Southern Lady May/June 2020

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Phyllis Hoffman DePiano EDITOR Lisa Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marie Baxley ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Shaw ASSISTANT EDITOR Elizabeth Bonner Czapski SENIOR COPY EDITOR Rhonda Lee Lother COPY EDITORS Adrienne Davis, Meg Lundberg, Barbara McCarthy EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Holly Seng CREATIVE DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHY Mac Jamieson SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER John O’Hagan PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Bathie, William Dickey, Nicole Du Bois, Stephanie Welbourne Steele SENIOR DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST Delisa McDaniel DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST Clark Densmore GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Deanna Rippy Gardner ART DIRECTOR Karissa Brown SENIOR STYLIST Sidney Bragiel STYLISTS Caroline Blum, Courtni Bodiford, Lucy Finney, Mary Beth Jones, Melissa Sturdivant Smith, Dorothy Walton CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS Tracey MacMillan Russell, Beth K. Seeley TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR Irene Yeh FOOD STYLISTS/RECIPE DEVELOPERS Laura Crandall, J.R. Jacobson, Kathleen Kanen, Tricia Manzanero, Vanessa Rocchio, Elizabeth Stringer, Taylor Franklin Wann ASSISTANT FOOD STYLIST/RECIPE DEVELOPER Anita…

There’s nothing like time with dear friends to rejuvenate the spirit. Longtime companions are one of life’s best gifts, and getting together to talk, laugh, and catch up just does everyone good. Our exquisite ladies’ luncheon menu (page 83), set in a fairytale garden beneath the summer sun, is perfect for a gathering to reminisce about old memories and make new ones. I think the beautiful blue china and linens are such a fitting tribute to those true-blue friendships that have seen us through life’s ups and downs. Summer is also a perfect season to plan a girlfriends’ getaway, and we have one you won’t want to miss! We are thrilled to host our 2020 Southern Lady Celebration in one of my favorite places: Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Scheduled for June…

LOWCOUNTRY LULLABY I fell in love with Savannah, Georgia, on my very first visit, an elementary school trip with my Girl Scout troop to tour founder Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace. A history buff even at that young age, I was—and still am—charmed by the city’s cobbled streets, ornate old homes, and lush curtains of Spanish moss. Although I’ve been back many times since, I have not yet had the pleasure of staying at the Hamilton-Turner Inn (page 49), the latest in our yearlong Grand Getaways travel series. As managing editor Marie Baxley writes, this 19th-century belle has a colorful history that goes hand in hand with Savannah’s swaggering past, balanced by a genteel demeanor and meticulous attention to guests’ every need. While you’re there, make time for another special indulgence: call…

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WE’D LOVE TO SEE—TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS! Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspiration from the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: @blmlovesnature spends a lazy summer afternoon arranging dahlias and zinnias into a wondrous display. Warmer days usher in alfresco parties like this charming garden affair from @frappsandfrills. Scalloped dinnerware and pale pink peonies bring a touch of softness to @suzanne_zingg’s stunning table. Middle row: @prettyonpoplar’s heirloom blue-and-white china is a sentimental favorite for dining with loved ones. A honey cake from @thiscelebratedlife looks divine atop a @juliskaofficial cake stand. Bottom row: Dabs of pink and green add intrigue to @gracefredrickdesign’s exotic tabletop. Taking cues from the vibrant flavors of the season, @livingbeautahfully’s…

Though only a 40-minute drive north of Atlanta, arriving at Château Élan Winery & Resort feels like stumbling into the French countryside of a bygone era, where rows of grape-laden vines stand sentinel on the front lawn of a stately villa. Yet new additions and an air of graciousness plant the celebrated hotel squarely in the 21st century. In the foothills of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the property’s recent updates enhance its signature blend of Continental style and modern indulgences, which include a winery, several golf courses, a multitude of dining options, and a superlative spa. New owners and a talented Atlanta-based design team revamped Château Élan from top to bottom, incorporating architectural elements, local art, and public spaces that contribute to the resort’s singular aesthetic and enduring appeal as…

Unaccustomed to putting all her eggs in one basket, Chelsea Rowe was already a busy children’s book author and mother of four when she launched The Savannah Picnic Company in 2015. The idea came to her one afternoon as she was trying to pull off a family picnic without the fuss of preparing and transporting supplies to the park. “Because we live in an outdoor-centric city, I thought that surely someone was offering this service,” Chelsea says. “I searched and couldn’t find anyone. I love picnics and alfresco dining. It marries two of my favorite things—great food and being outside. I figured there were people like me out there, and I was right.” Within a few months, Chelsea had turned this spark of inspiration into a lavish picnic service complete…