By Ashley Wahl Winter is a treasure trove of fragrance and memory. One whiff of cinnamon and I’m back in Grammy’s kitchen, watching the birds through the sunny window as cinnamon sticks simmer on the stovetop. “Is that pesky critter back?” she asks, squinting as she scans the front yard, feeders swinging like wobbly pendulums. […]
Talking Shop A few minutes with a holiday decorating pro By Jim Dodson For Greensboro native John Herron, Christmas begins the day after Halloween. That’s when the owner of the popular Herron House Flowers in Thomasville begins fielding calls from new and longtime customers across the Triad eager to have his firm decorate their […]
The Road Less Traveled To witness an orchid bloom is a lesson in patience By Ross Howell Jr. Hadley Cash, founder of Marriott Orchids (named for a relative on his mother’s side who was killed in World War II), has been breeding orchids professionally in Kernersville for more than 30 years. His hybrids have been […]
Japanese Maple Its glory dazzles year-round, even in the heart of winter By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor The beloved Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) has been celebrated in prose and poems for centuries. The late critic and writer Clive James memorialized this special tree in his valedictory farewell poem “Japanese Maple,” where he muses on the […]
Oh, Christmas Tree! How North Carolina became the fertile crescent of the Fraser fir By Ross Howell Jr. Chances are the tree you decorated for your home this holiday season is a descendant of natives in the North Carolina mountains. The Fraser fir, Abies fraseri, owes its name to an enterprising, “indefatigable” botanist, a Scotsman […]
Modern Mountain Retreat Winter just got a lot hotter — and cozier, too By Kara Cox Every winter, the Tennessee mountains are my getaway of choice. With the Great Smoky Mountain National Park only a few hours away from the Triad, pack a bag and head out for a relaxing mountain weekend with all the […]
A Pretty Face Label maker Wright of Thomasville creates magic outside the bottle By Cynthia Adams Sometimes it’s a mere 3 x 3 inches, sometimes a fraction more on the wine bottle. Inconsequential, you may think. Hardly, says Don Wright, who heads Wright of Thomasville, a creator of labels for wines, spirits, liquors and […]
Bloom Where You Are Planted High Point designers Allen and James grow their business with plants By Jennifer Bringle High Point interior designers Patti Allen and Stephanie James of Allen and James Interior Design believe in the power of plants. Whether to inject color and life into a space or to take their own […]
Primi Piatti North Carolina—based Vietri celebrates the Italian lifestyle By Tracy Bulla Above Photo: Vietri expands its Pumpkins Collection with new additions drawing inspiration from a walk through Florence’s street markets and reflecting a playful yet sophisticated take on the fall harvest. Sharing and enjoying meals with family and friends with beautifully rendered, artisan tabletop […]
Native Intelligence Indigenous plants keep a garden healthy — and beautiful By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor Native plants are an important part of a healthy ecosystem, but can they also be beautiful additions to our landscapes? “Absolutely,” says Steve Windham, landscape designer and owner of Root & Branch Gardens in Greensboro. “A lot of people […]
The Lost Kitchen Nothing’s cooking amid corona chaos By Jim Dodson During an ordinary year — is there really such a thing anymore? — a complete kitchen renovation can be an invitation to a slow form of madness. The dust and debris of the demo stage, one hears repeatedly from those who’ve undertaken the […]
Shelter Skelter New trends for the new normal in the age of ’rona By Katy Erikson and Leslie Moore πAble Table. Gather round this feat of engineering by interior designer Ray Booth: the Block Dining Table from Hickory Chair ($12,102). Its honed marble-and-steel pedestal bases support a whopping 108-inch wide surface, perfect for family dinners, […]
La Dolce Vita Living the sweet life right now By Cynthia Adams An officemate neighbor with a small business favors Italian shoes and clothing, and European wines and delectables — la dolce vita. The expression is also the title of a 1960 Fellini comedy-drama, which translates to “the sweet life.” When it comes to […]
