Project Spotlight: Atlanta’s SOURCE Brings Modern Elegance and Hydro Systems Innovation to Southeastern Designer Showhouse
Project Spotlight: Atlanta’s SOURCE Brings Modern Elegance and Hydro Systems Innovation to Southeastern Designer Showhouse
When the 2025 Southeastern Designer Showhouse presented by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles opened its doors this spring, one set of rooms stopped visitors in their tracks: a serene lower-level wellness suite reminiscent of an ancient Roman bath, a jewel-box powder room, a primary bath suite brimming with subtle elegance, and a laundry room that could be mistaken for a space out of a 17th-century Cotswolds manor. Two equally striking secondary baths added to the impact.
All were envisioned by Brittany Stafford and Cydney Mitchell of SOURCE, an Atlanta-based interior architecture and design firm known for its refined material sensibility and architecturally grounded point of view.
Set in Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead neighborhood and built by Cole Construction with architecture by William T. Baker, this year’s Southeastern Showhouse offered a 21st-century take on a stately British country manor. At 10,000 square feet, the home exuded both grand scale and traditional architectural detail—an ideal canvas for SOURCE to weave wellness, craftsmanship, and modernity into every layer of the showhouse. Mitchell and Stafford drew from the home’s warmth and classical character to shape a cohesive interior vision. In addition to designing the wellness room, primary bath, formal powder room and laundry room, the firm also served as the interior specifier for the entire home, selecting and coordinating all architectural finishes, materials, and built-in details. Their thoughtful approach touched every corner of the house, ultimately resulting in five Hydro Systems products specified across multiple spaces.
Each space they designed offered a distinct encounter with the Hydro Systems artistry-meets performance ethos, from sculptural freestanding bathtubs to streamlined drop-in tubs and a cleverly engineered laundry sink.
The Primary Suite: A Sanctuary for Everyday Luxury
The brief for the primary bathroom was clear: to create a retreat that felt deeply serene, classically elegant, and unmistakably luxurious. SOURCE responded with a layout that broke from convention. A central shower clad in Calcutta Gold marble became the architectural focal point, while the sculptural Chateau tub—finished in a warm taupe rather than traditional white—further anchored the space with grace and quiet drama.
“Its soft curves and scale make it feel timeless yet modern,” says Mitchell, who serves as Creative Director for SOURCE. “We wanted it to complement the strong architectural lines, so we softened the ceiling with a gentle curve and finished the walls in Venetian plaster for added depth.” A freestanding tub was practically a non-negotiable in this space. “The Chateau tub has a more traditional elegance that fits seamlessly into the primary bathroom. It sets the tone of the room and anchors the layout. Freestanding tubs are often seen as a design statement and are associated with a perception of luxury, which aligned perfectly with the vision for this space.”
Brass accents and a thick Calacatta Gold marble countertop with a curved edge banding added richness and restraint, striking a balance between tradition and modernity. “Every material and element was chosen to create a sense of warmth, sophistication, and harmony throughout the space,” adds Mitchell.
Hydro Systems’ Chateau freestanding tub—finished in a warm taupe rather than traditional white anchors the primary bath suite.
The Wellness Room: A Contemporary Roman Bath
One of the showhouse’s most talked-about spaces was the wellness suite, where design and therapy came together in expert fashion. “Anyone who enters the space immediately feels calm and at peace,” says Mitchell.
At its heart: the Michelangelo tub, a monolithic statement piece rendered in a custom earthen hue and outfitted with Hydro Systems’ Cold Plunge technology. Set against a dramatic full-height stone slab wall, the tub channeled the grandeur of classical Roman baths while offering a thoroughly modern approach to recovery and relaxation.
“We envisioned this as a multipurpose space to stretch, meditate, or unwind,” explains Mitchell. The Cold Plunge tub became a natural anchor—both visually and functionally as a key part of the wellness experience. The space also included a wet steam room, hot sauna with curved walls, and wall-mounted water filtration system—creating a fully immersive, spa-quality sanctuary. “We wanted this space to feel unified and thoughtfully composed, while also being highly functional,” she adds. “A wellness space should allow the mind and body to relax without effort, and every detail here was designed to support that experience.”
The Michelangelo freestanding tub, in a custom earthen hue and outfitted with Hydro Systems’ Cold Plunge technology. Set against a dramatic full-height stone slab wall, the tub channeled the grandeur of classical Roman baths while offering a thoroughly modern approach to recovery and relaxation.
The space also included a wet steam room, dry sauna with curved walls, and wall-mounted water filtration system—creating a fully immersive, spa-quality sanctuary. Photo: Robert Peterson / Rustic White Interiors
The Secondary Baths: Tailored Luxury in Tighter Quarters
SOURCE approached the smaller footprints of the secondary bathrooms with just as much care. One standout was a space anchored by the Palmer oval drop-in tub elegantly set into a bespoke curved blue marble backsplash and parapet wing walls. “That bath is one of our favorite compositions,” notes Mitchell. “It created such a distinctive and elegant moment.”
Hydro Systems’ Palmer Drop-in Bathtub elegantly set into a bespoke curved blue marble backsplash and parapet wing walls.
In another secondary bath, the team selected Hydro Systems’ ever-versatile Lacey drop-in tub for its clean lines and adaptable sizing. “The Lacey and Palmer drop-ins offered a tailored look that was perfect for more private or compact baths,” says Mitchell. “They allowed us to create an integrated, built-in feel without sacrificing floor space or functionality. Every choice was deliberate and tied to the character of the room.”
Laundry Room: Everyday Function, Elevated
Even the laundry room offered a study in refined utility. Upon first glance, the space appeared to transport you to a 17th-century Cotswolds manor with its traditional details. But the Delicate Touch Laundry Sink—a Hydro Systems innovation featuring a deep basin, optional aeration system, integrated washboard slope, and built-in drying shelf—proved how thoughtful design can transform a purely utilitarian element into an extension of modern luxury.
The Delicate Touch Laundry Sink—a Hydro Systems innovation featuring a deep basin, optional aeration system, integrated washboard slope, and built-in drying shelf.
The Lasting Impression
For SOURCE, their participation in the Southeastern Designer Showhouse was an opportunity to elevate the design conversation beyond mere aesthetics and focus on creating atmosphere. “We considered how each space would feel when you stepped inside—how light would move across the surfaces, how materials would respond to touch, and how the scale would support the human experience,” Mitchell explains. “We wanted each space to feel like an experience in itself—not just beautiful, but emotionally resonant.”
Across the rooms they shaped, Hydro Systems became a trusted partner in realizing that vision. Whether through the sculptural presence of a freestanding tub, the tailored functionality of a drop-in, or the wellness benefits of Cold Plunge therapy, each piece was carefully chosen to support a life well-lived—and well-designed.
