Cover story
As designers know, books can add interest to a room. Especially decorative books by Atlanta’s Eddie Lawrence.
The founder: Eddie Lawrence Edwards, frequently goes by Eddie Lawrence, grew up in Stone Mountain and graduated from Georgia State University with a business degree. He worked as a territory sales manager for decorative accessories manufacturers and imported antiques from Europe before focusing on books.
The company: E. Lawrence, Ltd. is an Atlanta-based purveyor of leather-bound books and handmade parchment bound books. Founded in 1996, the company has been at its current location since 2012.
The goods: Artfully rebound books and journals ($35 to $45 each). Also original antiquarian leather-bound books ($35 to $125). Books are deconstructed and rebound by hand. The designs are printed on handmade paper in the company's workshop on Atlanta's Westside.
Top covers: Neutral palettes, fashion and travel; antiquarian leather-bound covers.
Claim to fame: Known as "the decorative book guy" to designers and others.
Find Eddie: www.elawrenceltd.com
Where to buy: Interior Homescapes (interiorhomescapes.com), an Atlanta-based online retailer. Also at home stores in the Atlanta area, including: Interior Philosophy, 4411 Roswell Road, and Bungalow Classic, 1197 Howell Mill Road. Waiting on Martha (waitingonmartha.com), a popular Atlanta-based blog with an online shop, occasionally does pop up shops featuring the books.
Table talk
Three years ago, Atlanta’s Sarah Atkinson quit her day job to follow her passion for furniture design.
The company: GREY furniture was founded in 2012. The Atlanta-based company produces a fresh yet timeless collection of tables and lighting.
The founder: Studied interior design at Georgia State. After graduation, worked in a furniture showroom in Atlanta for 10 years before starting her company.
Materials: For tables: hardwoods, steel, glass and concrete. For lighting, solid brass, plus raw and powder-coated steel.
What's popular: The Jax coffee table ($3,250). It can be classic or modern depending on the table-top material and the finish. The best-selling light fixture is the Spark ($1,235), which looks great hanging alone or in a group.
Other favorites: The Flute console ($4,680) in oiled walnut and the Aerial chandelier is ($4,950)
Fun or unusual request: Last year GREY was commissioned to make a pair of massive brass lights for the HGTV's "Urban Oasis" in Atlanta. One fixture had custom-spun brass shades and more than 24 lights. It took more than 40 hours to build.
Claim to fame: Named one of "15 under 40" in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine's 2014 list of Atlanta's young tastemakers.
Where to buy: www.greyfurniture.com
Just add light
Virginia artist Rebekah Graves creates warm, inviting spaces with her hand-crafted light sculpture.
The founder: Born on a rural farm in Virginia, Graves attended the University of Virginia and earned a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Architecture. In her final year at college, she developed an original process of sculpting organic forms in porcelain and casting each shape using Japanese and Nepalese hand-made papers.
The company: Rebekah Graves designs and creates hand-made sculptural lighting in her studio at the McGuffey Art Center in downtown Charlottesville, Va. Her company, Rebekah Graves Lightscapes, was first developed in 2005 and provides residential and commercial lighting, as well as temporary installations for galleries and events.
The goods: Handmade pendants. Honeycomb pendant ($900); Series 5 pendant ($650); Globe pendant ($450); Drip pendant ($375); and Drop pendant ($325). Each pendant is hand-made by the artist with subtle variation. Multiples encouraged.
Materials: Porcelain, Japanese and Nepalese hand-made papers, archival pva (adhesive), hardware, and wiring for assembly.
What's popular: The Honeycomb pendant ($900) was the first light sculpture created. It is cult classic.
Other favorites: Golden light bowls. Paper clay votives with a gold interior that provide ambient lighting throughout the home. ($25-$75)
Fun or unusual request: Created a magical lightscape installation for a designer's birthday party in the horse stable of a historic castle on Afton Mountain in Virginia.
Big break: Representation by the Martin Nash Showroom in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC).
Claim to fame: Designed a custom shape and installation for a collector who also has Aqua Creations lighting in her home, a favorite line of the designer.
What's next: A series of forged metal light cages dressed in hand-dyed silks, wall-mounted light boxes, and large-scaled installations for special events.
Where to buy: www.rebekahgraves.com. Also at Martin Nash Showroom in ADAC, 351 Peachtree Hills, Suite 308, where the pieces can be seen and purchased through the showroom's in-house designer or a designer of your choosing.
Best of the South
Do you have favorite finds from around the South that you give as gifts, buy for your home or rave about to friends? If so, send your suggestions to: lljerkins@gmail.com. Also find more Southern-made products, featured in the AJC, at Southernfinds on Facebook or twitter@southernfinds1.
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