Invitation Magazine - May 2025

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HOME & GARDEN ISSUE TUPELO HOUSE CUSTOM-FIT FOR OWNERS

A B A C K YA R D L ANDSC APE OA SIS IN NEW ALBANY

OXFORD DESIGNER PERSONALIZES CL ASSIC SOUTHERN

K ALE , COLL ARDS AND MORE GREEN GOODNESS

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MARK CLEARY

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ON THE COVER

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O X F O R D : Interior

designer Emily Ryan is at home in Oxford. See inside her space on page 28.

N O R T H E A S T: This New Albany backyard is a labor of love. See page 36.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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THIS MONTH'S

DEPA RTMENT S 12

Letter From the Publisher

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Calendar

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Shoutouts

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What’s In

Hidden Gem 22

In Season: Greens from Native Son Farm

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Events

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Out & About

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Hidden Gem

FE ATURES 28 Southern Chic

An interior decorator leaves her stylish mark on her Oxford home.

36 Bountiful Backyard

There is plenty of work to be done and much to be admired in gardens and yards, especially in the spring.

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42 Custom-Built

A Tupelo couple builds a new house with special touches that fit their lifestyle and showcase their art collection.

Turn to the last page in this magazine to learn more about exactly what’s pictured in the eye-catching image by our talented senior editorial photographer Joe Worthem.

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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R They say April showers bring May flowers, and we are certainly looking forward to that here! This month, we’ll be celebrating the last day of school, graduations, Mother’s Day. Soon, pools will be opening and gardens will be flourishing.

In this, our annual Home & Garden magazine, we are appreciating some welcoming outdoor spaces and peeking inside some lovely local homes.

FOLLOW US

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Warner and Sam Creekmore’s New Albany yard, which they expertly landscaped themselves, seems to hold little surprises around every corner. See it on page 36.

If you love classic Southern interior design, look no further than Emily Ryan’s home, featured in the story beginning on page 28. She incorporates personality and hospitality in nearly every room.

Or turn to page 42 to see Debra and Rud

Robison’s comfortable and contemporary Tupelo home. It’s a perfect fit for their family.

We hope you are inspired by these stories and that you enjoy reading this magazine as much as we enjoy putting it together for you!

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss EVENTS EDITOR Jiwon Lee FOOD EDITOR Sarah Godwin COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor SENIOR EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rebekah Clayton Jiwon Lee Olivia Moore Lisa Roberts Jacqueline Savoy

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Jennie Lee CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eugene Stockstill

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Allen Baker Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Whitney Maxwell Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Markka Prichard ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email invitationmag.events@gmail.com.

Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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C O M M U N I T Y M AY 2025

OXFORD

“Tartuffe” M AY 1 -3

Oxford High School Theatre performs Moliere’s “Tartuffe.” 7:30 p.m., Ava H. Bonds Auditorium.

H O L I D AY S

oxfordsd.org

C I N CO D E M AYO

May 5 M OT H E R ' S DAY

May 11 M E M O R I A L DAY

May 26

Ole Miss Graduation M AY 7-1 0

Ceremonies start May 7 across the Oxford campus with convocation taking place on May 10 at 9 a.m. in the Grove. olemiss.edu/commencement

Old-Time Piano Playing Contest M AY 2 3-2 5

Accomplished piano players meet in Oxford to play, compete and learn during this annual event featuring ragtime, Tin Pan Alley and standard turns from before 1940.

Tickets available online. oldtimepianocontest.com

Paddles in the Park M AY 3- 4

OPC hosts a weekend-long outdoor pickleball tournament at Avent Park.

Doubles for men and women take place Saturday starting at 9 a.m.; mixed doubles Sunday at 1 p.m. $10 per person, per division. Sign up online.

May Fest

oxfordparkcommission.com

M AY 4

Oxford Civic Chorus presents "The Great American Songbook.” Free and open to the public. 3 p.m., David H. Nutt Auditorium.

Cedar Oaks Guild hosts its annual May Day celebration. Wind the Maypole to live music by Greg Johnson and Shaundi Wall, plus crafts, games, cookies and a Fair Store.

