Inspired by 12 favorite things, Citysearch editor Jonathan Baker proves that dudes can decorate…with bold, beautiful, bad-ass results
Produced, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with photography by Sarah Dorio
As gracefully demonstrated in 1991′s cult classic Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, men and decorating can make for a tragic combination. For those unfamiliar, when said babysitter, Mrs. Sturak, encounters the T&A-meets-death-metal décor of eldest brother Kenny’s quarters, she drops dead. Had she entered Jonathan Baker’s downtown Atlanta loft, the fun-spoiling bitch would be alive, healthy and impressed with his use of red-orange and grey linen upholstery.
As editor of City Search, Baker is tasked with knowing the best of every person, place and thing in Atlanta. His hip urban loft proves that his metrosexually modern taste isn’t confined to the office. Through retail therapy, he’s made clever choices at varied price points while also pairing old with new. And lastly, the Talented Mr. Baker sprinkles some George Harrison amongst some finely tuned instrumental accessories.
The sound…and look…of music
If art is therapeutic, then no wonder Mr. Baker is so notoriously P.L.E.A.S.A.N.T. The walls are always alive with the sound of music in the form of rock inspired art.
1. Framed Radiohead Meeting People is Easy graphic art
2. Color photograph of Capitol Records building
Organ donor
Jonathan’s solution to writer’s block? Ten minutes of fancy finger work on the vintage organ generously let go by a friend. Musical inspiration comes from above in the form of original art by Elif Bridges. The rustic wood frame, pewter tree sculpture and Jonathan Adler’s “Garlic” vase were snagged at Armour & Company. Baker does his own Bach on the “Marais” chair from Design Within Reach Atlanta.
3. Vintage Wurlitzer organ
4. Acrylic on canvas abstract by Elif Bridges reminiscent of Radiohead’s Kid A album art
Kitchen confidential
A Baker who’s never baked….or cooked in his own kitchen? Blasphemous. Regardless, the kitchen gets heavy traffic from gatherings of the liquid entertainment variety. Accents of blue carry into the kitchen in the form of a backsplash painted “Minerva” by Porter Paints and aqua Italian glass vases from Armour & Company.
5. SEBASTIAN barstools from IKEA
Into the great wide open
The décor of the lofty great room is a lesson in mixing price points. My favorite price point – FREE – is present in the form of the enormous black and white promotional vinyl print of Jonathan from a magazine event. Reproduction Wassily chairs were scored at a local warehouse sale for less than half the price of the real deal. Mr. Baker waited months for Crate & Barrel’s mid-century inspired “Petrie” sofa to pop up on craigslist. Lower price point items such an IKEA rug and West Elm’s Pleated -Shade Floor Lamp and orange side table are mixed here with custom boutique pieces such as the custom pillows from Pieces, Inc. and a vintage walnut veneer George Nelson bench. The clear acrylic side table is from Armour & Company.
6. Billboard size black and white vinyl print from a magazine event
7. A reproduction pair of Breuer’s Wassily chair
8. Crate & Barrel’s Petrie sofa in a grey-brown linen
9. West Elm’s Pleated-Shade Floor Lamp
Homework
Jonathan’s 11-foot commute to the office is just as sweet as the tangerine toned work space itself. The high energy walls rival that of Mick Jagger while delineating the 9 to 5 activity from the sleep-inducing bedroom. A modern west elm desk was paired with mid-century classics such as the Executive and Eiffel chairs by Eames and a Series 7 chair in green — all through Design Within Reach Atlanta. Art starts on the wall with graphic art of Robert Plant on a salvaged window by artist Gina Niespodziani and continues to the ground with FLOR’s “Be My Neighbor” rug kit.
10. Gina Niespodziani art piece
Night vision
For a bedroom with no windows, the space sure is remarkably bright. The walls have an electric tone from Porter’s “Aloe Vera” that seems rather muted in comparison to the red-orange LUCY bedding from IKEA. Jonathan purchased the dark wood platform bed from Crate & Barrel. Both custom pillows are from www.piecesinc.com. A concert promotion for The Whigs is casually displayed leaning against the wall next to Jonathan’s bed.
11. Dark wood platform bed from Crate & Barrel
12. Promotional print for The Whigs framed in Jonathan Adler’s Meurice lacquered faux bamboo from Larson Juhl.
