Southern Home November/December 2021

The November/December issue is a special one for the Southern Home team. Not only are we thrilled to feature beautifully designed homes, but we also find extra joy in sharing the individual ways homeowners and designers deck their halls and trim their trees. From simple, timeless adornments like fresh garland and ribbon-clad wreaths to treasured collections and family heirlooms, there are endless, unique ways of displaying holiday cheer. It is our hope that you’ll find yourself curled up in a cozy space with a cup of coffee or tea as you learn more about each of these special homes. As you flip through these pages, you’ll travel to Alabama, where a designer dresses a glorious home on the lake and adds plenty of festivity (page 91). On page 63, a New…

Southern Home (SH): What was your aha moment when you knew you were destined to design? James Michael Howard (JMH): I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and always dreamed of moving to New York. I didn’t have a particular agenda, but I did have an interest in things related to architecture, furniture, and art. Despite my not-so-wonderful grades, I ended up in school at Parsons. I can remember my aha moment clearly. One of my professors, who was young but very wise, was explaining the difference between the English, French, and Italian Rococo periods, how the furniture shapes and legs, while related, were in fact quite different. It was in that moment when I thought, wow, this is pretty darn cool. From then on, the design bug had bitten me, and…

Revealing his talent for blending collections, family heirlooms, and contemporary art and accessories, interior designer Philip Mitchell creates environments that are bursting with personality, color, authenticity, and warmth. In his new book, Collected Interiors: Rooms That Tell a Story, Mitchell’s elegant style is on full display within the homes he features. Using antiques, vintage collectibles, contemporary pieces, and inherited furniture, the designer invites readers to embrace the modern maximalism approach he is known for. Beautiful photography showcases nine in-depth home tours that range from an elegant Upper East Side pied-à-terre to a classic cottage on the water in Nova Scotia. Mitchell also shares bits of his personal narrative throughout the text, inspires readers to blend new and old, mix colors and patterns, and fill their homes with their own eclectic mix.…

Complete with tried-and-true décor and design strategies for creating charming, timeless interiors, Phoebe Howard’s new book, The Principles of Pretty Rooms, celebrates the color palettes, fabrics, and special details that make rooms truly shine. Each chapter explores a range of inspiring examples within a variety of spaces. From townhomes and beach houses to country escapes and grand estates, Howard presents how-to advice for achieving each of her looks. Most of the featured projects have never been published, making this volume a priceless guide for all who dream of Howard’s signature style: interiors filled with light, easy elegance, and pretty details. “I wanted to divide the book into three sections: beach, city, and country,” says Howard. “I realized that while I was traveling all over the U.S. and doing all kinds of…

From the minds that make up the esteemed architecture firm Historical Concepts comes a volume featuring extraordinary homes rooted in tradition and enriched with a modern sensibility. In the new book, Visions of Home: Timeless Design, Modern Sensibility, author Andrew Cogar and the partners of Historical Concepts bring readers diverse projects from across America. These exotic locales include the Caribbean and Patagonia, and showcase beautifully photographed country estates, coastal retreats, and pastoral properties that weave together the classical principles of symmetry, scale, and proportion to create stylish and contemporary spaces. A multigenerational team of architects is extending the firm’s founding philosophy—expressing both timeless and inventive perspectives on design. Sophisticated interior decoration and stunning landscapes accompany the architecture, creating a harmonious sense of place. Through engaging stories that inform, Cogar shows how…