Innehållsförteckning för January/February 2025 från Southern Lady

Instead of “Oh, my…,” the lions and tigers and bears of Melissa Dulaney’s handcrafted décor collection are likely to summon “Ooh la la!” Affixed to chic napkin rings or tortoiseshell match strikes, a menagerie of gilded fauna and fancies guides Lowcountry artist Melissa as she dreams up the fine tableware and accessories of Southern Tribute. “A lot of it is truly [inspired by] my love of the Southern way of entertaining, of mixing the old with the new,” Melissa says of her product lineup. Each adorned with a shimmering handmade icon, the sleek acrylic designs are thoughtfully fashioned to blend functionality and sophistication. From marbled lapis and emerald to smoky onyx, Melissa’s curated assortment of boxes, match strikes, and trays has grown to complement her debut tabletop accoutrement, napkin rings.…

Elevate a Champagne cocktail with this delightful rosette garnish. Using a vegetable peeler, carefully peel a red pear, starting from the base and working your way around the fruit toward the top. Roll the long ribbon, skin side down, until it resembles a delicate bloom. Secure the spiral with a small skewer and slide on a sprig of fresh mint. Perched on the rims of filled glasses, the embellishment adds a dash of elegance guests will enjoy as much as the libation. Find the recipe for these Elderflower Mimosas at southernladymagazine.com.…

GRACEFUL BOUNTY Basking in candlelight, misty murals reprising dreamy marsh views set the stage for a meal inspired by Lowcountry staples. Layered place settings crowned by an avian accent dish reiterate the room’s watercolor palette, as silver and gold details shimmer in utmost refinement. For a tantalizing prelude, serve our citrusy Meyer Lemon Gimlets in metallic-edged coupe glasses. Fresh Stewed Okra and Tomatoes as well as Savannah Red Rice offer sophisticated takes on down-home favorites, while steaming She-Crab Soup and Garlic Butter Roasted Oysters pay tribute to the coastal region. Crisp Lace-Tuile Benne Cookies round out the menu, adding a final dash of sweetness to the gracious affair. Meyer Lemon Gimlets MAKES 4 COCKTAILS 1 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice, divided½ cup water½ cup sugar⅔ cup ginGarnish: thin Meyer lemon…

Whispers of an opulent era echo with every footstep, guided by kaleidoscopic light beaming through Tiffany stained glass and the comforting warmth of a fire aglow in an ornate marble hearth—the Wentworth Mansion makes a palatial first impression. “Stepping inside, it feels like a different time in a different world,” says Lisa Anderson, innkeeper at the Wentworth in Charleston, South Carolina. “Pictures—even though they’re lovely—don’t do it justice. There’s no way to capture how grand it is.” Completed in 1886, the 24,000-square-foot manor was built by wealthy cotton merchant Francis Silas Rodgers as an extravagant family home for his wife and their 13 children. Every corner of the Second Empire–style dwelling reflected the height of architectural sophistication, from its distinctive mansard roof and stately cupola to Italian chandeliers and colorful…

Southern Lady FAVORITES Visit southernladymagazine.com to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a look at some of our favorite January/February web features: Charleston’s Pretty-in-Pink Landmark Hotel Beyond a candy-colored façade framed by wrought iron galleries, The Mills House has epitomized Southern hospitality since 1853. Peek inside this lavish locale and discover brand-new ways to stay there in style. Lowcountry Luxe at Home Inspired by its picturesque surroundings, a South Carolina house nestled in a wildlife preserve is imbued with a serene color palette and plenty of vernacular charm. Bubbly Elderflower Mimosas Find the recipe for this perennially popular sipper on our website and learn how to fashion our rosette garnish from pear slices on page 45. Whispers of Love for Valentine’s…

BLUSHING BEAUTY Awakening thoughts of fragrant garden blooms in warmer months, a profusion of peonies unfurls delicate petals across a vibrant selection of coral teaware. The botanical motif mingles playfully with sunny shades of pink and hints of powder blue, layered atop the snow-white tablecloth. In the centerpiece and smaller bouquets posed about the scene, lively florals mirror the china pattern’s artful palette. Tender fringed tulips, ‘Butterfly’ ranunculus, and white roses nestle among variegated sprays of greenery and tiny blue tweedia. Gilded Champagne flutes sparkle in the midwinter light, while lustrous flatware adds a radiant touch. Relish each soothing sip and sweet treat along with the heartfelt conversation of dearest friends.…

