This table setting by Tori Ashmore of Vivace Design & Build featured Depressionera glassware and vintage silverware. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Fourteen of Atlanta’s best interior designers showed that imagination has no limits at our annual To Live & Dine event, inspired this year by Sherwin-Williams’ 2023 Terra ColorMix color palettes
Dina Varner, VPI Design by Dina Varner, vpi-design.com
Dina Varner’s table took on a retro Parisian vibe featuring impressionist and abstract works by Scott Kerr, Ana Guzman and William Downs. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
A candlelit bistro, a glass (or three) of Bordeaux and warm conversation on an intimate evening in Paris. This is what served as the inspiration for Dina Varner’s tablescape, which undoubtedly sets the scene to feel like an idyllic dinner party in the most romantic city on earth. The black and white color palette, which features periodic yet powerful bouts of color, brings a sense of both sophistication and youth to a formal dining space. The fabric, entitled La Parisienne and sourced from Cowtan & Tout, features black-and-white scenes from a French open-air market that further enhances an already picturesque interior. Each place setting features a carefully selected petit française framed art piece by Tommy Easterling. The ambiance is cemented with additional impressionist and abstract works by Scott Kerr, Ana Guzman and William Downs touted throughout the space to complement its mood. Airy linen napkins from Sferra featuring embroidered monograms by Shec Monograms add a sense of personal charm to the overall ambiance, the place settings of which are further enhanced with Juliska glasses, Fete Herend china and Montecito ivory flatware by Mark D. Sikes.
Ronald Jones, R Jones Designs Inc.,rjones.design
The custom art piece by Amy Rader was made especially for this event and embodies her interpretation of Jones’ inspirations PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
vintage silver and tableware were used in the whimsical place settings. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Ron Jones uses an absolutely fabulous metaphor to describe his showcased interior: “The design was based on romance—the kind found in novels, as butterflies settle at the end of the day,” perfectly encapsulating the ethereal, almost otherworldly infatuation that comes with the showcased space. Including elements inspired by Rococoera design, such as the Jim Thompson Louis XV-style French Provincial chairs (as well as their matching ottomans), makes the space ooze regality and opulent charm. Every aspect of Jones’ space evokes balance—combining tones of powdered lilac with shades of bejeweled emerald in his use of the Lore palette from Sherwin-Williams. Pairing a twinkling chandelier from Dennis & Leen with a fine yet somewhat rustic Theodore Alexander settee creates a sense of cohesion throughout. Also featured are a Moattar area rug, a mirror from Formations, UpCountry Home dining chairs, Ironies bronze lamps and custom artwork by Amy Rader. e best interiors are ones that tell a story from room to room, from piece to piece. Jones’ design does exactly that in such a joyful, fresh fashion that keeps you coming back for more in the same way that your favorite written work engages your mind, body and soul.
Seth van den Bergh, The Drawing Room ATL, thedrawingroomatl.com
Seth van den Bergh’s display featured a real photo of space in the form of a wall cling and NASA-grade Mylar blankets wrapping the chairs PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Inspired by humans’ fascination with space and stars, Seth van den Bergh of The Drawing Room created a table concept that explores the renewed global interest in the great unknown. “Our concept explores the depths of wonder, curiosity and fascination with space—both personal and environmental. Curiosity is a wonderful thing. It feeds our imagination, and that imagination is what makes us unique,” says van den Bergh. “For me, questioning the wonders of space drove my inquisitive nature.” One of the first things the eye gravitates toward is the impressive window cling exploding in bright blues, earth tones and the sparkle of stars—an actual image from the James Webb Space Telescope. “Humans are driven to explore the unknown, discover, and have an insatiable appetite to challenge the boundaries of what we know,” says the designer. “The James Webb Telescope images are an example of that.” Van den Bergh worked with friends and brands to pull off this intergalactic gastronomical experience including Molly Webb with East Fork Pottery, Tonya Beach at Westside Modern, Jennifer Gizzard for the window cling, Jared Paul at Paul+ for the fabulous planet-inspired chandelier, Nicole Lankford for Shaw Contract, as well as vintage and found items from van den Bergh’s personal collection.
