Elaine Griffin profiled in Garden & Gun’s book “Southern Women: More Than 100 Stories of Innovators, Artists, and Icons”

Garden & Gun’s Southern Women: More than 100 Stories of Innovators, Artists, and Icons shares the stories of more than 100 of the region’s brilliant women, groundbreakers who have by turns embraced the South’s proud traditions and overcome its equally pervasive barriers and challenges.

For too long, the Southern woman has been synonymous with the Southern belle, a “moonlight and magnolias” myth that gets nowhere close to describing the strong, richly diverse women who have thrived because of—and in some cases, despite of—the South. No more.

Garden & Gun’s Southern Women: More than 100 Stories of Innovators, Artists, and Icons shares the stories of more than 100 of the region’s brilliant women, groundbreakers who have by turns embraced the South’s proud traditions and overcome its equally pervasive barriers and challenges.

Through interviews, essays, photos, and illustrations these remarkable chefs, musicians, actors, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, designers, and public servants will offer a dynamic portrait of who the Southern woman is now. The voices of bona fide icons such as Sissy Spacek, Leah Chase, and Loretta Lynn join those whose stories for too long have been overlooked or underestimated, from the pioneering Texas rancher Minnie Lou Bradley to the Gee’s Bend, Alabama, quilter Mary Margaret Pettway—all visionaries who have left their indelible mark not just on Southern culture, but on America itself.

By reading these stories of triumph, grit, and grace, the ties that bind the sisterhood of Southern women emerge: an unflinching resilience and resourcefulness, an inherent love of the land, a singular style and wit. And while the wisdom shared may be rooted in the Southern experience, the universal themes are sure to resonate beyond the Mason-Dixon.

Elaine Griffin one of 16 designers featured in The Iconic Home Show House

Elaine Griffin’s entryway and powder room

Tour The Iconic Home, the Show House From AD and the Black Interior Designers Network

The Iconic Home, a first-of-its-kind partnership between Architectural Digest and the Black Interior Designers Network, officially opens its door this week. The virtual designer show house will be on full display from November 18–24, and viewers can expect to see exciting and innovative design solutions conceived by leading Black design talents from across the country.

The architectural design of the home, envisioned as a modernist retreat in upstate New York, was conceptualized by Samantha Josaphat and Luis Medina of STUDIO 397 Architecture, who prioritized indoor-outdoor living and the home’s natural surroundings, which are highlighted through the residence’s many vistas.

Fifteen interior design firms fitted out the interiors, with every room from the garage and laundry room to the kitchen and living room fully transformed into inspiring, immersive spaces featuring products from established brands and emerging makers alike. The show house was made possible by Caesarstone, CB2, Crate & Barrel, Gaggenau, Interface®, LG Signature, Purple Innovation, Inc., and The Shade Store, whose products also grace the dwelling.

The virtual experience provides 360-degree photorealistic renderings, shoppable products, insights into the talented minds of the designers, and more. On the eve of this week’s opening, AD PRO provides a preview of each room you’ll find in the show house below.

Elaine Griffin created her entryway and powder room in homage to the late hip-hop executive Andre Harrell. She chose luxurious details that Harrell would appreciate, ranging from the powder room’s leather floor to its Caesarstone surfaces that resemble tiger’s eye. Lee Jofa’s Niels bench, Circa Lighting’s Bayview chandelier, and Jomo Tariku’s Nyala chair are stylish touches that enliven the foyer.

About Black Interior Designers Network

Founded in 2010, the Black Interior Designers Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the interior design industry by highlighting designers of color and supporting Black designers with business development opportunities. The Black Interior Designers Network works to create a rich network of resources for members, colleagues, suppliers, manufacturers, and media entities that showcase the breadth of Black interior designers creativity, influence and professional contributions, ultimately helping to close the opportunity and income gap of the minority community.

— Allie Weiss, Architectural Digest