Your Favorite Pins of 2016

By Katherine Owen
December 09, 2016
Credit: Alison Miksch
From mouth-watering tomato recipes to colorful fall container gardens, Pinterest is a one-stop shop for brilliant, why-didn't-I-think-of-that ideas for all seasons (and spaces). Looking back on 2016, some of our favorite pins revolved around delectable recipes, like our strawberry lemonade layer cake, and lots of container gardens—everything from mums to terrariums. Plus, we can't forget our inspiration-stocked boards related to homes, style, travel, and everything holidays (of course!). Our absolute number-one pin this year was an easy–and instant–wow: spring blooms in large galvanized planters. We show you how to put popular plants like gerbera daisies, salvias, shasta daisies, daylilies, and sweet potato vines to work on your porch and garden. Keep them in their nursery pots, and display them in galvanized buckets on the porch until you are ready to plant them in the garden—double the use, half the effort. See the rest for yourself—there’s something for everyone. Check out our best pins of 2016, linked here for easy re-pinning. Get to pinning!
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Bargain Blooms

Take advantage of seasonal sales at your local nursery, and stock up on popular plants. Keep them in fun containers like these galvanized buckets until you're ready to plant them in the ground.

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Strawberry Dream Cake

Credit: Greg Dupree

We published this too-good-to-be-true strawberry cake back in May and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

See the Pin.

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The Porch Swing

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The entrance to our Nashville idea house is full of Southern design inspiration. This porch swing is just inviting people to come and sit-a-spell.

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Cozy Reading

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Wall sconces are a clever way to light up a tight space and are a subtle invitation to curl up with a book for a tranquil evening.

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Fall Containers

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

This one pin takes you to a whole roundup of containers for the fall season. Whether its containers filled with rich colors or a mumpkin, this gallery has all the inspiration you need.

See the Pin.

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The Open-Faced Tomato Sandwich

Credit: Alison Miksch

These savory sandwiches are great for a casual summer cocktail party. Just slice in half to make handling just a bit easier—especially if guests are also juggling a cocktail glass.

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Shiplap Bathroom

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Keeping the shiplap walls a subtle shade (Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore) doesn’t draw attention away from the beautiful millwork and natural logs.

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Clever Carvings

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Instead of carving a creepy or silly face, try a collection of patterned pumpkins to add Halloween cheer to your porch.

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Classic Container Arrangement

Credit: Alison Miksch

Spring porches are filled with color with these container gardens. Filled with bright pink and yellow zinnias, purple verbenas, and blue calibrachoas these containers are perfect for any front porch.

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A Bold Entrance

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

These grass green front doors work with both gold and silver hardware. Green symbolizes harmony and freshness.

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Layered for Fall

Credit: Helen Norman

Simplify front door decorating with a store-bought pinecone wreath. Give the wreath a personal touch with colorful leaves, fall flowers, and bittersweet.

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Strawberry-Lemonade

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

This Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake is almost too pretty to eat, and is super easy to whip up ahead of time.

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Barn Bash

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Plush eucalyptus garlands—punctuated with ruffly hydrangeas, misty roses, dusty miller, dahlias, and snowberries—cascade down the centers of the tables in a barn to make a brilliant impact for our 50th Anniversary celebreation.

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Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Serve this decadent dessert at your next ladies’ luncheon and wow the crowd with edible flowers.

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Timeless Outdoor Mantel

Credit: Helen Norman

You can never go wrong with timeless fall décor! Pump up your mantle with pumpkins, leaves, and gorgeous greenery.

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Lush Lady

Aaron' caladium, holly fern, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'White Nancy' lamium, ivy, and light pink periwinkle come together in this eye-catching window box arrangement.

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Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Who wouldn't want a bowl of a classic pie in ice-cream form?

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The Perfect Party Favor

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Send guests home with a souvenir that represents a slice of the South and gives them something they'll enjoy long after the party's over. We set out seedlings, bundled in burlap sacks, for guests to take home and plant for our 50th anniversary shindig.

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Ham-Biscuits

Yeast biscuits—also called angel or bride’s biscuits—hold together well, so they’re a good choice to serve at gatherings. The so-Southern combination of ham and biscuits is always a hit.

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Classic Colonial Makeover

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

With upgrades that included new windows and bluestone pavers, this home received a face-lift that has all the neighbors green with envy.

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King Ranch Chicken

Hailing from an era when casseroles were king, this Tex-Mex dish still reigns supreme at everything from family dinners to church suppers and neighborhood potlucks.

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Elegant Terrarium

This easy to maintain terrarium is perfect for keeping a little piece of your garden indoors all year round.

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Pretty Porches

The South has some of the prettiest porches around, like this one at Two Meeting Street Inn in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Mums and Pumpkins

Credit: Ralph Anderson

For a 5-minute fix, pile on the pumpkins, and nestle potted mums right into decorative containers. The mums will also pair well with boxwood, salvias, and ornamental cabbage and kale.

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Crowd-Pleasing Color

Credit: Hector M. Sanchez

People typically fall into two categories: blue lovers or green lovers. Make everyone happy with this pleasing shade that’s equal parts blue and equal parts green—Quarry (1342) by Pratt & Lambert.

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By Katherine Owen