With all of the events of May—weddings and graduations, Mother’s Day outings and the Kentucky Derby—we’re sticking with delicate, feminine pieces and classic silhouettes. Spice up the simple with pretty touches of florals, lace, polka-dots and stripes.
1. Hutch Lynne green dress, $298; Uniquities
2. Jack by BB Dakota rose lace dress, $78; Copper Penny
Daring to make a statement? Hot pink is about as bold as it gets. Paint your home with these brightly hues that demand attention yet remain sophisticated.
Whether as a nail polish or a lacquered side table, we adore this tone of energetic pink. It’s the perfect color for summer.
Use Sherwin Williams Eros Pink (SW6860) on an accent wall in a girl’s bedroom. Throw in some white lacquered furniture and a pop of black to express her “diva” style.
I love Hot Lips BM 2077-30 as a very deep, hot pink option…nothing bubblegum about this color. Painted in a high gloss, it would make a fabulous jewel-box powder room paired with black accents and brushed silver. Or on a statement wall in a dining area with crisp, white accents. This is not for the faint of heart. But it’s really an “adult” pink, deserving a role in the main part of a house, not just for girlie bedrooms.
Give me Pink Corsage #1349 by Benjamin Moore. It is “her” room bringing on the raspberry pop of color. Give me lots of windows, nine foot ceilings as a minimum, bead board in crisp white … gray painted wood floors, large scale very textured geometric rug in white and mid-tone gray, trim and ceiling in white. The paint above the bead board to the top portion of the wall in Pink Corsage #1349. Accessorize in pink pillows, books with pink covers, a pink floral here and there, pink throw and then a surprise element … paint the doors luscious Pink Corsage!
Pink is generally considered a feminine color, but it has many other qualities. It can also be masculine, as well as historic, depending on its pairings. Racer pink paired with glossy whites is fresh and fun! The popularity of pink has been attributed to millennials, their love of pink is seen in their fashion and home decor choices. When it comes to design, pink has a fascinating complexity.
We spend time in the favorite rooms of the homes of some of Raleigh’s top interior experts and designers.
Tula Summerford majored in textile technology at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. The mother of four formerly worked for Westwood Incorporated, one of New York City’s largest fashion houses, where she did design work and forecasted colors and fabrics season to season. Summerford’s passion for fabrics led her to the world of interior design and, after relocating to Raleigh, she established her own interior design company, Design by Tula. Summerford has been working in the design industry for more than 35 years and Design By Tula prides itself on tailoring design to satisfy every client’s needs and style. Summerford says she loves to create rooms that are timeless and rooted in tradition and she loves to incorporate trends and updated fabrics to keep spaces fresh.
How do you describe your homes’s style?
We live in Country Club Hills. My home reflects my personality, unique and multi-dimensional. My home is an eclectic blend of old and new, classic and contemporary. It’s filled with family heirlooms mixed in with objects collected from my travels.
What makes this your favorite room?
You know what they say about first impressions. Your foyer introduces your guests to your personal style. It sets the tone for your home.
Tell us about the foyer and how you created it?
I designed the hand-painted wall murals that wrap around my foyer. I chose muted hues of greens and golds as a backdrop for my antique grandfather clock, French mirrors and Italian demilune. I added interest with a contemporary Portuguese velvet chair.
What should people know about creating a space they love?
Details are important. The details are not just the details, they make the design. Great design is difficult to describe, you know it when you see it! Stepping into your home should be an experience. If you’re not excited or inspired when you walk into your home, it’s time to shake things up!
