FIX july aug 2016

July • August 2016

BACKYARD RENOVATION

martini pool lounging COMMUNITY FIX

collaborative design SUMMER FIX

perfect picnics

Outdoor Living ISSUE

LOVE WHERE YOU WORK? Nominate your company for a Top Workplace award.

commercialappeal.com/nominate

From The Editor MAGAZINE Fix Magazine is dedicated to providing local information about all things home and garden.

FIX EDITOR

Holli Weatherington holli.weatherington@ commercialappeal.com CONTRIBUTORS

Erinn Figg Emily Adams Keplinger Lance Wiedower Stacey Wiedower PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mike Boatman Troy Glasgow Justin Newpoff DESIGNER

Ashley Kumpe

FIX Magazine 495 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING

Stephanie Boggins stephanie.boggins@commercial appeal.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR NICHE PUBLICATIONS

David Boyd david.boyd@commercial appeal.com

facebook.com/fixmagazine

H

appy summer, FIX readers!

As the barometer rises and the humidity sets in (which it already started doing back in May ... after all, this is the South), we ready ourselves for more outdoor activities.

In our July/August, Outdoor Living issue, we explore a few backyards in the MidSouth that are perfect hideaways from the real world.

Our cover story features a unique pool that is typically only seen in and around New Orleans. Read about how one Memphis couple re-created a French Quarter oasis in their backyard, and see why they spend almost every night out there.

Outdoor living includes backyards and grilling, but it’s also a time for playing outside more, camping, picnics and entertaining with friends and family. We included a Summer FIX that details planning the perfect picnic. From choosing locations to sun and bug protection to picking ideal food items, this piece has you covered.

We also head outside into the camping world. Well not actually camping, but “glamping.” Our Trend FIX details this growing trend of renting low price accommodations in prime locales, without having to pitch a tent.

This spring, local artists and interior designers came together for a super cool event called “Art by Design” to create a series of room vignettes, all which showcased their abilities and style, and promote local art. We have photos and a rundown of these amazingly designed rooms in our Community FIX. The Artist Spotlight shines a light on a local artisan who makes jewelry from fishing lures. Turning unconventional pieces into high-end fashion jewelry is a passion of this artist who once worked in the fashion and interior design industries.

Our Design FIX delves into ideas for creating an outdoor retreat, with advice from local interior designers on furnishings, colors, materials and entertaining.

Why We Love Our Home features a fabulous outdoor room and pool setup that is more part of the house than part of the backyard. See how this family and their contractor made the best use of their space, which meant very little yard was left to mow.

Seeding the agricultural heritage of Memphis is a more than just a dream, it can actually happen when gardeners and growers save and share their seeds from successful harvests. Check out Garden FIX to learn about the GrowMemphis Seed Library and how locals can help grow more native produce and flowers — and increase the network of growers in the Mid-South.

We round out the issue with a rundown of the most popular summer cocktails in our Hospitality FIX. Enjoy your summer, apply the sunscreen and get outdoors! Happy reading!

fixmagazinememphis FIX Magazine is published once every two months by The Commercial Appeal. Opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors are not those of FIX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Copyright 2016.

JULY · AUGUST 2016 |

3

July • August 2016

Outdoor Living ISSUE

Soak up the summer sun in your backyard, on a picnic or with a “glamping” getaway.

6 10 13

✶ ✶ ✶

FEATURES Inspiring Summer Finds 1O On the Cover: Stirred, Not Shaken 13 Why We Love Our Home 22

DEPARTMENTS Community FIX • Art by Design 6 Artist Spotlight • Dee Dee Gauthier 12 Design FIX • Outdoor Retreats 16 Summer FIX • The Perfect Picnic 18 Trend FIX • Glamping 20 Garden FIX • Seeding Future Gardeners 24 Hospitality FIX • Summer Spirits 26

22 26

40 Years Serving the Mid South!

Quantum Showrooms is a collectionn ooff ““the the bbest est ooff tthe he bbest” est” iinn hhome ome cconstruction, onstruction ddesign, esign and improvement…all under one roof.

A COMBINATION OF STYLES A DESIGN THAT’S YOU!

Transform your home to extraordinary with a hand forged iron entry from Quantum Entries. The classic, distinguished look draws admiration to every home while adding the security that only an iron door can deliver.

901-888-0200

YOUR MID-SOUTH LEADER IN...

DISTINCTIVE GRIP DECORATIVE H A R D WA R E

Construction Bath Remodeling

5690 Summer Ave • Memphis, TN 38134 • 901-387-4500

COMMUNITY FIX

Living Room by Selena McAdams

Art by Design V IGNE T TES

T

By Stacey Wiedower • Photos by Troy Glasgow

hirteen blank, white “rooms” inside Propcellar on Summer Avenue. Thirteen teams comprising some of the city’s top design talent. Unlimited potential, but limited time.

The results were bound to be exciting.

Art by Design, an ArtsMemphis event on April 2830, brought together interior designers, artists and the public in a unique collaboration to raise money for the arts. While thousands of people partied on the river at Beale Street Music Festival, hundreds more flocked to Propcellar to witness a real-life version of a TV-esque designers’ challenge.

