New Southern Style for the Kitchen
If Southern style conjures images only of lace doilies and floral teacups for you, you’re missing out. Sure, we Southerners are rooted in tradition and those roots run deep, but the new South allows for creative liberties that are sure to suit any style, whether you’re in the mood for dumplings or dim sum. While there are a few ingredients that are essentially Southern, it’s up to you to add your own flavor.
Interior designer Cortney Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina, believes the South is in the midst of a renaissance. “Southern decor has transformed immensely,” she says. “We’re really leading the trend of mixing styles. We’re becoming more and more eclectic.”
Here are a few ways to incorporate the hallmarks of Southern decor into any kitchen.
Shaker-style cabinets. A staple in many Southern homes, they’re timeless and eternally stylish. “There’s nothing more Southern than a Shaker kitchen,” Bishop says. If you want a different feel, you can update this traditional cabinetry with modern, oversize drawer pulls.
Patterned walls. “The South has always appreciated wallpaper, and we’ve made it our own,” Bishop says. If you’re feeling apprehensive, add intrigue by papering only an accent area or the inside of a glass cabinet.
Mason jars. The former “hillbilly wineglass” is now a kitchen mainstay. It’s affordable, available in most grocery stores and incredibly versatile. Use mason jars as candleholders to decorate a kitchen island or on the counter to display baked goods or snacks.
Taxidermy. The “fauxidermy” trend is riding high, which makes for lots of animal-friendly options. Retailers from Target to Restoration Hardware carry pieces for any budget. “Steer” clear of placing anything with fake fur near cooking areas.
A quilt as a table cover. Bishop views family heirlooms as an important aspect of Southern style. “They tell the story of history, the story of where we came from,” she says.
A quilt or an afghan in the living room can look dated. Draped across a table, though, it’s unexpected and surprisingly civilized — quintessentially Southern.
Clapboard. Drive through the historic districts of many Southern towns and you’re bound to see older clapboard homes. I love the idea of a clapboard kitchen wall in an otherwise modern kitchen.
Random eccentricity. Though some of us may be nuttier than peanut brittle, we still tend to mind our manners, bless our hearts. What the rest of the country calls crazy, we see simply as eccentric. So add an ornate chandelier to your kitchen. No really, we insist.
Antiques. Take them from the shadows to center stage. Down here we use our grandmother’s dishes, and not just for the holidays. Antique silver vases or trays mix beautifully with new stainless steel elements.
Nature-inspired hues. “The palette in the South is lighter,” Bishop says, noting that Southerners spend much of their time outside. “And we bring those outdoor colors indoors.”
A grass-green backsplash is a fresh departure from standard-issue gray or white. But even a sky-blue rug or a sunflower-yellow kitchen towel can lighten the look of your room. Accessorizing surfaces with crisp seasonal fruit is the cherry on top.
American woodwork. “It’s popular and hip now, but we have always appreciated local artisans,” Bishop says of her fellow Southerners. “The new Southern style is younger generations carrying on old traditions of woodworking. Younger Southerners are looking forward, not backward. They’re interested in design as a way to carry on a sense of tradition.”
More: Southern Style: Lowcountry Luxe
