Southern Lady

Although I’ve heard a lot over the years about the charm of Blacksburg, Virginia, I’d never had the chance to visit until my son and I were touring colleges this past spring. The Virginia Tech campus flows right into the heart of town, and as we stro

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WE’D LOVE TO SEE—TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS! Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspiration from the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: Sparkling in sunlight, @dwellings

Beckoned by a sisterly bond and mutual love for travel, identical twins Laura and Amanda Ernst began their whimsical accessories brand with a shared desire to work alongside one another and support skilled craftswomen worldwide. As a result, Sunshine

Luminous white and fuchsia rhododendrons bob like Christmas ornaments in the July sunshine as you wind up the North Carolina mountainside to The Swag, a treasured family estate turned premier home away from home. “You get up there, and you feel like

Citrus notes play up brilliant lipstick-hued blooms in a bouquet as refreshing as a cool sip of water on a midsummer day. Begin with two clear cylindrical vases of the same height, one slightly larger in diameter than the other. Place the smaller ves

Exquisite texture makes Wedgwood’s pristine Gio dinner plate the ideal blank canvas for any summer occasion. Green and white set the scene for this airy tablescape, from the intricate geometric design around the salad dish to a twining vine tableclot

In a spectacle of unmatched radiance, sunflowers sweep across fields as far as the eye can see during these blissful months. A bundle of the perky yellow blossoms anchors a carefree arrangement brimming from a decorative wooden caddy. Protect the ins

Baskets overflowing with blossoms greet visitors who gather for an alfresco meal in a sun-dappled garden. Mismatched vases that brim with Queen Anne’s lace, chamomile, and love-in-a-mist add a dash of homespun charm, while florals on the tablecloth a

For a city of more than 45,000 people, Blacksburg feels remarkably close-knit. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains and home to Virginia Tech, life in this peaceful enclave moves to the unhurried rhythm of a much smaller town, with

The yin and yang of introverts and extroverts is all too familiar to designer Rachel Cannon. So, it was easy for her to help a Baton Rouge couple update their abode, creating harmony between the sociable wife’s love of entertaining and the husband’s

Spice up your summer repertoire with a tablescape as bold and bright as this Southwestern menu of seared steak fajitas, fresh guacamole, and plenty of pico de gallo. Dazzling orange ranunculus bob amid a centerpiece of hydrangea, scabiosa, thistle, a

While the final days of nature’s warmest season descend upon the South, admire the magnificent culmination of blooms soon to dwindle as time marches forward. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to luxuriate in the grand finale than Nashvill

When considering the purchase of an outdated 1980s abode, Martha Haley wasn’t convinced she wanted to move from the spacious residence her family of five had called home for nearly a decade. Martha’s teenage son took one look at the cold, dank cellar

The strum of guitar strings, the skirl of bagpipes, or the a cappella refrain of a spirited retailer will lure you along lively Main Street in Dunedin, Florida. This vibrant community pulls out all the stops to host festivals that hail everything fro

Lingering days and warm evenings lend themselves to poolside fêtes that foster an enchanting ambience of delightful relaxation. As dusk approaches, string lights and flickering twisted taper candles enrich the scene while guests nosh on a starter of

MAKES 1 (9-INCH) PIE 1½ cups round buttery cracker crumbs (about 45 crackers)7 tablespoons sugar, divided6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted2 tablespoons boiling water1 (0.25-ounce) packet unflavored gelatin4 ounces cream cheese, softened1 cup swee

If you know anything about me, you know I love to collect my favorite things. Right now, the top two are blue-and-white china followed by quilting fabric, both of which go back to my childhood. My grandmothers quilted, and they used every scrap of fa