Smag 20170221 S001-S108

HOME & GARDEN ISSUE
Designing
Women
UPSTATE DESIGNERS TALK
ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE
ROOMS TO DESIGN
NURSERIES: PARENTS
DECORATE BABY ROOMS
$4.95
WWW.SPARTANBURGMAGAZINE.COM

CAKEHEAD OWNERS
LOVE THEIR HOME’S KITCHEN

ASIAN GARDEN AT SPARTANBURG
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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80 | ASIAN GARDEN Spartanburg Community College’s new pocket park
10 | LOFTY AMBITIONS 56 | BREATHTAKING VIEW

Drayton Mills tenants put out welcome mat
CONTENTS
Dark Corner home filled with life’s
passions
24 | FAVORITE ROOMS
What do designers love? 66 | BE OUR GUEST
HOME & GARDEN 2017
Couple joins trend of listing vacation
28 | IN THE KITCHEN rentals online with Airbnb
ON THE COVER
The kitchen in the home of Caitlin Steelman in Greenville. Cakehead owners enjoy cooking, baking
Interior designer Ginny Ezell has re-decorated the room 72 | COVERED IN FABRIC
twice. TIM KIMZEY PHOTO 36 | LIVING ROOM Upholstery shop keeps furniture
Couple’s favorite space is a place for looking new
FOR STORY IDEAS OR COMMENTS FOR SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS
entertaining
JOSE FRANCO JENNIFER BRADLEY
EDITOR CIRCULATION COORDINATOR ESSENTIALS
40 | ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
864-562-7223 864-562-7402
Apartment that’s both inviting and
JOSE.FRANCO@SHJ.COM JENNIFER.BRADLEY@SHJ.COM 9 | FROM THE EDITOR
comfortable
94 | SCENE
44 | NURSERIES
Comfort and style for baby’s first room
8 | SPARTANBURG MAGAZINE
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PUBLISHER
KEVIN DRAKE
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
MICHAEL G. SMITH
EDITOR Create a to-do list
JOSE FRANCO
COPY EDITORS for your home, garden
R. KEITH HATCHELL, BEVERLY KNIGHT
I
STAFF WRITERS f you’ve already broken your New plants healthy.
DAN ARMONAITIS, DANIEL J. GROSS,
Year’s resolutions, it’s still early Goal: Declutter and keep home organized
BOB MONTGOMERY,
enough in the year to compile a list of Do:
ALYSSA MULLIGER,
ALLISON M. ROBERTS, ZACH FOX
goals for your home and garden. Invest in inexpensive or decorative
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS I call mine a yearly to-do list. I break my list storage containers. Label them so you know
LINDA COBB, BETTY MONTGOMERY down by season. what’s in each container.
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS What do you want to accomplish this Keep items off the floor. Buy inexpensive
JOHN BYRUM, ALEX HICKS JR., spring? Summer? Fall? Winter? hampers for your bedrooms, bathrooms and
TIM KIMZEY
My to-do list might be similar to your laundry room. They come in all shapes and
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
to-do list. sizes.
WENDY SHOCKLEY MCCARTY
Goal: Paint the living room and bedrooms. Donate unused items to a local charitable
Do: organization such as Goodwill, the Salvation
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
Read magazines and online home Army or Habitat for Humanity.
KONRAD LA PRADE
improvement sites on what colors are popular In this issue of Spartanburg Magazine, we
INTEGRATED MEDIA SALES MANAGER
MARY PETTUS
this season. have a feature on favorite rooms — a living
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Ask friends for recommendations on room, kitchen, and nurseries. We also asked
KEN SMITH painters. designers to tell us about their favorite spaces.
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Watch videos or attend a class at a home Writer Alyssa Mulliger visited two of the
JENNIFER BRADLEY improvement or hardware store on painting new tenants at the Drayton Mills Loft Apart-
WEBSITE
and decide to do the job yourself. You’ll save ments and writer Linda Cobb writes about the
SPARTANBURGMAGAZINE.COM
money that way and you’ll end up with a great new Asian Garden at Spartanburg Commu-
TO SUBSCRIBE OR PURCHASE BACK ISSUES
CONTACT JENNIFER BRADLEY feeling of accomplishment. nity College.

AT 864-562-7402 Goal: Add mulch to the garden beds, We hope you’ll be inspired by these
trim trees, plant flowers, and weed out dead stories to try your very own home or garden
plants. improvement project this spring.
PUBLISHED BY
HERALD-JOURNAL
Do: If you’d like to share your favorite space
189 W. MAIN ST. Take a class taught by a master gardener or garden with readers of Spartanburg
SPARTANBURG, S.C. 29306 or at Spartanburg Community College to get Magazine, you can reach me by email at jose.
864-582-4511 expert advice on gardening projects. franco@shj.com or call 864-562-7223.

Ask garden experts and columnists Linda Good luck and remember to have fun while
AN AFFILIATE OF
Cobb and Betty Montgomery for advice. you to-do it.
Ask questions at local garden centers on Jose Franco, Editor
JOSE.FRANCO@SHJ.COM
when is the best time to plant for spring and
what grows well in this climate. Find out
how often you should water your plant and
what you should add to your soil to keep your
SPARTANBURG MAGAZINE | 9
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D R AY TO N M I L L S
Natural light pours in from

large windows surrounding
the spacious living room
inside Jim and Gretchen
Evans’ loft at Drayton Mills.
Tenants drawn to apartment complex for

nostalgia, live-work-play community
STORY BY ALYSSA MULLIGER
PHOTOS BY ALEX HICKS JR.
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Jim and Gretchen Evans’ loft at Drayton Mills
has three bedrooms large enough for the
couple and their three sons.
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P
erched along Drayton
Road just beyond Spar-
tanburg’s city limits,
luxury loft apartments
have breathed new life
into a former textile facility’s spin-
ning and weaving mills.
The roughly $35 million reno-
vations of Drayton Mills Loft
Apartments was completed last
year by Spartanburg-based Mont-
gomery Development Group in
conjunction with Charlotte, N.C.-
headquartered TMS Development.
The 289 apartments have 70
different floor plans ranging from
one- to three-bedroom units. Each
unit has at least one 12-foot-high
window, original maple floors,
and exposed brick walls and beam
ceilings.
A 60-foot lap pool, fitness
center, and other amenities
complement the apartments at the
250-acre property.
The first tenants moved into
the lofts in the spinning mill in
late 2015 and then the weaving
mill in the spring of 2016. Several
of the mill tenants are drawn to
the apartment complex for its
nostalgia and live-work-play
community.
Jim and Gretchen Evans

After selling their house on the
west side of the city of Spartan-
burg, Jim and Gretchen Evans
moved into the luxury lofts in April
2016.
“We’ve been in Spartanburg
about 11 years and when we sold
our house, we weren’t sure exactly
what we wanted to do next, so
that’s how we got to Drayton
Mills,” Jim Evans said.
“We’re here for a while until
we find or build our next house,”
Gretchen Evans added.
The family, which includes
two college-aged sons and a third
son in high school, selected a
third-floor three-bedroom, two
bathroom apartment with 2,152
square feet.
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The Evans relax in the living room, their favorite part of their Drayton Mills loft where large windows allow natural light to pour in.
Their front door opens into an entry large windows, including four that are
hallway that continues to the right, passing in the living room. “The living room is
two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The absolutely our favorite room because we
third bedroom and second full bathroom entertain constantly and so you can put a
are at the end of the hallway and off of the lot of people in this room and get the pretty
living room. The hallway leads into the views out the windows,” Gretchen Evans
modern kitchen with granite countertops said.
and stainless steel appliances. The kitchen Most of the apartment furnishings are
and its accompanying island with sink from the family’s previous home, including
overlook the unit’s spacious living room a sturdy wooden coffee table purchased 20
and dining area. years ago. Other new furniture additions
Every room in the apartment boasts were brought in to fit the industrial feel
ample natural light that pours in from of the apartment, Gretchen Evans said.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
The furnishings inside Jim and Gretchen Evans’ loft at Dray-
ton Mills are a mixture of family pieces and new additions
that bring an industrial feel to the apartment.
The Evans relax in the living room.
Many of Jim and Gretchen Evans’ apartment furnishings are
from their previous home.
Jim and Gretchen Evans, pictured with 16-year-old Austin,
one of their three sons.
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These include a distressed wood
and iron dining table, with a
chandelier above it and three
large wood-framed mirrors on
an adjacent wall.
“I think (the décor) was about
trying to be more industrial
like the apartment,” Gretchen
Evans said. “We really love this
space. I feel like we’re living
in a big city and not Spartan-
burg.” It’s also nice not having
to manage the upkeep of a home
with a yard and pool, she said.
Jim Evans said living at
Drayton Mills has been a com-
munity-oriented experience
too. “What’s different about
this place is that you share a
hallway and an elevator and you
almost have to meet people,”
he said. “It’s a very social place,
more than like where we lived
before with houses each on an
acre of land and you don’t really
know all your neighbors.”
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Kelley Shaw
A native of Atlanta, Kelley Shaw
moved to Spartanburg for a graphic
design job and has lived in different
parts of the county for eight years.
In March 2016, Shaw and her rescued
greyhound, Zena, moved into a two-
bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom
loft at Drayton Mills. The apartment
covers 1,348 square feet on the second
floor.
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Kelley Shaw’s rescued greyhound, Zena, relaxes on a rug in the kitchen of her Drayton Mills loft.
The unit has a long entry hallway that “I don’t like run-of-the-mill stuff,” she
passes a half bathroom and kitchen on the said. “I love antiquing and coming up with
right. Like other units, Shaw’s kitchen has new ideas for stuff. I go to auctions too and
stainless steel appliances and an extended I get a lot of things where I know I can fix
granite countertop for bar-like seating. it up.”
Shaw split her living room into a Many of Shaw’s finds are in her living
small dining area with a simple table room – a circus trunk that doubles as a side
and chairs and a gathering space with a table from an antique store; a lamp she got
variety of seating that includes a couch, at an auction and had rewired; and a coffee
a chair shaped like a hand, and a row of table made from a section of a tree that she
four wooden theater seats she found in found.
Darlington. The unit’s two bedrooms and full
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LEFT: One of Kelley
Shaw’s favorite
furnishings in her
Drayton Mills loft is
a coffee table made
from a section of a
tree that she found.
BELOW: A part
of Shaw’s first
bedroom is used as
a reading nook.
bathroom are beyond the living room.

