ELYSIAN Women Inspiring Women
DISPLAY UNTIL MAY 24, 2026
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VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 1 THE MIND, BODY & SPIRIT ISSUE / L’ÉDITION ESPRIT, CORPS ET ÂME PRINTEMPS 2026
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Solaris by Dana Harel draws inspiration from the tranquility of the Greek island of Hydra before sunrise presenting captivating evening and party dresses that will ensure you’re the star of the show as you celebrate your Summer holiday.
BY SAMANTHA PAIGE
Thea
A stunning halter neck dress with an open back, featuring a custom pattern of baguette crystals and a shimmering nude underlining. COURTESY DANAHARELDESIGN.COM
ELYSIAN Jane Fonda BY SUZANNE JOHNSON
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sei la mia anima gemella PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALY MONTANARI
114 Geography the
of Peace
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Terre di Nano and the Art of Recalibration in Tuscany
BY ASTRID WOLFE
InspiringWomen:
SHANI CAVINESS, PA-C - PAGE 150 DR. JAMIE RAMSEY- PAGE 160
16 architecture&interiors Private Realms of Restoration & Ritual - BY HALEY HUDSON
60 health&medicine
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The Silk Whisper of Wellness: An Eastern Journey - BY CAROLINE RYAN
essentials
Pampered Wellness - BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN
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travel&adventure
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Whispers in the Wild: Discovering Queensland’s Untamed Coast - BY IVY MAE
philanthropy
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A Legacy of Care, Curiosity, & Courage - BY MARCY DUBROFF
behind the scenes Behind the scenes with our cover model Dr. April Spencer.
back story
ELYSIAN’s Winter 2025/2026 “A Holiday Woven in Time” Issue launch & reveal in at Terre di Nano, Monticchiello SI, Italy.
on the cover
Dr. April Spencer board certified surgeon, Owner, Surgical Director Just Breast, LLC. PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL PANICCIA
PHOTOGRAPH BY DREW DIZZY GRAHAM / UNSPLASH.COM
38 travel&wellness The FourSeasons World of Renewal - BY SONIA HENRY
publisher
Karen Floyd o p e r at i o n
& production
Ryan Stalvey
digital marketing & newsletter
Nicola Doring d i g i ta l
c r e at o r - i n - c h i e f
hr
Amber Edwards
& a p p i n n o vat i o r
web design
Joey Iannetta
& comptroller
film
Anna Christian
& development
social media
Elliot Derhay
& video
Garrick Lane philanthropy
Sarah Hunt
& i m pa c t
Kimberli Scott Still
p u b l i c a f fa i r s
legal
d i g i ta l s t r at e g y
writer
e d i t o r i a l a s s i s ta n t
Boone Peeler
Eric Nodine
Christiana Purves
Jason Spencer
Marcy Dubroff
community liaison
c o m m u n i t y a f fa i r s
lead photographer
photographer
audio production
Rita Allison
Ann Bible
Michael Paniccia
Joy Smallwood
Ark Tofan
office manager
e x e c u t i v e a s s i s ta n t
property manager
Becky Kerr
Diane High
Aidan Stanton
inspiring women
aspiring women
Karen Floyd
Dr. Christina Rahm contributing writers
Marcy Dubroff, Sonia Henry, Haley Hudson, Suzanne Johnson, Ivy Mae, Sindie Fitzgerald-Rankin, Caroline Ryan, Samantha Paige, Astrid Wolfe copy editors
Monya Havekost, Diane High, Sarah Hunt p u b l i c r e l at i o n s
printer
c i r c u l at i o n s p e c i a l i s t
c o n s u lta n t
Norah Lawlor
Joe Giuffrida/Mega Mailers
Greg Wolfe
Carmel Fauci
w w w . r e a d e ly s i a n . c o m ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC., 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. For subscription information, call 864-342-6500. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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It
YOUR BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT HAVE ONE COMMONALITY - YOU” — KAREN FLOYD
