I lived in Atlanta until I was eight years old, so I still have a little spot marked “home” there on my internal map. What I remember is the slight slope of my front yard and my friends and the pine trees. And the genuine warmth of the people. Thirty-eight years after I left (quit counting), I made a rare visit to the city, where I had the opportunity to spend the day in Atlanta with designer Suzanne Kasler and take a tour of her favorite shops.
I lived in Atlanta until I was eight years old, so I still have a little spot marked “home” there on my internal map. What I remember is the slight slope of my front yard and my friends and the pine trees. And the genuine warmth of the people. Thirty-eight years after I left (quit counting), I made a rare visit to the city, where I had the opportunity to spend the day in Atlanta with designer Suzanne Kasler and take a tour of her favorite shops.
We met at Kasler’s office at the Galleries of Peachtree Hills, a charming development that is home to several design-related stores and businesses. We sat at a long table in her studio as she jotted down her list—of 26 spots.
“Suzanne, 26? Are you sure?”
“Yes, it will be great,” she reassured me. “They are all good. This is why people love to come to Atlanta to go shopping—we have a lot of resources.” Her assistant, Keith Arnold (also our driver for the day), nodded in agreement and we were off.
Our first stops were just downstairs from Kasler’s studio, a short elevator ride away: Mrs. Howard and Max & Co. Owned by husband-and-wife designers Phoebe and Jim Howard, who have branches in a handful of cities, the two shops reflect the couple’s sophisticated but unstuffy aesthetic, offering a mix of new furniture and antiques with clean lines and muted tones. The furnishings are enticing, and the finishes of the walls, floors, and soft goods inspiring.
We headed down the sidewalk to Parc Monceau , owned by Barry Hutner, a former attorney who followed a dream and created a truly remarkable shop. Kasler prepared me to be delighted. “Barry has everything,” she told me. “Signed antiques, vintage—and it’s all beautiful.” It’s the sort of spot I love, as it’s so clearly curated by someone with a remarkable eye and an ability to bend the rules just far enough to be interesting.
While I was marveling at a pair of Irish Georgian mirrors and remarking on the number of striking midcentury lamps and array of charming ceramics, Kasler and her assistant were doing fast business. “I think these chairs would be great... Could you hold the mirror, it would be perfect... We’ve been looking for a great pair of French chairs.”
Kasler is exacting. She is confident in her knowledge of her clients’ needs, and it is impressive to watch her mentally click through her projects as we enter each space.
“You sit in front,” she insisted, as we climbed into the car to head to the Miami Circle Design District.
Miami Circle is home to a number of antiques shops and galleries, ranging from the traditional, like William Word Fine Antiques , to the upbeat and quirky Belvedere . Another Kasler favorite in Miami Circle is Pryor Fine Art , which just opened in this location within the last year. “These are just the kinds of things we love to show clients,” noted Kasler of the paintings by Dusty Griffith that were on view. “He is a brilliant colorist.”
Kasler asked if I was holding up. I was. Could I wait for lunch? I could. (Did they guess I get a little grouchy when I’m hungry? Perhaps.) From Miami Circle we headed to A. Tyner Antiques , a shop that would have perked me right up, even if my blood sugar had been falling. Focusing on European antiques, many with a rich patina, and interesting accessories, the store had a prodigious inventory. “They have a huge warehouse as well,” Kasler told me. “A lot of New York dealers come here to shop.” As I made my imaginary wish list (I am still yearning for that astrological globe), Kasler asked for pictures to be sent to her for consideration.
Now it truly was time for lunch, so we made our way to the Westside. But along the way, we stopped by South of Market , a space that’s distinctly different from the more traditional spots where we had spent our morning. Spare and industrial, with concrete floors and exposed ceiling beams, this home-furnishings shop features overscale lighting, relaxed upholstered sofas and chairs, and accessories. The owner, Kay Douglass, has quite the eye for repurposing items, turning airplane parts into pendant lights and French burlap into graphic art. Running throughout are energizing bursts of color that range from bright, bold orange lampshades to jazzy yellow armchairs to cozy throws in every possible hue.
“Southerners love color and they really love their homes,” Kasler said as we sat down to tacos on the Westside’s Taqueria del Sol. “They really support these businesses. We are lucky to have nonstop flights to Europe, so a lot of resourcing is relatively easy. The dealers have great accessibility and a distinct point of view.”
Click here for part two of our Atlanta shopping excursion with Suzanne Kasler.
