Architecture
{ Thursday, May 10th, 2012 }
2012 Decorators Show House & Gardens: Knollwood Estate
Just recently I checked out Knollwood, the 2012 Decorators Show House. The 1929 English Georgian-style home designed by Atlanta’s famed architect Phillip Trammel Shutze is ridiculously fantastic. Location is as Buckhead-y as it gets, the home itself is Shutze-tastic, and the chorus of Atlanta decorators and designers involved in the project have absolutely outdone themselves. Snapshots of some of my personal favorites:
The Gentlemen's Dressing and Bathroom, Fit For A Baller.
Knollwood's Kitchen. Not Too shabby.
Ticket proceeds from the Show House support the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its education and community engagement programs, which help nurture the talent of emerging young musicians and bring music into the lives of the people of our community.
Enjoy a beautiful home and support critically imporant music education programs at the same time. Purchase your tickets to the 2012 Decators Show House & Gardens.
Photo Credit: Jeff Roffman
{ Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 }
HGTV Serenbe Green Home Giveaway
If you’ve been to Serenbe before, then you’re already familiar with just how unbelievably cool the 1,000-acre community is. Its focus on green building, sustainability and organic farming is well known worldwide. If you haven’t been to Serenbe, you need to get on board and check out the art galleries, shops, restaurants, stables, farms… and of course, the beautiful homes.
Now is your chance to change all that. Serenbe and HGTV have partnered up to create the 2012 HGTV Green Home, and I’m giving away two tickets to tour the home, and lunch at the community’s beloved Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. First, some info on the HGTV Green Home, then, details on the lunch/tour giveaway:
As the beautiful, custom-built home located in the idyllic setting of Serenbe awaits the winner of the fifth annual HGTV Green Home Giveaway, visitors can preview the home and get a taste of the green life. Before a lucky winner calls the HGTV Green Home “home,” visitors will have the chance to tour the house Tuesday – Sunday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. beginning May 4 through June 24. Proceeds from the $20 admission ticket will benefit the Serenbe Institute, the non-profit community organization that explores, embraces and expands the connections between nature, culture and the art of living, and the Chattahoochee Hills Charter School.
I know what you’re thinking: ”Wait a second, HGTV is giving away an entire house, and A Is For Atlanta is offering me two tickets and a couple of sandwiches?” Yes, you are correct. But free is free, and there’s nothing quite like a Spring afternoon down at Serenbe. To enter to win the tour ticket/lunch giveaway, email me at Jon (at) aisforatlanta.com. In the body of the email, complete the following sentence:
In five years, the Atlanta neighborhood that will see the largest median home price increase will be ________.
Contest Deadline: Monday, April 23 at 5 pm.
{ Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 }
Bill Peace, High Style High Rise Home Tour
Bill Peace of Atlanta-based Peace Design is one of six top designers participating in the month-long High Style High Rise Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown. His decorated model, created in conjunction with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, is on display through April 1st, with ticket sales benefitting the High Museum. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you choose to “supersize” your time at the W Downtown by swinging by BLT-Steak and/or Bliss Spa….
Q. Atlanta hidden gems?
A. It may not be hidden to some, but my neighborhood is a true gem. I have walked, cycled and sometimes swayed my way through Virginia Highlands since the 1980′s. The intown community has a southern pace with a progressive energy– young and old who could live most anywhere choose this charming village. From the many established shops, to the hot eastside outpost for Jimmy Stanton’s stylish Stanton Home, to the modern classic fashions of 310 Rosemont to the restaurants I have designed over the years like Fontaine’s, El Taco and recently Genki– I continue to love working, shopping and eating my way through the best neighborhood in the city.
Q. You’re hosting a delegation of top designers from around the world, and you’ve got 24 hours to show off Atlanta to them. What’s on the agenda?
