Last Friday our team took a field trip to Serenbe, Georgia, to check out the Designer Showhouse sponsored by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine. For those who have yet to experience it, Serenbe is a New Urbanist village located in a largely rural area about an hour south of Atlanta. The sprawling area includes three smaller hamlets, single family homes, lofts and row houses, organic gardens, adorable shops and farm-to-table restaurants.

We enjoyed lunch at one such establishment, The Hil (named for chef Hilary White). We love their dedication to simple, farm-fresh cuisine, and the pimento cheese spread with house made pickles is a must try. Serenbe includes a diverse array of home styles (all with front porches) and gorgeous stables that we got to explore after lunch (yes, our job is rough sometimes).

The showhouse is located on the penthouse level of a newer, textile loft-style building, and features 15 local designers. Some of our favorites were the kitchen/living space by Swoox Atlanta and Wolf Design Group with huge, dramatic arched windows, and the fun and fabulous outdoor space, a collaboration by Bjork Studio, Kolo Collection, and Sunbrella. Each designer put their own spin on a space and all together the effect was impressive – elegant and fun with great pops of color and texture.

So, if you’re in the Atlanta area, and in the mood for a day trip, you could do a lot worse than Serenbe and the Designer Showhouse: beautiful green spaces and neighborhoods to wander through, good local food, and great design to boot.