Southern Lady Spring In The South 2015

Few things are as lovely as watching the world transform during the change in seasons. From cold and bare winter to sunny and abundant springtime, the earth rejoices in nature’s colorful showcase filled with signs of new life—and so do we. In this special issue, we decided to take time to stop and smell the roses, both literally and figuratively. Often our focus remains on the busyness of the day, and it prevents us from seeing the beauty that’s on display all around us: a grouping of buds on the verge of blossoming, a tiny hummingbird darting ever so playfully in search of a treat, tree branches stretching wide with new leaves rustling lightly in the breeze, children laughing as they play games in the bright sunshine, and the list goes…

When jet-setting career woman Dee Kellogg and her husband started considering where to retire, her thoughts immediately turned to Eufaula, Alabama. Even after years spent crisscrossing the globe and experiencing the finest and most fabulous places in the world, the Birmingham native never forgot her middle school field trip to this charming, historic town. “I just fell in love with it from the time I was 13 years old,” she says. “So we came here, and we looked at several historical homes that were in trouble. They were in very bad decay; they needed love— and quick.” The home they purchased, the Russell home, was in particularly poor condition because of a years-long roof leak. What followed was three years of an intense restoration process. “We lived in one room of…

For the Piots—a family of five—home has always been a place to gather and celebrate with friends and loved ones. “My husband and I entertain our friends and neighbors casually and frequently, and our kids, Lauren (18), Allison (16), and Will (14) have their friends over all the time as well,” says Susan. “We wanted a casually elegant space that was welcoming and not so formal or fancy that you don’t feel like you should use it regularly,” she says. She partnered with Dallas-based interior designer Amy Gibbs to create the perfect look. Amy paired classically elegant furnishings with spectacular accent pieces to create an effect that Susan describes as “bright, updated country French.” The abundance of natural window light sparkles across mirrors and gilt accent pieces, creating a more laid-back…

Potted Planting CREATE A MOVEABLE FEAST FOR THE SENSES WITH COLORFUL CONTAINERS. CHOOSE A CONTAINER Options abound—iron, ceramic, terra-cotta, plastic, concrete, or foam will work just fine—and an eclectic collection can be unified with paint. Remember, a fresh coat of a cheerful color can revive even the saddest of pots. PLAY WITH PLANTS Gardeners adhere to the “thrillers, spillers, and fillers” theory of container design, and it’s easy to follow. Choose thrillers (tall, eye-catching plants) for the center of the pot, spillers (trailing plants) to cascade down the sides, and fillers (prolific growers) to fill in the spaces between. EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT Consider growing cabbages, kale, and other salad greens alongside flowering annuals. Another delicious option is a mini herb garden—rosemary, oregano, thyme, and chives all do well in containers. You’ll have all the ingredients for a healthy…