Mercedes’ work is “ inspired, comfortable and warm” – he has an unabashed knack for creating compelling spaces. “Every space has a story – a story that explains who the client is, why they live there and how they enjoy it,” he says. “I love telling those stories. My passion is to help my clients define their ideal environment and bring that vision to life while going beyond their expectations.”

He exercises “restraint – plus a little humor and whimsy,” he says. “I might pull something from a client’s personality. A fun little inside joke.” A calming, neutral environment might have an unexpected, bright-orange angular armchair; a beautiful copper mermaid sculpture might be tucked in a marble-topped guest bath. “My style is really eclectic and chameleon, influenced by who I’m assisting and the space I’m designing,” he says.

Mercedes sharpened his skills in hospitality and furniture design before joining Cantoni in 2003. He has since worked with clients on residential and commercial spaces around the country. “I love the drive and passion – the pursuit to discover and present, create and share,” he says. A longtime Atlanta resident (“the city seemed to capture me,” he says), he enjoys restoring his Folk Victorian fixer-upper, gardening and taking long walks in his neighborhood. “I especially love a bright sunny day and relaxing on my front porch,” he says.