Free admission. 2-4 p.m., Cedar Oaks Historic Home, 601 Murray St.

oxfordcivicchorus.org

cedaroaks.org

Civic Chorus Concert M AY 3

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Summer Showcase M AY 3 1

Women of Worth and Excellence hosts a festival for businesses, artists and vendors to promote networking and entrepreneurs.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion. oxfordarts.com

Blue Suede Cruise

Mississippi. Mississippi Market will be set up after the race in Fairpark with regional arts and crafts vendors and food trucks.

Registration $40. 7:30 a.m., Fairpark.

M AY 2- 4

facebook.com/GumTree10k

NORTHEAST

Antique and classic cars gather in Tupelo for an event that includes a car show at Cadence Bank Arena, a parade through Tupelo, a poker walk, 50/50 raffles, live music and more. Complete schedule available online. bluesc.com

Damn Country Music Tour M AY 1 0

Coca-Cola Classic 10K M AY 3

Corinth has hosted this popular race since 1982. Register in advance online. The 10K race starts at 8 a.m., and awards are distributed at the end of the event. Start and finish lines are located near the corner of Polk and Foote streets in Corinth.

Riley Green performs with special guests Ella Langley, Drake White and Channing Wilson. Tickets from $93. 7 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena. cb-arena.com

corinthcoke.com

Rose Society Show M AY 8

Civic Chorus Concert M AY 4

Oxford Civic Chorus goes on the road to present “The Great American Songbook.”

Free and open to the public. 3 p.m., All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Tupelo. oxfordcivicchorus.org

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Stop by to admire the Northeast Mississippi Rose Society’s annual juried rose show. Free admission. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Renasant Bank Atrium Lobby, 209 Troy Street, Tupelo. Deliver entries by 8 a.m. For more information, call 662-419-9737.

Gumtree 10K M AY 1 0

A 10K run plus and 2K “Strut Your Mutt” fun run benefit Tupelo-Lee Humane Society and the Hunger Coalition of Northeast

Mother’s Day Brunch M AY 1 1

Treat Mom to a morning of art, culture, and a delicious brunch at Gumtree Museum of Art while supporting the museum. Purchase tickets online. Adults $45; children $20. Two seatings available, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. gumtreemuseum.com

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LINDSAY GODIN

O x fo rd A r t i s t S e le c t e d fo r M M A’s 2025 I nv it at io n a l

Kaleena Stasiak of Oxford is one of a dozen artists who has been selected to participate in the 2025 Mississippi Invitational exhibition at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. This will be the 14th biennial survey featuring recent works by contemporary visual artists living and working in Mississippi.

The organizer of the invitational is guest curator and award-winning writer and historian, T.K. Smith. The 2025 theme

is “Call Home,” and reflects on the complex feelings conjured by home, from nostalgia to dread. The 12 artists were chosen from more than 100 applications.

Stasiak currently is assistant professor of printmaking in the Department of Art & History at the University of Mississippi.

Originally from Ontario, Canada, she received a degree in printmaking from the Ontario College of Art & Design and a master’s degree in printmaking and book

arts from the University of Georgia.

She is an interdisciplinary artist who has explored collective myth-making through the use of technology to engage the sense of vibration, force and motion to provide tactile feedback. Drawing from American colonial imagery, folk art and quilting, Stasiak reframes dominant ideologies surrounding early history and domestic labor.

The exhibition will be on display from June 28 through Sept. 7.

Tup e lo Nat ive W i n s Bi g o n ‘Je o pa rdy ’ Tupelo native Andrew Hayes can now add to his resume a 6-day winning streak on “Jeopardy.” His total winnings amount to $137,804 and he qualified to compete in the show’s “Tournament of Champions.”

Homeschooled in Tupelo, Hayes, who now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, started at the University of Mississippi when he was 15. While there, he studied economics and international studies and managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. A commuter, Hayes was driven to and from Ole Miss for his

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classes by his mother, since he was not yet old enough for a driver’s license.

At London School of Economics, Hayes received a master's degree in Political Economy of Europe. These days, he is in law school at Harvard University. It should come as no surprise he’s done well at the long-running game show where the answers are given and the contestants respond with the proper question.

