Business Details
21 Years
experience
Award-Winning Design-Build Services for Homes & Boutique Commercial Spaces
Founded in 2005, TerraCotta Properties is an award-winning design-build firm specializing in residential and boutique commercial projects. Our integrated approach unifies architecture, interior design, and construction under one roof, ensuring a seamless client experience. The company was established by Ili Hidalgo-Nilsson and Luly Melarti, seasoned architects who recognized the inefficiencies of traditional project delivery models. With over three decades of combined construction expertise from leaders like Maurie Hullender and Scott Madsen, we eliminate the need for clients to manage multiple vendors. Our process encompasses needs assessment, design conceptualization, budgeting, permitting, and execution, all backed by a one-year warranty.The interiors team, led by Lucinda Aron, brings hospitality-grade luxury to residential spaces through curated selections and procurement services. We maintain long-standing industry relationships to streamline implementation, offering single-point accountability for design and construction phases. Our philosophy emphasizes collaboration, budget-conscious creativity, and the inseparability of aesthetic design and structural quality. Having expanded from residential origins to serve boutique commercial clients, we continue prioritizing personalized service that anticipates client needs throughout project lifecycles.
Services
Design-Build
Interior Design
Architecture
Construction
Space Planning
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of design-build experience in residential and commercial projects
- Our integrated team handles design, permits, and construction under one contract
- We provide white-glove interior procurement and installation services
- Our process includes detailed budgeting and selection coordination
- We maintain long-standing industry relationships for efficient implementation
Services
Design-Build
Our design-build process merges architectural design, interior planning, and construction management under one contract. This approach reduces project timelines and costs through coordinated workflows. Clients benefit from unified vision and single-source accountability throughout the development lifecycle.
Interior Design
We specialize in creating personalized interiors that reflect client lifestyles using current trends and timeless elements. Our services include space planning, material selection, furniture procurement, and installation coordination. The team leverages global hospitality design insights for residential applications.
Architecture
Full architectural services cover new construction and renovations for residential and boutique commercial properties. Our architects develop structural plans that align with client aesthetics while meeting regulatory requirements through experienced permitting coordination.
Construction
Our construction team executes projects with precision using proven methods and quality materials. Services include budget management, vendor coordination, and a one-year warranty. The process emphasizes transparency from budgeting through final inspections.
Space Planning
We optimize spatial functionality through detailed planning of room layouts, traffic patterns, and furniture arrangements. The service considers both aesthetic appeal and practical usage requirements for residential and commercial environments.
People
Ili Hidalgo-Nilsson
Principal, Architect, Interior Designer
Co-founder with 20+ years of architectural and design experience. Specializes in integrating design and construction processes to create seamless client experiences while maintaining project vision integrity.
Luly Melarti
Principal, Architect, Designer
Co-founder focused on architectural design and client collaboration. Brings expertise in residential and commercial projects, emphasizing functional aesthetics and construction feasibility during concept development.
Maurie Hullender
Principal, Building And Construction
Construction leader with 30+ years of industry experience. Oversees all building operations, ensuring technical accuracy and budget adherence while maintaining design intent throughout implementation phases.
Lucinda Aron
Interior Design Director
Award-winning designer with two decades of experience creating luxury residential and hospitality interiors. Specializes in translating global hospitality trends into personalized home environments through curated material selections.
Kirstin Moehlig
Senior Architectural Designer
Leads architectural design teams through plan development and interior coordination. Focuses on ensuring continuity from conceptual drawings to completed construction while managing selection pricing processes.
Questions
What sets Terracotta apart from traditional design and construction firms?
We combine architecture, interior design, and construction under one contract, eliminating coordination challenges between separate vendors while maintaining single-point accountability for your project.
What project types do you specialize in?
We focus on residential projects and boutique commercial spaces including hotels, restaurants, and specialty retail environments that benefit from residential design principles.
How does your design-build process work?
Our process includes five stages: need assessment, design conceptualization, budgeting and permitting, construction execution, and post-completion orientation with a one-year warranty.
Do you handle interior design as a standalone service?
Yes, we offer interior design services separately for clients who wish to implement selections independently while still benefiting from our design expertise and vendor relationships.
How do you manage project timelines and budgets?
Our integrated approach allows continuous budget monitoring through coordinated design and construction phases, with regular client updates to maintain financial transparency and schedule adherence.
What geographic areas do you serve?
While based in Atlanta, we work on projects nationwide for residential clients and boutique commercial developments in hospitality and lifestyle sectors.
