Indholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2023 i Southern Lady

The yin and yang of introverts and extroverts is all too familiar to designer Rachel Cannon. So, it was easy for her to help a Baton Rouge couple update their abode, creating harmony between the sociable wife’s love of entertaining and the husband’s need for quiet places to unwind. Before the host of the Loudmouth Introvert podcast and her team at Rachel Cannon Limited could focus on the trappings, the dim interiors and jumbled layout of the 1960s structure needed attention. “They wanted to raise ceilings and bring more natural light into the house. We ended up adding on an upstairs guest room wing so we could get the higher ceilings,” says Rachel. While maintaining an airy feel, she was determined to keep some areas set apart. “Knocking down all…

When considering the purchase of an outdated 1980s abode, Martha Haley wasn’t convinced she wanted to move from the spacious residence her family of five had called home for nearly a decade. Martha’s teenage son took one look at the cold, dank cellar proposed for his bedroom and said, “Uh-uh.” Even her real estate agent told her she would have to have vision. “I said, ‘I don’t know if I have enough vision,’” says Martha. To Martha’s surprise, her investment banker husband, Robert, stepped up his game with ideas galore for refurbishing the three-level house, which sits on a cul-de-sac in the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook. “After 25 years of marriage, I never, ever knew he had that side,” she says. Before making an offer on the property, the…

If you know anything about me, you know I love to collect my favorite things. Right now, the top two are blue-and-white china followed by quilting fabric, both of which go back to my childhood. My grandmothers quilted, and they used every scrap of fabric they could find. And one serving bowl fueled my passion for all things blue and white—my grandmother Norton’s single piece of Blue Willow, which graced the table as a vessel for piping hot vegetables. I was fortunate to inherit this bowl when she passed away. Now, when I spy a piece in an antiques store that is perfect for me, I go into a trance. I try to meander calmly over to it, but I really want to run and grab it in case another…

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WE’D LOVE TO SEE—TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS! Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspiration from the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: Sparkling in sunlight, @dwellingshomeandgarden’s flow-blue china is perfectly perched for all to see. Petite bites and iced tea await @everydaylivingblog and her guests in this elegant garden setting. Accompanied by lemon cake and fresh flowers, @rea_stylenc savors a quiet moment of bliss. Middle row: Abundant hydrangea bushes surrounding @thetedescofarm’s home provide magnificent views and supple florals all season long. Bright yellow lilies and perky gerbera daisies create a stunning centerpiece for a table decorated by @ribbonroundit. Bottom row: Relaxing shades of purple and blue dance atop a tablescape by @imaginary_dinner_parties, setting the…

BLISSFUL IDYLL Baskets overflowing with blossoms greet visitors who gather for an alfresco meal in a sun-dappled garden. Mismatched vases that brim with Queen Anne’s lace, chamomile, and love-in-a-mist add a dash of homespun charm, while florals on the tablecloth and dishware reiterate the beauty of bouquets fashioned from fresh cuttings. Pink gauze napkins evoke the gossamer softness of petals. Grounding the table’s pretty aesthetic, rattan place mats and cream-handled flatware harmonize with organic elements, like fruit scattered about as a sweet reminder of the season’s best offerings. BREEZY DELIGHTS Evening primroses, California poppies, passion flowers, and morning glories encircle the edges of Herend’s American Wildflower plates. Placed atop chargers with a contrasting basket weave texture, the botanical dishes echo the natural setting and enhance the scene’s floriferous ambience. Goblets…

FAMILIAR WITH FLAIR Spice up your summer repertoire with a tablescape as bold and bright as this Southwestern menu of seared steak fajitas, fresh guacamole, and plenty of pico de gallo. Dazzling orange ranunculus bob amid a centerpiece of hydrangea, scabiosa, thistle, and seeded eucalyptus, animating a classic blue-and-white scheme. Accentuated by the tangerine velvet chairs, a mustard tablecloth decked in abstract blooms lays the backdrop for stoneware hand-painted in Mexico. Woven place mats and navy napkins draped casually at each place setting tie the look together, along with tiny potted cacti and succulents posed on decorative accent plates. A refreshing grapefruit cocktail tempers the zing of Chipotle-Lime Coleslaw and queso dip peppered with green chiles; agave-sweetened shaved ice with strawberry, basil, and citrus offers a cool endnote comprised of…

The strum of guitar strings, the skirl of bagpipes, or the a cappella refrain of a spirited retailer will lure you along lively Main Street in Dunedin, Florida. This vibrant community pulls out all the stops to host festivals that hail everything from the city’s Celtic heritage and love of dogs to Mardi Gras and live music. With its unspoiled beaches and an eclectic shopping and dining scene, Dunedin boasts plenty of reasons to celebrate daily and, occasionally, break into song. “We do a lot of singing in my shop—a lot. That’s the vibe. People come in, and the entire store will be singing along to Cheer up, sleepy Jean or Carole King; ‘American Pie’ is always a good sing-along,” says Elena Marrero, owner of The Great Giftsby boutique. Since…

Luminous white and fuchsia rhododendrons bob like Christmas ornaments in the July sunshine as you wind up the North Carolina mountainside to The Swag, a treasured family estate turned premier home away from home. “You get up there, and you feel like it’s your own little kingdom,” says Kathy Peters, who has regularly returned to The Swag with her husband, Doug, since the 1980s. Outdoor enthusiasts from Atlanta, the couple joined the resort’s Experts in Residence program 13 years ago at the insistence of innkeeper Deener Matthews, the visionary who established this cozy oasis that skirts the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Log cabins crafted from structures Deener and her spouse, Dan, purchased around the region for their family residence have been transformed into gathering places and private suites that…

For a city of more than 45,000 people, Blacksburg feels remarkably close-knit. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains and home to Virginia Tech, life in this peaceful enclave moves to the unhurried rhythm of a much smaller town, with a sense of kinship that bonds locals amid the ebb and flow of students. But don’t mistake slow for sleepy—cultural riches and outdoor adventures abound here, and a robust slate of festivals, performances, and sporting events fosters community spirit as vibrant as the university’s official colors. “You really can’t go anywhere without seeing someone wearing orange and maroon,” says B’easy Thompson, whose husband, Jim, has been Virginia Tech’s head tennis coach for 25 years. “There’s a lot of pride in the town and the university.” That pride peeks through…

While the final days of nature’s warmest season descend upon the South, admire the magnificent culmination of blooms soon to dwindle as time marches forward. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to luxuriate in the grand finale than Nashville, with three beautiful, historic gardens worth a sultry stroll. Broad vistas and well-cultivated plots will greet you at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, while Belmont Mansion’s surrounds reveal classic symmetry that offers a welcome respite just a short drive from downtown. History carries the day at The Hermitage, the homestead of President Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel. CHEEKWOOD ESTATE & GARDENS The early 20th-century Georgian-style dwelling of Mabel and Leslie Cheek is open for tours, but the breathtaking grounds are a visual feast for the eyes. A botanical oasis…