Taking the High Road to High Point :: Part II

If you're just dropping in on Day 2 of our travel guide to High Point, no problem we are just starting our trip and you can still look back on Day 1 of our trip to catch right up!

Day 2 :: Old Salem  

On my first trip to High Point, I was traveling with my mother and she kept talking of this little historic town she wanted to take me where she still remembered eating warm sugar cookies from the bakery as a little girl.  

Just to go ahead and answer what you all are thinking, no, Old Salem does not have a history of witches and witch trials....that is Salem, Massachusetts.   But, Old Salem remains to be a town of rich history founded in 1766 by the Moravians. 

Home Moravian Church | 509 Church Street South

The Home Moravian Church was constructed in 1800 and is open to the public.  The copper topped belfry against the earthy red brick is a stunning feature of this historic place of worship.

Home Moravian Church

A. Butner

 Seeing all of the shop signs reminds me of being in Colonial Williamsburg - one of my favorite places I remember visiting as a little girl.

Miksch Garden & House | 532 South Main Street

 This house, constructed in 1771 and originally built of logs, was the first house in Salem to be occupied by a single family.

Salem Tavern Museum | 812 South Main Street

The Tavern was constructed in 1784 and served as the location for town meetings as well as an inn which housed visitors such as President George Washington.

The Tavern | 736 South Main Street

Hands down, the Tavern has the most phenomenal food in the area.  The Tavern was built in 1816 as an annex to the 1784 Tavern and is a family operated restaurant featuring dishes inspired by Moravian families living in Salem in the 19th century.

The Tavern Dining Area

During the day, guests dine by natural light pouring in through the windows and by candlelight at night.  The waitstaff are dressed in traditional Moravian attire as the icing on the cake for dining Moravian style.

The Tavern Fireplace in Dining Area

I love the simplicity of the interiors of the dining area and restaurant.

The Tavern Reuben + Sweet Potato Fries

While anything you select from The Tavern's menu is sure to please your tastebuds, my all time favorite which is also the dish they are known for is the Moravian Chicken Pie.  This is not your typical "pot pie" as it consists of a melt-in-your-mouth buttery, flaky crust topped with shredded chicken and smothered in Chicken Gravy.  A side of red skinned mashed potatoes with fresh green beans will have you cleaning your plate - literally.

View Full Menu Here

The Tavern for Dinner

The Tavern is open for lunch and dinner and offers a wide selection of wine, craft beer + mixed drinks to compliment your meal.

Home Moravian Church

 If you are seated on the second floor of the Tavern, this would be your view - what a gorgeous Spring day!

Architectural Detail

One of my favorite architectural details of historic homes is leaded glass.  I really must keep this architectural detail of a decoratively painted transom in mind - possibly for a garden house or guest house?

Old Salem

Private Residence | Old Salem

The private residences are just as lovely as the historic buildings themselves.  Each garden was lush yet carefully maintained and the homes themselves exude colonial times.

Old Salem

African Moravian Log Church | 913 South Church Street

The African Moravian Log Church was constructed in 1823 and served as an important part of the African American community.

Old Salem 

Well | Old Salem

 My travel partner & mother pumping some fresh water from the communal well located in the center of Old Salem.

Streets of Old Salem

Shops in Old Salem

Winkler Bakery | 521 South Main Street

Winkler Bakery was one of our final stops in Old Salem & the purpose for our visit....remember those warm sugar cookies my mother remembered eating as a child while visiting Old Salem?  Well, here we are, and yes they still bake the heavenly sweet breads and cookies right here.

The bakery was constructed in 1800 and the dome shaped oven is still heated with wood as it was 200 years ago.

Private Residence | Old Salem

 Another gorgeous architectural detail gracing the entrance to this historic home.

Private Residence | Old Salem

God's Acre Cemetery 

As we were leaving historic Old Salem, we came across this beautiful cemetery, God's Acre.  To read more on the history and significance of this cemetery go here.

If you don't have time to visit the Biltmore, the first stop recommended in our Travel Guide to High Point, you really should take the time to visit the quaint town of Old Salem - it only takes a few hours to get the full tour and who can turn down those decadent Moravian sugar cookies?!

Next on our guide - HIGH POINT!

Create a Refreshing....

SPRING TERRACE

Spring has FINALLY arrived, and if you are like me, you can hardly wait to freshen up your outdoor terrace to welcome the warm, breezy evenings ahead.  I did a little sprucing up on my back porch earlier this week - where I will be enjoying the weekend with a crisp glass of chardonnay and a good book.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I have currently been reading through Jennifer Boles recently released book, In with the Old, and I have been flooded with inspiration.  From orangeries to garden stools, I want it all - so this is exactly what I am using for inspiration in my guide for creating a refreshing Spring Terrace.

1. Potted Orange Tree

I am still on the lookout for this lovely fruit tree, but another alternative that I think is equally as lovely is the traditional topiary which you can find at just about any nursery in your area.

2. Garden Stool

Found some for under $100 locally at Home Goods in Birmingham & 

Southeastern Salvage in Irondale

3. Sisal Rug

Another bargain find... 8x10 for under $100 available at a Big Lots near you!

4. LED Twig Branches

Also currently available at Big Lots & now on sale for under $10!!

* Try mixing these in with fresh greenery or just drop them in an urn &

 let them speak for themselves!

Who says outdoors can't feel like an extension of the inside of your home?  After all, your terrace will be the spot where you will be entertaining, cooking bar-b-que, sipping coffee in the mornings or wine in the evenings or even taking a cat nap for the next few months..... 

I certainly think it deserves to be just as comfortable and welcoming as your favorite indoor space, but this doesn't mean you have to break the bank having custom drapes made - this is why we turn to painter's drop clothes!

Painter's drop clothes are an extremely cost effective way to soften the space around a screened-in porch or deck while holding up to the elements outdoors - they are also extremely easy to find..just check your nearest hardware store!

Image via House Beautiful

Add a few large grommets with a tailored hem and you have yourself an elegant and custom look at a fraction of the cost of custom drapery panels.

Now, if painter's drop clothes just aren't for you, and you really want to go above and beyond, then you must incorporate a folly,  a whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a conversation piece, etc found especially in England in the 18th century, into your outdoor space.

Image via Dering Hall

This stunning folly, designed by renowned architect Bill Ingram, mimics a tartan tent & doubles as an outdoor pavilion.  I was so inspired by this design, I created my own vision of how I could recreate the look on a much smaller scale and of course within a budget.

Sketch via Cotton + Quill

Incorporating Cotton + Quill's textiles from the newest Terrace Collection, I used Shu Te's Chintz in Mint to create an awning with a pair of panels offering an inviting yet intimate seating area.  Pile bold pillows on a classic iron couch flanked with a pair of garden stools to create a lounge-worthy space.  

This would also by an opportune time to add that orange tree or topiary and create a garden right on your porch.  This look is ideal for a sunroom as well.

Side View of Seating Area via Cotton + Quill

Now, get in Spring Cleaning/Decorating mode and make it your weekend goal to create an outdoor space worthy of spending many of your days and night over upcoming months!

Happy Friday & Here's to the WEEKEND!