Chai Style Home: Urban and Artsy, Historic BeltLine Loft

Jamin Gluck and Dr. Quinn Katler share their obsession with local art nestled in a historic BeltLine building with a modern urban vibe. From their condo in the Studioplex Lofts, they curated the original, quirky, hands-on interior where there are no rules (except enjoying the good life) with small details that make it upbeat and keep the spirit of the place true to itself.

For eight years as a senior business development manager for Amazon, Gluck works to support nonprofits globally with the various resources available from Amazon.

The loft’s interior maintains its sense of place with original walls, ceiling and flooring all leading to a “wow” factor // All photos by Howard Mendel

He said, “I basically form relationships with organizations that could benefit from Amazon’s support, and then help them access that support from resources across the business. I help nonprofits understand how they can work with Amazon.” Quinn is a physician with Shady Grove Fertility.

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For two years, the couple has nailed every dangling mobile, strand of ivy, eclectic collage, and palm frond wallpaper with their own hands to get the 1,100-square-foot, 2-bedroom space to bring the gray industrial space alive. And “done up.”

Gluck said, “I don’t shy away from making statements and shaking things up with an artistic license for exuberance and playfully flouting convention. I’ve literally carried most of what you see on my back to get it up here…nothing you see here is fancy; but I hope guests find it cheerful and well put together.”

Take a walk on the funky side that is never static.

Primary bedroom has palm frond wallpaper and glass art by Janko that blends with the original exposed brick walls.

Marcia: Why did you choose Auburn Avenue?
Quinn: This building is actually a National Historic Preservation site that was built in 1905. It’s a two-level authentic loft complex with live-work space. Also, we like the walkability to the BeltLine, Inman Park, and Krog Street Market. We can even walk to Chabad Intown for Shabbat dinner. There’s a “community feel” vibe with friendly neighbors and businesses, including an architect, bicycle shop, beauty salon, tattoo parlor…businesses all right here on the ground floor. There’s a beautiful shady atrium. The value of these types of spaces is increasing, as we “snuck in in 2020.”
Gluck: Our unit, being on the top floor, has skylights and a lovely patio. Also, the original cement pillars, imprinted ceiling and flooring enhance our look, meaning the art has such a unique, almost stark backdrop. The abundance of red brick and concrete is the feel of a historic building. Our dogs, Miriam and Madison, like to hang out on the patio, too.

The guest bedroom displays Jamin’s black and white travel log.

Marcia: You have the “travel bug”?
Gluck: On the guest bedroom wall, in black and white, are the places I have lived from Hong Kong to Jerusalem to Madison, Wisc. I moved to Atlanta from Manhattan when the pandemic hit, since I have most of my family here.

The loft’s kitchen is enveloped in Jamin’s mural wall design

Marcia: How would you describe the décor?
Gluck: Well, we splurged on the living room charcoal sofa, then scouted out most everything else from local arts festivals. I got the “plasticky” modern lemon-yellow chairs locally on Facebook marketplace.
Quinn: I call it mid-century modern combined with Etsy. The closets are hidden by subtle, but appealing, curtains. The only real construction we did was renovating the bathroom with sliding panel doors and two showerheads.

The dinette area showcases the painting, “Standing on the Sun,” by Luke Love.

Marcia: Jamin, you are quite the artist yourself.
Gluck: Yes, I did many of the pieces you see in here. Some, like the giant kitchen geometric wall mural, I designed and hired an artist to execute. My triptych over the couch was quite a project, a culmination of meaningful things. I had it framed, but I literally created every element, including the bouquet of dried roses from our first date and sentiments from my grandparents. For one birthday, Quinn commissioned the yellow neon script, “Spread Your Light,” as a surprise. We see it every time we walk in. I relate and hung meaningful sayings like, “Great minds discuss ideas,” and “You are enough.”
Quinn: I’m the methodical scientist. He’s largely the creative one. I stand back and let Jamin have the liberty to create and execute his designs. Like, he didn’t just paint the aluminum heart that says, “This Must Be the Place.” He actually found the sheet metal and sawed it into shape.
The mirrored console was “up cycled” by Jamin with new knobs and trim. Who could think of doing that?

Upcycled mirrored console with an oil painting by local artist Taylor Saltzman.

Marcia: And art by others?
Quinn: The stained glass in the primary bedroom is a commissioned piece by a local artist discovered on Instagram. We love the oil painting over the mirrored console by local artist, Taylor Saltzman. The scarlet triptych is from Portugal and the South African elephant came by way of Charleston, S.C. The glass sculpture is from Janke Studio here in Studioplex. The painting by the huge fiddler fig plant is from the Piedmont Arts Festival titled, “Standing on the Sun,” by Luke Love.

Marcia: Can we understand more about your medical practice? Why do we hear so much about fertility issues today?
Quinn: I’m board-certified in OB/GYN and recently completed a three-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Emory University. I joined Shady Grove Fertility due to its mission of increasing access to fertility care. My work entails evaluating and treating conditions causing infertility, as well as uterine surgery and laparoscopic procedures. The rising incidence of infertility is, in part, due to couples delaying marriage and childbearing. The incidence of infertility is around one in eight. Interestingly, it’s about one out of six within the Jewish population.

Auburn Avenue’s Studioplex Lofts have “live, work ,play zoning.”
Photo inlay: 1905 is noted on the building’s Historic Preservation sign

Last word?
Quinn: I am super happy as a transplant here in Atlanta.
Gluck: Growing up in Atlanta, the BeltLine was a railroad track. Now, it’s a happening scene where Quinn and I are charting our own funky place.