Hayes’ parents are Rebecca and James Hayes, also Ole Miss graduates.

SHOUTOUTS

continued

Tup e lo’s Ne w D ow ntow n Ve nue O p e n s T h i s Mo nt h

Those who’ve watched the progress at 208 North Front Street in Tupelo will get to celebrate the finished product at The Depot’s grand opening May 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Live music will follow from 6 until 8 p.m.

The Depot, a $2.1 million project funded by the City of Tupelo and Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau, was named to reflect Tupelo’s railroad history and location by the railroad tracks. The structure’s design includes a center cupola, replicating the top of the city’s original depot.

“Our vision to provide a state-of-the-art multipurpose outdoor facility for downtown Tupelo has come to fruition,” said Mayor Todd Jordan. “I am pleased with the result and look forward to sharing this beautiful venue with our citizens and visitors.”

Designed by architect Chris Root of Tek 1 Studio and built by Master Craft Builders, the facility has space for Tupelo’s farmers market (including permanent stalls for regular vendors), a stage for live music and parking for food trucks, along with restrooms, tables and chairs.

The farmers market will be held Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon starting May 17.

“The facilities can be used by food truck customers and the general public between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless it is being rented for a private event,” said Lucia Randle, executive director of Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association.

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WHAT ' S

E T TA B P OT TERY FLUTED BLOOM BOWL $118 O L I V E J U I C E G I F T S | OXFORD

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D O R M P I L LOW S $ 8 5-1 2 5 P R E M I E R FA B R I C S | RIDGEL AND & GERMANTOWN

GR ACE ANN BRYD PAINTING $65 OX F O R D R X | OXFORD

FOLLOW US

RECYCLED TOTE BAG $138 H O M E B O DY | OXFORD

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SUPER MOSS BIRDHOUSE $40 MY E R S A P O T H O C A R Y | OXFORD

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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N AT I V E S O N FA R M’ S M A N Y VA R I E T I E S O F O R G A N I C G R E E N S PACK A PUNCH IN RECIPES FROM SMOOTHIES TO STIR-FRIES TO SOUPS. RECIPES BY SARAH GODWIN & ANTONIA HANKINS

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ill and Amanda Reed founded Native Son Farm in 2009 in a small greenhouse on their property with hopes of sharing organic farming with the community. Today, the Tupelo farm is spread across 20 acres. Their farmstand on Mount Vernon Road in Tupelo is open five days a week selling not only fresh produce but also homemade breads, baked goods, a variety of lunch items and more. Around 25 employees keep the farm going, and their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program now counts a few hundred members.

The Reeds grow many types of produce all year round, but lately their greens are the talk of the town. They grow more than 20 varieties, according to Antonia Hankins,

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

who has been working in the farmstand for about 8 years. She’s the friendly face most people encounter when they visit.

“Our most common request for greens by far would be kale and collards,” Hankins said, adding that the list of greens Native Son offers also includes mustards, turnips, bok choy, chard, spinach, arugula, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and more.

The growing season for nutrient-rich, high-fiber leafy greens starts in early fall and runs into late spring. Greens are packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and iron. One creative way to get the most out of greens: a refreshing smoothie (see our original recipe at right).

“There’s not an hour that passes by

EMERALD ELIXIR SMOOTHIE ½ cucumber 1 bunch dinosaur or curly kale 1 large lime 1 celery stalk 1-2 inch piece of ginger 1 Granny Smith apple 1 cup diced pineapple (optional) ½ cup coconut water Wash all ingredients, and chop into large chunks.

Add cucumber, kale, lime, celery, ginger and apple to the well of a juicer. For a sweeter juice, also add pineapple. Juice. Stir in coconut water.

Serve.

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without the common question, ‘How do you cook that?’” she said. “In my opinion, kale goes with everything.”

Hankins shared a simple recipe for sauteed kale (at right). It’s easy to get creative with other greens, too. Hankins suggests these interesting ways to use collards, for example: use in place of a tortilla or taco shell; mix into a soup, stir-fry or casserole; make a pesto; or saute with eggs.

