Go Inside Five Standout Southern Entertaining Spaces

Photo: Brie Williams

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Lounging in the living area that faces the pool.

Photo: Brie Williams

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Colorful tiles in the hall.

Photo: Brie Williams

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The bar and dining area.

Photo: Brie Williams

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Twin canopy beds.

Photo: Brie Williams

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French doors open to the hallway leading to the bath.

Photo: Brie Williams

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Fresh orange juice made in the kitchen, window looking out to the private pool.

Photo: Brie Williams

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The bath, which opens to an outdoor shower.

Photo: Brie Williams

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The colorful tiles below the bath.

Photo: Brie Williams

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THE SUPPER CAMP
Henderson, Louisiana

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Guests paddle out to the houseboat on Atchafalaya Basin.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Chef Marissa Martin bought the secondhand duck-hunting houseboat in 2015.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Chef Melissa Martin sets flowers on the dinner table.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Fresh seafood on the edge of Martin’s floating entertaining space.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Sunday suppers are an all-day affair on this Louisiana house boat.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Crab legs prepared on a camp stove.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Martin hosts up to eight guests at a time on the boat.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Martin cooks on a camp stove—peel-and-eat crabs and shrimp, fish, plenty of summer produce—and serves it all on the screened porch.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Music at dusk on the water.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Sunday supper essentials laid out on the house boat.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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Dinner is served on the screened porch.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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A romantic sunset on the water.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

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THE GOOD-TIME GARDEN
Macon, Georgia

Photo: Emily Followill

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Homeowners Carey Pickard (right) and Chris Howard outside of their 1,600-square-foot converted waterworks station.

Photo: Emily Followill

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A garden fountain.

Photo: Emily Followill

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Guests mingle in the cistern garden in front of a fence with old letters from Pickard’s family business.

Photo: Emily Followill

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A guest leans in for a slice of cake created by Mary Virginia Kay Gage that is a scale replica of the rondel garden.

Photo: Emily Followill

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The well-stocked bar.

Photo: Emily Followill

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Homeowner Chris Howard pours himself a glass of champagne in the garden.

Photo: Emily Followill

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A large urn from a public park in Belgium filled with flowers is the center of the cistern garden.

Photo: Emily Followill

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Tuteurs (four-sided pyramid-like trellises) and foxgloves.

Photo: Emily Followill

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THE WATERING HOLE
Fredericksburg, Texas

Photo: Kate LeSeur

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Drinks at a converted Texas cistern, built in the 1880s.

Photo: Kate LeSeur

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A board of fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese and honey is served to accompany the gathering.

Photo: Kate LeSeur

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Chairs made in Comfort, Texas, inside the structure.

Photo: Kate LeSeur

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The large, dramatic sconces on the walls are made by an Austin company called Texas Lightsmith – they are made of a forged copper assembly and two layers of mica with torn top edges. They were handcrafted in Austin.

Photo: Kate LeSeur

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An original door from the cistern.