A Midtown Masterpiece Exploring Napa Valley
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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2016
28 HOME: Homeowners enlist the help of interior designer Anna Lattimore to completely redo and restore a Spanish Mission style home in Belleair 40 DESIGN: Create a fabulous cinema room within your own home thanks to Scott Fuelling. ON THE COVER – HOME FEATURE | p. 28
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CONTENTS 40
SEPTEMBER 2016
F O R YO U 18 healthy you Elements of Wellness 98 on a good note Life Jacket Solutions
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HOME & DESIGN 24 at home with Hugh Balthrop 40 design Media Rooms 44 style marketplace Media Room Accessories 48 home trends Magnolia Homes
T R AV E L & C U L T U R E 52 getaway Hardy, Arkansas 58 travel Napa Valley, California 68 experience this King Biscuit Blues Festival
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70 social pages Mid South Happenings 76 arts Virginia Steele, Author
FOOD & DRINK 80 entertaining Brunch with the Bride 92 in the kitchen Creamy Tomato Soup 88 dining out I Love Juice Bar 94 happy hour Blood Orange Margarita
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IN EVERY ISSUE 12 | PUBLISHER'S NOTE 97 | SOURCES
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SEPTEMBER 2016 • VOL. 15 NO. 6 PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR MARGARET MONGER | mmonger@athomemms.com
ART DIRECTOR ANNA LEPPERT | aleppert@athomemms.com
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION MANAGER GINNI JONES | gjones@athomemms.com
COPY EDITOR TERRI GLAZER
IMAGING COLOR MANAGEMENT CHARLES REYNOLDS | cr@colorretouching.com
ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HILARY FRANKEL | hafrankel@comcast.net
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES MEGAN EIDT | meidt@gmail.com BRITTANY MCDONALD | brmcdonald45@gmail.com CINDY SEMMES | c.semmes@aol.com
BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS TRIP MONGER | tmonger@athomemms.com
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION HARRIET W. DEATON | hdeaton@athomemms.com
INTERNS ELLIE SIMMONS, MEAGHAN FOGARTY, SADIE TOMES -
HOW TO REACH US 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11 | Cordova, TN 38018 TOLL FREE 877.684.4155 | FAX 866.354.4886 WEBSITE: athomemms.com
At Home Memphis & Mid South doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts. To inquire about freelance opportunities, send a letter, resume and three writing samples to— Editor, At Home Memphis & Mid South: 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 877.684.4155 or subscribe at athomemms. com. Annual subscription rate: $19.95. Single copy price: $4.99. At Home Memphis & Mid South is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes or omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Trip Monger; At Home Memphis & Mid South, 320 South Walnut Bend, Suite 11, Cordova, TN 38018 or to tmonger@athomemms.com.
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publisher’s note In August 2005, I remember sitting at my desk watching what was described as, "the worst natural disaster to ever hit the United States." I kept thinking of how hard is it to write about beautiful houses and décor when so many people in Louisiana had just lost everything in Katrina. Eleven years later, in the month of August, I am facing that same problem. Once again, Mother Nature has returned to Louisiana, unwelcomed, unforgiving and leaving over 100,000 Louisiana residents homeless. I don’t think Mother Nature remembers how resilient these people are and with our help and prayers they will, no doubt, be better than ever. I pray that those of us who were not directly effected by this storm truly appreciate what we have while I pray for those who lost their homes to never lose their hope. I also pray for those students, teacher and administration, starting a new year, appreciate not only the brick and mortar of their school buildings, but also the special family bond that holds schools together, as so many lost their school buildings in the destruction. I hope they remember the brick and motar will be replaced because they are Louisiana Strong. Wishing all of you a safe, happy and blessed September and once again, Happy Fall Y'all.
Publisher
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healthy you
Elements of Wellness Keeping it Simple & Real
Michelle R. Johns,
Health Promotion Specialist, Certified Health Coach, RYT 200 Photography by Madison Yen
I LOVE FOOD! I am a Southerner by birth and heritage. Food is at the heart and center of every communal event. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do more than enjoy good food and drinks in the company of great family and friends. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise. I love to work out, but I hate the planning it takes to incorporate it into my day. Just being ready for the day and scheduling around life is difficult. Stress management, according to Dr. Dean Ornish, is a must. I try to schedule at least 30 minutes of time alone every morning to meditate, pray, read, contemplate and journal. Throughout the day, I continue these practices in smaller increments. I’ve learned the payoff is well worth investing the time daily.
Connecting with community is also key to well-being. Most of us are engaged in several communities: families, friends, faith communities, neighbors and coworkers, to name just a few. According to a Harvard Health review, connection to community reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and lowers the risk of heart disease. Connection equates to emotional vitality and brings a sense of purpose and feeling of love. Studies show this to be an important element of well-being.
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The current model for a well-balanced life according to Dr. Mark Hyman’s 10Day Detox Diet, Dr. Dean Ornish’s The Spectrum, Joshua Rosenthal (founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition), Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones research, and many more includes eating healthy whole foods, physical activity, mindfulness practice and connection to others. As a corporate health promotion specialist, my career includes planning educational webinars touching on these four wellness areas—moving more, eating better, building resilience to stress and connecting socially—for overall wellbeing. Evidence suggests educating people about ways to incorporate these four wellness elements and put them into practice will help them stave off chronic illnesses. The crux of practicing any one of these four elements is time. Lack of time to plan, practice and pursue often inhibits people from taking initiative in any or all areas of wellness.
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healthy you Small steps toward wellness have a huge impact according to the Dr. Ornish’s research: • Meditate for just one minute a day. • Start your day with a healthy breakfast. • Pick three days in your week for 30 minutes of physical activity. • Send an encouraging word to someone in one of your communities once a day. I look forward to getting to know the At Home community. As we continue to bring you tips for living well, we want to hear from you. E-mail me with questions and comments at: mjohns@athomemms.com.
Biography Michelle Johns is a corporate onsite health promotion specialist, integrative health and wellness educator, yoga teacher, food literacy educator and a green smoothie connoisseur. Michelle graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.S. in psychology, is a certified health coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition and an RYT 200 - Yoga Teacher. Her approach to well being and living your best life every day focuses on the foundations of self-awareness, self-care and self-discovery through whole mind, body and spirit nutrition. Michelle educates clients through a journey focused on the way the whole self is nourished through food, career, relationships, exercise and spirituality. Her ultimate goal is to help clients discover not only how to live longer but to live better by honoring the unique individual with compassion and self love as they were created. 20 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
My Favorite Go To Smoothie Ingredients • 1 1/2 Cups of Coco Libre coconut water • 1 1/2 Cups of spinach (a handful) • 1 Cup of frozen pineapple • 1 Cup of frozen mango • 1/2 orange • 1/2 or whole banana
Directions Blend coconut water and spinach first. Add the rest of the ingredients. Blend and enjoy!
