A Cottage Journal — Southern Cottage 2025
Enchanting coastal cottages, cozy mountain cabins, and everything in between—the homes found in the Southern United States are as varied and beautiful as the region itself, and we're inviting you to enjoy just a few of our favorites. Once you've perused colorful abodes with vibrant personalities and ocean-inspired charmers filled with calming shades of blue, take a little inspiration for your own space.
Learn how dried hydrangeas—a staple in Southern cottages-can provide beauty and grace well into winter, dress up your front door to welcome guests with panache, and discover new possibilities for expressing your style. Whether or not you reside in this one-of-a-kind corner of the world. we welcome you to explore the very best of Southern Cottage style.
Bethany Adams
Editor, The Cottage Journal
Tucked into the embrace of forest-fringed Georgia, a designer’s cottage is a vibrant reflection of her artistic soul, the front door opening to bright hues and well-curated scenes bursting with personality.
In the breakfast nook, a print of Maurice Prendergast’s oil painting Picnic takes center stage, encircled by heirloom plates from the homeowner’s mother and grandmother, all set against walls painted a deep green.
Color and pattern are artfully woven throughout the interior. In the wintertime, fire crackles in the hearth, casting a warmth and glow upon the living room. The coral velvet couch is accessorized with a medley of patterns that add a playfulness to the space. The shelving, finished in an earthy olive hue, is the perfect stage to display collected treasures.
Where Art Meets Home
2025
TEXT BY LYDIA MCMULLEN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELIZABETH LAUREN GRANGER
Atlanta, Georgia-based interior designer Lesley Steinberg has long been captivated by the expressive power of art. Her love of color and thoughtful composition has been present throughout her life, taking further shape as she studied art history in college, and today, that same artistic sensibility guides her approach to design. She strives to create homes that feel distinctive, rich in texture, layered with interest, and alive with color.
Her own home is the ultimate culmination of these things, blending Southern charm with bold twists. “I’ve always been drawn to color and would describe my style as maximalist and eclectic, with a foundation in traditional design but an appreciation for modern and folk art,” Lesley says. The 1980s cottage is nestled on a quiet, wooded lot, a location the designer was drawn to for the freedom it granted.
“If I want to change the color of our front door, I don’t want to go through a lengthy approval process to make it happen,” she notes. Instead of opting for a developer build, Lesley and her husband, Jon, chose a house filled with idiosyncrasies and quirky details that add character, which has only increased over the last two decades as she, their two children, and the family dog, Tank, have woven their daily lives into the nooks and crannies.
With the original layout and millwork intact, a saturated color scheme and assortment of vintage treasures bring in Lesley’s personal touch. Jewel-toned lacquer, patterned textiles, and custom upholstery bring personality to the corners, while a few renovations round out the final touches. The most recent endeavor was in the primary bathroom, where a wall was removed and a support beam added, resulting in a more cottage-like flourish to the space.
In the living area, a grand fireplace built from rocks gathered on-site lends weight and warmth to the room, and Lesley incorporated built-in shelving to display collected pieces. In the breakfast nook, plates passed down from her mother and grandmother hold a special sentiment, while a serving dish in the dining room holds postcards collected from museums across the globe—Musée d’Orsay, the Barnes Foundation, The Louvre Abu Dhabi—bringing a globe-trotter’s passions to everyday life.
Lesley’s love of art is a unifying thread throughout her home’s interiors. Above her son’s keyboard in the dining room, an abstract rendering by Atlanta artist Terry Stone adds a modern touch. In the primary bathroom, a whimsical encaustic piece by Jeni Stallings hangs above an oil painting created by the homeowner’s late mother, a deeply meaningful focal point. Other cherished works include a duo of Asian-inspired panels, one in the dining room and the larger in the primary bedroom, as well as an Ashanti stool near the hearth that lends cultural character and timeless charm.
What Lesley’s home offers is not a cookie-cutter neatness but rather a collected presence: the feeling of layers building off one another, stories overlapping, and a life lived with a vivid palette. For Lesley, the home serves as the perfect canvas for a beautiful masterpiece.
Drawn to color, Lesley gravitates toward spirited shades of orange, cinnamon, and salmon, complemented by warm ochres, mustard tones, and the tranquil greens and blues of nature. Each paint choice serves as a thoughtful foundation for the art and sculptures she layers throughout her home. BOTTOM RIGHT: On a white brick wall, an original piece by artist Mary Beth Cornelius reflects the vibrant shapes and hues that flow through the space.
In the primary bedroom, grass cloth wallpaper and floral fabric from Thibaut bring a touch of nature indoors, while a custom shade from the same fabric house adds a playful pop in the adjoining bath.