Designer Christian Nelius commissioned an artist to create an original work on the walls of her dining room vignette. Ann Nordeen Parker worked with Fer6

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

guson Bath to build her space around a spectacular freestanding tub. And designer Shawn Mathews lined his walls with chicken wire and mossy greens, creating a vertical, living garden to encircle his “outdoor” space.

In all, 16 designers worked for 48 hours to design rooms inside their individual spaces, constructed onsite at Propcellar by builder Hank Hill. Participating design teams included Laura Davis and Whitney Joiner of Ray & Baudoin; Gwen Driscoll of Driscoll Design & Decoration; Jeff Edwards of Carlton Architecture;

C

COMMUNITY FIX Cameron Howell and Sarah Spinosa of Cameron Howell Interior Design and Sarah Spinosa Interior Design; Lisa Mallory of Lisa Mallory Interior Design; Shawn Mathews of Ray & Baudoin; Selena McAdams of Spruce; Ann Nordeen Parker of Parker Design Studio; Biggs Powell of Biggs Powell Interior Design & Antiques; Gracey Smythe; Missy Steffens of M. Steffens Interiors; Suzanne Varner of Suzanne Varner Interior Design; Christian Nelius of Anno Domini; and Jenna Wallis of Jenna Wallis Interior Design.

Art by Design featured a Thursday night culinary event, a Friday night cocktail party and a Saturday general admission event, with food, music, a book signing and more, turning the series of events into a celebration that lasted all weekend.

The first Art by Design event was such a success (it raised more than $110,000 to support 60-plus local arts groups) that ArtsMemphis has plans in the works to make Art by Design a yearly event. Watch for details in FIX early next year, and in the meantime, enjoy this visual tour of Art by Design 2016.

Living Room by Selena McAdams A love of the Florida coast and its relaxed feeling of “glamorous comfort” inspires the vignette created by interior designer Selena McAdams, owner of Spruce in East Memphis. After coming off a year with a highlystylized aesthetic in her shop, McAdams was ready to

let her hair down and “go with transitional, high-style elements, but spin them toward summer,” she said. As a result, her vignette combines elegant furnishings with natural, textural elements that scream summer relaxation.

Outdoor Parlor by Shawn Mathews

Outdoor Parlor by Shawn Mathews

Shawn Mathews’ unique and high-style space evokes the feel of a formal garden party — complete with the garden. Peppy yellow-and-white cabana stripes line a rear wall featuring Mathews’ own artwork. The side walls, meanwhile, house a vertical garden crafted from chicken wire threaded with living plants. Mathews says his room is about creating a stress-free place to relax by highlighting the “many benefits to surrounding oneself with living plants and a green environment.” The clean-lined, modern dining table juxtaposed with wrought iron consoles is a nod to the eclectic mix.

You Toss It, We Recycle It....

Going Green is as easy as EBOX

Construction + Demolition Waste • Recyclables • 901-850-9996

COMMUNITY FIX

Dining Room by Christian Nelius

Dining Room by Christian Nelius

‘Palm Beach Meets Hollywood’

Interior designer Christian Nelius’ space is 100 percent artdriven — merging the mission of ArtsMemphis with the event’s concept and the practice of design itself. To create her space, Nelius, owner of Anno Domini, gave artist Frances Berry free rein to paint the walls of her vignette any way she liked, and Nelius designed the rest of the space around it. Her imaginative and avant-garde vignette also features pieces by Chloe York and Eric Quick, as well as a bold complementary color scheme and a fun mix of modern and traditional furniture forms, punctuated by creative ideas for using art and accessories. “It’s a little kooky,” Nelius said. “If you can’t do it here, where can you do it?

The support from the community has been amazing.”

In her Dorothy Draper-inspired space, interior designer Jenna Wallis blends her Southern roots with time spent learning the ropes in Los Angeles. Known for classically inspired interiors with an unexpected twist, Wallis creates a vignette that brashly mixes bright color, bold pattern, whimsical art and quirky, fun accessories. Pink flamingos? Check. Green Buddhas? Check. The only thing missing is Hollywood A-listers holding cocktails.

by Jenna Wallis

‘Palm Beach Meets Hollywood’ by Jenna Wallis

8

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

COMMUNITY FIX Entry Hall

by Biggs Powell and Gracey Smythe Textured black walls paired with a classical bust.

Overscale, neo-gothic art paired with an intricate blown-glass chandelier.

Every surface is interesting and every item a pièce de résistance in the vignette created by designers Biggs Powell and Gracey Smythe.

From the painterly rug to the gold leaf ceiling, no detail in this space is left unconsidered. Powell’s objective with his work is to blend a sense of ease and sophistication.

Smythe’s style is “highlighted with historical reference points, yet she is unafraid of a little risk.” Together, the pair creates a space that blends

Entry Hall by Biggs Powell and Gracey Smythe

classic and contemporary pieces, high and low style, and a “global aesthetic with an inviting dose of eccentricity.”

Child’s Bedroom by Cameron Howell and Sarah Spinosa

Child’s Bedroom by Cameron Howell and Sarah Spinosa Both mothers of boys, interior designers Cameron Howell and Sarah Spinosa thought it was only fitting to design a kid space. The pair started with a Lulu DK fabric called Dancers to create “a whimsical yet classic bedroom any child would be lucky to call their room.”

