Home to ADAC, AmericasMart, and major national retailers, the metro area offers a wealth of decorating resources that keep us hunting around town for that perfect accessory. But sometimes you just want to stop by a place in your own neighborhood. These highly curated local shops, which are more like a designer’s office that decided to add retail than the other way around (not that we don’t adore larger operations like Steve McKenzie’s and Dixon Rye!), are rooted in local culture and provide reliably high-end products. Here, take a peek inside just a few of our favorite micromerchants.
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Roswell
Veteran designer Amy Ferrer may have just opened her boutique in late 2015, but Miko and Boone Home is already a historic Roswell mainstay. The charming moniker (it’s what the grandkids call Ferrer and her husband) is an affectionate nod to family, and familiar comforts are indeed celebrated here—down to jewelry by Ferrer’s daughter Mackenzie Bass and artwork by her daughter Britt Bass Turner. Having grown up traveling often—her father was in the military—Ferrer developed an eye for unique finds. But her shop also stocks plenty of clean-lined transitional and contemporary labels arranged in inspiring “rooms,” from breakfast to bed. 41 Oak Street, Roswell
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Peachtree Hills
Frustrated by his constant search for unusual, upscale accessories, award-winning designer Robert Brown brought his favorite resources here. At Townhouse Extraordinary Goods, his hand-picked antique, new, and vintage wares are arranged in genteel rooms within a three-story townhouse at the Galleries of Peachtree Hills. The store’s inventory is decidedly urbane and graciously masculine, much of it gleaned from trips around the globe. And every last item—from a supple leather lounge chair and Glen plaid pillows to dynamic lamps by Robert Kuo and Brown’s own locally made, private-label furniture—is available immediately off the floor. Shoppers often linger for fun tunes and hand-mixed cocktails—à la Sid Mashburn. 425 Peachtree Hills Avenue
Inman Park
Nandina Home & Design (which actually started in Aiken, South Carolina, in 2006) exudes a down-to-earth aesthetic that’s perfectly suited for its eclectic neighborhood, where architecture ranges from winsome Victorians to mod new condos. Jim and Susan Victor run the show along with designers Sue Shannon and John Ishmael (who once worked for TBS’s Movie and a Makeover), stocking respected lines likes Lee Industries, Vanguard, Hickory Chair, and Global Views. Inside scoop: Nandina’s full-service workroom offers custom window treatments and reupholstery. 245 North Highland Avenue
Alpharetta
In terms of ambience, few city shops can compete with the Southern charm of The Porch on South Main. The three-year-old boutique, owned by interior designer Lynn Morley, occupies a converted 1919 farmhouse boasting a bright-red door and sprawling wraparound porch perfect for sipping sweet tea. Indoors, find lavishly layered beds, oversized swings piled high with pillows, intriguing floor coverings (check out the Spicher and Company vintage vinyl floor cloths), clever art and lighting, and furnishings that skew French country in style. 531 South Main Street, Alpharetta
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Decatur
Transitional, colorful, and sometimes whimsical, Trinity Mercantile & Design Co was opened in 2012 by interior designers Lisa Turner and Wallace Bryan, whose wares range from a Delft-blue chintz chair to a shagreen cocktail table to an intricately carved cow skull. There’s an extensive fabric/wallpaper library, many ceiling lights on display, and a dedicated room for handmade global goods. A regular stop on the roster for Decatur’s art walks (look for works by painters like Ruth Franklin and Liefje Smith in store), Trinity also hosts book signings and stages tastemaker-headlined events. 116 East Trinity Place, Decatur
Smyrna
Jack Mattern launched his interior remodeling business in Chicago. But after moving here and teaming up with his wife, Julia, in 2012, his business grew into Modify, Smyrna’s premier full-service design, build, decorating, and retail concept. Beyond the bright-blue double doors you’ll encounter a clean, approachable, transitional aesthetic. The owners may invite you for a cup of coffee and conversation, or help you select a housewarming gift. Modify is the perfect place to snag pieces from perennial favorites like Resource Decor, plus paintings by Anne Needham and antiqued mirrors by Stacy Milburn right off the selling floor. 3691 Atlanta Road, Smyrna
