An oasis of art and tranquility, this condo at Atlanta’s One Museum Place is an art-lover’s dream

In the wow-worthy elevator foyer, designer Steve McKenzie created a juxtaposition of contemporary art with antiques. A metallic ombré Phillip Jeffries wallcovering is anchored by a modern Lily Harrington art piece. Willy Guhl French Planters are situated below, topping an antique Oushak rug from Moattar.

McKenzie wove a verdant green hue throughout the home, including these mossy green custom bookshelves in the grand entrance room.

The grand entrance room is created for social interaction, with a round table and a green settee that rests beneath vintage art from the owners’ collection.

The jewel-box powder room makes an impact with a three-dimensional golden wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries and a wall sconce from Visual Comfort.

In the dining room, custom built-in shelving—designed by the condo’s original designer Jared Hughes and produced by Kingdom Woodworks—displays the current homeowners’ barware and serveware. A trio of art pieces by Justin Kellner feature tiny seek-and-find birds meant to spark conversation during a dinner party.

Another grand bookshelf in the living room is dotted with decorative books from E. Lawrence, Ltd., glass objects from Global Views, and other antiques like tea boxes from Peachtree Battle Antiques & Interiors.

McKenzie stationed two swivel chairs in front of windows that offer vistas of Midtown, creating a nook for the couple to soak in the views.

In the modern kitchen designed by Hughes and produced by John Whelan for the previous clients, Bacco barstools in Pearl from Design Within Reach edge the island. The custom Apparatus light fixture was designed by Hughes to fit the space.

A gallery of landscapes from the couple’s former home are now reframed in matching gold-tone frames. Flanking the sofa, 18th-century Louis XVI gilded chairs from Huff Harrington are upholstered in Lee Jofa fabric.

Zak+Fox drapery fabric selected by Hughes and a Dmitry & Co. bed in a Holland & Sherry linen, custom-stained Jiun Ho bedside chests, and Apparatus sconces—all selected by Hughes through R Hughes showroom—elevate the primary bedroom. Catering to homeowner Karen Boykin’s daily regimen of writing in the morning, McKenzie created a dreamy spot for her to compose at a midcentury modern desk from Westside Modern and a teak chair upholstered in a Métaphores fabric.

The primary bath boasts a stunning piece of artwork by Karen Blair, worthy of gazing upon during a soak in the tub. Lotus tables are placed nearby, meant for holding a glass of wine.

The neutral backdrop of the guest bedroom (which is often the grandchildren’s room) provides a place of respite, with beds dressed in luxury bedding from Peacock Alley meant for a restful night’s sleep. The beds, rug, and nightstand were sourced by Hughes and purchased from the previous homeowner.

McKenzie curated all of the artwork in the home, walking the initial empty space to choose the right walls for eye-catching pieces like this one by Lily Harrington.

A previous version of this story did not report that Jared Hughes worked on many architectural and interior selections for this condo. The story has been updated to reflect this information. 

Ready to transition into a new phase of life, Frank and Karen Boykin recently moved from their home in Ansley Park into a light-filled condo at One Museum Place in Midtown Atlanta. The condo impressively faces the architecturally rich High Museum of Art, where they are members, and they wanted their new residence to reflect its surroundings. 

Previously designed by Jared Hughes, the homeowners incorporated many of the designer’s selections into their new space, including custom drapery, rugs, beds, and more. From there, interior designer Steve McKenzie of McKenzie Design drew inspiration from his client’s extensive art collection as well as the museum—which is on full display from almost every window. “I wanted to let the views and the art be the heroes of the home,” says McKenzie, who personally curated artwork for every space. “The museum plays a very informative role in the decor, as the condo’s interiors are reminiscent of what could be seen at the High.”

Sculptural sofas in the living room mirror the High’s exterior light scoops crafted by Italian architect Renzo Piano, while an ebony sculpture by Kevin McLean in the dining room calls to the ever-present The Shade sculpture by Auguste Rodin that holds court on the museum property. McKenzie’s artful interpretation is immediately set in the striking elevator foyer where a metallic ombré wallcovering is anchored by a modern Lily Harrington art piece that resides above an opposing 18th-century French commode. “I love a juxtaposition of contemporary art with antique furniture,” says McKenzie.

Big art moments are strategically placed throughout the condo, including a trio of abstract works placed near the dining table that feature tiny, seek-and-find birds. “Rooms should have art that sparks interesting conversations. I could picture guests at dinner parties trying to spot the warblers in the paintings,” says McKenzie. In the TV room, the designer fashioned a gallery wall of landscapes from the couple’s collection, all reframed in matching gold-tone frames. “They all work together and bring in a piece of their old lives.”

To celebrate the couple’s former award-winning garden that they had to leave behind, McKenzie wove a verdant green hue throughout the home, as well as worked with The Victorian Atlanta to dot spaces with custom plantings. His vision to bring the outside in is most evident in the grand entrance, where an expansive rug that sits atop the blond wood flooring feels as if you’ve stepped onto a lawn, and a striking ceiling-high bookshelf is splashed in a rich mossy green. The room’s accents also pay homage to a beautiful ginkgo tree on the museum’s lawn that can be seen from the windows. It’s all of these distinct details that have made the new condo feel like home for the Boykins. “I’ve found great joy in seeing how happy and proud they are of their new home,” says McKenzie, “and knowing that I helped them define what their new life is going to look like.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Steve McKenzie, McKenzie Design, mckenzieinteriordesign.com, (404) 618-0422 PREVIOUS DESIGNER Jared Hughes, Jared Hughes Design, jaredhughesdesign.com; (678) 235-4232