Innehållsförteckning för Spring In The South 2014 från Southern Lady

From early bloomers like daffodils and forsythia to Southern favorites like azaleas and irises, signs of the season are all around, and in this issue, you’ll find a collection of some of our best ideas for celebrating glorious Easter and this most magical of times. Join us as we decorate our abodes with frills and finery and invite friends and family to happy gatherings and alfresco afternoons. Experience the awakening landscape with outdoor activities and weekend escapes at some of the region’s most picturesque bed-and-breakfasts and inns. With stops from Texas to the Carolinas, we’ve canvassed the South for inspiration to help you enjoy this colorful and vibrant time of year.…

Creamy neutral hues offer a serene backdrop for a collection of ironstone pieces. Keep It Cozy Colorful antique rugs are used throughout this warm and welcoming abode, providing a contrast to the quieter palette. The homeowner has taken advantage of her proximity to the antique offerings at nearby Round Top, and filled her home with wonderful timeworn pieces that imbue it with a charming personality all its own.…

Violet Reverie The fluttering fields of lavender that grace the French countryside inspire a setting in subtle shades of purple, gray, and green. Channel the relaxed Provençal lifestyle with a casual gathering set on a screened-in porch. Place a purple-striped cloth across the table at an angle, and set with eyecatching dinnerware in the Laces, Butterfly, and Oyster patterns by Mateus. Bright spring-green tumblers pop against the other elements, and a cheery centerpiece of lavender and waxflowers echoes the feminine theme. Tie napkins trimmed in crocheted lace with simple striped ribbon, then tuck in a sprig of lavender. Continue the lacy accents with flatware bearing an intricate trellis-and-flowers pattern.…

Backyard Bliss Pack a picnic lunch, and spend the day relaxing under a canopy of trees in your own backyard. Spread a quilt on the lawn, channel your inner Jane Austen, and nibble on fruit and cheese while daydreaming of Mr. Darcy. Fine Lines Fluff up your picnic provisions with fresh-picked flowers and a few comfy pillows, and add a lightweight throw just in case the breeze turns chilly. A woven basket becomes a handy tote to corral your essentials, plus favorite books of poetry to read beneath the boughs. Swing of Things Let the housework wait. The splendid spring weather is calling your name, and it’s only polite to answer. Head out to the backyard where a pillow-plumped hammock awaits, and get lost in the pages of the latest…

Bright Bouquet Greet the season with a tiered display of spring flowers, arranged in a large, shabby-chic container. Starting with seeded eucalyptus on the bottom, layer hydrangeas, maidenhair ferns, and your favorite white flowers, finishing with pink tulips at the top. Case in Point Here’s a lovely way to repurpose those embroidered pillow cases like Grandmother had in her linen closet: Turn them into hand towels for the guest bath. Simply cut to the desired size, hem the edges, and add a pretty trim to the bottom edge. Stitch a monogram to personalize. Fly Away Home Build a centerpiece “nest” for this adorable stone bird with excelsior or straw, and fluff with white flowers— anemones, Gerbera daisies, tulips, lilies, and such. Fill in with greenery, like variegated pittosporum, to finish.…

A grand staircase typifies the attention to detail illustrated throughout the home. Refined by Design This home dispels any notion that a waterside home must be rustic. Its gracious interiors are comfortable but also polished. A formal dining room features traditionally styled furniture in a gleaming cherry finish and a more contemporary shaded chandelier. While the back of the house offers water views, the front looks out to a stone patio anchored by a Tuscan-style fountain. Stylish Décor Sleek black industrial pendant lights hang above a granite-topped dining area in the open and airy kitchen. The home offers numerous areas to sit and enjoy the views. The family room features a fireplace surround of custom built-ins, along with seating upholstered in a chic black-andwhite harlequin-patterned fabric. Elsewhere, cheerful floral club…

Tickled Pink Stage a backyard picnic with an enchanting family of muslin bunnies, dressed in their Easter finery. Underscore this happy theme with pretty pastel accents, like the saltand-pepper set, the pink table runner, and the whimsical centerpiece. To make your own, place a spray-painted branch in a container filled with floral foam. Add pebbles for weight, and cover them with floral moss. Decorate with assorted fabricflower ornaments on silky ribbon.…

Two Meeting Street Inn Located in Charleston’s prestigious South of Broad neighborhood, this enchanting inn is perfectly placed at the corner of Meeting Street and South Battery. Its history dates to the late 1800s when the mansion was built as a wedding gift from the bride’s father. The inn boasts sumptuous accommodations and beautiful verandas with amazing views toward Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter beyond—the ideal spot to sit and watch the world go by. Innkeeper Karen Shaw and her staff pour out hospitality along with the sweet tea and make it their mission to ensure that guests relax and enjoy the myriad charms this area has to offer. From the moment they step into Two Meeting Street Inn, guests are captivated by the historic home’s beautiful and inviting interiors.…

