NEWS BY:
Ginger Strejcek
Romancing the Stone KIMBERLY MCDONALD OPENS BUCKHEAD BOUTIQUE
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eodes and agates and gems, oh my! The Emerald City has nothing on Atlanta since Kimberly McDonald came to town. The rock-star jewelry designer has opened up shop in the Buckhead Village district, debuting her second brick-and-mortar location with a stunning showcase of earthly enchantments, from jaw-dropping bling that rivals a pirate’s plunder to imaginative decor worthy of a gallery showing. The space itself is mesmerizing with such unique features as stalagmite wine grottos and embedded geode lucite panels that not only add to the ambiance but are also up for grabs in the ever-evolving inventory of one-of-a-kind finds. “Having lived in Atlanta after college, in fact in Buckhead much of that time, it is so exciting for me to return home to open my
e-commerce business here as well as my own store in Buckhead Village,” McDonald says. The North Carolina native launched her eponymous brand in New York in 2007 and made history six years later, when Michelle Obama wore one of her pieces to former President Barack Obama’s second inaugural ball in January 2013. (It was a diamond-embellished handmade ring that cinched the neckline of a ruby-colored Jason Wu gown; both creations now reside in the National Archives.) Known for her custom jewelry crafted from organic materials such as agates and geodes, reclaimed gold and recycled diamonds, McDonald has since branched out to home products, clothing and accessories, brilliantly juxtaposing natural beauty with polished refinement in her eco-conscious designs. n
Top left: Agate vessels at Kimberly McDonald; top right: The designer in front of her new store; right: Signature KMD King Collection Lion Head Pendant, price upon request.
KIMBERLY MCDONALD Buckhead Village 3060 Bolling Way N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.549.7095 kimberlymcdonald.com
NEWS CLIPS BROOKHAVEN WELCOMES FURNITURE GIANT Rooms To Go is moving to a new home in the new year. Having outgrown its corporate digs in Dunwoody, the Florida-based furniture chain is relocating its Atlanta headquarters to Brookhaven in the first half of 2021, upsizing to a 60,000-square-foot space in a 16-story office tower at 4004 Perimeter Summit, with 150 employees in tow. “We are fortunate to have them as new corporate neighbors,” says Brookhaven Mayor John
Ernst, touting new jobs, tax revenue and communityminded philanthropy. One of the largest furniture retailers in the country with showrooms on Hammond Drive and Peachtree Road, Rooms To Go pioneered the concept of selling whole-room packages. roomstogo.com
HIGH-TECH HEALTHCARE IN BUCKHEAD Tapping into technology to maximize service, health care provider One Medical is opening a third Atlanta loca-
tion this winter in Buckhead’s Terminus building, following its Southeastern debut in Midtown this summer. The membership-based primary care platform takes a modern approach to health care, pairing in-office visits with 24/7 virtual care through a mobile app. “Our primary care practice is designed to make it faster, easier and more enjoyable for people to proactively manage their health and keep their wellness goals on track,” says Mike Fité, the Atlanta district medical director of One
Medical that operates more than 85 U.S. locations. Annual memberships are $199. One Medical 3280 Peachtree Road N.E., Bldg. 100, Suite 115 Atlanta 30305 onemedical.com
BODY BOOST IN SANDY SPRINGS After unveiling its first infrared sauna studio in Buckhead two years ago, Perspire Sauna Studios is bringing the heat to Sandy Springs with a new location in Aria Village, next to the Mercedes-Benz
headquarters. Developed in partnership with BetterCap private equity firm, Perspire combines the centuries-old practice of sauna with the modern science of infrared technology and color light therapy to improve health and wellness. “More than ever, it is important to take care of our mind and body,” says Jan Zalud, BetterCap managing partner and co-founder. Perspire Sauna Studios 6500 Aria Blvd., Suite 200 Sandy Springs 30328 404.844.4978 perspiresaunastudio.com
November/December 2020 | Simply Buckhead
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