Savannah Storybook Pattern
A place-based illustration system that proves Southern charm scales beautifully.
Savannah is organized chaos with excellent PR. Historic squares that follow James Oglethorpe's 1733 grid plan. Architecture that takes itself seriously while living next door to ghost tours and candy shops. Spanish moss hanging off everything like nature decided to add drama.
This pattern captures all of it—the landmarks everyone photographs, the details locals notice, and the coastal energy that makes Savannah exactly itself.
The Story
When you walk around Savannah, the whole city feels designed. Fountain-centered squares. Brick townhouses, wrought iron everywhere, and Spanish moss doing the heavy lifting on atmosphere. Gothic cathedrals next to riverfront warehouses.
This pattern started as a mental sketch that's been brewing since art school. Years of drawing other people's destinations before finally coming back to the one that made me think "I could illustrate this entire city."
What's Inside
Landmarks: Forsyth Fountain, Tybee Lighthouse, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Waving Girl statue, Savannah River Queen paddlewheel, Forrest Gump's bench, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Architecture: River Street warehouses, Savannah Cotton Exchange, Olde Pink House, Sorrel-Weed House, historic facades, wrought iron details
Coastal elements: Live oaks, Spanish moss, cotton blossoms, alligators, palmetto trees
Cultural details: Civil War cannons, open-air trolleys, red double-decker buses, hot boiled peanuts, vintage restaurant signage
Everything hand-drawn. Nothing generic. Savannah's personality, organized into a repeating system that actually works.
Colorways
River Street Fog
Cool, sophisticated blue-gray. The original colorway—works for hospitality, stationery, and textiles where you want coastal charm with a bit more restraint.
Tybee Sand
Soft, coastal neutral. Warm without being too sweet. Perfect for spaces and products that want Savannah energy without shouting.
Forsyth Park Moss
Soft sage green. Ideal for packaging, home décor, and products with a natural, lowcountry feel.
All three use the same illustration elements with different background treatments, proving the system adapts without losing character.
Applications
Currently available on:
Fabric, wallpaper, bedding (Spoonflower)
Zip-top pouches, notebooks (Zazzle)
Tea towels, pillows, lunch bags, tumblers
Designed for:
Hospitality branding (boutique hotels, vacation rentals, coastal inns)
Southern gift shops and regional retailers
Editorial layouts and travel guides
Packaging for food, home goods, or local products
Textiles and home décor
Branded environments where Southern coastal charm matters
The full pattern tiles seamlessly. Individual elements work as standalone illustrations. The system scales from small products to wallpaper installations without losing detail.
System Thinking
This isn't a single pattern—it's a visual language.
The illustrations work together as a full repeat, but each element is designed to stand alone. Forsyth Fountain on a notebook cover. The Waving Girl on a tea towel. Live oaks and Spanish moss as accent graphics.
Next development: Coordinate patterns (smaller-scale companions, alternate layouts, supporting graphics) to demonstrate how the system expands for multi-product collections and branded environments.
Why It Works
Savannah has strong visual DNA. The city's been aesthetically confident since 1733 and has never questioned its choices. This pattern respects that—it's organized, intentional, and completely comfortable being exactly what it is.
Perfect for anything that needs Southern coastal personality without defaulting to generic seashells and anchors.
Part of a place-based pattern series celebrating destinations with distinct visual identities.