Stars—they’re just like us! Or, at least, they wear our locally made jewelry. Jewelry from Raleigh-based ZoeBird Designs has been featured around the necks and on the wrists of several Hollywood actresses in popular TV shows and movies recently, including the Netflix series “Bloodline,” “The Vampire Diaries” on the CW, the Hallmark movie “A Christmas Melody” and, most recently, on episode 112 of the CW’s “Charmed,” which aired February 17. Actress Ellen Tamaki, who plays the character Niko Hamada on the show, donned ZoeBird Designs’ handcrafted Labradorite Hexagon Necklace, a stunning, bright blue gemstone on an oxidized chain. According to ZoeBird owner Jo Garrett, the six sides of the hexagon “symbolize going beyond the five senses to experience life as a spiritual journey,” making it fitting for the supernatural theme of the show. “It was so exciting to see my Hexagon necklace on ‘Charmed’!” Garrett says. Garrett originally founded ZoeBird Designs as a way to help raise money for her daughter’s adoption. She now donates money from jewelry sales to other families going through the adoption process. With its Hollywood spotlight, ZoeBird Designs seems poised to take off in the jewelry world, but we Raleighites can still get our hands on the unique, boho-esque designs via Garrett’s Etsy site. etsy.com/shop/ ZoeBirdDesigns
Break out the calendar, friends. April 1 marks New Year’s Day for our annual roundup of Raleigh events! This year, we spotlighted some of the city’s best that we’re venturing to guess you haven’t experienced before. They may be new, like Carolina Fear Fest, low-key like Groove In the Garden and the VAE Gala, or truly once-in-a-lifetime, like Paul McCartney’s tour stop at PNC or a Hootie and the Blowfish reunion. We also show you some ways you can support our wonderful community of artists, animal lovers and the amazing services the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh provides. Supporting Downtown Restaurant Week and voting on Election Day are must-dos—we reserve the right to revoke your Raleighite Card if you give them a pass. And we celebrate some amazing milestones: 40 years of Artsplosure? 75 for the Christmas Parade? Raleigh’s been awesome for a while now. Get out there and get in on all the fun.
Beer drinkers from across the nation agree, Brewgaloo is one of the biggest and best beer festivals in the country. It’s so big and so best, in fact, that USA Today nominated Brewgaloo as one of its 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2019 picks, competing with beer festivals as far away as Denver and as close to home as Asheville; as of late March, Brewgaloo is poised to take the No. 1 spot. At this annual downtown beer fest, enjoy beers from more than 100 North Carolina breweries, plus food, vendors and live music. This year, the festivities kick off with a sampling block party in City Plaza the Friday before the festival proper.
Eight Events You Haven’t Experienced in Raleigh…Yet!
This highly entertaining show of glitz, glam and giving features 13 fabulous cabaret performers, all competing for the Diva of the Year title by raising the most money. Tickets to the show cover a reception with hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soft drinks, with the option to donate your ticket purchase towards a specific Diva’s fundraising goal.
Halloween is a long way off, but local horror fans can get an early fix this year. Raleigh’s first-ever Horror Convention features celebrity guests, exclusive panels, a film festival, vendors and more. Everything from “The Addams Family” to “Child’s Play,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to “The Walking Dead,” “Stranger Things” to the “Halloween” movies gets representation. Prepare to be scared!
Hootie & The Blowfish: Group Therapy 5/31/2019 | Walnut Creek | hootie.com
It’s been 25 years since the release of the band’s “Cracked Rear View” album and now, Hootie & The Blowfish are reuniting, touring with the Barenaked Ladies and making a stop in Raleigh. The last time the South Carolina band was here, they played downtown, outdoors, at Alive After Five…that was over a decade ago.
Paul McCartney: The Freshen Up Tour 5/27/2019 | PNC Arena | thepncarena.com
When was the last time a Beatle was in Raleigh? When’s the next time one will be here again? The famed singer, prolific song writer, multi-instrumentalist and composer will be at PNC on a stop on his multi-national tour following the release of his latest album “Egypt Station,” playing all your favorite classics and some new material, too. It promises, truly, be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Spend a day outside this summer at Dix Park and experience the short-lived beauty of the park’s sunflowers, with which you may already be acquainted via Instagram. Capture your own ‘gram-worthy sunflower photos and enjoy live music, arts and crafts, performance artists, vendors, beer from local breweries and food trucks.
It’s one of the most laid-back events in one of the most beautiful locations. Each fall, mostly local bands and singers take the stage at the Stephenson Amphitheater for a day of live music while the community gathers for food and drinks, local art and companionability in the Raleigh Rose Garden. Past headliners have included New Reveille, American Aquarium and Lydia Loveless. We can’t wait to see who 2019 will bring!