And like all Drayton Mills units, natu-
ral light fills each room through large
windows.
One of Shaw’s favorite spaces is the
reading nook surrounded by curtains
draped over tree branches that she
created by one of the windows in the
first bedroom. “I love to read and I
wanted to make a cozy spot,” she said.
“I just like bringing nature into the
apartment.”
Shaw also spends much of her time
inside the second bedroom, which
she turned into an art studio. Canvas
paintings and prints are mounted on
the walls, a vinyl collection for her
record player are displayed in a repur-
posed animal trough, and industrial
lighting made by friends helps light
her easel during evening hours. Shaw
said many of her paintings have been
sold to friends that she has met since
living at Drayton Mills.
“I like the community and I like this
place because it has the character of
something cooler than just a cookie
cutter apartment,” she said. “It feels
more like a house than your basic
apartment.”
RIGHT: Kelley Shaw turned her second

bedroom into an art studio.
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P E R S O N A L S PAC E
Designing Women
UPSTATE DESIGNERS TALK ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE ROOMS TO DESIGN
STORY BY ALLISON M. ROBERTS + PHOTOS BY TIM KIMZEY
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Interior designer Ginny Ezell has re-decorated Caitlin Steelman’s kitchen,
left, twice.
W
e all have a room in our homes we love the most. It’s
the room we look forward to at the end of the day.
The room we know we’re going to end up in as soon
as we get home, kick off our shoes and relax for the
evening.
It could be a bedroom, a living room, or even the
kitchen, and it’s probably the room we spend the most time in.
Hear what rooms Upstate interior designers love to put together:
GINNY EZELL, REGENERATION INTERIORS IN CHESNEE: One of the big-

gest things I enjoy is more design than decorating. What I like about that is
selecting finishes and putting that together – flooring, tile, cabinetry – more
so than hanging pictures or picking accessories. I’m more of a big picture
person. My favorite room to design is probably the kitchen. There is a lot of
functionality that goes into a kitchen. There are a lot of things that we have
to have in a kitchen. It’s also where life happens. In most people’s homes
that’s kind of the center of the house. Designing all of that to make it not
only functional but comfortable is what I enjoy.
REBECCA GREEN, SALT AND LIGHT DESIGN IN INMAN: My favorite room to

design is a bedroom. It’s your place of solace. It’s your place of unwinding,
relaxing, renewing yourself. It’s soft and provides the opportunity to use a
lot of fabric. I like soft, cool tones or neutrals. It needs durability, natural
fibers, and artwork that is spa-like and reminiscent of the outdoors because
when God created man he put him in a garden. I like to bring the outdoors in
as much as possible. It needs nice, oversized lamps and a little place to sit.
SHERRIE NACOLE, HOUSE OF INTERIORS IN SPARTANBURG: I love design-

ing the living room. I’m torn between the living room and the bedroom. The
thing I love about a living room is you can decide how you want to use it. If
you want to have a living area with a TV or fireplace or a dining area, you can
put the right pieces of furniture to create the space you’re looking for. Light
fixtures, flooring and however the family wants to use it would depend on
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the way it’s decorated. I enjoy the bedroom because it’s more of a relaxing place.
The bedroom is also a place for couples to unwind. You want it to be the last
place you visit for the day and be able to unwind while you’re in there. The right
lighting can also make it a more romantic setting. It has a lot to do with person-
ality, mood, and how you want to feel in your space, and that’s what I like to
accomplish for my clients
LOUISE JOHNSON, LOUISE JOHNSON INTERIORS IN SPARTANBURG: I’ve been an

interior designer for 17 years and started my own business here in Spartanburg 14
years ago. I love designing for young families and incorporating their needs into a
clean and youthful but sophisticated look.
One of my favorite rooms to design is probably the family room/ den because
that is the room where a family or couple spends most of their time. Every family
has different needs, and it is important to space and plan the room correctly
so that they feel comfortable and are using the space in the best possible way.
This means providing the right type of seating, lighting, fabrics, and additional
furniture.
I love incorporating contemporary design with antiques, mixing a beautiful
chest with a modern painting or using a bright geometric fabric on more tradi-
tional chairs. At the end of the day, a home needs to look like an improved version
of my client and layered over time rather than have a “stamped out” look.
Another room, that I really enjoy designing is a little girl’s bedroom because I
have all boys.
It’s clear that like the homeowners who live in them, the ones who design them Interior designer Ginny Ezell has re-deco-
have different rooms that inspire their creativity. rated Caitlin Steelman’s kitchen twice.
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HEART OF THE HOUSE
C U L I N A RY
MIXED WITH
FIN E A RT
STORY BY DANIEL J. GROSS
+ PHOTOS BY JOHN BYRUM
DECOR
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Liz and Andrew Blanchard in the
kitchen of their circa 1926 home in
the Hampton Heights Community.
Couple’s love for the kitchen

extends beyond Cakehead Bakeshop
L
iz Blanchard is no stranger to the kitchen.
It’s where she spends her workday as the
owner and pastry chef of Cakehead Bake-
shop in downtown Spartanburg. It’s also
where she spends the majority of her time at
home.
“I don’t ever really stop. It doesn’t get old, A KitchenAid mixer takes
thankfully,” she said of baking and cooking. up a prominent space
Baking with her daughter Simone and making cookies on on the countertop of the
Christmas Day in the kitchen are some of her favorite household Blanchard’s kitchen.
memories, she said.
Blanchard and her husband, Andrew, bought their craftsman
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The kitchen at the home of Liz and Andrew Blanchard. The Blanchards
opened Cakehead in 2010 inside the Masonic Temple on West Main Street.
bungalow in 2007. The circa 1926 home is nestled on Cecil Court in

Spartanburg’s historic Hampton Heights community, and their kitchen
has become the heart of their house. “Usually when we have people
over, this is where we always hang out,” Andrew Blanchard said.
The Blanchards opened Cakehead in 2010 inside the Masonic Temple
on West Main Street where Liz Blanchard extends her love of baking.
Andrew Blanchard is a printmaker and photographer, and currently
an associate professor of studio art at Converse College. Some of his
works hang on their kitchen walls including one print he completed
shortly after moving to Spartanburg that features some of Hub City’s
local landmarks.
Together, the Mississippi natives’ mix of culinary and fine art col-
lides in their kitchen’s décor and style. The Blanchards gave the space
a splash of new paint and improved countertops and removed a washer
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Near the pantry is exposed wire shelving which houses
pots and pans and cake stands that see frequent use.
and dryer that had taken up real estate there, but the room
hasn’t had a major facelift other than the obvious eclectic décor
that makes it their own.
Mounted vintage tin match holders picked from antique
shops all over the South accent the walls. A pair of antique
lunch boxes sits atop the fridge. Colorful letters and Simone’s
creative drawings line the refrigerator doors.
The KitchenAid mixer takes up a prominent spot on the
countertop that juts out into a seating area with bar stools.
Near the pantry is exposed wire shelving which houses the pots
and pans and cake stands that see frequent use. Even a hanging
hand towel is an illustration of the family’s cooking spirit as it
reads, “Let’s eat lunch and talk about dinner.”
They described their kitchen décor as being “eclectic and
pseudo-retro.”
Across the room is a 1960s-era gas stovetop near a deep
One of Andrew Blanchard’s double sink. Their cast-iron skillet has become one of their
prints, which features some go-to kitchen essentials, used to cook shrimp creole and other
of Spartanburg landmarks,
hangs on a kitchen wall.
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The couple describes their kitchen decor
as being “eclectic and pseudo-retro.”
Cajun dishes. “We make everything in

it now. I do all my seafood in there,”
Andrew Blanchard said.
One of Liz Blanchard’s favorite accents
in the room is the single-pane windows
above the sink that are original to the
house. The sunlight catches them just
right during certain parts of the day,
allowing the rays to beam through the
room to create a warm glow, she said.
“We get beautiful light shining through
that window and I just love that,” Liz
Blanchard said.
The kitchen is quaint and cozy, absent
of big islands and commanding granite
or concrete slab countertops that many
larger modern homes have.
“It’s a manageable space, that’s why I
like it. Nothing too grandiose,” Andrew
Blanchard said of the unique space that
perfectly reflects their tastes.
Mounted vintage tin match holders

picked from antique shops all over
the South accent the walls.
“
I T ’ S A M A N A G E A B L E S PA C E ,
T H A T ’ S W H Y I L I K E I T.
NOTHING TOO GRANDIOSE.
ANDREW BLANCHARD
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FAVO R I T E S PAC E
LIVING
room COUPLE ENJOY OPENING UP THEIR
H O M E D U R I N G T H E H O L I DAY S
STORY BY ZACH FOX | PHOTOS BY JOHN BYRUM
I
nside a historic home in Spartanburg’s Hampton Heights neigh-
borhood, Margarette and Marion Miller are learning to better
appreciate their surroundings.
Margarette and Marion, known to many as “Dooley,” live in a
historic home on Peronneau Street. The large white home with
tall columns in the front was built in the early 1900s.
Margarette has taught at The Cleveland Academy of Leadership for
more than 30 years, and Marion is a former principal of Pacolet Middle
School and was a longtime guidance counselor at Broome High School.
The couple has found that as they spend more time at their home, they
enjoy its décor and sense of history even more.
“Oh yes,” Margarette said of the time she and her husband spend in
their home. “He’s retired so he’s here all the time, but we both love it.”
Recently, Margarette closed her longtime dance school, the Margarette
Bell Dance Studio, in downtown Spartanburg.
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Teaching during the day and then teaching dance after
school became too hectic for Margarette to handle, so, to
be closer with her family, she closed the dance studio.
“I had been doing it for 36 years, and, you know,
I always wanted to be in the situation where when I
wanted to retire (from the dance studio), I could,” she
said. “Now I get to spend more time with my hubby and
enjoy our home.”
Inside the Millers’ living room, their favorite space
in the house, black, wooden beams line a white ceiling.
Brown, patterned carpet covers the floor and dark green
wallpaper with floral patterns rises from the floor to the
ceiling. Doorways and strips of molding are coated with
crisp, white paint.
Outside, tall, white columns from a brick walkway lead
to the roof. Margarette said the columns were redone
to add more curb appeal and structural integrity to the
home a number of years ago.
Margarette and Marion Miller stand in their favorite

room in their historic home. The home in Hampton
Heights was decorated with red bows and poinsettias
during the Christmas holiday.
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Inside the Millers’ living room, their favorite space in the house, black, wooden
beams line a white ceiling. Brown, patterned carpet lines the floor and dark green
wallpaper with floral patterns rises from the floor to the ceiling. Doorways and
strips of molding are coated with crisp, white paint. Margarette Miller said now
that she’s retired from her dance school she will get more time to enjoy her home.
OPPOSITE PAGE: A mirror and lamp add elegance to the living room of Margarette
and Marion Miller.
0209_A_36_SHJMAG.indd 38 1/17/2017 4:21:15 PM

