Comfortable Upholstery

“The way you live should come before the decor,” says Palm Beach, Florida, designer Mimi McMakin. Houston designer Carol Glasser concurs: “A table close enough for putting a drink down, something to put your feet on, light flooding in, and armloads of flowers brought in from the garden—these are keys to comfort in a Southern room.” Furniture placement is important too.

“Living rooms should be arranged for conversation, with several different seating areas,” says Phoebe. “Slipper chairs always work, and surprisingly, men like them too. They aren’t for football watching but for conversation and moving about the room easily.” Phoebe’s favorite slipper chair is from Lee Industries (#1560-01). For deeper seating, Cindy likes Lee’s #1077 chair with a dressmaker’s skirt and English arms, pictured.