January 19, 2023
Home & Real Estate, Migration,
After leaving the corporate world, Atlanta style icon Shelly Justice used her eye for art and design to transform this iconic residence into the perfect candidate for your next home away from home.
1970s coffee table by Gabriella Crespi in living room
Painting above the orange console is by Anne Bachelier.
Blue agate floor made in Italy in guest bedroom
Unique might not be the right word to describe the details that fill Shelly Justice’s project at Surfside, Fla.’s well-known Fendi Château Residences, but it certainly proves that she can do it all. Known for her refined taste in all of her roles, from fashion to business to self-taught design sensibilities, the former CEO of Senegal Software splits her time between Atlanta and Miami, finding an escape transforming clients’ visions into one-of-a-kind homes in which she pours eclecticism, art deco, glam and modernism. Each sensibility intermingles into one, and in this Surfside sanctuary overlooking the ocean, the rooms are singular galleries, requiring scrupulous attention to detail. A career of entrepreneurship was set aside for passion that speaks volumes, thus beginning her Bespoke Design & Decor endeavor. To get an idea of what Justice has to offer her clients, this spot is worth dissecting. Starting with the private elevator entrance in the lobby, you are welcomed by a jungle oasis complete with depicted waterfalls, moss, flowers and artistic glass by Lillian Gorbachincky letting everyone know that this residence comes from unbridled inspiration. Upon entering the residence, your eyes are immediately drawn to the playful and contrasting details sprinkled throughout the living room evoking pigments found in the artwork. In the corner of the room, a French midcentury bronze bird by Georges Saulterre stands 10 feet tall, elevating the impact of the artful design decisions and tying into the eclectic connection in the 1970s coffee table by Gabriella Crespi.
Kitchen designed by Fendi with appliances by Gaggenau
Custom dining room table by artist Alexandre Chapelin
Porch furniture from Dedon
Throughout the prestigious residence, you are greeted with ocean views from every bedroom, entryways ubiquitously clad with chrome and stone flooring, and elegant finishes sourced from France and Italy. To stay here is to exist in the realm of bespoke design, something at which Justice excels. While the primary decisions boast a holistic approach to selection, the details also expand into the smaller moments. The custom primary bed is handcrafted with chrome and upholstered hide topped off with a petrified wood stone slab headboard, making for a striking contrast to the warmer tones evident in the main living spaces. However, this home would not be what it is without time spent selecting the artwork. Monkey, dog and swan original art by Jeff Koons catches the viewer’s eye and a Manolo Valdés commissioned piece dances with the dining room patterns. Philippe Shangti’s “Luxury Topless Dinner,” a scenic performance dinner, also adds a glam layer. While the bathrooms and kitchen land on more neutral ground, Justice found a way to infuse subtle statements. Handmade LED wallpaper pairs nicely with Swarovski crystals in the shape of a hanging chandelier in the powder room. Continuing to play with lighting, a handmade bone chandelier sourced from the African bush hangs above the custom primary bed. Yes, you read that right. The bespoke does not stop with the elaborate jungle scene. The dining room harbors a custom table from artist Alexandre Chapelin, bringing in the neutral tones from the kitchen in marbled pigments on its surface. More color is introduced in the guest bedroom’s blue agate floor made in Italy, a first for a floor application five years ago. Just when you think a choice might challenge the norm you find its balance in another striking detail proving that self-taught design reaped unparalleled attention to sourced objects and high-stakes styles.
Photography by: