When the clients moved into this Atlanta home, this room had been used by the previous owners as a small office. Painted entirely in matte gray with butcher block mounted along the perimeter of the room as a makeshift desk, the space did not meet the new homeowners’ desire for a chic sitting room where they could curl up with a book, listen to music, sip drinks with friends, and showcase their curated collection of curiosities including obelisks, glass Japanese fishing floats, gemstones, coral, shells, vintage books, and other intriguing objects collected on their far-flung travels.

With just 144 square feet, creating space to showcase a curated selection of the couple’s books and special objects without looking cluttered was an initial challenge. As custom built-in shelving was cost-prohibitive, the clients’ bookshelves from a guest room were re-purposed and painted a high-gloss green to match the verdant walls. A deep blue velvet sofa with an eclectic mix of custom pillows is the perfect place to relax and gaze at the mesmerizing, gold-flecked malachite wallpaper adorning the ceiling. A vintage crystal starburst light fixture adds sparkle and eclecticism against the swirling malachite backdrop. An abundance of natural light encourages the couple’s collection of plants to flourish, completing their “Natural Cabinet of Curiosities” – one of the 18th century’s greatest natural history books, that can be found on their shelves and served as inspiration for the room’s decor.