One former magazine editor rethinks her definition of an inviting space.
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
The concept ofhospitality thrives in the South.
Its an inherent part of our identities.
Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
We fill our dining tables with heirlooms and place flowers around our houses to help everyone relax and enjoy.
For 20 years, I believed I had this notion well in hand.
What I didnt know then was that my education in gracious living hadnt really begun.
Frances MacDougall lives in Birmingham with her family and their miniature goldendoodle, Luna.Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
It was big, and my family used all three floors thoroughly.
I loved my largedining roomwhere we gathered for nightly meals and hosted lots of impromptu get-togethers.
During that time, I learned I had multiple sclerosis.
Estate sale pieces brighten the entry.Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
Those words were devastating, but the impact in the first few decades following my diagnosis was minor.
Forget grand staircases; I look for easy side entrances.
I plot out visits to botanical gardens and friends homes ahead of time.
Area artists Annie Kammerer Butrus and Patty B. Driscoll painted these canes, which are displayed in the dining room.Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
For as long as I could, I resisted altering our house to make it more accessible.
I refused to add plastic grab bars or industrial ramps to anticipate future needs.
I was unrelenting and would not take liberties with myhistoric house.
In the living room, natural light showcases MacDougall’s eclectic style.Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
We had to move.
At first, we thought about working with an architect certified in universal design to build a house.
The intent was to avoid the makeshift adaptations that are as depressing to me as they are unattractive.
The primary bedroom features a striking collection of portraits.Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
I didnt want to see grab bars.
(I thought, Maybe they could be towel bars or hidden from view?)
Then I became a little obsessed with decorating the elevator.
Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; Styling by Christina Wressell
In my planning, the construction of a new house became as much about aesthetics as accessibility.
It would reflect me and my familyfeaturing our tastes as well as practical necessities.
My brainstorming came to an end when we discovered aone-storymid-century modern house with walls of windows and flush thresholds.
There are no steps to the front entry.
But there are still challenges.
But my life has inspired a different perspective.
Homes are meant to be lived in, polished and bruised by the highs and lows of everyday life.
Thats what Ive learned about gracious hospitality.
