City View: the Design Style Warms to Many Tastes of Atlanta
Disclaimer: I’ve lived in Atlanta since 2002 and might be biased, but I really do declare that home design in the hip capital of the planet is Gone with the Wind fabulous. No, this does not mean we are living in Tara or some home appointed by Sugarbaker Designs. Atlantans are embracing traditional and contemporary design and all in between, in the spectacular stock of Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes built after the whole city burnt to the recent structure of contemporary energy-efficient houses.
I’ve reached out to Atlanta design pros to get their opinions on what is distinctive about design in Atlanta, to learn what’s hot from the ATL — and also to their help in fixing common misconceptions regarding design in our city. Here’s what they have to share.
TaC studios, architects
Modern and Contemporary Designs Thrive in Atlanta
A offender architect Jose Tavel of TaC architects and studios hears about Atlanta is “one should build only traditional because only conventional sells” His company and many others don’t follow that advice. “We have worked hard to prove many bankers and real estate brokers incorrect,” he says.
Cablik Enterprises
Habachy Designs
Interior designer Michael Habachy concurs: “A Truth About Atlanta is that because Atlanta is part of the South, the designs need to be conservative and much more conventional in design.”
Castro Design Studio
From sassy Southern sitcom sisters to Real Housewives, pop culture has not done the city’s design rep almost any favors. “People often think about the tv series Designing Women if they think about Atlanta design,” says Rodolfo Castro of Castro Design Studio.
“But while there are many beautiful examples of classic design in Atlanta, in addition, there are a excellent number of men and women who are doing great contemporary and contemporary work,” he says. “Modern homes appear to be popping up everywhere, and people actually appear to be adopting the design.”
Bonus: Designing Women fans, this one’s for you.
Summerour Architects
In accordance with architect Daniel Betsill of Summerour Archtiects, contemporary design does not signify a house needs become the oddball at a conventional Atlanta neighborhood.
“This residence in Buckhead reveals a house that nobody would like to call contemporary … the distillation of those forms along with the detailing of them generates the clean borders that clients with contemporary sensibilities hunt, but when analyzed it reveals all the fundamental elements of a conventional house form,” he explains. “The existence of roof eaves, symmetry, regularity of door and window openings, and familiar materials lay a base of form that is familiar and combines with neighboring houses.”
TaC studios, architects
Atlantans Are Interested in Sustainable Style
“We have discovered that our clients aren’t only interested in living in a beautiful residence, but in addition, it needs to be functional and energy efficient,” Tavel says. “We invest a lot of time with the clients to determine how they live and play.”
Bork Design, Inc..
Earthcraft Accredited signs are turning into a large real estate attraction round town. This certification pays special attention to energy efficiency in the Southeast’s climate.
Summerour Architects
Atlanta’s Architecture Makes the Most of the Fantastic Weather
“Because of our location, we’re an outdoor-living city,” Betsill States. “Every house in Atlanta must capitalize on this with a flexible, three-season area with color control to enjoy our arctic climate at different times of day and different times of year.”
TaC studios, architects
“Outdoor spaces round Atlanta extend living environments and take advantage of the wonderful spring and autumn weather,” Tavel agrees.
Castro Design Studio
In form and function, porches have always been popular in town. “Nothing makes me think about our city over a well-proportioned and elegant porch,” Castro says. “In Atlanta we’re fortunate enough to possess at least six great months of porch weather. Porches are frequently used as family rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.”
Brian Patterson Designs, Inc..
Many Atlantans like their outdoor spaces throughout the majority of the light winters too. Interior designer Brian Patterson makes good use of porches, creating space for entertaining and living nearly year-round. “This screened-in porch comes with a rustic stone fireplace, making it comfy in autumn and winter for the dining and livingroom,” he says.
Habachy Designs
Eclecticism Mixes Old and New All Over the ATL
Atlanta enjoys a fantastic locality art festival and takes its shopping very seriously. From once-a-month treasure hunting at Scott’s Antique Market to checking out Lee Kleinhelter’s well-curated finds at Pieces, from the booths at Paris on Ponce into the high-end French flea market style of South of Market, it is quite easy to look for special furniture, home accents and art all around town.