The home doesn’t show its age
in most spots, but when repairs are
needed, it’s easy to tell the home
was built during a different time.
“Living in an older home, you
always have projects,” Margarette
said. “You just never know what
you’re going to find.”
Marion said electrical work the
couple has had done at the home
has been especially difficult.
“Finding parts is tough some-
times,” he said. “The codes and
electric were different when this
house was built, so sometimes
electricians have to do some
research to figure out what to do
and what they need.”
The Millers think of their house
as a home, and never really flaunt
their living space. Margarette said
they’ve never volunteered their
home to be part of a historic home
tour in Spartanburg or any similar
events.
“This room stays like it is most
of the time. These three rooms
are pretty much always the way
it is now, just without a Christ-
mas tree,” Margarette said in
December.
The couple hosts friends and
church events during the year, but
the home is particularly useful, and
lively, during the holidays.
Margarette and her siblings
were raised at the home, which
her father bought when they were
children.
Every year, family members flock
to the house to celebrate Christ-
mas, complete with the Millers’
large tree, a Nutcracker collection,
and other decorations.
“Usually when we entertain, it’s
around here, so we get to social-
ize with each other and have food
and things like that,” the young-
est of six children explained.
“When my parents raised us, we
all came together on Christmas.
So, everyone comes here. We start
Christmas morning. All my siblings
have kids, so we have kids and
grandkids and great-grandkids.”
During the holidays, when the
home is festive with decorations,
the Millers enjoy sharing it with
their large family.
0209_A_36_SHJMAG.indd 39 1/25/2017 11:25:46 AM

S M A L L S PAC E
I N R E S I D E N C E
Lydia See selected for artist-in-the-community residency program
0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 40 1/18/2017 4:38:29 PM

A photo on a wall might spark a memory for guests. Lydia See is also a photographer so she
also has an assortment of vintage cameras lyring around to add to the decor.
STORY BY DAN ARMONAITIS

PHOTOS BY ALEX HICKS JR.
W “
hen Lydia
See invites
friends into
her downtown
Spartanburg
apartment for I’m a collector,
so I keep little
the first time, the response is usually the
same.
things from
As See explains it, “You’ve only been
here for (a few) months?” they’ll say as
their faces light up in utter surprise.
See moved into the historic Highland
Court Apartments on West Henry Street everywhere I go
or (from) parts
in mid-August, yet her railroad-style unit
already has a fully “lived-in” look.
The small living room space is sprin-
kled with lots of interesting curiosities,
artworks, and knickknacks that are inter- of my life.
spersed with several plants, particularly
along the east-facing window that gets
plenty of morning sunlight.
“People tend to spend a lot of time look-
ing, which I love,” See said.
A Massachusetts native who had most
recently been living in Asheville, N.C., See
came to Spartanburg after being selected
for the artist-in-the-community resi-
dency program sponsored by local arts
organization Hub-Bub in partnership with
the Spartanburg County Public Library
System.
“Anytime that something of mine tugs
at some part of someone and makes them
think of their grandmother or their best
friend when they were a kid or of a certain
untouchable memory that’s just kind of in
there but you can’t really focus on it, that
is incredibly inspiring to me,” See said.
0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 41 1/18/2017 2:39:00 PM

In some cases, it might be a photo on a wall paper wasp nests and bones and things like
that sparks a memory for guests. In other that, I find (they) look really nice when they’re
instances, one of the many books that fill her paired with more formal things like artwork.
low-lying shelves might catch a visitor’s eye “But I have a tendency to create vignettes
and make them think of having given the same out of the things that I’ve collected instead
edition as a gift for a special friend. of what a lot of people do, (which) is have a
Among other artistic pursuits, See is a pho- featured art wall where there’s one big painting
tographer, so it seems fitting that she has an or something like that.”
assortment of vintage cameras lying around to On one wall of her apartment, See has a
add to the décor. framed portrait of a random man she doesn’t
“There’s just so many ways to make your know anything about but has taken to calling
home describe you or represent you or make “Etienne” next to another of an older family
you feel at home,” she said of the other unique cousin named Elaine, whom her Aunt Jean has
pieces in the living room, including an old described as being See’s “kindred spirit in the
postal scale, some animal bones, and a paper family.” Alongside the framed portraits are
wasp nest. several smaller, frameless old photographs.
“I’m a collector, so I keep little things from A lot of them “are photos that I’ve inherited
everywhere I go or (from) parts of my life, so or have been given over the years that aren’t
whether it’s dried flowers that my mom sent actually my family, but I like the idea of creat-
me or bottles from a place I used to photograph ing a surrogate family in family photographs,”
that I found on the beach, I find a way to inte- See said.
grate whatever I’ve collected into my décor,” See recommends using washi tape to hang
See said. “Especially the natural ephemera like some photos, especially for renters who don’t
Lydia See moved into the Highland Court Apartments in mid-August, yet her railroad-style
unit already has a fully “lived-in” look.
0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 42 1/20/2017 1:12:53 PM

intend to stay in their residence for a long time.
“It’s a paper tape, kind of like masking tape,”
she said. “It’s pretty and you can make so many
cool wall installations without having to frame
things and without having to put holes in the
wall. And it doesn’t leave a residue.”
As an installation artist, See has helped
decorate venues such as Trade and Lore, a
coffee shop that opened in Asheville early last
year. She said she’ll be doing a series of free
workshops this spring at the Spartanburg
County Headquarters Library in which she’ll
show attendees how to process their family
archives and work them into their home
décor.
Lydia See’s small living room is sprinkled with lots of interesing curiosities, artworks, and
“Finding ways to highlight and feature the
knickknacks that are interspersed with several plants.
things that are important to you is the best way
to make your house feel like a home,” See said. heirlooms that were passed on to me,” she said Spartanburg once her Hub-Bub residency
“Things that you ordinarily keep tucked away in before pointing to a small love seat emblazoned is completed this summer, although she has
drawers, like family photographs, can be easily with a flowery print. “Like that couch came developed a soft spot in her heart for the Hub
used as decoration items.” from the side of the road, and I went to pick City. As long as she’s here, however, she
What makes See’s home décor more remark- it up and the little old lady (who had thrown intends to make the most of her home.
able is that most of the items in her apartment it away) came out on her front porch and she “I really love this place,” See said, refer-
were either “gifted, thrifted, or found,” prov- said, ‘Oh, I’m so glad somebody’s picking ring to her apartment. “I feel incredibly
ing that it’s possible to decorate a home in a this up, I’ve had this couch for so long.’ I like fortunate to be afforded a life where I can
fashionable way even if constrained by a tight to have things that have a spirit and a story have a space that is safe and beautiful to
budget. and some sort of life before it came to me.” make work in and then be able to put that
There are a lot of “found objects or family See said she’ll most likely leave energy back into the community.”
0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 43 1/20/2017 1:13:15 PM

CRIBS
Baby’s
first bedroom
Nursery designs reflect comfort, character
A
STORY BY DANIEL J. GROSS
ABOVE: The baby fter the arrival of a baby, it’s not

nursery for Robert hard for the parents’ favorite
and Autumn
room in the house to become the
Andrews’s daughter
nursery — or at least that’s where
Quinn was converted
much of their time is spent.
from a bedroom.
For many families,
OPPOSITE PAGE: today’s baby nurseries have
Robert and Autum become detailed rooms complete
Andrews’ baby Quinn with gender-specific themes and
plays in her room. motifs, from simplistic to elegant to utilitarian.
Several Spartanburg and Cherokee county families have
TIM KIMZEY PHOTOS unveiled their nurseries to offer up décor ideas along with
useful accouterments or furniture they have found essential
to caring for their child in a comfortable environment.
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 44 1/16/2017 3:41:37 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 45 1/16/2017 3:41:57 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 46 1/25/2017 12:16:19 PM

ROBERT AND AUTUMN ANDREWS,
BOILING SPRINGS
When Autumn Andrews became pregnant, she and

her husband, Robert, converted one of their bedrooms
into a nursery for their first born in their home near
Belcher Road in Boiling Springs.
Their daughter, Quinn, now uses the simple yet
decorative nursery as a prime place for naptime, read-
ing, playing and rocking.
Baskets neatly placed on the floor house a collection
of books, some that came from Dolly Parton’s Imagina-
tion Library, a program that sends children one book
per month at no cost.
Minimal and contemporary décor of whites and
pastel colors adorn the room. A wood block print reads
“For this child I prayed,” taken from the Bible in 1
Samuel 1:27. Framed sheets of music are nestled within
a hanging rack to pay homage to the Andrews’ musical
backgrounds.
RIGHT: Sheet music inside small frames adorns a shelf in

Robert and Autumn Andrews’ daugher Quinn’s nursery.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Autumn Andrews holds baby Quinn in

the nursery. TIM KIMZEY PHOTOS
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 47 1/20/2017 1:18:17 PM

ABOVE: A small hanging rack with hooks and wiring is home to a colorful collecton of hairbands and bows in Robert and Autumn
Andrews’ daughter Quinn’s nursery. OPPOSITE PAGE: Autumn Andrews holds baby Quinn in the nursery. TIM KIMZEY PHOTOS
Another smaller hanging rack with hooks the baby is being changed, she said. The
and wiring is home to a colorful collection of Andrews also enjoy the crib’s patterned and
hairbands and bows. tied rail cover since it works as both an accent
“Some of them were mine from my child- piece for decoration and a safety feature for
hood,” Autumn Andrews said. Quinn.
She’s found that non-slip grips under- A comfy armchair in the corner of the room
neath the changing pad atop their dresser has is perfect for reading and rocking, she said. “It
been a useful tool to keep it from sliding while helps her know that it’s nighttime,” she said.
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 48 1/16/2017 3:43:00 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 49 1/20/2017 1:18:30 PM

