Georgia born and bred, James Farmer is an accomplished interior and landscape designer, as well as a prolific author with 10 books under his belt and another due out this fall. I recently had the pleasure of hearing him speak at the Savannah Antiques & Architecture Weekend, which piqued my interest to learn more. Here, he shares what makes Southern style so warm and welcoming and why home is so important to him.
James Farmer relaxes on the porch with his dog, Lilah.
Farmer’s latest book, Home Again: A Return to Gracious Interiors, published by Gibbs Smith, will be released this September.
Sepia-tone wallpaper and warm wood welcome guests in the foyer of this Georgia home.
A scenic Lowcountry mural by Paul Montgomery sets the color palette for this elegant dining room.
Farmer layered handblocked linens and tortoiseshell bamboo blinds with more formal furnishings in a primary bedroom.
What does home mean to you?
A house is an architectural structure, but a home is an emotional place that conjures feelings and tugs at the heartstrings.
You are known and loved for your gracious interiors. How would you define Southern style?
Traditional with a twist. There’s a reverence for the past with antiques, but the twist comes into play with mixing old and new.
Are there quintessential Lowcountry pieces that you like to collect?
Oyster plates and water art, of course, but in particular, I love great outdoor furniture such as rocking chairs and swings. Sweetgrass baskets are incredible works of art. I love to collect cookbooks from the Lowcountry. If it’s spiral bound and from a ladies’ group, you know it’s going to be great!
The porch plays a central role in Southern architecture. Why is that?
The porch is the southern space for the seasons; it is the narthex between our interior spaces and the outside world.
What signature furnishings do you select to add character to a room?
Typically, we have all our upholstery made custom for clients, however, I love to find silhouettes and forms of certain chairs or sofas and give them new life. Antique buffets, secretaries and chests are classic additions to any home—and I love finding them! I think traditional antiques are welcome in any region. I tend to stick with the classic lines of French and English pieces in particular. For example, I love George III and Chippendale-style English furniture. It pairs surprisingly well with contemporary art and with chic lighting as well. Design is about confidence, not trying to match everything.
How do you begin your design process?
I visualize the finished product first. Then, I take it apart and rebuild it. It’s hard to explain, but I see the end result or the finish line, then I have to work back to the starting gate and trust the process. It works for me!
What’s your secret to creating continuity from room to room?
A color palette in varying tones and hues creates continuity especially through texture and layering.
You often say, “green and white is always right,” and you love the color coral. Blue is a perennial favorite in Connecticut: Do you have any favorite blues?
I love Nelson Blue, Wythe Blue and Palladian blue, all by Benjamin Moore. They are confidently blue but with just the right amount of a flirty green undertone.
Your rooms are layered with pattern. Any tips on using it without becoming overwhelming, busy or stuffy?
Using pattern can be as formulaic as a recipe can be. You can mix a floral, a plaid and an animal print in proportion with solids to create pattern or cadence within a room.
What are the challenges of decorating in the Lowcountry with the heat and humidity?
I’m laughing because a lot of people say it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity… it’s both, and both can be taxing on certain materials. The trick is finding materials that can withstand the climate and the test of time.
Your gardens are spectacular. Any tips for Lowcountry landscaping?
Knowing what works in your zone is half the battle. The natural landscape of the Lowcountry accentuated with a large tabby planter filled with plumbago and acanthus and other accents is all you need. Outdoor spaces can be defined with hedging, fencing or brick walls clad in creeping fig.
When did you know design was your calling?
I am one of those people who always knew what they wanted to do! I always wanted to do design. I went to Auburn, studied art history and landscape design and am grateful to still practice design today.
What is the premise of your latest book, due out in September?
Home Again is a culmination of some wonderful interior design projects our team has been a part of over the past few years. The homes range in location from just a few miles from my office to Martha’s Vineyard—as well as my two homes, Farmdale and Joe Pye Cottage!