They pulled the room’s palette from the hand-painted fabric, using textiles and art to give the room a custom, tailored look. “I enjoyed getting to meet new designers in Memphis … and seeing their concept of design and how they can transform a room or space,” Howell said.

JULY

·

AUGUST 2016 |

9

BBQ Marquee Sign $189 Ken Rash’s

Birds on Wire pillow $45 Terri Hannah Home and Garden

inspiring

Summer finds

Man’s Best Friend Melodies Dog speaker $225 Ken Rash’s

Polycarbonate Havanna 11-inch dinner plate $19 and Fleur Teal goblet $10.50 Terri Hannah Home and Garden

Big Green Egg grill (large) $799 Ken Rash’s

Cloud indoor/outdoor fireplace $1,372 Ken Rash’s 10

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Lured to the art of fashion PHOTOS BY TROY GLASGOW

Dee Dee Gauthier crafts chic jewelry from fishing tackle Compiled by Emily Adams Keplinger

G

rowing up in Memphis with family that encouraged her artistic abilities, Dee Dee Gauthier has been crafting a future for herself in art. From painting to stained glass and sculptural ceramics, Gauthier has tried her hand at a variety of artistic mediums. In the last few years, she has discovered a unique way to use her talents — she has been making a name for herself fashioning fishing lures into chic jewelry.

Name: Dee Dee Gauthier Company Name: Gauthier Age: 40 Hometown: Memphis Education/Training: I have a BFA in ceramics from the

University of Mississippi, and I am a self-taught jewelry designer.

Medium: I make nature-inspired jewelry that features natural elements such as pearls and leather. And now I have a line of jewelry made from fishing lures.

When did you begin to develop your art: I grew up immersed in art and started showing my artistic side as a teenager. My uncle, Bobby Fisher, was a huge art 12

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

collector and exposed me to fine art through trips to area art museums.

What was your “aha!” moment: I knew early on that I wanted to be an artist and channeled my creative energy in that direction during college. I knew it was important for me to follow my passion to create.

How did you find your niche/style: For years I have worked with fashion and interior designers. That experience gave me the opportunity to hone my “artistic eye.” So when I decided to strike out on my own, I felt confident putting designs together. My style continues to evolve, because I prefer to make unique, one-of-a-kind items.

How do you describe your work: My designs include outdoorsy items, such as fishing lures, that are mixed in such a way as to yield a high-end fashion look.

Proudest moment: My proudest moment is whenever I happen to spy one of my pieces being worn as part of an ensemble in a fashion magazine.

Where can your work be seen: My fishing lure jewelry is carried exclusively at Kitty Kyle in the Chickasaw Oaks Village Shopping Center. Other jewelry lines are available at Social in East Memphis, 2012 on Broad Avenue and Loudean’s in Cooper-Young.

What else do you want people to know: I love being outdoors and I get my design inspiration from my travels.

Whether it is a rustic influence from places like Montana or something more refined and chic, like a windowshopping foray in New York, there is so much to be gleaned by simply being aware of the world around you.

INSTAGRAM: gauthierjewelry FACEBOOK: facebook.com/gauthierjewelry/

cover story

New Orleans meets Memphis in the backyard of Richard and Karen Hall.

Stirred, Not Shaken Backyard renovation replicates New Orleans courtyard with martini pool Story by Holli Weatherington • Photos by Troy Glasgow

I

n just six hours, a Memphian can drive down to New Orleans and enjoy the best of the Crescent City. If you stick around the French Quarter long enough, you’ll likely get a private tour of a “secret” courtyard.

Sprinkled throughout the French Quarter are residences with charming courtyards. Some are bigger than others, but overall they have very little room for things like pools and hot tubs. Outside the oft-seen fountain or occasional fish pond, a really unique water feature is commonly seen in these courtyards — a martini pool.

JULY

·

AUGUST 2016 |

13

For Karen and Richard Hall, who love to visit New Orleans and once owned a condo there, replicating the feel of a French Quarter courtyard was essential for their backyard renovation.

“I’ve never seen a martini pool anywhere but the French Quarter,” said Karen, an attorney. “We were re-creating a New Orleans courtyard.”

Upon entering the back patio, one immediately is drawn to the stone pond which is the centerpiece of the setup. At first glance, you probably won’t think it’s a pool, until you walk up to it and see that it’s clearly some sort of pool, just much too small for swimming.

“It’s for sitting and having cocktails,” said Richard, a finance director at a large car dealership. “It’s great for parties.”

Shaped like a bowl, the depth is six feet in the middle, perfect for submerging to cool off between sunbathing and sitting on the stone bench enjoying a beverage.

The Halls have lived in their home for 13 years and have completed several renovations, including improvements to the kitchen and dining room. The back patio design became the cherry on top. The backyard backs up to a portion of the Greenline, but being situated on a slight hill and having lush muscadine vines across the fence offer privacy during summer months.

The backyard project was completed as a series of renovations over several years. In 2003, the Halls added a wooden deck and pergola on the back of the house. In 2011, they added a gravel patio and Arkansas fieldstone extended patio and koi pond. The most recent addition in 2014 involved

14

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

JUSTIN NEWPOFF

replacing the koi pond with a magnificent martini pool, which includes waterfalls and a programmable LED lighting system.

