I recently received a beautiful handwritten note from a friend. A few days later I received a follow-up e-mail that went something like this:

The top selling dress from Eden Blake Spring 2009 Collection

I often catch myself ogling beautiful window treatments or a sofa thinking to myself how fabulous the fabrics would look in another life as ready to wear–a pencil skirt or a tailored jacket perhaps. Luckily, South Carolina designer Heather Menzie Gressette agrees.

Eden Blake Spring 2009 Collection

A few years ago, Gressette launched her own clothing line Eden Blake, which features bold color and borrowed from the country club prints on sophisticated silhouettes. The former boutique owner has even dressed the likes of fellow southerners such as Andie MacDowell and Kristin Davis. “To me there’s no line between home decorating and clothing fabrics–I mix them back and forth constantly,” says Gressette who often uses decorator’s fabrics. “For my spring collection, I use some beautiful brightly colored damask with the green and white and orange and white toile de jouy.”

There are a few things that have me thinking more than usual about my own home right now, aside from the economy (or maybe because of it), and I've been looking to issues past for a little inspiration. Here they are . . .
Color You Need Now

Boxwood Green. I loved that color when it ran in our September/October 2007 issue and worried it would feel too winter come spring and summer. But with the right white accents, I've decided to transform my dining room.

From Color You Need Now, Boxwood Green. September-October 2007. Room by Daniel Romualdez. Photographed by François Halard.

Decorating/ Bookshelves
Dallas designer Charlie Birdsong's advice about arranging bookshelves in our March/April issiue got me thinking.  I have tons of books, but they are not all good books. So I donated the blah books, rediscovered my favorite art and decorating volumes, and totally re-configured. The result is much cleaner and more edited and interesting.

House of Patrick Dunne. March-April 2009 Southern Accents. Photographed by Simon Upton. I do not have that many bookshelves or interesting books, but the shelves are stacked full. 

Gardening/ Outdoor Living
This is the season to photograph gardens for next year. And we are in the midst of putting to bed stories on Outdoor Living for our July/August issue. I love the designer and landscape advice I'm reading, the gardens I'm seeing. Our market editor Amanda Smith is pulling together the latest outdoor fabrics for the issue also. So I may create new cushions for my outdoor outdoor chairs. And I will finally address the mottled slope below the fence surrounding our house. Its tough to mow, the weeds love it, and I have looked away long enough.

Last week I had the good fortune to find myself at a flea market. Rather than wander aimlessly, I set about hunting high and low for blue-and-white ginger jars, inspired by some of the lovely photos posted on one of my favorite design blogs, Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautiful Things.

Anna, an Australian, loves fresh flowers even more than I, and her appreciation for blue-and-white wares reminded me of a story from our archives— a tablesetting story featuring contributing editor Peggy Sewell's amazing collection:

 
Southern Accents
January-February 2006
photographed by Ka Yeung

Shown above is a genuine treasure: the famed Hatcher trove of porcelain that was recovered from a shipwreck after eons under the sea.

Obviously, my flea market finds were not anywhere near as fine as the china shown here. But the three ginger jars I turned up couldn't be more cheerful. My garden's peonies and hydrangeas may be just contemplating a return, but I'll be ready once they're here.

Here's another photo of Peggy's amazing wares:

 

In the story, writer Rebecca Hawkins quotes Peggy as saying: "When I'm traveling, I always look for something unusual, like a tulipiere or an interesting teapot."

Now that I think about it, I was slightly further afield that day as well. Could it be that blue-and-white china, like travel itself, takes us out of the mundane and serves as a reminder of the great wealth of diversity in the wide, wide world? Is that why these patterns charm so many of us—young and old, modern and traditional? I'm not quite sure, but mine will always remind me of a sunny day in an old town, hunting and gathering for the fun of it, and inspired by an Australian designer with a penchant for flowers and beautiful things.

