A table of drinks and goodies await our guests as they meander the garden paths.

It feels wonderful to gather with friends and start entertaining more again! In the south, we’ve always loved entertaining outdoors. Recently, we were part of a very special gathering at the Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm. My husband hosted a client appreciation concert and party for MDVIP and I couldn’t resist decorating some vignettes in this picturesque place with some of our latest towne + beech arrivals. Here are some of my tried and true tips for creating a relaxed yet refined table for your next outdoor party.

Layered Linens & Textiles

A mix of coastal colors and textures creates an inviting space for cocktails and conversation.

We started with a crisp white tablecloth and added two of our Shibori Runners. Our Stitched Edge Tea Towels did double duty as napkins. While they might look expensive, our Persian inspired Anna Pillows and Rug are washable fabrics that add a relaxed elegance.

Grazing Boards and Bowls

Indoors at this event, we had farm tables laden with hearty Southern favorites. Since the music was outside, we wanted to create some unexpected surprises with pretty tables of drinks, small bites, and desserts woven throughout the enchanting garden paths & porches. Guests enjoyed discovering these flashes of delight while strolling the grounds.

A summer grazing board can be as elaborate or simple as you wish. There is a lot of inspiration out there for styling impressive boards or you can just keep it simple like we did here. Presenting delicious food on a beautiful board is a full proof way to elevate even the simplest of offerings. Our Painted Moroccan Bowls give the table some global flair. They are so fun to mix in different colors and patterns.

Fresh Flowers & Objets d’Art

Whenever we are entertaining, I love to add something vintage or unexpected to create a conversation starter among guests. We used one of our Goddess Garden Planters as an impromptu ice bucket to pair with vintage glassware.

Wineglass vases in varying sizes and heights are another effortless way to style a table. We clipped a few fresh flowers from a friend’s garden to complement the colored glassware.

African baskets are some of our most favorite things at towne + beech. We used an African bowl to hold extra linens and the woven fan is as beautiful as it is functional.

Lighting

Wire lanterns ready to light the garden path with candles after sunset.

At Blue Moon Farm there’s something magical about the twinkly lights that appear like fireflies at dusk. Solar powered lights are hidden in chandeliers hung from trees around the property. String lights adorn the stage and we brought some of our own towne + beech garden favorites of wire & glass lanterns and votives for the tables and the sweetest white lanterns tucked along the garden path.

Great Music

We were more than a little spoiled with the GREAT live music at this event all afternoon and into the evening. Franklin Walter started off the show with an incredible afternoon of music. Grayson Capps, the headliner, put on an unforgettable show - such a soulful performer. You can listen to his music here.

Cathe Steele, owner of the Frog Pond, which is also her private home, describes the venue as, “the core idea is to bring musicians and serious listeners together in an informal but respectful house concert setting on the farm where the focus is firmly on the music and community built through artists and listeners. It’s a magical place where music is brought back to its roots, in a true listening atmosphere where songwriters and musicians alike come together to network.”

Most of us are not able to have live music for our outdoor parties but chances are you have a portable speaker and a Spotify playlist. Music definitely sets the mood and we play music every day in the studio at towne + beech. This summer we’re listening to the Zac Brown Mix on Spotify for a laidback vibe.

This event was so much fun that we are thinking of making it an annual thing. In the meantime, you definitely want to get on the list to be notified for future Sunday Socials at the Frong Pond at Blue Moon Farm. They only happen a few times a year and seating is limited. You can read more here.

Special thanks to our dear friend and go-to caterer, Gina Gambino. Gina and her team are incredible and make events like this a breeze. You can sample her amazing food daily at Ravenite Pizzeria in downtown Fairhope. The meatballs are our fave!

All photography is by the amazing Stevye Photography who is as much fun as she is talented!

Thank you to our friends (Toodles) and family (our sweet son, Tripp) that always show up and work hard behind the scenes to pull off these events that we dream up. Until next time! ~ Suzanne

Step inside this coastal guest bedroom suite with designer, Suzanne Winston.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a designer show house? Or how designers come up with the plan for a show room space? Keep reading for an inside look at where we drew inspiration for the 2021 Mobile Bay Magazine Inspiration Home and a peek at some of our design process. As a designer, show houses are such a fun way to be as creative and imaginative as we want to be.  Our team had fun taking a few risks and going the unexpected route with this guest bedroom suite. It is all about balancing the right mix of texture, color, and light. I hope you find some tips to incorporate into your own home.

A pair of custom framed chinoiserie panels nod to the biophilic design principles of the home.

