Seth Van Den Bergh transforms Milton Manor into a space as powerful as its residents.
Written by Vanessa Pascale
“We like to create experiential spaces,” says Seth van den Bergh, noting that this is his company’s tagline. The founder-creative director-interior designer of The Drawing Room ATL is the brilliant visionary behind some of Georgia’s most extraordinary design metamorphoses, including ATLAS’ (Buckhead’s Michelin-starred restaurant) dreamy custom installation featuring 3,000 blue butterflies.
Most recently, Seth’s work on the manor spanning these pages garnered him an award from the American Society of Interior Designers for new construction over 5,000 square feet. The magnificent residence will also appear in the coffee table book, “Urban Sanctuaries,” slated for release in September 2025. “This isn’t the Ralph Lauren of homes; this is Schiaparelli. There’s a desire for a little bit of theatrics,” says Seth, who studied interior design in Dubai.
Early on, Seth and his clients – a high-power, entrepreneurial husband and wife– established an aesthetic characterized as international, referencing boutique hotels, locations in Singapore, and projects in Russia. Apart from much of the art, which came from the couple’s collection, everything was carefully curated. This home doesn’t rely on eclectic layers; it thrives on clarity. Each curated item feels like a statement piece on a runway. Their space is bold, coordinated, and designed to exist in this unforgettable moment. It offers them both escapism and relaxation; a retreat where they can truly unwind, as the space reflects them so well.”
Seth characterizes his style as modern and more avant-garde, which aligns with the couple’s taste. “I do really well with clients who know who they are and aren’t afraid to be bolder and are willing to challenge the norm.” This powerhouse couple embodies that completely. The unique design elements infused into this 10,000-square-foot residence reflect the client’s fashion sense, progressive ideas, and bold personalities.
Because Seth and his team were involved in this project so early on, they were able to reshape the space to truly fit the client’s lifestyles. “By the time we came on board, the foundation was poured and the framing stood in place. Though it began with the DNA of a spec home, we re-scripted the flow of the plans so it became not just custom-built, but custom-designed. Every decision from there forward was about aligning the architecture with the rhythm of its owners’ lives.” In addition to reimagining rooms and reconfiguring the kitchen (it was divided into four intentional zones and outfitted with a massive island with a lower portion serving as a pedestal for the client’s porcelain vase), Seth eliminated approximately 37 windows from the original design plans and created an elevated staircase appointed with LED lighting, custom wood detail, a glass railing, and a hand-wrapped leather railing. “We turned the dial up on it and enhanced something that would’ve been ordinary.”
Seth masterfully weaved the client’s favorite colors –black, red, grey, yellow– into the design and created a dramatic, luxe effect with yellow lacquer on the portals of the two main corridors. “We didn’t go crazy with patterns; the grey becomes the neutral.” Every room was thoughtfully curated to include a mélange of shapes, textures, and textiles to stimulate the senses. Sculptural pieces (the tables, the seating, the lighting, the ottomans, the art) play a pivotal role within this imaginative space. “I’m drawn to furniture that feels sculptural. Each piece has the strength to stand on its own and command space.” The living room features the iconic red, bulbous chair by Gaetano Pesce, while the primary bedroom is appointed with a unique Hem chair. “It’s deceptively simple. A steel frame with padded upholstery that spills over, creating a plump, playful, and inviting chair by the fireplace,” Seth explains about the latter. “Each gesture is a salute to fashion at its height and design at its finest.”
Seth’s keen eye for design transcends interiors and includes furniture. “We’re furniture designers –that reinforces that idea: We’re not going to give you what your neighbor has because everything we do is a little more tailored.” Artful and functional, the custom pieces he created for this space include the Henning dining table (named for the 1970s Canadian magician Doug Henning), two yellow glass Abacus side tables, rugs, and a built-in banquette in the breakfast room.
“Part of what makes an experiential space theatrical is the immersion in it. The fact that the glass activates when you’re sitting at it and turns colors –it becomes a kinetic piece of art,” says Seth about his light-reactive Henning dining table. “Rather than doing one long table, we split it with a small, intimate square at the end. They can sit there and have a smaller meal without being at a table for 12, which can be a little off-putting.” A kaleidoscope of Baccarat crystal butterflies rest atop the table. “All the butterflies (a collab with Neiman Marcus) are scribed with the names of the friends of the couple, welcoming them to their house, kind of like a guest book.”
Wildlife is a recurring theme throughout the home. Ethereal butterflies (which additionally appear on a gold chandelier and single-panel yellow silk hand-painted wallpaper) are juxtaposed with fierce felines. “Wild cats are definitely her thing.” The primary bedroom is appointed with David Yarrow’s majestic lion photograph, Catwalk; a photograph of a panther hangs above the breakfast table; and Claire Rosen’s The Cheetah Feast fittingly resides in the dining room.
Seth started this project in early January 2023 and brought it to completion in August 2024. “The move unfolded with cinematic precision,” Seth recalls. “One evening they were in their condo, and the next they were stepping into a home completely transformed. Music drifted through the rooms, candles flickering, champagne poured, and every last detail styled, from the furniture to the placement of the Krug and Louis XIII on the shelves. Every detail was thought of, and every detail mattered in making this transition seamless. To anyone watching, it looked effortless, but behind the scenes, it took tremendous planning and coordination. A few years ago, Modern Luxury recognized us with an award for our concierge design service, and I think that’s what sets us apart. We don’t simply copy designs and place orders. The Drawing Room takes pride in the level of white-glove service and personalized care. Everything was placed, labeled, and ready for them to begin living in their truly customized home. What we do is about helping people uncover more of who they are. Atlanta’s design scene is evolving, and I want to see it embrace more risk. For clients who are curious, who want to push past the familiar, The Drawing Room is excited to take them on that journey.”
MORE Lifestyle STORIES
Get an inside vue on the latest in luxury. You heard it here first.