All patio and pool construction and landscaping was done

by Growth Spurt. The Halls seal the stone patio annually to resist cracking and give it a nice sheen.

“I would come and sit out here looking at the fish in the pond, thinking, ‘Why should only the fish get to swim’,” Karen said.

“Now we have a people pond.”

The splash and gurgle of the three waterfalls cast a relaxing calm over the area. The ocean blue water is inviting, and the diamond-shaped, Italian tiles in the middle give a sparkle as the sun shines down on them.

As beautiful as it is during the day, sitting outside after dark is the ultimate treat for the Halls. Rocking in a lounger, listening to the waterfalls, the couple unwinds from long days while watching the LED light show make the pool blue, then purple, green, red and back to blue.

Patio accents include iron torches and a gas fire pit. The area contains all five elements: earth, air, water, fire and metal.

“My favorite thing is that it’s relaxing, which is what we built it to be,” Karen said. “We have dinner outside. If it’s raining, we sit under the covered deck.”

“We love it after dark,” Richard added. “Once the weather gets nice, we’re out here.”

Of course, they don’t keep the good times all to themselves.

Frequent gatherings and annual parties allow the Halls to share the backyard festivities with friends and neighbors.

“When we have a party, we invite all our neighbors,” Karen said. “We have really great neighbors.”

JULY

·

AUGUST 2016 |

15

DESIGN FIX

Outdoor Retreats Story by Stacey Wiedower

W

hich is more important: eating outdoors or lounging outdoors? This summer, Memphians can’t decide. Designers and outdoor furniture retailers can barely keep up with demand for outdoor kitchens. But at the same time, people don’t want to hang around in stiff wood or metal chairs — we’re all about the lounging these days. Below, we bring you advice from area experts on creating an outdoor retreat that’s even hotter than the temps.

Sit & Stay a While Conversation seating is exteremly popular this summer, trendier than the traditional outdoor dining set, said Stephen Hamilton, sales manager at Hamilton’s Fireplace, Grills & Casual Furniture on Summer Avenue. “It’s more the deep seating,” Hamilton said.

“Now with the high-quality fabrics and the foams, you can have really soft, plush cushions and leave them out completely. You can have a sofa fully outside, use bleach on the fabric and it feels as soft as cotton. It’s amazing stuff.” The same goes for decorative pillows, which these days are hard to distinguish these days from the pillows on your living room sofa.

Speaking of Textiles …

Interior designer Dena Pratt of Ethan Allen Memphis offers another favorite use for indoor-outdoor fabric, one that can add color and pattern, but also an important function. “One of my favorite ways to

decorate an exterior space is with outdoor drapery,” Pratt said. “There are times when a space needs more privacy and sun protection, and drapery always provides that. As an extra pop of color or texture, drapery always delivers and can be used on porches, covered decks or even pergolas and gazebos. To me, drapery adds such an inviting, relaxed and luxurious touch to outdoor living.”

Dinner’s on Us While we’re lazing around on those comfy outdoor sofas and deep, plush chairs, somebody’s behind the grill. And these days, more and more outdoor chefs are flipping burgers on built-in or high-end grills, with ample counter space and, in some cases, fridges to chill the drinks. “We’re still doing a lot of kitchens with outdoor fireplaces and Big Green Eggs,” Hamilton said.

Color Me Bold Whites and grays are all the rage inside, with color coming from fabric, art and accessories. Maybe that’s why outside, we’re seeing a color explosion. “A lot of bold, bright colors and a lot of patterns this year,” Hamilton said. Outdoor rugs these days are as varied, colorful and durable as other weather-resistant textiles. Summer playtime is fun, and this year’s outdoor aesthetic embraces that.

Mix & Match When it comes to materials, more of Hamilton’s customers turn to cast aluminum, which is “the best as far as durability,” he said. Wicker also is making a comeback, but it’s not your grandparents’ white front porch rocker. Thick-weave wickers and textured synthetic wickers are popular choices among buyers right now, Hamilton said.

Memphis is a traditional town, but contemporary furniture forms are inching their way onto Mid-South patios, often mixed with traditional pieces. “People are mixing wood with metals, and they don’t want to have everything matchy-matchy,” Hamilton says. “Maybe a wood or teak table with aluminum or wicker chairs.”

16

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

SUMMER FIX

The Perfect Picnic Story by Erinn Figg

W

hen your eyes feel fried from staring at screens, your ears get tired of hearing the constant “ding” of an email or text notification and your mind gets weary of the frozen, electronic version of your good friend’s profile picture, maybe it’s time to get outside and get some fresh air. With real people. And lush scenery.

And — icing on the cake alert — delicious food.

There’s a reason why, despite our technological advances, people still enjoy picnics. They combine some of the best things in life into one multisensory experience.

Or, more simply put, they’re fun.

In case you need a crash course on how to have a great picnic, we’ve rounded up some essentials.

Picnic baskets have come a long way, baby OK, actually, you don’t need a super-impressive basket to have a memorable picnic, but dang, they’re fun.

Today’s more advanced picnic baskets include blankets, wineglasses, silverware, plates, food organizers, napkins and basically all the things people tend to forget when they’re swept up in the throes of picnic-planning enthusiasm. They also make great wedding gifts, because nothing screams “romantic moments in the great outdoors” like a picnic basket, right?