FROM THE FARMER: NATIVE SON FARMS

EASY SAUTEED KALE 2 bunches kale, any variety 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced Pinch crushed red pepper (optional)

Native Son Farms grows 20 varieties of greens.

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Coarsely chop kale leaves. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic and, if desired, a pinch of red pepper; stir until fragrant. Add kale, a few handfuls at a time. Stir in salt and pepper, and cover and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, and serve.

¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Juice of 1 small lemon

FIND THE FARMER:

3811 Mount Vernon Rd., Tupelo 662-205-4526 nativesonproduce@gmail.com facebook.com/nativeson.farm

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Southern Chic

A N I N T E R I O R D E C O R ATO R L E AV E S H E R S T Y L I S H M A R K O N H E R OX F O R D H O M E .

WRIT TEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL

Sure, you could go to Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook to study interior decorator Emily Ryan’s style. But wouldn’t you prefer to see the home she and her husband designed? Actually, she designed it, and he added the 80-inch TV. “You have to make compromises,” she said, and she laughed because the gigantic television doesn’t exactly fit the living room’s decor.

Well, who cares if it’s not the perfect match? Ryan sure doesn’t. The 30-something Ole Miss graduate, who has two businesses (Legacie Marketing and Emily Ryan Interiors), a blog (Little House of Chic) and Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook sites (search “Little House of Chic” to find her), is all about outside-the-box thinking.

“I love mixing the traditional with the fresh, like pairing an antique mirror with crisp white linens or a classic floral fabric

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

with a clean-lined chair,” she said. “It’s that blend of old and new that creates warmth and character.”

Born in Louisiana, raised in Florida, Ryan moved to Atlanta after graduation with her husband, a former Ole Miss football player who owns Elite Carpet & Mats, an athletic flooring business. They returned to Oxford for what they thought would be a short-term stay, got pleasantly stuck in “the velvet ditch” and now have zero plans to move. They still own a house in Florida, but the house she designed in Oxford seems like her pride and joy.

“Many of the pieces have a story to tell,” she said. “I always pop into antique stores or local home shops when I travel and try to find a treasure to bring back. That sense of history and storytelling gives each room and every object its own personality.”

Built in 2006, the painted brick residence

is two stories and around 2,500 square feet, has 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms.

Boxwoods and hydrangeas populate the yard in abundance.

One of the first surprises when you step inside is a mahjong setup in the dining room, which is not just there for show. Ryan and some friends are currently learning the game from a nationally registered instructor.

Ryan also had spritzes poured in fine glasses with mint and lime garnish (see recipe on page 30), much in the same way old-South hostesses would offer mint juleps to guests.

Classic Southern is Ryan’s go-to style.

There’s a wide-open feel to her space, with light, vibrant colors and natural hues throughout. Ornate touches harken to Southern roots.

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Cheers!

Emily Ryan’s southern-inspired interior design spills over into her hospitality. Here’s a recipe for a cocktail she likes to have ready to welcome guests to her oxford home.

Hugo Spritz

6 fresh mint leaves ½ a lime, sliced Ice cubes 1 ounce elderflower syrup or elderflower liqueur (such as St-Germain) 4 ounces prosecco, chilled 2 ounces club soda, chilled Add mint leaves and lime slices to a wine glass.

Gently muddle mint with lime, if desired. Fill glass with ice. Pour in 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, 4 ounces chilled prosecco and 2 ounces chilled club soda. Stir gently to combine, and garnish with mint sprigs and a slice of lime.

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and something cold to sip on,” she said.

“These are some of the timeless elements that make Southern design feel so special.

There’s a soul to it, a sense of hospitality and heritage, and I feel passionate about keeping that spirit alive.

“I gravitate toward light, bright spaces because they feel fresh, happy and inviting, but I also love to layer in texture, pattern and meaningful details. I’m definitely not a minimalist.”

And if the house reminds you in a way of a Nancy Meyers’ film like “Something’s Gotta Give” (partly set in the Hamptons in New York), that’s not by accident, either.

“I loved the interiors in there,” Ryan said.

