Jenny and Eric Rothman believe in fully integrated design and creating spaces tailored to the people who live in them. Next weekend, see some of their work on the Junior League of Atlanta’s 20th Annual Tour of Kitchens.
The designers: Jenny is from Columbus and moved to Atlanta after graduating from Brenau Women's College in Gainesville. Born in Chicago, Eric grew up in Druid Hills and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in architecture. In the 1990s, the couple began working together for an Atlanta design build firm. The started their firm, Rothman + Rothman Design, in 2012.
First design job: A 500-square-foot artist's studio in Decatur 20 years ago. We recently renovated this light-filled space for the same client.
As seen in: Atlanta Home, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Elle Décor and Trends magazines, plus a coffee table book, "High Fit Home." Also at St. Philip Cathedral House (including the kitchen and master bath) and the 2016 Magnolia Designer Show House in Cartersville.
Honors: 2016 award for "Bath of the year" by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine and the 2016 Decatur Design Award for a home renovation in an historic district.
Quick fixes for any space: Simplify. Clean it up and clear it out. A light, open space always feels better.
Every room needs: Light, both natural and artificial.
Design pet peeves: Too much! Too many bold or competing elements, such as strong patterns layered with strong patterns. Also so many pillows that you can't sit or lay down comfortably.
Current design obsession(s): Alcoves and ironwork. Also the color white, which is great as an accent or background or perfect with bolder gestures.
New (or re-emerging) designs we like: A new-found respect for mid-century modern. Also minimalism in various forms.
… and looks we are glad to see go: Industrial overkill; Inspirational word canvases; and succulents.
Unusual requests: Enough space in the bathroom's water closet to play guitar (you know who you are) and a dance floor in the kitchen to practice ballroom dancing.
Fun we have designed: A residential art gallery/spa / wine cellar/ exercise and game room — all in one basement. Also a residential gymnasium with an indoor basketball court and climbing wall.
Biggest design mistake we have made: The location of the refrigerator in our kitchen. It was done for aesthetic purposes, but with four children and two dogs, there is often a traffic jam.
… and mistake homeowners make: Buying something you don't love (or using a piece you already have but don't love) just to fill a space. It is better to wait for the right piece. A collected home, even if sparse, is more interesting than one filled with unloved objects.
Favorites
- Blogs & websites: designboom.com; johnpawson.com; and olsonkundigarchitects.com.
- Magazines: Dwell; Architectural Digest; Elle Décor; Garden & Gun; Atomic Ranch; Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.
- Atlanta area home/design stores: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; Verde Home; Bungalow Classic; Switch Modern; Steve McKenzie's; and Stanton Home Furnishings.
- Places for unexpected finds in Atlanta: Westside Market; Marty Mason Collected Home; Direct Furniture Outlet; Handy Ace Hardware; and Intown Ace Hardware.
- Recent project (s): A kitchen that was part of a larger, whole house renovation of a mid-century modern house in the Druid Hills area. The kitchen is on the upcoming Tour of Kitchens, presented by the Junior League of Atlanta.
Speaking of kitchens…
- Kitchen trends we are seeing in Atlanta: A more modern aesthetic with cleaner lines, texture in cabinets and tile, integrated appliance walls, fewer upper cabinets and more drawers for plates. Also smaller, more open kitchens that feel less like a kitchen and more like another living space.
- Up next: Designing a couple of new homes in Big Canoe on steep, heavily wooded sites with magnificent views; a remodel of an oceanfront home on St. Simon's Island; and working on projects for past clients in Druid Hills and Buckhead.
Find Rothman+Rothman Design at:
• Website: www.rothmandesign.net
• Facebook: Rothman+Rothman Design
• Instagram: @rothmandesign
(Promo Box for Tour of Kitchens)
20th Annual Tour of Kitchens
Presented by: The Junior League of Atlanta
Dates: March 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and March 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: The two-day, self-guided tour features kitchens in 14 homes throughout the metro area.
Tickets: $35 in advance; $40, day of tour.
Information: www.TourofKitchens.org
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