Meet four more Southern influencers changing the look and feel of our homes and neighborhoods.
Best Community Developer: Bob Turner
Habersham
habershamsc.com
The number of reasons to move to Habersham (a new urban village in Beaufort, South Carolina) is too long to list, but highlights include a waterfront pavilion, 50 acres of greenways and parks, and a community garden. With living options such as cottages, town houses, live/work spaces, and larger homes, its residents experience an incomparable sense of community. “One of the most important aspects of this concept is diversity of housing types,” explains Bob Turner, who helms the 250-acre development that’s dotted with 425 homes and nearly 300 additional lots sold.
Best Design Blog: Camille Styles
A former event planner, Camille Styles weaves the thread of wellness through every lifestyle category (food, fashion, beauty, entertaining, and interiors) featured on her eponymous blog, which gets more than 3 million monthly views. It’s clear that Styles’ ethos—feeling good about your decorating and entertaining choices—has struck a chord with her audience. The dream post for Austin, Texas-based Styles? “I would love to do an ‘Entertaining With’ profile on Prince William and Kate,” she says. What’s up next? Styles is throwing herself into video posts. “I’m so excited to be adding this element to the site,” she says.
Best Custom Builder: Jeff Sanderson
Whitney Blair Custom Homes
whitneyblaire.com
Timeless is the byword of North Carolina-based firm Whitney Blair. It distinguishes itself by using an integrated approach: In-house custom construction, residential design, and interior design services make every project seamless. Specializing in “new old” houses, Sanderson takes the long view on each home’s lifespan. He’s particularly proud of a recently completed home that remains true to the vernacular of its location on Bald Head Island in North Carolina. “It exemplifies what the company does best,” says Sanderson. With over 400 homes completed, he has 30 more on the way.
Best Up-and-Coming Designer: Allison Hennessy
“Keep it pretty,” insists Allison Hennessy. That’s what she took to heart after apprenticing for fellow Southern decorator Phoebe Howard. And it also informs Hennessy’s design style, which she describes as streamlined traditional. “Comfort and ease are my favorite hallmarks of Southern living,” she says. “Every design selection I make is intended to lure people into lingering.” With a burgeoning list of clients nationwide (she’s hopscotched from Florida to the Northeast to California), she’s now back in Atlanta and is excited to expand her portfolio beyond residential and take on commercial projects.
