Vesta’s vision

by Hayley Hill; photography by Stevye Murray

Perfectly timed to the local housing market boom, Vesta Taylor’s long-time dream of opening a boutique in downtown Fairhope where she could share her custom designed and carefully curated collection of light fixtures, unique flooring, decadent drapes, and all the upscale accessories that make a home a show-stopper is now a reality. Here, we delve into her unique journey in defining the “Southern New Traditional” look complete with European influences and more. The result? A fresh twist beyond measure.

A sought-after interior designer hailing from Greenville, Vesta Taylor enjoyed a range of projects from new builds to decorating the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery for the holidays for four years. She was even tapped to bring her Southern design skills to the set of hit dating show, “Sweet Home Alabama.”Brushes with fame aside and new to the area, Vesta is extremely proud of her Southern heritage and has found a thriving and in-demand nitch. “I love the South and I’m super excited about working in Fairhope. My husband, Wesley, and I found it and fell in love with it in 2002 and have been trying to move here ever since,” she shares.

Walking into her shop conveniently located in the center of town, one is immediately transported to Vesta’s vision where all things Southern, traditional, European, feminine, and even modern somehow come together flawlessly. Between lush velvet drapes that puddle just right, sconces that scream, “Take me home now,” and more, we’re left wanting an instant home remodel.

Upon further exploration, Vesta’s brilliant plan for ease and convenience reveals itself, too, as a majority of the light fixtures are ready to go out the door boasting plug-in options for immediate use, thus opening a sea of opportunities. Planning a dining al fresco soirée? Plug in your new chandelier under an old oak tree or pergola for a more-than-memorable meal. Light up a wedding venue and then return the fixture to your dining room. Plug in sconces on your outdoor entertaining space walls to add instant polish and avoid the installation commitment that results in cutting and wiring. The list goes on. Of course, all the fixtures can be wired once you’ve enjoyed the mobility.

Conveniences aside, Vesta is quite the entrepreneur, too. “As an interior designer, I got into product design when I couldn’t find what I envisioned,” she details. “I recall looking for a gas lantern, and everything had looked the same for so long that I decided to create my own that was traditional, yet clean and modern. Successful, I continued on to sconces, as I wanted something elongated on a simple black matte plate with one large crystal that would shine, yet not overpower a space.” Interestingly, she’s even renting fixtures for events such as weddings dinner parties, and more.Referring to her fixtures as “house jewels,” she continued designing what she couldn’t find, which led her to everything from chandeliers to flooring. Her unique interior hardwood flooring collection is a fresh take on a Southern classic and is offered in shades ranging from the new blondes to the rich and dark tones. Several are created from reclaimed finished solid pine boards from New Orleans. “It’s extra thick and to-die-for gorgeous,” she beams. And yes, she even handles installation.

Between her relationships with manufacturers and her husband (who is also a skilled craftsman), she can customize headboards, sofas, club chairs, benches, ottomans, dining tables, throw pillows, and even mantles. If clients want to peruse options from trusted brands, she also has dedicated space to pieces from companies such as Regina Andrew, Gabby, Corbett, Hudson Valley and somany more. And then there’s the window treatments. Offering drapery both ready to go and custom, Vesta is creating a new line of draperies ranging from large, bold patterns to clean yet formal velvets. Need Roman shades? She carries a full line of woven wood and linen options. She’s also proud to present a new window shading option — a sheer blind that allows you to see through or black out the window.Having completed design projects all over the South in areas such as Highlands, N.C.; Dallas, Texas; and North Florida, she can do it all, whether it’s helping with plans for a new build pre-construction or a simple renovation. “First, I love getting get to know my clients and what their life is like and the character of their home,” she shares. “From there, I present them with design concepts, and once all are in agreement, it’s all systems go!”

With a name as unique as she is, Vesta’s father was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army for 20 years. “We traveled a lot, as he lived in France for six years while serving in the military,” she recalls. “A fan of Europe, he named me after the Temple of Vesta in Rome, Italy, and it’s easy to see where my adoration for European style came from,” Vesta jests. So inspired, she’s even creating a candle line she’s hand-pouring into custom white terracotta pots based on the scents of Italy. The perfect holiday gift, they are 100 percent soy-based and boast relaxing hues of bergamot.In addition to the European influence, Vesta fondly recalls what she refers to as her “paper doll days,” as her mother would give her the Sears catalog to cut out images in order to make rooms for her paper dolls. From there, her passion for all things interior design blossomed into a full-time career. oes.

Visiting her store transports us to both Europe and the South at the same time, wrapping us in all the warmth a home should offer. Plus, her grab-and-go light fixtures, curtains, and decorative items solve a lot of our last-minute holiday décor dilemmas. Simply put, she loves what she does and is making Southern design accessible at the same time.

This post has been modified for the web. Read the original article in full in the December 2021 issue of ACCESS Magazine.

Vesta Taylor Lighting & Design 76 C South Section Street Fairhope, AL 251.270

Hair Felisha Allen, Identity Salon, 251.478.2409 Makeup Courtney Matthews Makeup Artistry, Cocokat1978@gmail.com

Wardrobe Courtesy of Dillard’s