Great Heights

“This condominium is about comfort and style. It“s about making something your own. I wanted it to feel like home.” “Barbara Westbrook

Light spills into the living spaces of Barbara Westbrook“s 42nd floor designer model, highlighting sumptuous textures like antique rugs, a cashmere upholstered ottoman, sleek wood floors and velvety custom pillows.

Black-and-white photography worked best, Westbrook“s team found, to set off the dining area without distracting from the views. Framed photographs by Matthew Pillsbury depicting Trafalgar Square and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, bring in Old World glory. The upholstered armchairs look slipcovered; heavy linen covers the main body of each, accented by a sheer linen skirt. A one-of-a-kind 19th-century Hungarian walnut sideboard from J. Tribble Antiques stands out for both its height and craftsmanship. “That period is all about beautiful veneers,” Westbrook says.

Barbara Westbrook“s exquisitely outfitted designer model at Sovereign doesn“t cut corners, making the most of innovative, scene-stealing architecture by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates.

Minimalism and comfort reign in the contemporary kitchen, where Westbrook“s team selected granite countertops and sleek, espresso-colored cabinetry from a range of options available to Sovereign residents. The modern glass pendant lights are from South of Market.

The study offers a rustic, more masculine vibe, with an antique Oushak rug, textural fabrics and lots of leather. Blond woods give it an easy, light-hearted verve.

“I think a master suite should be a haven,” says Westbrook. “We used a warm gray on the walls“it“s not cold at all; it sort of changes with different parts of the day.” Framed photographs by Masao Yamamoto from Jackson Fine Art add a personal touch thanks to their texture. “They“ve been handled a lot, because that“s how [the artist] likes to do things. The slightly rough edges contrast with all of the sleek, glamorous things in the room.”

Westbrook took an unusual approach in the bathroom, suspending framed photography directly in front of the shower“s glass enclosure. It serves as a strong focal point, second only to the views of Buckhead below.

In the guest room, a headboard with nailhead trim provides just the right amount of cocooning, while also framing a sumptuous mix of bedding by Dea and Signoria and a scroll-patterned accent pillow from South of Market.

Enter Barbara Westbrook’s designer model at Sovereign, Buckhead’s newest high-end, high-rise residence, and you immediately notice two things: texture and light. Whether it’s the veneered early 20th-century tables, the abundance of wool, linen, silk, velvet and cashmere, or the quilting, tufting, beading and embroidery, every surface possesses a tactile quality that engages the senses and draws you immediately inward. But it’s the light, spilling into the living spaces from nearly every angle, that makes you long to stay.

For Sovereign, where exclusive residences start on the 28th story, floor-to-ceiling windows come standard—especially on the 42nd floor, where the panoramic vistas make for one beautiful backdrop. From the downtown skyline in the distance to the bustling streets of Buckhead below to the glimpses of verdant tree cover between, visitors are reminded why they fell in love with Atlanta in the first place.

“We had the most incredible views that we didn’t want to fight, but at the same time, the interiors needed to hold up to them,” says Westbrook. The light makes such a strong debut chiefly because of this designer’s customary manner of working with it. “I like dark colors in dark rooms and light colors in light rooms,” she explains. This one, she points out, called for light colors to amplify the light.

In the living room, a creamy palette shows up not only on the walls but also on pairs of tall alabaster lamps and tailored, regal wing chairs. Antique Swedish chairs serve as bold punctuation points, thanks to a saturated navy cotton Dedar fabric. For a touch of luxury, a tufted ottoman, covered in chocolate brown cashmere, is layered with a tea table of a slightly greater height to form a stylish center point.

The designer and her team took advantage of Sovereign’s architectural quirks, too, such as the sharp corner of windows at the edge of the living room. Diminutive tables and streamlined, low-slung seating invite party guests to settle in for a cocktail, but still allow full view of the evolving Buckhead cityscape.

The model is also home-cum-gallery for collections of black-and-white photography, intriguing sculptures and paintings, all selected with the help of Todd Murphy, who also served as curator for the art throughout Sovereign’s public spaces. “I wanted it to feel like someone with really great taste lived here—the art is so edgy and current, yet it won’t ever look dated,” Westbrook comments. “We also added extra lighting, which is so important. At night, it really makes the art sing.”

At day’s end, the warm gray walls of the master bedroom offer just the right shift to serene, where glamour is imparted by silver-leaf lamps, an antiqued mirror and fashion books throughout the room—and even a string of pearls on the bedside table. A poster bed enhances the architecture and gives the room a strong, yet streamlined presence. In contrast, the guest suite and study employ a more casual aesthetic, with darker shades and tons of natural textures; heavy white linen, leather, even burlap makes an appearance. A curved bench in the guest bath is the perfect place to sit and take in the views.

The free-flowing kitchen, dining and living spaces, which are anchored by a marble fireplace at their center, seem made for entertaining, so it’s no surprise that the table setting is a work of art in itself. A tray of crystal decanters, architectural photography and dining chairs embroidered with Westbrook’s signature motif make for exquisite accents, but it’s the modern organic chandelier that’s the true conversation piece. “I saw it months ago; it was one of the first pieces we picked out,” says the designer. “We knew it would be perfect.”

Westbrook and her team have surely envisioned many conversations around this table and, through such designs, have become the first to define the condominium’s lifestyle in real living color. It is, at its heart, a place to entertain beautifully, to live stylishly, to be an Atlantan.

Sovereign’s 82 exclusive residences, which run from $1 million to $9.5 million and span floors 28 through 50, went on sale in August. Architecture by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates was designed to create a beguiling façade while giving homeowners’ a variety of floor plans and unique vantage points. Residences range from 1,700 to more than 10,000 square feet, and up to 19,000 square feet on the penthouse level. Amenities such as a concierge service, 28th-floor private skyline pool, open-air terrace, executive fitness area and spa, private climate-controlled wine room and a new Buckhead Life Group restaurant, Pano’s Grand Cafe, bring life right up to the Sovereign doorstep. Sovereign is located at 3344 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 30326. For more information on residences, call (404) 266-3344 or visit sovereignbuckhead.com.

Sovereign is located at 3344 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 30326. For more information on residences, call (404) 266-3344 or visit sovereignbuckhead.com.