By Sarah Kuper
Southern Living magazine has announced this year’s Idea House will be in Mt. Laurel.
The Birmingham-based magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. By choosing to build the 2016 Idea House in Mt. Laurel, the publication is embracing its Alabama roots.
Mt. Laurel was selected by Southern Living editors for its embodiment of the magazine’s taste.
Nationally recognized Birmingham architect Bill Ingram was picked to design the house along with Mt. Laurel’s Town Builders Inc.
The landscape architecture will be directed by David Brush of Mt. Laurel.
To represent each decade of the publication’s 50 years, five renowned designers each will be assigned a room to plan and decorate with their own take on the given decade.
Mt. Laurel is a community of large front porches, a walkable city center and many green spaces.
Mt. Laurel representative Julianna Vance said being home to the Southern Living attraction is an honor for the community.
“It is just recognition that our neighborhood is a special place. We foster community and we aren’t full of cookie cutter homes.”
Vance said that looking at past Idea Houses gives her an idea of how remarkable it is to have one in Mt. Laurel.
Plus, the economic impact of the attraction will be big for the area.
“It will be great to bring attention to our area. It will likely result in the sale of more homes, and people interested in building here,” Vance said.
She added that the Idea House is predicted to bring more than 20,000 visitors to Mt. Laurel.
Work on the Idea House has already begun and it is scheduled to be finished by June 2016.
The house will be open for tours from June until December.
