Decorating and Drinks

I've always been a fan of Atlanta designer John Oetgen. Somehow, he seems to know exactly how to strike the right balance when mixing the old and the new. It's really a skill to be able to make it all seem so natural and so not forced, and John has obviously perfected this skill.

Late last year, John was asked to decorate the model apartment at The Mansion on Peachtree, a luxury high-rise in Buckhead. The unit was part of the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House tour and was recently featured in the March issue of the magazine. I can't tell you how many times I've stepped into a model home or apartment and was struck by the sterility and lifelessness of them. But John's unit was totally different. You got the sense that a real person- one who was sophisticated and worldly- actually lived there. Perhaps it was because John seemed to pay so much attention to the details. One detail in particular that I liked was the sunburst ceiling fixture in the entryway. John placed it over a ceiling medallion that he painted blue. Clever, no? I'm including a few images from the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles' article (March 2011 issue), but for the full text and images, visit the magazine's website.



The chic little foyer. I love that wallpaper combined with the black trim.



The ceiling of the foyer featured this blue medallion and sunburst light fixture.



The breakfast table was surrounded by these fabulous chairs. The nail head trim and handles really make those chairs.


And, now for some shameless self-promotion. My bar cart, my kitchen door, and my back were also featured in this issue in a special section on entertaining titled "On the Rocks". Read my quote about what to do with guests who stay forever and how to feed them. Of course, now all of my friends are asking me if they were the guilty parties.

All images courtesy of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, March 2011. Oetgen photos by Erica George Dines; bar cart and door photos by David Christensen. Images printed with permission from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.