A. The Peace Design Tour of Atlanta would be centered around a few of my favorite things….architecture, art and food!
We would start the day at the original Highland Bakery for a hip take on a southern breakfast before a quick walk through the Sol LeWitt’s 54 Columns urban sculpture on N. Highland at Glen Iris. From there we’d go to the High Museum to catch the Picasso to Warhol exhibition and show off the elegant Richard Meier and Renzo Piano building. Stepping across Peachtree Street to MODA, we’d explore the current show on chair design…Stories in Form.
Enough culture already– for food we must first head downtown to the amazing new Alma Cocina for Chef Chad Clevenger’s inspired Latin and modern Mexican fare along with a few exotic Margaritas designed by the cocktail rock star, Vajra Stratigos. I am also proud to show off the restaurant’s interior– designed by Peace Design in collaboration with ai3.
Strolling through downtown we will of course check out the modern masterworks of modernist John Portman. Then back to the eastside of town to the Carlos Museum of Art and Archeology designed by Michael Graves. A quick stop for a bottle of something special from my friend Nick at Highland Fine Wine, light bites and a “Gigi Says” cocktail at Ecco in Midtown before an amazing feast with the food super star Kevin Rathbun at Kevin Rathbun Steak…another amazing interior!! If anyone is still standing we will finish it off with a late night martini at the Highland Tap.
Q. Big design trend on the horizon?
A. I have always avoided getting caught up in the trend of the moment. I believe quality and craftsmanship survive and trends fade. We will continue to see classic design, comfort and luxury thrive.
Q. Design trend that you can’t wait to see disappear?
A. Outrageous color and pattern with the attempt to imitate quality and good design! There is a trend to mix any and all color with pattern and call it good design and I believe color can be dangerous in the wrong hands!
In the space I designed for the High Style High Rise Home Tour there is a complete absence of color to demonstrate that the classic design ideals of form, scale, contrast, harmony, symmetry…or asymmetry are the essence of good design. It is important that the audience have an opportunity to contemplate design without it being camouflaged by random color and pattern.
Q. What’s so special about the High Rise High Style Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta- Downtown?
A. I believe the High Museum is a real treasure in our city. The opportunity for designers to invite the public through designed spaces for the benefit of the High is very special. The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown offer an interesting range of living options that is captured in the variety of styles reflected in this tour with all the amenities of intown high rise living.
Photo Credit: Peter Block
{ Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 }
Josh Lindenbaum, Curbed Atlanta
If you haven’t visited Curbed Atlanta yet, you should do so immediately. Once you’ve spent a minute or two taking it in, you should bookmark it. Return and read often- you’ll be smarter for it.
Clearly, I like this website. So I was absolutely thrilled that its Editor, Josh Lindenbaum, took a few minutes to share some advice for the mayor, Atlanta dining tips, and real estate crystal ball reading…
Q. Crystal ball time- ten years from now, the most dramatically changed neighborhood in Atlanta will be…
A. Poncey-Highland / Old 4th Ward. Between The Beltline (and the private investment that’s already tracking it there) and the Atlanta Steetcar, huge transformation is under way.
Q. Mayor for the day- what’s on the agenda?
A. Expend significant political capital pressing for T-SPLOST to be passed. Buy 50% of the surface parking lots in the Midtown-downtown corridor and redevelop them into parks ringed with space for pocket retail and food/beverage businesses. Find some money to jump start local entrepreneurship in the downtown corridor, with Underground Atlanta converted into a new art & (local) restaurant district as the focal point. Convene a meeting with leaders from around the state and make a killer-app presentation illustrating in clear terms, once and for all, that what is good for Atlanta is truly good for the entire state.