By Ash Alder “And here is the serpent again,” wrote the late poet Mary Oliver, “dragging himself out from his nest of darkness . . . looking for the sun.” Three decades after she wrote it, Oliver’s “Spring” slides into consciousness. Oh, how you’ve missed these sunny mornings. As soft light filters through the kitchen […]
Back to Nature Sustainable gardening is easier than you might think By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor Over the past few years, “sustainable” has become quite the buzzword. But what does sustainable gardening really mean? Experts generally agree sustainable gardens employ practices that conserve resources like water and soil, reduce the carbon footprint, promote biodiversity and […]
Flower Power When you’re the floral designer for the White House, a post that Laura Dowling held from 2009–2015, flowers take on added significance. Think: diplomatic messages or symbols used in arrangements at state dinners. And then of course, there are the Christmas decorations for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, requiring about 55 trees, miles of garlands, […]
Traditional and Modern Embracing a dual aesthetic guides product designer Carol Gregg’s sustainable furniture business — and lifestyle By Tracy Bulla In 1997, Carol Gregg — founder, owner and “Chief Hen” of Red Egg —was inspired to create a business importing Asian antiques and vintage designs during a trip to Hong Kong. Eventually, the brand […]
Cat’s New Cradle Wildcat Territory founder Nancy Reib creates a new life in Thomasville By Tracy Bulla A self-described city gal, Nancy Reib pulled up roots in the Big Apple to create a different, more serene life in the Triad five years ago. President of home décor manufacturer Wildcat Territory, Nancy and her husband Ibo […]
Lighting up the Longest Night By Jim Dodson Every family has its holiday traditions, moments that make the meaning of the season come alive. For our far-flung clan, that event is a winter-solstice gathering that lands on the doorstep on or about December 21st, bringing our four grown children and their significant others home […]
The Family Table Generations of the Jarvis family have gathered round a Depression-era masterpiece By Noah Salt • Photographs by Mark Phelps and Pete Williams In 1935, Eugene Jackson Jarvis, a cabinetmaker employed by Oettinger Lumber Company of Greensboro, decided to make his wife, Blanche a special gift for her birthday — a beautiful dining […]
Keeping Time And the timeless appeal of Winston-Salem’s Old Town Clock Shop & Repair By Nancy Oakley • Photographs by John Koob Gessner Amid a soundtrack of whirring and ticking and chiming and the occasional birdcall of “cuckoo,” Nate Moffatt holds up two pairs of dancing figures, each clasping hands while they whirl around […]
The art of setting a beautiful table is all about knowing your guests and setting a welcoming mood By Noah Salt • Photographs by Amy Freeman Without apology, Laura Griffin is a force of nature and woman with a storied past — which explains why she’s so brilliant at designing and hosting anything that […]
Hellebore Heaven Winter puts the bloom on Lenten roses By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor The fascination started with just one look. Janice Nicolson spotted a plant blooming by a landscape client’s front porch, in shade, in the dead of winter. “What is this plant?” she asked pointing to the flower she had never seen before. Her […]
By Ash Alder In the winter garden, everything feels like a tiny miracle. Each ice crystal. Each smiling pansy. Each tender bud on the heirloom camellia. Even the sunlight looks different than you’ve ever seen it — softer, more forgiving. In this bare-branched season of shadow and new light, the sweetness of infinite possibility […]
Playing Favorites Asheboro designers Lindsey Cooper and Amy Barney dish on some of their preferred likes, trends and inspirations By Tracy Bulla • Photograph by Amy Freeman Asheboro, N.C.–based Collective Interiors aims to inspire its clients to embrace their creativity by painting, making and decorating together. Co-owners Lindsey Cooper and Amy Barney (both busy moms […]
Mod Pod Midcentury designs get a second life at AREA modern home By Quinn Dalton • Photographs by Bert VanderVeen Step inside AREA modern home at 511 South Elm in Greensboro and you’ll feel you’ve finally found the home you always imagined was out there waiting for you. In fact AREA’s clean-lined, […]