We checked around and were goggle-eyed at the selection. We found everything from classic gingham-lined baskets (think Little Red Riding Hood) for about $25, to more sophisticated bas-

18

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

kets (that had better also clean my house) for about $500.

Our suggestions: Picnic Plus Largo 2-Person Picnic Basket, $69.99, at thepicnicworld.com. This hand-woven willow basket includes a set of two wineglasses, ceramic plates, cotton napkins, waiters tool and steel flatware. It also has divided compartments to hold wine or beverage bottles and dry foods.

Bamboo 21-Piece Insulated Picnic Basket, $39.99, at bedbathandbeyond.com. Includes four plastic plates, plastic cups, knives, forks and spoons.

Food that doesn’t make a mess Sandwiches, salads and easily portable foods are essential for eating outdoors. Lisa Clay, owner of Memphis-based Lisa’s Lunchbox, says the restaurant’s Hawaiian Chicken Salad sandwich, Pimento and Cheese sandwich and pasta salad are favorites among customers grabbing food to go. Check out lisaslunchbox.com for full menu and locations.

SUMMER FIX Location, location, location We asked our friends on social media for their favorite picnic locations and got the following responses: ➤ The Pine Grove Picnic Area at Memphis Botanic Garden ➤ Overton Park ➤ Levitt Shell, particularly during the Shell’s free concerts and other shows ➤ Shelby Farms

➤ Mississippi River Greenbelt Park ➤ Tom Lee Park ➤ Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park ➤ National Ornamental Metal Museum ➤ Wolf River Trails ➤ Riverside Drive ➤ Audubon Park, particularly the Cancer Survivor Park ➤ “Don’t forget the suburbs!” (This writer has many fond memories of family picnics at Cameron Brown Park in Germantown.)

Hydrate … or not It’s smart to bring bottles of water because, you know, sun and heat. You also might want to bring wine, beer and soda, though. If so, we wouldn’t be pro-Memphis if we didn’t encourage you to shop local. Grab a six-pack from a local brewery, such as High Cotton Brewing Co., 598 Monroe Ave., or Wiseacre Brewing Co., 2783 Broad Ave.

➤

We need to remind you to be sure to use a sweatresistant sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF 30.

We also must remind you with every picnic comes some uninvited, multi-legged or winged guests. So pack some insect repellent. You can use typical drugstore brands like Off or Cutter or, if you’re the more natural type, try a citronella candle to ward off mosquitoes. Other surprising natural insect shields include fresh garlic or garlic oil, lemons or Thermacell lemon oil or a magic circle Mosquito of cornstarch (ants won’t cross Repellent it). If you happen to have red wine with you, offer a glass to the bugs as well — albeit slightly away from your picnic blanket. All those little fruit flies will gravitate to it instead of you and your food. High-tech types can opt for the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent (about $23 at Lowe’s or Home Depot). The pocket-sized, butane-fueled device doesn’t need electricity or batteries and repels mosquitoes and black flies for up to 12 hours.

Bring a book!

Kevin Dean, executive director of Literacy Mid-South, would

➤

Brace yourselves for sunburn and bugs

Picnic Plus 2-person picnic basket

like to remind you to grab a book, particularly if you want to go solo on your picnic adventure. Books are your friends, after all. He recommends the following good reads: n “Fates and Furies” by Lauren Groff n “World’s Largest Man” by Harrison Scott Key n “Soil” by Jamie Kornegay n “The Daylight Marriage” by Heidi Pitlor n “Gulp” by Mary Roach

Bloggers know best I Love Memphis blogger Holly Whitfield honors National Picnic Day (April 23) with suggestions on how to stuff your picnic basket. Check out her podcast with this year’s list of local picnic favorites at ilovememphisblog. c o m / 2 0 1 6 /0 5/ 9 - m o r e things-to-put-in-your-memphis-picnic-basket.

JULY

·

AUGUST 2016 |

19

TREND FIX

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RVC OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS

Glamping: Not a hotel, not a tent Story by Lance Wiedower

N

ot everyone views camping through the same lens.

Outdoors enthusiasts likely enjoy gazing at the stars at night while relaxing around a campfire. The sound of unzipping a tent in the morning is as good for waking the senses as a cup of coffee.

For others, well, sleeping on the ground in the stifling summer heat in a tent that’s probably going to leak if it rains just doesn’t sound appealing.

Some outdoors enthusiasts enjoy hiking and sitting around a campfire at night, as long as there is a comfortable bed to collapse on afterward.

What if the best of both worlds exists? Glamorous or luxury camping, commonly known as “glamping,” is a way to bring the outdoors to a larger segment of the traveling world. Glamping is anything from a teepee or a yurt to a treehouse or cabin.

Glamping is more popular in the American west than the south, but a Memphis-based company is looking to change that. RVC Outdoor Destinations has 10 glamping properties, eight of which are in the Southeast and Texas, including Catherine’s Landing 20

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

near Hot Springs, Arkansas.

One way glamping differs from traditional camping is by providing options, said Andy Cates, CEO of RVC. That can range from a luxury yurt situated on a massive deck to a cabin with no bathroom or a treehouse in a rain forest.

“We don’t say luxury, we’re high quality,” Cates said. “Luxury means exclusion. We’re reachable to a huge market.”