Nutritional facts: Coconut water has potassium and is a great form to stay hydrated. Spinach is full of iron and when you add the citric acid from the orange it will release for it’s full potential. Banana’s are a natural sweetener.
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at home with No matter the weather, there's nothing quite as wonderful as enjoying a bowl of ice cream.
Hugh Balthrop
Owner and creator of Sweet Magnolia Ice Cream Co.
Text by Ruthie Hall | Photography courtesy of Hugh Balthrop
Sweet Magnolia Gelato Company provides wonderful experiences to its patrons every day Sweet Magnolia is sold at locations throughout the Midsouth. Constantly experimenting with new flavor with exceptional, combinations, so far they have created over 300 natural and delicious fun-filled flavors, and look forward to creating more. While they always keep the classic flavors stocked, flavors. other flavors change with the seasons and with the
availability of fresh, natural supplies. Some recent flavor choices include: Blueberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Champagne, Fior Di Latte (a classic sweet cream), Honey Vanilla, Espresso, Stracciatella (an Italian chocolate chip, with shreds of chocolate throughout), Spumoni (layers of strawberry, pistachio and chocolate), Brown Sugar & Bourbon, and Peppermint Bark. With these delicious flavors it's no wonder that Sweet Magnolia is taking the South by storm with their fresh flavor experiences and their commitment to finding the best ingredents available, including cream from grass-fed cows, honey harvested by hand and the ripest fruits and herbs. Sweet Magnolia owner Hugh Balthrop examines every detail about his company and his ice cream, striving to make it the best it can possibly be. This month we sat down with Balthrop to find out more about the man who's not only the owner and creator of Sweet Magnolia but also the driving creative force behind all the unique flavors, and the man who made Sweet Magnolia what it is today.
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Tell us a little about your background, both personally and professionally. I was born and raised and educated in Washington, DC, and I met my wife in DC in 1998. We married in 1999 then moved to Clarksdale, MS, in 2000. We have three wonderful children nine, 11 and 14 years old and all born in the Mississippi Delta. I owned an art gallery in Washington for five years. Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. has been in operation for five years. What do you do when you aren't working? We travel a great deal; we love good food and being around good people and places. New Orleans, Atlanta, and Orange Beach on the Alabama gulf coast are some of the places we frequent most. Do you have any plans for the future? We plan to expand the business to new areas. We are looking at creating a food truck and perhaps a brick and mortar sometime next year. What inspires you? I feel inspired by making a quality product and creating jobs. I feel that we are making a positive impact in our community. What is your favorite thing about your job? I love building real relationships with good people from our community. We have built strong relationships with most of our farmers: Billy Ray Brown of Brown Family Farm, Mary Kimmons of MS Mary’s Poundcake, Harvey Powell of Powell and Sons Honey Farm, Mrs. Peggy of Peggy’s Blueberry Farm, Ernestine Young with her locally raised eggs… We really love all of these folks. What advice would you give to people who want to succeed and follow their dreams? Find something you love to do. Gain as much knowledge as you can about this interest and then go out and work twice as hard as the next person. What is your favorite memory from building your business? Seeing my 14-year-old grasp the hard work ethic that I try consistently to pass along, that's a good feeling. Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. 1450 Desoto Avenue Clarksdale, MS 38614 662.313.6551 www.sweetmagnoliagelato.com hugh@sweetmagnoliaicecream.com September 2016 • athomemms.com | 25
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home feature
Nods to the Past Designer Anna Lattimore overhauls a 1920s era Belleair home Text by Jordana White | Photography by Mike Boatman
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home feature
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home feature Renovating an older home presents many a challenge: honoring the style of the original design; upgrading dated fixtures and features; and, quite often, re-doing misguided updates made by previous owners. When Memphis designer Anna Lattimore was called on to completely redo a Mission-style home in Belleair, she knew the project would be an extensive one. The owners, a busy family of five with kids ranging from almost-adult to early elementary age (not to mention three rescue dogs) had already been in the space for nine years, meaning they knew what worked and what didn’t. In all likelihood, they probably would have kept on living in the home without making too many changes had it not been for the antics of one of the aforementioned rescue dogs. About two years ago, the pup chewed through a set of club chairs; clearly, the furniture would have to be reupholstered. According to the family, that small repair was the catalyst for all that came afterward. The homeowner recalls, “We got to thinking, ‘As long as we have to get those chairs recovered…’ and that led us to make a wish list of modifications and a laundry list of repairs. We like to tell people, ‘Our dog ate two chairs, so we called an architect.’” The architect in question, John Harrison Jones, was intrigued by the home—and the project. Spanish-style construction is not all that common in Memphis, and this specific property was particularly notable. Built around 1928, Harrison explains that a good deal of architectural lore surrounds the five-bedroom, five-bath home. “Legend has it that it was the 'model home' for the development,” he explains. “While we don’t know for certain the identity of the original architect, we suspect it may have been Mahan and Broadwell, the duo who designed almost all of the great Spanish-style houses in the city.” As Jones surveyed the home, he found plenty of elements worth keeping, “Classic Mission-style elements on the exterior included the arched openings, vertical planked front door, exterior cement plaster and terra cotta tile roof, the timber balustrades, wrought iron details, and, of course, the amazing twisted columns. Also, a very nice classic arts and crafts butler pantry cabinet was protected and preserved along with the wrought iron stair railings and timbered coffer ceilings.” But there was much that needed fixing, too; most of the challenges in this renovation, Jones could tell, would involve “working around and remediating previous renovation efforts.” 30 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
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home feature Such was the task facing Lattimore when she joined the renovation team (a trifecta rounded out by Frank Herdzina of H&H Construction). “We wanted to restore luster to this amazing home,” she explains, but also add amenities like an upstairs laundry room and mudroom so the family could start “living better in the space they had.” Meeting the former goal involved a lot of updating: restoring the house entailed replacing windows and doors, resurfacing the interior plaster and exterior stucco, painting the house from top to bottom inside and outside, refinishing the floors and staircases and repairing the tile roof. Making the space more livable required further changes: upgrading the heating and cooling systems and starting from scratch on the kitchen, master bath, guest room and two baths upstairs. "Additionally, we made better use of their space by changing the breakfast room to a keeping room, the conservatory to a study and an upstairs landing to a guestroom,” Lattimore details. Beginning in the kitchen, Lattimore and Jones decided to close off a hallway that connected the space to the home’s master bedroom. Not only did this have the effect of making the master bedroom more private, it also gave the kitchen sufficient square footage to fit in a 48-inch” professional range with a custom hood. (The old, 30-inch” range was scrapped and in its former space, a doorway to the new screened-in porch was opened.) Along with earthy green cabinetry, selected to “cool off” the existing red brick floors, Lattimore helped her clients select a hand-made, hand-painted terra cotta tile for the kitchen’s backsplash, honoring the home’s Spanish roots without completely giving into a period of design that clashed with the owners’ traditional-to-modern preferences. With the exception of the incorporated hallway space, no square footage was added to the galley kitchen; Lattimore attributes the newfound roominess to smart design decisions: flow to and from the screenedin porch and a reconfiguration of existing furniture. “Adding the porch opened things up and gave the family more gathering space. Plus, before the renovation, the island had barstools along its length, creating a traffic jam in the kitchen. We moved the barstools to the end of the island and narrowed it, which added length.” 32 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
home feature
"We wanted to restore luster to this amazing home." -- Anna Lattimore
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Anna Lattimore Next, the third bay of the attached garage was transformed into the much-desired laundry and mud room—finished with encaustic cement tile floor to once again capture the spirit of Mission design. In the completely redesigned master bathroom, however, Lattimore departed from the colorful tile choices made elsewhere in the home, selecting instead a more modern glass mosaic tile to help create a spa-like retreat for the owners. In addition to closing off a landing upstairs, the family also closed up a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, allowing their teenage daughter to have her own private retreat. With the physical renovations complete, decorating became the next priority. For the majority of the ground floor, Lattimore opted to keep walls white and textured, a traditional choice for a Spanish style home. Green, however, was a favorite color for the family, so Lattimore decided to have a little more fun in the study and master bedroom—two closed-off areas that wouldn’t interrupt the flow of the design. “My clients already owned the gorgeous green draperies in the dining room,” Lattimore explains, “so we started there, and repeated a similar shade of green (Benjamin Moore’s Courtyard Green) on the study walls, trim, windows and built-in bookcases. We finished the ceiling of the study with a grass cloth wallpaper.” Paler shades of green were selected for the master bedroom, since Lattimore wanted to establish a more soothing environment in that space. When it came time for furnishings, Lattimore helped the family mix their existing possessions with a selection of English and French antiques, upholstered with mid-century inspired patterns, and set against the backdrop of a more contemporary art collection. The ultimate effect was to create a home, not simply a well-appointed house. The owners wanted “a wow moment in each room, and I think I achieved that,” Lattimore says of the completed design. Yet something more important grew out of the complex renovation and redesign. “This is a cozy and welcoming house filled with a mix of old and new furnishings, treasures bought on trips to France, family mementos, beautiful fabrics, rugs and paintings. The owners are not minimalists when it comes to their surroundings, and yet the rooms look collected without seeming cluttered.” The family echoes Lattimore’s satisfaction with the outcome. Their tongue-in-cheek advice to other families considering projects of a similar scale? “Work with a team like ours!” 34 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
home feature
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design
Media Rooms Text and photos by Scott Fuelling
“Home theater” is a term that has been thrown around, marketed and in general overused. When home theater started referring to a box containing a small amount of electronics with minimal performance, the concept became so diluted that any room with a TV and surround sound system could be called a home theater.
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T
he original term referred to a dedicated room with a high-performance audio/video system in an environment that was acoustically treated, with a color palette on the darker end of the spectrum and lighting that enhanced a true cinematic experience. Somewhere along the line, generic multipurpose media rooms became known as home theaters; this is a disservice to the term, and, more importantly, to consumers’ expectations. Home cinema better describes what home theater was meant to be. An investment in a dedicated home theater reflects a desire for a true cinematic experience...the excitement of going to the movies without leaving home, high-impact audio with a breathtakingly clear image. Viewers are immersed in the movie without being distracted by outside noise, bright lights or any number of occurrences that happen daily in today’s homes. It is an escape. Current technology makes a truly immersive home cinema more approachable than ever, however, it takes a professional to bring it all together. The room’s dimensions, construction and location are critical factors. An expert can configure the seating layout and arrangement in direct relation to the screen sizing, type and placement, and design an ideal sound system for the space. During construction it is important to consider installing a dampening material behind the sheetrock and under the subfloor. These additions help the room “float” and reduce the amount of sound transmitted throughout the rest of the home. Specialty construction materials are readily available to accomplish this task.
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design More elaborate A/V systems may require dedicated, isolated and filtered power and custom HVAC ducting, preventing air flow noise during viewing sessions. Styling and decor are also important considerations. Some homeowners prefer themed cinemas designed to reflect the look of a classic theater or the style of a particular period in time. It is important to consider acoustical panels and treatments as part of the decor. These not only will enhance the space visually, but are a critical component to the sound performance and isolation of the home cinema. Seating comes in a myriad of sizes, configurations, finishes and heights and can be customized to include elements like motorized recline, hot/cold cup holders, massage and even USB charging ports. Lighting is an often overlooked component of home cinema design. Not only a decorative accent, when properly designed lighting can include multiple settings such as an entry scene, a sporting event scene and a movie scene. The home cinema room shouldn’t be dark while in use. Lighting during viewing prevents eye fatigue and enhances the experience and safety.