I'm a mess most of the time. My closets are overflowing, and I just can't seem to get around to doing anything about it. The thought is: I'll get back into those two-sizes-too-small pants, and the clearance rack red dress really is my color. So if you have a look at my closet, you'd generally be appalled. Hallie Marshall, one of our talented graphic designers finally inspired me and the rest of the staff to go through our things for a worthy cause. We each brought in gently worn (or in the case of the red dress, never worn) business attire and donated it to our local YWCA. The program, called My Sister's Closet, helps women in need find appropriate clothes for job interviews. Knowing they were going to a good cause was all the motivation I needed.

While I'm in a charitable mood, I thought I'd share a book that came across my desk this week. Charlotte Designs, produced by the Charlotte chapter of the Interior Design Society in conjunction with Dewoolfson Linens, highlights work from members of the Charlotte design community, as well as offers tips on wallpaper, paint, bedding essentials, and even construction and electrical work. Proceeds from the book benefit the Charlotte Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. If you're in the Charlotte area, pick up a copy at the Habitat ReStore at 1133 Wendover Road or Closet & Storage Concepts, 635 Pressley Road Suite N.

I love Etsy.com. I could (and occasionally do) spend hours clicking through page after page of people's handmade crafts and vintage findings. I especially appreciate crafts that make artful use of salvaged materials. Here are some of my latest finds, all made from vintage paper and books. 

Courtney Barnes, aka Style Court, has been blogging from Atlanta for almost three years now. We simply love her style--she's steeped in tradition, but firmly on top of today's trends and sensibilities. She has a passion for history, antiques, art, and promoting good design, and you can find her musing daily on everything from chinoiserie to gift wrap ideas to the latest fabric introductions. "I love getting a designer or friend to share how they enjoying using their home, their funny traditions, and such," she says. "But I'm usually not satisfied until I sneak in a link to a museum or some other educational tidbit." Courtney's incredible kindness makes her a favorite among her fellow bloggers (she's always quick with a thoughtful comment) and a pleasure to work with, as we've discovered through the writing assignments she has taken on for Southern Accents. See what she has to say about gracious living:

Courtney Barnes

I define gracious living as . . ."The house always smells delicious." That is a description I once read about Kentucky-born artist Elliott Puckette's home. To me it conveys true luxury. I have no idea what kind of kitchen countertops she has, or how expensive her range was, but if the house is filled with the aromas of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread made to share with children and friends, that's living well. It's all about appreciating small pleasures, using your things, and treating others kindly.

No Southern home should be without . . . I want to say a magnolia tree (so many opportunities for using the flowers and beautiful dark green leaves inside) but I actually don't have one.  Ideally we should all have camellias--even just potted camellias on a tiny patio--because fresh cut flowers are another big part of gracious living.

I make guests in my home feel welcome with . . . Hopefully, first with a smile. I think my grandparents were much better hosts. They were always prepared for anyone who dropped by--plenty of small bites to offer, well-stocked bar, warm conversation. So, I'm trying to remember everything they did effortlessly.

My favorite hostess gift to give . . . Julia Reed's "Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life (with Recipes)." Soon it will be available in paperback.

Editor's note: It's purely a coincidence, but Julia Reed also happens to be a regular food and entertaining contributor for Southern Accents. If you want to read an excerpt from her cookbook, click here. 

My favorite homemade hostess gift . . . My friend Laura makes the best mini pound cakes I've ever tasted (her mom's secret recipe). They are easy to transport and she presents them really simply with a tag that reads "from Laura's kitchen." Giving a bag of pecans with a family recipe for chocolate pecan pie (and a little bottle of bourbon) is always a great idea if you didn't inherit your grandmother's baking skills.

The key to a successful party is . . . I'm embarrassed to say I went through a phase when I focused on all sorts of creative projects inspired by a certain lifestyle guru. Now I'm a big believer in all the old school stuff: ambiance from simple candles or lanterns; flowers that don't give guests a headache, straightforward food that tastes great; good music; and a relaxed happy hostess.

