14 Southern FINDS We Love for Late Summer

This holiday season, a diverse array of Southern makers and shops offer unique ornaments and stockings designed to enhance festive home decor. These items range from traditional to whimsical, aiming to tell a story, inspire joy, or start family traditions. The selected businesses prioritize craftsmanship, distinct design, and often, ethical production practices. Bauble Stockings, based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializes in hand-stitched needlepoint stockings and ornament-sized "Baubles." These items are crafted to be heirlooms, with stitching work completed in Haiti under fair trade labor practices. Their signature "Baubles" are intended to hold or hint at a special gift, fostering a unique holiday ritual. The collection includes both small needlepoint ornaments and full-sized custom stockings available for pre-order, featuring designs like Woodland Creature, Jingle Bells, and Christmas Birdie. From Knoxville, Tennessee, Glitterville Studios, led by designer Stephen Brown, offers maximalist and visually striking ornaments and stockings. The collection includes hand-painted and often gold-leafed resin and glass ornaments in various shapes, such as skiers, celestial bodies, and whimsical characters. Glitterville also provides bold satin ruffle stockings and matching tree skirts, appealing to those who prefer vibrant and distinctive holiday decorations. Raleigh, North Carolina's Furbish Studio is an online gift emporium known for its eclectic design approach. Their extensive ornament collection features over 400 pieces, including "matchbook destination" ornaments, humorous needlepoint statements, and pop-culture references. The studio's holiday decor is characterized by witty motifs, strong colors, and unique patterns, offering items like a "no peeking" stocking. Coton Colors by Laura Johnson, based in Tallahassee, Florida, is recognized for cheerful, hand-painted glass ornaments. These round ornaments are available in a wide range of themes, from sports to life milestones and general holiday motifs, making them suitable for personalized gifts. Each ornament is gift-boxed and ribbon-tied, facilitating a yearly gifting tradition. Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Fig & Dove, founded by interior designer Colleen Waguespack, offers luxury holiday decor. This brand provides classic, high-end ornaments and stockings that integrate into sophisticated home aesthetics. They feature collaborations with Southern artists for exclusive hand-painted glass and acrylic ornament sets, including themes like Nutcracker, 12 Days of Christmas, and Nativity. The collection also includes monogrammed alpaca stockings and coordinating tree skirts. Noonday, from Austin, Texas, presents a collection of intricately detailed felt animal ornaments, such as the Wonder Whale and Giddy Goldfish. These hand-stitched pieces, adorned with glass beads and sequins, reflect artisan craftsmanship and a global connection, suitable for display year-round. Rifle Paper Co. in Winter Park, Florida, expands beyond its stationery roots with holiday ornaments and stockings featuring artistic charm. Their embroidered velvet stockings, available in nutcracker, floral, and nativity designs, combine timeless elegance with fresh appeal. Matching porcelain and felt ornaments echo the brand’s distinctive whimsical artwork. Seltzer Goods, an Asheville, North Carolina-based design studio, infuses wit into its holiday collection. It offers embroidered felt ornaments with cozy motifs like coffee shops, bookstores, and woodland animals. The studio also provides unique canvas stockings that deviate from traditional designs, praised for their fresh and whimsical aesthetic. Dallas, Texas's Tart by Taylor, led by Taylor Dean, specializes in modern and playful ornaments and seasonal decor. Her collection features acrylic items with bright colors and bold shapes, including best-selling ornament frames suitable for displaying photos, miniature artworks, or even baby handprints. LucyCreatess, an Etsy shop from Glen Allen, Virginia, creates personalized ornaments. Notable items include snow globes filled with miniature custom books and hand-stitched portrayals of names in children's handwriting, offering highly personal and thoughtful gifts. The Textile Treasure, located in Round Rock, Texas, offers artisan-made block-printed cotton home decor. Founder Renu aims to bring Jaipur's textile traditions to U.S. homes, with items like customizable Christmas stockings and tree skirts handcrafted in India. These pieces are appreciated for their authentic artistry and thoughtful details. The Tiny Tassel in Charleston, South Carolina, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new collection of hand-beaded ornaments. These designs incorporate coastal references, Charleston-inspired lettering, and whimsical motifs like pets and desserts. The ornaments are affordable, ready to ship, and suitable for gifting. Finally, Eugenie from Summerland Key, Florida, dominates the Etsy stocking market with a wide variety of styles, including Faire Isle cable-knit, velvet, tapestry appliqué, and Scandinavian patterns. Her shop offers strong personalization options, making each stocking feel custom-made for family collections or individual needs. Brentwood, Tennessee's Lauren Dunn specializes in colorful, acrylic creations for her holiday collection. Her ornaments, napkin holders, and table toppers are described as functional modern art, featuring designs such as angels, team mascots, and playful graphics. She also offers display-ready curios like whimsical nativity scenes and three-dimensional villages. #HolidayDecor #ChristmasOrnaments #ChristmasStockings #SouthernDesign #HandcraftedDecor #HomeDecor #ArtisanCrafts #Gifts #SeasonalDecor

