fall’s top table
Words by Amber Wielkins; Photography by Jeff Nelson
Achieving that relaxed-yet-formal look inspired by earthy elegance, Amanda Laurence sets her own holiday table complete with a coordinating mantel exclusively for ACCESS. As the owner of Fairhope’s Willow + Gray Home, we asked her to show off her interior design talents and she did not disappoint.
“We love to help clients decorate, whether it’s a piece of furniture, a room, an entire home, or for any special occasion. We have so much fun bringing store items into clients’ homes to renew their space.”
A few steps into Willow + Gray Home, and you immediately feel, well, at home. And that’s just how Amanda Laurence wants it. With tasteful soft furnishings, natural textures throughout, and kitchenware for days, the shop flawlessly embodies Amanda’s casual-yet-current style. Having just moved into a new house, Amanda knows exactly how she wants her home’s holiday décor, too. “Rustic and natural items are on-trend for home and holiday decorating,” she details. “We want people to think the table and mantel are beautiful, but also something they could do themselves. We adore using things we already have and making an element that might not read ‘autumn’ fit on a fall table,” she states. “We also use as many natural things as we can — we’re a threat to many a magnolia tree for all occasions. The ceramic flowers used here are really becoming a signature item for us.” For the mantel, Amanda used many of the same design elements to make it an exten-sion of the table, bringing about a cohesion between the two. “By changing out the natural items as needed, this de-sign can last through Thanksgiving,” she says.
“We love to help clients decorate, whether it’s a piece of furniture, a room, an entire home, or for any special occasion. We have so much fun bringing store items into clients’ homes to renew their space,” she says. With a talented team headed up by Susan Lipham, who Amanda describes as “my right and left hand,” Amanda’s sister Stephanie is also taking on a bigger role. “Four part-time associates — Connie, Sherry, Carrie, and Brianna — understand exactly what I envision for the store’s aesthetic,” she acknowledges. “Susan calls it ‘Cozy Coastal’ and I absolutely think it fits.”
It began over dinner with her husband. Amanda smiles, “I’ve wanted a retail home store for years. We came to Dragonfly and our table faced The Church Mouse. I saw a ‘For Rent’ sign in the window, called immediately, and less than two days passed before I put down the deposit. In less than two months, we’d done a little facelift and ordered product. I opened on September 28, 2020, and my dream became a reality.”
“It’s been a whirlwind in every way, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Amanda declares of her first year in business. “The biggest surprise has been that even during the craziness of the pandemic, people still want to shop and have been so welcoming to us. Willow + Gray is a blend of my passion for decorating and my desire to entertain, so we offer furniture, home décor, and kitchen essentials.” Clearly talented, we’re not surprised by her success and look forward to seeing what’s next from Amanda and her team.