was almost debilitating growing up with the family I so desperately loved engulfed by illness . . . My mother’s early fight and loss with her battle against breast cancer and my only sisters’ courageous efforts to defeat heart cancer. These Valkyrie warriors fought with bravery and passion, but to no avail. They both wanted to live. That was not their fate. Watching death at such a young age gave me a great respect for individual wellness, which I believe awaits us all. It is at the intersection of a healthy body, mind and spirit. My question then, as it is today, what preventative measures can we incorporate in our daily lives so that we might live well. BODY — Do more. My personal experience of watching loved ones’ struggle taught me the value of physical wellbeing. My mother was a recognized beauty queen, whose looks turned heads . . . until they faded with her desire to fight. The invaluable lessons I vicariously learned from her, about inner vs. outer beauty are unending. She also taught us that much of what transpires in life involves some element of choice. Simple things like a positive attitude, toxic relationships and poor food decisions . . . all have ramifications. Admittedly, things happen outside of our control that are not fair. But I have learned that the antidote to feeling despair and helplessness is to focus on what you are able to impact. I have lived by a simple rule that no matter what you face or what circumstances you are given, ALWAYS give one hundred percent and as the expression goes, “Leave everything on the field.” To that end, as an adolescent I started a rigorous routine of exercise, that I continue today. I learned to harness sadness and pain to propel myself forward. Physical activity was a tool and running suited me. It allowed me time to think and process. It gave me a peace that I was unable to secure elsewhere. It also gave me physical endurance that I continue to rely on in stressful times, even today.
SPIRIT — Be more. A healthy spirit/soul means different things to everyone and is as unique as your individual, secular, religious or spiritual belief. For me, the spiritual component of wellness offers the most opportunity for growth. I love the quote by Matshona Dhliwayo, “The mind is the key, the heart is the door, the soul is the corridor, the divine is the destination.” When I first read his quote, I wondered, while the divine is the destination that inspires us to move forward, if so, could the soul/spirit (corridor) be the path or journey to that destination or enlightenment? Much like walking down a corridor to reach a final destination, isn’t life about what you do . . . not what you take with you? Is the corridor the impact we make in our life journey? In the context of wellness, I suppose the spiritual component refers to whatever brings you the most peace . . . or what most connects with your higher purpose. In simple terms, “doing what you need to do . . . so you are good with God.” The intricacies of one’s personal beliefs makes the entire notion of finding a healthy spirit/soul connection a lifelong quest.
At
the intersection of “living your best life” are three pillars: body, mind and spirit. When each pillar is equally tasked, there is a balance. And when there is balance, we find harmony and peace. Integrative wellbeing requires lifelong intention, discipline, imagination, focus and most of all, an inner connectiveness that transcends all parts of self. Holistic wellness is the destination. Thank you for taking the journey with us. Much love,
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Karen Floyd Publisher
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PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL PANICCIA
MIND — Think more. I found that when your body is pure and clean, so too is your mind. The two are interwoven. I believe that your mind stores joy, gratitude, hope and love. However, if not properly tended to . . . hate, fear, anger and violence can reside there as well. It takes discipline to choose the former. Two of my greatest mental challenges are to quiet my mind and stay in the present. I have only mastered them by two very different approaches: exercise and prayer. As an introvert, I find little relief in discussing my woes. But exercise and prayer bring me peace. Because every human being is so different there is no one approach to creating a strong and healthy mind. My curiosity is unending . . . As a child my favorite word was, “Why.” I drove my family nuts because my desire to know “the answer” was insatiable. Over time, that characteristic has not changed. My interests have always been forward facing . . . in exploring the possibilities ahead . . . and not what has transpired. And I believe we should dream large. The human mind should have no boundaries. I have spent decades interviewing thousands of people. I have learned you, singularly, have control of your thoughts . . . which means that if you change your mindset, your entire world will also change. Therein lies the answer.
