Southern Living Magazine has been around for over 66 years. It started out as a magazine to highlight all the beauty and culture of the South. It has grown into the number one resource for all of the best things in the South from food to design. On September 13th, Southern Living introduced Southern Living Style. A comprehensive design book that can be used as a guide for creating unique, but approachable spaces infused with Southern sensibility.
“Gracious hospitality, warmth and effortless elegance signify great Southern style. Like the consummate host, the well-appointed Southern home embraces guests and draws them in to linger”. This is definitely the feeling I would like my home to give to guests. Unfortunately I don’t have an eye for style or design. I know what type of things I like but I have no idea how to put them together so they work.
Right after opening the Southern Living Style book, I was wrapped up in the stories and beautiful photos. The rooms shown in this book are taken directly from the magazine. There are tips and ideas thrown in from designers to help inspire you to get a similar look with a twist.
This book does not include any hard must follow rules when it comes to decorating. I think that is why I enjoyed it so much.When it comes to design, I don’t want what everyone else has in their homes. I want an extension of me. Southern Living Style inspires you to think outside of the box while including parts of yourself.
One of my favorite features of the book is Fresh Ideas. It helps you to take a step back from the traditional way you would use a room or space. For example, when it comes to closet space you can have glass doors to make viewing your shoes and accessories easier. Another example I love is not using the dining room as a dining room. It is a room in your house, so why not use it for whatever you want. As long as it gets used it doesn’t matter!
Southern Living Style has other features that include:
- Defining Southern Style: From heirlooms to monograms, discover new ways to celebrate traditional icons.
- Reclaim It! Tips to turn grandma’s attic finds into updated treasures.
- Solutions: Top Southern designers offer solutions for design dilemmas.
- Style on a Budget: Identify individual style and build a room around a single inspiration?the color of a scarf, the pattern of a fabric, even a tag-sale relic.
- Why it Works?: A piece-by-piece deconstruction of rooms to show the key components required to achieve a particular look. From family friendly to classic, discover what to start with, top with and add to make a room personal, stylish and functional.
- Southern Style File: A black book of editors? favorite designers, retailers, and more.
- Defining Southern Style: A glossary of helpful ?decorator speak? terms.
I enjoyed everything in this book from the stories to tips on how to easily re-purpose things I already own to get a new look. There is a how to for a custom bulletin board that I would love to make for one of my walls in here.
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