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The audio/video system is one of the most obvious needs a home cinema has, however, it is often the least budgeted, under-designed and poorest implemented component of the project. In order to have a true cinematic experience, the A/V must be designed to work with the room’s sizing and layout. From large flat panels to video walls and projection, the vast array of products available can fit any room’s needs and customer desires. Brightness, color definition, contrast and resolution can be rich and accurate regardless of the size required. Hardware can be integrated into the room’s design, eliminating distractions from the viewing experience. Multi-channel audio system choices are constantly expanding and offering more speaker locations as well as performance levels. As the movie industry adopts new technological advances, the trickle down to the home cinema is a natural course. Choosing the right types of speakers, correct placement, proper wiring, number of subwoofers, processing/ amplification and source components is critical to the overall performance of a home cinema. A qualified professional can provide the expertise to design a proper sound system for any home cinema. September 2016 • athomemms.com | 43
styleMARKETPLACE
Bringing The movies home
Vintage Movie Popcorn Pillow $12.99, Kirkland's stores Nostalgia Electric 50's Style Kettle Popcorn Popper $79.99, Bed Bath & Beyond Comfort Research Big Joe Lux Zip It! Faux Leather Square Bean Bag $169.99, Bed Bath & Beyond Crosley CD Player Jukebox $149.99, Bed Bath & Beyond
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Cinema I Canvas Art Print $29.99, Kirkland's stores
Meridian Audio Speakers, Phoenix Unequaled Home Entertainment, call 901.624.0940 or visit www.pccmem.com for details
Duke Small Media Center $1199, Ethan Allen
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home trends
What It Takes to Find Your Dream Home Texxt by Karen Garner of Magnolia Home Photos by Michael Boatman, Design Works, and Steve Roberts.
Finding a dream home can be difficult, but sometimes selecting the perfect neighborhood presents the biggest challenge for homebuyers. They always say that “location, location, location” are the three most important factors in real estate, but more often potential homeowners focus on location compared to work, shopping, restaurants, fitness centers and parks. Many neighborhoods nowadays have amenities like lakes with fountains at the entrance, community pools or walking trails. Although proximity to schools is a big factor for families, property taxes are another huge component in decision making, especially for empty nesters and young buyers. Choosing a home in an area with low property taxes allows buyers to purchase more house with a lower monthly note. Many people are willing to commute to work and schools if it means they can pay lower property taxes while still building equity in a beautiful home. Memphis area homebuyers are finding such a location in Fayette County. Just seven miles from TN 385 off Poplar and Highway 57, Rossville offers a serene country setting with city amenities including sewer, water and streetlights. 48 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
Street appeal is a huge factor in choosing a home. The exterior, landscaping and the size of the yard must be inviting. Today’s buyers look for a “wow” factor from the moment they walk through the front door. Open floor plans can achieve just that. Homeowners in existing homes are constantly working to renovate their kitchens and great rooms to achieve open design by removing walls and updating with the newest amenities. Money is always the determining factor when purchasing an existing home. Buyers must determine whether they want a “move-in ready” home or a “fixer upper” with work to be done at a later date when funds are available. Many homeowners desire a new home equipped with modern green energy features to reduce utility bills while maintaining comfort.
One popular energy-saving feature is windows that require little maintenance and come with lifetime warranties. Choosing a new home alleviates worries about major maintenance and replacement expenditures and allows homeowners to more accurately plan their monthly budget. Aside from the budget, other major considerations in the home search include the number of bedrooms and baths on the first floor, the number of garage spaces and the overall floor plan.
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home trends
Both women and men play important roles in the home selection process. Women often search for the most convenient floor plan with an emphasis on family time and amenities, while men tend to focus on the home’s size, price and number of garages. Recently, the coveted “man cave” has become another important factor. Outdoor living areas are highly sought-after and are becoming considered like another room or an extension of the home. With the Mid South’s great weather these spaces can be used almost year round for eating, entertaining or just “chill time.” Outdoor living areas can be extremely versatile, allowing homeowners to customize the size and amenities they want, whether in a new or an existing home.
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Some of the most popular features in new or renovated homes include: • One or more walls with shiplap wood painted in the wall color, trim color or an accent color. The wood is usually pine or cedar installed horizontally or vertically. • Kitchen farm sink or vegetable farm sink • Free standing tub in the master bathroom • Walk-through master shower with a door on each end • Decorative or structural beams in the ceiling of great rooms or master bedrooms, commonly made of cedar, pine or spruce • Custom wood hood over the cooktop or range • Large furniture-style kitchen island with granite top and one or two pendant lights over the island • Varied ceiling types and heights • Exotic granite countertops • Large custom closets in all rooms, especially master closets and kitchen pantries • Bench and hooks near the door to the garage to hang coats, scarves and book bags
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getaway
The Historic Town of
Hardy
Nestled between the Arkansas Ozarks and the banks of a picturesque river lies quaint little Hardy. The town’s distinct Southern charm, quiet and comfortable B&Bs, endless antique shops and outdoor adventures keep families coming back for years. A short two-hour drive from Memphis makes Hardy the ideal getaway for busy fall weekends.
A Hidden Treasure in the Arkansas Ozarks
Text by Claire Peeler
Photos courtesy of Hardy Arkansas and Lucy Callicott
Historic Downtown District Downtown Hardy, with its long preserved original character, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Shop Main Street’s antique stores or discover one of the town’s three museums, which include the Vintage Motorcar Museum. Take a self-guided tour around meticulously restored classic cars and a wealth of automobile memorabilia. The museum’s staff is very knowledgeable on each item and eager to answer questions. 52 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
The Great Outdoors For a scenic escape to the great outdoors, the Spring River is right up the road. This waterway is perfect for trout fishing and offers the unique opportunity to catch walleye, a fish typically found in northern waters. The river is also an excellent location to spend a day canoeing, kayaking or floating.
Future Festivities The town returns to its roots every fall on Hardy Homesteaders Day. This year marks the 27th annual event. Set for October 1, the day is an homage to a bygone era, complete with blacksmithing and weaving demonstrations, open-fire cooking and turtle racing. Children can take a ride on a selfpropelled merry-go-round and learn how clothes were washed in the olden days. One lucky attendee will win a handmade quilt.
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getaway
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A Good Night’s Rest Several local bed and breakfasts provide the true small-town getaway experience in Hardy. The Biggers Bed and Breakfast is located just above the historic downtown and is a short drive to the Spring River. It’s the perfect place for couples looking for a quiet escape from the busy back-toschool schedule. Along with beautiful views, amenities include a pool, an outdoor spa and an on-site restaurant, Bluff Steakhouse. Another comfortable lodging is the Olde Stonehouse Bed & Breakfast, located in historical downtown Hardy. A bed and breakfast since 1992, the structure was built as a private home around 1924. It’s listed on the National Historic Register yet provides a contemporary and comfortable experience for guests. The Olde Stonehouse has plenty of deck space to sit and enjoy the fall foliage, and serves a complimentary hot breakfast every morning. Dining Out Hardy is filled with family-style restaurants that serve classic Southern cuisine. Corner Booth is a cute momand-pop diner located on Main Street. Delicious cuisine, friendly service and down-to-earth ambiance make it a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Corner Booth is open for breakfast and lunch, perfect for a bite to eat on a day of antique shopping. Located near the shops on Main Street, Pig ‘n Whistle is an authentic English pub with a welcoming staff and excellent food. The menu features classic pub fare from across the pond, including fish and chips and shepherd's pie. Stop in for lunch or dinner to experience this one-of-akind dining experience in the Ozarks. September 2016 • athomemms.com | 55
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travel travel
Text and photography courtesy of Barbara May
Take the ultimate scenic trip that will have your taste buds tingling and your glass full. California’s wine country has wine and more to enjoy! 58 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
travel Wineries are the heart and soul of the wine country in Napa Valley. The area offers an ideal climate for growing world-class grapes. The plethora of vineyards and tasting rooms makes it an extremely popular destination for wine enthusiasts. The natural beauty of the region with its rolling landscape and rugged hills provides a spectacular setting to enjoy visiting wineries, tasting fantastic vintages and dining in fine restaurants.
