Sixties Southern Style: Inspiration from 'The Help'
Oscar-nominated movie's sets include formal entertaining spaces, front porch breezes and lots of florals
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
I usually hate it when a book I enjoy as much as I enjoyed The Help is made into a movie, but I had nothing to fear from this movie up for Best Picture. The only element that may have outdone the supreme casting choices was the ingenious set design. A range of homes was represented, from the neat-as-a-pin cottages owned by "the help" to the mid-century ranch owned by Junior Leaguer Elizabeth, and from evil Hilly's stately brick home to the plantations where Skeeter and Celia lived.
These sets really captured a time when the world was changing and the South was lagging behind, but also captured sassy Southern style. Here is how to incorporate some of the striking elements into your home in ways fit for 2012.
These sets really captured a time when the world was changing and the South was lagging behind, but also captured sassy Southern style. Here is how to incorporate some of the striking elements into your home in ways fit for 2012.
| Front porch. An impressive tree-lined driveway and the biggest front porch possible are key elements of plantation style. |
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| In fact, a double porch is even better, providing more places to capture a breeze on a stifling hot Southern summer day. |
by Craig Denis
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Porch furniture. Rockers, porch swings and wicker furniture are still the best options for porch dwelling.
by Graham & Brown
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Floral prints. Exuberant floral wallpaper gained popularity during the Victorian era and has never gone out of style in the South. This lacework floral print from Amy Butler captures the feeling of celebrating flowers in Southern interiors.
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Floral prints were also popular choices for accent pillows.
by Monica Ewing
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Botanical prints brought flowers indoors back then, and they still do today.
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| Fresh flowers. Outdoors, roses, azaleas and magnolias reign supreme. |
by Emily Ruddo
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Bouquets. Fresh bouquets picked from the yard were paramount, whether on a bedside table or as a centerpiece on the bridge party buffet table. Plus, a big vase can cover up an L-shaped scratch.
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Grand entryways and entrances. An entryway that wows is an important part of a Southern home. It is a good spot to receive visitors. Be sure to leave out a bowl for calling cards.
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Here's another impressive foyer that has traditional elements but a more contemporary look due to the open and light feeling and the careful editing.
by Monica Ewing
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Tea-time readiness. A spot for tea, hot and/or iced, is a must-have.
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Tablescapes. Beautiful place settings were another key part of entertaining, with the silver and crystal pulled out on a regular basis.
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by Dreamy Whites
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| Centerpieces. Fresh lilac is a classic Southern sprig. |
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Formal dining rooms. Touches like soft pleated window treatments and skirted dining chairs also show off how seriously Southerners take entertaining.
by Rossana Novella
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The telephone table. A dedicated spot for talking on the phone — including a telephone table, chair, portraits, mirror, and a rotary dial — call up past times.
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| The salon. A comfortable spot for socializing and drinking tea, the Southern living room was formal yet full of soft upholstery and textures. |
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Eat-in kitchen: During times of segregation, the adults in the family never ate with "the help." One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Celia insists on joining a horrified Minnie in the kitchen for a meal.
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The dressing table. Skeeter needed a good dressing area where she could sit for hours while her mother used the Magic Soft and Silky Shinalator to straighten out her curly hair.
by Kasey Buick
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Hatboxes. All Southern women know when a hat is required, and in my opinion, that group at the royal wedding has nothing on African American women when it comes to selecting and sporting the best hats.
More:
Flea Market Finds: Botanical Prints
12 Ways to Prep the Front Porch for Summer
Southern Style: Lowcountry Luxe
More:
Flea Market Finds: Botanical Prints
12 Ways to Prep the Front Porch for Summer
Southern Style: Lowcountry Luxe
Ideabook published on Feb. 25, 2012.
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The house you are showing of ours is on the property where Forest Gump was filmed. The movie just had a temporary set and the house we designed was build several years after the movie was filmed.
Both planning on seeing the movie asap!
This ideabook helped evoke the things I saw in my head as we listened!
Great fun Becky!
(http://idoidontdesign.wordpress.com)
I really enjoyed this post, Becky. Thanks!