We drew inspiration from the coastal locale of this home perched on the bay bluff in historic Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope has a rich history with its utopian founding by artists, dreamers, and free thinkers. We came up with our theme for the room - bohemian elegance - by imagining who would live in the space. We thought of a fictitious couple from Fairhope’s early days when it was still an artsy bohemian and eclectic small town. The room was imagined as a guest room for company or for grown children to visit, incorporating the things they loved about growing up in Fairhope. Early on we found this dreamy Thibaut linen floral to create the custom drapery and canopy panels. We knew right away it was perfect for our theme. This gorgeous fabric helped dictate the rest of the room.  From there I envisioned a pair of framed chinoiserie panels to hang on either side of the bed above the nightstands.  The bed is the focal point in any bedroom, and we chose this vintage inspired four-poster bed.  We knew it would be a showstopper with the airy linen canopy. Above the bed, we kept the art simple and chose a piece with a vintage feel. We hung a single shadow box frame of a gold gilded lily of the valley with another nod to nature.

 Styling tips for a luxe, layered bed. It’s all about the mix of luxurious textures in the right palette.

1.     Start with a crisp quilt and a fluffy duvet folded back at the end of the bed. 

2.     Add quilted euros.

3.     Place linen edged pillowcases.

4.     Next add two luxe linen shams for a relaxed coastal vibe.

5.     A long lumbar pillow pulls it all together.  We love this one with a nubby, woven texture to contrast with the cotton quilt, linen shams, and breezy linen canopy.

6.     For a pop of color, add a small velvet lumbar pillow.

7.     To keep it cozy, drape a throw blanket at the end of the bed with a tray for drinks or books.

8.     For added luxury, go for a four poster bed with a custom linen canopy for the ultimate bohemian elegance.

Elements of nature are woven throughout the room with subtle motifs of flora and fauna.

How you use a space is so important and with a bedroom, we like to create a relaxing retreat like setting.  A sitting area is perfect way to incorporate a calm, inviting space to relax.  Even in a small bedroom you can tuck an upholstered chair with a small side table for a reading nook.  For the dresser, we kept it minimal.  We began with our Alice Dresser for a look that is not too formal or too casual.   We wanted a balance of a modern yet timeless aesthetic with elegant lines, curves, and neutral finishes.  Adding a round mirror of acrylic and brass details compliments the curves and other brass hardware throughout the room. The mini lamp of rose quartz brings some whimsy and a bit of contrast. We stacked neutral books with an antique sterling silver trumpet vase with a single white camellia. Then we draped natural wooden beads for an interesting composition that wasn’t perfectly symmetrical. If we were designing this space for a client, we would add something more personal like a candle or framed photo on the dresser.

Bedside Table Styling

We love using a bedside table with open shelves to style and display your favorite objects with a drawer to neatly tuck away items like reading glasses. With the lighting, we got creative using floor lamps rather than sconces or table lamps so as not to compete or detract from the chinoiserie panels.

1.     Consider a floor lamp to leave more room for a cup of coffee, a favorite book, or even a small tray.

2.     A tidy stack of books adds depth and personality.

3.     Ceramic nesting bowls are beautiful and functional.

4.     A tray collects jewelry, glasses, and every day items.

5.     Add a little luxury with fresh flowers or a floral resin sculpture.

An antique Oushak rug adds another layer of warmth and texture to this dreamy space.

Special thanks to our amazingly talented friend, Laura Rowe, for working her magic to capture our beautiful bedroom! It was a joy to share it with all of you that toured the home in person, and we love being able to share this project with our online community, as well. We are passionate about transforming and creating spaces that delight and enhance the lives of our clients. It’s why we do what we do. We are taking on full-service design projects for nice people with open minds. If you would like us to create your dream space and handle every detail from start to finish, click here to book a discovery call.

Thank you for following along, these images transport me back to this blustery spring day with the wind rustling the branches of the live oaks outside. Which reminds me of another fun element designing this suite - the gorgeous outdoor porch adjoining this bedroom. I look forward to showing you more of that outdoor room in a future blog post - it’s the perfect spot for morning coffee or toasting the evening sunset.

Glam kitchen featuring our favorite SKS 36-inch Dual Fuel Pro Range with Sous-vide Induction and Gas

Now more than ever we are seeking ways to create connected interiors that restore the mind, body, and soul. It’s the reason we love this work… transforming spaces for our clients to live life fully. It can be challenging for me to take time away for industry shows but, it is so important to stay on top of what’s new and next for our clients. It was extra special to return to KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) with the opportunity to tour and scout as a Designhound to discover the latest and greatest in the kitchen and bath design world. We were fortunate to have some amazing sponsors and to show my appreciation, I would like to highlight two of them here who are leaders in the world of luxury kitchens and baths.

