Hot List
Flower Power
As a high school student in South Florida, Karla Pruitt’s part time job was painting murals in local homes. Now that Hygge and West (hyggeandwest.com) are carrying her wallpapers online, Pruitt’s designs reach a much wider clientele.
“I love patterns,” says Pruitt, who was influenced as a girl by the fabrics in her great-grandmother’s Miami upholstery shop and by her mother’s needlework. Today, the SCAD graduate fuels her imagination with walks around her Normaltown neighborhood in Athens. “Every spring, the camellia bushes are in bloom, and that inspired my garden wallpaper,” she explains.
In addition to her florals, which come in gold, magenta, mint green and sensuous black, she’s created a modern take on the polka dot and an architectural ogee pattern, drawn from the leg of a chair given to her by her grandmother.
“It’s a challenge,” she notes, “making something new out of something classic.” — Amy Laughinghouse
FRESH TAKE
Join Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles’ editors and a group of lifestyle experts for the second annual reader day on Wednesday, February 20, at ADAC. Panelists will include floral and landscape designer Brian James Davis, chef Kevin Gillespie, designer Melanie Turner and AH&L columnist Marcia Sherrill. Ainsworth-Noah & Associates, Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio, Bradley Hughes and Porcelanosa will host the day’s events. adacatlanta.com
Shop & Savor
Guy T. Gunter & Associates is more than a source of top-of-the-line appliances. The Junior League of Atlanta and the National Kitchen & Bath Association are just a couple organizations that have booked Saveur, the sprawling, 4,500-square-foot party space located within the sparkling Westside showroom. Spread among five professionally designed kitchen displays and a luxury demonstration kitchen commanded by resident chef Alex Reethof, the venue can accommodate as many as 250 guests for fêtes and up to 100 for seated dinners with any chef you wish, and offers fully-integrated technologies like flat-screen TVs, a high-tech sound system WiFi and more. 1610 Southland Circle NW, Atlanta 30318. (404) 874-7529; guytgunterappliances.com
Tucked In
Children’s clothier McCall Wilder has revved up her repertoire, taking her talents beyond little ones’ ensembles to elegant linens for the home. With McCall Wilder Couture, she employs the same luxurious fabrics, attention to detail and eye for intricate patterns. The high-quality linens start with Sea Island cotton knit in any of three colors—white, pink or pale blue. Embroidery is then satin-stitched, hand-blocked, or rendered in patterns such as feather stitches, vines or satin dots. From the classic to the elaborate—including hand-blocked monograms to rose wreaths and triple bullion flowers—the options for everyday and holiday are endless. 110 East Andrews Dr., Suite 3, Atlanta 30305. (404) 841-9263; mccallwilder.com
Well Contained
After shuttering its location at the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont, The Container Store has moved to a bigger and better, 28,000-square-foot showroom in Buckhead. Located right across from The Ritz-Carlton Residences, the shop stocks more than 10,000 of the brand’s raved-about storage and organization products, like artisan glass canisters, the silver sunny kitchen trolley and its brightly colored Bisley file cabinets. Fresh ideas for organizing and de-cluttering your home and office seal the deal, with tons of parking to boot. 3637 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite C, Atlanta 30319. (404) 963-9602; containerstore.com
Collection Now
At their namesake ADAC showroom, Randy Grizzel & Gary Mann have rolled out a fresh line of relaxed and livable furnishings. Collection Now comprises an affordable range of trade-only case goods, lighting, upholstery, accessories and textiles perfectly suited for today’s lifestyles. The “Now” part of the moniker is two-pronged: The items are current—influenced by movements in the market but not overly trendy—and they’re also available off the floor for instant gratification. Any pieces ordered will arrive in no more than four weeks. The trick is in the duo’s reigned-in approach: Limited options for finishes and fabrics mean the pieces can be produced quickly without clunky customizations. But we still bet you’ll love the upholstery options up for grabs—a full spectrum of high-traffic fabrics in muted primary hues. Grizzel & Mann, 351 Peachtree Hills Ave. NE, Suites 120 & 226, Atlanta 30305. (404) 261-5932; grizzelandmann.com
