and elegant copper gutters that frame a prominent glass entryway.
Inside, the spacious 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom layout is packed with premium amenities, including a dedicated home theater, office, and gym.
The interior seamlessly marries luxury with character, showcasing soaring vaulted ceilings with exposed timber beams, elegant arched doorways, a highly detailed kitchen with a walk-in pantry, and a spa-like primary wet room complete with a freestanding soaking tub.
Soaring vaulted ceilings (above) and exposed timber beams bring warmth and grandeur to the main living area, perfectly complementing the home's spacious layout.
(Below) Looking past the main kitchen's countertops (where a wooden knife block sits) through a gracefully arched doorway into a secondary prep space or walk-in pantry. Inside the pantry, there are lower cabinets with a vertically grooved design, a built-in microwave or small oven, open wooden floating shelves displaying dishes and dry goods, and a small wooden folding step stool resting on the light hardwood floor.
Four black-painted wooden bar stools with woven backs and white upholstered seats line the island's crisp white countertop. Behind the island, the perimeter counter features a sink with a brass faucet, centered under a large multi-pane window while tall floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinets flank the windows.
Exterior Architecture: Dark Facades & Warm Timbers
Interior Layout & Premium Amenities
Home Design Journey
A Comprehensive Narrative of Architectural Excellence in Powder Springs
Transforming a vacant lot into a dream home requires meticulous effort. Beginning in the summer of 2022, Jonathan Torrell and Bethany Adams undertook a 16-month collaborative design journey to realize their vision at 1605 Villa Rica Road in Powder Springs, Georgia. Through partnership with Reynard Architectural Designs, the project exemplifies thoughtful architecture, careful planning, and a strong client-designer relationship.
Here is a look at the three-phase journey that brought their custom home from a simple boundary survey to fully engineered construction documents.
Phase One: Discovery and Schematic Design
Timeline: July 2022 – March 2023
Following a comprehensive property survey to define the site’s unique canvas, the architectural and interior design teams worked closely with Jonathan and Bethany to establish the home's fundamental character.
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Aesthetic Alignment: Through a collaborative, iterative process, the team curated detailed mood boards to lock in the home’s aesthetic North Star, establishing core color palettes and textures.
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Tactile Exploration: The clients were guided through an educational material selection journey, visiting premier showrooms across the Atlanta area to personally experience stone slabs, tiles, and flooring options.
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Floor Plan Evolution: The architectural team finalized a highly functional 2,975-square-foot main level. Clever design solutions were integrated, including optimized rooflines, strategically placed laundry, and concealed master bathroom elements.
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3D views of the home allowed Jonathan and Bethany to virtually tour their future space and ensure alignment before the first drafts.
Phase Two: Design Development
Timeline: March 2023 – August 2023
With the schematic approved, Phase Two focused on refining the design and moving from broad concepts to precise detail.
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Intensive Detailing: The design team delivered fully laid-out floor plans, detailed interior elevations (drawings that show a room's vertical surfaces), comprehensive window and door schedules (lists specifying types and locations), and an interior specifications sheet (document listing all chosen materials and finishes).
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Expanded Collaboration: The interior design team expanded its resources to refine the home’s living spaces, helping the clients navigate critical lifestyle and aesthetic decisions, such as finalizing the perfect fireplace configuration for the living room.
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Despite shifting schedules and evolving details, proactive project coordination maintained momentum throughout the process. This allowed the project to transition smoothly into its final phase.
Phase Three: Construction Documents and Engineering
Timeline: August 2023 – November 2023
In the final phase, creative vision became technical reality, with precise engineering and construction documents ready for groundbreaking.
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Structural Engineering: Architectural plans were handed over to structural engineers for rigorous load calculations to ensure the home’s safety, stability, and longevity.
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The Reynard team coordinated closely with the builder's team to resolve technical questions promptly, ensuring a seamless transition from plans to construction.
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Key decisions, such as choosing engineered glulam or natural cedar for exposed beams, balanced budget, engineering, and client vision.