On the Cover: Sophisticated Wedding
Sophi Clarke and Grant Montgomery
Image by Rory O Photography
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Highlights from the July/August 2026 issue:
From the Associate Publisher
High summer has a rhythm all its own. The days are long, and everything good seems to happen outside. It is still the season of escape, even when the escape is only as far as your own backyard.
Maybe the best thing about summer is its nostalgic familiarity—that slight tug at our hearts for the summers that made us. Summer seems to hold time still, letting memories rush back. For me, it’s remembering the warm glow of streetlights as our curfew, a game of pickup kickball with a snowball bush standing in for first base. Then there was the ice cream truck's song, triggering a barefoot sprint. There was Aunt Joan’s strawberry cream cheese pie, slip-and-slides, lightning bugs, and endless bike rides. We took turns churning peach ice cream with friends on the 4th, went strawberry picking with cousins, listened to my dad's contagious laughter, and felt the slight sting on our cheeks from another good day in the sun.
What I love is that those summers never truly leave us. They rest just beneath the surface, ready to call us back when we least expect. Now, I chase discovery and connection when I travel, but often it's that same feeling—the soft familiarity of a place that knows us—that I seek.
That sense of belonging was exactly what I found this summer at Salamander in Middleburg, Virginia — a true oasis, and one I can't wait to share with you in our September/October issue. Consider this your save-the-date.
Text: Lee Milward, lee@slmag.net
Photo: Tracy Beall
Southern Comfort
Eclecticism is the de rigueur “countertrend” movement, with homeowners brushing off the sameness of highly edited neutral palettes and algorithmic homogeneity in favor of character-rich, hyper-personal spaces reflective of a homeowner’s personal history, hobbies, and aesthetics. The pitfall is that the resulting mish-mash can end up looking like a visual mess, leading this Georgetown homeowner to retain Justin Morris of Norwalk to create intentional cohesion among seemingly disparate elements: fine antiques procured from around the world and inherited from family, treasured artwork by English maritime painter Charles Brooking (c. 1723 –1759), and a desire for it all to coexist with modern functionality suited for contemporary living.
Text: Bridget Cottrell
Photo: Cameron Imani
Cover Story:
Sophisticated Wedding
Sophi Clarke and Grant Montgomery
Photos by Rory O Photography
Set a Spell
In Southern culture, a back porch gathering represents the pinnacle of casual, intimate hospitality, where an invitation implies a relaxed, lingering visit. Carson's Food & Drink, which is celebrating a decade in Lexington, extends a similarly warm welcome to the community with the opening of its latest venture: Carson’s Back Porch.
While the concept is rooted in the charm and hospitality of a Charleston porch, Carson’s Back Porch carves its own path, offering a fresh twist underscored by Carson’s signature warmth, attentive service, and meticulous detail.
Sophisticated Stars
July and August bring powerful opportunities for growth, abundance, and transformation. Jupiter’s move into Leo opens a brand-new 12-year chapter, while the eclipses help align each of us with our highest path.
The solar eclipse in Leo encourages us to say yes to new opportunities and trust the blessings arriving at our doorstep. The lunar eclipse in Pisces reminds us that sometimes releasing what has completed its purpose is the very thing that allows something better to arrive.
Trust your instincts. Follow your heart. The Universe is opening doors that have not been available for many years, and the opportunities ahead may exceed your expectations.
Written by Joy Yascone Elms, MA
Right: Lagos Anthem Lion Pendant. Available through Schiffman’s Jewelers (schiffmans.com).
Hump Day, Every Day
Work hard, play well is the Camel Club formula.
Taste of Place at Cole’s 735 Main
Where Elevated Comfort Meets Artistic Charm
Written by Bridget Cottrell
Photos by Tony Bailey
Sophisticated Wellness
Talking Through the Tough Questions About Infertility
Currently, about 1 in 6 adults experience challenges with fertility, which means this is far more common than many people realize. Yet despite how common it is, fertility struggles can still feel incredibly isolating and difficult to talk about.
In my work at Medical Transformation Center, I see both male and female patients who feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and frustrated after months or even years of searching for answers. Fertility challenges can affect not only physical health, but also emotional well-being, relationships, confidence, and mental health. Many people are left trying to navigate confusing and often contradictory information while carrying a deep sense of grief and uncertainty.
Through our approach to cellular medicine, we have always helped patients understand the connection between fertility and overall wellness. Rather than looking at fertility in isolation, we focus on supporting the health of the entire body by evaluating factors such as hormone balance, inflammation, metabolism, nutrition, stress, sleep, and underlying root causes that may be affecting reproductive health
Text: Dr. Alexa Davis, Medical Transformation Center
The Glass of Murano
Imagine a beam of sunlight streaming through a window and catching the multi-colored hues of a finely crafted art glass bowl. The swirling, whirling beauty of this glass form is synonymous with Murano and its interesting, storied past.
Murano glass, often called Venetian glass, is a centuries-old craft that transformed the small island of Murano into the world's center for glassmaking. Its history is a blend of innovative chemistry, strict government protection, and artistic evolution.
My recent trip to Venice and the island of Murano revealed a commitment to excellence among contemporary glassblowers. The strict formal standards and certifications required by glassblowers ensure authenticity and quality. Products are guaranteed to be handcrafted on the island of Murano, using traditional techniques, thereby preventing imitations. Watching the artisans create these iconic glass pieces with such a high level of skill was a lesson in history itself.
Written & Photographed by Kim Hites
2026 Kentucky Three-Day Event: A Landmark Year at the Kentucky Horse Park
Photo by Tony Bailey
Last Call: Dr. Sarah Slone Carter
The “smile scientist” and “smile stylist” behind Slone Dental, Sarah is a working mother who is enamored of the beauty in nature, people, and in design. In our debut Proust-inspired interview, she shares her idea of perfect happiness and why she doesn’t harbor regrets.
Illustration by Katie Morrison
Society Calendar
Happenings of note in July & August
Is there an event you’d like us to cover or add to our event calendar? Send an email with the details to bridget@slmag.net.
WOW
Photos by Daniel Roberts
KET Summer Celebration
Photos by Daniel Roberts
F.E.A.S.T.
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Bourbon & Bites
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Book Launch Party
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Dancing with the Lexington Stars
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Celebration 2026
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Dream Gala
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Online Extra: 4 H Gala
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Online Extra: GOTR 5k
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Online Extra: Tailgating at the 3 Day Event
Photos by Tony Bailey
Get to Know Us
At Sophisticated Living, we are dedicated to and passionate about all the finer things life has to offer. Whether your interests are close to home or in far-flung places. each issue shares highlights of the good life in Lexington and beyond.
Bridget Cottrell, Editor-In-Chief
A co-founder of the company, Bridget is Editor-In-Chief of both the Lexington and Louisville editions and serves as the editorial director for shared content across all Sophisticated Living issues. Originally intending to become an archaeologist, she transfers her global curiosity into content that considers multiple perspectives.
bridget@slmag.net
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Join us around the table. Sophisticated Living readers are affluent, educated, capable, and influential consumers. Our award-winning editorial, full-page-only ad format, and unique direct-distribution method give our advertisers ample opportunity to maximize their message in front of the highest-income earners in Lexington.
For advertising information, contact Bridget Cottrell, bridget@slmag.net
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Prospect, KY 40059
502.582.6563