This week we are simplifying your shopping for the interior design enthusiast in your life! To help you get the perfect gift for your loved ones this year our designers selected some of their go-to gift ideas (and some they would love to receive!).
In Southern Studio style, the gift packaging is just as important as the gift itself! Take care and plan the wrapping to add to your holiday decor.
Last week, the entire Southern Studio team had the privilege of visiting Sub Zero + Wolf‘s showroom in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sub Zero + Wolf are purveyors of high-end, luxury appliances that are unrivaled in their market. Their commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and hospitality was an inspiration to us.
The morning of our training, the showroom’s executive chef prepared us a breakfast spread – potatoes, banana bread, bacon, protein pancakes, fresh fruit, and strawberry-banana smoothies. We even got to cook our own made-to-order omelettes on a Wolf griddle range top. If we had to rate Wolf’s appliances solely based on taste, they already earned an A+ in our book.
We then got a training tour of the entire showroom. We learned that Sub Zero + Wolf is a third-generation business that started in the twenties in Madison, Wisconsin (where their factory is still located today). The founder needed a refrigeration device to keep his son’s insulin cold… and the rest is history. Refrigeration was the first avenue of appliances (hence the name Sub Zero), and cooking appliances came next with the acquisition of Wolf in 2000. Finally, in 2019, Sub Zero + Wolf began manufacturing their own dishwashers, a new line called Cove.
We had a blast exploring the showroom and envisioning these appliances in our future projects. One of the most remarkable things about Sub Zero + Wolf is the way they incorporate state-of-the-art technology into their appliances. We learned that they use a unique air filtration system that removes ethylene gas, a gas that hastens the ripening of fruits and vegetables, from the air inside the refrigerator. Because this is filtrated out of the air, produce lasts weeks longer than we are used to with standard appliances. The average family produces $2,000 of food waste every year, but this cost would be radically reduced with a Sub Zero refrigerator because of their unique air purification system.
After passing an extremely thorough testing process, each product is shipped to it’s new home where it is meant to last up to 25 years. For context, the average run-of-the-mill appliance only lasts 6-8 years. These pieces of equipment really do stand the test of time.
We also learned that the air in refrigerators and freezers should be different: freezers should have dry air while refrigerators should be humid. Therefore, Sub Zero manufactures their refrigerators with two different compressors (as opposed to just one in a typical appliance) to produce both variations of air. The final product: an appliance that keeps food fresher, longer.
For lunch, we got another taste of what these appliances are capable of. The executive chef and sous chef prepared us a feast starting with soup and homemade bread. Believe it or not, the bread was baked in their signature steam oven which utilizes both steam and heat while still allowing food to brown and crisp. Next we had salmon with roasted vegetables (also cooked beautifully in the same steam oven for just twelve minutes), risotto cooked on an induction cooktop, and shrimp seared on a hot griddle. Is your mouth watering yet?! The unmatched technology found only in Wolf cooking appliances was apparent in both presentation and taste of the food.
After hands-on learning, an educational tour around the showroom, and a cooking demonstration, our team left with a wealth of knowledge about Sub Zero + Wolf. We are convinced that their appliances are the best of the best. We believe the kitchen is the heart of the home and deserves to be equipped excellently, and we are eager to continue designing homes to incorporate Sub Zero + Wolf kitchen equipment! What a fun and educational team building experience. We are now big fans of taking the train from Cary to Charlotte!
We are deep into the design work for the Southern Living Inspired Home at the Bramble in Fort Mill! The New Old team is working fast and furious to keep construction on schedule. It has been an incredible collaboration.
The inspiration for the home is casual elegance. We are designing the interiors to bring a new twist to the modern farmhouse style. The home will be filled with rich texture and color. Here’s a sneak peek of the color palette for the interior. Creams and blacks and emerald greens, mixed with natural wood, metals and stone!
We have partnered with some of the finest trades, artisans, and designers to showcase unique design trends throughout the home. Focusing on our Born and Bred in the Carolinas theme has been a highlight of the design process and we look forward to sharing a few surprises along the way.
Continue to follow our progress over the next two months as we bring this design to life. For more information, visit the Southern Living at the Bramble site. We can’t wait to meet you!
We are so excited to introduce the 2018 Southern Living Christmas Cookbook – complete with a feature page styled by Southern Studio Interior Design! It is a treasure full of recipes, gorgeous images, and inspired tips for the holiday season and other special occasions throughout the year.
As a member of the Southern Living Designer Network, Southern Studio enjoys invaluable relationships with trailblazers, trendsetters, and icons in the design industry.
The Southern Living Christmas Cookbook benefits local chapters of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®). Over its 25 years of its support, Dillard’s has donated more than $14.1 million dollars to RMHC® and Southern Studio is so proud to participate this year. It was such fun to style a beautiful Sunday Brunch and showcase our clients’ stunning breakfast room! (Have we mentioned we have the BEST clients?)
We hope you check out the cookbook for recipes, entertaining and decorating tips as you head in to the Holiday Season!
It’s a long story, but earlier this summer I found myself wandering the beautiful shops in Park City, Utah. I stumbled upon a quaint book store and started flipping pages (somehow, it’s just different than Barnes and Noble). There are so many great design books, but this book immediately caught my attention. Good Bones, Great Pieces by Suzanne and Lauren McGrath offers a unique twist on creating beautiful interiors and practical advice for all.
The core of Suzanne and Lauren McGrath’s philosophy is the belief that every home should have seven essential pieces that can live in almost any room and will always be stylish.
When investing in furnishings, we are often torn between a style that fits our current space or one that will adapt to future use. I’m a firm believer in buying the best quality you can afford and only pieces you love! If you love the piece, somehow it will always find a place in your home.
The book playfully illustrates a variety of examples and even identifies statement pieces from quality manufacturers (and as a bonus, many of the manufacturers we use every day in our designs). What are the seven iconic pieces that can adapt to the changing needs of your home?
(1) The dresser…
(2) The bench…
(3) The occasional chair…
I stopped taking photos, but the list continues….
(4) a demilune table; (5) a love seat; (6) the side table; (7) a slipper chair.
My go-to list of seven might be a bit different, but I think the message would be the same. Invest in quality pieces that are versatile and beautiful. If you do, you will create a home with collected character that will change and grow with your family. It’s a light and fun design read for summer…we’ve passed it around the studio. Enjoy!