Moonlight in the Garden November 2019 | JC Raulston Arboretum | jcra.ncsu.edu
NC State’s beloved arboretum gets a facelift with hundreds of lights adorning the garden’s trees, plants and pathways after dark, for a magical, visual experience celebrating fall. Food trucks, live music, apple cider, marshmallows and fire pits also feature for more family-friendly fun.
The Visual Art Exchange is a hub for a diverse network of artists to convene, practice their crafts, advance their careers and influence
positive change in the creative community. The gala is an evening filled with wondrous experiences, amazing art, tasty food, fabulous cocktails and fundraising. Last year’s gala was one of the hottest tickets of the year.
Events with a Meaningful Mission
Out! Raleigh 5/4/2019 | Fayetteville Street | outraleigh.org
In its ninth year, Out! Raleigh celebrates the beauty and diversity of the city’s LGBTQ community. Bring the whole family to Fayetteville Street for lots of fun in support of the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh’s community programs. If you’re feeling extra, pledge a protester and raise money on behalf of each person who shows up to protest the event. It’s not a cure-all to ignorance and homophobia but it’s a great way to turn the hate into something good.
The Fur Ball is a glamorous evening of fun that includes a three-course Angus Barn dinner with wine pairings, spirits, desserts, entertainment, as well as a large auction. Supporting the annual Fur Ball helps fund the Wake County SPCA’s work all year long.
Support the local arts scene at Raleigh’s biggest creative festival featuring four days packed full of more than 200 cultural events, including live music, food, visual arts, film, fashion, literature, design and theatre happenings, among many more. At SPARKcon, more than 12,000 creatives converge to showcase their talents, while curious Raleighites get to experience something new and exciting each year.
Expand your palate and dine at some of the best restaurants in the heart of Raleigh during this week-long event held each summer for the past 10 years. Various eateries feature both lunch and dinner specials, making this the perfect time of the year to venture outside of your culinary comfort zone and try a new spot or catch up with some old favorites.
Election Day 10/8/2019
If you don’t vote in local elections, do you even live here? Because you shouldn’t. After two years of stalemate on the city council, culminating in Mayor Nancy McFarlane declining to run for re-election, the city is at a turning point. Everything from affordable housing to transit to Raleigh’s reputation as a progressive city is at stake. So, please, read up on the issues, on who represents you and on who you can vote for this year; decide for yourself, at the ballot box, in which direction you’d like the city to go.
The NC State Fair 10/17-27/2019 | NC State Fairgrounds | ncstatefair.org
The 11-day event is the largest gathering in North Carolina, attracting almost 1 million attendees. The combination of traditional Southern treats for sale, including ham biscuits and turkey legs, plus over-the-top creations like deep-fried Oreos and Crack-N-Cheese Waffle Cones, means there’s something delicious for everyone. Plus, of course, there are games, rides, exhibits, more than 100 free concerts featuring local performers and fireworks at closing every night.
Milestone Events
Oakwood Garden Club Garden Tour & Victorian Tea 4/27-28 | Historic Oakwood | historicoakwood.org
For the last 30 years, the Oakwood Garden Club has hosted a Victorian tea and walking tour featuring the best gardens of the Historic Oakwood neighborhood. Guests don their fanciest hats, along with comfortable shoes, to participate in this lovely tradition welcoming spring.
One of the Southeast’s premier arts festivals, Artsplosure: The Raleigh Arts Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The festival brings more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh, celebrating fine visual art and live music. More than 180 artists’ work in countless mediums are on display for all to see and enjoy during the free festival.
Raleigh’s traditional Christmas Parade turns 75 this year, and it’s still the largest parade of its kind between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The parade—filled with marching bands, dancers, classic cars, super heroes and giant floats—starts off marching down Hillsborough Street and winds through downtown, past the State Capitol, for two hours along a 1.4-mile route. The parade routinely draws more than 60,000 spectators.
