Photograph by Marie Thomas
Atlanta interior designer Leah Alexander usually dresses in black, which is something that amuses her friends, considering her fondness for bright colors in her decorating projects. “More often than not, I’m wearing all-black from head to toe,” she says, “But meanwhile . . . green, yellow, or even purple cabinetry? Immediately, yes. Floral wallpaper or saturated art? Wouldn’t miss it.”
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Her own Midtown condo delivers on the color front, starting with the kitchen. Alexander’s stream-lined cabinets are painted Sherwin-Williams’ “Chartreuse,” an energy injection that particularly works against exposed-brick walls. “Anyone can put white cabinets in a kitchen with white countertops,” Alexander says. “I want to dream out loud with clients by asking, Wouldn’t it be cool if we did this?” Elsewhere in the condo, bathrooms wear shades of lilac and fuchsia, and artwork and rugs are also vibrant stars in each room.
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Alexander appreciates classic and understated, as well. This quiet, circa-1921 condo building drew her in as a sanctuary among the skyscrapers. “I loved the hardwood floors, exposed brick, and concrete columns,” she says. “I knew that once I’d pared back some of the trim work and other ‘curlicues,’ I’d have an elegant canvas for mixing color and materials.”
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Photograph Marc Mauldin
And oh, what mixing she does. As a lifelong collector of meaningful items, Alexander is particularly drawn to sculptural furniture, particularly if they’re made by artisan-led companies. A pink concrete coffee table was hand cast by Bridge + Fog, and a black wooden side table is handmade by Allison Samuels of Two Tree Studios in Brooklyn. The living room’s vintage Oushak rug hales from Scott Antique Markets. Dining chairs are vintage Bertoia with new boucle covers/cushions as another forever purchase.
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Photograph by Marc Mauldin
Alexander’s formative years include a childhood in Southern California and a first wave of jobs in L.A., but also time with her grandparents in their custom Minnesota house filled with Danish teak furniture and a sunken living room—all influences towards her design style. After a move to Atlanta and growing her client base, word of her cheerful approach caught on. In 2023, she was tapped as a “Next Wave of designers” by House Beautiful, included in Architectural Digest’s AD PRO directory, and the biggie: Designer of the Year in HGTV Magazine.
Alexander’s philosophy: “If the last five years have taught us anything, it’s to cultivate sanctuary at home, and live a little.”
The post House Envy: HGTV “Designer of the Year” Leah Alexander adds her trademark color and collections to her Atlanta home appeared first on Atlanta Magazine.