PRIVATE QUARTERS / A look at Atlanta's properties and personalities

Cobb condo designed to fit busy, vibrant lifestyle


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/18/08

Alberto Sebastian's home is all about bold colors and spectacular sunrises.

Becky Stein / Special
Alberto Sebastian owns a car dealership and a night club in Cobb County, so location was an important consideration when he was looking for a new home.
 
Becky Stein / Special
Sebastian moved to Horizon in Wildwood in part because the views in most rooms, including the master, are spectacular.
 
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Sebastian lives in a 15th-floor condo at Horizon at Wildwood, just down the road from the I-75/I-285 interchange in Cobb County.

"When you walk in, you enjoy the environment ... and the view is something I was looking for," Sebastian said. "I was living in a house and tired of cutting the grass and taking care of the little plants outside. I love high-rise living, but I do not love the traffic."

Which is why Sebastian found a condo outside the city.

Sebastian looked at condos in Buckhead, Vinings and Midtown before settling at Horizon, which is near I-75 and I-285.

"I work in this area and have businesses in Smyrna and Marietta. It gets you that style of the high-rise living outside the city."

Sebastian, who owns a car dealership and a nightclub in Cobb County, has a busy work schedule and wanted a maintenance-free home.

With the design group he chose, the move was effortless.

Sebastian hired Trump Tower interior designer Jim Weinberg to design his condo and was one of the first to test out Weinberg's new Liveable Lifestyles concept. Sebastian's contribution? He just needed to bring his clothes.

For him, that worked out perfectly. It was too overwhelming to consider how to fit all his furnishings into a new home and then decide how to decorate it.

The concept offers ready-to-live-in furnishing packages for high-rise residents. Clients choose one of 14 styles — like "Eco-Chic" or "Contemporary — and one of five color palettes. The condo is ready for living in 30 days or less.

These soup-to-nuts packages appeal to empty-nesters and divorcees who want a "move-in" ready residence.

Weinberg's attention to detail impressed Sebastian.

"He said 30 days. I filled out a questionnaire about colors, hobbies etc," Sebastian said. One of the questions was 'How do you like your bed, firm or soft?'

Weinberg wanted to know more about Sebastian so the environment would truly reflect his personality and allow him to feel at home.

"When Alberto first came in, he was excited about the location," Weinberg said. "He loved vibrant colors and prime colors. So we chose the 'Contemporary' style."

"This was my first time to use a decorator. Usually I'm a hands-on guy," he said.

Weinberg and his staff used the natural element of concrete in the design, including staining one wall of concrete in a metallic shimmer.

"There's lots of natural light. We don't change anything structurally."

They added a mirror the dining room wall to make it appear larger.

"Living in apartments is a whole different lifestyle. You want a sense of space," Weinberg added.

Sebastian is pleased with the results. He loves the bright colors, especially the rust-orange master bath with black doors.

The views are another amenity. The master bedroom offers a great sunrise view while sunset views can be found on the other side of his condo.

The spaces at the 17-story Horizon range in size from 700 to more than 2,000 square feet. Each condo features a balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, luxury finishes, contemporary floor plans and views including the city skyline, Buckhead and the Chattahoochee River.

Keeping the client happy

There are small vignettes throughout the home. Weinberg made sure to incorporate a sitting area in the master bedroom because Sebastian enjoys reading his newspaper there.

The dark leather bedroom set is masculine and contemporary. Candles, which Sebastian favors, were easily incorporated into the design.

Even the modern chandelier mimics candles.

"It feels peaceful," Sebastian said.

Being a bachelor, Sebastian stood firm on his request for a recliner. Weinberg was able to comply once he found a colorful and tasteful chair.

"The key element in this room is red ... and he likes to read a lot," he said.

The second bedroom is Sebastian's office and sometime guest room. The divorced dad needed a place for his kids to stay when they visit. The guest bath is a soothing green with black doors and black granite counters.

Design in a smaller space

Weinberg enjoys designing high-rise homes.

"There's all kinds of new sensations. And you have to limit the materials and the clutter," he said.

Weinberg picks out the china, linens and all the furnishings. His company makes all the furnishings, from draperies to pillows to original artwork. He chose colorful glassware and barstools to match Sebastian's taste.

His fees range from $48 to $62 a square foot for the Liveable Lifestyles concept. "Some styles are more or less expensive to pull off," Weinberg said.

Every detail counts. He found a dining table with a lazy Susan to accommodate Sebastian's love of sushi. He included a waffle iron because Sebastian likes to make breakfast for his kids. He provided picture frames for his photos and even made sure his favorite car magazines were ready for reading in the living room.

"We customize it, and it becomes something you'd never find in another person's apartment," Weinberg said.

House Highlights:

• The 15th -floor condo includes 1,388 square-feet of space, two bedrooms and two baths.

• Amenities include concierge service, a fitness center, an outdoor infinity-edged garden spa, an swimming pool and a theater room with plasma TVs. For more information about Horizon at Wildwood, visit www.horizonwildwood.com.

• Learn more about the designer at www.LiveableLifestyles.com

Do you have a tip or a nomination for Private Quarters? Email writer Chris Reinolds (creinolds@ajc.com) or call her at 770-326-8958.


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