Duluth
Longtime friends Jana Contardi and Jennifer Cook opened Peace, Love & Decorating following the meteoric success of their e-commerce operation, previously housed in Cook’s basement. Next to Duluth’s town green, their five-year-old brick-and-mortar stocks sleek brands such as Noir, Arteriors, and Regina Andrew, plus one-of-a-kind vintage porter chairs and home goods like quilted Traditions Linens coverlets. Stop in for classic china (from brands like Arte Italica), rugs from Magnolia Home (yep, Joanna Gaines’s creations), and expert decorating advice. 3129 Main Street, Duluth
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Buckhead Village
College of Charleston alumna Lee Kleinhelter launched her career with design mavens Dan Carithers, Joy Hirsch, and Barbara Westbrook, but has long since made a name for herself with Pieces, her 12-year-old boutique. Revamped vintage wares and statement-making accessories are arranged in graphic, color-coded vignettes amid a dreamy white backdrop. Kleinhelter’s knack for rich textures, compelling silhouettes, and judicious jolts of citrus have attracted famous fans like Nate Berkus and Kelly Wearstler, whose accessories Kleinhelter carries. In recent years she’s collaborated closely with her husband, Kevin (his office is next to hers downstairs), owner of K2 Construction. 3234 Roswell Road
Seasoned designer Chris Holt’s diminutive East Andrews Drive store, Noah J. & Co., embodies his tradition-with-a-twist aesthetic. Legacy Homes bedding, pottery by Atlantan Jennifer Bates, jewelry by manager Kristin Mayfield Meredith, and Brooklyn-based Juniper Design lighting (a local exclusive) join loads of unique accessories, Bernhardt and Charles Stewart seating, and Noah J.’s own Hickory, North Carolina–made private-label upholstery. Holt also produces tailored pieces, including metal-frame tables and chairs, to designers’ specifications. 18 East Andrews Drive
Woodstock
Woodstock’s treasured design source, Linden, may be tucked unassumingly into Towne Lake shopping center, but don’t be deceived: The nine-year-old French-country emporium is presided over by Laurie Prentice, an avid comber of European markets who spent 13 years at AmericasMart. Her expertise is evident in the elegant selection of weathered wood furniture, architectural remnants, vintage demijohns, hand-planted container gardens, and original art. Workshops (like how to use Annie Sloan chalk paint) are available to the DIY bunch, while Prentice also offers in-home decorating visits and even guided shopping trips to the south of France. 2340 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, 770-928-2222
Photograph by Patrick Heagney
Westside
Jackson Charles Home owner Eddie Brumbaugh (a doppelgänger for Naomi Campbell) has had her share of celebrity clientele—from Falcons players to Real Housewives—so she’s no stranger to high-impact decorating. The designer’s Chattahoochee Avenue store reveals as much, with vivid color and conversation-sparking accessories (skull and tusk objets d’art, for starters). But it’s also a showcase for the more understated looks in this designer’s versatile repertoire. Having named the business after her eldest son, Brumbaugh ensures furnishings are as family-friendly as they are fun. 1465 Chattahoochee Avenue
Athens
Three years ago Breckyn Alexander became an instant Athens darling when she opened her supremely sophisticated shop, BMA at Home, in her college town. And after moving two doors down to a standalone Arts and Crafts bungalow in September, this LEED-certified talent continues to refine her selection. The sun-splashed interior teems with American-made upholstery from Cisco Brothers and Century Furniture; vibrant Turkish rugs; globally sourced accessories and vintage furniture; unique lighting (ask about the Patricia Jaliu grapewood-and-mineral fixtures); and pretty fabrics from Ellisha Alexina, Rebecca Atwood, and Atlanta’s own Clay McLaurin. Alexander also acts as de facto gallerist, displaying work by more than two dozen artists with Georgia ties—from Hope Hilton to Hannah Betzel. 1662 South Lumpkin Street, Athens
This article originally appeared in our Spring 2017 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.
