Park Avenue Pretty

Living room draperies by Brunschwig & Fils add a decorative punch above the Scalamandré velvet tufted sofa.

Atlanta designer Margaret Kirkland takes on Park Avenue with panache.

Framed prints from Fred Reed balance porcelains from Jane Marsden Antiques on the mantel. A pair of chairs from Lee Jofa upholstered in a sunny yellow chinoiserie by Scalamandré adds a bright pop to the room. Carpet by Stark and lighting by Parc Monceau.

Gilt bamboo stools from John Rosselli balance a commanding antique Chippendale mirror.

A patterned carpet by Stark adds subdued interest to the room.

Decorative arts and detailed accent pieces contribute to this home’s enduring appeal.

Bold rose-colored floral wallpaper sets the tone in the foyer, where a gilt mirror and white lacquered console from Parc Monceau are paired with English Regency armchairs.

The iconic Sister Parish left her mark on this stylish apartment when Kirkland incorporated her fabrics into the master bedroom on both the tufted armchair and dressing table chair.

The four-poster bed from The New Traditionalists is encapsulated in the Colefax & Fowler chintz used throughout the master bedroom. The clients’ antique chest rests on Stark carpet.

Decorative paint in a green linen finish adds a contemporary element to the family room, where a Cowtan & Tout chintz injects a traditional feel.

The clients’ still life painting inspired this arrangement’s palette.

Crisp linens in a children’s bedroom balance bold reds and browns.

Chocolate strié paint complements gilt tea-leaf paper on the ceiling.

A mix of contemporary and antique pieces create a vibrant interior for a young family’s New York apartment.

The four-poster bed from The New Traditionalists is encapsulated in the Colefax & Fowler chintz used throughout the master bedroom. The clients’ antique chest rests on Stark carpet.

Decorative arts and detailed accent pieces contribute to this home’s enduring appeal.

Rose-colored chintz pops against striking green walls in this New York abode by Margaret Kirkland.

An antique Chippendale mirror adds interest with ornate details.

Atlanta-based Margaret Kirkland was in Manhattan in November 2014 when she received a call from a pair of potential clients: a married couple who searched online for a “traditional young designer” with the hopes of finding a candidate who could create a youthful but classically beautiful home in the city. “We talked together about a vision and hit it off immediately, and they hired me before meeting in person,” says Kirkland.

Seeking an Upper East Side pied-à-terre, the clients wanted the urban abode to have a completely different aesthetic than their primary residence in the country. The husband requested that the house be “grown-up and pretty, with a chintz bedroom,” a 21st-century version of his childhood home, which was designed by Mario Buatta—the iconic Prince of Chintz, renowned for his lush, colorful interiors.

The clients proceeded with the design process, including placing preholiday rush orders with showrooms and drawing architectural plans, long before the home purchase was confirmed in early 2015. Knowing this was a fast-track project with a March installation, they made only a few modifications to the classic seven-room floor plan, one of which involved combining the dining room and family room for one large living space. “The clients requested keeping a separate formal living room, so if they have a large dinner party, skirted round tables can simply be set up in the elegant living room to create a refined dining atmosphere,” says Kirkland.

Using the clients’ collections of antiques, Kirkland mixed bright colors, sophisticated patterns and contemporary pieces to create a vibrant interior for this busy young family. Beamed ceilings provided strong architectural elements, but with the addition of subtly grained paper in the family room and gold tea-leaf paper in the gallery and hallway, the ceilings are now spirited design statements. The commanding four-poster bed in the master bedroom is balanced by the Colefax and Fowler chintz encapsulating the entire room.

“We mixed pieces that they already had with things we purchased in both Atlanta and New York to create a house that feels like a timeless, collected home,” says Kirkland. And if Kirkland’s work is any indication, this home will continue to evolve with a rich, understated elegance.

Margaret Kirkland, Margaret Kirkland Interiors. (404) 550-7476; margaretkirklandinteriors.com.