This article explores enduring Southern decorating principles that contribute to a home's character and comfort. It emphasizes that a Southern home is more than just aesthetic features like columns or specific ceiling colors; it is a space imbued with history, family narratives, and subtle details, fostering an atmosphere conducive to both entertaining and relaxation. Southern interior designers offer insights into these timeless decorating practices. One fundamental principle is the mixing of old and new elements. This approach involves seamlessly integrating cherished antiques and family heirlooms with contemporary designs and accents. Designers highlight that this curated blend creates a sense of history and personalization, as antiques often carry stories and generational significance. By using antique pieces as anchors and incorporating modern touches through bold fabrics, lighting, and sculptural accessories, a space can achieve a unique balance. Another key aspect is surrounding oneself with meaningful and personal touches. This involves selecting objects that reflect personal values and sentimental collections, such as artworks by close friends or family heirlooms. These items introduce personality into a home and can be displayed decoratively, like an old china collection in a butler's pantry or a grouping of sentimental items on a wall, making them a daily source of enjoyment rather than being stored away. The article also stresses the importance of creating a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Southern homes often prioritize comfortable outdoor living areas, recognizing their significance for both entertaining and relaxation. Designers advocate for extending interior design principles to outdoor settings, incorporating comfortable upholstered furnishings and large tables to facilitate outdoor dining and social gatherings, thereby connecting the home with its natural surroundings and enhancing its sense of place. Embracing color is another significant Southern decorating tip. Color is presented as an effective way to inject personality and warmth into a room. While some may hesitate, designers encourage bolder color choices, asserting that they often have a greater impact and contribute more to long-term satisfaction. The article suggests that a full commitment to color, beyond just a few pillows, is necessary to make a truly bold statement. Repurposing antiques in fresh and innovative ways is also highlighted. This involves giving new life to old pieces, such as transforming an antique dresser into a bathroom vanity by replacing its top with a sink. This practice not only adds uniqueness but also ensures that treasured items are used and appreciated daily. Restoring or repainting old fixtures is another cost-effective method to update a home while retaining its character. Investing in one-of-a-kind focal pieces is advised. The recommendation is to allocate budget towards one significant antique per room, such as a period chest, mirror, or a striking chandelier. These distinctive items serve as anchors and can be easily integrated into various spaces throughout a home, providing character and timeless appeal. Mixing textures, patterns, and design styles is crucial for adding depth and interest. This involves layering different materials like linen, velvet, and mohair across walls, floors, furniture, and accents. Such layering prevents a space from appearing monotonous or overly serious, contributing to a richer, more engaging aesthetic. Finally, the article underscores the importance of attention to detail in Southern home design. This can manifest in subtle elements like detailed trim around doorways, or more elaborate features in less visible areas, such as wallpaper or rich paint colors in pantries. Architectural elements like large moldings, tall ceilings, grand staircases, detailed paneled walls, and wood floors are also recognized as contributing to the beauty and distinctiveness of Southern homes. Knowing when to splurge, for instance on unlacquered brass fixtures or bold wallpapers, and when to save, such as by opting for shiplap over drywall for a cohesive aesthetic, are also considered vital. The article concludes by emphasizing the value of decorating with memories, allowing a home's style to evolve organically over time to reflect comfort and history, and integrating living elements like plants and flowers to inject life and a sense of welcome. #SouthernDecorating #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #Antiques #ColorInDecor #OutdoorLiving #PersonalizedHome #HomeDecorTips #TimelessDesign