The living room (that’s the room with the huge TV) has a blend of some old things and some new things. “(The wicker stools) are from the Varnish Collection,” Ryan said. “And I had the cushions redone in a bold Brunschwig & Fils fabric called Riviere. I was inspired after seeing a Nick Mele collaboration where they covered a room head to toe in it.

I loved using just a pop of it. It really pulls everything together.”

The side chairs are secondhand pieces recovered in soft chenille and finished with Schumacher tape trim.

Elsewhere, you’ll find an authentic Brownie camera, one of several vintage cameras owned by Ryan, who studied photography when she started her blog.

Her grandfather collected cameras, too. A chest in the room is one of several antiques Ryan owns.

One of the neatest pieces in the living room is a bust wearing a Panama hat.

“I found him at an estate sale at a beautiful home in Atlanta. I went a little crazy that day. There were so many treasures,” she said. “He’s one of my favorite pieces in the house. I dress him up for the holidays. He has a little something for every season. Right now, he’s wearing a Panama hat for summer.

He’s fun and unexpected and a reminder that your home should make you smile.”

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out onto a treescape. The trimmed-out latticework gives the room a modern edge.

The chandelier is from New Orleans.

The dining room also mixes styles.

“I paired a 1950s tulip table with Chippendale bamboo chairs, a grand Italian commode, a Gustavian buffet and a French demilune,” she explained.

Ryans’ favorite room is the blue guest bedroom.

“It’s gorgeous during the day with all the light, and at night the color shifts into this rich, warm hue. It just feels relaxing and welcoming. The color is actually called respite, and that’s exactly what it is.”

Ryan referred to “Southern Living” as her textbook, and designers like James Farmer and Bunny Williams have particularly inspired her. She said she uses performance fabrics, “so nothing is too precious, except maybe my Les Touches sofa.”

What makes her proudest of the house she designed?

“Our home in Oxford has truly been a labor of love,” Ryan said. “It’s the first house we’ve designed from a place of really knowing who we are and how we want to live. I wanted it to feel timeless. Elegant but relaxed, with layers of texture, soft colors, and personal touches that tell our story. At the end of the day, my goal was to create a space that’s not just beautiful, but thoughtful, collected, comfortable and full of heart.”

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THERE IS PLENTY OF WORK TO BE DONE AND MUCH TO BE ADMIRED I N G A R D E N S A N D YA R D S , E S P E C I A L LY I N T H E S P R I N G .

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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Warner and Sam Creekmore

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arner Creekmore grew up in a small Mississippi Delta town called Inverness, the baby of five children.

Her father farmed and, of course, there was a family garden every season of the year.

That meant there was work aplenty for all five kids.

“We were expected to help,” Creekmore said. “But I enjoyed it. And I certainly enjoyed eating out of our garden. Now, I didn’t enjoy the occasional snake I might run across — they terrified me.”

While snakes were certainly her least favorite part of gardening, a fun farm task was spot spraying.

“I got to ride on the front of the tractor and spray certain things,” she said. “Later, we advanced to a four-wheeler.”

Today, Creekmore spends much of her free time tending and maintaining her own yard and garden. There is an abundance of planning each season for planting a garden and landscaping.

Creekmore’s expertise in the field of gardening began in college. Thoughts of studying psychology vanished when Creekmore visited older siblings at Mississippi State University and became aware of landscape architecture. It changed the trajectory of her life.

One summer in a plant materials class at MSU she met Sam Creekmore, another landscape architecture student. The two have been married now for 35 years and are the parents of three.

For the past four years, Creekmore has been an ag extension agent with MSU Extension-Lee County. It’s a job she loves.

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able to help people, to serve people,” she said. “And it’s different every day. I could be dealing with ponds, lace bugs — I’m always learning something new.”

In addition, the Creekmores founded Creekmore Landscape Ltd. in 1992 in husband Sam’s hometown of New Albany.

In 1998, the couple spent lots of time building their house in New Albany.

“We worked long and hard on the land before we moved out there,” she said. “There were huge existing cedars and natural pastureland — it was a cow pasture when we started. We nestled the house in, and it was a sun garden, but now, as the trees have grown, we have a lot of shade.”

