I wish I could do the proper Miss Gracious Living thing and send all of you a handwritten note (on pretty Smythson stationery, of course). Your letters, calls, emails, blog posts, and comments of support have lifted our spirits during the close of Southern Accents, and it has been comforting to know that the magazine has meant so much to so many over the years. 

The staff got together on the last day to share a few laughs, a few tears, and a lot of Champagne. And though the magazine comes to an end and most of the staff has now scattered (on to do great things, I know, as they are the best), our love of Southern style will most definitely endure. Thank you and we raise a virtual toast to all of you: May you always find life beautiful, entertaining, and gracious!

About a year ago, we tore out the bar in our downstairs den. It was the size of a Volkswagen Beetle and looked like it was straight out of Starsky and Hutch.  I had a plan and never imagined that we would still have a blank spot with plumbing pipes exposed. As seems to be my luck lately, the contractor disappeared, and before I could find a new one, my husband has proclaimed it a do-it-yourself project. Now that football season is drawing near, I'm afraid it will be a while before we embark. In the meantime, here are some ideas I'm thinking about.

DRAWERS INSTEAD OF CABINETS

I like the streamlined look of drawers. Plus they come in handy for storing platters and napkins and such. 

designed by Brewer Design Group, Charleston, SC. photograph by Erik Kvalsvik

Atlanta designer Patricia Paulk of Patricia Paulk Interiors had her drawers outfitted with peg board and removable pegs so she can customize them to fit her dishes. Love that idea. photo courtesy of Patricia Paulk

This one designated for knives was designed by architect Mark Maresca.

DISPLAY SPACE

Silver and glass stand out in the same custom piece designed by Mark Maresca.

The red painted shelves add a little drama. photographs by Erik Kvalsvik

JUST THE ESSENTIALS

Maybe a beautifully outfitted amoire is the way to go. The side shelves hold glasses, leaving the back free to hang a painting. photograph by Tria Giovan

PRETTY ACCESSORIES

Silver hunt cups look pretty, even when not filled with mint juleps. 

Southern Cocktails by Denise Gee (Chronicle Books, 2007). This is a fun little book to have on hand and to give as hostess gifts. Along with the great libations, Denise tells some entertaining tales about growing up in Natchez.

photographs by Robert M. Peacock

I can't tell you how much I dislike the word "classy." But it's impossible not to love everything else about Chanel's fabulous sense of style.

School is on the horizon for many, but summer is not quite gone yet, and there's still time for one more beach trip. I knew exactly where I wanted to go next when I saw these breathtaking pictures of a property in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. 

We recently wrapped up production of a reprint of our Bedrooms Special Edition, which first appeared in 2006. If you missed it back then, look for it on newsstands through September. 

As I was looking through all the photos, I noticed several that contained what can be a point of contention between husbands and wives, designers and clients: ceiling fans. While I agree that there are some hideous options out there (cheetah pattern anyone?)...

... I must admit, I find it very difficult to fall asleep without some sort of breeze blowing. I don't know if the designers of the following rooms ceded to their clients wishes against their own aesthetic preferences, but I think these examples show that you don't have to compromise looks for comfort. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Above: Designed by Amelia Handegan; photographed by Pieter Estersohn.

Above: Designed by Christy Ford; photographed by William Waldron

Above: Designed by Barry Dixon; photographed by Tria Giovan

Above: Designed by Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill; photographed by Pieter Estersohn

Above: Designed by Richard Keith Langham; photographed by William Waldron

Above: Designed by Kim Zimmerman; photographed by Pieter Estersohn

Above: Designed by Carolyn Malone; photographed by William Waldron

What do you think of ceiling fans? Any tips for how to do it right--or what not to do? Have you found one that that looks great? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Sky Terrace at New York's Hudson Hotel. Also the scene of one pleasant afternoon during my recent visit.

Swimming pools are somewhat of a rarity in Manhattan, which partially explains the exodus of city dwellers to The Hamptons on most summer weekends. And the pools that do exist are the super-exclusive, members-only deals. As a result, the big deal is the rooftop terrace–the New Yorker's answer to the back porch.  

While I was in the city last week for work, I stayed at a hotel with a "Sky Terrace" and I was completely converted. Who needs a pool when you can sprawl on a chaise lounge, swing in a hammock, and look cool leaning against a railing with the city skyline as a backdrop? Not to mention, you don't have to worry about the dreaded swimsuit dilemma.  Dozens of guests were happily soaking up the sun and tall pitchers of elderflower martinis and white mint lemonade (Note to self: Find this recipe). The setting was perfectly charming and I came home thinking about my favorite Southern spots that have beautiful terraces. Here are a few:

Veranda On Highland: This Birmingham restaurant is housed in a beautiful, historic home, dating back to the 1920s, with private dining rooms throughout. The largest of them is The Veranda Room, which spills out onto a terrace, with traditional iron outdoor furniture, overlooking Highland Avenue. Although it's not held on the terrace, I love their Sunday jazz brunch. For more information, visit www.verandaonhighland.com.

The Joule: This newer Dallas hotel has everyone looking up–to the rooftop.Yes, there's a pool there too, but I'd rather nestle into one of their orbit sofas or into a canopied deck chair and watch the sunset over Downtown Dallas. For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Oasis: This stylish boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende is on my wish list of places to visit, based alone on it's charm. It has a rooftop terrace with fountains, bistro chairs and tables for having a sunrise breakfast, and clay pots filled with colorful native flowers. It's quite dreamy. For more information, visit www.oasissanmiguel.com.