This article offers a comprehensive guide to refreshing home interiors and exteriors for the summer season, providing 44 diverse decorating ideas. The suggestions range from subtle accents to significant transformations, aiming to create a warm, inviting, and seasonally appropriate atmosphere. The article emphasizes integrating indoor and outdoor spaces, incorporating specific color palettes, and utilizing natural elements to evoke a summery feel. For interior spaces, the article suggests setting colorful tables with vibrant dishes and tablecloths, creating impromptu bars with serving trays, and updating old furniture with high-gloss spray paint in summery hues. It also highlights the importance of color, recommending the addition of pastel pillows or bold area rugs, and decorating with warm tones like cherry, mahogany, and hickory, accented with reds, yellows, and oranges. For those preferring a neutral aesthetic, the article advises using natural materials such as wicker, rattan, and linen to achieve a serene summer ambiance. Specific room transformations include bringing summer to Mid-Century Modern spaces with bright whites, creams, organic shapes, and geometric lines, and making bedrooms feel like seaside resorts with coastal-inspired accents and lighter fabrics. Lighting plays a crucial role in summer decor, with recommendations to let in natural light by opening doors and windows, pulling back curtains, and removing heavy accessories. Decorative lighting, such as string lights for outdoor areas, is also suggested to brighten spaces at night and create a festive mood. Minimalist approaches are encouraged, focusing on light, bright, and airy spaces with calmer wall hues and simple furniture. The article also covers functional and artistic decor elements, such as creating photo galleries from vacation pictures, using peel-and-stick hooks for lightweight wall decorations like woven bowls, and incorporating summery scents like ocean breeze or cucumber-melon through candles. Outdoor living is a significant theme, with ideas for sprucing up patios and front porches. These include adding extra planters, comfortable seating areas, and string lights. Suggestions for outdoor entertaining include creating an outdoor bar from an inexpensive cabinet and decorating with bright colors like oranges, yellows, and reds. The article also features practical additions like pergolas, which can be dressed up with string lights and hanging plants. For those near the coast, subtle nautical decor, such as navy blue hues and white stripes, or beach-found items like driftwood, coral, and seashells, are recommended. For those further inland, coastal-inspired wallpaper or paint colors can achieve a similar effect. The article also provides creative and unique ideas, such as hanging bright, bold wallpaper with beachy patterns, arranging fresh flower displays with warm-colored blooms, and adding succulents in decorative shells for tablescapes. It encourages shifting a living room's focus away from a fireplace towards windows or French doors and decorating bedrooms with bright botanical prints and seasonal duvet covers. Thrifting for antique summer flair at flea markets and creating a functional yet stylish wall display of sunhats are also presented as unique ways to personalize summer decor. Finally, it suggests incorporating unexpected elements like disco balls for a glam summer look or painting with pink for a soft, graceful feel, and adding a pop of color to neutral spaces through curtains or throw pillows. #SummerDecor #SeasonalRefresh #HomeDecorIdeas #InteriorDesign #OutdoorLiving #CoastalDecor #ColorSchemes #DIYDecor #GardenDecor

The "coastal grandmother" aesthetic, a lifestyle characterized by seeking joy in the simple things, sophisticated yet comfortable style, and gracious hosting, is making a comeback for summer 2025. This trend, popularized by TikTok user Lex Nicoleta and epitomized by Diane Keaton's character in 'Something's Gotta Give,' resonates strongly with Southern women who have long embraced its core tenets. The coastal grandmother style transcends age and location, focusing instead on a particular mindset. It involves appreciating fresh flowers, enjoying leisurely activities like walks in a sun-blocking hat, and preparing comforting meals, much like Ina Garten's rotisserie chicken. The aesthetic emphasizes an effortlessly chic presence, a knack for being a welcoming host without stress, and an appreciation for quality over pretense. Southern women often embody this lifestyle naturally, with their predilection for breezy button-downs, the tradition of sending thank you notes, preparing homemade treats like cheese straws for guests, and spending relaxing afternoons on porches with iced tea. Their approach to life, centered around finding and sharing joy, aligns perfectly with the coastal grandmother's philosophy. Elements such as farm-to-table brunches and cultivating flower gardens are also deeply integrated into both the coastal grandmother aesthetic and Southern culture. Styling tips for embracing this trend include adopting a relaxed yet curated wardrobe. This means favoring classic staples like comfortable button-downs and a neutral color palette featuring white, tan, black, and shades of blue and green. Designers such as Eileen Fisher, J.Crew, and Everlane are noted as sources of inspiration for this fashion aspect. The home environment should also reflect this calming aesthetic, with elements like jute rugs, white ceramic flower arrangements, rattan accessories, sailboat paintings, ginger jars, candle tapers, and Adirondack chairs. Home decor brands like Serena & Lily, Pottery Barn, and Mainly Baskets Home are suggested for creating this specific ambiance. #CoastalGrandmotherStyle #SouthernLiving #HomeDecor #FashionTrends #Lifestyle #SummerTrends #InteriorDesign #HomeStyling