Beautiful Bidding
The 14th-annual ART PAPERS Auction is upon us, and with new director Saskia Benjamin on board, we anticipate the most exciting event yet. Hosted once again at Mason Murer Fine Art, the event that serves as the kickoff to Atlanta’s art year and as ART PAPERS’ largest annual fundraiser will feature work by more than 250 established and emerging artists from Atlanta and around the world—Sarah Emerson, Jiha Moon, Harriet Leibowitz and Scott Ingram among them. Attended by thousands, the auction opens with a collector’s preview on February 8, followed by the big auction night and party on February 9. artpapers.org/auction
High Style
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta, recently unveiled a new model residence. Johnna Barrett of Barrett Design created the serene space, which features a calming color palette, shimmering wall surfaces and luxurious finishes and details. And, of course, there’s the inspiring skyline view from the home’s perch on the 41st floor. The new residence joins two other model homes designed by John Oetgen and Mimi Williams. residences.mandarinoriental.com/atlanta
Down to Earth
Formed by LEED-certified husband-and-wife duo T. Gene and Xiorelis Cox, fresh Midtown boutique EcoDenizen brings earth-friendly housewares like Rewined Candles, Loll Designs furniture and SodaStream machines to our fingertips. We love the store’s stylish “Tangle Pendant” fixture from Artecnica (at left, $89). A refill station for natural cleaners is the real eye-catcher, but the owners also rep an extensive range of kitchen components certified as “green.” The store is designed as a way to turn retail shoppers into design clients and vice versa; the duo operates a design business out of the back, showcasing no fewer than seven countertop surfaces, a range of flooring materials—from reclaimed wood to cork—and Kirei bamboo cabinetry. The couple’s current projects include supplying LED lighting to a number of restaurants and a Buckhead condominium, saving it $10,000 in energy expenditures annually. 999 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 180, Atlanta 30309. (678) 705-9880; ecodenizen.net
Wedded Bliss
After furnishing residential salons at Tony Conway’s new Buckhead wedding and events venue, Estate, the team at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams got a bright idea. Why not create a way for newlyweds to more easily bring MG+BW pieces into their homes? The MG+BW registry was born. Conway returned the favor by gifting $150 in MG+BW credits for each event he hosts, so his clients can begin registries for their new phases of life. The gift certificates, elegantly boxed and tied with black-satin ribbons, are physical tokens of the carefully cultivated online database—one that’s designed to be a registry for what you really want, not a fixed-price item. The funds build infinitely, so you can spend them on something small, like the new lacquer Iris boxes, or a grander investment piece, like the sumptuous Avignon sofa. 3081 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta 30305. (404) 869-1770; mgbwregistry.com
Artful Arrivals
Some of atlanta’s most elegant galleries have recently welcomed several fresh and forward-thinking artists, for which color
and expressionism are king. Here are just a few appearing on our radars: Married couple Reagan and Danny Geschardt have signed on at Gregg Irby Fine Art. Both use color with aplomb—Danny in the form of acrylics, oils, charcoals and pastels, and Reagan with bold brushstrokes in oil pigments. The gestural, mixed-media pieces of Eileen Power also join the group. Anne Irwin Fine Art has greeted the geometric spheres of artist Hamp Stevens, whose mathematically exact wooden sculptures are formed from dozens of precisely cut shapes. The textural, color-saturated landscapes of Jane Schmidt also join Irwin’s roster. Alan Avery Art Company’s latest include the luminous paintings of Jennifer JL Jones and Southern rural scenery by Courtney J. Garrett. Huff Harrington Fine Art’s new debuts are Laurie Yeates Adams, for softly abstracted figurative works, and Roger Dale Brown, for classical landscapes, while Pryor Fine Art rounds out the offerings with porcelain figures by Nancy Legge and bold abstracts by Chris Hayman.