What's your favorite terrace in town?

I said I wouldn't be posting anything about weddings for awhile, but my mother sent me this video yesterday and I couldn't resist. This takes clapping in church to a whole new level!

Before the Mason jar: antique French bocals

photographed by Howard L. Puckett

Our current issue features an antiques story on collecting the old French jars that were used for preserving the fruits of summer's labor. Our friend Robert E. Smith shared a recipe for a rum raisin elixir in the magazine, and today he shares one for a summer aperitif:

Thanks, Robert!

It always makes me proud when a fellow Southerner, and especially a fellow Alabamian, gets recognized on a national level. Alabama Chanin, founded by stylist and costume designer Natalie Chanin in Florence, Alabama, has been named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award—a prestigious award whose past winners include Proenza Schouler, Doo Ri, Phillip Lim, and Thakoon. Chanin works with a team of local artisans to create handmade clothing and home accessories using new, organic, and recycled materials. The limited-edition products are available at AlabamaChanin.com, where you'll also find a selection of crafting supplies such as beads, fabrics, notions, stencils, and DIY kits. These are a few of my favorite things:

Spring Leaf Pillow with backstitched, reverse appliqué made of organic cotton

Large Candelabra made from found objects:

Lucille's Flour Sack Dress Quilt with yoyo flower appliqués and embroidered oral history from a quilter:

Best of luck, Alabama Chanin! Your work is lovely. Thank you for giving the South yet another reason to be proud. 

Up until now, my husband and I have focused on the interiors of our house, which makes sense considering that both my mom and my best friend are decorators, and of course, considering where I work. But this year, my husband and I are determined to create some curb appeal too. My husband spent the entire weekend covering our lawn with seeding soil and grass seed, only to have it all wash away during a torrential thunderstorm. The good news is that our driveway will be the greenest in the neighborhood. But I hope that we will soon have a lawn that looks like the ones below.

Having a diamond-shaped cutout around the base of your trees makes mowing much easier. 

All photos courtesy of Mary Palmer Dargan, from the July/August 2004 issue

I've written several posts on weddings lately . . . I promise this will be the last one for awhile.  But actually, it's a little about weddings, a little about decorating. I've held on to this quote from one of my favorite architects for some time now:

I remember Bobby's words every time I see pictures of a house that is swagged and jaboted to the hilt. I love beautiful, relatively simple curtains with a French pleat. When the fabric is gorgeous, it speaks for itself.

Now, if you're interested in more inspiration like the photo above, visit tackyweddings.com.

Simple white gardenias fill an unusual red tulip vase that Victoria Amory found at Devonshire on Worth Avenue. Photographed by Quentin Bacon.
 

I was invited to a friend’s house on Sunday for an impromptu dinner party. Stepping onto the porch, I almost lost my footing, not to mention the baguette I was toting. I was swept away by the intoxicating fragrance of her flowering gardenia bushes. What a gracious way to welcome guests into your home, I thought, by beginning in your front yard.

I can’t get enough of that light, sweet smell that clings to the humid Southern air. My neighbors have a gardenia bush that I, with permission, of course, will pluck a creamy-white bloom from and float in a shallow container on my nightstand. Thankfully the gardenia scent has been bottled. I have my eye on Annick Goutal’s Gardenia Passion.

 

Watching Sex and The City the movie after dinner that evening and for the umpteenth time, I zeroed in on Carrie’s bouquet. It’s cream and white blooms, included the unmistakable gardenia flower and their deep green leaves. Okay, never mind that the flowers ended up torn and crushed on a New York City street. With our recent posting about weddings, I think gardenia is a beautiful and fragrant choice for your big day, or just your backyard.

I was lucky enough to get an invitation to the lake this weekend. Just the thought of it has me building a fantasy lake place in my head. Here are the essentials:

A covered porch to enjoy some time away from the sun. Design: Jackye Lanham. Photograph: Tria Giovan

A pool would be divine if you just can't make it down to the lake. Design: Suzanne Kasler Photograph by Jeff McNamara.

A comfy couch to settle into and read. Design: Fiona Newell Weeks. Photograph: Antoine Bootz

Something to do in case it rains and you're all out of books to read. Design: Jackye Lanham. Photograph: Tria Giovan

A boat to tool around in. Photograph: Antoine Bootz

A table big enough for everyone to gather around. Design: Bill Ingram. Photograph: Antoine Bootz

Whether you're a professional designer or architect or a do-it-yourselfer, something you should always have close at hand is a camera. It can help in quite a few situations.

Taking "before" pictures. When I'm redoing something at home, I'm usually so impatient to bring in the new that I forget to document what the old looked like. At Southern Accents, that's actually a problem we run into frequently with remodeling stories. We know readers like to see before-and-after comparisions, and so do we. Even an in-progress shot is helpful. But so often those photos just don't exist. And once the project is finished, there's no going back to get them later. Even if you don't have editorial concerns, before and after shots can give you a great sense of accomplishment (and help you remember why you spent all that money). Be sure to take the before and after shots from the same vantage point; it makes it easier to compare the two later.

Our market editor, Amanda Smith, is getting married today. (I'm pretty sure no bouquet tossing or garter throwing will be involved). We wish many happy years together for Amanda and Les!

photo courtesy of Wildflower Designs