Southern Made: haute home goods

Elegant bohemian

North Carolina’s Jill Towery uses discarded fabric samples and scraps to create her colorful and one-of-a-kind furniture collection.

The designer and founder: Towery was born and raised in Marion, Ohio. She attended Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., earned a degree in business administration and later worked in sales and banking management. In 2007, while living in Hickory, Towery began designing reversible handbags using discarded fabric and upholstery samples from local furniture manufacturers. Two years later, she created her first sofa, using the same principles of her handbag designs.

The company: Salmagundi began in 2007 in the basement of Towery's home in Hickory.

The name: "Salmagundi" means a mixture, medley or combination. Towery's pieces are a mix of colors, textures and patterns.

The goods: Chairs ($1,400-$2,000); settees ($1,800-$2,200); and tuffets or ottomans ($350-$575).

Big break: In 2011, Towery showed her line at the High Point Furniture Market, where her pieces sold out.

Unusual request: NASCAR wife Kelley Jarrett wanted to recover her sofa "Salmagundi style." The company ended up redoing almost every piece of upholstery in Jarrett's home, including bedding and window treatments.

What's new: Although most Salmagundi pieces are made from upcycled and short runs of frames, the company has introduced two of its own production frames: the MidMod Martini chair, a nod to the midcentury modern trend; and a Petite settee.

Where to buy: In the Atlanta area at WildCat on a Wing, 10061 Ball Ground Highway, in Ball Ground (www.wildcatonawing.com). For information, visit www.salmagundidesigns.com.

Mad about metal

After a decade working in interior design, Lucy Smith found a new source of inspiration in a century-old metal fabrication shop.

The company: Lucy Smith Designs was founded in 2009 in Anniston, Ala. The company manufactures a modern line of metal furniture and accessories (like mirrors) on site, one piece at a time. Many of the pieces are available in a variety of sizes, details and finishes.

The founder and designer: Smith grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and graduated from the University of Alabama. She moved to Atlanta, where she met her husband and worked for a couple of different design firms in entry-level positions. The couple lived in Buckhead for a few years before moving to Anniston to grow the family steel business. At the metal shop, she became fascinated with the industrial pieces and scrap yard. Smith started sketching and studying before designing some pieces. "I never expected it to take off," she said.

What's popular: The sleek Jax coffee table ($2,150).

Other favorites: Accent tables ($625 and up).

Claim to fame: Being featured in the talent section of Elle Décor magazine. Also, the Vogue side table ended up on TV's "Scandal."

What's new: More custom fire screens.

Where to buy: In Atlanta, at Holland & Company (www.hollandandcompany.com) and MacRae (www.macraedesigns.com) at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC). For information, check www.lucysmithdesigns.com.

Rethink rustic

On his family’s old dairy farm in Tennessee, woodworker Matt Alexander creates a line of furnishings and home goods he describes as modern Southern.

The founder: Alexander received a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and an MFA in 3D Design from Michigan's Cranbrook Academy of Art.

The company: HollerDesign was founded in 2009 in Lascassas, Tenn. Each piece — from tables and chairs to stools and cutting boards — is made from locally sourced and hand-selected lumber.

The name: It's the Southern version of the word "hollow," meaning a clear spot in the woods.

What's popular: Beam Stools ($399) and cutting boards ($30-$150).

Other favorites: Dining tables ($3,000 and up).

Where to buy: www.hollerdesign.us