While the Creekmore house project has been completed for some time, the surrounding land and gardens continue to be ongoing projects. There are perennials to be tended, annuals to be chosen and planted every year and plans for vegetable gardens for each season.

“The size of the garden dwindles when we have other things to do,” she said.

For those who think landscape architects deal only with making yards look nice, there’s much more to the profession.

They have the capacity to site homes, draw master landscaping plans for residential and commercial property, design parks, revise downtown areas, plan for street tree planting and, yes, they certainly can provide a management plan to help maintain a yard.

“There’s a wealth of things landscape architects can do,” she said. “And this time of year is the time to think of spring.

Spring and summer gardening are transition periods like every season. For spring, we

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plant herbs, a few tomatoes, and there is lots of designated area for bedding plants that we put in seasonally.

“When winter ends, we begin selecting shade-loving and sun-loving annual color.

We try to create unity — not blooming plants that are all white or all yellow, but visually stimulating as you walk through these spaces.”

While she appreciates spring, it’s not Creekmore’s favorite season. That would be the hot and humid Mississippi summer.

“I love the heat,” she said. “I enjoy watering.”

She’s also thankful to once again bring out her 7-year-old macho ferns that have been wintering in the green house.

In addition to the plant life, if you visit the Creekmore’s yard and garden — no matter the season — you’ll likely be introduced to a trio of large horses. They’re inanimate, yes, but they provide even more creative flair in the garden. The horses were once mounted in front of Sam Creekmore’s aunt’s home in the Memphis area.

Horse Center is made of pennies, Healing Hearts is a mosaic and Patches is made of metal with patches in multiple spots.

“When Sam’s aunt died, we wanted the horses,” Warner Creekmore said. “They are a conversation piece and beautiful. And they are very low maintenance — no brushing, no feeding. We love them.”

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A TUPELO COUPLE BUILDS A NEW HOUSE WITH SPECIAL TOUCHES THAT FIT THEIR LIFESTYLE AND SHOWCASE THEIR ART COLLECTION. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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or 13 years, Debra and Rud Robison enjoyed their home situated high on a hill in Tupelo’s Belledeer neighborhood before they decided to move. Perhaps the couple felt a bite from the building bug: After all, Rud is an architect. But there were a few practical reasons the two wanted to build a new house.

“We wanted to downsize,” Debra said.

Her husband agreed but also offered another reason.

“I wanted a place where I did not have as much yard to tend,” he said.

Tupelo developer Blake Trehern was working on a new development on North Madison Street near the heart of Highland Circle. The homes now complete in the culde-sac (when all are built, there will be six) were designed by Scott Emison, but Rud did a bit of tweaking to their house plans.

“I looked at the drawings,” he said.

“The design was great. There was no need to reinvent the wheel, but I did make some adjustments.”

Debra, who is a musician, hoped for a special place for her grand piano, and her

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husband made it happen.

The house plan called for a screened porch to the right of the home’s entrance.

Rud replaced the porch with a stylized stage area with a proscenium opening. Even with the house’s open plan, the Robison-designed front porch replacement provides a cozy music space for Debra. Besides, there’s a screened porch off the dining area in the back of the house.

The Robisons have lived in and appreciate old houses, and there are nods to that in their new home which has the scale of an older home along with gable shapes and high ceilings.

“They are nice features even though it’s a new house,” Rud said.

The 3,000-square-foot house has four bedrooms, which can be helpful when family visits Tupelo, especially any or all of the Robisons’ 11 grandchildren.

“The house is very conducive to our

"THE MARBLE MANTEL IS ART DECO, AND THE LARGE CROWN MOLDING AS WELL. I W A S I N S P I R E D A T A V E R Y Y O U N G A G E B Y A H O U S E I N T U P E L O T H A T W A S A R T D E C O D E S I G N ."

RUD ROBISON

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lifestyle,” Debra said. “Including the master bedroom being located downstairs along with a guest bedroom.”

Outside, the house’s curved sloping roof offers a nod to the Tudor style. But Rud, a big fan of art deco architecture, has paid homage to the style in certain details inside.