Kwynn Everest, Odd McLean, oddmclean.com
along with the tablescape, Kwynn Everest utilized shelving to showcase more of her store’s brands such as Ginori, L’Objet, Atelier Saucier and more. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
“I wanted my table to highlight one of my favorite lines right now, Themis Z, made by a wonderful woman in Athens, Greece. These plates transported me straight into a Mediterranean vacation, so that became my inspiration and starting point for the whole concept,” says Kwynn Everest, founder and owner of tableware and gift boutique Odd McLean. Utilizing the Nexus color palette from Sherwin-Williams, Everest focused on pinks and greens in her design, accenting the table with fun gifting items found in her store as well as whimsical flowers by Mary Delia Designs. “In the center, we utilized this fabulous Serenity Blue vase from the same designer to give the table nice height and levels,” says Everest. “Overall, my store, Odd McLean, is fun and inviting, and I wanted the table to be an extension of that.” On either side of the tablescape, two built-in shelving units provide the perfect alcoves to showcase her stylized products—everything from Virgil Abloh’s neon green book, ICONS, to the coolest candlesticks.
Natasha Eustache-Garner, Interiors by Natasha,interiorsbynatasha.com
The designer was inspired first by the Wallmur tropical floral wallpaper and the bold colors depicted in such a natural and organic subject matter PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Oftentimes, our most brilliant ideas come from the natural world around us. For Natasha Eustache-Garner and her wonderfully wild tablescape, flora, fauna and everything in between certainly served as a blooming source of inspiration. The Sherwin-Williams Origin color palette, with its muted primary and complementary colors that are classically timeless with a twist, served as an initial catalyst for the design in blending both vintage and contemporary artistic elements to create a modernist-type setting that is nothing short of dazzling to the eye. Eustache- Garner sought to combine experimental “biophilic design,” which attempts to blend the natural world with modern architecture and design in a way that contributes to wellness and productivity among both humans and the environment, with splashes of color to generate a serene atmosphere that makes guests feel welcome and at peace. The Wallmur tropical floral wallpaper furthers this idea of serenity in chaos, which seamlessly blends, rather than competes with, other design elements such as the Scalamandré animal print pillows or the Jim Thompson metal crane statue. Other fabulous details in the space include The Prissy Plate Company table settings, Showroom 58 chandelier, Habachy Designs champagne bronze settee and gorgeous floral centerpiece from Atlanta’s Finest Flowers & Events.
Calvin Watt, The C’VION Company, cvioncompany.com
A close-up of Calvin Watt’s designs featuring brass and gold accents PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
trimmed dinner napkins by Fabricut accented with a gilded bust of a male torso. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Class is one thing that will perpetually be in style. Calvin Watt’s gilded glamour tablescape that looks like it’s straight out of old Hollywood masters this aesthetic, with tones of golds, greens, grays and whites weaved throughout the setting, employing Sherwin-Williams’ Origin color palette in a way that both refreshes the senses and creates a feeling of nostalgia. This nostalgia is the same that we feel when touring an old property absolutely bursting with history, or visiting our grandmother’s house where every square inch of space has been perfectly curated to reflect decades of care. The design was built around the Arteriors Tilda chandelier featured in the space because, according to Watts, “lighting is the most important aspect of living and dining,” which is absolutely reflected in the remainder of the design. The Phillip Jeffries metallic gold ombre wallcoverings perfectly glint off the art deco centerpiece’s light, all the while being adorned with 3D framed canvases and diptych artwork, sourced from Leftbank Art. The table settings round out the theme of reconfigured old glamour with its gray swirl dinnerware and gilded silverware, complete with trimmed napkins from Fabricut.
Meredith Petty, Meredith Petty Interiors, meredithpetty.com
Using the inspiration of Sherwin-Williams’ Biome color palette, Meredith Petty sourced pieces from Bungalow 5, Gregg Irby Gallery and more. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
If the Greek goddess Aphrodite could be a table setting, it would be Meredith Petty’s romantic summer garden party extravaganza. As we neared the end of summer, sending her off with a celebration fit for the most coveted, warm, sunny season of them all was absolutely imperative, and Petty perfectly illustrated how we would set the table if summer was one of our honored guests. The tablescape aims to be “a twist on a midsummer night’s dream,” according to the designer. Every element of the design aligns with this dark, romantic aesthetic, from the Sherwin- Williams Biome color palette that takes delicate sages and hearty grays, “allowing nature to take center stage with the layers of moss, florals and vines,” to the enchanting flower arrangements from Buckhead Blooms. And to tie everything together, the Alexa dining chairs sourced from Bungalow 5 as well as the featured artwork from Gregg Irby Gallery add to the notes of whimsicality and fantasy that ebb and flow throughout the entirety of Petty’s configurations. To dine here would be an experience like no other.