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travel Napa Valley Napa is the largest of Napa Valley’s five towns, and is conveniently located just an hour north of San Francisco and an hour south of Sacramento. This town offers an impressive diversity of food and activities. An unexpected blend of urban activity like interactive street art, food trucks and vibrant night life combines with the quaint Napa Valley character of a quiet river walk, hidden tasting rooms and lively farmers markets. No wine region in California draws as much attention as the Napa Valley with its 400+ wineries, from mom-andpop operations to large, state-of-the-art facilities. Napa wineries feature full-bodied Cabernets, fruity Merlots and buttery Chardonnays, just to name a few of the dozens of varieties produced in these fertile soils. A tasting is never far away and there are many ways to tour Napa Valley. Set out on your own adventure by car, join a group tour on a small bus, hire a limo for the day, ride the Wine Trolley or go for an excursion on the Wine Train. Napa Valley Wine Trolley tours allow visitors to take in the gorgeous scenery, aromas and tastes of world-class vineyards from a fun and unique perspective. The trolleys. replicas of late 1890s San Francisco cable cars, stop for tastings at wineries. Participants learn about each winery while taking in the scenic views from the open-air trolley and most tours include a picnic lunch. (Note: tastings at some of the wineries may incur an additional fee.)
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Another must-do is the Napa Valley Wine Train. Passengers travel back in time on this perfectly restored vintage train while enjoying a gourmet multi-course meal of regional food and hard-to-find wines. The 25-mile round trip passes Napa’s most stunning vineyards. One of the most popular Wine Train tours is the Castle Winery Tour to Castello di Amorosa. The tour includes a gourmet lunch in a luxurious antique dining car as the train journeys northbound through the Napa Valley. A private shuttle then transports guests to Castello di Amorosa for a two-hour tour and tasting. Rising above the hills is Castello di Amorosa, which translates to the “castle of love” in Italian. The authentically styled 13th-century Tuscan castle winery features high walls and five defensive towers, along with more than 30 acres of estate vineyards. It was built over a 15-year period by Dario Sattui, a fourth generation winemaker and owner of V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California. The Wine Train also offers tours of other Napa region wineries and specialty excursions such as Murder Mystery, Romance the Rail and Santa Train tours. Even guests whose plans don’t include a train tour will enjoy a visit to the train station and its Love Lock Bridge.
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travel Hundreds of lovebirds over the years have “locked their love” by decorating a simple padlock with their names and special dates, affixing it on the bridge fence and then tossing the key into the abyss below the bridge. A hot air balloon tour over the Napa Valley affords magnificent views from hundreds of feet in the air. After a sunrise launch the breeze ushers riders above corridors of grapes and between the mountains of one of the most picturesque valleys on Earth. The winds are gentle and the sun's rays make the valley shine like a jewel. Many balloon tours end with a champagne brunch. The experience lasts an hour but the memories... a lifetime! Located in downtown Napa The Uptown Theatre is the ultimate destination for live headline entertainment. The beautifully restored Art Deco theatre boasts a state-ofthe-art sound system, generous leg room, premium seating, bar and cafe featuring wines of the valley. Headliners include the finest acts in music and comedy. This year’s lineup has featured Pat Benatar, Gregg Allman, Wynonna Judd, Kathy Griffin, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Chris Botti and Chris Isaak, just to name a few. Other notable wine regions in the vicinity of Napa Valley are the Sonoma Valley, North Sonoma County, St. Helena and Calistoga. Splitting a vacation between San Francisco and Napa Valley is a great way to see more of what this area of California has to offer. In San Francisco, must-do activities include a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf, riding the trolley car to the Nob Hill, Chinatown, Union Square and SoMa areas, and a tour of Alcatraz. When to Go.. Summer is beautiful, but the wineries are crowded. The best time is in the fall, during the harvest, when there is less traffic and more opportunity for a hands-on experience.
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travel
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travel
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travel Fun Facts: • There are approximately 430 wineries in Napa County producing 815 different wine brands. • Ninety-five percent of all Napa Valley wineries are family owned. • The wine industry in Napa Valley generates over 300,000 jobs in the United States. • Vineyards range in elevations from sea level to 2,600 feet above sea level. • In the formative years of the California wine industry, vineyards were initially planted with Mission grapes for making sacramental wine. • California produces 90 percent of the wine made in the United States; the state also ranks first in wine consumption. • Wineries and vineyards are the second most popular tourist destination in California after Disneyland. • It takes about six to eight clusters, or approximately 600 to 800 wine grapes (2.4 pounds), to make a bottle of wine. • One barrel of wine contains 740 pounds of grapes, equivalent to 59 gallons or 24.6 cases of wine. • It is theorized there are approximately 44 million bubbles in a bottle of sparkling wine/champagne.
For more information about planning a Napa Valley vacation, contact the travel professionals at Travel Leaders at 901.377.6600 or 901.853.6200 or go to www.GoTravelLeaders.com. Travel Leaders is celebrating 30 years in the travel industry.