Caroline Sexton plays with Eleanor
in the nursery. ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTO
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 50 1/16/2017 3:43:33 PM

JACOB AND
CAROLINE SEXTON,
SPARTANBURG
Jacob and Caroline Sexton wel-

comed their first born, Eleanor
Jean, in September. Weeks prior
to her arrival they transformed a
room in their home off Country
Club Road in Spartanburg.
Because they have an inter-
est in travel, they designed
their daughter’s room to reflect
adventure and seeing the world.
Several painted wooden signs,
mainly from Hobby Lobby, adorn
the walls of the minimalistic tidy
room. A framed sign with a print
of the map of the world reads in
script, “Adventure awaits,” and
another painted sign with paddles
reads, “Explore.” Hawaiian leis
made from nuts hang on the
closet doors.
“We want to encourage her to
get out and explore the world,” Jacob and Caroline Sexton, of Spartanburg, enjoy a moment with their first-born daughter, Eleanor.
Caroline Sexton said. ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTO
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 51 1/20/2017 1:18:41 PM

Front and center sits the baby crib
that features a patterned crib rail
cover with blues and yellows and
hanging bows. Adjacent to the crib
is a sizeable bookshelf with three
rows of board books and other chil-
dren’s books for story time. Many
of the books, Caroline Sexton said,
came from her own childhood and
upbringing.
Nearby is a dresser with a chang-
ing mat resting above it. Caroline
Sexton said she’s found it conve-
nient to have the dresser drawers
directly underneath the changing
mat for easy outfit changes.
A darker wooden rocking chair
handed down from Caroline Sex-
ton’s grandmother sits prominently
in the front corner of the room,
complete with a rocking foot-
rest below. “It was mine and my
mother’s when I was little,” she said
of the piece that is not only useful
but also full of family memories.
TOP: Caroline Sexton rocks Eleanor in her nursery. BOTTOM: Jacob and Caroline Sexton, of Spartanburg, designed their nursery with a travel
and adventure theme for their first-born daughter, Eleanor. ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTOS
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 52 1/16/2017 3:44:25 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 53 1/25/2017 11:27:38 AM
JEREMY AND CALLIE SMITH,
GAFFNEY
Callie Smith’s favorite room in her Gaffney house is the

nursery.
She and her husband, Jeremy, hired interior designer Leslie
Bright to design the nursery for their daughter, Montana.
The small, quaint room is clean and contemporary with ele-
ments of elegance. A wallpaper beside the baby crib appears
painted on and features delicate tree limbs with butterflies.
Their daughter enjoys staring up at the design when she’s lying
down.
The Smiths used Pinterest to find designs they enjoyed to
then send to Bright to incorporate into their own room. “She
does beautiful work,” Callie Smith said of Bright.
Bold patterns are seen throughout the space, from the hang-
ing curtains to the upholstered rocking chair and checkered
area rugs. Books are lined up facing out to decorate the wall on
hanging shelving. Canvas prints with hearts, butterflies and
text adorn the hallway space leading into the main portion of
the room. One print reads, “Love you to the moon and back.”
Useful tools inside the room have been the mounted video
monitor to keep an eye on Montana and a noise machine to help
her fall asleep at night, Callie Smith said.
Callie Smith said the room is a space where the family wants
to be and spend time with their daughter.
“It’s wonderful. More than I could have ever imagined,” she
said.
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 54 1/25/2017 11:30:34 AM

LEFT: Canvas prints
with hearts, but-
terflies, and text
adorn the hallway
space leading into
the main portion of
the room. One print
reads, “Love you to
the moon and back.”
OPPOSITE PAGE:
Callie Smith, along
with her husband
Jeremy, hired an
interior designer to
create the nursery
space for their
daughter, Montana.
The wallpaper
above Jeremy
and Callie Smith’s
daughter Montana’s
crib resembles deli-
cate tree limbs with
butterflies and has
become one of their
favorite accents.
ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTOS
0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 55 1/20/2017 1:18:55 PM

SOMEWHERE IN DARK CORNER
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 56 1/20/2017 1:20:38 PM

A MAN’S HOME IS HIS
‘piece of heaven’
P R O P E R T Y H A S B R E AT H TA K I N G
V I E W O F B LU E R I D G E M O U N TA I N S
D
STORY BY STEVE WONG | PHOTOS BY TIM KIMZEY
r. John Munn’s
home in Dark
Corner is full
of art. Some
he drew and
painted himself,
including still-
lifes, nudes
and portraits.
Other pieces are from artists near and
far. Some could be considered “fine art”
and museum quality, while others would
qualify as antiques and collectibles. But
the piece that gets everyone’s attention is
larger than life, at times breathtaking, and
it changes from moment to moment. It is
the vast view of the Blue Ridge Mountains
from his great room.
Looking due north through a wall of
windows, the large backyard is open
space with native trees in the walkable
distance. Beyond the property line is the
mountain range, with Hoghead Moun-
tain sitting dead ahead. It is flanked by
Hogback Mountain and Squirrel Mountain
to the right, Glassy Mountain to the left.
Depending on the time of year, time of
day, and weather, there might be colorful
fall foliage, white snow caps, threatening
storm clouds, morning mist, clear Caro-
lina Blue skies, or spectacular sunsets.
This ever-changing view is the strategic
centerpiece of Munn’s home.
The architecture of John Munn’s home in Lan-

drum includes elements from ancient Greece
(arched entrances), classic Italy (stonework)
and modern America (ranch-style layout).
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 57 1/20/2017 1:20:48 PM

“I PICKED THE BEST SPOT ON IT FOR THE
B E S T V I E W. E V E R Y DAY I S A VAC AT I O N A N D
E V E R Y D A Y I S S A T U R D A Y, A N D I A M A LW A Y S
L O O K I N G O U T TO T H E M O U N TA I N S . ”
tendency to seek out new places and experiences. He is a man of

many talents and interests, always quick to kid around, always
accommodating and social, even though he lives alone. After 41
years of dentistry, most of which were spent in Greer, his time is
now spent at home, making continuous improvements, rebuilding
vintage cars, and hosting shagging parties, car shows, and even a
wedding.
If the view is the perfect picture, his 2,663-square-foot house is
the custom-made frame. Located about three miles north of Gow-
John Munn said he looked for years before he found his “piece of ensville along SC Highway 11, the house sits in the middle of many
heaven.” He said he picked “the best spot on it for the best view.” cleared and flat acres surrounded by woodlands. This is the heart of
Dark Corner, that somewhat mythical patch of existence in the midst
“I looked for many years for a place to build a house before find- of Landrum, Gowensville, and Hogback Mountain. You can’t see the
ing my piece of heaven,” the retired dentist said during a relaxed house from the road, but it is accessible by a paved driveway that
weekday morning. “I cleared the land with my tractor and backhoe. curves through the trees. Along the way, there are odd piles of rocks
I picked the best spot on it for the best view. Every day is a vaca- that Munn calls his “rock sculptures.” Upon arrival, the spectacular
tion and every day is Saturday, and I am always looking out to the mountain view is the first thing visitors see, with the house sitting
mountains.” slightly to the left. Munn’s big white pickup truck sits a little further
A native of Spartanburg, Munn is well traveled because of his left, on its usual out-of-the-way spot. The circular drive makes for
stint in the U.S. Navy (both active and reserve duty) and his natural easy comings and goings.
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 58 1/25/2017 11:28:50 AM

A view from the great room’s windows at John Munn’s home.
It’s a relatively new two-story home, built in 2009, Despite the abundance of interesting conversation
with a stacked-stone porch entrance, black iron railings, pieces, everything has a proper place. “I am definitely not
and in-ground slate stepping stones. The architecture is a perfectionist, but I do like things ship shape,” said the
a mixture of styles and includes elements from ancient retired naval captain.
Greece (arched entrances), classic Italy (stonework), and The great room with its panoramic view is without
modern America (ranch-style layout). The exterior walls a doubt the heart of the home. With 24-foot-ceilings,
of siding and tiles are deep tan with a subtle undertone of oversized crown molding, and recessed lighting, the
green. The trim work is muted khaki green, and the shut- intimate sitting space allows for peaceful mountain view
ters and door frame are barn red. The gray-green tiled roof contemplation, cozy fireside chatting, and big-screen
has many peaks, including twin gables sitting over the TV watching. Two Chippendale wingback leather chairs
two-car garage. There’s a tidiness and efficiency about and an L-shaped fabric sofa gather around his mother’s
the homestead that make it welcoming and not fussy. The hunt scene Karastan rug and a repurposed carpenter’s box
entire color palette was seemingly taken from the natural turned coffee table on white oak hardwood floors. Giving
surroundings. the room additional openness are light-colored walls
Like the exterior, the interior has a harmonious color painted “camouflage,” a tan with a hint of green, similar to
scheme in keeping with the countryside. Most wall colors dormant grass.
are earth tones with a preference for shades of green. But The left side of the room transitions to the dining area,
unlike the sparse exterior, the house is full of well kept which segues naturally into the kitchen. The wooden
and eclectic reflections of a life well lived. Visitors enjoy dining table is deceptively small, but the drop-leaves allow
wandering from room to room listening to Munn tell sto- it to more than double in size. More seating is available
ries about each and every piece of furniture, work of art, at the kitchen island bar. The kitchen is not overly spa-
decorative item, family heirloom, and souvenir from his cious but is streamlined for efficiency and mingling. The
lifetime of collecting. “My home is an accumulation of my cabinetry is cherry wood stained chocolate and pairs nicely
life’s acquisitions, family treasures, car parts, accented with the tropical brown and plentiful granite countertops
with some artwork and items that are special to me,” he and stainless steel sinks, fixtures, and appliances. The
said, standing by his prized mounted head of an 8-point backsplash, tiled with a pinwheel design, continues the
buck he shot. established color scheme of darker earth tones.
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 59 1/20/2017 1:22:39 PM

