Southern Home November/December 2022

Holiday cheer As another exciting year comes to a close and the holiday season quickly approaches, we often find ourselves reflecting on days gone by while also looking forward to what’s yet to come. Nostalgia finds us around every corner as we unpack decorations, make travel plans, and dream of menus, gatherings, and much-needed time spent with loved ones. Our November/December issue is a special one—it is not only filled with gloriously designed interiors, but those interiors have been given the extra special flair and personality that only holiday décor can bring. Holiday cheer is abundant as you peruse these pages, and we hope you’ll find inspiration, comfort, and joy as you learn more about the talented designers, architects, and homeowners that brought these beautiful abodes to life. On page 33,…

1 TULIP CANDELABRA BY ALESSANDRA BRANCA; a modern twist on a classic, handmade with a glossy finish; 2 sizes; small, 9"H x 9.5"W x 3"D; medium, 12"H x 11"W x 3"D; $425, $515; casabranca.com 2 FIG & DOVE STOCKINGS BY BAUBLE STOCKINGS; hand-stitched and heirloom quality to offer a meaningful tradition perfect for everyone on your list; 6" x 4"; $85; baublestockings.com 3 MODERN GINGER JAR BY BRIDGMAN POTTERY; a fresh interpretation of a classic, handmade and food safe; 4-4.5"H x 4"W and 6-6.5"H x 5"W; $48, $98; bridgmanpottery.com 4 LA PETITE GRACIE BY CHRISTIAN LADD HOME; individually hand-painted by a Gracie Studio artist and hand-stamped for authenticity; 18"W x 22"L, sold unframed; $420; christianladdhome.com 5 LILY STEMS FIREPLACE SCREEN BY CLAIRE CROWE; individually formed leaves of forged iron add a sophisticated element to…

Southern Home (SH): What is your earliest memory of beauty? Ashley Gilbreath (AG): I grew up in Baton Rouge, and my parents still live in the same house. My mom didn’t work with a designer, and it was by no means perfectly done, but she had pieces inherited from family and could tell you the story behind almost everything. To this day she has a wonderful way of making sure anyone who walks in that house feels like the most important person on the planet. There’s always something to eat on the table or kitchen counter and a flower by the bed. Now in my own work, it’s as much about creating a feeling as it is designing a beautiful environment. We get to do this little life one time. Why…

Nature has inspired a whole host of ceramic curiosities, from plates which imitate cabbage leaves to serving pieces that look like scallop shells. There is one style, however, whose natural inspiration could be said to be even more deeply ingrained, and that is ceramicware that gives the impression of marble. Historically, a variety of methods have been developed to give ceramics a marbleized appearance, including glazes and painted finishes. But one of the most creative, if not complex, techniques is that which involves the use of different colored clays to mimic marble’s intrinsic veining, a process that dates back to ancient China and was later resurrected by the Staffordshire potteries in England. Believed to be introduced by Dr. Thomas Wedgwood around 1730 but most closely associated with the prominent Staffordshire potter…

Known for designing elegant and serene interiors that are always comfortable and welcoming, Atlanta-based interior designer Suzanne Kasler presents her lavishly illustrated new volume, Edited Style. Join Kasler as she creates chic, approachable interiors that appeal to both connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike and shows off her most recent work that further establishes her as one of the industry’s leading style makers. Her spaces exude elegance while blending colorful and neutral palettes and mixing contemporary furnishings with antiques. Starting with the redesign of her celebrated Regency-style home, the featured projects range from family-oriented houses and casual beach and mountain retreats to inviting country getaways. Kasler offers reflections on such topics as fresh ways to make guests feel welcome, living with art and collections, and much more. Providing a wealth of original design…

When writer and stylist Margaret Zainey Roux started decorating her family’s 1903 uptown New Orleans Victorian, she took cues from her day job and set about creating a design narrative. “As a writer, I’m always looking for a good story,” she says. “I often wonder about the tales that would be told if these walls could talk. This structure has experienced a whole lot in its lifetime, and to me, that is something to respect and celebrate.” Located steps away from Audubon Park, the house had been renovated and adapted over the years, but each generation of owners kept the architectural integrity intact. The floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors, plaster medallions, and intricate moldings and millwork still shine 119 years later. While Roux looked to those intrinsic assets, she didn’t take a…