Katie Fox, Hart & Lock Design, hartandlock.com
Katie Fox’s design featured the Alondra chandelier in natural rattan and the Coco mirror in white, both from Made Goods, as well as tableware sourced from Blue Pheasant PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
The best dinner parties are the ones where each guest gets lost in meaningful conversation, where the night simultaneously feels like a frozen moment in time and also like the clock is moving two times too fast. Katie Fox of Hart & Lock Design integrated whimsical, storybook-like elements into her tablescape to foster an environment that does exactly that because “a dinner party should tell a story.” Every aspect of the design has been intricately placed to make conversation flow and time feel like a fabricated construct. The materials used in the dining setting can only be described as rich and ornate. The gold velvet tablecloth serves as the perfect backdrop for the jewel-toned flat and drinkware, the palette of which was drawn from Sherwin-Williams’ Lore color scheme. Vintage gold candlesticks, elaborate florals and a book, each filled with a unique story to tell, tied to each guest’s chair to spark imaginative conversation decorate the space. Other notable elements included in this enchanting design are a styled bar cart; an oversize textured chandelier that only adds to the design’s whimsical nature; and a glossy, organically shaped mirror. Fox’s design space for this event was sponsored by Made Goods and Blue Pheasant.
Cassandra Buckalew, Cassandra Buckalew Interiors,cassandrabuckalew.com
inspired by East Asian culture, Cassandra Buckalew strived to showcase cultural appreciation through detailed elements of her design, like handfolded origami crane napkin rings. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Every aspect of Cassandra Buckalew’s design did not go without thought. Her featured space aimed to highlight and celebrate the rich landscape that is East Asian culture, and translate that to a dining setting that inspires discovery in history and art. She made use of vintage and antique pieces, from the Asian head chairs to the framed Chinese locks to the seats made from bent bamboo. The abstract pieces crafted by Paz and sourced through Robert Kent Galleries go perfectly with the Kravet textile draped on the table, which features intricate designs of tigers and paper fans as an ode to 2022, the Year of the Tiger, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. Buckalew and her team wanted the guests to be the stars of their dining experience. They fixed greenery on the back of each dining chair for guests to take home, as well as origami crane napkin rings, carefully handcrafted by 11-year-old origami artist Julian Tam, which complement the dinner plates inspired by Japanese bento boxes, all of which sit on top of unconventional, but undoubtedly cool, monstera leaf place mats. It is clear Buckalew’s design was lovingly put together in a wider display of cultural appreciation.
Stephanie Abernathy & Ashley Malone, Studio Wellington,studiowellington.com
The duo behind Studio Wellington utilized antiques and found objects in their design, providing texture, history and a more tangible element to the tablescape. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
The warm, easy nature of Studio Wellington’s tablescape by Stephanie Abernathy and Ashley Malone is reminiscent of buzzing summer nights where the food is good, company is pleasant and wine flows freely. This was the atmosphere they wanted to curate when they “created a whimsical space paying homage to a summer evening alfresco dining experience.” The mellow homegrown vibes are palpable when investigating this table design, illustrated by the carefully chosen elements that adorn the space. The foundation that inspired further creative direction were artist Shellie Crisp’s paintings, sourced from dk Gallery, whose warm, moody, cozy tones set the scene for the rest of the space, as well as the chosen Sherwin-Williams Lore color palette. A sculpture from KLC Studios captures the passion and gusto that is evident throughout the space. The Ernest Gaspard chest, chairs and mirror add to the setting’s warmth, and the Circa Lighting fixture casts a golden glow over every inch of the tablescape, creating an unparalleled aesthetic that finds love and light in even the tiniest of details, evoking a particular joy in each guest that’s difficult to replicate and almost impossible to beat.
