Have You Seen the New Crate & Barrel?

Something’s happening at Crate & Barrel. While we’ve all been abuzz over the debut of the company’s contemporary offshoot, CB2, along Atlanta’s Midtown Mile, the big daddy, it seems, has been slowly transforming from standard-issue style to superior sophistication. Truth be told, I’ve never found more reasons to say “Wow!” about Crate & Barrel before. And the Fall 2010 catalog reveals this approach boldly with stunning design statements and a refreshing repertoire of new pieces for a fresh season. Dubbed “Modern New Classics for the way we live now,” the latest collections present an aesthetic that’s not only step with the changing mode of Atlanta, but also the looks that Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles editors champion in the magazine’s pages month after month. Below, I detail the pieces I love most:

Probably my favorite of all, the Hendrix Desk is constructed of rough-hewn reclaimed Peroba wood, black walnut, heavy-duty steel “M” legs and iron hardware.

…And the best part: the back of the desk doubles as an open shelf for all of your favorite texts. $1299.

The Shadowbox Tower is a very modern way of looking at the bookcase/display case. Made of cold-rolled steel, this artful addition boasts a hand-applied graphite finish. $899. Plus, I’m in love with the European white oak Dakota Dining Table for a handcrafted look. $1399. The all-weather wicker Captiva Chairs are $269-$329 each.

A Midcentury revival, the Paloma Sideboard is made from strips of eco-friendly peroba wood wrapped around a solid mahogany frame. $2499.

The new Walker Dining Table, shown here in Cherry, reinterprets the classic farmhouse stretch table by adding graphic lines and a powder-coated steel base plus a high-gloss top of engineered wood. It’s also available in six additional colors. $999.

I think the pattern of the Cruz Pillow is just lovely: graphic yet feminine, contemporary yet vintage-inspired””and the color palette is right on point. $70.

Part desk, part console, part dining table, the super-versatile Phoenix Work Table is made from reclaimed Brazilian telephone poles so that each has its own distinct character. The shape of the iron loop base makes this rugged piece more graceful and interesting. $1299.

A reissued classic, the Milo Classic Leather Lounge Chair revives the vision of Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. It features semi-aniline leather cushions on a nickel-plated, flatbar stainless steel frame. $2499.