Home Ideas for Southern Charm

Photo: Erica George Dines

Front Porch

No Southern home is complete without a wide front porch. Here, dog Copper joins Gaye and Mitch on the porch built on a stacked-stone base. In addition to the porch, the house’s exterior incorporates tapered columns and floor-to-ceiling windows like Gaye remembers from her grandfather’s childhood home in Georgia.

Trim and columns: AZEK; azek.com or 877-275-2935.
Siding: James Hardie; jameshardie.com or 888-542-7343.
Siding paint: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com or 800-474-3794.
Stone: Chardonnay (2012) by Owens Corning Cultured Stone; culturedstone.com or 800-255-1727.

Photo: Erica George Dines

Pine-Plank Walls

Shiplap, pine-plank walls in the entry provide a farmhouse feel and the background for a group of vintage botanical prints. An antique pine bench provides a convenient spot for the Drews’ daughter, L.A., to help granddaughter Mabry put her boots on.

Lantern: Star Glass Smokebell Lantern from Shades of Light; shadesoflight.com.
Bench: Antique from The Plantation Shop; 904-261-2030.
Pillow: Star Crewel by Pine Cone Hill (pineconehill.com), also available through The Cottage.
Framed artwork: For a similar look, try Panteek; panteek.com.
Rug: by Fibreworks.

Ideas for Southern Homes: Kitchen Cabinet Details

Photo: Erica George Dines

Details With Character

Gaye and granddaughter, Mabry Hanlon, make pancakes at the over-sized kitchen island. The inset cabinets and bin pulls add to the old-house aesthetic of the room. The Drews decided to splurge on details in the kitchen and family room because they knew that they would spend most of their time in that area.

Cabinet paint: White Dove (OC-17) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Cabinets and island: Quality Cabinets; qualitycabinets.com.
Pendant lights: Country Industrial Pendant from Sandy Chapman, available through Circa Lighting; circalighting.com.
Cafe curtain fabric: Giardino di Estate (34034-1) by Clarence House; clarencehouse.com.

Photo: Erica George Dines

A True Family Room

The easy flow between family room and kitchen is welcoming to all ages and offers plenty of room for their extended family, friends, and groups from church to gather. Mitch, here with his, daughter, L.A., and granddaughter, Briley, and Gaye, with their niece, Madeline Loeb, and grandchild, Mabry, agree this contiguous space is the heart of their house. The rooms also incorporate dark hardwood floors, and the family room features a coffered ceiling.

Floors: Hickory with custom stain, random width (starting at 5.5 inches).
Sofas: Ascot Sofa by Thomasville; thomasville.com.
Coffee table: Oak Pot Board coffee table from Beaman Antiques; beamanantiques.com.
Rug: Thin Ribbon Butter by Asha Carpets, available through Oasis Rugs; oasisrugs.com.

Ideas for Southern Homes: C. Ford Riley Local Art

Photo: Erica George Dines

Local Artwork

Jacksonville artist, C. Ford Riley, painted the scene of Florida live oaks above the family room cast-stone fireplace.

To view more of Riley’s wildlife and wildlife habitat art, such as this Mandarin Oaks painting, visit stellersgallery.com.

Photo: Erica George Dines

Transom Windows

A transom window, inset with hand-blown restoration glass, spans the family room doorway. The windows, which can be fixed or operable, serve the purpose of providing rooms with additional light and, if operable, ventilation. They are most prevalent over interior doorways, but are also seen in historical examples over exterior doors and windows.

The Drews’ transoms are fixed and feature handmade glass from Bendheim Restoration Glass (restorationglass.com), whose projects include The White House and Monticello. Using traditional methods, artisans create the mouthblown glass and then roll it out and cut it into sheets. In the process, random air bubbles are created, adding extra character to the panes.

Ceiling, door, and trim paint: White Dove (OC-17) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Photo: Erica George Dines

Oil Paintings

A portrait of Gaye’s late mother, Jacqueline Zetterower Houston, is a dining room focal point. “I got my sense of how to set a beautiful table from her,” Gaye reveals.

Drapery fabric: Luca (16339-005) by Scalamandré (scalamandre.com).
Chandelier: Venetian 9-Light 2-Tier chandelier by Eric Cohler, also available through Circa Lighting.
Fruit bowl and white dinner charger: Jardins du Monde collection by Juliska (juliska.com), available through My Favorite Things; shopmft.com.
Green glasses: Fiorella Large Goblet by Juliska, also available through My Favorite Things.

Photo: Erica George Dines

Family China

Gaye inherited the china, “Caribou” by Lenox, from her mother, and “Chantilly” flatware from her mother and grandmother.

Ideas for Southern Homes: Old and New Furniture Blend

Photo: Erica George Dines

Antique and New Furniture Blend

Gaye listened to her designer, Erika McPherson Powell, who steered her away from the belief that things had to match. Erika suggested Gaye buy from different vendors and shop with an eye toward mixing, not matching. Against a soft, serene palette, Erika created a blend of antique and new, family heirlooms and good catalog pieces. Gayle’s study is romantic and feminine with silk roman shades and touches of soft pink.

Interior Design: Urban Grace Interiors, Erika McPherson Powell; urbangraceinteriorsinc.com
Ottoman fabric: OD-Lilly in Pink (34328-6) by Clarence House (clarencehouse.com).
Framed prints: Ladies’ dress shoes of the 19th century from NYPL Digital Gallery; digitalgallery.nypl.org.
Hutches: Antique from Big Creek Antiques; 828-713-2844.

Photo: Erica George Dines

Repurposed Heirlooms

An old silver trophy serves as a vase in Gaye’s study and complements the Southern touch of her mother’s pink Caribbee china.

Roman shade fabric: Budapest (GDT3648001) by Gaston Y Daniela through by Brunschwig & Fils (brunschwig.com).

New House, Timeless Character

Front Porch

Pine-Plank Walls

Details With Character

A True Family Room

Local Artwork

Transom Windows

Oil Paintings

Family China

Antique and New Furniture Blend

Repurposed Heirlooms