Smooth Transition

A young, design-savvy professional makes an easy transition from apartment to high-rise by blending vintage, classic and modern styles. Story by Kelly kunkel    Photography by Mali Azima    Produced by Clinton ross smith

Growing up in Alpharetta with an interior designer mom who is a straight-laced traditionalist, only to live with friends whose tastes range from retro to modern minimalism, it's no surprise that Ryan Hughes mixes styles like it's a second language.

 
While studying real estate at the University of Georgia, Hughes discovered his passion for interior design after drawing the attention of his floor mates with the décor in his dorm room. He honed his skills over the next few years by helping friends put their stamp on their apartments in Athens, as well as lending his talents to a few classmates making the transition to Atlanta.

Following graduation Hughes shifted between friends' apartments and the house in which he grew up before making up his mind to take the leap into buying a place of his own. A downtown loft was his first consideration. "Initially I really want to move into a raw loft space," Hughes says. "But living on my own for the first time, I wanted to be in an area where there would be a lot going on around me." And that led him to a sleek glass-and-steel high-rise community that had just broken ground-Plaza Midtown.

With all of the high-rise condos popping up along the skyline, deciphering the pros and cons of each could prove impossible. But with Hughes' design background he was able to sort them out by floor plan, and Plaza Midtown's immediately caught his eye. "I didn't want to walk through the door, right into the unit," he says. "I really wanted an entry hall, and I found it here. Plus, having Publix in the basement is incredibly convenient."

While Hughes waited for the building's completion, he worked with his mom to put together a condo that reflected his eclectic style, adding bits and pieces he discovered through friends and at his job at Ainsworth-Noah at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. "I always hated apartments because you couldn't do anything to them, so it's really nice to be able to put stuff into [my condo] knowing you're going to get a return on it," says Hughes. And as for high-rise living, it's more than just the view. "I love being up high. I feel really secure," he says.

Designer Details
Furnishing the condo wasn't the challenge-it was making it stand out from the others. To make the condo's light-hued floors pop, Hughes painted the trim and door frames dark and added a transom to separate the living room from his bedroom, and to lend a little light. He also replaced the standard pendant lights above his counter with vintage Seltzer bottles from the Sundance catalog; sundancecatalog.com "It gives my apartment that little bit of a vintage feel that I love," says Hughes.

Casual Chic
Wanting to create a more casual feeling in the living room, Hughes mixed an informal sofa and a comfy leather chair with gauzy curtains, and, in lieu of a structured coffee table, two silver cubes. "I spend the most time here, just listening to music, sitting on my daybed, and looking at the view," he says. "It's my favorite room in the house." Sofa, Pottery Barn, Lenox Square, (404) 812-9726. Vintage burlap pillow, South of Market, (404) 995-9399. Leather chair, Intaglia Home Collection, (404) 607-9750. Rug, Moattar, ADAC, (404) 237-5100. Niermann Weeks lamp and Corragio draperies, Ainsworth-Noah, ADAC, (404) 231-8787.

Perfect Pairing
Hughes' love for mixing classic pieces with vintage accents is evident in the sun-lit dining nook adjacent to the kitchen. He loves this table because it has the "meaty, clean look of a more expensive modern table at a fraction of the price." Paired with custom upholstered leather chairs, it is the perfect juxtaposition. Table, West Elm, Atlantic Station, (404) 541.9310. Nancy Corzine's Jacob Chairs covered in Florence leather, Ainsworth-Noah, ADAC.

Style File
Hughes' bedroom acts as a timeline in the evolution of his style. "I love putting a found piece next to a more traditional piece," he says, referring to the traditional four-poster bed he bought while in high school, and the side table, a refurbished medical table with an orange acrylic top. Bed, Old Biscayne Designs through Beverly Hall, (404) 261-7580. Vintage gear on wall, TerraCottage, (404) 350-0330. Lamp, Pottery Barn.