Design with Purpose For Austin Rese, the business is about more than just pretty rooms By Waynette Goodson During my stint as editor of Casual Living and Exterior Design magazines, I kept hearing the name “Austin Rese” as something of an upscale designer with a high-profile clientele. When I caught up with him to schedule […]
Memories of Montaldo’s And how a sofa became more than just a piece of furniture By Billy Ingram Photographs by John Koob Gessner Although its been gone now for almost a quarter century, Realtor Barry Hardeman enjoys reminiscing about Greensboro’s most sophisticated women’s ready-to-wear and millinery shop and its magnificent accoutrement. “When Greensboro was […]
Come Sit a Spell! In praise of garden benches By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor Illustration by Laurel Holden Every garden needs at least one good bench, a place to pause and rest our world-weary souls, and a spot to dream and plan for the future. If it’s true that gardens are extensions of our homes, […]
Feats of Clay Curry Wilkinson Pottery revives an artisanal tradition of Alamance County By Nancy Oakley Photographs by John Koob Gessner There’s something vaguely familiar about the raised, sweeping leaf pattern adorning a vase, as if it were fashioned centuries ago — if not for the contemporary look of the vessel’s tall height, clean, […]
From the Editor The Cruelest Sport Planting and pruning ain’t for sissies By Jim Dodson Aficionados of bullfighting and boxing both claim that their sport is the cruelest sport of all. They are certainly among the most violent. Long distance cyclists make a similar claim, noting the acute fatigue and dangers of the open […]
Garden Geeks’ Paradise Edgefield Plant & Stone Center appeals to anyone with a passion for plants By Jim Dodson • Photographs by Lynn Donovan “We’re garden geeks,” says Cindy Jones with a laugh, pausing near the end of another busy day at Edgefield Plant & Stone Center. “Craig and I are all about helping our […]
Spot On A local designer dishes on her role as a prestigious Style Spotter for High Point Market and offers up the latest design trends By Kara Cox Fifteen years ago, I attended my first High Point Market as a young product editor for a home furnishings industry trade publication, Home Accents Today. I learned […]
The Champagne Name It’s not just any old bubbly By Angela Sanchez Champagne is classic, timeless, associated with elegance and class. It is a mark of distinction and celebration. The sound of the cork popping tells you something great has just happened. It gives you a feeling of fun and accomplishment at the end of […]
Wild Kingdom Making peace with wildlife in an urban garden By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor I have a confession to make: Yours truly was once a cold-hearted executioner. A new gardener driven by glossy magazine photos, I wanted the perfect landscape free of nibbled leaves and gnawed blooms. So, I lured the soft, slimy bodies of […]
By Ash Alder Trumpet creeper is blooming. Queen Anne’s lace adorns roadside ditches, and in the kitchen, tea is steeping on the stovetop, sugar bowl on the table. Summer is sensuous, flavorful, dreamy. Dahlias and daisies. Fried squash blossoms. Beach trips and sunburns and roadside stands. Pull over. Load up on pickled okra. Homemade salsas […]
Split Level Home Two personalities, one decor By Jane Borden • Illustration by Meridith Martens Since I moved to Los Angeles in 2013, I have become an importer of Southern arts and decor. OK, the accurate term is smuggler. Each time I fly to Greensboro for a visit or holiday, I pack an empty duffel […]
By Ash Alder If the flowering cherry tree could speak, she wouldn’t tell of her own beauty. Words could never capture it. But with her powder-soft voice, she might sing of the spring garden: banksia rose spilling over with fragrant yellow blooms; copper mobile, whirling beneath the redbud; early tulips, dizzy from the tender kiss […]
Flora’s Abode Springtime fuels a gardener’s obsession, where the lessons we learn can be applied to life By Cheryl Capaldo Traylor Early morning garden tour, cup of coffee in hand, house shoes shuffling along the garden path, I observe and reminisce about each plant I pass by. Who gifted that first bluebell; who gave the […]
