The Dream Homes Issue Table of Contents On The Cover Homes With Soul Building The Dream Incredible Transformations Come On In Letter From The Editors JoAnna Garcia Swisher's Happy Home On Georgia's Lake Oconee Homes With Soul See How This Designer Fills A New Home With Her Favorite Old-House Moves Inside A 1940s Cottage Packed With Bold Colors And Personality Passed-Down Pieces Bring Meaningful Style To Every Room Of This Alabama Home 5 Tips to Unlock Your Dream Home Building The Dream A Family Found Their Forever Home In Charming Shem Creek Two Homes, One Plan: A Classic Lowcountry Design For Retirement On The Coast This Tennessee Couple Turned House Plan 1825 Into Their Lakefront Dream Incredible Transformations This Renovation Turned An Outdated Cottage Into A Lovely Mobile Bay Retreat A Centuries-Old Property Restored To Its Original Beauty On Sullivan’s Island Inside The Stylish Revamp Of A Colorful 1960s Nashville House This Pink Ranch-Style Home Is A Celebration Of Old Florida Charm Come On In The Blue Ridge Mountains Inspired This High Country Getaway's Inviting Design Inside A Traditional Texas Home With Cheery Hues And Timeless Style A Thoughtful Renovation Gave This Historic Carriage House A Brand New Life Letter From The Editors Even if you knew nothing of a house’s history and walked by it on a Sunday afternoon, you could sense that the place has stories to tell. Southern homes have just as much to do with what we feel as what we see. When we started planning this special issue around Dream Homes, our editors knew the value of capturing not only beautiful decorating styles and architectural details, but the visions of the people living behind each door. Whether a carefully preserved cottage, dramatically transformed ranch, or brand new build, the spaces are united by thoughtful design decisions and meaningful personal touches. That soulfulness is exactly what we found when we stepped inside JoAnna Garcia Swisher’s house, located on picturesque Lake Oconee in Eatonton, Georgia. In her exclusive interview with Homes & Features Editor Betsy Cribb, JoAnna talks about the importance of creating a happy and comfortable sanctuary for her family and the guests she welcomes there. The Florida native and Sweet Magnolias star fills her interiors with colorful textiles, family photos, and treasured collections, like her late mother’s salt and pepper shakers. “It’s about telling your story and surrounding yourself with things that mean something, a memory,” says JoAnna. You’ll find that same sentiment running through this issue, as other homeowners embark on their own design journeys. When Meg Kelly walked into an outdated Nashville ranch, she was sold on the smell that reminded her of her grandmother’s house, so she gave it a modern makeover with her signature touch. And when Ellen Kavanaugh discovered an Old Florida charmer in need of a revival, she was transported back to her childhood home. The pull was so strong that she and her husband took on the restoration project with the intent of balancing old and new. The beauty of a dream home is that everyone defines it differently, depending on their personal style or phase of life. For some, it’s about having a quiet spot to rest; for others, it’s about creating a place that inspires guests to gather. Whether you’ve just moved into your first rental apartment or have settled into your forever house, we hope you’ll find inspiration in this issue for making your place your dream home. –Southern Living Editors