It’s confession time. Well, actually, to myself. Southern interiors are my obsession. When I say obsession, I mean like if my husband would agree, I would pack up and move to Atlanta or Charlotte, or Louisiana. Well, maybe not the bayou. Love their design, but I’m more of a southeastern girl. But I am totally obsessed with all things southern when it comes to interior design. Why? The homes in the southern regions of our country make me feel like I could walk right in and “set a spell.”
Collected
Just take a look at that antique chest in the picture above for starters. There is always a collected piece of furniture or two or three in every room. What I love about antique pieces is that they don’t always get stripped and refurbished to perfection. Southern interiors are collected over time or at least made to look that way. You get the hint that there is some heritage there. My husband’s great aunt would say, “Child this stuff is so old.” And I would just drool over the beautiful fine woods . The craftsmanship showed pride. Not typical of furniture you would get at a chain store or at the mall.
Hospitality
Every southern home that I’ve admired always has that guest room where the bed is perfectly made like this one shown in this picture from Leontine Linens designer fabric collection. The interior is always layered with colorful, yet tasteful, linens. Monograms and border details on the linen are usually what makes me feel like the host or hostess went to a lot of trouble just for me. And have you ever noticed that the dining room table is always set with a beautiful place setting? All. The. Time?
This foyer designed by Melissa Miles Rufty is a surprise in tradition all rolled into one. The antique chest and major art pieces on the gallery wall fulfill the expectations of a classic and traditional look. But the print on the corner banquette is an oversized fretwork pattern updates the look. And the of-the-moment lucite table is begging for you to “set a spell” and enjoy a mint julep.
Wallpaper
Yes, wallpaper is back in a big way. Let’s be honest. We who love all things southern never really gave up on it. Tastefully done in a jewel of a room here and a powder room there, wallpaper is the perfect way to give character to an otherwise utilitarian space.
This bathroom by Dering Hall shows a beautiful damask wallpaper. The oversized scale in the pattern kicks a traditional look right into today’s fresh new style.
Family
There is, more often than not, a wall of pictures showing cousins, uncles and aunts, grandmas and grandpas alongside various stages of the immediate family. Yep, it’s a bit folksy. It’s also nice to not forget your roots and all the people who make up your family tree. As you can see by the picture below, I absolutely love that.
If you are local to Orange County, California and are obsessed with Southern Interiors as much as I am, let’s talk. We would love to help you bring a touch of southern charm to your southern Cali home. Call Mary Etta Designs at 714 340-3214 or go here and contact us by email.
Bedroom Design Trends in 2018
Are you wondering what bedroom design trends you’ll love in 2018 that are good choices for supporting healthy sleep? Recently, the team at Tuck Sleep Foundation reached out to me. Tuck is a community devoted to improving sleep hygiene, health and wellness through unbiased, free web-based resources. Tuck has been featured on NPR, Lifehacker, Radiolab and is referenced by many colleges/universities and sleep organizations across the web. So I agreed to share…
Happy New Year from Mary Etta Designs
Happy New Year from Mary Etta Designs! I can’t believe that it is 2018. Seems like we were just talking Y2K. And now we are nearing the end of the second decade of this century. This note is to give you an update on reaching Consumer Support for Hunter Douglas. But first, I’d like to share a bit of news about Mary Etta Designs.
Mary Etta Designs in VoyageLA
I was approached recently by VoyageLA, a web-based magazine to have an article written about my interior decorating company. Technically, Orange County is not a part of Los Angeles. But honestly, we are so close (35 to 45 miles depending upon exact locations) that it is the best way for me to tell friends and family back east about where we’re located.
Mary Etta Designs’ New Look
Southern Gal in SoCal How do you like Mary Etta Designs' new look? We have a new website and a new logo. Make sure you scoot on over to our re-vamped website. I can't wait for you to see what new things we offer to you all. There's a new service offering that...
3 Great Ways to Hang Draperies on Angled Windows
This room is so beautiful that I had to include it. As the title promises, we'll l cover 3 ways to hang draperies on angled windows. In the picture above I love the way the interior designer followed the angle of the ceiling. And I especially love how the window...
Free Decorating Consultation
Email Mary Etta Designs at info@maryettadesigns.com or call our office at 714-340-3214 and schedule your 30-minute FREE interior decorating consultation while slots for these appointments are still available.
5 Quick Decorating Updates
This season, all you need are 5 Quick Decorating Updates to make your home feel brand new to you! 1. Move Ok, ok, that is pretty drastic. But it does happen. There is no better reason to update your home with things you already own than moving. In November, we...
Warm and Inviting Entry – Try Before You Buy
Staging for an Occasion My client's request was to have a warm and inviting entry. It's not often that I get a direct call from my church pastor. So imagine my surprise when I answered my phone and was greeted with, 'Hello Sister McCurdy." True to form, he was on...
High Point Market Fashion Week for Furniture
Every April and October for a week, High Point Market is the event to attend. Design professionals make their pilgrimage to High Point, North Carolina to see what's new and what's next in home decor and furniture design. This fall I made my way to what I call...
Custom Drapes Elevate Your Rooms
Looking for a simple way to add elegance in your home? Custom drapes elevate a room and gives it a polished look. Recently, a couple I worked with sold their home. They traded it for a shiny, newer model in the same tony suburb. The couple proceeded to buy decorative...