Interior designer Emily Dunn’s designs walk the delicate line between bohemian and clean-lined luxury, resulting in eclectic spaces full of reclaimed wood, grounding earth tones and tons of texture.
Interior designer Emily Dunn sitting on a teak hand chair by Noir Trading
It is so refreshing to see someone doing what they were born to do, and when it comes to Emily Dunn of Emily Dunn Designs (emilydunndesigns.com), that statement couldn’t be more relevant. The Atlanta native grew up loving design in all its forms, and the mental puzzle game it takes to make it all work in the end. After 31 years in the industry, Dunn hasn’t been busier or happier, growing her Atlanta-based eponymous firm at an exponential rate in both design and wholesale. Due to her already long career in interiors, Dunn has created lifelong friendships with many designers, artisans, architects, contractors, artists, makers, vendors and more, and in turn created a network of some of the best in the industry. “I’m passionate about design and love digging into every facet of the process. I develop great relationships with those I work with,” says Dunn. “My team and I love coming up with an idea and hearing a vendor get excited because they’ve never tried that before. There is a mutual trust and respect so we can push each other creatively to come up with innovative ideas for our clients.” While Dunn is based in Atlanta, the designer has projects all over the country, covering everything from beach houses and second homes to new construction. “No matter the size of the project or budget, I see my role as making the design process as fun and easy as possible for my clients,” says Dunn. “I embrace the challenge of creating beautiful spaces that are highly responsive to how each person or family lives in their home.” Dunn is highly organized when working with and for the client so they don’t have to be. “With over three decades of experience, I can problem-solve or prevent issues before they arise,” says Dunn. “I also think about each client’s project holistically so my team can manage the bottom line and find the right sources to match the client’s budget and timeline.” Dunn doesn’t stop there, as her designs are just as well received as her design process, noting that she aims for great—not just good—design. “Great design is the result of thoughtfully addressing even the smallest of details. From placement of lighting to the depth of sofas and reflectivity of lacquered walls, I know what details will create the biggest impact in a room,” says Dunn. “For one client, I even got into the shower with her to measure the placement of the spray jets. What could be a more custom detail than that?” We agree.
For this fun project, Dunn was hired to create luxury rental units for the movie industry.