764 MIAMI CIRCLE, SUITE 132 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30324 (404) 352-8775
www.pryorfineart.com
Detail of NEW ROME 05 Oil on Canvas 47.2h x 47.2w in By ISABELLE MENIN
architecture&interiors The Etherea | Celestial Sensations Collection from Covet House combines the excellence of different stone materials, bringing together their most distinctive qualities to obtain a light and uniform graphic design, which lends the surfaces a delicate aesthetic and creates an effect of timelessness. The collection is ideal for both walls and floors, offering the possibility to design continuous surfaces which fit perfectly into luxury hospitality and accommodation contexts (including spas and wellness areas), high-end retail, and prestigious residential environments. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY COVET HOUSE / COVETHOUSE.EU
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Private Realms of Restoration & Ritual
BY HALEY HUDSON
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The Maison Valentina Sinuous Dressing Table is a luxurious, curved vanity made of black high-gloss wood & brass, offering ample storage with drawers, topped by a mirror with a gold rim, designed to be a glamorous centerpiece in bedrooms or bathrooms, often paired with the Cristal Larzac Surface, a statement wall art panel inspired by the French Larzac Desert, mimicking marble with beige, caramel, and gold glitter details, adding warmth and texture as a decorative wall feature. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISON VALENTINA.NET
a culture defined by constant interaction, accelerated pace, and ongoing demands, the bathroom has become one of the rare spaces where a woman may be entirely and unquestionably herself. Once viewed as purely utilitarian, it is now recognized as a chamber of composure, reflection, and restoration. It offers a meaningful pause within the cadence of a fully lived life. In a considered home, this environment is no longer secondary. It is a thoughtfully constructed setting for retreat, clarity, and inward presence. This evolution mirrors the shift in how women of refinement choose to live. After decades of professional navigation, family life, and travel, there is deep appreciation for spaces that do not ask anything of them, spaces that give back to the mind, body, and spirit. As a woman becomes more aligned with her own inner rhythm, she seeks out environments that honor her internal quiet as intentionally as they protect her energy and time.
THE THRESHOLD: ENTERING THE INNER WORLD
Stepping into this interior carries a quiet psychological significance. The threshold marks a palpable shift from outer expectation into personal territory. Designers often articulate this transition subtly, through proportion, tonal change, or architectural framing, so that the crossing is sensed rather than dramatized. This may be expressed through a slight constriction of the doorway, a lower arch or curved passage, or a material shift such as wood to stone that
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20 This Luxury Suite in Dubai from Maison Valentina epitomizes luxury and contemporary design. The Diamond Faux Marble Bathtub, commands attention with its striking geometric form and rich, dark tones, perfectly complemented by the glistening Mecca Vanity Cabinet with its intricate golden latticework. The duo of Sapphire Mirrors enhances the space, adding a touch of elegance and reflecting the lush greenery visible through the expansive glass walls. The Petra Towel Rack offers a practical yet stylish storage solution, while the Colosseum Floor Mirror and Display Case provide sophisticated focal points with their sleek, towering structures. Completing the suite closet is the Ella Puff, a plush seating option that blends comfort and style, inviting relaxation in this lavish environment. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISON VALENTINA.NET
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY COVET HOUSE / COVETHOUSE.EU
The “Prestigio” marble-effect porcelain stoneware faithfully reproduces precious marbles such as Calacatta, combining the luxurious aesthetics of natural marble with the high technical performance of porcelain stoneware, offering resistance, durability, and ease of cleaning. It is suitable for floors and walls in residential and commercial environments. Opposite page: Vinci Terrazzo - Castello luxury bath from Covet House
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. . . a bathroom should be more than functional—it should be your private retreat.”
