Up in the Clouds
Soft sophistication rules in this urban aerie by Melanie Turner Interiors.


Twenty-six floors above Buckhead, where the sun and sky seemingly meet, interior designer Melanie Turner transformed a condominium into a little slice of heaven for a young family. Located in The Ritz-Carlton Residences, this luxe corner unit has no shortage of sweeping views.
But for all of the condoβs outward appeal, Turner essentially began with a blank slateβand tight deadlineβwhen it came to the interiors. βThe only thing they had was a bed for the master bedroom, so we pretty much had to start from scratch,β she says. βPlus, with the lease on their rental almost up, they gave us a timeline of just 10 weeks.β Rising to the challenge, she and her team got right to work.
Given the main living areaβs long proportions, Turner broke up the space by creating a seating area at one end and a dining area at the other for a more structured and intimate layout. She defined the separate spaces with tailor-made furnishings from Bradley, a smart move considering the time constraint. βNinety percent of the furniture in here is custom, which was a real benefit with our timeline,β says Turner, noting the often-dreaded wait times of factory-made items. βAnd best of all, it gave us the opportunity to create unique pieces that fit the space to a T. In many condos, there is not much architectural detailing, so by adding a piece of furniture thatβs different or large in scale, it adds instant character.β
Itβs Turnerβs more subtle design details, though, that make this condo a standout. She devised a soft and ethereal color palette with pink and blue accents to complement the unitβs airy setting. βItβs incredibly dream-like. You feel like youβre in the clouds, so in turn I wanted the whole condo to feel like a pretty little jewel box,β says Turner. To play up this aesthetic, the living areaβs ceiling features a powder-blue lacquer that reflects light for a beautiful effect. Other gleamingβand decidedly luxeβdetails include custom consoles in the foyer with pink stone accents and a steel-base soaking tub in the master bath that reflects the bold movement of the floor-to-ceiling marble.
Also part of Turnerβs vision for the condo was the family itself. She incorporated vintage lion sculptures in the dining area as a playful nod to the husbandβs zodiac sign, Leo, while an adjacent reading nook for the wife offers a cozy spot to indulge her passion for reading. Best of all, the young daughterβs bedroom is a vibrant and fantastical refuge fit for a princess. βThereβs purpose behind the beauty,β says Turner. βOur goal is to always create a home that captures the essence of those who live inside it.β
INTERIOR DESIGN Melanie Turner, Melanie Turner Interiors. (404) 250-0134; melanieturnerinteriors.com.