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WELCOME, SPRING! If you’ve had the pleasure of living in, or even visiting, the Southern United States, you know that hospitality is considered an art. That sentiment applies to the homeowners and designers behind the homes in this issue, each of which is located in the American South. In sharing their insights and welcoming you into their personal spaces, they invite you to enjoy the homes and projects they hold dear; to linger over every curated detail and relish in the coziness that suffuses each room. There’s no better season for us to present this Southern-centric issue than spring, when blooms are bursting outside and every color seems just a little brighter. While you soak in the scenes that follow—from a vibrant cottage in Virginia to a daisy-inspired outdoor table…
TRANQUIL HARMONY Plush wicker chairs and a stylish weathered-look table yield the perfect perch on which to enjoy stunning panoramic vistas on this veranda. Whether you cast your gaze toward the horizon or overlook the charming poolside scene, a pleasing view prevails with the gentle breeze. Vivid garden blooms and accessories enhance the casual tabletop while perky yellow-and-white pillows invigorate the sunny scene below, where friends enjoy a swim and gather for a sip of lemonade. COLLECTED CHARM An abundance of plump pillows imbues a comfortable and inviting air, ideal for sharing a beverage and an afternoon snack with fine companions or curling up alone with a good book. Groupings of ceramic vessels, some filled with summer’s favorite blooms, lend visual elegance and a sense of continuity. White wicker furnishings…
Once rare crowning jewels in royal and wealthy households, statuesque tulipieres laden with flora are gaining prominence in everyday homes. The style and availability of the shapely vessels first fashioned to nurture tulips have broadened to suit myriad tastes, inspiring new ways to enjoy the towering old-world treasure and modern variations. “The point of the tulipiere will always be to show off the most spectacular blooms,” says Martha Whitney Butler, an antiques dealer and floral designer who owns The French Potager in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. “We typically stick with selling the classic blue-and-white stackable pagoda version. It’s a timeless look, and it never goes out of style.” Inspired by fine handmade ceramics from Asia, 17th-century craftsmen of Delft, Netherlands, put their distinctive stamp on earthenware production with a tin-glazing…
Striking in its serenity, the palette of this Atlanta, Georgia, cottage was inspired by personal taste. “She loved blues and greens,” says interior designer Virginia Cheek of the homeowner, who brought her on to redesign the space. It was a jumping-off point that led the two women on a path to a beautiful, comfortable cottage—one that would grow with the homeowner through the next stages of life. In the spirit of Southern hospitality, the homeowner emphasized the need for a formal living room that was conducive to events such as the Bible study she was hosting at the time. “She wanted it to be a comfortable place to host gatherings like that—comfortable, but also feminine,” Virginia says. She creatively incorporated extra seating, such as the stools tucked under the foyer…
Playful patterns and a floor plan fit for entertaining hint at homeowner Maggie Lyon’s charming Southern roots, while traditional touches bring balance for a warm and welcoming home ideal for a young family. After moving from a row house in Washington, DC, Maggie and her husband, Troy, quickly realized that while the new build in Alexandria, Virginia, offered a lot more space, their current furniture was no longer the right scale. Thankfully, Maggie had already been working with interior designer Erin Myers of Erin Myers Design, who describes her firm’s approach to design as “rooted in traditional and classic elements but always looking for ways to inject some modernity and personality.” For Erin, it’s all about achieving just the right juxtaposition to elevate a space. “Maybe it’s a classic or…
It wasn’t Johanna Vernick’s plan to start from scratch when decorating her new home in Dallas, Texas. But when the buyers of her family’s Austin residence asked to purchase the furniture along with the home, she found herself presented with an exciting opportunity. “We really did start from scratch in a big way,” says Johanna, who partnered with interior designer Margaret Chambers to execute a brand-new vision far removed from the more modern spirit of her previous space. “When I contacted her, what immediately came to mind is that she was a good listener,” Johanna says—something that was important, as she wanted her home’s design to reflect her personal style and preferences. It just so happened that this desire aligned perfectly with Margaret’s design philosophy, and it wasn’t long before…
