Multifamily developers across the country know that one of the best ways to attract and retain residents is to elevate the amenity spaces where they work and play. And in today’s market, you’ve got to be one step ahead to capture residents’ attention.

When our partners at Flournoy Development Group asked us to collaborate on interior design and furniture/artwork/accessories for Ellison Parkview in Marietta, Georgia, the property already had one (really big) thing going for it. “This community is located — literally — in the backyard of the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park; notes Lucas Rice, CEO of Mitsch Design. “There’s just no better place to be in Atlanta, especially if you’re a sports fan or you want to enjoy all that The Battery has to offer.” Flournoy intended to capitalize on this prime location by creating a rooftop lounge that would be THE place for residents to relax and hangout.

Jill St. Claire, NCIDQ is Director of Design for Mitsch Design. For the rooftop lounge, she and her team envisioned a resort-like retreat, with comfortable outdoor seating, oversized floor lamps and wall sconces. Planters are used to create semi-private areas and seating is flexible to accommodate small or large groups. And since even the south gets its share of cold weather, overhead heaters were included in the design.

A Seamless Solution

“From our earliest meetings on this project, we heard our clients say that they really wanted the indoor and outdoor spaces to feel connected and ‘flow’ at Ellison Parkview,” recalls St. Claire. “Upstairs, they wanted a connection point where drinks and food could be passed, and people could sit outside watching TV inside. We brought the concept of ‘pass-through’ or ‘accordion’ windows for this application, which is perfect because they can be easily opened/closed when needed.”

In the lower level, there was a similar desire to bring the outdoors in. “Inside, we were creating this great, lively space with a bar, TVs, and billiards, and just steps away through a door was going to be an incredible outdoor area with grilling stations, firepits, a beautiful pool and cabanas,” notes St. Claire. We recommended using full panel stacking doors in place of standard doors so that the indoor and outdoor lounge areas could be combined. “It’s like removing a wall. When they’re open, they provide full access in or out.” Another benefit to using similar style doors? They’re easy to operate and they don’t have to be removed/stored elsewhere….they stay on the track until you are ready to close them.

Ellison Parkview completed construction in late 2024 and the results are just stunning! We can’t wait to hear how the indoor/outdoor spaces are enjoyed by the residents now that warmer weather is right around the corner.