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experience this
King Biscuit Blues Festival Text by Ellie Simmons | Photography courtesy of Megan Slaughter
The 31st annual King Biscuit Blues Festival in historic downtown Helena, Arkansas, is expected to draw over 40,000 visitors to the quiet town of only 12,000 residents next month. The multi-day event features over 250 performers on four stages overlooking the Mississippi Delta. “In Arkansas and neighboring states, across the U.S. and around the world, blues lovers know about Helena and King Biscuit,” says Munnie Jordan, executive director of KBBF Operations. “They know our town and Delta region as the cradle and birthplace of the music with timeless influence and the power to bridge differences in language, culture, income, race, politics and religion.” Helena’s own King Biscuit Time radio show, for which the festival is named, holds the title of longest-running blues radio program in the nation. The show first aired in 1941 with host Sonny Boy Williamson and still broadcasts today from the Delta Cultural Center with host Sunshine Sonny Payne at 12:15 p.m. on weekdays. The King Biscuit Blues Festival will kick off Thursday, Oct. 6, with a lineup featuring Sonny Landreth and Grammy-winning producer and blues guitarist Roy Rogers. “The Godfather of British Blues” John Mayall takes the stage Friday night. Mayall recently celebrated the release of his 65th album, entitled Find a Way to Care, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. The festivities draw to an end Saturday, Oct. 8, with a grand finale performance by Grammy-winning blues legend Charlie Musselwhite. In addition to appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live, 68 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
Musselwhite was featured in the 2013 nationally televised broadcast of In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama alongside performers Justin Timberlake, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, William Bell and Queen Latifah. King Biscuit’s sixth annual “Call and Response” Blues Symposium, co-moderated by Roger Stolle and Don Wilcock, will be held Oct. 8 and will be free of admission courtesy of the Delta Regional Authority. The symposium is a forum in which musicians share career experiences and anecdotes with their fans in an intimate setting that encourages audience questions and open discussion.
Roy Rogers
Roger Stolle, owner of Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art store, will introduce panelists at 10:45 am. Among this year’s speakers are Natchez, Mississippi, natives Hezekiah Early and Robert Lee “Lil Poochie” Watson, who has worked with a catalogue of noted musicians including ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. The second portion of the program picks up at noon with moderator Don Wilcock, a seasoned blues journalist, author and King Biscuit veteran. The second group of panelists includes West Helena local legend Lonnie Shields and the awardwinning lead guitarist for Muddy Waters, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin. “By and large, these panelists are warm, friendly people who love what they do and are thrilled and honored to be interacting with fans who appreciate their obsession with their art,” Wilcock says. “I feel like I’m eavesdropping on back-fence discussions by the most exciting people in blues. These brilliantly creative people have a unique form of intellect that comes from earning a road warrior’s Ph.D.” Wilcock’s new book Helena Blues captures the vibrant spirit of the King Biscuit Blues Festival through his personal archives of artist interviews and quotes alongside 120 images captured by internationally acclaimed photographer Bob Van Degna at last year’s 30th anniversary celebration. “Frankly, I put my heart and soul into this work because I love Bob’s premise of looking at the festival as art rather than boogie, booze and barbecue,” Wilcock admits. The 148-page hardbound coffee table book will be available for purchase at the festival as well as online at bobvandegna.com, where a collection of sample photos from the book is also posted for viewing. “Unlike most blues festivals, there is only one motive here: to love the music and appreciate those who make it. It’s about becoming one in celebration of the primal sound that pulls you out of your chair to do the happy dance,” Wilcock says. “Never should you mistake the simple abandonment of ego here as naiveté. This is a total immersion blues baptism, a virtual odyssey into a Delta dream landscape where the promise of song becomes a tangible reality that obliterates the problems of everyday life, where I becomes we, and we are family.”
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social
Paw Prints Party
The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County held the 2016 Paw Prints Party at the Racquet Club of Memphis on August 20. The evening included live and silent auctions with fabulous items and all proceeds benefitted the society. Guests enjoyed live music and dinner while visiting with some furry friends.
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social
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Paw Prints Party - Paw Prints Party - Paw Prints Party - Paw Prints Party - Paw Prints Party
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social
1.
Ole Miss Ladies Football Forum
The 16th annual Ole Miss Ladies Football Forum was held on July 23 at the Olivia and Archie Manning Center on the Oxford, Mississippi, campus. Participants spent time with the Ole Miss football coaches, staff and players. The forum is designed to help ladies gain a better knowledge of the game and get to know the Ole Miss players and coaches. Attendees learned the ins and outs of football and how the Rebels practice and prepare for games.
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3.
4.
5.
6. 1. Coach Freeze fires up the crowd 2. Cynthia Brewer poses with the Sugar Bowl Trophy 3. Evan Engram and Kristy Dickey 4. Tish Robinson, Hugh Freeze, Holly Clark & Kim Eubanks 5. Patty Horton, Joni Duperier, Cathy Strauss, Frances Smith, Cindy Mitcham & Walterine Odom 6. Chad & Casey Kelly
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wedding
Monica Blassingame Kevin Campbell May 7, 2016 Memphis, TN
Parents of Bride: Mr. & Mrs. Kirby Blassingame Parents of Groom: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Campbell 76 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
wedding
SOURCES: Venue: Annesdale Mansion Rehersal Dinner: Fountain South Inn - Olive Branch, MS Planner: Denise Blassingame Photographers: Hal Jaffe assisted by Anna Leppert Florist: Uniquely Yours Tammy Durham & Angie Crawford Caterer: Scotty's Smokehouse Catering Baker: Jennifer Thompson Ashland, MS Band: Deep Blu Entertainment Rentals: Safety Quip - Cube Ice Company Invitations & Programs: Heartwood Paperie Hair: Nicole Vaughn of Studio H Salon Makeup: Lesa Goodwin of Trish McEvoy at Oak Hall Dress: Ballew Bridal Collierville, TN Bridesmaid Dresses: Ballew Bridal, Bella Bridesmaids & David's Bridal Rings: Van Atkins Jewelers New Albany, MS
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arts
Virginia Steele's New Book Explains Cancer for Kids Photos by Jessalyn Rozzell from Disciple Design | Text by Ellie Simmons
Mommy Has Cancer and That’s Okay, written by Virginia Whitsitt Steele of Collierville and illustrated by acrylic artist Chantel Barber of Bartlett, is a children’s story labeled “a difficult message delivered with love.” The book is set for release Sept. 21 but has already been on the receiving end of glowing praise from readers. “This is a book of clarity and hope that opens the way for parents to explore and address their children’s fears while snuggling with a good book,” says Dr. Al Weir, author of When Your Doctor Has Bad News. Weir is an oncologist and hematologist at the University of Tennessee West Cancer Center. Steele began writing shortly after she became a mother and was diagnosed with cancer herself. Mommy Has Cancer and That’s Okay is one of several stories she wrote for her own children during that time to help them understand and come to terms with her illness. “It gave me the opportunity to do what I had asked God, which was to give them the time to know me or for me to influence them. I’ve claimed the phrase 'live significantly, not strategically,'” Steele says. “It was a driving factor for me that every time I had a teachable moment, as soon as my kids were ready, I was there.” Medical terminology used in context with the story is defined on the page in kid-friendly language with sensitivity to any potential concerns or fears children may have. For instance, cancer is explained as a sickness that happens when “bad cells don’t stop growing and hurt good cells.” The words and their definitions are also listed separately in a glossary at the end. 78 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
“It’s a very unique book. Not only is it a story of hope and inspiration, I hope, for others, but it has some working tools that I used with my children,” Steele explains. “This is a learning moment for teaching life lessons.” The book features several Biblical verses that Steele found helpful during her battle with cancer, as well as an author’s note that lays out a list of what Steele calls “teachable moments.” “When you’re scared for your future, the opportunity to teach life lessons is huge,” she recalls. Mommy Has Cancer and That’s Okay is only the beginning of this author’s venture into a writing career. After establishing herself as a healthcare business development consultant, Steele has now decided to start her own business, Given Words Publishing. “The reason I named it Given Words Publishing is because I don’t feel like they’re my words. I think they’ve been given to me,” Steele says. “I had promised God that I would give service to other cancer patients, newly diagnosed patients, especially young mothers.” With her new business, Steele intends to publish the rest her written work. Some of the publications will be children’s stories, while other pieces will be aimed at adults. “I’ve always taken care of and ministered to cancer patients but I had never published that book,” she says. “So I published that book! This is the first of many, I hope.”
