Editor’s note: With the Decorators’ Show House & Gardens less than a month away, we asked one of the participating designers, Matthew Quinn, to keep a journal of the process, every step of the way. Today is his fourth installment about how one of his spaces is taking shape. Look for a new installment every week until April 17 when the Show House opens.
I believe every room should contain something memorable. But too much “memorable” can cause visual schizophrenia, so the art of editing becomes the lithium to a harmonious interior. In order of hierarchy, I know I already have gorgeous 10-foot-tall glass doors opening to a huge terrace and southern views over the mansions of Buckhead, along with a unique and memorable ceiling. Creating a handful of secondary and tertiary focal points is all that is needed to bring this space together. And I have to remember that at night, the southern view is mostly dark, so I need to play with lighting to create my own interior “skyline.”
A view of the developing design, plus details of the "stripes" Design Galleria is employing for a strong linear feel
I have already played with the horizontal lines of the space by using “stripes” on the tall paneled wall, so now I want to play with the verticality of the space. Centering a stainless framed hood with bronze glass inserts on the angled part of the ceiling did the trick. Not attaching it to the back wall and lighting it from the inside with LED lights made for an even stronger visual statement. To continue the theme of intersecting planes, I decided that instead of tiling the wall behind the induction cook top, I could hang a backsplash like a piece of art. And art, this backsplash is.
The stunning Gnosis marble-and-limestone mosaic chosen for the backsplash
Made by Gnosis Tesserae in Lebanon with the tiniest brown and gray marble and limestone tiles, it brings the classicism of the St. Regis into the modern St. Regis of today. The backsplash coordinates beautifully with the honed Brown Pearl granite countertops by Walker Zanger. A rectangular section of the stainless steel countertop on the peninsula appears to have been removed and replaced with a granite sink; meanwhile, the “removed” section of stainless steel will become a chef’s table that will be used as an island.
Now we are down to the last few details… I still have to select hardware, pendants lights, barstools and a wall color. See you next week!
