Get to Know me
HOLA! I’M MERCEDES
I grew up in El Salvador, where natural beauty met urban pace, and tradition met change. When I moved to the U.S. (in the late 90’s) as a young adult, I brought my roots, my culture, and a determination to thrive. Adapting to a new world meant more than learning a language — it meant decoding a system, building a new life, and turning every challenge into growth.
(Yes, I have an expensive name)
What began as a role in an architecture firm—back in 2000, quickly sparked something deeper — an unexpected passion for interior design. That discovery shaped the next chapter of my career: creating spaces that don’t just function, but feel.
When the economy shifted, so did I. I earned my real estate license, and in 2013 founded Atlanta Investing Properties, and began flipping homes in need of full transformation. The process gave me hands-on mastery — not just in design, but in project management, construction, and negotiation.
Eventually, my path led me back to where I belong—design, in 2016. But now with sharper tools, richer experience, and a clearer purpose. Today, Atlanta Investing Properties has evolved into my design studio — where structure meets soul, and every space is designed to restore, empower, and elevate.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
A glimpse into the rituals, choices, and inspirations that shape how I live — and design.
- Traveling to new places that awaken the senses.
- Skincare rituals that feel like a pause button.
- Daily supplements for clarity, energy — and inside-out beauty.
- Thoughtful conversations over coffee that spark big ideas.
- Smart investments — in time, in growth, in self.
These aren’t side notes — they’re part of how I live, design, and create.
Because beauty, clarity, and intention should show up in all areas of life.
A Look Back: What Built Me
From the vibrant streets of Istanbul to the lush landscapes of El Salvador, the world has always whispered to me.
I didn’t grow up surrounded by passports or travel plans — just a quiet knowing that one day, I would go. As a little girl, I used to say I wouldn’t marry, wouldn’t settle — I’d work, explore, and see the world. Back then, I didn’t even know what “the world” meant.
I inherited my adventurous spirit from my father. He never needed a plan to be ready — and neither do I. Guatemala, Greece, Singapore, Dubai… each place has shaped how I see, how I feel, how I live. Not just for design — for life.
Travel didn’t just change me — it revealed me. It gave me the multicultural lens that now defines my work, and how I connect with people and the world around me.
I’m still that little dreamer. Still in love with this beautiful planet. Still ready to go.
The
Shift
At ten, I became my mother’s right hand — and the quiet anchor for my younger sisters.
The
Prayer
I used to pray in silence, believing God was listening — even before anyone told me He was.
The
Fire
I once couldn’t speak the language and was treated like I had nothing to say — so I learned it in six months.
The
Unlearning
I once believed that staying humble meant staying silent — but now I know that owning your gifts is how you serve.
Fragmentos de lo que me formó.
Losing a job pushed me into real estate — where I found the strength to lead, build, and bet on myself.
The
Redirection
ON MY MOODBOARD
Beauty doesn’t need to be perfect!
In the cracks, stories bloom.
Because beauty begins when you look beyond the surface.
Color Palette from the vine
Nature, reimagined.
Timeless Beauty!
Work With Me
I partner with exceptional leaders who value intentional living and design that elevates performance, well-being, and the human experience.
If that’s you, ¿Hablamos?
Work With Me
I partner with exceptional leaders who value intentional living and design that elevates performance, well-being, and the human experience.
If that’s you, ¿Hablamos?
Work With Me
I partner with exceptional leaders who value intentional living and design that elevates performance, well-being, and the human experience.
If that’s you, ¿Hablamos?
Work With Me
I partner with exceptional leaders who value intentional living and design that elevates performance, well-being, and the human experience.
If that’s you, ¿Hablamos?
Professional Bio
Mercedes Quintanilla is a thought leader and design visionary in Restorative Design.
With over 20 years of experience, she has led and collaborated on more than 200 design initiatives across residential, workplace, and institutional settings for top-tier executives, department heads, and high-performing teams — spanning institutional projects and private commissions across Georgia and Florida.
From leaders like former District Attorney Joyette Holmes to founders, educators, and executives, her personalized workspace transformations have helped elevate clarity, focus, and professional presence in environments that demand excellence.
Mercedes holds dual degrees in Interior Design and Architecture and has invested over 10,000 hours of research and study into human-centered design principles — including biophilia, ergonomics, and sustainability — through well-known organizations like Boston Architectural College, Living Future and the WELL Building Institute.
She developed her proprietary Restorative Design™ Framework, a methodology that, together with her studio team — personally trained in her approach — helps visionary leaders break free from energy-draining environments and create spaces that unlock higher performance and prosperity, restore clarity, and support well-being, for a better human experience.
Her work and writing — including over 100 published essays and briefs on the principles behind Restorative Design — are redefining the role of environment in leadership and success. She is widely regarded among mission-driven leaders as the go-to expert for spaces that do more than impress — they heal, empower, and elevate.
Let's connect
I work with global leaders — but my voice and content on social are especially crafted for Latin professionals. You’ll find me speaking our language there. Let’s connect.
Trabajo con líderes globales — pero mi voz y contenido en redes están especialmente pensados para profesionales latinos. Ahí me encontrarás hablando nuestro idioma. Conectemos.