First Pets
Dallas native Jennifer Pickens recently appeared at the AH&L Christmas House to speak about her beloved book, Christmas at the White House. Her new presidential publication, Pets at the White House ($49.95, Fife & Drum Press), pays tribute to the animals treasured as part of the White House brood. Pickens’ tome softens the political personas of various heads of state through 200 touching photographs—many of which have never before been shown. With a foreword by former First Lady Barbara Bush, interviews with dozens of White House staffers and personal contributions from former first families, the non-partisan pub shines a light on tender moments with their two- and four-legged companions—from dogs and cats to ponies and parakeets (even an alligator). Place orders online to receive copies signed by the author. jenniferpickens.com/books
Only the Finest
Luxury hotel veteran Harrison Rohr has worked for such prestigious spots as The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta and The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, and most recently served as director of catering and convention services for The St. Regis Atlanta, where he was one of its founding team members. Though he departed in August, he hasn’t lost his appetite for the exceptional. Exquisite Stationery by Harrison Rohr, his sleek new appointment-only boutique on East Paces Ferry, is the local crème de la crème of couture stationery. Through one-on-one consultations with the city’s most discriminating clientele, Rohr creates completely custom designs from the paperies of William Arthur to Vera Wang—even over-the-top-opulent options from Twig & Fig featuring faux fur. Ooh-la-la. 480 E. Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta 30305. (404) 869-6201
Time for Design
Since November, the Museum of Design Atlanta has played host to its most exciting showcase yet: “The South’s Next Wave” exhibition, which matched many of the city’s premier design talents with equally inspiring artisans, from cupcake crafters to electric guitar makers. An illustrious list of more than 50 collaborators—Caryn Grossman, Bobby Berk, Amy Wikman and Michel Boyd, to name a few—came together to construct the 16 high-design vignettes. This month, a viewer’s choice award will bestow a cash prize of $6,000 to the winning designers, as judged by the exhibit’s savvy attendees. Stay tuned. 1315 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta 30309. (404) 979-6455; museumofdesign.org
French Touch
Celebrated French designer Thomas Bastide recently stopped by Atlanta’s OwenLawrence for a series of events with Baccarat, which is one of the fine lines represented in the showroom. New introductions and old favorites were on view, and customers lucky enough to snag one of Bastide’s designs were able to have it signed by the design icon. Baccarat is no stranger to artist and designer collaborations, which have included the likes of Jaime Hayon, Philippe Stark and Marcel Wanders.
Bastide—who has worked with the company for three decades and is responsible for some of Baccarat’s best-selling pieces—often looks to the past while creating new pieces for today’s lifestyles. After all, the company’s history dates to 1764. “[Baccarat’s] legacy is in the essence of everything I design,” Bastide says. But not one to rest on its past accomplishments, the company is debuting Baccarat Hotels & Resorts later this year, which will allow the company’s fans to not only own a piece of Baccarat, but live the lifestyle as well. baccarat.com; owenlawrence.com
More Mills
Designer Tish Mills has long offered her artful geode lamps through her design studio at ADAC West, but so many folks were coming to her Harmonious Living headquarters seeking the crystal specimens that Mills began to feel like she was selling out of the trunk of her car, so to speak. The solution? To merchandize the lamps and other objects she loves within a beautiful in-office boutique. The highly curated setup reflects her deep passion for clean-lined, organic design, and acts as a way for her to sell the items she loves most. “I’m sharing my heart with people who come in,” she says. Among the retail options are upholstery by Charles Stork; sleek, natural furnishings from Atlanta-based Indo Puri; alabaster chandeliers by JH Lighting; antique Oushak rugs; limited-batch objets d’art from Chip & Company; and affordable, semi-custom window treatments imported from California. Visitors can also find finishing touches like abstract landscapes, rock-crystal votives and bracelets handmade by Mills’ daughters from semiprecious beads. Most inventory will refresh every six weeks, with larger pieces, lighting and upholstery rotating out every three months. Many are available off the floor, but customers who place orders can expect their items in as little as five days. For Mills, the store itself was just as well-timed. “It’s all falling into place,” notes the holistic designer. “It feels so universally sent.” 349 Peachtree Hills Ave. NE, Suite D1A, Atlanta 30305. (404) 814-3838; harmoniousliving.net
Show Some Skin
Atlanta-based Jerry Pair Leather is a leader in high-quality upholstery hides, and things couldn’t be better for 2013. A new and improved, fully interactive website will prove the perfect place to preview new lines of leather as they debut, including two of the latest to come from its esteemed Italian tannery: Heifervescent (shown) and Bulls Eye. Artfully punched in eight shades of aniline leather—including several neutrals, plus on-trend citronella and apple green—the cheekily named Heifervescent adds incredible texture to any design scheme. In contrast, the brand’s more traditional release, Bulls Eye, is a supple, smooth option dyed for rich color and finished with a protective top coat, so it holds up mightily in high-traffic rooms Available through Jerry Pair & Associates, (404) 261-6337; jerrypairleather.com
Garden Variety
For in-the-know locals, Ryan Gainey is a living legend. The city’s most famous garden designer is equally acclaimed for his courtly Decatur gardens—appearing often on Atlanta garden tours—his friendship with Rosemary Verey and his larger-than-life persona. All told, he’s a sort that would never settle for second best, which is why he chose to collaborate with local manufacturer Jeremie when developing his brand-new Ryan Gainey Collection of accessories for indoors and out. The gracious garden ornaments—crafted from glass, iron, and wire—are based on pieces he’s owned and loved, yet had difficulty finding again in the market. The inspired collection debuted at AmericasMart in January and should arrive in stores by spring.