signals a move from communal to personal space. Even the handle of a heavy solid core door, the thickness of its swing, and the discreet softness of its latch contribute to the experience. In many of the finest residences, this foundational sense of entry is further supported by thoughtful spatial planning. A generous floor plan, intentional sightlines from entry to vanity, and strategic choices such as heated stone flooring, integrated storage, and architectural symmetry allow the room to feel composed rather than crowded. Light delivers the first emotional adjustment. As one moves from the brighter hallway into the inner space, the architecture of the windows guides daylight inward, softening its intensity and shaping it into a warm, measured light that supports a serene and unhurried environment. Materials reinforce this sense of grounding. Stone, wood, linen, and natural fibers create continuity with the earth. They provide texture that is reassuring rather than stimulating. These are not impulsive design choices, but enduring ones. Sound gently tapers off. A closed door brings acoustic quiet. A subtle, familiar fragrance completes the transition. It creates olfactory recognition, a cue that one has entered a personal zone of calm and control. Before any self-care or preparation begins, the environment has already begun its quiet work.
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This great bathroom ambiance features some designs of the KOI collection, like the KOI Washbasin, the KOI Tower Rings, and the marvelous KOI Mirrors. An exquisite double sink vanity by Maison Valentina. This KOI Washbasin will definitely give your bathroom a unique look, coveted by everyone who goes there. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISON VALENTINA.NET
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LIGHTING AS EMOTIONAL ARCHITECTURE
Light directs the body’s internal rhythms and psychological state. It supports clarity when desired and serenity when appropriate. Layered lighting allows the space to respond to different modes of being. At dawn, brightness supports precision. In the evening, gentle warmth supports repose. Light becomes a tool of daily calibration. Indirect lighting prevents visual stress. Concealed sources create diffusion rather than glare. Visual gentleness translates to neurological gentleness. The most refined illumination does not aggressively flatter nor clinically expose. It presents the face honestly, with dignity and softness. The key is layering. Overhead lighting should not be the sole source. Warm vertical lighting beside or behind the mirror softens facial shadows. A concealed LED under a floating vanity introduces architectural glow. Maison Valentina exemplifies the pinnacle of luminous design in this realm. Their integrated mirror lighting and sculptural wall fixtures cast an ambient radiance that caresses material surfaces rather than bouncing sharply off of them. Their fixtures do not merely illuminate but contribute to the emotional identity of the environment, creating the sense that light is emanating from the room itself rather than being projected onto it.
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Maison Valentina mood board luxury tiles. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISON VALENTINA.NET Opposite page: Covet House bath with nature inspired style, features Newton mint green bathtubside tableneutral rugtowel rackvaseand terrazzo flooring.
Stone carries inherent dignity and calm authority. To place one’s hand upon honed marble or polished limestone is to make contact with material that predates architecture and civilization. It offers continuity that transcends trends. In refined private chambers, stone is not a gesture of ornamentation. It is an affirmation of genuine material integrity. Honed marble that feels soft beneath touch, breccia with its painterly veining, onyx with its translucent depth, and limestone with its grounded matte character are chosen not for display, but for quality of life. Bookmatched stone slabs behind the tub or along the vanity wall create visual continuity, while softly rounded edges and thicker stone profiles convey quiet substance. Maison Valentina embodies this philosophy with extraordinary discretion. Their carved stone basins and tubs feel monolithic yet inviting. They speak to quiet sophistication. Stone influences the emotional presence of the room. Soft veining speaks to serenity. Dramatic patterning conveys confidence. Stone also shapes the relationship with light. Where synthetic materials would glare, natural stone absorbs illumination with subtlety. It creates a room that radiates softly rather than reflects harshly. Most importantly, stone embodies permanence. When intentionally chosen by someone who is not decorating for a moment, it establishes an environment to inhabit for decades. It reflects a life of investment, endurance, and lasting elegance. There is also a tactile honesty to stone, a pleasing coolness that signals purity and reassurance.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY COVET HOUSE / COVETHOUSE.EU
STONE AS EARTH BORN LUXURY
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Cristallo Lumix Bathtub from Covet House features Cristallo, a translucent, lightpermeating natural quartzite. The key is the material’s translucency and light interaction, often achieved with Cristallo quartzite for backlighting or Cristalmood resin for color, creating a luminous, high-end look. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY COVET HOUSE / COVETHOUSE.EU
THE MIRROR AS LUMINOUS INTERFACE
The mirror in a thoughtfully designed bathing environment acts as a responsive element within the space, subtly engaging with the materials and light that surround it. With balanced, softened illumination, it renders a reflection that is neither unforgiving nor overly perfected. Instead, it frames the face in a manner that feels poised and unpressured. Here, grooming is supported by deliberate design. The placement of the mirror, the quality of the light, and the ergonomics of the counter create a functional yet composed experience. Movements naturally slow because the room is arranged for intention rather than hurry. The mirror becomes a practical and architectural element, reflecting not only the body but the harmony of the design decisions surrounding it. The woman sees herself within a space that has been shaped to support ease, clarity, and composure.