What’s on the Plate Soul mates for fine wines By Angela Sanchez Photograph by John Koob Gessner Cheese and wine are natural partners, and wherever there’s good wine, good cheese is sure to follow. It’s a partnership of land, stewardship and artisan craft that’s been around for hundreds of years. If you walk into a […]
Small Wonder A profusion of plants, handmade cards and gifts sprout from Greensboro’s The Tiny Greenhouse By Jim Dodson Photographs by Lynn Donovan Proof that very good things come in small packages — and sometimes small places — is the perfectly named, and charmingly curated, The Tiny Greenhouse on Beaman Place in Greensboro. Tucked into […]
In the House Make that “houses.” Starting at 10 a.m. on April 6 the Junior League of Winston-Salem opens the doors to some of the most fab dwellings in the Twin City and Forsyth County for the Tour of Fine Spaces. Now in its 14th year, the Tour will spotlight just about every kind of […]
Redd Alert Laura Redd Interiors’ thoughtful approach to design By Robin Sutton Anders Greensboro interior designer Laura Redd loves furniture, but she doesn’t mind if you put your feet on it. In fact, Redd recently walked into a senior living facility she designed and saw a group of seniors hanging out with their feet propped […]
That Old Chestnut Making a comeback in the skillet By Jan Leitschuh Hot, roasted chestnuts have probably not been part of your holiday treat repertoire, despite the ubiquitous Christmas reminder in song. I would have been the same, except I first tasted chestnuts in Wisconsin, as my mother, a nostalgic World War II bride, roasted […]
Art for Living At Winston-Salem’s Visual Index, affordability and fun are key By Nancy Oakley • Photographs by John Gessner For Toni Tronu, there’s very little in life and art that isn’t “amazing” or “awesome.” Frequently peppering her speech with seemingly her two favorite words, Tronu loves nothing more than for customers to come in […]
Winter Almanac By Ash Alder Winter is here. Deadhead the rose bush. Prune the wild muscadine. Move the front porch pumpkins to the compost pile. Outside, a pair of cardinals flits between the naked branches of the dogwood and the rim of the pedestal birdbath. You think of the piebald gypsy cat who used to […]
The Christmas Whisperer Finding seasonal charms at Larry Richardson’s Plants and Answers in Greensboro By Cynthia Adams • Photographs by Amy Freeman No matter how tired Larry Richardson is after weeks of bombing his way across the Triad with yards of garlands and gobs of glittery bits for clients of his two businesses, he dives […]
Here Today, Gone Tomato Nothing says Southern cooking more than a plate of fried green tomatoes By Jane Lear The tomato is a tropical berry — it originated in South America — and so it requires plenty of long, hot sunny days to reach its best: the deep, rich-tasting, almost meaty sweetness many of us […]
Rare and Beautiful Treasures By Jim Dodson When you are slowly restoring an old house, as my wife and I have been doing for two years as of this autumn, patience is more than a virtue because you never quite finish some projects before there is another — maybe two or three — waiting to […]
Instant Otto The universal influence of designer Otto Zenke By Billy Ingram Mysterious footsteps in the dark, objects moving inexplicably from room to room, pencils rolling away on their own accord, drained coffeepots, air growing icy cold while someone unseen calls out a name from an empty hallway. If any spirit deserves to be restless […]
He’s Got It Covered Why Thomas Seabolt is one of the most sought-after upholsterers in the Triad By Robin Sutton Anders Photographs by Amy Freeman Thomas Seabolt isn’t one to turn up his nose at a discarded sofa — not at first, anyway. Regarded by many local designers as the Triad’s premier reupholsterer, Seabolt has […]
Maria’s Magic Maria Adams Designs maintains classic sensibilities with contemporary flair By Nancy Oakley Ask Maria Adams about current design trends, and she’ll break into an infectious laugh, explaining that she isn’t a trendy person. “I’m a traditionalist at heart,” says the Winston-Salem native, whose interior design business, Maria Adams Designs, operates out of Oak […]
Urban Outfitters Two antique dealers bring the rustic past to downtown Greensboro and Winston-Salem Photographs by Lynn Donovan The Farmer’s Wife 339 S. Davie St., Greensboro, (336) 274-7920, farmerswifeantiquesandflowers.com Shopkeeper Daniel Garrett can rightfully claim to be both an urban survivor and a retail trendsetter in downtown Greensboro. Over three decades ago he started his […]
