Sophisticated Living Magazine

When a family of six outgrew their beloved home, they drew up plans for a renovation, adding square footage here, reconfiguring space there. However, when they discovered a building lot that captured their imagination, the calculus changed entirely. The way the property sat elevated on the street, the way the backyard rolled and fell away to create a pronounced presence, it spoke to possibility. With Hueber Homes and Designs On Madison ready to partner on the project, the decision shifted from renovation to custom build. Sometimes the right lot, paired with the right team, makes the choice obvious.

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Read the rest of the story, “Built for Living: A Family Home Designed Around Real Life,” from Cincinnati’s May/June issue at the link in bio.

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Story by Matthew Millett / Photo by Catie Viox

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European garden antiques bring history, craftsmanship, and timeless character into today’s landscapes. From grand chateau terraces to intimate cottage gardens, these pieces were designed not only to decorate outdoor spaces but to express taste, culture, and a relationship with nature. Understanding their origins and characteristics helps collectors and homeowners appreciate why these objects continue to hold such appeal.

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Read the rest of antiquarian Kim Hites’ article, “European Garden Antiques,” in Lexington’s May/June issue, at the link in bio and at slmag.net/lexington.

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Lauren May and Troy Bole’s story began with a dating app connection, leading to an unforgettable date—a Goo Goo Dolls concert—marking the moment they both realized they’d fallen in love. Troy proposed at the canal in downtown Indianapolis with a custom ring, a violinist playing Taylor Swift, the couple’s dog Murray, and both of their families looking on. They were married at the Columbia Club, followed by a reception filled with memorable touches: a cookie table with over 1,500 types of cookies baked by friends and family, a DJ that kept guests on the dance floor all night, and a meaningful family toast to “100 years,” the words stitched into Troy’s tux jacket and echoed on their wedding cake.

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See more happy couples in Indianapolis’ “Sophisticated Celebrations” section in the May/June issue, at the link in bio and at slmag.net/indianapolis.

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Photos by Maddie Patton Photography.

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In the Dulac family, a love of cooking passes down through the generations with the same care as a beloved heirloom. However, unlike physical treasures that are often locked away for safekeeping, their family’s culinary inheritance has been generously shared with family and friends. Luckily for Louisvillians, since Tim and Brittany Dulac, a father-daughter duo, opened Elderberry Provisions in Chenoweth Square, we can all experience what it’s like to have a seat at their family table.

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Read more at “The Twine That Binds,” from Louisville’s May/June issue at the link in bio and slmag.net/louisville.

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Photos by Tony Bailey

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It started on a napkin. Somewhere around 2009, three Saint Louis University law students — Thomas Harvey, Michael-John Voss, and John McAnnar — sat down at Café Ventana and sketched out an idea: a nonprofit law practice that would give poor and homeless St. Louisans the kind of legal muscle money usually buys. No fee. No catch. Just free representation for people trapped in a system that was, by almost any measure, designed to keep them there.

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That napkin became ArchCity Defenders.

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The organization has spent 15 years fighting for St. Louis’ most vulnerable residents —and Blake Strode is making sure the mission keeps growing. Read the rest of the story, “Defenders of the Dispossessed,” from St. Louis’ May/June issue and the link in bio and slmag.net/stlouis.

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Story by Christy Marshall / Photo by John Lore

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Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 on June 1, 2026. To mark the centennial of her birth, the Hollywood icon is being celebrated globally with major citywide festivals, official memorabilia, museum exhibitions, and high-profile auctions, and in Sophisticated Living. In the May/June issue, among the new books profiled in our “Bibliotaph” feature is “Dear Marilyn: The Unseen Letters and Photographs,” by photographer Sam Shaw, a close friend and confidant of the starlet. See more at sophisticatedlivingmag.com/of-note

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And, in this week’s Sophisticated Scoop, we share Hotel Bel-Air’s nostalgic reimagining of what Marilyn’s “perfect day” at the hotel might look like today. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Monroe frequently stayed at the Los Angeles property for days and even months at a time, at one point using the hotel as a romantic hideaway with Joe DiMaggio, drawn to the privacy, romance, and understated glamour tucked across the estate’s 12 acres of gardens. Throughout the month of June, the hotel is celebrating her legacy with nostalgic touches, such as the “Some Like It Sweet” hot fudge sundae and Monroe’s Passion, the hotel’s signature cocktail inspired by the icon herself. Read the newsletter at the link in bio.

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Images: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, New York City, 1954 © Shaw Family Archives Ltd / ACC Art Books.

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Presidential Suite living room at the Hotel Bel-Air

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As construction continues at VOCE Hotel & Residences in Midtown Nashville, the project has reached a major milestone. Its tower crane is now installed, signaling that vertical construction has begun for a fall 2027 delivery. With almost 60 percent of residences already sold and prices scheduled to increase imminently, the window to purchase at current levels is narrowing quickly.

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The development features private residences alongside luxury boutique hotel suites, supported by more than 40,000 square feet of amenities and 60,000 square feet of high-end boutique office space. Located along the West End corridor, VOCE places owners minutes from Nashville’s central business district, entertainment hubs, and major institutions.

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Read more at Sotto Voce from Nashville’s May/June issue at the link in bio and slmag.net/nashville.

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Photos courtesy of Casrland Vastland Companies

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