“Atlanta design is becoming more and more eclectic … my clients really like to blend a mix of classic and contemporary styles to get a much more personal look and texture,” Habachy says.
Habachy Designs
The world’s busiest airport, major sports events, large corporations’ headquarters along with a slew of films and TV shows being shot in Atlanta have been bringing a lot of new people to town. “What we need to remember is that Atlanta has a lot of transplants from cities all around the world,” Patterson says. “It is becoming more and more of a melting pot of civilizations, and Atlantans desire a more metropolitan, eclectic design in their houses.”
Clark & Zook Architects, LLC
One of today’s most popular eclectic items is motivated by the surrounding countryside, but with a modern spin. “Recently inside and outside, it seems all my clients need a sliding barn door,” says architect Frances Zook of Clark & Zook Architects.
Clean lines and a couple of coats of Rhumba Orange paint make this agricultural element suit contemporary design. Zook urges sourcing the hardware at a tractor supply store to spend less.
Joel Kelly Design
Warm Neutrals Soothe Atlantans Inside
Interior designer Joel Kelly notes that more straightforward color palettes and much more calming designs are a popular request from clients nowadays.
Valerie DeRoy Interiors, LLC
These serene hues are particularly good options for transitional design.
Castro Design Studio
Cozy Libraries Are Trending
Castro is finding that libraries are popular among his clients nowadays. “Since many homes have come to be very open, it is great to have the choice of getting off and enjoying a fantastic book or conversation,” he says. “I also realize that parents are encouraging their kids to read more, and libraries give them the chance to have a calm environment away from the tv.”
Many of the libraries Castro layouts have other purposes; in this particular one, a Murphy bed built into the paneling and an adjoining wheelchair-accessible toilet are universal design attributes.
Brian Patterson Designs, Inc..
Atlantans Work With What They’ve Got Instead of Transferring
The city of Atlanta is filled with diverse and walkable neighborhoods, each with its own special flavor, and it’s easy to become connected. To be able to stay, and also, more recently, to avoid losing money from what was a down market in the last couple of years, many clients are choosing remodeling over moving, Patterson says
“A house is connected to memories, to caring neighbors, to favored places nearby, to perfect schools and teachers — to everything which has grown to be so very important,” he says. His clients prefer to keep put and alter their houses to suit their changing requirements.
If You Remodel or Just Move?
Brian Patterson Designs, Inc..
In recent renovation layouts for new empty nesters, Patterson has payed special attention to how kitchens will work for his clients’ changing lifestyles.
“This empty-nester kitchen features a large, open design with a central island and plenty of circulation area for household get-togethers,” he says. “It also offers intimate dining space for two.”
Before Photo
Clark & Zook Architects, LLC
Zook is finding that a good deal of her clients are sprucing up the town’s common ranch homes to fit their requirements. This includes adding master suites, front porches, family rooms and perhaps even second floors. “They’re really comfortable and have great spaces to work with,” she says. “I live in one myself!”
Clark & Zook Architects, LLC
A new front porch and additional architectural details give the ranch seen in the past photo updated curb appeal.
Clark & Zook Architects, LLC
Zook popped up the roof to give the rear room of the ranch a much more open and spacious feeling.
Joel Kelly Design
Southern Hospitality and Pride Are Alive and Well
Do not let reality TV make you think it’s a city of ostentatious show-offs.
“Atlanta is so diverse, I think it’s incredibly hard to pinpoint something different about it besides we’ve got an exceptional pride regarding our houses,” says architect and interior designer Joel Kelly. “We entertain a good deal, and we love making folks feel welcome. Style in this city seems to be about expressing tranquility than displaying your wealth.”
Joel Kelly Design
“Hoop skirts went outside with Scarlett and therefore did the bravado. We are much more tailored than people give us credit,” Kelly says.
Once I think about Scarlett’s most famous fashion instant, I imagine today’s Atlanta woman creating a chic Calvin Klein–esque minimalist dress made from the drapes exhibited here. It’d be fitting to the town’s style.