A Minimal & Modern Atlanta Studio Apartment

Name: Sean Michael Davis + Dog, Charlie
Location: Ponce City Market in Old Fourth Ward — Atlanta, Georgia
Size: 575 square foot studio
Years lived in: 1 year

With great natural light, clean lines, and a touch of creativity, this space is the envy of bachelor pads everywhere. Local Atlanta graphic designer, Sean Michael Davis, welcomes us into his home.

Coming in at a whopping 575 square feet, this studio space is on the smaller side of the spectrum. However, stepping into a room flooded by natural light makes this modern apartment feel much larger than its measurements give it credit for. Sean completely embraced the opportunity in making an airy and open feel, with plenty of clean lines and touches of greenery. While designs on the more minimal side can at times feel a bit more barren, additions such as original artwork and collected items from travels make the apartment whole and inviting. Not to mention having a loyal companion to welcome you home. Now, let’s just hope Charlie’s willing to share the bed for Sean’s sake.

My Style: Urban, Southern-Minimalism. I try to keep things fairly open and airy, but accented with a handful of unique pieces that have a story, or some personal meaning to me.

Inspiration: I love modern architecture (My father is an architect, so maybe it’s in my blood). I spend a ton of time just looking at interiors online and love visiting and observing other people’s homes. I always strive to strike a balance between keeping things simple and letting the space speak for itself, while accenting it with personal objects and pieces that give it sense of personality and familiarity.

Favorite Element: Large windows and natural light. It stays pretty bright in here during the day.

Biggest Challenge: Not enough space. At the same time, it’s a benefit too — it challenges me to be creative about how to arrange and utilize the space in an efficient manner.

What Friends Say: Usually the first 5 minutes of someone visiting consists of me overly-apologizing for what a mess my apartment is. After that, however, friends usually comment on the view of the Midtown skyline view out the windows.

Biggest Embarrassment: I get fairly embarrassed whenever people open up anything in the kitchen. I don’t have a formal dinning setup and I’m usually running on close to empty in the fridge and pantry.

Proudest DIY: Probably some of the artwork on the walls. I started a personal project in 2015 where I decided to reflect at the end of the week and interpret whatever I was felt, learned, or experienced into a poster. The goal was to do so for all 52 weeks of 2015. (I made it to week 39 and lost momentum.) But I think they both fit the aesthetic goals of my space and are nice personal reminders of experiences and lessons from the previous year.

Biggest Indulgence: Honestly, I’ve probably moved in the opposite direction of indulgence since moving into my loft. I downsized from a three-bedroom townhome, to a one-bedroom cabin and now a studio loft in less than 2 years. I’ve donated and given away more things than I’ve actually bought along the way.

Best Advice: Build towards what you’d actually want to look at and be surrounded by day in and day out. At the end of the day you’re the only one who’s going to experience your home the vast majority of the time.

Dream Sources: leibal.com, contemporist.com, Designspiration.net,
Pinterest, Instagram

• Couch – allmodern.com
• Rocker – wayfair.com
• Japanese Metal Trunk – Local vintage and antique shop, Brick + Mortar
• Rug – West Elm
• Side Table – Target
• Hanging Air Plants – Young Blood Boutique + Home Depot
• Metal Stool – Target
• Yarn bottom chair – Picked it up from a pile of stuff my landlords in Tennessee were throwing away from their garage
• “Nashville,” “Wish you were here,” “Patience and Perspective” and “Sticks and Stones” prints – all drawings I did at some point
• Frames – Ikea
• Gold foil animal print – A Kansas City designer by the name of Tad Carpenter designed that one. I picked it up at a graphic design conference he was speaking at
• Cameras – various thrift stores in Tennessee and Georgia
• Tv Stand locker cabinets – ikea
• Mushroom vanity stool – from my late great grandmother’s home
• Large Potted plants – Ikea

• Floor Mat – Ikea
• Cutting board – JA Henckels
• Water Filters – Soma
• Coffee Maker – Chemex
• Tea sets and goods – Teavana

• Bedding – h&m home
• Pennants – Oxford Pennants
• Desk – target
• Alarm clocks – various thrift stores in Tennessee and Georgia
• Candles – candlefish
• Terrarium – urbanoutfitters
• Encased scorpion – The Last Tuesday Society – Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

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