My music playlist for a dinner party . . .  Some of my all-time favorite songs include Etta James' "At Last," and Nina Simone's "Here Comes the Sun." So these days a good trick for lazy girls is just to type Etta James in the iTunes search bar and hit the "genius" button. I get an instant suggested playlist and a great way to discover "new" old songs. I think the music that grew out of our region is just great, whether it's jazz or Johnny Cash or rock. Mixing older songs with contemporary, and a nice balance of high energy with soft, is another good approach for parties. Having said that, if I have a friend around who is much more of a music buff, it's nice to put him/her in charge of the tunes for the night.

What really drives me crazy about the lack of manners today . . . Good manners shouldn't be so difficult. Fundamentally they are about consideration for others. If you grasp that, you instinctively know when not to talk on your cell phone. I also think irreverence is overly celebrated. Being outspoken and snarky isn't necessarily being witty.

The last time I wanted the etiquette police to make an arrest . . . When I heard the "I lead such a hectic life" excuse used for not acknowledging a gift. More and more, I hear perfectly healthy people with few responsibilities aside from their dog claim they are too busy for thank you notes. (Even thank you emails!)

Editor's note: Courtney and I share a love of stationery, though she is much more artistic than I and makes her own with beautiful supplies from Paper Source. I know first-hand that she never forgets to write a thank you note!

The most gracious person I encountered this past week . . . Well, I have to go back a month or two. A design "celebrity" took time to correspond directly with me rather than have his assistant do everything. I was so impressed by his lack of pretense. He was very generous with his knowledge too, and I think that is the essence of being gracious.

Style Court's banner illustration by Anne Harwell; photo of Courtney Barnes by Steve Pomberg; photo of camellia by Erica George Dines; table setting photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner; stationery courtesy of Courtney Barnes.

I'm fortunate to get to travel to London once a year or so for work and it's one of my favorite cities in the world. One of my must-stop boutiques is always Designers Guild on Kings Road.

 

The owner, Tricia Guild, is a master with color and pattern, and I'm always drawn to the shop's fabulous windows and room sets. The fabrics are still to-the-trade only in the U.S., but they've just opened an online store, where they're selling their linens, room fragrances, and other accessories.

I picked up a peony candle the last time I was in the shop and can't wait to order another -- it is definitely the scent for Spring!

photographs courtesy of Designers Guild

I’m always curious about the books that people have in their homes. But before I can make out the titles on the spine, I take note of how the books themselves are displayed. Whether they’re arranged in artful stacks on a nightstand or on the floor, tucked into shelves lined up vertically or horizontally, or even flipped open to a favorite page on the coffee table, I think a well-displayed collection of books is truly a decorative element to a room.

Elaine Griffin's New York apartment with stylishly stacked books photographed by William Waldron for Southern Accents July-August 2006

I also think that Elaine Griffin, New York interior designer and author of Design Rules (Viking Fall 2009), is one of the best at integrating books into design. “My husband and I are both super bookish, so the hardest part of our marriage was not combining our closets, it was combining our library,” says Griffin. Here are 7 of her “Rules” for displaying your books:

1. No room is really complete without books. Even if you don’t read them, fake it because they add color, they add detail, they add interest, and they make you look smart and cultured.

2. Stack them up. With overflow books, we’re going to stylishly and neatly stack those up on the floor along the wall or below a window. If you arrange them neatly in little vertical stacks, they become a piece of furniture. I just like them as visual space holders.

3. You always want coffee table books on your coffee table. But don’t get carried away. It is not the book depository. You want several stacks and alternate them so you have some that can be read from each side of the room you’re seated.

photographed by Robbie Caponetto for our March/April 2006 issue

I recently read a news article that said handwriting is slowly dying out in this technological age. The author surmised that within the next century, only expert historians will be able to read our writing. For some of us, that is already the case (my husband a prime example). While in some cases, typed communication may be better (think how many medication errors would be avoided if a pharmacist didn’t have to decipher a doctor’s script), it is still refreshing to discover a handwritten letter in the mailbox. I don’t believe that I’ve kept a single e-mail or text message someone has sent me, but I have several letters from my grandmother and my husband that I keep in a treasured place. 

