ATELIER DESIGN & DECOR: A MODERN TWIST ON A HISTORIC STREET
By: Kirstin Hawthorne
On the quaint streets of downtown Middleburg, sits the newly expanded storefront of Atelier Design and Décor. Owned by award-winning designer Terri Pakravan, Atelier offers a unique collection of décor, artwork, accessories, and home furnishings. Inspired by her grandmothers’ legacies, one a proprietor of a bed and breakfast and another a florist, Terri has been designing and decorating spaces since she was a child. She credits these two influential ladies for showing her the importance of marrying your personal style with the architectural style of your space to create warm, inviting, comfortable rooms.
USE TEXTURE, COLOR, OR SCALE TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
With more than 25 years of experience, and a degree from the New York School of Interior Design, Terri has learned that the best designs are those that embrace furniture and accessories that speak to you and bring you joy. Accordingly, many pieces inside the retail storefront, are pieces that Terri picked up in her travels that offer a distinctive look, texture, color pattern or scale to make a statement. When working with her clients, her ultimate goal is to have her designs evoke a feeling of “home.”
TAILOR YOUR DECOR TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE ROOM.
Having lived and worked all over the country, Terri says she does not have a particular style of design, but rather looks to tailor the décor to her clients’ tastes and the functionality of the room. She is happy to report that she is seeing an easing up on supply chain issues and has developed relationships with local businesses and suppliers to ensure that she can meet both her clients’ vision and timeline.
HIGHLIGHT CEILINGS AND MOULDINGS.
While Terri acknowledges that proper scale and a mixture of texture, color, and patterns are what take a space from great to grandiose, she also focuses on smaller touches that make a huge visual impact. In large homes and rooms, she says some of her favorite projects have included wallpapering the ceilings. By having this unique element in design, she brings a dramatic statement that grounds the room at the same time. She also loves adding applied moldings to doorways and openings to give a more polished look and definition to the space.
MAKE SMALL UPDATES TO DELIVER A BIG IMPACT.
A great floor plan, good seating, and a thoughtful flow throughout the home are also keys to developing her foundation for a customized design. When budgeting for a project, Terri always tells her clients that they need to think of their home as an investment. However, she also shares that many small updates can make a big impact without a big price tag. Updating lighting, using bold and colorful paint, installing new hinges or hardware, or painting cabinetry can all make a big difference when clients want to elevate the look and feel of a particular room. She also encourages clients to move away from the matching sets and to mix styles in a thoughtful way to achieve a more unique and personalized look and feel to the room.
INCORPORATE YOUR PERSONALITY.
When not at the store, you can find Terri enjoying time with her family and her beloved dog. Her favorite space in her own home is her living room in front of a roaring fire, where she has a statement coffee table, large comfortable sofas, and personal accessories. She cannot resist a beautiful sunflower art piece, or unique coffee table books, so these are staples in her home as well.
VISIT THE STORE TODAY!
Atelier is a wonderful place to purchase a gift. With unique candles, picture frames, coasters, slippers, and pillows, to name just a few, you will never leave without a treasure that is sure to be enjoyed. The store is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and weekends from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Appointments for home visits can also be made by calling the store at (540) 687-5984 or emailing through the website at www.atelierdesignanddecor.com. A trip to Atelier will never disappoint!
