A Warm Industrial Atlanta Studio Apartment Feels Much Larger Than It Actually Is
Name: Brent Warr
Location: Cabbagetown Neighborhood — Atlanta, Georgia
Type of home: Studio Apartment
Size: 780 square feet
Years lived in: 2 months, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live in the Cabbagetown Neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia. I had moved back home to Georgia from New York City when the pandemic hit and found this place after looking for a few months. Built in 1864, formerly known as the Southern Spring Bedding Company, the Mattress Factory Lofts offer a unique living experience in such a historic building. The exposed wood and brick and large windows that are original to the building drew me to this unit and it has great lighting due to the windows facing east. I get the morning sunlight but do not get the hot Georgia sun in the afternoons. And the 15-foot ceilings make the studio feel much larger than it actually is!
My unit is situated on a private courtyard, so it feels like you’re alone and have this whole outdoor area to yourself. As an interior designer in NYC before the pandemic, I love great design from all eras. I love mixing vintage and eclectic finds with more modern pieces. The style of the apartment could best be described as curated with muted colors and a mixing of textures, from furniture pieces I have made to more designer finds that were purchased. Designing a home takes time, and making a home feel like home takes even longer. One of the reasons I love this space so much is because it is large enough to allow me to have a small area between the bedroom and living area to paint. Through these past few months, I’ve been much more creative and have gotten back into painting. I love working with acrylics, oils, and charcoals and the two large pieces in the dining room and bedroom were painted by me. This space has allowed me to grow more as an artist and designer and I can see myself here or in this building for a few years.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Curated, historic, refined, cozy, open
What is your favorite room and why? Well, I mean it is a studio so it’s hard to pick because it’s basically one large box lol. But I would definitely have to say the living room. I love to get up in the morning and open up the large factory windows and grab a cup of coffee and just sit quietly for a few minutes on my sofa. I just bought a super comfy sofa from CB2 a few months back and it fits perfect in the space. With a depth of 41 inches it’s an amazing cuddle couch. One of my favorite pieces in the living room is my rug. It’s from the 1960s and I found it in a back room at an estate sale. It’s tone on tone and has contrasting colors that look great in the living room. The pile is very thick as well, so it feels cozy on your feet.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? One of my recent finds and probably my favorite piece in the apartment is a 1850s pie safe that I am using as a wine and liquor cabinet! I was in an antique store in Atlanta and was browsing, not looking for anything in particular, and I found this beauty. The pie safe was hidden behind a few old signs and wasn’t really visible. It is made with old tongue and groove wood and there are no screws used in the entire piece. It’s such a unique piece of furniture and was one of the finishing touches to go in the apartment. Another smaller purchase I made was a safari chair made by Limbo, an Austin, Texas-based company that specializes in reimagining this vintage style from the 1940s.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t be afraid to mix different colors and textures when creating your home. Furniture pieces from different eras can make your home feel cozy and inviting and is a great way to showcase your style in your home or apartment. Try to go with something timeless and you don’t have to follow all the trends that you see (all-white kitchens, mid-century, farmhouse). Finally, less is usually more. Find those one or two show stopper pieces and then design the rest of your home or space around them!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.