This year I discovered there literally is an “app for that” to help you cook the perfect meal and even start a luxurious custom steam shower before you step foot out of bed in the morning. I hope this post helps you discover something new you would like to incorporate into your home to enhance your daily living.

A rendering of a current design project with some gorgeous SKS appliances awaiting installation in this beautiful kitchen overlooking Mobile Bay.

Signature Kitchen Suite, the fast-growing luxury brand in the kitchen appliance market and a longtime favorite of ours, is known for innovation. My fellow Designhounds and I were all excited to see what surprises they had in store for us at the show. SKS unveiled the first-of-its-kind 48-inch French door refrigerator at KBIS 2022. The industry’s first 48-inch built-in refrigerator allows the design community to offer clients never-before seen storage flexibility and functionality in the popular French-door configuration. This new model boasts a slew of amazing technical features such as dual ice options and Wi-Fi connectivity to manage and monitor remotely via smart devices. There’s flexible storage as freezer drawers can also be used for refrigeration. However, my favorite feature is the Signature Fit™ Integrated Design. What this means is the intelligent design allows for proud or flush installation, while the integrity of the kitchen’s design lines is protected on the outside thanks to the drawers lining up with standard countertop height. Units are available in stainless steel and panel-ready options. Beautiful, innovative, and versatile – a winning combination that solves design dilemmas rather than creating them. This is exactly what we are striving for – ways to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but that also improve productivity or relaxation.

While we are on the subject of kitchens… Here’s a little teaser for a future blog post about the first intelligent kitchen assistant that is like having a master chef over your shoulder.  Meet Cooksy! Cooksy watches from above – either mounted over your stove or with an adjustable stand and uses visual and thermal sensors to monitor your pan and guide your cooking via the connected app. More to come on Cooksy but I couldn’t resist giving you a little taste as we are on the subject of kitchen innovations. Stay tuned for cooking demos with Cooksy in the Towne + Beech kitchen.

There was so much to see and experience at KBIS and one of the most exciting discoveries for me in wellness design was the MrSteam shower system.

Luxurious in-home steam shower by MrSteam

It is important to create spaces that not only stimulate our senses in a good way and but also have health and wellness benefits to the people using them. During our exclusive Designhounds preview with MrSteam, we learned that steam showers promote respiratory health, hydrate your skin, boost metabolism, and that you can even incorporate aroma therapy and music. Another fun, innovative feature is MrSteam now works with Amazon Alexa. You can “talk” to your steam shower through Alexa to ask questions or give basic commands on settings and functions. You can ask Alexa to start your steam shower before you even get out of bed. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?

Another bonus is this system is eco-friendly, conserving water by only utilizing 2.2 gallons of water per session, as compared to eighty gallons for a bath. If you are contemplating a bathroom renovation, it’s the perfect time to think about installing a steam shower. Your new bathroom can bring a new level of relaxation and wellness to your life every single day. MrSteam can bring the benefits of a spa quality steam shower into your home with surprising ease. If you would like more information on adding a steam shower and all of its’ health and #wellness benefits reach out to us here at Suzanne Winston & Associates.

Yes, you can have a steam shower in a small bathroom.

While we’re at the end of my sponsored KBIS posts, I’ll be sharing more soon about wellness and innovation in design and how we incorporate these principles into our design work.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, to KBIS, to Modenus Media, NKBA Global Connect, and also to all of my fellow Designhounds for making this tour such an incredible experience. The creative synergy among the designers and exhibitors was amazing. I came away from this time feeling inspired and energized by all of the new connections and possibilities.  Until next time!

Whew! What an incredible experience in Orlando for KBIS! It was such an honor to be chosen by Modenus as a Designhound to scout all that is new and trending in Kitchen & Bath design at KBIS, the nation's largest Kitchen & Bath show. It is an experience I won’t soon forget.   I was thrilled to connect with an amazing group of designers for an exclusive Designhounds tour of KBIS. Big thanks to our amazing sponsors NKBA Global Connect , KBIS, Mr. Steam, nobilia, COMPAC, and Signature Kitchen Suite which will be covered in two separate posts. There was so much to see and experience!

Here is Part 1 of my inside scoop on the latest in European luxury kitchen and baths including one of my showstoppers – a portable outdoor kitchen perfect for piers and patios. Keep reading to learn more about this game changer for outdoor kitchens on the Gulf Coast.

