Ep. 113: designer Susan Sully
b'This week, we welcome best selling author of over 18 books, Susan Sully. She tells us all about Southern Hospitality At Home, her new book that details the inspiration behind the art of finding joy and generosity in hospitality. Susan talks about what surprised her most about the history of Southern homes and hospitality in her research for the book, the importance of a welcoming entrance hall, why the door was almost always open in the South and her go to tips for entertaining at home. We also talk about dining room etiquette including the rules on lighting candles, ways we can update tradition, and incorporating high/low into your entertaining.\\nWhat You\\u2019ll Hear on This Episode:\\n\\nTrials regarding a cool Ballard lamp, a Prosciutto haunted hand, and failed kitchen outlets.\\n\\nTriumphs of rediscovering the right way to use a fan, a killer centerpiece, and new dining table.\\n\\nWhy Susan thinks that hospitality and comfort have remained so ingrained in Southern culture.\\n\\nWhy old Southern houses work with the climate to encourage an environment of fun times and great parties.\\n\\nWhy porches were arranged on the side in Charleston, and the difference between a porch, Side piazza, and gallery.\\n\\nNo matter how big or small the entrance way in a home, do something to make it welcoming.\\n\\nThe hilarious story of how cheese straws and the bald eagle are both a thing.\\n\\nSome of Susan\\u2019s must-haves for decorating including cloth napkins, beautiful place cards, comfortable chairs, things that gleam and glimmer, and how to get ahead of the game by setting the table the night before.\\n\\nThe etiquette around lighting candles, and ways we can update tradition with boldly colored candlesticks and candle holders.\\n\\nWhat we need in our guest rooms to make our special visitors feel appreciated and welcomed.\\n\\nMentioned In This Episode: \\nSusan Sully books\\nSusan Sully \\n@susan.sully \\nSouthern Hospitality At Home \\nDevon Lamps \\nBlair Bench \\nMrs. Whaley\\u2019s Garden \\nUniversity of Georgia \\nErika Powell \\nFlorida Water \\nThe Charleston Silver Lady\\nDecorating Dilemma \\nSusan loves the idea of a wicker bar cart with you changing out flowers or greenery. She said a polypropylene runner to put along the front of your house, to soften up the floor and bring color. You can paint the bar cart a color to go with it. We love the idea of having that table next to your door, with plants on it to add some depth and color.\\n___________________________________________________________________\\nOne of Susan\\u2019s mottos is \\u201cthere is no problem that a good curtain can\\u2019t fix\\u201d, but here it can be dramatic and make it feel like a pavillion. Her advice is a very long curtain rod with two panels on either side all the way down the floor. Susan also throws out that two curtain rods with two panels on either side and treating them on individual windows may work really well too. We also throw in the idea of Roman shades, to help add softness.'