Browser’s Delight Three Triad shops offer one-of-a-kind finds By Nancy Oakley Elizabeth’s at Hanes Park, 851 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem; (336) 723-2009 or www.facebook.com/elizabethsathanespark/ Setting foot into Elizabeth’s at Hanes Park is a bit like setting foot into someone’s loft. Contemporary furnishings mix with vintage pieces, while an appealing blend of colorful accessories, from pillows […]
Red, White and Blueberries Look no farther than Gibsonville to find your Blueberry Thrill By Annie Ferguson Photographs by Amy Freeman My children think frozen blueberries are dessert. They “sneak” them from the freezer only to be betrayed moments later by indigo-hued lips so deeply tinged you’d think they’d been swimming in the Arctic. […]
A Moveable Feast A late summer afternoon, a slight breeze, a golden cast to an expanse of grass where kids toss a Frisbee, dogs squirm contentedly on their backs, and where a red-checked tablecloth is spread out for a picnic. What’s in the basket? We asked a couple of our favorite foodie friends to contribute […]
Live from Greensboro Tasha Agruso’s evolution from legal eagle to design diva By Robin Sutton Anders Tasha Agruso was folding clothes when she got a call from one of the producers of the Rachael Ray show last year. “They were putting together a segment on rooms that were made-over for less than $100, and […]
Heat and Memory The simple pleasures of a Southern boyhood come full circle By Jim Dodson Something unexpected is happening to me. I’m starting to really like summer. I know, crazy huh? Who the heck doesn’t like summer? Evenings on the porch. Weekends on the lake. Vacations with the kids. Reunions with aunties and […]
Love on the Half Shell The subtle saltwater complexity of oysters provokes an elemental hunger. And there’s no wrong way to eat them By Jane Lear For most folks, their first oyster is a rite of passage, often viewed, if the bivalve is raw on the half shell, with trepidation and/or bravado. Mine was not […]
Dim Bulbs Gardeners just aren’t diggin’ bulbs anymore — a trend that’s poised to change By Ross Howell Jr. My mother, Rachel, would be disappointed to learn that flower bulbs — essential elements of her garden — have fallen into a slump. She’d be even more disappointed to learn her son’s lassitude has contributed to […]
Awesome Aubrey Home From home accents to renovations, the Greensboro design showroom meets all needs By Robin Sutton Anders Photographs by Amy Freeman A quiet, predictable calm settled over Sharon Nussbaum’s life when her youngest left for college. In other words, “I was bored,” Sharon says. “I loved being at home with my kids, and I […]
Home Runs It’s spring, the season to find out what’s old, what’s new — and new again — at three events celebrating all things related to home Price-less As in, Julian Price, Greensboro insurance magnate and philanthropist whose 1928 Tudor Revival estate, Hillside, has been the talk of the Triad. Set in the Gate […]
King of Spades Unearthing the delights of spring By Jim Dodson Being a true son of winter, yet an increasingly obsessed gardener, I’m always of two minds with the arrival of spring. On the one hand, I’m always sad to see the crisp days and clear Arctic nights of star-spangled heavens — not to […]
This American Life Steven Burke’s and Randy Campbell’s astounding collection of American folk art buildings By Ross Howell Jr. • Photographs by John Gessner For three decades Hillsborough’s Steven Burke and Randy Campbell have quietly been assembling what’s probably the largest collection of American folk art buildings in the United States — and […]
Blessed Be the Piece Maker For Daniel Sebille, life is more than a colorful mosaic By Waynette Goodson • Photograph by Amy Freeman You’ve probably never heard the name Daniel Sebille, but if you’re a Winston-Salem resident, you may have experienced his art. Ever tossed back a cold one at Foothills Brewing? You’re sure […]
Old Stuff Through a New Light Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro is a maker’s paradise By Robin Sutton Anders • Photographs by Sam Froelich My 5-year-old made a big mistake when he passed on this errand. Wandering the rows of Reconsidered Goods, a whale of a shop in a warehouse on Greensboro’s Patterson Avenue next to […]
