WHEN A FORMER BAPTIST PARSONAGE went on the market in Palmetto, Florida, lifestyle influencer Sarah Tucker recognized the potential of the old house. “I felt an immediate sense of home. I was excited to refresh it with paint and light fixtures but hit the jackpot with its good bones," says Tucker, who bought the place in 2014 with her husband, JB. Nestled near the Manatee River in the city's historic district, the 2,800square-foot Colonial Revival home came with plenty of Americana style. But as with most older houses, unavoidable headaches followed suit, like the cloth wiring that had to be replaced and a shortsighted 1970s addition that had popcorn ceilings. She persisted with tasteful updates, adding her traditional-meets-approachable aesthetic. The mom of two likes the close-knit community as much as the house. "It feels like stepping back in time in the best sort of way," Tucker says.
Signature Scent
When the couple first toured the house, the mature jasmine vines along the arbor and picket fence were in full bloom. "I was hooked," recalls Tucker. Another factor that sold them is the bikefriendly community; the family often pedals to local ice-cream parlor Alice Scooper's and then walks on the pier to watch the boats pass by.
Wonder Wall
A living room vignette highlights Tucker's collection of blue chinoiserie pottery. "I've been collecting it for years, including pieces from secondhand stores," she says. "There are also special ones that my mom has given e." The sweet scene is anchored by a scalloped wicker side table from The Enchanted Home. "I love wicker," says the tastemaker. "I think every room needs at least a touch of it." me."
Neighborly Love
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Southern Living.
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This story is from the April 2023 edition of Southern Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Forging a Legacy - A Fredericksburg, Texas, couple is creating a new class of heirloom cast-iron cookware
When Jay Mallinckrodt pitched the idea of crafting cast-iron cookware to his wife and business partner, Heather, in 2020, she was hesitant. I immediately said no, she recalls with a laugh. But I finally agreed as long as we made something that we would actually want to use ourselves. Like many others during the initial throes of the pandemic, their multigenerational family operation, Heartland Enterprises (which specializes in machining parts for jet engines and gas and oil equipment), was seeing a lull. “No one was flying; no one was drilling, says Jay. So we had time to try something different.
A Butterfly Haven - In the Texas Hill Country, a conservationist is helping monarchs adjust to the changing world
Twenty-four years ago, Monika Maeckle bought a small property on the Llano River in Central Texas as an escape from fast-paced San Antonio. A journalist and marketing professional by trade, she didn't at first realize the value of the location on which she and her husband would later build their ranch. She also had no idea how this decision would eventually transform her life.One October evening a few years later, a friend invited Maeckle to their nearby house, which sat on a watershed with several large cypresses. All these butterflies dropped from the sky and started to gravitate toward the trees, she recalls. Stronger people who could swing a big 12-foot-long pole began trying to capture them, and we waited. By the end of the evening, we'd tagged a couple hundred butterflies, and I left there enchanted.
Oktober Feast!
While I respect your right to serve spooky food in October, you won't find any gory grub at my house this month. Instead, I'm hosting a gathering that's inspired by biergartens across the pond. The focus of the menu is a fondue made with Gruyère cheese and crisp Riesling-like beer-cheese dip but more elevated. It's served with a smorgasbord of dippers such as smoked sausage, grapes, apples, and a few amped-up store-bought snacks, like Mustard-Glazed Pretzel Bites and Smoked Paprika Potato Chips. (Just one taste, and you'll want to add this spice to every bag you open.) Pour yourself a Cider Shandy, and get ready for a good time. Prost, y'all!
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