0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 60 1/17/2017 12:34:23 PM

During nice weather, more liv-
able space is found on the large
back deck and nearby screened
porch, both of which have outdoor
seating and floor space aplenty
for dancing. As a whole, the great
room is perfect for entertaining,
which Munn does often. But it is
the countless decorative items and
pieces of furniture that complete
the room and beg to be asked about.
Like the Mason jar of authentic and
locally made moonshine sitting on
top of a hutch by the front entrance.
There is a glass display case filled
with shiny chrome car parts, wait-
ing to be installed in the vintage car
he is now restoring. Above, on the
kitchen cabinets, are more car parts:
a headlight and horn assembly that
will eventually be returned to its
host car. The stained glass window
is the work of a local artist and was
bartered for in exchange for dental
services. In the corner is an English
dental cabinet made in the 1800s ABOVE: A glass display case is filled with shiny chrome car parts, waiting to be installed in the
that now contains, among other vintage car he is now restoring. OPPOSITE PAGE: One of John Munn’s most cherished posses-
things, some of Munn’s own dental sions resides on the wooden mantle of the floor-to-ceiling stacked-stone fireplace: one of the guns
equipment. belonged to his grandfather, and the bent-wood cane and clock belonged to his great grandfather.
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 61 1/20/2017 1:22:56 PM

0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 62 1/17/2017 12:35:06 PM

Some of his most cherished possessions reside on the
wooden mantle of the floor-to-ceiling stacked-stone
fireplace: one of the guns belonged to his grandfather,
and the bent-wood cane and clock belonged to his great-
grandfather. If ever his home were to catch fire, the nearby
deer head and his grandfather’s gun would be the first two
things he would grab. “My home is an accumulation of my
life’s memories, family pieces, artwork that is special to
me, parts associated with my cars, and acquisitions from
my naval career and world travels,” he said, explaining his
philosophy of home decor. “I let my heart be my guide …
things I enjoy, am comfortable with, and things that make
me feel good.”
Throughout the house, the halls, bedrooms, bathrooms,
office/studio, and walk-in closets all continue to tell
Munn’s life story. The hallways are like mini art galleries,
displaying his work as well as the work of other artists,
including the noted husband-and-wife artists of Spar-
tanburg, Irma and August Cook. Two of the pieces are
portraits of Munn as a young man produced by Irma Cook.
However, only one of them is signed, the one of Munn as a
high school student. She refused to sign the other portrait
of Munn when he left active military duty, saying it made
him look “too sweet.” In another hall is an unframed and
wrinkled painting of an unknown woman produced by
August Cook, a Converse College art professor renowned ABOVE: John Munn shows his fully-restored 1930 four-door Model A.
for painting beautiful women. This forgotten piece of art OPPOSITE PAGE: A studio room where John Munn creates art. Throughout
history was found in Munn’s mother’s attic and is dis- the house, the hallways are like mini art galleries, displaying his work as
played unrestored, giving it an air of respect and reverence. well as the work of other artists.
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 63 1/20/2017 1:23:14 PM

“I LIVE IN THE HEART OF DARK
CORNER. GOD SPENT A LOT OF TIME
HERE, AND I ENJOY HIS WORK.”
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 64 1/17/2017 12:35:39 PM

“I am most proud of my drawings and paintings and pieces from my friends
and art teacher,” he said, referring to Irma Cook. Currently, Munn is finish-
ing a portrait of his mother, who passed away only recently at the age of 102.
It sits proudly on an easel in his studio.
As a man whose closest neighbors are bears, deer and wild turkeys, Munn
enjoys watching the constant change of the great outdoors through the many
windows in his house, including his bedroom. It has only been recently, when
he was asked to host a wedding, that he found the need to install drapes for
privacy. His close friend and fellow shagger Toni Hogan, a retired interior
designer, remembered telling Munn that his bedroom would be used for the
bride and bridesmaid to dress and that they, unlike him, would want a little
privacy. To accommodate the need, Munn chose gray-green drapes to protect
feminine modesty. But to give the window treatment that masculine touch,
he used men’s woven leather belts as tiebacks for when he wants to let the sun
shine in.
Although Hogan is sometimes asked for her professional opinion and abili-
ties, she quickly pointed out that all elements of design come from Munn
— she just makes them happen, as was the case in hanging drapes in his
bedroom. Without hesitation, she commends Munn for fashioning his home
in good taste and reflecting his multi-faceted character.
ABOVE: The kitchen is streamlined for “My decor is whatever I like,” Munn said, pointing to a set of authentic
efficiency and mingling. The cabinetry is metal handcuffs hanging in his office-studio, explaining that his grandfather
cherry-wood stained chocolate and pairs up had been a constable in Bishopville, and that his father had been an FBI agent.
nicely with the tropical brown and plenti- “It’s much easier to have a home just as you like it when you live alone —
ful granite countertops and stainless steel unless you choose the right mate,” he added with a wink.
sinks, fixtures and appliances. Munn is a self-made man in his natural habitat. Ever the gracious host and
always on the move, he loves nothing more than to share his home and its
TOP RIGHT: John Munn enjoys watching the stories with others. “I live in the heart of Dark Corner. God spent a lot of time
constant change of the outdoors through the here, and I enjoy his work,” Munn said, taking in the mountain view from the
many windows in his house, including his comfort of his great room. “My hobbies are restoring vintage cars; shagging;
bedroom. It has only been recently, when he painting; maintaining my house, lawn, and pasture; raising cattle and horses;
was asked to host a wedding, that he found hunting; fishing; chasing women; and drinking wine.”
the need to install drapes for privacy. Here’s to the good life at Munn’s house somewhere in Dark Corner.
0209_A_56_SHJMAG.indd 65 1/20/2017 1:23:44 PM

Mark Monaghan and his partner, Rick Shaw,
renovated an apartment and created one of
Spartanburg’s first Airbnb listings.
BE OUR GUEST
Spartanburg couple joins trend of listing
vacation rentals online with Airbnb

Mark Monaghan STORY BY KATELYN SANDERS

said he was PHOTOS BY TIM KIMZEY
introduced to the
concept of Airbnb
when he used
Vacation Rental
by Owner to rent
out his California
apartment.
0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 66 1/16/2017 3:46:38 PM

Mark Monaghan’s Airbnb
was decorated with his
collection of eclectic finds
from around the world.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
A
Spartanburg couple has Monaghan was first introduced to
joined the latest trend of the concept through Vacation Rental
advertising their vacation by Owner. He used VRBO to rent out
rental property through an online his California apartment when his job
service. required him to be away for weeks at
Retired flight attendant Mark a time.
Monaghan and his partner, Rick Shaw, “It was so easy,” he said. “All I did
renovated an apartment and created was lock up my personal items in a
one of Spartanburg’s first Airbnb list- closet and allowed the guests to enjoy
ings. Airbnb is an online market that my things.”
allows users to list and rent personal A few years ago, Monaghan and
real estate by the night, a service Shaw flipped a house off Anderson
which attracts frequent travelers Mill Road. They bought a foreclosure
seeking alternatives to hotels. and cleaned it up enough to put it on
Check in C h e c k Ou t
m m /d d /y y y y m m /d d /y y y y
0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 67 1/16/2017 3:50:24 PM

0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 68 1/20/2017 1:24:39 PM

the market. Two men from Florida bought it, updated it even further,
and listed it with Airbnb.
“They pimped the place out,” Monaghan said. “What we did was
nice, but they made the house unrecognizable. Eventually, we all
became good friends and they gave us the idea of using Airbnb. They
were getting $70 per night for only a small bedroom.”
Monaghan and Shaw hired their new friends to renovate one of
the two upstairs apartments in the house they own one mile away
from Morgan Square in downtown Spartanburg. They painted, put
in new flooring, added new cabinets and a dishwasher to the kitchen,
and decorated with Monaghan’s collection of eclectic finds from
around the world. Monaghan and Shaw received inquiries before
the apartment was finished.
Their first guest was a trainer for the Carolina Panthers who was
in town in July for the NFL training camp at Wofford College. In
his review on Airbnb’s website, he praised the hospitality he and
his girlfriend received: “Beautiful, spacious apartment in a great
neighborhood … Our trip was GREAT, and the apartment was a big
part of that in terms of convenience and enjoyment.
“Rick even left fresh peaches and other surprises, which were
LEFT: The living room in Mark Monaghan and Rick Shaw’s Airbnb.
0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 69 1/20/2017 1:24:49 PM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
The bedroom in Mark Monaghan and Rick Shaw’s

Airbnb.
The kitchen in Mark Monaghan and Rick Shaw’s Airbnb.

The bathroom in Mark Monaghan and Rick Shaw’s
Airbnb.
0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 70 1/16/2017 3:51:03 PM

delicious! We already can’t wait to come back when
we are in Spartanburg next year.”
Monaghan says one advantage to Airbnb is that it
offers him and Shaw flexibility as owners. “We can
change our price depending on the market. If it’s a
slow season, we can lower our price, or if we see that
bigger hotels are filling up, we can raise it.”
There’s also flexibility in how involved they are
with their guests. Their friends who first gave them
the idea of listing with Airbnb preferred to get to
know guests. “I went over one time because their dog
had puppies,” Monaghan said. “There was a random
guy sitting in their living room. I introduced myself
and he said, ‘Hi, I’m Joe from Baltimore. My wife’s
here for a convention.’”
Monaghan and Shaw had inquiries throughout
September and October from patrons or affiliates
of Milliken & Co., Converse and Wofford colleges,
and more.
“There’s money to be made in it,” he said. “We
pay an occupancy tax, but we’re happy to do that
because that means the market is working.”
LEFT: A painting on the wall of Mark Monaghan’s

Airbnb apartment.
0209_A_66_SHJMAG.indd 71 1/20/2017 1:25:04 PM

‘I TAKE SOMETHING AND MAKE IT
INTO SOMETHING BETTER’
Founded in 1969, Andrew Mims’ Upholstery Shop focuses on lasting quality
A
STORY BY BOB MONTGOMERY + PHOTOS BY JOHN BYRUM
s long as furniture is a home homes. “When you get a good, hardwood frame, you
fixture, there will be a need can continue to upholster it time and time again,”
for upholsterers, according to Andrew Mims said.
Andrew Mims Jr. Mims knew at an early age that he wanted to work on
“People are always going to upholstery. When he graduated from Florence Chapel
have pieces that they need to be High School in Wellford, he went to work for Vaughn’s
done,” said Mims, who founded Trim Shop in Greer in 1957 and worked there for eight
Andrew Mims Upholstery years on automobile interiors and upholstery. While at
Shop in Wellford in 1969. With a staff of six, including Vaughn’s, he married Bobbie. They have been married
Mims’ wife Bobbie Jeane Peace Mims, Andrew Mims more than 58 years and have three children and five
reupholsters everything from chairs and couches for grandchildren.
individual customers to entire office furnishings at Mims opened his own business in 1969 in a small
doctors’ offices, nursing homes, hospitals and funeral shop he built in his yard. He started with three
0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 72 1/25/2017 11:43:59 AM

