Life + Culture

Setting Tables for Good

Charlotte Area Designers and Guests Celebrate Connection Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Carissa Rogers As impactful as the right fabric combination can be in a newly-designed living room or the wow factor of a complete kitchen remodel, nowhere is the power of design more palpable than over a table. That’s where people come together.  Great design has always been about more than just paint color and fixtures, but a feeling. That notion, along with 14 of the most talented designers...

Education

Making Money Make Sense

Meet Brian Li, the Providence Day School Teacher Bringing Financial Literacy to the Classroom Article by Taylor Bowler After 16 years as a middle school math teacher at Providence Day School, Brian Li realized something essential was missing from the traditional curriculum: financial literacy. He set out to change that by building a finance class to equip students with tools they’d actually need in the real world. Today, Li teaches middle and upper school students about investing, debt, risk...

Arts + Culture

Rising From the Ashes

After Fire Destroyed Her Home Studio, Artist Sarah Helser Rebuilds In South End Article by Taylor Bowler | Photography by Amanda Anderson Last October, a fire tore through artist Sarah Helser’s South Charlotte home. Her husband and four boys were safe, but the interior, which housed her art studio, was devastated by smoke and water damage. Her tools, materials and works in progress were gone in an instant. As smoke poured out of the house (likely due to a candle left burning in the...

Style + Beauty

Edit + Style

Wardrobe Experts Cathy Monte and Kristen Garnett Share Favorite Spring Looks Article by Elliott Harrell | Photography by Olly Yung Cathy Monte and Kristen Garnett are on a mission to help people get the most out of their closets. Their consultation and styling service, Edit + Style, shows clients how to mix and match pieces from their current wardrobes. “It always comes back to our credo of ‘your stuff, your style,’” says Garnett, who first met Monte working together in pharmaceutical sales...

Life + Culture

A Day In The Life

Behind The Scenes With Renowned Designer Nate Berkus Article by Carroll Walton | Photography by Provided by Nate Berkus Nate Berkus has been a household name in American design for 30 years. Whether he was doing makeovers for the Oprah Winfrey Show, hosting his own show or designing collections, his taste for clean lines and natural tones, and his down-to-earth personality shine through.  Berkus makes his first trip to Charlotte for the Mint Auxiliary Spring Symposium on April 15 at...

Home + Design

Spectacular Sushi

Chef Robin Anthony Is Earning National Recognition Article by Elliott Harrell | Photography by Forrest Mason It’s official: Charlotte has some of the best sushi in not only the South, but the country. That’s thanks to Chef Robin Anthony, who helms the trio of Prime Fish restaurants around town. In November, two of his restaurants, Omakase Experience by Prime Fish and Prime Fish, received coveted Michelin recommendations in the first guide for the South. And in late January, the James Beard...

Travel

Beyond The Masters

Why Augusta Is the Perfect Weekend Escape Article by Elliott Harrell | Photography by Destination Augusta Ask someone what they know about Augusta, Georgia, and you’ll probably hear two words: The Masters.  And yes, while the idyllic Southern city is home to arguably the most famous golf tournament in the world, that’s not all the city has to offer. It’s just two and a half hours away from Charlotte, too, making the city the perfect proximity for a weekend getaway. Lauren Robbins is a local...

Home + Design

The Art of the Find

The Women of Smith Interiors on Curating European Antiques for Modern Homes Article by Taylor Bowler | Photography by Olly Yung Cindy Smith and MK Smith Boykin have designed the interiors of some of Charlotte’s most stunning homes, and they’ve built a reputation for blending European treasures with modern design. Together, they run Smith Interiors in Charlotte. As the creative mind behind the Circa family of shops, Cindy also owns CIIRCA Antiques with lead curator Virginia Christianson...

Style + Beauty

For Mothers of The Moment

Designer Daniel Gonzalez Reimagines Occasion Dressing for Mothers of the Bride and Groom Article by Carroll Walton When it comes to wedding fashion, the bride is always the focus and rightly so. But local designer Daniel Gonzalez is proving that bespoke gown-making goes a long way for the mother of the bride or groom, too. Buying readymade dresses can be challenging.  “It’s hard for a mother of a bride to find her dress because things aren’t made thinking about the normal woman,” Gonzalez...

Travel

Surf, Sand and Sunsets

Finding Hawaiʻi’s Natural Rhythm on O‘ahu’s North Shore Article by Krisha Chachra | Photography by Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay On the Hawaiian islands, life rises and sets with the sun. When visiting O‘ahu–particularly the gentle cadence of the North Shore–your body falls into step with nature. Days begin early and active: snorkeling alongside tropical fish, paddleboarding on glassy water or surfing rolling waves. Evenings slow to a peaceful pace, nourished by good food and...