Contemporary
{ 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
{ Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 }
Kerry Howard, High Style High Rise Home Tour
When designer Kerry Howard isn’t popping up all over the television (Bravo’s Top Design and HGTV’s Design Wars, to be precise), he’s conceiving brilliant interiors all over Atlanta. Beginning March 9th, Kerry will take part in the High Style High Rise Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown. Six of Atlanta’s top designers will be designing model units there, where they’ll be on display and open to the public for a month-long home tour. Check out what Kerry has to say, go take a look at the condos, and then give me a call when you’re ready to write an offer on one of them…
Q. What are your favorite Atlanta hidden gems?
A. One of my favorite hidden gems in Atlanta is Bjork Antikt, owned by Amy Wikman. It is a warehouse packed full of any type of furnishing you could possibly want and that would provide inspiration to any designer. You would never know what is in the building based on its outside appearance. I could literally spend hours in this space if I had the time and money to spend there.
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. Being the southern gentleman that I am, I would show them a little hospitality by starting with a visit to White Provision, located on the west side of Atlanta. I would take everyone to get a hot breakfast at West Egg and spend the remainder of the morning perusing through some of the furniture and accessory showrooms in that area. After lunch, I would take them on a pre-arranged tour of the southeast’s premier design center, ADAC, where some of the world’s finest showrooms are represented.
Q. What’s a big design trend on the horizon?
A. Well as those in the industry know, interior design usually follows fashion trends. I am excited to see a lot of color blocking happening with some major fashion designers. Within the next few years we will begin to see this color blocking trend happen with interior design. I could not be more excited for this trend to start! I do not think that most people fully grasp how much color can effect and change our surroundings.
Q. Design trend that you can’t wait to see disappear?
A. I feel like the economy has played a major role in influencing design over the past four years. I have seen so many interiors with a monochromatic scheme due to an economic influence. All of the reclaimed, recycled and reused furniture is starting to look really watered down to me. I think it is time for a resurgence of color in our lives.
Q. What’s so special about the High Style High Rise home tour at The Residences at W Atlanta- Downtown?
A. We all know the phrase “Location, Location, Location!” Well this magnificent piece of architecture is located on prime real estate, with views that are bar none for potential home owners looking for a less-is-more lifestyle. From a designer’s standpoint, even the interior selections were easy to work with. The Residences offer a blank slate from which to build a beautiful space that complements the panoramic views in Atlanta.
{ Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 }
Inman Park Village Lofts
A former industrial site, Inman Park Village is now the heart of the historic Inman Park neighborhood, just east of downtown Atlanta. And at the heart of Inman Park Village is IPV Lofts.
My previously approved short sale listing in IPV Lofts is a phenomenal opportunity for the savvy buyer. It’s the largest one bedroom floorplan in the building, which was built just a few years ago. Listed at $139,000, it is not only the lowest priced listing in the building, but it is priced nearly $90,000 less than it sold for three years ago.
If you’re familiar with the location, it can’t be beat. The condo itself is in absolutely fantastic condition. The building is FHA-approved, which means that a buyer can put down as little as 3.5%. For those of you currently renting in the area, there’s a good chance that you’d actually have a smaller mortgage payment then your current rent check (but you should chat with a home mortgage consultant, who can crunch all the numbers for you).
Full listing information and more pictures.
Contact me if you’d like more information, or if you’d like to see it in person.
{ Friday, October 22nd, 2010 }
Jaime Luckey, Date Night Magazine
Jaime Luckey is the Founder of Atlanta-based Date Night Magazine, a monthly mag dedicated to all things dating. Funny and informative, Date Night dishes on dating from every angle, touching on the who/what/where/why/how that every dater is all too familiar with. A special edition of Five Questions With, where for the first time Alluvia and Waffle House get brought up within moments of one another…
Q. You’re asked to plan the ultimate Atlanta first date for two strangers. What’s on the agenda?
A. Dinner and dancing at Alluvia.
If you’re not into steaks and strip clubs, I recommend dinner and a comedy show. Dine at Miller Union and get tickets for Laughing Skull or Whole World Theatre. For OTPers, try {three} sheets’ flavor tripping and the latest act at The Punchline.
Q. What’s the city’s best hidden gem?
A. El Bar. It’s secreted into an El Azteca restaurant for heaven’s sake! What’s sexier than Mexican flavors sweating out of a crowd of bodies on the dance floor?
Q. Best neighborhood for singles?
A. Is there such a thing??? Singles can meet one another anywhere: grocery store, post office, Waffle House (although just because a stranger springs for “All The Way” hashbrowns at 4 a.m., that doesn’t make it a date.)
Q. Most dated Atlanta icon?
A. The Big Chicken and Chick-fil-A’s closed on Sunday signs.
Q. What advice would you give to a single person relocating to Atlanta?
A. My tall friends and I are starting a campaign to bring tall single men to Atlanta, so if you’re a guy, be tall or bring tall guys with you (pro basketball players encouraged). If you’re a girl, be prepared to date within a reasonable height balance. No 5’5” girls with guys over 6’0”.
BONUS QUESTION: What is Date Night and why is it a must-read?
A. Have you ever experienced déjà vu on a date or found yourself frequenting the same familiar haunts every time you meet someone new? Date Night is here to save you from dating monotony by offering suggestions for where to go and what to do on dates, restaurant reviews (Too loud? Too dark? Not dark enough?), tips, expert relationship advice, beauty secrets, and funny dating stories.
Date Night is not a magazine exclusively for singles, however. It’s for all daters, including couples and married folks looking for ways to keep the spark lit in their relationships.
Photo Credit: Shane Durrance
{ Thursday, October 14th, 2010 }
The One Billion Dollar Condo (Building)
India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is moving in to his new billion dollar house, er, condominium. I suppose it’s only fitting for a guy worth $18,000,000,000. Check it out, below.
So what does a billion dollars buy you? 27 storeys, over 398,000 square feet (larger than the Palace of Versailles, for those of you keeping score at home), a 150 car garage and three helicopter pads. It’s not maintenance free, either: it’ll require a full-time staff of 600. Sort of makes Dean Gardens look like Marvin Gardens.
Edit/Photo Credit: The Telegraph