Top row, Andrew Mims works on furniture at Mims Upholstery
Shop in Wellford.
Above, Rolls of fabric sit on a table at Mims’ shop.
Bottom row, chairs sit in different stages of the reupholster-

ing process at Mim’s shop. When a chair comes in, the fabric
is stripped down to the frame. Cushions and springs are
replaced when necessary. Mims then starts to build the frame
from scratch using fill material. Finally, a fabric of the cus-
tomer’s choice is added to complete the chair.
0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 73 1/25/2017 11:44:08 AM

Sheila Slater works at a sewing machine inside the shop. Above, a chair sits stripped to its frame.
employees, including his wife. Then in 1973, he opened renamed Mims Upholstery, Inc. Today, the shop
his current 6,000-square-foot shop, and three years employs six trained upholsterers. Upholstery is metic-
later a home decorating service was added to the shop. ulous work that requires precision, Mims said. With a
Both Mims and his wife attended several decorat- reputation as a perfectionist, he still follows his golden
ing schools and workshops. The shop reupholsters rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto
both indoor and outdoor furniture and makes custom you and things generally will work out.”
drapes, blinds, shades and bedspreads. At one time, “He tells (customers) up front if it has a good frame
they also sold furniture and carpeting. or not,” Bobbie Mims said. “A lot of people don’t real-
In 1987, Andrew Mims Upholstery Shop was ize it takes time. He wants it to be right — as if someone
0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 74 1/25/2017 11:44:18 AM

0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 75 1/25/2017 11:44:26 AM
Sheila Slater measures
a piece of fabric on a
table at the shop.
0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 76 1/25/2017 12:17:01 PM

0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 78 1/25/2017 11:44:59 AM
was doing it for him. That’s what
keeps (customers) coming back
because they know the quality.”
Andrew Mims’ advice to anyone
thinking of becoming an uphol-
sterer is to be patient. “It’s hard
to find a good upholsterer,” he
said. “(The work) takes pride and
time.”
When a chair comes in, the
fabric is stripped down to the
frame. Cushions and springs are
replaced when necessary. Then
he starts to rebuild the chair from
scratch, using fill material and
finally a fabric of the customer’s
choice. Customers can choose
from Dacron, jacquard, chenille,
Scissors, a ruler and a black felt tip marker are some of the tools of the trade.
velvet, or damask. Fabric comes in
all colors, and generally, custom-
ers choose the color that matches
what’s popular in home furnish-
ings at the time. Fabric choice
is Bobbie Mims’ specialty. For
example, in the early 1970s green
and orange were popular, she said,
but today gray is what’s hot.
Both Andrew and Bobbie are
still going strong and have no
plans to retire. In fact, Andrew
was recently named Small Busi-
ness Man of the Year by the
Middle Tyger River Area Chamber
of Commerce. He also serves as
a deacon, superintendent, and
Sunday school teacher at New
Faith Baptist Church and sits on
the board of directors of BB&T.
He is a life member of the NAACP
and also a former member of the
Middle Tyger Area Lions Club and
Middle Tyger Area Chamber of
Commerce. In the midst of a busy
life, he is careful to make time for
reading the Bible and spending
time with his grandchildren.
Andrew Mims said the qual-
ity of much furniture made today
is far inferior to older pieces and
doesn’t last as long. A good Chip-
pendale side chair made 250 years
ago can last another couple of
centuries if taken care of, he said.
“It lifts me up,” Mims said of
finishing a piece of furniture. Customers can choose from Dacron, jacquard, chenille, velvet, or damask. Fabric comes
“I feel good when I take some- in all colors, and generally, customers choose the color that matches what’s popular in
thing and make it into something home furnshings at the time. In 1973, Andrew Mims opened his current 6,000-square-foot
better.” shop, and three years later a home decorating service was added to the shop.
0209_A_72_SHJMAG.indd 79 1/25/2017 11:45:07 AM

In the middle of this peaceful Asian Garden is a waterfall
which adds a calming sound to the space.
0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 80 1/16/2017 12:15:00 PM

A large sea serpent is at
home in the Asian Garden.
POCKET GARDENS
Peaceful,
calm&tranquil
Spartanburg Community College adds
new Asian garden to its campus
STORY BY LINDA COBB each year providing them with hands-
PHOTOS BY JOHN BYRUM on experience working in the campus
S
gardens. Each student is part of a team of
partanburg Community Col- three or four students. They are graded
lege’s main campus is known and required to work together to maintain
for its many pocket gardens. the spaces.
Those spaces are maintained Over the past five years, the horticulture
by the college’s horticulture department has added a few gardens. A
department. highlight is the Cabeana Gardena located
Jason Bagwell is chair of the horticulture in front of the library. This garden has
department. Kevin Parris is arboretum developed into a secluded space with many
director and Jay Moore is an instructor. living walls creating pockets of conversa-
They teach and train about 60 students tion spaces.
0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 81 1/25/2017 11:48:34 AM

0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 82 1/20/2017 1:31:43 PM
In addition, there is the Plant Zoo, where
every plant in the garden has an animal name.
Another area is called the International Peace
garden and there also is the Xeric garden, which
is one of the low maintenance specialty spaces.
And finally, there is a medicinal garden.
In August, the team decided to install an Asian
garden. This peaceful, calm and tranquil garden
is right outside the glass wall of the library.
Students can work in the library and have a view
of the new Asian garden.
Moore says they spent an entire year thinking
about what to plant in the space. He said their
decision was influenced by the mature Crimson
Queen Japanese Maple trees already planted
in the area. The conifers planted in the garden
create spaces to plant many specimens that
thrive in the deep shade.
A large red metal Japanese bell is hung on a

lumber frame in the garden.
0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 83 1/25/2017 11:48:04 AM

0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 84 1/20/2017 1:32:09 PM
Jason Bagwell, chair of the
horticulture department,
explaints the features of the
Asian Garden at Spartanburg
Community College.
People are invited to walk into

the garden by crossing the Asian
boardwalk. Immediately you walk
past the large bed of scree (bits
of broken rock) that represent a
body of water. The boulders scat-
tered in the space depict islands
floating in the water. The space is
decorated with a large sea serpent.
In addition, a seating area with
a marble table and four stools is
placed at the back of this garden.
No Asian garden would be com-
plete without a stand of bamboo.
Moore planted some yellow
groove bamboo in a pot in the
ground. The pot will contain the
growth of the bamboo. He added
a few small azaleas, some box-
woods, and a large group of ferns.
A variegated fatsia called camou-
flage was added for color.
In addition, Moore planted
some fragrant pathway gardenias
and farfugium leopard plants.
The space also includes short
black mondo grass and a con-
torted camelia shrub that changes
directions.
The Asian garden is anchored
on the left side by a weeping
black gum tree. Near it is a red
large metal Japanese bell hung in
a lumber frame. In the middle of
this peaceful garden, is a water-
fall that adds more beauty to the
space.
Linda Cobb is a Master Gardener

who lectures, teaches, and does
garden design in South Carolina. A seating area with a marble table and four stools is a
space where visitors can pause to enjoy the tranquility of
She can be reached at 864-574-
the space.
8493 or email her at lindacobb@
charter.net. Visit her website at
www.mygardenersguide.com.
0209_A_80_SHJMAG.indd 85 1/25/2017 11:49:49 AM

N AT I V E P L A N T S
SHOW OF COLOR FOR
SPRING
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BETTY MONTGOMERY
0209_A_86_SHJMAG.indd 86 1/18/2017 10:10:48 AM

Indian pink, columbine, geraniums can brighten your gardens
W
hat fun it is to grow
native plants that
brighten the garden.
There are several native
plants that bloom in late
spring or early summer
that are well worth considering to help create a
lovely show of color this time of year.
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a dynamite
plant, a showstopper, and an attention grabber.
This long-lived perennial brings stunning color to
the shade garden in late spring or early summer.
Indian pinks produce vivid red tubular flowers
that appear on the top of the stem and expose
a chartreuse yellow interior. The flowers face
upward and appear to explode like a firecracker, If you are purchasing plants, there are many on
giving a burst of color that brightens any spot. the market. My yellow ones are a butter-yellow,
Deadhead these jewels and you will have flowers adding a soft touch to my wooded area. These del-
blooming sporadically through the remainder of icately nodding flowers are cheerful, graceful, and
the summer. quite elegant. They are about 20 inches or more in
Indian pinks — which are not pink at all — grow height and are full of blooms. Moist, well-drained
to about 2-feet tall and about 12-inches wide. soil is appreciated but not mandatory.
The flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and They are magnets for hummingbirds and but-
butterflies since they are a good source for nectar. terflies since the flowers are filled with nectar.
They naturally grow in shaded places and in open They make a lovely display in the garden and are a
woods where they stand out because of their favorite of mine in a vase in the house.
bright color. Another great plant that starts blooming at this
To produce the best quality flowers, plant them time is the hardy geranium, also known as “cranes
in moist, well-drained soil with a little morning bill.” This is a true perennial and quite different
sun. However, mine are in dry shade with just a from another plant that has the same name. These
little late afternoon sun and they look terrific. Our plants are long-lived, and the foliage forms a nice
soil is naturally acidic so I am not sure that the pH clump of cut leaves that makes a handsome ground
level matters very much. cover. I have some in the garden that my mother-
Since Indian pinks come up late in the spring, in-law planted years ago and they have seeded
be sure to mark the spot where you plant them to about in several places.
avoid disturbing the area. I have been known to A newer one on the market today is Rozanne,
overplant things if I fail to mark them the first year a 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year. It is a sterile
or two after they are in the ground. plant, so no seeds are produced. However, what
If you are looking for other plants that will makes this plant special is the lovely blue flowers
bloom at the same time, try columbine and hardy and the fact that it blooms on and off all summer
geranium. I have both of these planted close by long. It is truly a plant for all perennial gardens. I
and having these different shaped flowers makes hope I am never without Rozanne.
ABOVE: Rozanne the garden more interesting. I have not had any deer problems with any of
blooms in May and Our native columbine (Aquilegia) is a delicate these plants and hopefully I never will. The deer
will continue through woodland plant that features upright shoots with might eat the nearby hosta and buds on my Orien-
the summer in a cool pretty scalloped leaves and beautiful alluring tal lilies but so far they have passed these up.
location. flowers. The plants are short-lived but they can be Now is a great time to enjoy your garden. Be
grown easily from seed. These bell-like flowers are sure to have a bench close by where you can sit and
TOP RIGHT: Columbine
a joy to see in the spring of the year and will light enjoy the late afternoon light while admiring the
is a native plant that
features upright shoots
up any garden. beautiful plants that help make up the garden you
with scalloped leaves The flowers come in a range of colors. Red, have created.
and alluring flowers. white, yellow, blue, and purple are the more
common hues and there are also ones that are Betty Montgomery, a Master Gardener and author
two-toned. They love the dappled shade but will of “A Four Season Southern Garden,” can be
take more sun in cooler climates. reached at bmontgomery40@gmail.com.
0209_A_86_SHJMAG.indd 87 1/20/2017 1:47:15 PM

