square pond. Softness abounds in the textures and silhouettes of weeping yaupon, spanish moss and ferns, contrasting well with slate sidewalks and a brick gazebo. The back porch, nearly as wide as the one flanking the front side of the home, seems perfect for lounging and listening to the dramatic summer orchestra of frogs and cicadas. Back inside, the decor reflects the Banks’ classic style. The tall doorways of the home could seem imposing, but the floral, wood and patterned elements of the space afford an opposite effect. Dotting the interior landscape are beautiful pieces picked up from trips to distant lands–handmade rugs, oriental tables, figurines; all sharing stories of the home’s current occupants and their travels. From room to room, the story unfolds. The memories made under its roof are plentiful and span centuries, and the home whispers its stories gently. With each step, the experiences had over 130 years are more easily envisioned; children playing, brides preparing, holidays and birthdays and independence day parties. Flowers left on the doorstep and family dinners, firefly catching and hide-andseek and red rover. Mothers teaching daughters and fathers teaching sons, report cards and engagement rings. The Banks inhabit a space that is far-flung from the traditional definitions of a house. It is, simply and elegantly, a home. On this day and those to come, the home remains a true southern lady and an effortless storyteller. AM
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AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012