Q. One day to eat your way through Atlanta- where are you going, and what are you ordering?
A. Jalapeno & bacon biscuit at Empire State South. Handmade marshmallow at Cacao. The Duck Mi sandwich at Muss & Turners. A cappuccino at Octane. Wild boar prosciutto at Star Provisions. Eggplant fries at Rathbun’s. Frisee Aux Lardons salad at Bistro Niko. Something with foie gras at Bacchanalia. Vegetable plate at Restaurant Eugene. Pommes frites at Leon’s Full Service. A salad selection from Metro Fresh. Pizza Diavola at Antico. Slice of Red Velvet cake from Piece of Cake. French press of Dancing Goats coffee from Batdorf Bronson. If I didn’t keel over, all to be followed by 48 straight hours of water and exercise.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. Virginia Highland, Candler Park, Garden Hills.
Q. What’s Curbed Atlanta, and why is it a “must read”?
A. Curbed Atlanta is an electronic magazine that combines information and commentary about Atlanta real estate, neighborhoods, architecture and the trends (economic, demographic, social) that affect these subjects areas on a macro scale. Taken together and presented in our editorial voice, we believe the site provides an easily-digested snapshot of Atlanta that’s a valuable resource folks working in the Atlanta real estate industries, as well as any businessperson operating in the Atlanta area. We also strive to be an essential daily read for generally curious Atlantans.
{ Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 }
Gene Kansas, Sidewalk Radio
If you live in Atlanta and you’re interested in art, architecture, design, development, city planning or preservation, then you should be making an appointment to listen to Sidewalk Radio every month. Each episode is guided by host Gene Kansas‘ passion for culture and community, covering a wide range of topics like the impact of the beverage community on Atlanta to the architecture of MARTA stations. But before you decide to catch up on Sidewalk Radio on am1690, take a minute to meet the host with the most…
Q. Favorite Atlanta neighborhood?
A. Ansley Park is a perennial favorite, I fell in love with it the moment I moved here 16 years ago. I love that it is in the “middle of it all”, bordered by the arts district on one side and Piedmont Park on the other, but intentionally designed to feel like you’re “away from it all”. I also love its rich history and because it makes me feel like I’m in New Orleans with the gorgeous oak-lined streets.
Q. The most underrated thing about Atlanta is…
A. Well, as we all know, Atlanta is a very self-promoting town. Finding something underrated and unknown here can be a challenge. I’d have to say that despite being a transient type of city, we’re actually really high up there when it comes to appreciating community.
Q. A fairy godmother puts you in charge of Underground Atlanta and gives you carte blanche to do whatever you’d like with it. Thoughts?
A. Hmmmmm…good question. If I had control of Underground Atlanta I’d promote the Zero Mile Post (the literal spot that marks where the city started) to a much higher degree. It’s an important part of our reason for being. Otherwise, I really try to stay away from there. Is that wrong?!
Q. You’re asked to create the essential Sidewalk Radio Atlanta weekend. What’s on the agenda?
A. Sidewalk Radio explores art, architecture, design, development, city planning and preservation so it would have to be a long weekend, but I think I’d try to spend the whole time on Peachtree. To quote urban planner and Sidewalk Radio guest David Green, “Peachtree Street is the cultural heart of Atlanta”, so an anthropological adventure along that famed corridor seems right on time. The agenda would include a show at the Fox Theatre, a drink at the Georgian Terrace, a burger at The Vortex, a visit to the High Museum, a pop-in at Perkins+Will to thank them for being our sponsor (shameless plug!), a Southern Cola hand crafted by Greg Best at Holeman & Finch, chips and salsa at Jalisco, a visit with Elton John to see his private art collection, and of course an all expense paid shopping spree at Lenox and Phipps.
Q. What is Sidewalk Radio, and why should everyone tune in?
A. Sidewalk Radio is a monthly radio show on AM 1690 “The Voice of the Arts” that features local experts and their insights about Atlanta’s creative and cultural community. The show is very conversational and informative with nods to our developmental history, to dynamic places and movements in a state of flux, and to our hopefully illustrious future. If you like cool, creative, interesting things and you love Atlanta, then I hope and think you’ll really dig Sidewalk Radio. Did I mention you can listen anytime on iTunes?! November’s upcoming show explores the Atlanta restaurant world. Check it out and enjoy!
