Last week after leaving the dentist,don’t you hate the dentist? Well, maybe hate is too strong of a word. I actually hate the bill.
Anyway, the hygienist and the receptionist were telling me about a new hamburger joint in town that consistently has had a line around the corner across from the new Restoration Hardware.
Wait, What??! There’s a new RH in town? Okay, forget the burger joint, Restoration Hardware here I come. Since I was already in the city I had to check it out.
I had not heard much about RH since last year when the blogosphere was a buzz because some fellow tree huggers had their organic cotton panties in a bunch eulogizing the thousands of trees they felt RH slaughtered in the name of their fifty pound set of catalogs, excuse me, source books.
You can’t miss the behemoth at 3030 Peachtree Rd NW. Apparently, just before the Holidays, Restoration Hardware opened a flagship store in Buckhead, the high-end shopping, eating, entertainment district in Atlanta, GA.
The store ( I use this term loosely) looks like a hotel and is called The Gallery at the Estate. It feels like a hotel with the 20′ long reflecting pool and fireplace in the valet courtyard, and the chivalrous valet offering his hand to help me out of my SUV along with the complimentary cold bottle of water I was offered upon entering.
I suddenly felt very underdressed in the sweats I threw on to go to the dentist and had an urge to at least apply some lip gloss.
Upon being welcomed to the six story, 70,000 square foot Gallery I was advised to take the elevator to the sixth floor to experience the lofty views of the city and work my way down each floor via the stairs.
Image via Elle C. Wolfe Interiors
Although it was a raw, misty day I had to check out the rooftop. The rooftop is all decked out with RH’s comfy outdoor seating, throw pillows, mirrors, curtains and fountains. A very luxe space.
If this home decor thing doesn’t work out they could always pay the mortgage by leasing out the rooftop for parties.
Each of the six floors features a different line of the Restoration Hardware Collection. Such as upholstery, baby & child , small space living, leather, etc.
The scale of the furniture is outrageous! I don’t know anyone with a room large enough for this sectional. But I just LOVE the crystal light fixtures.
Restoration Hardware has single-handedly brought back the popularity of the classic, oversized chesterfield sofa. It has become their signature sofa style and they produce it in leather, and linen, at nauseum. In fact, upon leaving its the only sofa style I remembered them having until I looked through my photos. With its tufted back and seat and rolled arms it fits right in with the oversized scale of furniture they proliferate.
And if you want your little mini me to relax in the lap of luxury RH produces a cute child-size version of this sofa in linen or leather as well.
Image via Elle C. Wolfe Interiors
Restoration Hardware’s distressed leather has a divine, buttery hand and feels just like where you want to be curled up on a cold, snowy day.
Image via Elle C. Wolfe Interiors
This “small scale living” furniture arrangement is more in line with the average home’s living space. Which isn’t small at all. You would want more than one monstrous, dominant, piece of furniture in your space to define different activities.
Image via Elle C. Wolfe Interiors
The baby and child section of Restoration Hardware is so sweet and inspiring with lots of creative ideas you can incorporate into your own home. I’m a sucker for maps, handwriting, quotes, and apparently musical notes painted on walls. I thought this was just lovely even though my photo is a little blurry.
The next time you’re in Buckhead its worth it to experience The Gallery at the Estate, also known as Restoration Hardware. It is located where the old ESPN Zone was. They have culminated all of their collections under one well-styled roof. Restoration Hardware is changing the game of the home furnishings retail experience.
Their new concept stores all have unique identities and styles and are in harmony with their locations such as The Gallery at the Historic Museum of Natural History in Boston which was a complete restoration of a historic building and The Gallery at the Historic Post Office in Greenwich, CT. They have Galleries on the West Coast as well.
I know the next time I go home to Connecticut, I’ll be sure to pop in just for the experience.
Let me know if you have been to any of the new Restoration Hardware stores, what did you think?
All images via Restoration Hardware unless noted.
