9 Undeniably Southern Home Ideas

By Robert Martin
February 23, 2009
Any of these elements will make your home undeniably Southern. Pick the ones that work for you.
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Furniture and Furniture Arrangements

Read more about this oh-so Southern home.

Mix and match for a comfortable, well-appointed room. A judicious use of antiques adds some formality to this space―but not so much that it feels uninviting. Also, comfortable furnishings grouped together within the room, not against the walls, encourage use of every square foot.

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Ceilings

Give this surface some attention too. Although the great room is one large, open space, a coffered ceiling designates the living and dining areas. Some beams are supported by pilasters on the rear wall. This millwork assembly brings the order and rhythm established on the ceiling all the way to the floor.

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Trimwork and Molding

Emphasize walls and important features of a room. Large expanses of wallspace are always hard to decorate. A combination of flat boards and trim enhance the area.

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Walls

Use materials that are indigenous to the area. Cypress boards that are butted together line most of the interior walls, lending a subtle texture that gypsum drywall just can’t provide.

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Artwork and Accessories

Use every opportunity to give your home a sense of belonging. Framed prints and objects depicting local wildlife and coastal themes reinforce this home’s association with its environment.

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Window Treatments

Don’t hide a good thing. Draperies are used only to soften the room’s corners, not to cover up the windows and doors.

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Doors

Capitalize on your surroundings. A series of French doors topped with transoms maintains a visual and physical connection to the marsh. And the natural light is spectacular!

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Windows

Try a great idea from the past. The triple-hung windows on either side of the great room’s fireplace are found in many older homes in the Deep South. When the two lower sashes are raised, the openings serve as passageways to the screened porch beyond.

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Floors

Make something old useful again. Recycled heart pine floors provide authentic age and warmth throughout this home.

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