THE SOUTHERN C(ity) GUIDE 2 Charlotte, NC with Holly Phillips

At The Southern C, our demographics span the entire South, from large cities to small towns, each with their own unique blend of Southern culture. This mix is a large part of what makes The Southern C special.

We want to promote this mix by having members in different cities peel back the curtain on the way they conduct business in their town. We are calling this “The Southern C(ity) Guide”, which will be promoted across three TSC platforms–Instagram, Pinterest, and here on our website.

Our first Southern C(ity) Guide was brought to you by me – The Southern Coterie co-founder, Cheri Leavy – and I spotlighted the two spots I reside in the Golden Isles and Athens, Georgia on Pinterest.

This week The English Room’s Holly Phillips will share her favorite spots in Charlotte, NC on pinterest.

Describe your brand/business and how it got started:

The English Room has been around since the early 1980’s as my mother’s antique importing business.  I have been in this business forever going on buying trips to England and France as a child.  I followed in my mother’s footsteps. Though our design aesthetic is very different, I certainly attribute my love of design to her. I worked my way into the business from the sample room at ADAC to where I am today.  I am forever grateful for the education and experience each step has afforded me.

Inspiration:

Inspiration is abundant in my daily life.  Travel is certainly what fills me with the most ideas.

#1 skill needed to be an entrepreneur:

Hard work most importantly! And dedication, determination, consistency, lack of sleep and loving it despite all that!

Role model:

Iris Apfel.  I have loved her for years but when the documentary came out I truly fell in love.  We both get a slight high from the thrill of the hunt. We are soul sisters with our LOVE of travel, shopping, design and fashion with a propensity for overdoing the accessories without caring if others like it.  I have always beat to my own drum and I like that about me.

Favorite social media:

Instagram, of course!  Designers are visual people. Instagram is the perfect platform.

Most used emoji:

Favorite quote:


“More is more and less is a bore”
 – Iris Apfel

Biggest risk that paid off:

Starting a blog!

Interesting tidbit about you or your business:

I will always be an interior designer first and foremost but, I love how my blog has allowed me to incorporate so many things that inspire my work daily from design to fashion and travel. But, if I quit this I am going to be a cowgirl out west with a big ranch, turquoise jewels and a killer collection of cowboy boots.

Theme song:


Girls Rule the World – Beyonce

Favorite book or author:


Eloise – Kay Thompson

Hobbies:

Travel and Shopping

Favorite charity:


Humane Society-  I am a sucker for any animal based organization. I LOVE my creatures!

The Southern C(ity) Guides:

Cheri Leavy in the Golden Isles and Athens, GA

Whitney Long in the Golden Isles, GA