My Home on the Cover of Queen City Lifestyle Magazine
A peek inside Crystal's own home — featured on the cover of Queen City Lifestyle Magazine.
It still feels surreal: seeing our front door, living room, conversation room, and dining room featured in Charlotte's premier magazine, Queen City Lifestyle, was a moment I’ll never forget. The feature—titled Grace in Every Detail—captures more than just our home. It captures warmth, softness, and the soul of the life we are creating at home.
In the article, our house is described as being layered in muted colors and textures, with botanical prints and antiques that evoke a sense of Southern charm and timeless tradition. In the conversation room, the small brown check Schumacher drapes and the custom rug from English Village Lane with a topiary-tree motif anchor the space. In the living room and dining room, the mix of antique furnishings, soft, neutral tones and curated patterns made each area feel elegant, calm, and welcoming.
What This Feature Means To Us
To me, hearing how the rooms feel to someone walking in for the first time was incredible. Thanks to the help of many and years in the making, I feel like the rooms truly are a reflection of my design style and how my family lives. It feels like a quiet stamp of approval: our choices reflect a style that others appreciate, and now our home has a story in print. It reminds me that beauty in a home doesn’t come from chasing trends — but from choosing pieces and colors that feel like you, layering them over time, and allowing the space to evolve with life. And now, our home joins the gallery of houses that celebrate tradition, comfort, and timeless Southern grace.
SHOP MY HOME
10 Photos for Classic Christmas Curb Appeal Inspiration
Walking through town looking at beautiful homes is always one of my favorite things to do. This time of year makes it even more special with enchanting light displays, wreaths and ribbons galore! Here are a few of the stoops that stopped me.
Walking through town looking at beautiful homes is always one of my favorite things to do. This time of year makes it even more special with enchanting light displays, wreaths and ribbons galore! Here are a few of the stoops that stopped me.
A pair of topiaries will always be timeless to me. I love the understated elegance of dressing up decor you already have.
My faux topiaries, which are around $220 for the set on Amazon, have lasted me years! Just add ribbon, like this peacock blue velvet option from Fig & Dove, for that festive flare.
This home says joy to me! The warm glow from within evokes such a cozy feeling, and the lit magnolia garland creates an elegant entrance. The front door makes such an impression, you don't realize how simple the decor really is!
Garland and wreaths are hallmarks of classic Christmas decor. For a similar look, I like this cherry red velvet ribbon and this lit faux wreath from Ballard.
Net lights are genius, especially if you want to extend your Christmas decor beyond your front door. No room-climbing necessary here!
A simple wreath brings the simplest holiday cheer. You can't go wrong with this classic look in my book.
Wreaths on windows with red bows and a lit garland framing the front door make this home holiday ready. The symmetry is so pretty.
This all-green look works so well with the home's ivy-covered facade and shutters. If you like how this whimsical garland drips, look for Norfolk pine or cedar.
Lamps, giant baubles, lights, wreaths and a garland work together to create just the right amount of holiday cheer!
I thought the placement of these wreaths was really pretty. It's slightly different than the on-the-window approach, but I like how it creates a triangle with the wreath on the front door. Plus, I always stop for a Christmas tree sparkling in the window.
This arched entrance looks made for garland! Another understated look proves classic Christmas decor is all in the details.
If you're already thinking about home projects for 2026, be sure to check out the Garden & Grace directory! It features 60+ trusted home professionals around the U.S., from interior designers to landscapers.
Refresh Your Dining Room and Tabletop for Christmas With These Finds
Next on my list is mapping out our holiday tablescape so for today's post I wanted to share a few ideas for refreshing your dining room.
One of the best things about this time of year is the opportunity to gather around the table with friends and family, from intimate dinner parties to larger fetes. I've been getting my dining room ready for all things holiday hosting — along with our other living spaces — and it's bringing me so much joy.
Next on my list is mapping out our holiday tablescape so for today's post I wanted to share a few ideas for refreshing your dining room.
wallpaper panels
In lieu of wallpapering an entire dining room, I opted for a pair of House of Harris panels from Society Social - currently 20% off with code EVERYTHING20. The scale makes a dramatic impact on the space for a fraction of the cost! Plus, I love how I can move these around the room or into a different space entirely if I ever want to.
This room also features some of my favorite decor items from Fig & Dove and my Visual Comfort chandelier and buffet lamps.
Be sure to check the shipping information if you'd like these panels by Christmas! I got mine framed at Frame Warehouse in Charlotte.
Florals and candles
Kate Morrison's Concord home is the definition of timeless beauty. I find myself going back to that home tour for inspiration over and over. I love how she decorated her table with classic candles and a stunning floral arrangement.
If you want something that will last longer than the holiday season, I'm a big fan of preserved florals and Botanica in Charlotte has a wide variety. They also sell at Scott's Antiques in Atlanta. The orchids on my buffet table in the first image are from there.
Taper candles never go out of style and can make a great gift with a set of acrylic or crystal holders. I love the lacquered twist or Lily of the Valley options for a slight twist on a classic.
lovely layers
I'm stilling pinching myself that I had the opportunity to team up with Tuckernuck for a home tour earlier this year. The tablescape, pulled together with homeowner and Nashville-based interior designer Kate Figler, was a more autumnal theme, but the formula can be applied to any dining room setup! You'll notice fun tassel napkin rings, a floral tablecloth and beautiful China plates.
I don't often replace my holiday hero pieces, like like China or silverware, but I love the idea of surprising guests with fresh, festive name card holders or napkin rings. These would make a great host gift, too.
And we can't forget about Megan Daisy Milner's dining room table. Her abstract artwork and traditional interiors had us all saving images for inspiration. My full home tour with Megan can be found on YouTube and so many great sources from her home are on the blog.
More Inspiration
It's hard to beat this new build in Raleigh, NC. The blog post with paint colors and more can be found here. The chandelier is from Visual Comfort and so pretty in person.
Timeless in Charlotte! This traditional home exudes southern elegance. I love the grasscloth wallcovering and robin egg blue cornices and panels.
I don't know what's more stunning. The Gracie wallpaper or the Visual Comfort chandelier. The tortoise glasses with the rose Estelle wine glasses are a pretty addition to this Eastover home's mahogany dining room table and place setting.
The holidays really are the best time of year. And the Black Friday sales, that have now become a constant, add a sense of thrill for the best deals. Here are the ones I think are worth shopping. For more holiday inspiration head over to my recent post on quick holiday home tips!