This month, Gainey also releases an extremely limited-edition collector’s book, The Gathered Garden ($125, Bennett Graphics). Bound in leather and linen, it features 36 original watercolors of Gainey’s favorite botanicals as rendered by local artist Sarah Towery. Have your copy signed on February 27 when Gainey gives a lecture at the Atlanta History Center’s Cherokee Garden Library in his trademark full regalia. ryangainey.com; atlantahistorycenter.com
Inside & Out
⊲ The results from the National Garden Bureau are in, and the top plants to use for 2013 are a trio of long-loved botanicals: Watermelon is the edible plant of 2013, Gerbera daisies are the annuals of the year, and wildflowers are the perennials to plant for years of beautiful blooms.
⊲ Commemorate the close of winter by attending the Georgia Perennial Plant Association’s annual symposium and silent auction fundraiser at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on February 23. Gardeners of all aptitudes can hear enlightening presentations by five leading horticulturalists and join a silent auction of rare plants, garden art, tools and pottery.
⊲ Return to the Atlanta Botanical Garden during March and April, when more than 200,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and more will brandish their bright colors in the garden for the annual “Atlanta Blooms!” event.
Miles To Go
Don’t miss the Cathedral Antiques show January 31, when Atlanta native Miles Redd makes a much-anticipated appearance, giving a lecture at 11 a.m. The Southern-born stylemaker and former Bunny Williams protégé will share insights into his colorful, comfortable aesthetic as chronicled in his new tome, The Big Book of Chic, and sign copies thereafter. Also catch the Cathedral Antiques Show Tour of Homes on January 27, an Antiques Road Show-style “Treasure Hunt” February 1-2, the Inspiration House through February 10, and the titular antiques show January 31-February 2. cathedralantiques.org
A Soft Touch
Noah Lawton’s early life in rural Michigan and industrial Detroit inspired his love of soft finishes and faithfully crafted furnishings. It’s that same Midwestern sensibility that has garnered scores of quiet fans for his under-the-radar Atlanta business, Lawton Studios. A best-kept secret of the local pros, Lawton previously worked on mega-yachts and private aircrafts before pursuing furniture full-time. His sculptural tables and case goods, designed for humane interior environments, are derived from traditional tenets, but modeled after modern life. Starting with environmentally responsible materials, he saturates his stains deep into the wood grain, bringing out its natural character while making finishes durable enough to stand up to daily abuse. (404) 384-4663; lawtonstudios.com
Old is New Again
It’s been four-and-a-half years since Holland & Company proprietor Mary Prillaman and architect Bobby McAlpine launched his groundbreaking collection of eponymous home furnishings for MacRae. But for these friends and design-industry veterans, the time was nigh for a fresh debut. McAlpine considers the pieces—which are often inspired by the very crates they come in—as “an inheritable line of furniture, the new antiques.” Together, he and Prillaman have worked to fill the gaps they’ve found in the marketplace or pay tribute to very special antiques. “It’s the kind of charm found in the provinces colonized by established countries, naïve executions of refined ideas,” McAlpine explains. “Our great goal is that these pieces feel as though, in their quirkiness, that they are in fact original.” Handsome new arm chairs, “honed by a vagueness of memory and liberties taken,” are fitting examples. The new lineup consists of 40 inspired items that will begin appearing at the showroom this month, then make their grand debut at High Point in April. 351 Peachtree Hills Ave. NE, Suite 238, Atlanta 30305. (404) 233-2091; macraedesigns.com