An entire field exists to study handwriting and determine what your handwriting says about you, and e-mailed notes cannot provide the same insight. I, for one, hope that handwritten letters will continue to live on, even if they are not as prevalent as they once were. If you’d like to revive your own handwriting skills, check out some of my favorite stationery below.

Duane Park Flat Notes by Blue Ribbon Design

And if you like being green, check out delphine. They use recycled cover stock for their note cards, and their envelope paper is made by a mill powered by water. I love their Garden Flowers note card set, and it's ideal for spring.

Courtesy of delphine

I love wine, though I am by no means a connoisseur. I'm obsessed with typography and packaging, though I'm definitely not an art director (I'm sure our art department wishes I would quit trying to be one). Last week, at girls' supper club at my house, one of my friends brought this bottle of white wine (Blanc 2007) from a small vineyard in Provence:

I don't get in to Valentine's Day. I'm not anti-Valentine's; I don't wear black like some people I've known. But I usually forget to wear pink, and as a rule, I don't give Valentine's cards or gifts. However, something about St. Patrick's Day appeals to me. Perhaps it's the color. It wasn't hard to remember to wear my Kelly green cardigan. And it wasn't difficult to remember several rooms from our recent history that celebrate spring green. These are my favorites:

We are in the midst of March and have had a few glimmers of glorious Spring in the South. But mostly, this month has been a bit chilly and rainy in Birmingham. Not a bad thing when you remember the drought of last year, but I am ready for the cherry blossoms tree and tulips and strawberries. I buy strawberries at the grocery store often--whenever there is a special--in search of a taste of spring.  I used to pick them at Dempsey Farms in St. Helena, South Carolina, over spring break when I visited family at Fripp Island. In our May/June issue, we share a Slow Food luncheon with Birmingham chef Frank Stitt at an organic u-pick farm. Just looking at the pages has me searching for the season's finest fruit. It seems I'm about a month early to pick strawberries, but the anticipation will keep me going. Until then, I'll order a few fraise de bois from White Flower Farm and see what happens.

A Strawberry Parfait from myrecipes.com
Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner. Styling by Melanie J. Clarke

With spring around the corner, I have the urge to lighten up. Yes, as Alison posted last week, there's something to be said for a dark and cozy bedroom, but a light and airy living space like the one shown here, designed by Gerri Bremermann, seems so refreshing. Just looking at it puts me in a happy, relaxed mood. I'm going to pretend, just for a moment, that my black-haired dog doesn't shed hair like the Dow sheds points and imagine myself propped on the pink pillows and enjoying a book.

The symmetrical arrangement on the mantel focuses your eye on the ornate cyrstal mirror, which in turn doubles the glam quotient by reflecting the chandelier. 

I could get lost in this wall-size painting by Nicole Charbonnet. It's like bringing a trip to the beach home with you. White upholstery isn't in my near future, but perhaps a coat or two of white on the walls will breathe new life into my living room. What are you doing this spring to lighten up?

Photographs: Tria Giovan

I like my handbags big. When I have to carry a clutch for the evening, I’m literally frozen into a stupor of deciding who stays (Laura Mercier lip gloss, iPhone, cash) and who must go (emergency flashlight, bottle of water, book). So it surprised me when I fell in love with Rebecca Minkoff’s collection of diminutive "handbags posing as clutches posing as pouches."

I can’t wait to bop into the farmer’s market this spring with my Ostrich Pouch under arm and then carry my Neon Kerry to dinner at my favorite outdoor bistro. The designs are undeniably simple, chic...and compact.

On her website, Minkoff writes that a client keeps three Cory pouches in your handbag at all times: one for credit cards and cash, one for lipstick, and one for…wait for it…emergency thank you notes! Whether this is gracious living or handbag OCD, I love the notion of reaching into my oversized handbag and finding order instead of a wad of old receipts and hair bands.