“The marble mantel is art deco,” he said. “And the large crown molding, as well.

I was inspired at a very young age by a house in Tupelo that was art deco design. Sadly, the house was torn down years ago.”

The house he referred to was built in the late 1930s by R.F. “Rex” Reed for his wife, who’d seen an art deco house in Chicago during the 1933 World’s Fair. The house, painted Nelle Reed’s favorite color — pink — was built near where the Oren Dunn Museum sits today.

Art lovers and collectors, the Robisons planned well ahead where most of their art pieces would go. Their eclectic collection is as much a part of their home as the furniture. The clean, white walls throughout the house provide a perfect place to display many colorful paintings by favorite artists.

In addition to the master and one guest bedroom downstairs, the living area, kitchen and dining area are an excellent example of the house’s open floor plan.

“The thing I think we love the most is the open plan,” Rud said, as his wife nodded

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in agreement.

Also downstairs is a half bath or powder room wallpapered with a design Debra found and said she had to have.

The Shaw floors the Robisons chose are real hardwood in every room except the bathrooms, great for high traffic areas.

The Robisons describe the overall interior of the home as traditional with a little contemporary and modern in the mix.

Rud and Debra complement each other, which was a plus while building a house.

“She is an analytical thinker,” he said.

“She needs to see it.”

“Rud is the aesthetic thinker,” Debra said. “He can just know what something will look like. I do have to see it.”

As an architect, her husband has the unique ability to help her see his vision.

“When I was trying to describe my idea for the music area, I finally went over to a corner, drew it and was able to show Debra exactly what I had in mind,” he said.

One of Rud’s favorite things at their home is outside, and it isn’t an expensive upgrade. “Exterior lighting is important,” he said. “And it doesn’t have to cost a lot.”

He’s especially proud of three exterior lights he purchased for $20.

“And I can change the color for the holidays,” he said.

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BUD & BURGERS

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owntown Tupelo Main Street Association in partnership with Mitchell Distributing hosted the ninth annual Bud & Burgers competition April 5 in downtown Tupelo.

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PH OTO S BY J ACQ U EL I N E SAVOY

1. Angela Brooks and Kim Bowling 2. Casey Shackelford 3. Annabelle Baldwin and Meadow Cox 4. Corey Woods, Mitchell Jenkins, Ezell Miller and Steven Sherrod 5. Connie’s Chicken tent 6. Glenn Nabors and Frank Anger

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“THE WIZARD OF OZ”

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he Civic Ballet hosted the performances of “The Wizard of Oz” on March 28 and 29 at the Tupelo Performing Arts Center.

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PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

1. Cori Smith and Arie Hall 2. Ella Grace Ramels, Ivey Kate Brand and Maynor Malone 3. Emma Dendy, Francis Kate Foote, Patty Arnold, Evie Lemons, Madison Reinert, Brandy Gray Burgess and Sophie Nail 4. Maeda Arnold, Sam Thompson, Sarah Evelyn McCord, Harper Reese Young, Lily Miller, Emma Riley, Draya Jones, Avery Some, Maggie Yeilding, Chloe Foxworthy, Sarah Beth Bryant and Addyson Tackett 5. Ruthie McCord, Stevie Harsin, Emily Grisham, Lily Foxworthy, Anna Claire Wells, Molly Stewart, Harper Garrison, Kenzie Nichols,

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Nora Averett, Anna Wesley Shrickel, Lucy Foxworthy, Lucy Jo Harsin, Emma Parham and Mercy Newsome 6. Hannah Christian and Caroline Buse 7. Lyra Kate Lentz, Sarah Grisham and Maddox Harris 8. Lucy Lentz, Brooke Donaldson, Sally Foxworthy, Emma Claire Davis and Vivian Creel

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“THE WIZ ARD OF OZ”

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CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

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he annual Northeast Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese culture with events like martial arts demonstrations, mochi pounding and food sampling. This year it was held at the Cadence Bank Arena on March 29.

