THE DESIGN ATELIER is known for curating timeless interiors that capture the authentic spirit of their clientele, resulting in welcoming and livable environments. The firm’s collaborative approach in working with clients, architects, builders, and artisans allows for a cohesive and creative process that elevates the team rather than the individual, resulting in designs that are more thoughtful, intentional, and impactful.

The Design Atelier has completed projects in the following locations:  Aspen, Atlanta, Cape Neddick, Dallas, East Hampton, Highlands, Lake Burton, Rosemary Beach, Roswell, Stoneboro, and New York.

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Melanie Millner

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL | INTERIOR DESIGNER

Melanie Millner is an award-winning designer with a deep appreciation for art, architecture, travel and meaningful experiences. She has earned a reputation for refined and beautiful interiors that focus on the comfort of home without compromising timeless style. Melanie continues to attract a loyal clientele who count on her synthesis of rich materials, beautiful color palettes and unique, expressive interiors that create the feeling of home for each individual project.

She was born in New York and spent her formative years on Long Island and in the Northeast. Her family then moved to Texas where she attended The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1990 with a degree in Interior Design. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia and worked for an architectural firm until she gained the experience necessary to start her own Atlanta-based interiors firm in 1993. 

The Design Atelier is regularly featured in publications such as LUXE Interiors + Design Magazine, Interior Design Magazine, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Maine Home + Design and others. She has participated in numerous Showhouses, served on the board of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), the board of MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta), and is an active member of the Design Leadership Network.  Melanie has received numerous ASID Design Excellence awards, Kitchen and Bath of the Year awards and is a Registered Interior Designer in the state of Georgia.

Melanie enjoys her free time seeking inspiration through travel, art galleries, museums and fashion while her heart lives in the beauty of the natural landscape of Maine.

Katie Moorhouse, ASID

Studio Director | Senior Designer 

Katie Moorhouse graduated from The University of Georgia in 2011 with a degree in Furnishings and Interiors. She then moved to Atlanta to begin her career in the city’s distinguished design community. She has completed the rigorous National Council for Interior Design Qualification Exam and is now a professional member of ASID and is LEED certified. She joined The Design Atelier in 2017 and serves as Senior Designer, overseeing the design process from inception to completion.

Katie has worked up and down the East Coast on a vast array of residential projects that have won several ASID Design Excellence awards. Katie has contributed to several projects featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, one of which received the Kitchen of the Year award. Over the years, Katie has expanded her geographic scope to include the north Georgia mountains, where she has worked on numerous largescale projects on Lake Burton and Lake Blue Ridge. 

Growing up with a passion for home design shows, she realized at an early age what she wanted to do. She thrives on the close relationships built with clients, architects, and the whole building team. She believes that a project is successful if, after many years, the clients still love their home and the way it has improved their lives.

Katie enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and scoping out the latest food scene in Atlanta.

Danielle Mastro

Design Associate and Project Manager

Danielle Mastro is a conscientious designer with a romantic sense of wonder. Growing up in the New York region, the energy and grandeur of Manhattan ignited her passion for design, while the rolling green hills of her hometown in Westchester, New York offered a respite from the bustle with a sense of calm and belonging she feels is essential to recreate for her clientele.

Danielle moved to Atlanta in the Spring of 2022 after seven years in New York City working on projects along the New England coast, in the hills of Los Angeles, and on the white sands of Naples and Vero Beach, Florida. As an associate, her projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, Forbes Magazine, Business of Home, and House Beautiful.

She completed her undergraduate studies at West Virginia University and her postgraduate studies at the Parsons School of Design, The New School.

Danielle enjoys antique shopping, traveling abroad, immersing herself in different cultures, and expanding her palate by cooking and eating new cuisines.

Katelyn Cook

Design Associate and Project MAnager

Katelyn Cook graduated from the University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She spent a semester studying interior design in Italy and upon graduation she became a certified LEED Green Associate. After working at an art gallery in Gainesville and holding interior design internships in Atlanta and Athens, she joined The Design Atelier in 2019 as an Associate Designer.  

The firm’s reputation for creating beautiful interiors and working hand and hand with clients to bring their vision to life suits her passion for everything design encompasses: art, design, culture, and nature.

Katelyn loves to explore Atlanta and the outdoors with her friends and her golden retriever, Sully. 

Virginia Macoy

Junior Designer

Virginia Macoy was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in International Human Sciences. She is a WELL Accredited Professional and LEED Green Associate and has been recognized by Metropolis Magazine as one of the Top 100 graduating interior design and architecture students in North America.

As a student, Virginia served as the President of The Societies, Auburn’s student chapters of ASID and IIDA where she aimed to connect students with industry professionals outside the classroom and spent a semester in Ariccia, Italy studying international culture, history, art, and design. She was also a student-athlete serving as Captain of the Auburn University Tiger Paws Dance Team.

As a designer, Virginia aims to create well-curated and thoughtfully executed spaces that transcend current trends and age beautifully while honoring a sense of place that reflects the goals and lifestyles of her clients.

In her free time, Virginia enjoys exploring Atlanta, collecting books and antique prints, and spending time with friends and family.