Atlanta-based creatives—photographer Cati Teague and designer Gina Sims— have worked together for years. Sims designs and Teague shoots. But when Teague needed a kitchen redo, she called on Sims, principal at Gina Sims Designs, who was happy to help. “[Cati’s] got a great eye for design—I was absolutely thrilled to help her transform her 225-square-foot kitchen,” says Sims. The loft is located in Inman Park, Atlanta’s first planned residential suburb and first electric trolley neighborhood. When the street car system provided an easy commute to work in the big city, Atlanta’s nineteenth-century elite rushed to the rural area to build businesses and grand homes near beautiful parks. Teague’s loft is located in a circa-1890 commercial building situated right near the beautiful Atlanta Beltline—the perfect place for daily walks with her dog.

When creating this design, Sims felt that Teague needed a bold, updated kitchen that reflected her creativity and urban lifestyle. Although several of the original elements were used in the final design, Teague was looking for something that better expressed her personality. “She loves purples, maroon, and natural greens,” says Sims. “A beautiful succulent with shades of green and a touch of purple in a concrete pot was our inspiration. We went from there.” The simple layout of the space is much more efficient than the previous one. The floor was original to the building—a durable industrial concrete base that had an interesting finish from years past. The simple and natural wooden accent walls separating the kitchen from the other living spaces were already there and worked beautifully in the new design.

The basic palette was straightforward and uncomplicated. “We used our punch in the wall tile and let everything else be softer but intentional,” explains Sims. But that made the entire kitchen design concept ride on exactly the right tile. “My client has a great eye, and I knew I had to find her the perfect tile in the perfect shade of green, and in an interesting shape.” Sims continues, “I scoured tile stores from Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta—road trip!—and online sources trying to find something green and awesome. You should see the boxes of tile samples I still have lying around my office,” she says, laughing. “They are too pretty to get rid of.” The ultimate winner was Waterlily by Seneca Tiles. “The tile is clearly the main event,” says Sims. Each tile is individually handmade, allowing for a tremendous variation in color. The green tones on each eight-inch, fan-designed tile flow like a fountain, creating an incredibly striking impression on the wall. Once they had the right tile, everything in the room fell into place.

The island is a soft celadon green with brass hardware and a custom cement top that was made in Wisconsin. The celadon and the other green tones in the plants, canisters, cookware, and accent pieces around the room interplay beautifully with the bold, teal-green tile wall.