Local Services

CHaRMed New Life

Turning waste into action, CHaRM DeKalb is reshaping recycling through education, transparency, and community engagement. Article by Josh Cornwall | Photography by Caroline Ficken When Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe founded Live Thrive, she wasn’t setting out to start a movement—she just needed a place to dispose of old pesticides from her father’s garden. But when she discovered there were no municipal solutions for hazardous waste disposal in Atlanta, she realized she wasn’t alone. “That first...

Home + Design

"Fore" Business

Green Office is a new gathering space for golf lovers. Article by Brandon Malcolm | Photography by Connelly Crowe When you ask Corinne “CM” Milien what she does, she’ll tell you she’s a “people plug”.  “I try to be a resource for as many people as possible,” she says.  Founder of WRK boutique human capital firm, CM centers her work around building connections and helping businesses and individuals tap into their full potential through leadership coaching and future-minded planning. CM’s...

Arts + Culture

Create, Innovate, and Collaborate with Decatur Makers

A family-friendly makerspace overflowing with support, experimentation, and high-tech toys. Article by Natalie Fox | Photography by Connelly Crowe Decatur Makers is where you go to figure out how to make almost anything. Their membership includes access to a wood shop, laser cutters, 3D printers, welding materials, and more. There’s an electric shop where you can find ways to make something move, go, or light up. The arts and crafts area is perfect for textile work, while their Open Build...

Wellness

Tails of Transformation

From Ruff to Refined: How Canine PhD can train your furry friend into a next-level pup. Article by Brooke Felder For pet parents seeking effective, evidence-based dog training solutions, Canine PhD in Decatur stands out as a beacon of excellence.    Born of a passion to help shelter and care for homeless dogs, Owner and Lead Dog Trainer, Meredith Minkin, founded Canine PhD in 2008. She started teaching classes in a parking lot in Inman Park. Canine PhD has now grown into a comprehensive...

Fitness

Find Your Perfect Fit

Enjoy pain-free movement and a community clubhouse feel at Fleet Feet Decatur. Article by Natalie Fox | Photography by Ben May Brandy Madson fell into running on a bit of a fluke. She spontaneously signed up with three friends for a half marathon, and then they each dropped out one by one; Madson, demonstrating her steadfast resolve, stayed committed. Completely new to long-distance running, she serendipitously saw a mutual friend she knew was a runner at the grocery store. After asking for...

Home + Design

Co-Create Your Space

Robert Koch Designs delivers on stylistic dreams. Article by Natalie Fox | Photography by John Wachs As a young, prospective architecture student, Robert Koch was shown an image of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Designed in 1935, the Pennsylvania house sits atop a waterfall and is widely considered a masterpiece of organic architecture. Koch was deeply impacted by how the structure pushed boundaries in a way he had never seen before. This moment of inspiration created a reverence for...

Home Services

Latina-Led Luxury Construction

How Claudia De La O is redefining high-end construction with heart, expertise, and accessibility. Article by Brooke Felder | Photography by John Wachs Crafting and curating a forever home takes time, attention to detail, and expertise that often feels unattainable. Claudia De La O, the founder and creative director of D&D Total Construction, understands this and redefines what it means to create well-executed construction without exorbitant costs. "I want to add value to the properties I work...

Arts + Culture

Art in the Heart of Atlanta

Find artistic connection and expand your collection at The Sun ATL. Article by Natalie Fox | Photography by Caroline Ficken Shawn Vinson describes himself as “drawn to the image.” You might know him from the Different Trains Gallery in downtown Decatur. Opened in 2017, it’s an intimate operation where they show one or two artists at a time and provide personal art consultations. Longtime collector Sarah Garvin always dreamt of living in a gallery and purchased the townhome with a work-live...

Home + Design

Tidy is Trending

Organizing is necessary and unavoidable and for some, impossible.  Article by Sue Collins I spend hours tidying and reorganizing my bedroom closet each spring and the laundry room gets a makeover once a year before the kids come home from college (and again when they leave). I long for shelving in the garage dedicated to my outdoor gear, for cubbies in my office to hide my knitting and crafts and a guest room that isn’t all bed and pillows.  Turning to the experts in custom organization and...

Life + Culture

A Model of Authenticity

Han Pham empowers women to step into leadership - on their own terms. Article by Natalie Fox As Executive Director of Her Term for the past three years, Han Pham speaks on the vital importance of female lawmakers with highly educated passion and verve. This commitment to community building doesn’t stop at her day job. From founding Bad*ss  Asian Women to spearheading the Decatur Lunar New Year Festival, Pham’s dedication is on hyperdrive. She models authenticity and resilience while...