Alfresco Dining Turn a brick patio into a Tuscan garden by surrounding a wrought-iron dining set with a collection of large urns, filled with a variety of plants—hardy Boston ferns, begonias, and caladiums are good choices. Add an umbrella for a bit of shade and a water feature for soothing background music. Porch Sitting Extend your living space by decorating a covered porch just as you would any room in the house. Bring out a table and chairs for outdoor dining, and comb flea markets and antiques stores for pre-loved pieces—an old wooden birdhouse or a weathered chair that doubles as a plant stand—to turn the porch into your favorite place to retreat and unwind.…

Casually Chic Woven seagrass chairs and contemporary lighting lend a less-formal note to the dining room. Taking its color cues from the muted painting that hangs above the sofa, the living room shines with sophistication in subtle shades of blue, brown, and white. Artistic accents throughout add layers of interest. Restful Retreats Both the master and guest bedrooms are designed to foster tranquility. A pair of beds ensure the ultimate in comfort for guests lucky enough to snuggle under the cozy covers. Simple accessories streamline the décor and keep clutter in check while maintaining the sought-after serenity. The sunlit master bath features custom built-in cabinetry and a luxurious spa tub. Outdoor Living Climbing roses spill over the white picket fence and brick pillars that offer the first welcome to this…

Baskets of Joy This Easter-themed setting relies on traditional motifs that capture the sweetness of the season. Bring in bunnies galore—tucked into baskets or parading across plates—and echo the vivid shades in floral displays with rickrack-trimmed napkins and ribbons tied around egg-cups-turned-place-cards. LEMON-APPLE SPRITZER MAKES ABOUT 1 GALLON 1 cup Lemon Simple Syrup (recipe follows) ½ cup fresh lemon juice 2 (750-milliliter) bottles sparkling cider, chilled 1 liter club soda, chilled Garnish: thinly sliced lime, lemon, and orange 1. In a large pitcher, combine Lemon Simple Syrup and lemon juice. To serve, gently stir in sparkling cider and club soda. Serve over ice; garnish with sliced fruit. LEMON SIMPLE SYRUP MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS 2 cups water 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons lemon zest 1. In a medium saucepan, combine…

1 Citrus Sorbet CITRUS SORBET MAKES ABOUT 1 QUART 2 cups sugar 2 cups water 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 tablespoon lime zest 1 tablespoon orange zest 1½ cups fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice Garnish: lemon slices, lime slices, orange slices 1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool completely. 2. In a large bowl, combine sugar mixture and remaining ingredients. Place mixture in ice-cream freezer, and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions until firm; store in freezer. 3. To serve, spoon sorbet into bowl or glass, and garnish with lemon slices, lime slices, and orange slices, if desired. 2 Coconut-Mango Milk Shake COCONUT-MANGO MILK SHAKE…

Picture This Found in a picturesque stretch known as the Birthplace of Texas, Brenham boasts all the charms of an easy-paced Lone Star destination. Fantastic shopping downtown ranges from fashion to high-end home décor, while B&Bs and outdoor sights and activities make the most of their locale. Around Town Garden lovers will appreciate the many oldfashioned favorites at the Antique Rose Emporium, as well as the plant collections and impressive stonework at the Round Top Festival Institute. Blue Bell Creamery invites visitors to tour their headquarters, then enjoy their latest flavors in the parlor. Stay & Shop Unwind with a stay in the countryside Victorian manor at Lillian Farms, or enjoy the separate guesthouse and outdoor kitchen of Southern Rose Ranch B&B. Working ranches in the area offer a taste…

COVER See Easter on Parade FROM THE EDITOR Page 7: Photography by John O’Hagan, Stephanie Welbourne Resources: The Tallulah Dress in Mint Seersucker; Jolie & Elizabeth. White Cardigan; Target. Yellow Bicycle and Basket; The Bicycle Shop. SEASONAL SHOWCASE Page 9: Styling by Tracey MacMillan Runnion, Adrienne A. Williams; Photography by Kimberly Finkel Davis, William Dickey, Mac Jamieson, Marcy Black Simpson, Kamin Williams Resources: Floral Designs by Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market (Page 9), Flowerbuds (Page 10), Flower Stems (Page 18). Monogram Embroidery; TopStitchin’. OUTDOOR SPACES Page 21: Styling by Yukie McLean, Adrienne A. Williams; Photography by Kimberly Finkel Davis, Marcy Black Simpson Resources: Flamingo Pitcher and Sunflower Plates; Fiesta. Special Thanks to Trish Land and Judy Thomas. COTTAGE STYLE Page 27: Interior Design by Jancy Ervin; Photography by John O’Hagan ROOMS…