SCENT AS INVISIBLE ELEGANCE
Scent is a discreet luxury. It is experienced intimately and remembered effortlessly. The limbic system, responsible for memory and emotion, responds to scent at a primal level. A chosen fragrance such as hinoki, vetiver, white tea, neroli, or sandalwood becomes a sensory signature of the space. Morning scents might encourage alertness and clarity. Evening scents encourage grounding and slow release. These are selections made not for others, but for oneself. Scent completes the sensory architecture. It wraps the environment softly and privately. It belongs to the woman who uses the room, not to those who may enter it. Fragrance exists on a metaphysical level. It is not seen or touched, yet it defines the space as profoundly as any stone or light fixture. A signature scent becomes a form of atmospheric identity, a subtle imprint of selfhood.
THE RETURN TO SELF
This private chamber has evolved into the home’s innermost sanctuary, a setting for quiet reclamation. Here, materials support grounding. Lighting supports emotional
Eden Vessel Sink and Sapphire Mirror from Maison Valentina. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISON VALENTINA.NET OPPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH BY ELA DE PURE / UNSPLASH.COM
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PHOTOGRAPH BY ENGIN AKYURT / UNSPLASH.COM
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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY COVET HOUSE / COVETHOUSE.EU / OPPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDER MASS / UNSPLASH.COM
Native Trails Nickel Santorini brushed nickel bathtub from Covet House. Like its namesake, Santorini hammered copper soaking tub exemplifies romance with its beauty and history. Its graceful lines and pedestal base necessitates long, lazy soaks suited for royalty. Artisan-crafted and forged of high-quality recycled copper, Santorini pays homage to the copper bathtub’s European heritage and tells the story of generations of Mexican artisanship. Brushed Nickel finish offers a warm-toned silver color, plated over hammered copper for a soft, beautifully textured finish.
ease. Scent supports memory. Silence supports presence. Inside this interior, the demands of external life relax. There is no performance. No expectation. No audience. The reflection in the mirror is familiar, shaped by experience, deepened by time, and softened by wisdom. For a woman who has led, contributed, achieved, endured, and navigated the complexities of life, this environment offers something rare: a place where she is answerable only to herself. Returning to the outside world, she brings with her a reinforced sense of personal grounding. She carries steadiness, clarity, quiet assurance, and a grounded presence that does not need declaration. This environment becomes emotional architecture. It supports mental spaciousness and personal sovereignty. With repetition, the mind associates this interior with exhale, with unguarded presence, with self familiarity.
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ver time, these quiet encounters become a ritual of recognition that strengthens inner identity. The space becomes a threshold between the external world of roles and the internal world of being. Its meaning deepens with every year lived inside the home and every year lived inside oneself. This is not just where the day begins or ends. It is where the self returns, recollects, and reclaims personal equilibrium. The environment becomes less of a supporting backdrop and more of a quiet emotional destination, one that evolves alongside. ■
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The PETRA BATHTUB from Maison Valentina combines Ibiza marble, often called Bianco Ibiza, and wood and is inspired by the ancient city of Petra, where buildings are directly carved in stone cliffs. The black gloss looks of the wood matching the different shades of white turn this piece into one everlasting exclusive visual experience for the most luxurious bathrooms. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MAISON VALENTINA / MAISONVALENTINA.NET
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