Real Estate Briefs

By Amy Wenk

Interior designer Whitney Ray will admit she likes a bit of drama.

“You can count on my selections centering around modern-leaning pieces with some antiques peppered in for character,” said the principal of Buckheadbased design firm Wyeth Ray Interiors, located on East Paces Ferry Road. “I like a little bit of edge and what I call the ‘good sense of drama.’”

Ray was a senior designer for Atlanta firms including Beth Webb and Wolf Designs before launching her own firm alongside architect Joel Kelly in 2017.

Reporter Newspapers caught up with Ray to hear what home trends are popular this summer and how she approaches good design.

What are the home trends you are seeing this year, especially coming out of the pandemic?

That would have to be the deep, saturated colors! I will never part from my love of neutrals, but I’m having fun with the bold colors my clients are requesting. Who wouldn’t want an emerald green, lacquered bar to brighten up their home after spending so much time in quarantine?

If your design style was a zodiac sign, what would it be?

Gemini. I love contrasts. I will always mix antiques with more streamline, tailored pieces. I personally prefer a slightly more masculine palette in black, white, and family of browns offset with custom pillows in a variety of textures and dressmaker detailing. I like pretty things but will always edit out fussiness so that you can appreciate the juxtaposition of the selections and how they interplay in that setting.

Whitney Ray, principal of Buckheadbased design firm Wyeth Ray Interiors. (Special/CatMax Photography)

What are some of your recent projects?

A weekend mountain home on Lake Toxaway. A modern masterpiece in Chastain Park designed by the talented Plexus R&D. And a Brookhaven home for the owner of CaseMate and his family that sits atop a viewing garage for his rare car collection.

What are some simple things people can do to modernize their decor?

Edit. Edit. Edit. I find that even in my own home, I can refresh a space simply by taking some things away. Try using larger statement pieces rather than a lot of small objects. It makes a big difference!

Ray loves to play with contrast in her designs. “I will always mix antiques with more streamline, tailored pieces,” she said. (Special/Jeff Ferr)

▲The Atlanta City Council voted in July to apply for a $1 million federal grant to fund an implementation study for The Stitch, a long-simmering plan to cap part of the Downtown Connector to reconnect the Downtown area while creating new buildable and park space. The funding would come from the recently announced $1 billion Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city will work with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and Central Atlanta Progress to complete the application.

HOME Real Estate has teamed up with Meals On Wheels Atlanta to create The HOME Fund, which supports seniors struggling with food insecurity. Every agent has committed to donate a portion of each commission from closing in the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2021. Proceeds will be used to purchase items of needs for seniors and their pets and pay for unexpected emergencies and home repairs. For more information visit homegeorgia.com and mowatl.org.

PadSplit, an affordable housing marketplace that helps lowerincome individuals achieve financial independence, and Partners for HOME, a nonprofit created by the City of Atlanta to lead a coordinated response to ending homelessness in the city, have housed 88 individuals through their partnership. “The past year has been an extremely hard one for the underhoused and those who experience homelessness,” said Cathryn Marchman, Partners for HOME chief executive officer. “We have moved as quickly as possible to secure housing for our clients, to keep them safe and help stem the spread of COVID-19 amongst the community. Time and again, we have called on PadSplit to assist with our efforts – sometimes on a moment’s notice – and they have stepped up to the challenge to help those when they need it most.” Visit padsplit.com for more details.

Greystar’s 29-story Ascent Peachtree, built atop an existing parking garage at 161 Peachtree Center Ave., is now leasing its 345 units. Rents begin at $1,550 for a studio, while large two-level townhomes are available for $5,000 to $6,510 per month. The property amenities include a co-working space, yoga studio, bike repair area, and concierge services. On the 12th floor, the Spectator will have entertaining space and an outdoor terrace with pool. On the 29th floor, the Elevé terrace will feature more outdoor space, a wine room and lounge. ▼Atlanta-based nonprofit MicroLife Institute held a ribbon cutting in July for Cottages on Vaughan. The new pocket neighborhood, situated on a half-acre lot a block away from downtown Clarkston, includes eight tiny homes, a common green space for gathering, and climate-conscious development features such as solar panels and edible, regenerative landscaping. “This

project is a proof of concept for us.” Will Johnston, Founder and CEO of MicroLife Institute, said. “When people see these homes, they are shocked, they can’t believe the cottages are under 500 square feet, and that’s exactly the reaction we want. Every inch of this space was intentionally built to challenge our perception of space and make us reflect on how we can better utilize it.” Following the project groundbreaking in late 2019, the cottages had already developed an interest list of more than 1,500 people from around the country.