This transplanted Southerner goes back to her roots

“We need history, not to tell us what happened or to explain the past, but to make the past alive so that it can explain us and make a future possible.” — Allan David Bloom, philosopher (1930-1992), “The Closing of the American Mind”

It’s hard to believe, but after 50-plus years, I seem to be reverting to being Southern and loving the traditional decorative style. Is that history? Who knows.

For some reason I’m also now attracted to Southern media — Southern Living, Garden &Gun, Traditional Home and Southern state magazines. I’ve always liked them, but not as much as now. And for some reason, being Southern is making a reappearance.

So what exactly does that mean? Well I’m not sure. But I do know that in my travels this past December, I truly did fall in love again with Southern style.

I had the privilege of visiting several great Southern cities — Richmond, Va., and Charlotte, N.C. — and, of course, where I grew up, near Asheville, N.C. Visiting friends’ and relatives’ homes made it much more apparent that their style was very appealing to me.

So what exactly does that mean — and do you have to live in the South to have it?

Firstly, no, by no means do you have to live in the South. Secondly, what does Southern style mean?

Haskell Harris, a Southern designer and blogger puts it this way: “Southerners’ aesthetic is different than others. It has to do with history, purpose and craftsmanship. Southerners gravitate toward decorative items that have history, pieces that are made to last, and pieces that are meant to be used again and again.”

If you read about Southern design these are things you will find: lots of upholstery, fresh flowers, books and curtains; family photos; family portraits; antique pieces; inherited finds; collections; family silver and china; botanicals; old clocks, both grandfather and mantle; and wallpaper. English and French styles are very popular. History again.

Relative to color, dining rooms and kitchens seem to be quite bright in choice of fabrics. Bedrooms and living rooms tend to be more subdued. The other thing I find a little surprising is the tendency to go with white walls.

Traditional style seems to reign in the South. Along with traditional furniture, it’s very common to see hardwood floors covered with area rugs.

When you look at these style choices you will surely be thinking that you don’t have to be in the South to have these things — and you are correct. However, I must say, I see these things here in our city, but it’s not the same as seeing them in a Southern setting.

There also are contemporary looks in the South, but once again, it’s not the same as you would see here. A contemporary home in the South would more than likely have a few pieces of antiques or inherited pieces thrown in — just because.

The other thing that fits my style to a tee is that I have seen or know very few Southerners who are minimalists. Southerners like stuff. And they like to have it all around their homes. In other words, we are maximalists.

In their bedrooms, Southerners like four-poster beds, multiple layers of bedding — comforters, throws, tons of pillows and, yes, bed skirts. Dressers and chests are very popular in the South. Most folks I know here or in other parts of the country keep all of their clothes in the closet, not in casegoods.

But check out Broyhill or Henredon Furniture websites and you can see why Southerners want those pieces in their homes. These lines and many others are manufactured in the South and have always been wildly popular in Southern homes.

So regardless of how you may feel about the South, Southerners or their decorative style, I hope the next time you have the opportunity to visit a Southern home, you can appreciate the history, purpose and craftsmanship. And who knows, you might like it.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and past president of the Architectural &Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.