As both a lifelong Atlantan raised in a classical 1920s house and an editor who has written about Southeastern residences for decades, I know firsthand that Southerners take design, and our homes, seriously. Some of America’s most acclaimed interior designers, past and present, hail from the region, including Albert Hadley, Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss and Miles Redd. We also lay claim to High Point, North Carolina, known as the “home furnishings capital of the world.”
Vibrant and increasingly diverse, the Southeast continues to welcome newcomers who are drawn to the (usually) mild winters and larger-than-average houses. While we’re often associated with traditionally furnished abodes—yes, antiques and the occasional floral chintz fabric still have their place—the reality is much more layered. Southeastern design is a coat of many colors: historically minded, forward thinking and, at times, unexpectedly daring. No matter the style or setting, our dwellings are always pleasures to come home to.
Photo: Simon Upton
75% Of Designers Working In The Southeast Say Their Clients Are Seeking Classic And Traditional Styles
Tradition’s New Look
The Southeast reveres traditional architecture. Drive through a venerable residential neighborhood in Atlanta or Birmingham, and you might have a hard time discerning which manses were built in recent years or over a century ago. Classical principles might be ingrained in Southern architects, but their work is anything but stuck in the past, as evidenced by the modern architectural elements many of them are incorporating into their work. One only needs to see the presence of sleek glass-and-steel windows and doors in a formal Georgian-style house to understand that the region’s design professionals make it a point to keep up with the times.
Zeal For Furnishings
There is a reason for the proliferation of to-the-trade design showrooms across the Southeast: Interior furnishings are big business here. “The warmth of Southerners is reflected in their homes,” says Atlanta designer Barbara Westbrook, especially those furnished with “antiques, patterns, deep sofas and at least one fabulous wing chair.” Step into a well-appointed city residence—like the Greenville, South Carolina, house (featured above and below) designed by Westbrook Interiors and Summerour Architects—and you will likely encounter sumptuous fabrics, silk rugs or perhaps elaborate passementerie. The Southeast is a textile-lover’s paradise. Customized decor is also bountiful, as is comfortable upholstered seating likely sourced from one of High Point’s premier brands.
Photo: Simon Upton
Photo: Simon Upton
“The warmth of Southerners is reflected in their homes.”
—Barbara Westbrook
Southern Hospitality
Homes in the Southeast are made for hosting family and friends, which is why dining spaces continue to rank high in importance. In the area’s finest houses, you will find dining rooms elegantly clad, often with bespoke wallpaper, chandeliers (always with dimmers for ambience) and sideboards meant for serving. This is evident in the party-ready Atlanta abode shown below, which was a collaboration between Beth Webb Interiors and D. Stanley Dixon Architect. “When I first saw the dining room, I knew it begged for something grand,” designer Beth Webb recounts. Jewel-box-like bars and lounges lavished in luxe finishes—think wood paneling, polished marble or lacquer—are a more recent trend, driven by a desire for auxiliary gathering places. Back-of-house amenities that facilitate effortless entertaining are likewise in demand, notably sculleries and catering kitchens.
Photo: Lisa Romerein
California Connection
One of the more intriguing developments in recent years is the growing West Coast influence on Southern interiors, particularly in the greater Nashville area. It’s no longer unusual to see newly built houses that look like they were plucked from Malibu because of their minimalistic architecture and lashings of organic finishes. No matter the aesthetic shifts taking place, there is one uniquely Southern custom that will likely never change: spending much of the sultry summers indoors.
Second-Home Stunners
Given the Southeast’s diverse natural beauty—the area is home to the Appalachian Mountains, Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches, and thousands of lakes—well-heeled Southerners typically prefer to stay within the region when building their vacation homes. These residences are apt to be as thoughtfully detailed as any grand estate, but in a more casual manner. Whether it’s a mountain house in Highlands, North Carolina, or a coastal South Carolina compound, natural, time-honored materials like wood shingles, rustic stone and beach-worthy rattan reign supreme. Almost always spacious and often designed with multigenerational families in mind, these retreats usually have something else to boast about: astounding outdoor views.
