For inspired, eco-conscious home goods, Verde Home is the go-to spot. Located on Atlanta’s trendy Westside, the boutique home furnishings showroom specializes in an exclusive assortment of custom handmade rugs, upholstery, hardwood furniture, and antique finds.
The store: Verde Home opened in 2006 at the Brickworks. It relocated in 2012 to its current location at 999 Brady Ave. (next to Miller Union).
Owners: Interior designer Laura Walker-Baird of Laura Walker LTD, plus Paul Baird and Kent Schneider, both formerly of Rugs by Robinson, a leading U.S. importer of high-end, hand-knotted floor coverings.
What makes Verde Home green: The company strives to "leave a mark on your living spaces, not the environment." To that end, it offers stylish, well-made furniture produced from sustainable forests, upholstery that is organic, and accessories that range from antiques to natural artifacts, which are upcycled.
The main goods: Living areas, and less so on bedrooms and dining.
• For upholstery, we represent American Leather and are both a Comfort Sleeper Gallery and Comfort Recliner Gallery.
• For hardwood furniture, we represent Lamon Luther (a local company) and Maria Yee, who pioneered eco-luxury. We also do custom work with Atlanta-based SMFD.
• Lighting and accessories are one-of-a-kind finds.
• Rugs. We represent a few select manufacturers for stock pieces but offer exclusive lines and custom capabilities. Our handmade rugs use primarily wool and silk blends and lean more to modern and transitional styles.
Known for: Comfort Sleepers and custom rugs.
Another favorite: The Comfort Recliner. It is both comfortable and stylish. "We joke that it is the recliner that he will love and she will let him have," said Kent.
People would be surprised to learn: We design and make our own rugs. With productions ongoing in both India and Nepal, we have the capability to make about any design and size.
Favorite accessory, sofa or chandelier:
• Accessory and popular gift: Ella Mae Bread Board in walnut, designed by Georgia’s Lamon Luther.
• Sofa: Parker Sofa from American Leather in Flagstaff Bottle Leather.
• Chandelier: Blossom in Rust by Cisco Brothers.
As seen in: House Beautiful, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Jezebel, Garden & Gun and Atlanta Magazine Home.
Favorite Atlanta home stores (other than your own): So many, including Steve McKenzie's (our neighbor), Redefined Home Boutique and, for outdoor furniture, Kolo Collection.
Design pet peeve: Not paying attention to scale.
Where homeowners should splurge: Seating in the room you use most and comfort in the master bedroom.
Where homeowners should save: Any room you don't use a lot.
Current design obsession: Space efficiency.
Most unusual request you received: A client asked if we could make a rug with a family portrait in it. The answer was yes we can, but no you shouldn't. We think we did him a favor.
Best design advice you have received: Listen before you recommend.
Space you would like to design: Beach houses. With most of our business in Atlanta, we don't get to do too many beach houses.
Latest projects: Custom rugs for the Atlas restaurant in the St. Regis and the Polaris restaurant, atop the Hyatt Regency, in downtown Atlanta.
Up next: Luxury suites for the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and several residential projects (in the Atlanta area).
Find Verde Home at:
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