0209_A_88_SHJMAG.indd 88 1/25/2017 12:21:30 PM
GARDENING
Bearded iris is almost limitless

in flower color, coming in almost
all colors except true reds.
BEARDED IRIS
add beauty to springtime garden
0209_A_89_SHJMAG.indd 89 1/18/2017 11:20:03 AM

0209_A_89_SHJMAG.indd 90 1/20/2017 1:33:58 PM
B
earded iris is one of the
great joys of spring. The
dramatic flower and the
wonderful sword-like foli-
age make this majestic plant
an eye-catching delight
in any garden. The bearded iris is almost
limitless in flower color, blooming in most
colors of the rainbow except for true reds.
The flamboyance of the flower shape makes
this a focal point in the garden. The blooms
that unfold on sturdy stems give grace to
the garden in the spring and some varieties
re-bloom in late summer to give another
show of color.
Bearded irises have been popular for
centuries. Vincent van Gogh's dramatic
painting of the bearded iris shows how
popular they were in his time. They are also
seen in some early Chinese paintings.
Iris came to us from the Middle East and
the Mediterranean region, and since the
first rhizomes arrived in this country, an
endless array of colors has been developed.
Breeders in America and Europe have done
wonders to give us a wide choice of flower
qualities.
You can find ones that bloom early, mid
and late season. There are varieties with
short stems, about 10 inches, and ones that
are quite tall, growing as tall as 4 feet.
The rainbow of colors available will fit
into any color scheme you might choose
to have flowering in your garden. From Bearded iris are a dramatic flower that adds eye-catching delight to any garden.
vibrant primary colors to soft bicolors and
delicate pastels, the color combinations are bearded iris are tolerant of less than perfect A single rhizome will branch many times
incredible. conditions and will grow in soil that is a over the years, developing a heavy clump.
Bearded iris is easy to plant and requires little acidic or a little alkaline. You can add They can become crowded and they can
little maintenance if planted correctly. Iris lime to acidic soil to bring the pH up, and choke themselves in their garden space if
are usually divided and re-planted in July, you can add sulfur if you happen to have not divided. Not dividing them will lead
August or September. It is good for the too much limestone in your soil and it will to poor flowering or no flowers at all. This
roots of the iris to be well established before lower this pH and bring the number closer will also weaken the plants and make them
winter approaches. You can also plant them to neutral. more susceptible to insects and disease.
in the spring if they have been in pots but I Irises do best with a low nitrogen fertil- I have always loved iris. My mother
would not recommend dividing them in the izer. Bone meal or superphosphate are both grew them but it was not until I visited the
spring. effective as is a 6-10-10 fertilizer. When garden of a neighbor, the Rev. Everette
The plant will thrive in most well drained the tulips are blooming in your area, that Lineburger, that I became aware of the
soil, but if the soil stays wet, the rhizome is a good reminder to fertilize with a light choices and the seemingly endless color
will rot. If you have heavy clay soil, you can application in the early spring. You can do combinations available. Irises were lining
add some humus or compost to lighten up a second light application about a month the drive to his home, and this sight was
the soil to give it the good drainage that is after they bloom and this will reward you breathtakingly beautiful. The colors, the
needed. Gypsum is an excellent soil con- with good growth and bloom. different sizes, the display. This was a sight
ditioner that you can purchase at a garden Irises prefer to have some water during I will never forget. What a gift for him to
center to improve the condition of the soil. those hot, dry times of summer and plenty share this sight with others.
You can also plant on land that slopes or of sun. And they work well with no mulch,
a raised bed to give it the drainage that is something that is different from most other Betty Montgomery, a Master Gardener
needed. plants. Too much mulch might cause the and author of "A Four Season Southern
As for the pH of the soil, they prefer a soil rhizomes to rot and you certainly would not Garden," can be reached at bmontgom-
that is close to neutral, around 7. However, want that. ery40@gmail.com.
0209_A_89_SHJMAG.indd 91 1/18/2017 11:21:04 AM

GARDENING
Bright, colorful, cheery primroses

Use perennial to add a touch of cheer to your house
W
hat better way to chase the winter blues away quite contentedly for many years. You can also grow them from
than bright, colorful, cheery primroses. Prim- seed, planting the seeds in the fall, but I have never tried this.
rose is an early, low-flowering perennial plant Cowslips produce lemon-yellow flowers and have a scientific
that adds a bright touch to the woodland garden. name that means “the first of spring.” They should be grown in
They come in varying colors, and with the right variety and the a partly shaded spot with the crown at ground level. They are
proper growing conditions, they will multiply and grace your happiest when planted in moist soil that has leaf mold added. The
garden for years. The fresh green crinkly leaves are oval shaped and the flower buds
hybrids are available emerge in the center of this lovely green foliage. They were often
in a rainbow of colors seen in cow pastures across England, but today you see them
and the cowslips, which more along the edges of the road where they are safe from the
are the easiest to grow, farmer’s plow.
come in a lush shade of Most primrose flowers for sale are polyanthus hybrids, many
rich yellow. of which are a cross between the primrose and the cowslip. These
Primroses are native come in a kaleidoscope of colors ranging from white, yellow,
to Europe where they orange, red, and pink to blue and purple.
are often seen grac- There is an exciting new line of primroses that are now available
ing the roadsides in in vibrant colors. These have been developed by David and Pris-
meadows, ditches or on cilla Kerley and are called the Belarina Series. The flowers have a
hillsides. They prefer rosette look that is a throwback to the native English primrose.
cool temperatures and The flowers resemble a small carnation, being fully double.
rich humus soil with I have seen these offered in several catalogs this season, and
lots of compost and leaf being a primrose lover, I cannot wait to try them. They are
mold. They are low- touted to be both heat and humidity tolerant, which is important
maintenance and easy in warmer areas. Plant Delights Nursery (www.plantdelights.
to grow but the secret com) as well as several other mail order companies offer them. All
is in choosing the right are double and come in cobalt blue, red, pink, bright yellow and
varieties to plant that cream, as well as two varieties that are two-toned, one amethyst
will take the conditions with an edging of white, and a yellow one that is edged in orange.
of our sunny South. Primroses are happiest in humus-rich, well-drained soil that
Shortly after Christ- does not dry out completely. They do not like to be waterlogged
mas, I start seeing during the winter or dry in the summer.
primroses offered in the They can be divided by just pulling the plants apart, which is
grocery store. I often very easy to do, and they transplant easily. Older plants can be
buy a couple of these divided just after they bloom so that they have time to regrow
happy looking plants before the cold weather comes. This way they will be ready in the
to add a touch of cheer late winter or early spring to bloom their heads off. I have also
to the house when the divided them as late as August when I failed to do this earlier and
days are cold and gray they have done just fine the following year.
outside. When they It is a good idea to add leaf mold or organic material to the soil
have finished blooming, every few years. This helps the soil stay healthy and rich and it
I plant them outside, replaces the elements the plants have taken out of the soil. You
hoping they might come can also fertilize them with a weak solution of liquid tomato
back. A few do return fertilizer, but beware if you give them too much nitrogen, the first
but there are two kinds number listed on a package of fertilizer, you will get lots of leaves
that will return faithfully. and fewer flowers.
My first introduction to primroses was when my cousin, Ann Enjoy!
Cornelson, gave me a few cowslips (Primula veris), to plant in the
garden. I was told the clumps would divide quite easily, which Betty Montgomery, a master gardener and author
they did, and to replant them immediately. I planted them along of “A Four Season Southern Garden,” can be reached
a path under deciduous trees and they have been growing there at bmontgomery40@gmail.com.
0209_A_92_SHJMAG.indd 92 1/25/2017 12:17:50 PM

0209_A_93_SHJMAG.indd 93 1/20/2017 1:35:34 PM
SCENE
Spartanburg celebrates community
with fundraisers and social events
HUB CITY WRITERS PROJECT

The Hub City Writers Project’s board of directors honored its 2015-2016 Lead-
ership Donors at a reception at the Hub City Bookshop on Nov. 3. Betsy Teter,
one of the three founders of the organization and its current executive direc-
tor, paid tribute to the local community and the donors who have made this
20-year success story a reality at the Leadership Donors reception. “Hub City
has more individual financial supporters than almost any literary organization
in the country,” Teter said. “The way Spartanburg has embraced the Hub City
Writers Project is truly remarkable. It was great to celebrate with many of our
longtime and substantial patrons.” That support was the focus of the recent
event, recognizing the major donors whose financial support makes it possible
for Hub City to publish quality manuscripts and manage programs that benefit
the Spartanburg community and the region. “Together, the 10 members of the
William Faulkner Society, 19 in the Zora Neale Hurston Society and 26 in the Flan-
nery O’Connor Society have contributed $120,000 this year in support of the work
of Hub City,” Teter said of the donors — individuals, institutions and foundations
— that make it possible not only for the organization to maintain a substantial
publishing operation, but also to host workshops, conferences, summer camps
and book giveaways to local schools. WENDY SHOCKLEY MCCARTY PHOTOS
Judy Burke Bynum and John F. Perry.
John Cribb, Kirsten Cribb, Troy Hanna, Betsy Teter, Jamie Fulmer and Michel Stone.
Dennis Wiseman and Anna Maria Wiseman. Ed Epps and Carol Epps. Deborah McAbee and Byron Morris.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 94 1/20/2017 1:38:38 PM

Kofi Appiah and Laura Stille.
Leena Dbouk, Chandler Crawford, Rachel Richardson, Anne Waters and Meg Reid.
Michel Stone, John Tatham and Pat Tatham.
Diane Vecchio, Pat Tatham, Patty Amick and Mack

Amick. Nan McDaniel, Tom McDaniel, Beverly Knight and Bea Bruce.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 95 1/20/2017 1:38:48 PM

PAINT OUR TOWN PINK
ABOVE: Front row, from left to right, Mary Mabry, Dr. Caroline Daly, Lori Axelrod,
Brandy Birch, and Kathy Chandler, at the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health
at Spartanburg Regional, Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Kathy Chandler, right, with
the Spartanburg Downtown Associaton, along with Paint Our Town Pink fellow
organizers Lori Axelrod and Brandy Birch, presented a check from funds raised
from the program to Dr. Daly with the Center for Breast Health. The funds will
help the mammography assistance program. PHOTOS BY TIM KIMZEY
LEFT: The Paint Our Town Pink Fall Fashion Show, which was held this year
held on Oct. 13 at the Spartanburg Marriott, raised $10,000 in proceeds from
ticket sales and sponsorships. On Nov. 15, show producers Kathy Chandler,
Brandy Birch and Lori Axelrod presented Dr. James Bearden and Dr. Julian
Josey with a check to benefit the Mammography Assistance Program at the
Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health. The Spartanburg Downtown Associa-
tion is an organization consisting of approximately 200 member businesses.
Anita Patel, center, and other survivors take to the runway at the end of the show.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 96 1/25/2017 1:27:30 PM

Cancer survivors take to the runway at the end of the show.
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AUCTION FOR A CAUSE
Aaron Fuller and Marla Drummond.

