Chai Style Home: New York Sophistication Heads South
Pamela and Steve Tanenbaum opt for a mid-century modern vibe with full views of the city.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Pamela and Steven Tanenbaum resettled in Atlanta early in 2024 and built upon their already intentional and refined array as a mid-century modern household, which feels old and new at the same time. As book lovers, they keep the pages turning in a Buckhead condo, bathing in the natural light with panoramic views of Midtown and downtown.
Pamela said, “We’ve spent a large part of our life in Manhattan and Westchester County. When our children moved to Atlanta, we visited frequently and loved the suburban feeling right in the city, the BeltLine, and of course, the climate.”
The authenticity of their MCM design puts Pam and Steven in “the art of the mix”- evoking post-World War II aesthetics: sleek, functional, clean lines, with practicality in place of pretense. Their apartment has a sense of openness with a low profile, earthy hues with pops of color, and stacks of books.
Take a tour of the Tanenbaum’s modern oasis of vignettes and iconic pieces …
Marcia: What drew you from the “Big A” to the “Little A”?
Pamela: We’re not going to miss Northeastern winters, and we wanted to have time outdoors throughout the year. We rented a house in North Buckhead for a month. Our Cantor Tracey Scher from Larchmont Temple had moved to The Temple here … so when we attended services, we felt right at home. Steven has continued his real estate law practice remotely, with occasional trips back to New York. When I retired as an elementary school librarian and an adjunct professor at The Art of Teaching College at Sarah Lawrence College, we decided to make the move.
Marcia: Does being in South Buckhead have the New York feel?
Pamela: We love our condo and its amenities; our building has occupants of all ages and loads of dogs. I walk most places and rarely use a car.
Marcia: How did you become interested in art?
Pamela: I spent several years as a curatorial assistant at The Museum of Modern Art prior to teaching. Steven and I have always loved paintings and photographs.
Marcia: Although you did not collect with that intention, many of your artists are Jewish.
Pamela: We are fans of Tel Aviv-born Maira Kalman, artist and author of many children’s books. I bought one of her prints several years ago at Jackson Fine Art here. Keren Toledano, a self-taught artist whose work appeared in Vogue and The New Yorker, is known for her palimpsest — bridges between writing and painting usually done in layers. One of our favorites is Bruce Tolman, who is active on the Miami art scene known for his mid-century modern take on pods and dreamy faraway lands.
Steven: We love our Robert Mangold print and enjoy seeing his paintings at The High (his work is also at Guggenheim, Whitney and MOMA museums). And we have a Jim Dine print that we bought when Pam worked at the Museum of Modern Art. Finally, we have two pieces by Theodoros Stamos, one of the original abstract expressionists.
Marcia: How would describe your “all on one level” flow?
Pamela: We are fans of classic mid-century design. From my family, we inherited two leather Eames chairs, and two plywood Eames chairs that were in my father’s medical office. They were designed for comfort to be able to tilt and take the weight off the spine. We like our Noguchi coffee table and bench, and an Alvar Aalto zebra chair. For our bar, we use an Alvar Aalto tea cart. I collect Jonathan Adler vases and Goldscheider porcelains, which date back to 1885 in Vienna and are considered art nouveau and art deco.
In our entry foyer, we have tiles from 1955 by Barrer and Russell embedded in a unusual walnut mount. We position our Cherner kitchen stools to achieve an angular aesthetic. The moss green and cranberry rug in Steve’s office is Missoni; our other rugs and our dining table and chairs are from Design Within Reach. Sometimes, if we can’t find it, we have it made: the colorful block credenza in the living room is something we designed and had a carpenter build.
Marcia: How does “being a collector” motivate you?
Pamela: We know what we like when we see it. Take the scarlet painting, “Seeker of the Truth,” by Nashvillian Kim Goldstein. We actually saw her work in Atlanta Style and Design Magazine and made a beeline to the DK Gallery in Marietta to bring it to this perfect spot. Collecting just mirrors life’s journey; Ben Shahn photographs that we bought when I studied at The Library of Congress. Art to us is a mix of things like Elliott Landy’s 1968 photograph, “The Band at Woodstock,” an Albers poster from the 100th Anniversary Metropolitan Museum Collection, and a poster from the Lincoln Center Film Festival by Tom Wesselman.
Marcia: How do grandchildren fit in here?
Pamela: The guest bedroom is ready for our nine-year-old granddaughter’s visits. We want her to feel comfortable, so we have her dollhouse, vintage Barbies, and loads of art supplies. We were pleased that the previous owner left this sprawling daisy light fixture.
Marcia: About your books …
Steven: We have Pam’s huge collection of children’s books and art books, plus my Civil War military history collection. Add in some Amor Towles, John Le Carre and E.L. Doctorow. It’s a varied collection. We live surrounded by books.
Last word: NYC vs. Atlanta …
Steven: There is no place quite like New York, but we love Atlanta; and we’re very happy to be here. We love The Temple and the gorgeous music there, the Atlanta Opera and Ballet are amazing. We love The Alliance Theater, and the Jewish Film Festival is another winner in our book. And when we’re not rooting for our beloved Knicks, we’ve become Hawks fans and just purchased season tickets.
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