Last summer, we set out on a family road trip to the Highlands of North Carolina. It is about 15 hours from our home, making it a great two day journey. After visiting Blackberry Farm a few years ago, I was excited to see the same group taking on High Hampton, a historic resort property in the mountains of North Carolina. My friend (and travel planner Katie Kozlowski) always keeps me posted on the best places (thanks, Katie!) and this was her top recommendation for our family when I was looking for a classic summer retreat.
Everything about High Hampton felt nostalgic but fresh in the best way. It has been a long time since I was so atheistically inspired. It was just so different than everything I thought I liked. Original varnished pine paneling, bark siding, dark painted trim, faux bois everything, black wrought iron, green glass, chintz, stripes, modern eclectic art, velvets and color. I loved it all.
I was enchanted by how everything was so original. As someone who is typically drawn to white clapboard, white marble and tidy hedges, I was smitten by the authentic character of the entire property. Things were unique, handmade, rustic, collected and soulful. No pretending, no copying – all original and without obvious formula.
Everything there inspired me to step outside of my box, to experiment a little more, to embrace true creativity. While I would never replicate some of these choices, it is the spirit of the one-of-a-kind eclectic-ness that resonated with me. I think I’m so tired of everything I see looking the same (reinforced by algorithms that feed us more what we like to see), that experiencing this place with such truly authentic style sparked something in me.
I remember sitting in this spot for breakfast thinking – I never would have thought I would love green glass, but just the way it makes the entire table glow, mixed with the coral and pink dahlias picked from the garden. I savored it.
The stay includes breakfast and dinner in the formal dining room. We started each morning with a hike, then leisurely breakfast in this spot. During the day we played tennis, pickleball and croquet, or we were on their small lake fishing, swimming and paddle boarding. It was all so simple and fun. We finished each day with dinner in the dining room. After being active and immersed in nature all day, ending each night by putting on nice clothes, sitting down to a cocktail and warm homemade roll with the saltiest butter is my favorite memory of the trip.
Our daughter will say this was her all-time favorite vacation the three of us have taken (family trip to the beach with cousins taking the ultimate first place – which I get!). We have been trying to figure out what she (we) liked so much about it. I think something about the old fashioned, simple activities really resonated with her. Also, I think she liked the freedom to roam on the property – to meet a new friend to catch minnows at the boat house or play pingpong. She took croquet lessons with a group of kids and spent a lot of time on the lake paddle boarding. During dinner she met other kids on the lawn to play games in between course or while parents had another glass of wine after dinner.
It truly felt like an old-fashioned summer retreat that our family will not soon forget and will continue to be inspired by.
I don’t know if it was because it was our first real adventure in a year since the beginning of covid, or if it really is just that a special of a place – but we were captivated and inspired by everything. Besides the actual property, we loved exploring the Highlands area of North Carolina. We drove around to many of the area towns, explored the forests, waterfalls and the amazing vistas. The long views of the rolling mountains in the distance each getting a little hazier with their smokey, blue shadows, I will always treasure. The trip has inspired so many new ideas for the shop.
I created this painting from just what I picture in my mind of how those stacks of Blue Ridge mountains looked as we approached them and drove through them, with waterfalls such lush forests, and the hazy blue backdrop. Framed paintings and prints available, here.
I sourced our Stick Candles from our trip – they are hand-made in the Highlands of North Carolina, poured in moulds made from actual sticks found there.
These are our Dogwood Table Linens, found here >
I have added these new Blacksmith Forged Iron Candle Holders to the store today. I love the modern line mixed with these very rustic candles, and the heaviness of the real iron and the deep black finish gives them a nice feel.
You can see that they are created by hand, wrapped iron that overlaps at the seams. They come in three different heights, those these low are my favorite with the tall tapers.
The Birch Pillar Candles are also made in the Highlands out of… you guessed it, Birch Log molds.
This is our Oak Leaf Tablecloth in English Blue >
We light them every night for dinner (they last forever) and look even better when melting.