Valerie Garrett, Valerie Garrett Interiors, valeriegarrettinteriors.com
Each place setting at Valerie Garrett’s tablescape held a place card written with the name of a character played by the iconic Audrey Hepburn in her lifetime PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Titled “She’s So Fine: A Tribute to Audrey,” it appears interior designer Valerie Garrett had a very direct and passionate direction for her tablescape— the iconic Audrey Hepburn! “I wanted to tell a story and Audrey popped into my mind. She’s so elegant, refined and iconic to this day,” says Garrett. “So, we did a beautiful mix of vintage 1930s, ’60s pieces and more modern accents.” To achieve this look, Garrett pulled from Sherwin-Williams’ Origin color palette, utilizing the deep purple and whites from this unique color set. The more modern touches included the plum velvet walls surrounding the table, a bust that sat in the middle of the tablescape, as well as accents of gold and silver metallics in the chargers and frames. This—paired with vintage tableware, a chandelier and a doll-size replica of a dress Audrey wore in the 1964 film My Fair Lady—really was the perfect embodiment of the actress. Behind the table, on the velvet wall, hung three photos—quintessential Audrey photos from her years in film—and to the side, a vintage credenza held more photos of the star and her signature cigarette holder.
Janie Anderson, Janie Harper Design, janieharperdesign.com
Janie Anderson’s table featured Wedgwood china and linens in Berkeley Sprig by Colefax and Fowler. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
“These fabulous vintage Wedgwood plates were my starting point in creating an elevated garden dining feel in an interior setting,” says interior designer Janie Anderson. “Striking a balance between tailored and whimsical allowed me to express some of my style while incorporating layers of flair and romance that are innate to an outdoor dining experience.” The designer explored the Sherwin-Williams Lore color palette and selected Pediment for the walls of her space. Pairing this color with Fabricut curtain panels and a large painting by Laura Davis Shainker, the designer was able to set the perfect stage for an organic, outdoorsy feel. On the table itself, Anderson sourced from Cowtan & Tout and Colefax and Fowler fabric for the table skirt and lampshade, while the lamp came from Edgar-Reeves. To the side of the table, Anderson curated a beautiful gallerylike wall with art from Joseph Konrad; behind the table hung two antique wooden brackets from A. Tyner Antiques; and above, spaced whimsically, hung metal shades used as pendants, sourced from Holland MacRae.
Courtney Walker, C. Walker Designs, cwalkerdesigns.com
Using family heirlooms, Courtney Walker aimed to make her tablescape design simple using brands from Ainsworth- Noah, including Chelsea Textiles, and multiple found items PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
Inspired by good ol’ Southern hospitality, Courtney Walker of C. Walker Designs created a table full of character and charisma. “I designed my room to be simple and inviting, two unique characteristics that represent Southern hospitality,” says Walker. “I wanted the event to be as much about the guests and the food as it was about the design.” The designer chose to adorn her table with family heirlooms from her mother and grandmother, and plenty of flowers, sterling silver, fine china, crystal, mother-of-pearl place mats and white monogrammed linen dinner napkins— all things a good Southern table should encompass. Below all these wonderful pieces, a buffalo check fabric from Chelsea Textiles provides pattern and depth. This fabric was also found on the Roman shade that hangs over a mirrored window. On each of the chairs hangs a simple blue tassel that complements the hydrangea florals at the center of the design, and reflects the designer’s chosen color palette of Origin. A small tableau is featured to the left of the tablescape, a wooden buffet piece from the designer’s grandmother, and a gold starburst mirror. All of the pieces that comprise this fabulous space were sourced from Ainsworth-Noah.
Tori Ashmore, Vivace Design & Buildvivacedesignbuild.com
Tori Ashmore’s design featured moody dark colors sourced from the Sherwin-Williams Lore color palette. PHOTOGRAPHED BY RASHUN HAYES AND SEBASTIAN TRIANTIS
“The Lore palette spoke innately to who we are as a brand and therefore our design,” says interior designer Tori Ashmore. “At Vivace, we’re all about dichotomies—what we love about design is the ability to marry two things that seem polar opposite to one another and create a beautifully harmonious space. Our tablescape is inspired by this idea—a blend of the new and the old, the modern and the traditional, the bold and the neutral.” For Ashmore, this year was one of celebration, so she also wanted to instill that in her space. Under the table, a rug from Moattar lightens up the space, providing the perfect contrast to the deep-blue velvet chairs around the table. “The Lore palette perfectly encapsulates this with its beautiful mix of jewel tones and neutrals, cool and warm colors, yellows and purples. The Lore palette is a dichotomy itself, and at Vivace, that’s what design is too.”