That includes RVers looking for more than a glorified parking lot and families who want to get outdoors but have the comforts of home.

Their Catherine’s Landing property sits on a lake with kayak and boat rentals, but for families looking for a little more to do, there is a zip line course, a fitness room and Wi-Fi, so everyone can stay connected while enjoying the outdoors.

Glamping Hub is an accommodation booking platform found at glampinghub.com that started in 2011.

It lists nearly 3,000 accommodations in the U.S. and Canada. Co-founder Ruben Martinez says the site looks for unique properties while providing a certain level of comfort and direct access to the outdoors.

Glamping is an opportunity to test camping without purchasing all the equipment.

“Traditionalists who love traditional camping and grew up camping, that’s their thing. They’ll never touch the word glamping — that’s great,” Martinez said. “But for somebody to say ‘I really want something different,’ [and] they live in a city and want to try the outdoors; if they get a starter [camping] kit, that might be hundreds or thousands [of dollars] to try something they might not even like. Glamping appeals to that demographic.”

It also appeals to people who enjoy the outdoors but want a nice pillow to go with their comfortable bed.

What glamping can do is provide lodging options in destinations that otherwise would have noth-

TREND FIX of the best sushi I’ve had in my life.”

Providing unique activities in addition to comfortable accommodations, Martinez said, will help glamping properties continue to stand out in the market and grow.

“People say I love being able to go on a long hike during the middle of the day, but if it rains, I don’t want to be huddled in a small tent,” Martinez said.

“It’s the best of both worlds.”

Luxury hotel accommodations aren’t for everyone, but neither is camping. Glamping might just be the answer. ing. When Memphian Penelope Fisher was planning an anniversary trip with her husband along the California coast, she wanted to experience Big Sur, where lodging options are limited. She found a cliffside yurt at TreeBones Resort that features hardwood floors, a large bed, air conditioning, heat and a sink. A full shower and restroom facility is a short walk away.

Oh, and this property isn’t just in an ideal location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has all the amenities of a resort, with whale-watching excursions, yoga, hiking and a heated, ocean-view pool.

“It was probably the nicest place we stayed, even out of all the hotels, and it’s technically just a large tent,” Fisher said. “It has a sushi bar and it was some

Outdoor furniture looking a bit drab?

With our vast selection of outdoor fabrics, FABRICations can help you with that, too!

985 S. Yates Rd., 38119

901-767-8780

why we love our home

Darby and Patrick Toy turned their East Memphis backyard into an entertainer’s dream.

Backyard Bliss Story by Holli Weatherington • Photos by Mike Boatman

C

ooking dinner, entertaining guests, watching the big game, swimming and hot tubbing, warming up by the fire on a chilly evening — all of this can be done in the backyard of Patrick and Darby Toy. “The plan was always to renovate the back,” Darby said. “When we bought it, it was bare in the backyard. Initially, we knew we wanted to do an outdoor entertaining space and then after we got some plans on paper, we wanted to do the pool as well.”

They bought the East Memphis home in May 2013. Their space was tight but Tim Disalvo Co., (who did the entire renovation and was the original builder of the home in 2006) worked out the ideal configuration.

The Toys were able to break ground in June 2014 and the project was completed three months later.

22

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

The hot tub comes with a waterfall, a cool effect that adds serenity while relaxing on the patio.

Before, the backyard was just the grass all the way to the end of the house, with a small pea-gravel square at the back door where the grill now sits. All space under the roof is new.

The backyard measures about 20 by 36 feet. Initially, drainage and routing work was necessary to accommodate the pool and hot tub, as well as divert rainwater coming off the house during downpours. Long before a foundation could be poured, Disalvo said, the construction team needed to install 6-inch rigid pipe to control water runoff from the deck. The channel drain was installed along the edge of the inner patio.

“There is about 500 feet of pipe to manage all that water and downspouts and surface panel drains,” Disalvo said.

Underneath the roof is a spacious dining area, living room and extended seating space. They have custom lighting, a big-screen TV, and most importantly, a massive gas fireplace in the center. The flooring is scored concrete and the wooden roof and accents are a combination of new and reclaimed wood.

“The beams are all new feeder wood, but before we installed it, we hand-honed it and sanded it and beat it with chains to distress it and had our faux finish guy stain it and add holes,” Disalvo said.

As for the dining room table, it was made out of 16-foot reclaimed, 100-year-old oak beams. The table is 3 inches thick.

“It’s a monster,” Disalvo said. “We had it stained and patina put on it. I wanted to build that table as a thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for them. They gave me some styles and we came to an agreement on the look.”

The floors are scored concrete and the square by the grill has a compass design. Stone expansion joints in the foundation allowed for a seamless transition in matching all the concrete flooring in the living area. Neutral brick with the Arkansas fieldstone fireplace and columns combine styles the couple love.

“We wanted to keep it very English manor and in style with the home so it didn’t look like an addition,” Darby said. “My husband is more English manor and I am a bit more beach traditional. It’s a mix of the two. We wanted an English manor with natural and earth tones and a serene feel — like a little retreat. I love that color scheme. That goes along with the inside décor.”

A nice bonus is the fully-retractable automatic screens, which allow them to enclose themselves in an indoor/outdoor space. It keeps out the bugs and keeps in the cool air or heat, depending on the time of year.