Luxurious Life-proof surfaces by Compac

Terrazzo is back! During KBIS I was lucky to be able to spend some time with a Spanish company, Compac Surfaces, which is revolutionizing solid surfaces. Their new Terrazzo line is a masterful combination of design, art, and durability. Terrazzo is a versatile material that can be used in bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor floors, and countertops. Compac has maintained an environmental commitment since 1975. I love that their materials are equally beautiful and sustainable since they are created using all renewable energy and recycled water. Their designs are crafted with natural materials including obsidiana, marble, and quartz. They create the most gorgeous and worry-free surfaces. Luxe living you can feel good about!

nobilia European Kitchen Furniture comes in a variety of styles, including this traditional line.

The German company, nobilia has figured out how to make gorgeous kitchen cabinets with all the bells and whistles in a more streamlined way. nobilia’s purposeful design philosophy originates with the Bauhaus movement philosophy: form-follows-function, along with a design for long-lasting performance that fits the modern aesthetic of homes today. At KBIS 2022, nobilia infused that philosophy in every new introduction. All are built on the latest directions driving modern design, including inspirations taken from nature, (on trend with all the interest in biophilic design) as well as an appreciation for intelligent storage solutions and smart features for a connected home without the hefty price tag of custom cabinetry. A unique benefit to nobilia’s European Kitchen Furniture is portability. nobilia offers the best in German engineering for ultimate flexibility that allows you to move pieces later or even take them with you after a move. How cool is that?!  Another thing to love is that even after 70 years in business becoming Europe’s leading manufacturer of kitchen furniture, nobilia is still family owned and operated.

Weatherproof enamel glaze surfaces by VLAZE. The cobalt blue is so coastal!

Another brilliant, new discovery from KBIS 2022 is VLAZE, British made modular furniture for indoor & outdoor living. They have outdoor kitchen modules, tables, and planters engineered with stainless steel and adorned with vitreous enamel in a range of rich colors. The durable, weatherproof enamel surface is guaranteed for 25 years. The vibrant glaze is heatproof and stain resistant – life proof luxury. As gorgeous as the pieces are, what really impressed me was the versatility and practicality for our Gulf Coast lifestyle. Can you imagine having moveable indoor/outdoor kitchen furniture that you could take to your pier, patio, or wharf for an outdoor kitchen then bring it in to secure safely when a storm comes? Genius!

The KBIS show was vast, and I’ll be sharing more of my favorite finds, as well as more on Wellness in Design. I can’t wait to show you more about exciting new ways to incorporate wellness and innovation into our homes. Stay tuned for KBIS Part 2 coming soon!

When life gives you lemons, make limoncello! Keep reading to learn how we turned a sour situation into something sweet.

Last spring we were all set to open a second location in downtown Fairhope to launch our outdoor collection. Some doors unexpectedly closed and that plan was derailed. But, you know what? I felt a peace about it because I was feeling a big nudge to expand and invest in our current Towne + Beech location. It had always been our plan to build a patio and pergola among the trees and gardens to showcase the outdoor collection and accessories. The spot in downtown Fairhope was just too tempting. A few months before the Fairhope spot fell through we lost some of our beloved trees at Towne + Beech during hurricane season. As sad as we were to lose our beautiful monkey puzzle trees, it opened up the perfect spot for our new blue stone patio and pergola. Now, believe it or not, we are on our way to opening a second location in downtown Fairhope that will start as a warehouse but, who knows where we'll take it? Life is unpredictable and full of mystery but I truly believe beauty comes from ashes. Thank you to our dear friends and clients for cheering us on through the good times and the tough ones too - we are so grateful for each of you!

Welcome to the launch of Towne + Beech! We’re so excited to share our favorite design trends and ideas with you. Our passion is to search the globe to find pieces that are ethically sourced, eco-friendly, and beautiful, and to share those finds with you. We hope you enjoy the collections we’ve curated.

Here at the Towne + Beech blog, we’ll tell the stories of the people behind the products. On a recent trip to Morocco, we loved soaking up all the rich colors, textures and patterns. More importantly, though, we were grateful for the opportunity to meet so many new people. We had the chance to get to know some of the women who hand-make the distinctive rugs that Morocco is so well known for. We also met a father-daughter team who weave incredible linen scarves, as well as a guide who showed us a hidden world of architectural splendors that we would otherwise have completely missed.

We came back energized, inspired and moved by the experience. It sparked the idea that in this modern day and age, when we can digitally reach any corner of the world instantaneously, we can all be more connected to the people who craft the things that fill our homes. Ultimately, our goal here at Towne + Beech is to build community, and to use those connections to find ways to lift up under-served producers around the world. We’ll share more about Morocco in future posts, so stay tuned! In the meantime, we hope you find pieces here that speak to you and make their way into the story of your own life.