{Photography by Chris Little}
I have admired the Style of Atlanta shop owners and designers, Randy and Courtney Tilinksi since before I even knew them personally. Years ago, on my first visit to Atlanta, I made sure to stop by their beautiful store, Bungalow Classic in the Howell Mill district in midtown Atlanta and instantly loved the classic, fresh aesthetic. Fast forward a few years, and we have become friends as we have had the opportunity to spend time together in High Point a couple of times each year. Not only are Randy and Courtney incredibly talented, they are also amongst the kindest, most genuine people I have the pleasure of knowing in our industry. They have a wonderful sense of style which has recently expanded beyond their fabulous shop and into a furniture collection with Highland House which will be in its third season come October market. I Love seeing great things happen for nice people. Enjoy!
Paloma Contreras: How would you describe your style?
Courtney Tilinski: Classic meets modern in the way I live and the way I dress. Never overly formal, definitely leaning more casual in either.
Randy Tilinski: Classic meets surfer. Maybe the professor from Gilligan’s Island?? Wish it was more John Robbie in To Catch a Thief, maybe one day.
PC: Has living in Atlanta influenced your style?
CT: Having grown up in the South has definitely made me have a classic side to whatever I do. However – my mother who is from Charleston loves modern tossed into traditional. I think that is where I got my love of mixing styles from.
RT: Atlanta is a beautiful city with great architecture. It is a traditional city, which challenges my more modern nature. I think this has helped us create our look, which is a soft modern based on classical form.
PC: What does your home say about you?
CT: That it is a work in progress and I have a serious love of books, magazines and modern art (that is not yet hung). This house is much more traditional than our last so we are taking our time and keeping it true to the architecture.
RT: It is definitely a direct reflection of Courtney and I. It is effortless, casual but sophisticated and always evolving. It also says I was probably a Librarian in a former life and we have the need to own every design/architecture book available.
PC: Where do you turn for inspiration?
CT: TRAVEL!! It is a big beautiful world out there with lots to see and do. I think I love planning the trip just as much as actually taking it. At the top of the list is Japan – but it may be a bit before we get there.
RT: Books and Travel. Usually travel is the spark. From travel there is that desire to dig deeper and study the places we have been and things we have seen. I also love to watch documentaries.
{Courtney and Randy’s Instagram accounts are among my favorites. Courtney shared this shot of Villa Rufolo in Italy from their recent trip. Follow them both @mrs.bugalow and @mr.bungalow.}
PC: Who are your personal style icons?
CT: Pauline de Rothshield, Bunny Mellon, Deeda Blair and Marella Agnelli. Style for days.
RT: Alain Delon, Cary Grant, and Hubert Givenchy. Delon in the St. Tropez years. I love all of his old photos with Bardot, Fonda, Romy Schneider and of course his wife Nathalie Delon.
{Alain Delon with Brigitte Bardot}
PC: What trait do you most admire in a person?
CT: A solid work ethic and I always admire good manners!
RT: Kindness.
{A Recent Bungalow Classic Ad in Milieu}
PC: What is your guilty pleasure?
CT: Theo dark chocolate w/ salted almond bar. There is always one somewhere on my desk or in my purse. Fortunately Randy prefers the milk chocolate version.
RT: Late night bowl of granola with chopped walnuts, almonds, raisins and buffalo milk yogurt.
PC: Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?
RT: Experience and exposure. I have been fortunate to be exposed to some great people. Growing up with two Uncles who were professional surfers they showed me how to live an authentic life and to find my own beat. They also showed me how to evolve and make a life out of my passions. After their pro careers they have gone on to opening a shop and they shape surfboards for some of the best surfers in the world. Through watching them shape and finish boards I learned how important details are in design and product design. It was definitely form and function.
PC: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?
CT: Sand, sun, surf and as many meals outside as possible!
RT: Sun, water, a beautiful setting, good food and good company.
{Living La Dolce Vita in Italy | Photo via @mr.bungalow on Instagram}
PC: What can we look forward to next from you?
CT: Our 3rd release for Highland House Furniture will be this Fall at the October Highpoint show. We will be in our new space/building which has been really fun planning!
RT: This Fall we are adding several new patterns to our fabric collaboration with Clay McLaurin. We just finished them and they are so good.
{A Vignette featuring the Furniture Collection Randy and Courtney designed for Highland House}
{Courtney’s Favorite Things}
Go-To Outfit: It is so hot in Atlanta right now – I usually have on a very classic shirt dress and some sort of tasseled or studded fun sandal.
Style Mantra: Better to be overdressed than underdressed
Scent: Santa Maria Novella – Latte per il Corpo Body Milk – the perfect mix of rose and gardenia and not too over powering. Since it is a lotion it travels well.
Piece of Jewelry: I always have something from Vaubel Designs on.
Flower: Rose
Indispensable Design Element: Antiques. They add soul to a room which all brand new furniture just can’t do.
Dream Project: This is going to sound left field but I would love to do a modern house with a sea view. Something along the lines of Eileen Gray’s E-1027 villa in the south of France would be amazing.
Hostess Gift: I love giving books –Current faves are How They Decorated by P. Gaye Tapp or The Garden of Peter Marino
Meal: Spaghetti w/ garlic, olive oil and sea salt. So simple and so perfectly satisfying.
Drink: Patron Silver shaken with lime
Way to Unwind after a Long Day at Work: dinner in bed & a documentary with my fur babies.
Weekend Destination: Washington, DC – I have never been so we are planning a weekend trip there soon!
Hotel: The Mark in NYC. I love the design and the location is perfect. If I am having breakfast there I am a happy camper.
City: Always Paris. There are endless things to do and I love that you walk most everywhere.
Museum: Maight Fondation in Saint Paul de Vence, France
Song that Always Puts Me in a Great Mood: My favorite summer song right now is “Feel it Still” by Portugal The Man
Actor: Cary Grant. Sometimes when there is absolutely nothing on tv I will just watch one of his movies.
Risk Worth Taking: Do something that someone else isn’t doing.
Greatest Extravagance: Travel. We did not travel for quite a while. We are now making up for lost time.
Go-To Color Palette: Camel and Cream plus any color or print that you like.
Rule to Break: I definitely don’t follow rules but I do like to keep dark rooms dark and small rooms small.
I can never have too many… Rattan anything!
{Randy’s Favorite Things}
Go-To Outfit: White shirt/navy pants/zespa white sneakers or Light blue shirt/white jeans/rivieras espadrilles… I’m a summer (Gemini)
Style Mantra: Do You
Scent: Acqua Di Parma lotion
Piece of Jewelry: Timex with ribbon band
Flower: Ranunculus, beautiful flower and fun name to boot
Indispensable Design Element: Off white upholstery and antiques
Fabric/Textile: China Seas, Kediri Batik
Meal: Hotel Breakfast at Le Sirenuse
Drink: Italian Macchiato with two shots of espresso
Way to Unwind after a Long Day at Work: Yoga and a bath
Weekend Destination: Surfside (Miami)
Hotel: Le Sirenuse
City: Paris
Museum: The Musee Picasso in Antibes
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Song that Always Puts Me in a Great Mood: ELO, “Mr Blue Sky”
Actor: Cary Grant
Risk Worth Taking: Adopt a pet
Greatest Extravagance: Travel
Go-To Color Palette: Cream loves Camel
I can never have too many… Sneakers