While paint swatches and fabric samples cover the top of Shelley Wilkins’s desk, rarely are they inspiration for her own home. “It’s so much easier to design someone else’s home than yours,” says Shelley, owner of S. Wilkins Interior Design. “With clients, I give them all my time and attention, so I don’t have a lot of time to work on my own projects.” Everything changed after a tropical storm about four years ago. Shelley and her husband, Walter, knew the home they’d recently purchased would require some updates, and they had plans to revamp only the kitchen and primary wing. But when a tree fell through the living room, “we didn’t really have a choice but to start renovating that next,” Shelley says. She set to work transforming the…

Blood Orange Curd Linzer Cookies MAKES 24 SANDWICH COOKIES 1 cup unsalted butter, softened1½ cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting1 large egg, room temperature½ teaspoon vanilla extract2½ cups all-purpose flour1 cup hazelnut flour½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground nutmeg⅛ teaspoon ground clovesBlood Orange Curd (recipe follows)Garnish: blood orange zest 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating…

“A SUPPER CLUB CAN BE HARD TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE IN A FEW WORDS BECAUSE IT ENCOMPASSES SO MUCH CONNECTION AND EMOTION IN SUCH A SIMPLE NAME.” As a child, I floated around the settings of many dinner parties with my parents’ friends, and I could feel how special the occasions were—from the way my mom would create a special dessert to how she would wear a fancier dress. There was also something that you couldn’t quite put your finger on, something that wasn’t necessarily as definitive as dessert or a dress. It was indescribable, but it was palpable. It was the magic of the feeling, an allegiance, a sacred bond that transcended the busiest schedule and the most harried happenings. A supper club seems like it would be all about…

There’s so much more to Georgia’s barrier islands than the beautiful beaches and 198 holes of top-rated golf, so it’s fitting we get to kick off our first installment of The Southern (C)ity Guide with the place that’s near and dear to our hearts: our hometown, St. Simons Island, Georgia. Here’s a look at a few of our favorite go-tos and to-dos in the Golden Isles. For laid-back locales serving our local Sapelo oysters or the Georgia shrimp we’re so famous for, visit Half Shell, The Porch, and Frederica House on St. Simons and The Wharf on Jekyll Island. On the waterfront in Brunswick, you can order fresh-caught shrimp prepared fried, grilled, or blackened at Marshside Grill. Fiddlers on St. Simons serves up delicious local seafood with a marsh view,…

“COLLECT THINGS YOU LOVE, THAT ARE AUTHENTIC TO YOU, AND YOUR HOUSE BECOMES YOUR STORY.”—ERIN FLETT, DESIGNER…

As with any craft that can be mastered, the art of entertaining is marked by a wide range of minute details. Even the smallest vessel on the bar cart plays its part in making a get-together truly special. Knowing this, the seasoned hostess approaches any gathering with a wide repertoire of inspiration and knowledge to elevate her guests’ experience—from the finest colors and patterns adorning the table to the most delectable recipes and a range of tempting cocktails to whet appetites throughout the evening. If the occasion warrants formal splendor, you may start the night by offering an apéritif—a drink enjoyed before the meal to awaken the palate; often something dry or bitter, such as gin or vermouth. Similarly, after the final course is enjoyed and empty plates are whisked…

COVER See Natural Luxuries. SUPPER CLUB CELEBRATIONS Pages 23–24: Rose Medallion jars and vases; Stash Birmingham. Linen Scalloped Square napkin in Garden Green; Fenwick Fields. Cabbage ware bowls; Replacements, Ltd. NATURAL LUXURIES Pages 37–38: Garden District mural wallpaper; French Market Collection. Saltwater: Coastal Carolina by Faith Teasley; Saltwater Collection. Lotus block print pillow in mist and Glass balls; Linen & Sand. Santa Barbara bowl in matte white; Abigails. Marsh 1 by Jenny Westenhofer, 24x36 in bamboo frame and Opulent Heron, 8x10 in bamboo frame; Urban Garden Prints. Ella oyster shell tree; Renee Fabrikant. Pages 39–40: Cabo woven placemats in white, Handwoven napkin rings in shell, and Bobbin taper candleholder in wood; Serena & Lily. Dinner napkins; Mended. Grace gold dinner plate; Caskata. Chambray tile stoneware soup bowls and salad plates…