Southern Style

" Gracious, hospitable settings are showcased in this volume of the very best of Southern style from the editors of Southern Accents.

Graciousness is a quality that has a special resonance in the South. Whether in charming interiors, architectural style, or hospitable entertaining, the distinct aesthetics and traditions of this region have affected the entire country for more than two centuries. Southern Style presents a relaxed approach to living that is as warm as the climate and suggests ways to bring the South's flair for comfort and elegance into your home.

In this lavishly illustrated book, Mark Mayfield and the editors of Southern Accents showcase the living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms that have appeared in the magazine, revealing some of the best examples of design today. Meandering through gardens and past architectural exteriors, they offer a fresh look at the homes and landscapes of the region.

With the outdoors as a constant reference-in windows, flowers, and fabrics- Southern Style explores varying approaches to interior decorating that keep in mind practical concerns and historical antecendents. Summer slipcovers that now cover furniture year-round, porch and hearth dining, enclosed garden rooms, and lightly draped bedsteads keep the outdoors close to the interior no matter the season. The frequent appearance of French antique furniture, Chinese porcelain, English-style gardens, and accents and fabrics from Africa, the Far East, and Latin America, suggests that although the South has a unique spirit, its roots are as multidimensional as the rest of the country's.

At the end of the book, a listing of shops will help any reader on the way to a house whose spirit speaks of time, tradition, and comfort. Other listings include important historic properties and a selcetion fo Southern museums that the magazine has worked with to showcase the fine and decorative arts.

With breathtaking photography, invaluable information, and thorough resources, what Mayfield ultimately reveals is a shift in attitude across the country, where excesses are pared down, and tasteful,.livable interiors take center."

The American South has long been renowned for its hospitality and gracious living, and these qualities are reflected in the region's distinct interior design. Southern Style captures this easygoing yet stylish feel of Southern homes designed to provide comfort the family as well as entertain guests.

Author Mark Mayfield and the editors of Southern Accents magazine have a firm grasp of the essence of Southern style and provide guidance on working the style into your own home; gorgeous full-color photographs provide the visual inspiration. The authors point out that one of the most obvious influences on the South's interiors has been the area's weather and environment. A sleeping-porch bedroom with mosquito netting over the bed, a large verandah stretching the length of the house, a living room filled with floral prints echoing the lush gardens outside are all hallmarks of Southern style. Historical changes have also helped defined the South's present decorating style. While some Southern traditions and trends have fallen by the wayside--for example, the trend of having a formal living room--others, such as formal dining rooms, have abided for decades because of their practical nature or cultural importance.

After a look at the interiors of Southern homes, including living, dining, and bedrooms, the book moves outside to take a look at Southern architecture and gardens. There's also a chapter regarding the South's efforts to preserve old architecture and interiors, as well as a listing of historic Southern homes and museums. A resource guide at the end of the book lists Southern interiors shops by state. The authors of Southern Style have done an impressive job of defining the elegant, warm design style of the South, one that all homeowners, not just Southerners, may want to integrate into their homes. --Kris Law