Meet the Ladies of The Design Atelier :: Melanie Millner

Here is the final installment of our series "Meet the Ladies of The Design Atelier." We've saved the best for last, Melanie is the founder and principal of The Design Atelier!

Melanie at her drafting table in the TDA office

Name: Melanie Millner

Hometown: Schenectady, New York

I knew I wanted to be a designer when… I was in high school.

If I wasn't a designer, I’d be… I can't imagine being anything else!

Random thing I’m good at… Deer hunting

Favorite meal to cook (or enjoy!)… Grilled salmon, quinoa, and steamed veggies

One thing I always buy even if I already own a dozen… Flowers, tulips are my favorite!

Every home needs… love.

Favorite restaurant... Restaurant Eugene on Peachtree.

You couldn't pay me to... do interior painting.

Melanie's children: Wyatt, Megan, and Wesley
Also, Cocoa, the family dog

My perfect day… any summer day in Northeast Harbor, Maine with my kids.

Guilty of spending too much money on… groceries from Whole Foods.

Favorite quote… "Peace, it does not mean to be in a please where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

If I could travel anywhere, it would be… Maine, Paris, and Italy

My biggest pet peeve is… lack of motivation.

Best motherly advice… Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

My latest addiction is... a daily latte from Enrico, the Italian barista at Star Provisions.






We hope you enjoyed getting to know Melanie and the other ladies of The Design Atelier. It's been fun to show you our team and to let you know more about each of us! We've been up to some pretty exciting things the past couple of weeks, and we can't wait to tell y'all about them. Be on the lookout for another post coming soon!

We wish you a great weekend, and stay warm!!

Meet the Ladies of The Design Atelier :: Sarah Margaret Lyons

We hope you have had a great week so far! Here is the next member of our team, meet our Design Assistant Sarah Margaret!

Sarah Margaret with her family commemorating
her graduation from Auburn University in August.

Name: Sarah Margaret Lyons

Hometown: Auburn, Alabama

I knew I wanted to be a designer when… When I was younger, I would rearrange my doll house every week and rearrange/redecorate my room about once a month. My mom also gave me the responsibility of decorating the house for Christmas, rearranging the furniture, or styling bookshelves, mantels, etc. I (officially) knew I wanted to go into interior design when my parents bought and renovated a 1920's bungalow when I was in high school. I had so much fun visualizing the final result!

If I wasn't a designer, I’d be… maybe an elementary art teacher or working for a non-profit charitable organization.

Random thing I’m good at… Cooking! I love it. I got 2 new cookbooks for Christmas and I love scouring through them!

Favorite meal to cook (or enjoy!)… I really enjoy being adventurous with cooking. I get inspired from shows on the Food Network (Ina Garten and Giada de Laurentiis are my personal favorites) and try to replicate meals from memory. Usually I toss ingredients together and see how it turns out! Sometimes, it's delicious and other times... you surrender and order pizza.

One thing I always buy even if I already own a dozen… Haagen Dazs pints of ice cream. I can’t help it.

Every home needs… organization and at least one antique piece. (Emi and I agree on this!)

My perfect day… Sleeping in, having a nice quiet morning with a good book and a cup of coffee, and then spending the rest of the day with family and friends out on the lake.

Sarah Margaret with her boyfriend, Jeffrey, in the Devon Tower
overlooking Oklahoma City.

Guilty of spending too much money on… plane tickets to see my boyfriend in Oklahoma.

Favorite quote… “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” -Mother Theresa

If I could travel anywhere, it would be… The southern coast of Italy! The pictures I've seen look lovely and it sounds so luxurious to lay in the sun and eat scrumptious Italian food all day.

My biggest pet peeve is… nail biting or knuckles popping. I hate the sound!

Best motherly advice… Always act like a lady.



We hope you enjoyed getting to know Sarah Margaret. Look forward to meeting another team member next week!!