I was trolling through the latest issue of Atlanta Homes, getting my fix of Southern style, when I happened upon a page announcing new book releases.  One of them was by James T Farmer III - his latest book called Celebrating Home.

I had heard of James Farmer, of course.  He’s a remarkable interior designer and  arbiter of good taste from Georgia.  A dyed-in-the-wool southern gentleman with the natural grace and charm that somehow comes with the territory.

He is a renowned author and speaker on all things home. With degrees in landscape design and art history, he is an inveterate gardener, floral designer, cook, and consummate host in addition to his timelessly elegant interior design prowess.

He is, above all, a lover of HOME with a strong belief in the power of a well appointed space to provide the welcome and respite for gracious hospitality and a beautiful life. He speaks my language and this resonates with me on every level.

I ordered the book immediately - it arrived yesterday and I have been slowly devouring it word by word and studying each stunning image ever since.

The forward is by the remarkable designer and similarly talented southerner Furlow Gatewood, and the delicious photography is by Emily Followill.

The book is a tour de force in inspiration for entertaining, my favorite hobby, including gorgeous table settings and the inspiration and menu behind each celebration.  Southerners, he asserts, feel that nothing is too insignificant to celebrate.

Each chapter is devoted to a different event - from luncheons celebrating the season to birthdays and holidays, and the introduction to each is an invitation illustrated with charming watercolors. Watercolor paintings of the garden at Farmdale, his main residence, adorn the endpapers as well.

The settings are shot at his Georgia residence, Farmdale, and his summer home, Joe Pye Cottage, in the mountains of North Carolina.  They include dining rooms, porches, decks, and gardens.   

James lives by the motto (passed down from his grandmother Mimi) that we “eat first with our eyes”, and the book is filled with beautiful descriptions as well as stunning images and an enviable collection of tableware I am already coveting.  And let’s not forget that quintessential item emblematic of the south…monogramming.  Gorgeous monogrammed napkins grace nearly every table setting.

Interspersed with the depicted seasonal celebrations are nuggets of decorating gold, like “no good lamp started out life as a lamp”!  And studying the mix of textures and patterns and lush floral displays is truly an education in exquisite taste and consummate styling.

Did I mention the gardens?  The gardens are the site of some of the celebrations and are such an inspiration all on their own.  We get numerous lessons in landscaping here too.  I am very much NOT a gardener, though I adore beautiful gardens and find them life-giving.  And even I am actually thinking about how to re-landscape my humble property into something a tenth as charming as the ones shown….it’s either that or marry a landscape architect.  It seems like a the former may be easier to achieve than the latter, but I’m willing to entertain offers 🤣…

Choosing a favorite book is like choosing a favorite child…they are each unique and I love them all.  This newest entry is a perfect addition to my library and I know I will return to it again and again for inspiration.

If you are a gardener, design enthusiast, or aspiring gracious host/hostess, you need this book! You can find it HERE (affiliate link). And be sure to follow James on IG @jamesfarmerinc as well.

Happy Reading!