What pretty little things are you coveting right now?

More people are entertaining at home now, and with spring around the corner, what better time to host a party for women only? Recently, I pulled out my fine china and crystal for a night of wine, cheese, and conversation with my closest friends and family. With an elegant table setting and creative decorations, you can create the feel of a winery in your own home.

photographed by Quentin Bacon for our March/April 2008 issue

We had a great time and discovered some divine cheeses along the way. Here are some of our favorites:

Port Salut (my favorite; goes well with Champagne)

Image from www.pdphoto.org

Gourmandise with walnuts

Image from www.recipetips.com

We then topped the night off with coffee and, what else, cheesecake! 5 Star Foodie recently paired a chocolate cheese with an ice wine. While I’ve never had either, I will definitely try that pairing next! What are your favorite wine and cheese pairings?

No Southern home should be without . . . fresh flowers, polished silver, candles, chilled white wine, the usual, of course. But also a good air conditioner in the summer. Once, ours went on the brink in the middle of a dinner party and the night was an utter disaster!  You must have good a/c in the south!

 

photo by Quentin Bacon

I make guests in my home welcome by . . . serving wine in beautiful crystal, having the tables set with flowers, using china and silver, and no plastic anything, ever! To me, entertaining with your finest means entertaining with your prettiest, and nothing is more gracious than having guests walk into your softly lit home with quiet music in the background, fresh flowers about, and ironed tablecloths and cloth napkins. I like my guests to notice the ambiance I've created--it tells them I've gone the extra mile for them and that they matter to me.

When having a dinner party at home, Joni prefers leaving the cooking to the professionals. Photo by Quentin Bacon

The key to a successful party is . . . a good caterer and someone to help clean up! Unless you really know how to cook well, why not give your guests something wonderful to eat, just as they would have in a fine restaurant. I'm sensitive to this subject because I am not the best cook, I would rather concentrate on my tablesettings and the centerpieces rather than food. It's not relaxing cooking while your guests are there. Plus, it's so nerve wracking worrying about the food being hot and clearing the dishes for dessert while you are in the middle of a conversation. To me, another key is NOT having the kitchen become a guest at the party! Whatever happened to houses where the kitchen was hidden? What's so glamorous about dirty dishes and a hot stove? I don't understand why we abandoned the separation of dining and cooking in our homes. My kitchen is open to the family room and if I could change one thing I would close it off.

Soft lighting instantly flatters every guest. Photo by J. Savage Gibson

My no-fail entertaining secret . . . dimmers! Bright lights spoil the mood. Soft lighting is so much more romantic. Unfortunately, most people don't agree with me and insist on blazing their overheads in every room. Another tip--don't forget the back patio. Use twinkling strings of lights outside--it's another touch that adds to the atmosphere. Burn some tiki lights--they are so festive. Dancing flames are mood enhancers. If you have a fire pit outside, light it. I love being inside a home and looking out the windows and seeing lights glowing; otherwise, it's just a boring black hole.

What really drives me crazy about the lack of manners today . . . the usual--loud conversations on cell phones and also eating while on the telephone! So much of our lives today are spent online, emailing each other, texting . . . there is still a need for manners in our high-tech lives. When writing a personal email, pretend it's a letter--sign off with a "take care" or "have a great weekend." Don't barrage people with instant messages on the computer. Technology has really pushed manners out of our lives.

An arrangement of cymbidium orchids; photo by Erica George Dines

The most gracious person I encountered this week . . . my husband. He was raised with the best manners and is such a considerate and caring person. It was our 21st anniversary and he sent me a beautiful orchid with a personal note. There is still something so exciting and romantic about receiving unexpected flowers at the front door. Even my teenage daughter is beginning to realize this. Her boyfriend sends her a dozen roses, once a month, on their anniversary. Someone taught him well!

Everyone I know complains about a lack of storage. Here's the china closet of my dreams: