Thursday, October 23, 2014

Buckhead Apartment :: Updates

Things are picking up speed here at The Design Atelier! We've got a lot of wonderful projects that are gaining momentum, so there's a lot of work to be done!

Here is an apartment in Buckhead that we recently completed. It is a 900 square foot space right by the St. Regis with an incredible view of the city. This project has been so much fun! Especially when the client is a woman after our own hearts. She loves classic design, but is not afraid to go a little dramatic and funky. We have enjoyed getting to know her, collaborating with her, and designing her fabulous apartment!

This is her bedroom. We did fun swing-arm sconces paired with a custom headboard and custom bedding. Our client loves the color purple, hence, purple bedding! It's feminine and sophisticated, with just the right amount of color. 



Here is her living room in progress. We asked Jason Smith to do a custom bookcase that used up the whole wall. It turned out great and we are waiting to fill it with books, baskets, and other fun accessories!



View of the den from the kitchen.

How gorgeous is that Holly Hunt Roman Ring Lamp with the teal velvet sofa?! We're in love. 

View of the banquette
View of the banquette from the den. We love these colors

Emi posted photos of the bedroom and the photo above and got wonderful feedback from her followers, fellow designers, and our vendors. We are all in agreement that this apartment is one of our favorites!

Let us know your thoughts on the space! 

Friday, October 17, 2014

BEFORE & AFTER :: Rec Room Transformation

We hope you have had a great week! This week has been busy a one, and we can't wait to share what we've been up to! In addition to the projects we already have on deck, we've started a few new projects (that we'll share more of later). This week, we finished up a client's basement/rec room. It looks so great and we love how it all turned out!

Here are some before pictures:


And here is the finished product!


The basement is most frequented by the clients' children and their friends (meaning, lots of video games and slumber parties!). But the clients also wanted a place for them as a family to unwind and enjoy each other's company. We designed these custom modular floor cushions to be rearranged to however they wished. 


The clients also love playing pool, so we found this super cool pool table and had it custom made so that the felt matched the other fabrics in the room. 


However, not all projects are smooth sailing. We definitely hit a few bumps with this one. When the pool table arrived, one of the pieces of slate was damaged and the felt was too small. We had to work out an arrangement with the pool table company and the installers, so that each problem could be fixed as fast as possible. We also had ordered a custom-sized enameled steel chalkboard for a magnetic dart board. Well, the board arrived damaged... twice. So, we figured out an alternative, a cool cork wall that can be a real dartboard with real darts included. 


Although there were a few mishaps along the way that we had no way of controlling, everything worked out in the end. And what matters most is that we gave the client a great room that will be enjoyed for many years to come!



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

How to Do :: Lucite Furniture

Everyone has seen all of the lucite furniture that has been quite trendy recently. Lucite (or acrylic) furniture has waxed and waned in popularity over the years, and designers have definite opinions about it. Some love it, think it's timeless, and think it is essential for a space. Others think it is quite tacky and should not be used at all. What do we at The Design Atelier think? We think it is all about balance. Too much and it looks like... too much. However, if well-placed, lucite furniture can be that perfect finishing touch. 


Here are some inspiration images that we think do a good job of incorporating lucite furniture:


In this office, the lucite desk balances the dramatic wall color and rug.
It also allows the eye to focus on the super cool shelving.
Another desk would offer a little too much competition and would be overwhelming.


Here, lucite chairs complement the fun bubble chandelier.
Lucite accent pieces, like the candlesticks, help make the room light and airy.
Transparent pieces also do not detract from the large window and its view of the city.


These fun lucite side tables serve as the coffee table.
Moroccan details on the leg add visual interest.


The lucite coffee table here coordinates with the soft color palette of the room.
It adds dimension with its curved edges, but does not distract from other details
like the wall panelling, accent pillows, painting, or accent pillows.

Let us know your thoughts on lucite furniture and where you like to see it used!



Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Serenbe Showhouse :: Installation Photos

Is it just me, or did September fly by more quickly than ever?? I feel like we just installed the Serenbe Showhouse yesterday when in fact we actually un-installed it yesterday! Crazy how time flies!!

We are so happy to have been a part of such a fun project and we cannot wait to share the final photos taken by our amazingly talented friend, Emily Followill of Emily Followill Photography

Cocktail Table by Kevin Scanlon

Mobile by Julie Frith



Painting by Tom Swanston


The final photo is a detail shot of the custom fender we designed and had made by another good friend, Jason Smith of Smithworks Iron & Design. It is up for grabs if anyone is in the market for a beautiful fender!

Many thanks to the vendors that made this all possible:

Please let us know if you had a chance to stop by the Showhouse! We would love to hear your thoughts!