The Toys don’t close their pool (which can be heated), so a yearlong opportunity to swim and get in the hot tub presents ample opportunities for cozying up by the fire on the big, fluffy couch.

The infrastructure contains several electrical and gas lines for the pool, heat, grill and appliances.

“We put gas lines in if they thought they wanted gas heaters,” Disalvo said. “Underneath all that wood there are outlets for gas and electrical for an added layer, but the fireplace proves to be a tremendous heat source.”

“When it gets cold, we have a really big fire and love it in the winter,” said Darby, indicating fall is her favorite time of year to be out there. “We cuddle up with blankets and things. In the fall, when it starts to get chilly, it’s just so nice. We are big football fans, so we spend a lot of time out there watching football and cooking out. We live out there.”

Overall, the Toy family is beyond thrilled with their outdoor space. Darby said it feels like another room of the house, especially when they open the two sets of French doors, close off the patio screens and let the energy flow from inside to outside.

“Tim did an amazing job,” Darby said. “He took everything we said and came out with this beautiful plan. He put all our ideas into the plans and made our dreams reality.”

JULY

·

AUGUST 2016 |

23

GARDEN FIX

Seeding Future Gardeners Story by Holli Weatherington

S

napping beans with mom, picking tomatoes with cousins and spreading granny’s peach preserves on the biscuits she makes on Sunday morning — these are the summer memories of many Southerners’ childhoods. The food came directly from a garden, with techniques for planting, picking and storing passed down for generations. Even the seeds have heritage. Some families pass them down to be yielded for generations to come.

It’s this heritage that fuels the inspiration for the GrowMemphis Seed Library. In addition to the nonprofit’s ultimate mission to cultivate more access to fresh, healthy food through community gardening, GrowMemphis is dedicated to increasing the agricultural Grow your own heritage of local plants.

“We are looking for donaA kitchen garden is a great way to get started. tions of non-GMO, organic, Popular plants for a kitchen non-hybrid, heirloom (prefgarden: Tomato, cucumber, erably to Memphis) seeds,” squash, peppers, herbs. said interim garden program Summer plants that grow very director, Lauren Hales. “We well in Memphis: Burgundy are not only taking care to inokra, crimson spineless okra, crease access to food, but in cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, keeping our heirloom seeds, Hungarian hot wax peppers, tomatoes all kinds we knock down on the environmental impact of foreign Flowers: Zinnias, calendula, marigolds seeds. Biodiversity is huge.”

The Seed Library allows people to “check out” seeds like checking out a book, but with no penalty for not “returning” them. The idea is to bring back seeds from the plants they’ve grown to donate to the seed library the following season.

An heirloom seed is any seed that has been saved for 50 years or more, as in a family member has grown a certain plant for generations from the same seed, regrowing plants each year from seeds yielded from previous harvests.

And seed donations don’t have to be of the heirloom variety.

People who already are interested in saving seeds, or who cultivate heritage plants, are welcome to 24

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

donate. They also can be from a garden or grocery store, but they certainly should be organic. Since the group hopes to achieve biodiversity, organic, nonGMO, non-hybrid seeds are very important.

“We hope we inspire people to save their seeds. If you know how to save seed, you don’t have to spend as much money.”

Memphis has a specific climate, therefore seeds and plants from Memphis do better here than seeds imported from other climates.

“The strongest most existent plants to our environment can stand the humidity and the clay and fungus,” Hales said. “They build up resistance to diseases, and that makes it easier to get a great amount of food from your garden.”

For example, okra is a Memphis heritage plant. It grows well in the city’s soil and climate.

“If you plant okra and you find a plant that is producing really well; producing more than the rest of the plants and it is robust, you should save the seeds from that (okra) plant because it’s obviously stronger,” Hales said.

In other words, the okra should be saved instead of eaten, and seeds from those okra pods should be replanted the following season.

The process of replanting season after season, year after year, is what generates heirloom seeds, which ultimately strengthens heritage plants in the area.

“There are stories we don’t want to lose,” Hales said.

“That’s why we are promoting Memphis seeds. Seeds will last you a couple years, but you have to grow it or do something with it, so sharing with the Memphis community means everyone could start growing your seeds and keep it going.”

GrowMemphis hopes its Seed Library program helps more backyard gardeners connect, network, share seeds, grow more food and ensure heritage plants of Memphis thrive for generations.

“We want to increase our library and give the best we can,” Hales said.

“We want people to eat healthy, organic and fresh.”

Quantum Showroom presents

Benefits of Efficient Windows

W

hen the dog days of summer are upon us, anything we can do to keep the heat out and the cool air in our homes is a priority. Besides the insulation and air-conditioning system, windows are vital for the control of heat in our homes.

Standard windows do not protect from higher UV rays, nor do they keep out the heat (that’s what shades and blinds are for), but there are options that increase the efficiency of the home — and keep it cooler in the hot temperatures.

According to a houselogic.com “Remodeling Impact Report” in 2015, window replacement is one of the best home remodeling projects in terms of return on investment. Upgrading to energy efficient windows could mean even greater savings.

The window offerings at Quantum Showrooms provide an array of choices. Here are some of the purposes and benefits of energy-efficient windows.