Virginia Steele September 2016 • athomemms.com | 79
entertaining
Brunch with the Bride
Text by Lesley Harris Colvett Photography by Sadie Tomes Event Design/Styling by Angela Mazanti Event Design
Event designer Angela Mazanti created a beautiful bridal shower for Danielle Devoto to celebrate her upcoming wedding with some of her closest girlfriends.Â
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Set the Scene
Mazanti set the scene by using the gorgeous, French-inspired home of the hostess as the backdrop. “We focused on the kitchen and the dining room for food display and the built-in bar nook for serving champagne. We placed a linen runner along the beautiful dining table and used a variety of herb plants, votive candles, hydrangeas and wooden crates to add texture and visual interest,” Mazanti says. She chose a huge French flea market tub as a container for a large mass of antique green hydrangeas on the marble-top island. The hostess provided handsome McCarty pottery pieces that Mazanti says worked perfectly for the food. The earthy and organic look of the handmade pieces blended nicely with the French country theme.
The Flowers
“I decided to use large masses of gorgeous antique green hydrangeas in French-inspired containers. It was a very simple but beautiful French country look,” Mazanti says.
Color Theme
Mazanti chose neutral tones to keep with the French country theme. The monochromatic color scheme, along with natural textures, created a simple but organic feel.
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entertaining
The Menu
According to Mazanti, menu ideas for a brunch like this could include quiche bites, frittata with basil and tomato, rosemary herbed biscuits with ham and pear chutney, heirloom tomato and cucumber salad, toasted bagels with cream cheese and Lox, and assorted pastries. Beverages could include mimosas or a bloody Mary bar with add-ins like peppers, celery, carrot sticks, pickles, olives, lemon and lime wedges, fresh cilantro and a variety of Tabasco sauces.
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Host Your Own:
“A reader could host their own brunch by finding out what style the guest of honor gravitates toward and letting that be the inspiration. Select one or two areas in the home that would work for a buffet, such as the dining table or a large kitchen island or both, and try to use a few key pieces of decor that will tie into the look or theme. Let the food play a role in the tabletop decor as well. The colors and textures of food are often overlooked as something that can be visually interesting enough to be used for part of the esthetic,” Mazanti says.
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dining out
Juicy, Fresh
and Fun Text by Ruthie Hall Photo courtesy of I Love Juice Bar
The owner of I Love Juice Bar describes it as an “I-want-to-eat-healthy-and-feel-great” kind of place. Scott Tashie’s new Cooper Young restaurant makes clean eating easy with a menu full of nutritious, delicious and convenient food options including fresh juices, smoothies and snacks. Almost everything is vegetarian, gluten-free and organic and always made with 100 percent whole fruits and vegetables. Tashie’s approach includes locally sourced ingredients, as well, including Wolf River Honey and Lydia’s Granola. He says, “Healthy eating (and drinking!) is our business, and we take it seriously. We pride ourselves on only offering plant-based options that look, taste and make you feel amazing.” Located in the heart of the eclectic Cooper Young district, I Love Juice Bar exudes a laid-back, friendly vibe with a rustic, industrial-style interior and warm wooden accents that play off the stainless steel and signature lime green accents. “We have free Wi-Fi and lots of seating, so we frequently have folks working, studying and hanging out on our patio,” says Tashie, who also owns Cosmic Coconut in East Memphis. Customers love to sit down and enjoy their drinks or snacks, but fast takeaway options in the grab-and-go section cater to those who are short on time. I Love Juice Bar’s app allows customers to place their order ahead of time and skip the wait. There’s more to I Love Juice Bar than good looks and healthy drinks. Tashie schedules live music on the patio regularly, along with quarterly events that will soon include their first anniversary party.
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Photo courtesy of Julie Wage Ross
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The juices are the main attraction, and for good reason. Tashie describes the popular Ginger Greens juice as a nutritional powerhouse. “You feel great drinking it and enjoy the benefits all day,” he says of the drink made with ginger, apple, kale, spinach, cucumber and touches of parsley and lemon.
Other I Love Juice Bar bestsellers include the Coco Banana, made with raw cacao powder, peanut butter, banana, spinach and coconut milk, and Mint to Be with mint, mango and pineapple. Power shots, smoothies and food items have been a big hit with customers, so much so that Tashie is expanding the menu with new sandwiches, salads and a Thai noodle bowl. “Our spring rolls, kale salad and greek yogurt parfait are the best kept secrets. You obviously think of juice when you think of us, but we also offer food and snacks that our customers start to crave,” he says. Tashie constantly tweaks I Love Juice Bar’s menu to reflect customers’ tastes. “We are truly delighted to create great-tasting, super-nutritious juices, smoothies and foods,” he says. “If your favorite thing isn’t on our menu, just let us know! We have fun at what we do and look forward to being of service to you in any capacity.”