Kristina Masiulyte, Paulis Vaina, Kathy Stepp and Jim Stepp.
The Uptown Sertoma Club of Spartan-
burg hosted its 23rd annual Auction for
A Cause on Nov. 4 at the Spartanburg
Memorial Auditorium. JM Smith Corpora-
tion was the signature sponsor of the
event which benefited six local nonprofit
agencies: The Bethlehem Center, The
Haven, SAFE Homes-Rape Crisis Coalition,
Spartanburg Humane Society, Upstate
Family Resource Center and Camp Ser-
toma of South Carolina. A highlight of the
evening was the live auction. More than
400 items were auctioned in the silent
and live auctions including vacations, Markus Braun, Pontheolla Mack Abernathy Tracey Jackson, Mac Sereque, David Sereque and
electronics, gift certificates to numerous and Ted Monroe. Eden Sereque.
restaurants, jewelry, paintings, personal
and home accessories. WENDY SHOCKLEY
MCCARTY PHOTOS
Tina Curtis and Elisabeth Cobb. Carmen and Denny Boll. Dickie Fleming with granddaughter Peyton Bailey.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 98 1/18/2017 12:59:25 PM

SUNRISE CIVITAN CLUB’S PANCAKE DAY
Sunrise Civitan Club of Spartanburg hosted its Pancake Day on Nov. 17 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Money raised is used to benefit Special
Olympics and other community charities. Local vendors including Those Pickle Ladies, Laura’s Designs, Granny Jan’s Fudge, Mama Jo’s Cre-
ations and The Quirky Ladies sold items at the event. ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTOS
Claire Hopkins and Ina Reynolds.
Tracey Bishop and Rick Sprang. Bryan Bobo. Patty Culbreath.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 99 1/18/2017 12:59:39 PM

MOBILE MEALS’ FALL FOR FASHION
Mobile Meals of
Spartanburg’s
Fall for Fashion
event took place
on Nov. 17 at
First Presbyterian
Church’s Fogartie
Hall. Guest emcee
for the event was
comedian and
columnist Pam
Stone. Stores
participating in
the show included
A Boutique,
Archived Clothing
& Gifts, Armoire
Children’s &
Ladies Boutique,
Chico’s, Harley’s
Dress Shoppe,
Laura’s Boutique
and Prices Store
for Men. ALEX
HICKS JR. PHOTOS
Carol Moore.
Nur Tanyel and Dianna Satterfield. Jan Johnson and Suzanne Bogan.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 100 1/20/2017 1:39:19 PM

Angela Leopard, Diane Cloer and Darlene Dutton.
Emcee Pam Stone. Ann Batterton and Marilyn Thomson.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 101 1/20/2017 1:39:29 PM

WALKER FOUNDATION KICK-OFF PARTY
The Walker Foundation hosted
a kick-off party on Dec. 8 for
its 7th Annual "So You Think
You Can Cook" Chili Cook-
Off. The event was held at
Downtown Deli & Donuts in
downtown Spartanburg. The
gathering was a get together
for teams competing in the
chili cook-off which took place
on Jan. 28 at the Country Club
of Spartanburg. The event
was a fundraiser for the South
Carolina School for the Deaf and
the Blind’s Walker Foundation.
ALEX HICKS JR. PHOTOS
Diane McAndrew, Jose Franco. Ann Akerman, Delie Fort and Michael Smith.
Jimmy and Judy Wilson, Jada McAbee and Anna Converse, Quincy Halliday and Bruce
Karyn Lemon. Schwartz. Weslie Clark, Shirley Camp and Peter Morin.
Troy Beavers, Steve Williams and Lee Anne Williams. Karyn Lemon, Sandra and Tad Cannon.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 102 1/20/2017 1:39:40 PM

0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 103 1/25/2017 12:06:24 PM
HUB-BUB’S THE COMMUNITY TABLE
Hub-Bub hosted The Community Table on Nov. 19 at 111 S. Spring
St. in Spartanburg. The event was an opportunity for Spartanburg to
come together and share a meal in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Chili
was provided by Cafe Around The Corner. Guests enjoyed music and
games. JOHN BYRUM PHOTOS
Penelope and Seth Soine with son Evan.
Isabel Forbes, Chip Smith and Lindsay Moore.
Rebecca Patz with children Silas and Emery and dog Mia.
Chris Brymer and Josh Dockins.
Lynn Nodine and Jed Dearybury. JJ Smith, Jayne Smith and Samantha Nicholson.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 104 1/25/2017 11:52:49 AM

SPACE’S JINGLE BELL 5K
The 14th annual Spartanburg
Area Conservancy Jingle Bell 5k
took place Dec. 17 on the Cot-
tonwood Trail. WENDY SHOCKLEY
MCCARTY PHOTOS
Susan and Harold Luhrsen. Coleman High, Anna High, Daniel Myers, Julia Wilson and Maddie Ouzts.
Hope Garcia and Elijah Garcia Karen Parrott and Gervais Hollow- Clary Reich, Adam Reich, Kenny Lee and Jennifer Lee.
with Bailey. ell with Charlotte, a 6-month-old
Camp Greystone puppy.
Vicki Graham and Megan Stephens. Mikayla and Anita Wilson. William Epps, Jessica Seppala and Lars Seppala.
0209_A_94_SHJMAG.indd 105 1/25/2017 12:19:19 PM

PA R T I N G S H OT
LOOKING BACK
A horse race at the Spartanburg County Fairgrounds in 1934. “Sam J. Napoleon
owned by Sam J. Nicholls. Winning 3-year-old pace.”
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HOME & GARDEN ISSUE

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10 | LOFTY AMBITIONS 56 | BREATHTAKING VIEW

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CONTACT JENNIFER BRADLEY feeling of accomplishment. nity College.

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Natural light pours in from

Tenants drawn to apartment complex for

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 10 1/16/2017 1:39:10 PM

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 12 1/16/2017 1:39:24 PM

Jim and Gretchen Evans

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0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 16 1/16/2017 1:40:22 PM

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 17 1/20/2017 12:58:13 PM

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 18 1/16/2017 1:40:41 PM

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 20 1/20/2017 12:58:53 PM

bathroom are beyond the living room.

RIGHT: Kelley Shaw turned her second

0209_A_10_SHJMAG.indd 22 1/25/2017 10:48:56 AM

0209_A_24_SHJMAG.indd 24 1/25/2017 12:15:35 PM

GINNY EZELL, REGENERATION INTERIORS IN CHESNEE: One of the big-

REBECCA GREEN, SALT AND LIGHT DESIGN IN INMAN: My favorite room to

SHERRIE NACOLE, HOUSE OF INTERIORS IN SPARTANBURG: I love design-

0209_A_24_SHJMAG.indd 25 1/25/2017 12:15:46 PM

LOUISE JOHNSON, LOUISE JOHNSON INTERIORS IN SPARTANBURG: I’ve been an

0209_A_24_SHJMAG.indd 27 1/25/2017 2:33:43 PM

0209_A_28_SHJMAG.indd 28 1/25/2017 10:50:59 AM

Couple’s love for the kitchen

0209_A_28_SHJMAG.indd 30 1/25/2017 10:51:42 AM

bungalow in 2007. The circa 1926 home is nestled on Cecil Court in

0209_A_28_SHJMAG.indd 32 1/25/2017 10:54:20 AM

0209_A_28_SHJMAG.indd 33 1/25/2017 11:04:20 AM

Cajun dishes. “We make everything in

Mounted vintage tin match holders

0209_A_28_SHJMAG.indd 35 1/25/2017 11:05:14 AM

STORY BY ZACH FOX | PHOTOS BY JOHN BYRUM

0209_A_36_SHJMAG.indd 36 1/17/2017 4:20:42 PM

Margarette and Marion Miller stand in their favorite

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY

Services for all faiths and religions

Member of the International Order of the Golden Rule

SEAWRIGHT FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY

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0209_A_36_SHJMAG.indd 38 1/17/2017 4:21:15 PM

0209_A_36_SHJMAG.indd 39 1/25/2017 11:25:46 AM

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STORY BY DAN ARMONAITIS

0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 41 1/18/2017 2:39:00 PM

0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 42 1/20/2017 1:12:53 PM

0209_A_40_SHJMAG.indd 43 1/20/2017 1:13:15 PM

ABOVE: The baby fter the arrival of a baby, it’s not

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 44 1/16/2017 3:41:37 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 45 1/16/2017 3:41:57 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 46 1/25/2017 12:16:19 PM

When Autumn Andrews became pregnant, she and

RIGHT: Sheet music inside small frames adorns a shelf in

OPPOSITE PAGE: Autumn Andrews holds baby Quinn in

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 47 1/20/2017 1:18:17 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 48 1/16/2017 3:43:00 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 49 1/20/2017 1:18:30 PM

0209_A_44_SHJMAG.indd 50 1/16/2017 3:43:33 PM

Jacob and Caroline Sexton wel-