Energy & Cost Savings Energy-efficient windows can substantially reduce the costs associated with heating and cooling. Savings vary by climate and area, and window materials, but Energy Star rated windows can help a home reduce energy costs by up to 15 percent.

Improved Comfort Cold glass can create uncomfortable drafts as air next to the window is cooled and drops to the floor. Also, strong direct sunlight through a window onto people and interior surfaces can cause overheating and discomfort.

Quantum Showrooms 5690 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 387-4500

Lower HVAC Costs High-performance windows reduce the peak heating and cooling loads by decreasing solar gain and loss from the glass.

Reduced Condensation High-performance windows create warmer interior glass surfaces, reducing frost and condensation.

Increased Light & View Daylight and view are two of the fundamental attributes of a window. High-performance windows allow for a reduction in heat while increasing the light coming into the home.

Reduced Fading More light may be coming inside, but the ultraviolet rays are not. Materials such as carpet, fabrics, paper, artwork, paints and wood may fade and discolor with repeated exposure to sunlight. High-performance, energyefficient windows prevent the damaging effects of UV rays on your most precious possessions.

HOSPITALITY FIX

Summer Spirits Story by Holli Weatherington

E

very summer yields a chance to try a new summer cocktail, or even a clever “mocktail.” While trends come and go, some drinks have staying power. And one thing you can always count on in summer — more fruit, more frozen and more creativity. It’s easy to find basic recipes online or ask your bartender for a recipe when you find a cocktail you love.

On Trends From signature vessels to seasonal produce, cocktails on the hot list are sure to have fun ingredients and a bit of flair. This goes beyond a mere garnish.

We’re talking flavors that rev up the taste buds.

With tingly ginger beer, vodka and lime juice, a Moscow Mule is a zesty concoction. And it’s not complete without the cool copper mug.

The no-fuss greyhound is a refreshing mixture of vodka and ruby red grapefruit juice with a pinch of salt. Martinis regularly feature strawberries, fresh herbs like cilantro, basil and mint, blueberries, pineapples and mango. How does bubbly Prosecco with frozen peaches sound? What about a strawberry basil martini? With seasonal fruit available all summer, it’s easy to experiment with various combinations.

The Classics There’s a reason why they call them the classics.

They have a no frills demeanor, simple ingredients and can be strong. For dark liquors, try an Old Fashioned. You get sugar muddled with bitters and kissed by an orange rind — a glass called an Old Fashioned, no less — with a juicy cherry popped inside. Enjoy on the patio after the sun goes down.

For a real summery treat, nothing beats a cucumber gimlet. Gimlets are made with gin (and experts will argue they are never to be made with vodka). A gimlet is gin, a splash of lime juice and soda water. A cucumber gimlet adds muddled cucumber, mint and agave nectar (the go-to natural sweetener 26

| JULY · AUGUST 2016

for drinks). Make sure you have enough for several because these go down smoothly by the pool.

Nothing screams summer like the perfect mojito.

White rum, fresh mint — muddled with sugar — soda water and fresh lime juice. Mojitos are refreshing, thirst-quenching and offer the perfect level of sweetness. It’s hard to drink these slowly!

Whether it’s brunch time or an afternoon pick-meup, a good Bloody Mary can set the day right. It’s not uncommon to see these “meals in a glass” take it literally — with bacon, shrimp, even hamburgers. Use fresh tomato juice, natural juices and your favorite pickled vegetables. If you want that bacon, go for it!

Tropical It’s not summer without frozen beverages, and a truly good daiquiri hits the spot when the heat index rises. We all know margaritas have tequila, but remember to get the tropical flavor of daiquiris, real daiquiris, they must be made with rum.

For a deeper flavor, use brown rum; for a lighter flavor, use white rum. Be bold and mix flavors together like coconut and strawberry.

Whether you want full-on or skinny, margaritas rule on the beach. Ditch the pre-made mixes and opt for fresh lime juice. Use agave nectar and freshsqueezed orange juice in place of orange liqueur and go for clear tequila. To make it skinny, use less nectar, less fruit juice and add soda water.

This next cocktail is part drink, part dessert and it’s the coolest thing around — wine slushes! Mix your favorite wine with your favorite fruits and place in the freezer. The longer you leave it, the slushier it gets. Whites go well with tropical fruits while reds tend to go best with berries, but hey, there are no rules on your own patio! Consistencies range from a thin sheet of ice to a full smoothie. For thicker drinks, blend wine with frozen or fresh fruit; for thinner, just add fresh fruit to your wine, then place in the freezer.

I

n the Midsouth, the name Ken

Garland is synonymous with quality.

Our family has built fine custom homes and

renovated existing homes for generations. “TO THE LAST DETAIL� is our motto for a reason: from the foundation to the crown moulding, we oversee every detail.

For your new construction or remodeling projects, let us exceed your expectations.

Christie Cut Stone

Providing Brick, Landscaping & Building Stone, Limestone & More!

• • •

Brick Building Stones Limestone

Christie Cut Stone is dedicated to providing our customers with brick, limestone millwork and a variety of natural stones, both domestic and imported.

10455 Hwy 64 Memphis, Tennessee 38002 7am to 4:30pm M-F 9am to 1:00pm Sat (P) 901.382.6242 (F) 901.382.6215

WWW.CHRISTIECUTSTONE.COM