Southern Lady Jan/Feb - Southern Style Spring 2019

In early March 2016, with winter’s chill holding strong, an Ohio family was determined to escape the cold in favor of more temperate climes in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Arriving in their new surrounds with little more than their suitcases, the transplants immediately teamed up with acclaimed designer Krista Watterworth Alterman of Krista + Home to infuse their abode with an authentic sense of place that remains true to who they are. “The vision for this home was a warm, coastal vibe,” Krista says. “I like a home to feel like it’s already been lived in, even though everything is brand-new. I also wanted to help this family embrace their new location and lifestyle.” Taking advantage of their clean slate, the family embarked on a new construction in the emergent Alton neighborhood,…

Over the years, Tasia Malakasis has solicited help from her close friend, acclaimed designer Beverly Farrington, for countless decorating endeavors—whether simple room updates or elaborate home renovations. So, there was no question whom she’d ask to help when she built a brand-new house. “I always call Beverly when I want to redo a room,” says Tasia, an artisan cheesemaker and the president of Alabama-based Belle Chevre. As one design project led to another, Tasia became fast friends with Beverly, who heads the celebrated firm Accents of the South. The two businesswomen were kindred spirits with a passion for cooking and entertaining, and their bond only strengthened as they each found themselves at personal crossroads: Beverly was recently widowed; Tasia was newly divorced. Tasia also had purchased her company, and was embarking…

When Sarah and Hiliary Henderson decided it was time to move their growing family to a new dwelling, the husband-and-wife duo combined their skillsets to create an abode with imaginative flair that would suit their lifestyle in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Hiliary, who works in multifamily residential development, managed the building phase, while Sarah, an artist who also dabbles in interior design, took charge of decorating the home to reflect an au courant yet relaxed sensibility. “I wanted a home that was easy and comfortable for my family to live in and enjoy,” she says. “We have a lot of family in the area and wanted a nice flow for entertaining. We plan on this being our home for a long time.” Sarah worked to fill the house with adeptly layered elements, and…

In 21 years of marriage, Lisa and Tommy Broadhead have lived in 10 houses. As their family grew and Tommy’s career allowed it, the couple eventually felt drawn to spread permanent roots in Fairhope, Alabama, a charming town on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay known for its leisurely pace, harbor views, and watercolor sunsets. While the Broadheads and their four children can enjoy that view just by walking to the end of their street, life is anything but slow for this family on the go. Lisa traded a career in pharmaceutical sales for motherhood, seizing upon the extra time at home with her little ones to hone her penchant for decorating and design. Encouraged by her husband to pursue her passion, Lisa saw each move as a new project, another…

After a decade of enjoying their vacation home on 140 acres of verdant working farmland in South Carolina, Leslie and Bob Harris decided to make a permanent move to their peaceful haven—but not without substantial fine-tuning to suit Leslie’s clear, creative vision. It all started in 2000, after stumbling upon the house for sale while visiting Bob’s hometown of Indian Land. They purchased it on the spot, bringing the property that had belonged to his great-grandfather—and subsequent generations—back into the family. Situated on a road named for Bob’s grandfather, the farm had been sold in the ’90s to another family who replaced the existing home with a quaint farmhouse. For 10 years, the property served as a weekend getaway for Bob, Leslie, and their six children. When the couple made it their…

When an empty-nester couple decided to build near relatives on a sprawling family parcel, they called upon interior designer Melanie Martin to meet the challenge. Melanie, in turn, called upon her “dream team.” “If I can dream it up, they can make it happen,” says Melanie of architect Sted McCollough and contractor Chad Loper, both based in Orange Beach, Alabama. Together, they constructed three complementary stucco-and-stone houses on the family’s bayfront property in nearby Josephine—but with entirely dissimilar interiors. For this particular home, Melanie, Sted, and Chad collaborated to give the owners and their college-bound children a tailor-made abode that reflects their elevated taste and penchant for modern luxuries. They started in the kitchen, which features a spectacular white onyx hood vent cover. In one of two sleek islands, a versatile and…