Somm and Substance Three Triad sommeliers reval the passion — the challenge — of their chosen calling By Ross Howell Jr. • Photograph by Sam Froelich Want to know more about wine but were afraid to ask? Well, there’s a cadre of friendly, articulate and ridiculously knowledgeable sommeliers scattered in our midst. […]
Mama Squirrel’s House By Jim Dodson Every morning during our predawn walk through our neighborhood in Greensboro’s Old Starmount with the dogs, we pass three houses of similar age but in different stages of life. Two door up sits a fine old house in the throes of serious reconstruction, my family home of 40 […]
And maybe the dawn of a second golden age By Jim Dodson • Photograph by Lynn Donovan During a brief lull in business in his handsomely kitted-out shop, standing beside a gorgeous mahogany three-over-two chest of drawers (circa 1830), Larry Laster tells an engaging story about how, in effect, he got into the fine […]
How Leland Little became one of the preeminent purveyors of fine antiques in the Southeast By Jim Dodson • Photographs by Sam Froelich Just before 10 o’clock on a cool Saturday morning late last spring, my wife, Wendy, and I dropped into the historic Hillsborough-based gallery of Leland Little Auctions for its annual spring […]
Fabric Fetish Spinning a new yarn at The Interior Alternative By Waynette Goodson • Photograph by Amy Freeman Tiffany Janovak loves fabric. She once had a 380-square-foot apartment in New York with three closets, and one of them held nothing but remnants and bolts of fabric. Originally from Denver, Janovak “got conned” by a […]
Well-Preserved A brief chat with two of the brightest minds in historic preservation Photograph by Amy Freeman We at Seasons Style & Design are mad for old houses and antiques, particularly here in the Piedmont region. But we know a couple of blokes who are even more in tune with historic preservation than we […]
Bus Boys and Girls Triad Touring Tasters, a mobile dining club, unites food lovers across the region Photograph by Sam Froelich It’s 5 o’clock and Serial Eater is out the door like a shot. We’ve got a bus to catch and don’t want to miss it. You see, this isn’t just any old run-of-the-mill bus […]
Summer is a poem you can taste By Ash Alder In summer, the song sings itself. — William Carlos Williams Swollen fruit beckons us to the garden, the orchard and the roadside stand, where baskets of golden peaches draw in the warmth of the morning. Trailing vines wind along the woodland path, but damselfly […]
Cherchez la Fermière The French Farmer’s Wife brings a slice of authentic France to Kernersville By Nancy Oakley • Photographs by Sam Froelich It’s a quarter-to-nine on a Thursday morning in spring, and already, a handful of customers are lined up, eager to see what’s behind the massive doors of Kathee Zurian’s barn […]
Splendor in the Grass Summer is made for picnics Styling by Randy McManus Food Styling by Joe Curran Photographs by John Gessner There are few things so pleasant as a picnic eaten in perfect comfort.” So said the late playwright and novelist Somerset Maugham, echoing a romantic notion that has been around Western cultures at […]
Here Comes the Sun . . . As in, Sunbrella performance fabrics By Waynette Goodson Ask almost anyone if they’ve heard of “Sunbrella,” and you’ll find that they light up when they talk about the umbrella on their back patio. The name is a household word. Where does Sunbrella come from? Our own backyard, the […]
A Long Weekend Away Let the travel muse inspire your home décor By Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke As we move into the languid summer months ahead, why not plan a high-design vacation that doesn’t require a plane ticket and passport? Think: Modernist chic in Charleston, a spa-centric sanctuary in Cary, a taste of […]
Photographs by Sam Froelich A Bowlful of Wonderful for Breakfast in Winston-Salem It’s a chilly spring morn and Serial Eater needs to get hoppin.’ When we hear the strains of “Let’s Go to the Hop” waft out into the Arts District’s Trade Street from a beloved institution, Mary’s Gourmet Diner, we’ve found our breakfast stop. Follow […]
By Ash Alder Ballad of Spring If ever there were a more delicious poem than spring, perhaps only the bluebird would know it. Or the nectardrunk duskywing. Or the glossy black rat snake, so entranced by the color of the robin’s egg that he swallows the pastel vessel whole. Although the vernal equinox occurs on […]