I Love Juice Bar 553 South Cooper, Memphis 901.433.9236 www.ilovejuicebar.com Facebook: @juicebarmidtownmemphis Instagram: @ilovejuicebar901 September 2016 • athomemms.com | 89
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in the kitchen
Creamy Tomato Soup Looking for a quick and easy school-night supper that your whole family will love? Photo by Justin Fox Burks | Food styling by Jennifer Chandler
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Homemade tomato soup can be made in just over 35 minutes. Make a double batch so you can have some in the freezer for another day. And ‌ we all know that a bowl of creamy tomato soup and a warm grilled cheese sandwich is a marriage made in heaven. Instead of serving the sandwich on the side, try cutting it up and using the cheesy squares as croutons!
Excerpted from The Southern Pantry Cookbook by Jennifer Chandler
Ingredients •
2 Tbsp. olive oil
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1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion (1/2 small onion)
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 can (28-oz.) crushed tomatoes
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1/2 tsp. dried oregano
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1/4 tsp. dried thyme
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1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
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3 cups chicken stock
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1 cup heavy cream
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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Directions
In a large stockpot over mediumhigh heat, warm the oil until a few droplets of water sizzle when carefully sprinkled in the pot. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, oregano, thyme and sugar and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken stock and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until the soup has thickened, about 20 minutes. Whisk in the heavy cream and simmer for 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm. Serves 4 to 6.
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happy hour
Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients
• 1 1/2 oz. Cazadores tequila
Directions • Put into shaker with ice
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
• Shake & strain into glass
• 1 Tbsp. simple syrup • 1 1/2 Tbsp. blood orange juice
• garnish with sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier Recipe courtesy of River Oaks Grill, Memphis 94 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
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Sources 18| HEALTHY YOU Special thanks to -Michelle R. Johns, Health Promotion Specialist, Certified Health Coach, RYT 200
Paint: Sherwin Williams, Paper Lantern
"Why Conquering Stress Can Help Your Heart." Http://www. health.harvard.edu/heart-health/why-conquering-stress-can-help-yourheart. Harvard Women's Health Watch, Mar. 2016. Web. Aug. 9.
Plumbing Fixtures: Falk Plumbing
Powder Room Vanity: J. Tribble
ORNISH, DEAN. The SPECTRUM. New York: Ballantine, 2007. Print.
Sconces: Graham’s Lighting
Buettner, Dan. The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2009. Print.
Tile: Estella Mosaic by Artistic Tile through Gray’s Creek Natural Stone
Rosenthal, Joshua. Integrative Nutrition: Feed Your Hunger for Health and Happiness. New York, NY: Integrative Nutrition Pub., 2008. Print.
Master Bathroom
Counter top: Snow storm marble, Gray’s Creek Natural Stone Wall color: Benjamin Moore, Pelican Gray Trim color: Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace
Hyman, Mark. The Blood Sugar Solution 10-day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body's Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Cabinetry: Old City Millwork
28| HOME FEATURE
40| DESIGN
Special thanks to - Anna Lattimore, Interior Deisgn Architect: John Harrison Jones Construction: Frank Herdzina, H&H Construction Windows and Doors: Gates Lumber Kitchen and Bath Cabinetry: Old City Millwork Door and cabinetry hardware: H.R. Ford Lighting: Graham’s lighting Plumbing fixtures: Faulk Plumbing Kitchen appliances: Cenwood Living Room Barcelona style chairs: Palladio Interiors Orange Upholstered Chairs: Lee Industries Rug: Kiser’s Floor Fashions Window Treatments: Anna Lattimore, Interior Design Ceiling Tiles: Mirth Studio Lighting: Graham’s lighting Kitchen Counter tops: Soapstone, Gray’s Creek Natural Stone and Tile Appliances, Cenwood
Lighting: Graham’s Lighting Bench: Lee Industries through Blu D’or
Special thanks to - Scott Fuelling - Pheonix Communications
48| HOME TRENDS Special thanks to - Karen Garner of Magnolia Homes, Michael Boatman, Steve Roberts, and Design Works
58| TRAVEL Special thanks to - Barbara May, Owner of Travel Leaders
68| EXPERIENCE THIS Special thanks to - Munnie Jordan, Executive director of King Biscuit Blues Festival KingBiscuitFestival.com
78| ARTS Special thanks to - Virginia Witsitt Steele, Jessalyn Rozzell, discipledesign.com
Back splash tile: Tabarka Studio through Robert F. Henry Tile
88| DINING OUT
Custom Hood: Twisted Dimensions
Special thanks to - Scott Tashie, ilovejuicebar.com
Porch Floor tile, Arto Brick and Tile: Robert F. Henry
98| ON A GOOD NOTE
Limestone hearth and console top: Christie Cut Stone
Special thanks to - David Lee, lifejacketsolutions.com
Custom Sconces: Graham’s Lighting September 2016 • athomemms.com | 97
on a good note
Keeping Your Head Above Water David Lee, the founder of Life Jacket Solutions, is making water safety cool with collegiate branded life jackets. The company’s mission is threefold: to bring an element of fun to a safety item no one really wants to wear; to spread awareness of the importance of water safety; and to support those who have been affected by drowning and near drowning incidents.
Text by: Meaghan Fogarty | Photography by David Lee
ee experienced water-related tragedy firsthand when a close family friend passed away due to accidental drowning. The incident inspired him to start Life Jacket Solutions and to donate a portion of every sale to Hugs Foundation for Near Drowning Children. After the tragic event, Lee began researching water safety and found that in the United States drowning was the fourth leading cause of accidental death. Inspired to increase awareness of the importance of water safety, he designed and patented the “Jersey Jacket.” The design allows wearers to support their favorite sports team by wearing the team’s colors and logo while promoting water safety. All Life Jacket Solutions’ products are designed with both safety and comfort in mind, making it fun and easy to stay safe while enjoying time with friends and family on the water. Their durable design also allows water sport athletes to support their favorite college team on the water. The company currently has 22 university licenses and plans to add more colleges, products and designs in the near future. Lee has committed to donate a portion of every sale to the Hugs Foundation for Near Drowning Children. This foundation supports children who have fallen victim to brain damage due to near drowning incidents. 98 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • September 2016
Many children who have experienced near drowning are left with mild to severe brain damage, and insurance often doesn’t cover the costs of their treatments. Hugs Foundation cares for both the children and their families by connecting them with others who have gone through the same experience. They provide information on treatments as well as financial support families need for medical care. To browse products and learn more about Life Jacket Solutions, visit their webpage at www.lifejacketsolutions. com.
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