We are continuing our special series highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta. Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house, and we are so excited to share all the gorgeous spaces with you. Each day this week we will interview a different designer from the showhouse to talk about the room they designed, their inspiration, trends throughout the space, and much more. Our guest today, Melanie Milner, discusses her work on the scullery in the showhouse. Melanie is an Atlanta-based designer with The Design Atelier known for her timeless style and use of colors. Her work has been featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle, LUXE, and more.
If you’d like to visit the house in person you can purchase tickets here, and also follow along with the podcast series whether you can see it in person or not!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


What is a scullery and why did it speak to Melanie?

Why Melanie worked alongside the dining room team of the showhouse to coordinate designs.

Melanie chose plaster finishes for the scullery for a durable, unique, and ethereal look.

All of the lighting in the scullery is recessed to have a functional and practical workspace.

What appliances go into a scullery?

Why the small details can be the star of the show; especially in a kitchen space.

How was designing this space different from designing other clients’ kitchens?

What are some new things Melanie is seeing in kitchens?

What goes in the cabinets of a scullery?

Why do Taryn and Melanie like bridge faucets?

What other trends is Melanie seeing that she’s excited about?

Why organization can be such an important, albeit luxury, design element.

Indoor/outdoor rugs are a great way to soften a space in a kitchen while still being easy to clean.


Decorating Dilemma:

Hi Nancy,

There are a lot of really cool switch plates out there if you’re willing to spend the money. A metal backplate would be a good place to start or you can find a colored one. I wouldn’t paint it since it doesn’t generally last. If you were to get wallpaper, you can have the installer cover that as well for an easy solution. Depending on how you design the bar, it could be a good idea to integrate the metal from the plate with hardware and accessories. I would say it depends on whether you want to be more subtle and integrate the switch plates or make a bold decision.

We appreciate your level of detail, Nancy! Let us know what you decide. And thank you for listening to all of our episodes; twice!

Mentioned in This Episode:
The Design Atelier
The Design Atelier on Instagram
Domingue Finishes - Plaster
Forbes and Lomax - Switchplates
Lutron - Switches