Decatur store has everything from jewelry to furniture

Owned by two design and construction pros, Trinity Mercantile and Design in downtown Decatur is a fresh and fun resource for stylish home goods — for a reno or just a room.

The store: Trinity Mercantile & Design opened in 2012 in downtown Decatur. Three years later, the store moved across the street to a bigger, light-filled space in a historic building.

Owners: Wallace Bryan and Lisa Turner. WB: Grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, and graduated from Agnes Scott College. She has worked as a designer for more than 30 years. LT: Born in Miami, Turner has worked in various positions in fashion, restaurants and catering around the South. Before opening Trinity, she owned and operated a construction firm specializing in historic properties serving Decatur and the Atlanta area.

The goods: Upholstery, lighting, rugs, case goods (cocktail tables, chests and side tables, especially tiny tables). Also gifts and original art by local artists.

Popular gifts: Jewelry ($150 to $350) by Decatur's Shelley Rogers; Blenko's iconic glass water bottles ($48 to $54); candles ($10 to $60) and ceramic diffusers ($50 to $60).

Claim to fame: Named "Neighborhood Gem" on Atlanta magazine's 2017 "Best of Atlanta" list.

Favorites

- Instagram & websites: Kris Turnbull Studio; Melanie Turner; Barry Dixon; Bryan Patrick Flynn; Young Huh; Miles Redd; Kelly Wearstler; and Gracie Studio for hand-painted wall paper.

- Atlanta area home/design stores (other than our own): Steve Mckenzie's; Board of Trade in Roswell; Kudzu in Decatur; and Sarah Cyrus Home (consignment)

- Places unexpected finds: Detroit Rug Restoration and Chairish.

Design pet peeves: Artwork hung too high.

Where should homeowners splurge: Custom window treatments.

… and where should they save: On a family room rug for a young family with children and pets. Get an inexpensive rug, knowing it can be replaced when family grows up a bit.

Biggest design mistake we have made: WB: Not following my own advice when selecting things for my home that are not pet proof. LT: Letting someone paint rooms in my home when I was out of town. Color confusion ensued.

… and mistake homeowners make: Making design choices based on trends rather than their personal preferences.

Current design obsession(s): Fabrics with oversized designs, especially florals.

New (or re-emerging) designs/colors we like: Recoloring of archived fabrics with modern tones

… and designs/colors we are glad to see go: Large chevrons and the exclusive use of the color gray.

Current design obsession: Layering. These finishing touches give a room depth and texture and help it look finished, inviting and personal. Such finishing touches include: a pretty throw on a sofa, a green plant, a client's collected items, a mirror or art above a mantle.

Unusual request: Design a room that included designing a display for the client's 1,000-plus Formula One model car collection.

Good cause: The store recycles fabrics that are discontinued by the manufacturers and partners with local, nonprofit re:loom to sew the bags. Then Trinity gives bags to customers with their purchase instead of paper or plastic bags.

Latest projects: Remodeling a small kitchen in Decatur and a second home in Cashiers, North Carolina; also a project in Decatur that started as "I need a new sofa" and turned into a total home renovation, including new kitchen.