Classic Southern charm lovingly refreshed in both style and comfort. Traditional style stands the test of time. That is the mantra for James Farmer’s aesthetic. Classic tastes melded with fresh approaches for how we live and love in homes. In these homes high style and relaxed comfort are displayed hand in hand. Discover antiques mixed with new upholstery, collections and art displayed against pattern and textured wall coverings, and layers of jute, sisal, and wood grounding the floors while doses of intentional color keep the rooms personable. From a grand Connecticut country home to a stately St. Louis house or a columned antebellum Alabama home, Farmer’s style travels the country to set the tone for the lives of his clients. Homes in the city, the mountains, the country, and coastal locales are all reflected in this journey while being rooted in Southern design. “Southern hospitality is famous for a reason, and these charming homes exemplify that welcoming vibe with big porches, comfy furniture and lovingly displayed heirlooms. Arriving Home: A Gracious Southern Welcome includes 10 projects by Georgia designer and author James T. Farmer III, which illustrate how this decor style plays out not just in a columned Alabama mansion, but a farmhouse or mountain retreat, among other projects.” -- Wendy Jacob ― House & Home “Through his previous eight books, the young Southern designer, Farmer (A Place To Call Home), has become a lifestyle expert joining the ranks of P. Allen Smith and Martha Stewart. This book showcases several of the homes he’s decorated in the eastern half of the U.S., each in its own lavishly illustrated chapter. There are introductory remarks for each chapter and photo captions throughout, but this is not a step-by-step tutorial on decorating. Rather, readers gather inspiration from the photos that marvelously capture the welcoming, comforting feeling of home Farmer’s style evokes. With a healthy respect for tradition and an understanding of modern lifestyles, he confidently mixes vintage family pieces with new items. He unapologetically layers patterns and textures in rooms while throwing in generous kicks of color, too. The look is simultaneously vaguely familiar and fresh. Though reminiscent of English country style and rooted in his Southern upbringing, Farmer’s ideas can be used anywhere (though his reliance on layering and patterns may not appeal to minimalists). VERDICT As the economy tightens, readers will be looking for ideas to blend old and new items into a cohesive look for their homes. This book demonstrates it is both possible and stylish. Recommended.” -- Bonnie ― Library Journal “… I’m still currently working through this book – and will do so over and over again and have already come up with ideas on how I want to prune my front landscape!” ― Diana Elizabeth “The glossy images are imbued with a comfortable sensibility and rich mahogany tones, balancing traditional design elements with fresh colors and updated moldings.” -- Marina Felix ― Business of Home “James T. Farmer III proves that what seems contradictory in interior design becomes complementary. He reveals interiors that position antiques against new upholstery, artworks that are displayed against vigorous patterns and textures, and the muted tones of sisal, jute, and wood flooring set against bold wall colors. His Southern welcome is a welcome to all. Or, I guess we should say, y'all.” ― Milieu Magazine “James Farmer's newest book is filled with his relaxed yet well-curated and stylish projects from across the country.” ― Southern Home Magazine “Southern style gets a refresh through the eyes of James T. Farmer III, a Georgia-based landscape and interior design guru who advocates ‘garden living’—incorporating the bounties of the garden into everyday life.” -- Kelli Bozeman ― inRegister “ Arriving Home: A Gracious Southern Welcome , is a must for fans of [Farmer’s] signature style and flawless blend of old and new.” ― Flower Magazine “ Arriving Home: A Gracious Southern Welcome , offers us another opportunity to fawn over [Farmer’s] timeless Southern aesthetic — a mixture of antiques, art, pops of color, and oodles of rich pattern and texture.” -- Jenna Bratcher ― StyleBlueprint “James Farmer's newest book has a decidedly Southern flair, treating the home not just as a place to eat, sleep and live but as a place to turn when it's time to restore the soul. If you know Farmer as an expert in gardening, landscaping and entertaining, you'll enjoy his stroll through a series of Southern homes. They're filled with inviting color, lively patterns and a hearty mix of materials, from Persian rugs to antique tables, chinoiserie wallcoverings and natural materials. You'll meet Farmer's family in the last chapter, as he hosts his sister's outdoor wedding with a few Southern idiosyncracies. (Remember the armadillo-shaped groom's cake in "Steel Magnolias?" It makes an appearance here.)” -- Diane Co