Angie L. Thompson’s journey into interior design began well before she realized it. Her father and mother had full time middle jobs. However, they had dreams as well. They were entrepreneurs. During the 80s, Angie observed her mom as a freelance salesperson for Home Interiors, Inc., a business dedicated to home décor modeled similar to Tupperware and Mary Kay. This side career was filled with shopping and decorating.
“As the youngest child, I tagged along as her assistant," Angie said. “I created boards and displays, helped with orders, inventory and shipping during my middle school and part of my high school years.”
Despite her early interest, interior design wasn’t an immediate career path for Angie. She went to college for “proper career major”… math. She earned an Applied Mathematics degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. To support herself through school, Angie worked at Sherwin Williams, where she learned color theory first hand. She found herself drawn to wall coverings and window treatments. “It was one of the few places you could get free design advice in a small college town back then,” she recalled.
After graduation, Angie moved to Atlanta to continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming an interior designer. That was the weekend after the 1996 Olympics. While studying Interior Design at American Intercontinental University and Brenau University, She continued working at Sherwin Williams’ Buckhead location. This role opened doors in the interior design community and introduced her to Atlanta’s vibrant design world.
During her years of study, Angie met Brannigan Thompson at UNC Chapel Hill and they later married. With a new career and budding family, Angie worked at the Lenox Mall and later at a well known and respected high end design firm, Pineapple House Interior Design. Over a number of years, Angie honed her craft while working on award winning projects. In 2003, Angie Thompson won 2 ASID awards. During subsequent years of work, travel and designing on her own, Angie revisited an old dream: a boutique in a brick- in- mortar. A real mom and pop shop where other designers and homeowners could shop from "her unique eye" in buying.
Angie’s approach to design is deeply influenced by her love of fashion. “Interior design and fashion go hand in hand,” she shared. “They are rooted from the base and similar in nature, but express themselves differently. An expertise in one field will surely manifest a natural knack in the other field.”
For Angie, every interior design project is a fresh start, a new opportunity to create something entirely unique. “It’s a blank slate,” she explained. “Even with having similar elements, the creative process and outcome are different because the client or project is different. No two interiors will ever be alike. That’s the magic and the fun!”
When it comes to inspiration, Angie finds it close to home and in iconic publications. Angie also grew up captivated by design experts and Saturday morning shows like “Style with Else Klensch” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. She would spend hours cutting out images from magazines like Vogue, Veranda, and Elle, pasting them on the back of her bedroom door. “That was my mood board before it even had a name!” she laughed.
For Interior design, her top tip? Hire a professional! As someone who lives and breathes design, Angie understands the challenges of decorating for the season. So she encourages people to trust their instincts. “Go with your gut,” the designer advised. “Have fun with texture, lighting, and color combinations. Add a nod to your traditions and bit of flare with a new annual theme. Research Pinterest, social media or your favorite magazine. Create a mood board and take a picture of it so you always have it with you while you shop. And remember, always measure your space. The quickest way to make a mistake is to purchase something that is out of scale.”
Angie is a 20 year resident of Roswell, GA. Her children Brandon and Brooke both attended schools throughout Roswell. Her husband, Brannigan, is known as a favorite “Party Parent” in Roswell Dance Theater’s “The Nutcracker” and he supports her in the design company. Angie has served on numerous committees for the community, church and school. Throughout that time, her love for interiors and fashion has never faded…it now shines in the unique designs she brings to her clients’ homes and her boutique. Angie’s high end design services at ATLdesigns, LLC are as versatile as her clients’ needs. She offers assistance for projects of various scales, from full construction and renovation to comprehensive decorating services.
With a passion rooted in family tradition and a career built on an appreciation for both art and mathematics, Angie L.Thompson brings a unique touch to Atlanta’s interior design world. As she continues to shape spaces that inspire and welcome, her story reminds us that the best designs are those that reflect who we are—especially during the holiday season.
“Your house is your home,” she emphasized. “You live there—make it your own.”
atldesigns.com
Angie's boutique, ATLinteriors at Westside Market Roswell, is packed with a mix of traditional modern pieces and unique finds from her travels abroad. New items arrive weekly. Holiday hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.