Habitude

By Hellbent

August 25, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Southern Style? Confederate Flags, Old appliances on the front porch, rusted-out automobile on blocks in the front yard, discarded toilets as planters in same yard, Harley Davidson & John Deere as a “theme”, Velvet Elvis paintings, etc. I could go on and on, but somehow I think it would be lost on y’all.

By Bubba J. Jakewoeicski

August 25, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Camo, Spanish moss, horseshoes nailed to the wall, velvet Elvis and a Booze Mountain Road sign stolen from U.S. 27 south of Rome.

By Hellbent

August 25, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

Uncle Peter, I think I’ll have my mint juleps on the veranda. Oh, and don’t forget my smelling salts!

By abc

August 25, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

I have to agree, so-called ‘Southern Style’ of decorating would be relegated to the more redneck elements, if not simply rustic and/or countrified.

What you describe is more along the lines of antiques/21st century import shop meeting IKEA. No thanks.

By Bronco

August 25, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

My southern decor would be white tires lining the driveway to the trailer. A little cement yardman by the stepstone walkway. Christmas lights still on the porch in August. Past Christmas trees down at the edge of the yard. You gotta have at least one car on blocks at the north corner of the trailer. Yellow grass all along the edge of the porch. And a swing in the yard that you never use.

By robo

August 25, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

By proudsoutherner

August 25, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this

Some people don’t think much of southerners or what we have to offer. I can’t believe that not one blogger has offered positive comments about southern decor. Southern decor has been about mixing the old and new for many years. Most beautiful southern homes are filled with furniture and accessories that have been passed down from one generation to another. We have been creating an ecletic mix for generations. I enjoy sharing information about our pieces with my children. We have pieces from great-great-great-great grandparents, parents,grandparents and great aunts and uncles. We also have pieces that we have chosen to suit our current family life. Southern decor isn’t just decoration it is a geneology lesson. I for one appreciate sotuhern decor. My friends and family also decorate in the same way. I enjoy visiting southern homes and hearing about the furnishings and accessories. Southerners have a lot more to offer than most give us credit for.

By Regina

August 25, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

My “Southern Decor” includes plastic watermelon slices on my porch, a ‘urinating’ Sambo fountain in my garden and noose ropes hanging from the oak trees in my front yard.

By fer

August 25, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this

I have spent much of my life in the South, including the first 19 years. NEVER have I heard of anything called “Southern style” decorating. Both sets of my grandparents had big old houses full of interesting furniture, etc., but no one ever called it “Southern”.

By Katherine

August 25, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

The people above writing about all the tacky stuff are either northerners or people whose families didn’t have things that were real “Southern” style. Southern style is using your best crystal stemware for a party and not renting/purchasing the cheap glasses. It’s engraved silver and sterling flatware on the dinner table on special occasions and holidays. It is collecting/displaying real paintings instead of that Kirkland type of “fake” paintings (giclees?) that are so generic. It’s recovering a beautiful antique sofa or chaise that came from your grandmother instead of going to a furniture store and “buying the whole room.” It’s an antique four poster rice bed with classic and rich monogrammed linens, not some “spa” look that is cold and “serene” as the nouveau decorators say. It’s dressers and chests that have a beautiful patinas and sometimes crystal knobs and marble tops. It’s having pieces that have stories behind them. It can take years to have a home that is truly “southern” in style, because all the items in it are valuable, but not just from a monetary standpoint. They are valuable in a lot of cases because there is a story behind them OR they were important to someone that was important to you.

By Katie Leslie

August 26, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Katherine Yes, yes and yes!

By Celeste Alexnder

August 28, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

With all the new commers to the south I vote for comfort,class and a touch of your own personality. And yellow some where keeps it southern.Smile decoratingsista

By lisa everett

February 10, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this

There is a difference between southern and country, and southern and redneck. I have lived in the south all my life and have been witness to all the design elements listed here, but I can assure you if anyone has ever visited a Savannah B&B or watched Paula Deen specials filmed in her home you have seen what we call southern design. Charm, elegance, sophistication mixed with tradition and grace is what southern design is all about. It is a mix of family heirloom antiques with wrought iron and leather,fabulous fabrics with richness and detail, waterford crystal and beautiful china. Southern design is meant to give a sense of comfort, home and beauty and history.