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1. Aubrey Jones 2. Tupelo Suzuki Association 3. Davis and Aaron Foster 4. Stephen McKee, David Walter, Aaron Dale and Dalton Paradise

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5. Shoko Matsuaka and David Rumberger 6. Rylie Kelllum and Uyen Pham

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YOU, MEAD & THE SYMPHONY

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orth Mississippi Symphony Orchestra hosted a cocktail with the conductor event for patrons to connect with other patrons and the conductor of the symphony, Steven Byess, on March 30 at Queen’s Reward.

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1. Heather Short 2. Steven Byess, Leslie Geoghegan, Brooke Burleson 3. Rud and Debra Robison 4. Jack and Audrey Neill 5. Albert and Betsey White and Leslie Geoghegan 6. Jeremy and Annette Findley 7. Lauren McElwain 8. Steven Byess 9. Hannah Grimes and Megan Carmack 10. Brandy and Patrick White

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S Y M P H O N Y continued

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TIME FOR TUPELO

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ime for Tupelo is a day that residents come together to beautify the community with litter cleanups and other beautification projects. It took place March 22 at Fairpark.

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PHOTOS BY LISA ROBERTS

1. Chase McPherson, Dennis Voge, John Curlee, Randy McCoy, Shelley Russell, Julianne Goodwin, Jenny Jones, Bill Dickerson and Tom Robinson 2. Jennifer Weatherford and Troy Peck 3. Teresa Roberts, Jennette and Valerie Fields 4. Travis Beard, Don Lewis, Scott Costello, Stephen Reed and Leland Chrisman 5. Jalen Cummings, Marilyn Armstrong, Kira Winn, Neely Armstrong, Addyalei Glass, Kara Marie Bell and Kiva Winn

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atchez Trace Golf Club hosted its annual wing and rib contest March 21-22 at the club. Shawn Palmer of Magnolia BBQ was named grand champion, placing first in both categories.

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1. Brooks Tutor, Heather Hastings, Timmy Tutor, Mark Chism, Skin Lucroy, J.D. Chism and Elizabeth Nichols 2. David Littrell with Katie and Jeff Reynolds 3. Erica White, Coco Garnett, Sydni Rinehart, Claire Garnett and Victoria McMasters 4. Jake Logan, Matt Belk, Lee and Clay Davis, Zach Hutcheson and Shane Petty 5. Greg May, Perry Wilburn, Kim and Robert McKissack and Brent Lindsey 6. Scott Wood and Alyssa McGee 7. Keith and Ashley Lindsey, Janie and Rick Anglin and Chris Kemp

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8. Jenn Hollander and Daisy 9. Scotty Harris, Jimmy Franks, Heather Franks, Jennifer and Bradford Ridgway

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OUT & ABOUT TC P S D i s t r ic t C h a m p s

No r t he a s t M i s s i s s i p p i H a b it at fo r Hu m a n it y Pa d d le Bat t le

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SUBMITTED PHOTOS

1. Tupelo Christian Preparatory School baseball team 2. Ashton Chinnambeti, Zak Harbin, Kyndal Longoria, Madison Gammoms and Albine Bennett 3. Jacob, Ana Claire and Vivian Reese 4. Luis Ruiz and Francisco Ruiz Zuniga 5. Kaitlyn Frazier and Krysta Cook with Danielle and Addi Brown 6. North Pontotoc Vikings 7. Saltillo Tigers 8. Pontotoc Ridge Career and Technology Center

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A TRAIN MODEL OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO TUPELO'S PAST. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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his miniature recreation of the City of Tupelo can be found inside the Oren Dunn City Museum, located at 689 Rutherford Road in Tupelo. The train model represents the city in the 1940s. The museum, which shares many stories of the city’s past, is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The museum itself is housed in a converted dairy barn. Learn more about all it offers at orendunncitymuseum.com.

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A P R I L' S H I D D E N G E M Named “Reflections,” this serene setting is found on the grounds of the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo. The quiet area includes a pond with fountain, a small waterfall, a bridge dubbed “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” a koi pond and walking trails.

While tickets are required for admission to the Birthplace house, museum and church, the grounds are open to the public 24 hours a day free of charge. Learn more at elvispresleybirthplace.com