Meet Lynn Butler
Lynn Butler has over 30 years experience across the publishing and design industry, having worked for several prestigious companies including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia where she was a senior style editor. Lynn gained invaluable experience in editorial content creation, production and sequence, set design, prop styling, and vendor resourcing. She’s worked across all mediums at MSLO including print magazines, television appearances, and web content, and she was a contributor to Martha Stewart’s Best of Weddings book, as well as Baby and Kids special issue editions. Most notably, Lynn was a producer of Weddings editor Darcy Miller’s wedding at the Four Seasons, New York, and the multi-year marketing promotion, “Win a Wedding in Puerto Rico.”
After her tenure at MSLO, Lynn was a freelance contributing editor for InStyle magazine and Naturally, Danny Seo. Some of Lynn’s additional freelance clients have included: O Magazine (Oprah), Bon Appetit, New York Magazine, Real Simple, Country Home, Country Living, Food and Wine, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens, Organic Style, Rachel Ray, Belle Fleur, Sony, and Justina McCaffrey. Lynn’s personal home interior styling and design has appeared in House Beautiful, Country Home, Country Living, and Naturally, Danny Seo.
Lynn began her career working consecutively in management and creative merchandising for Coach Leatherware and Ralph Lauren, then at Nicole Miller, where she was a senior executive working directly under Miller and the company’s CEO as the firm’s public relations director. This included New York Fashion Week show productions, national and regional press, Miller’s personal appearances, as well as national advertising placement.
In addition to Lynn’s corporate experience, she’s also held the role of small retail store owner with a business partner she met while working at Ralph Lauren. They first opened a brick and mortar store, then Lynn moved it to an online store for tabletop and home accessories. During this time she also designed men’s ties under her own label, Lynn Butler New YorkTM. This led to men’s accessory consulting and design collaborations with Kate Spade (Jack Spade) and Vivre luxury catalog. Lynn’s ties have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Details, Martha Stewart Weddings, Elegant Bride, and InStyle Weddings.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with minors in Art History and Advertising as well as two years graduate studies in 19th Century American Art. Lynn has taught classes at the New York Flower School with Michael George and holds an Excellence in Education award from the City of New York for mentoring high school students in the arts. She’s involved in two DAR chapters, one in New York City and the other in Beaufort, South Carolina. Lynn is a Congressional Congress Delegate representing her New York DAR chapter.
Lynn and her family split their time between Beaufort, South Carolina and Southampton, New York, and she is very excited to be able to combine all her varied experience into a successful career as the owner of The Scout Guide Beaufort & Bluffton, South Carolina. She’s also honored to be among such a talented group of fellow owners!
Lynn’s Favorite Reasons to Visit
Location and of course the warm weather. “Beaufort County is made up of many sea islands along the Atlantic southern coast located halfway between Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. It’s known as the Lowcountry with its gorgeous meandering rivers and marshes, ideal for farming and fishing. Because of the low lying lands and being surrounded by water you can catch the most beautiful open views and sunsets here. It’s a paradise for outdoor activities year round, from boating, kayaking, and fishing to golfing, tennis, pickleball, horse riding, hiking, and hunting. If you love to bicycle or walk there’s the Spanish Moss Trail which follows nearly 10 miles of the former path of Port Royal Railroad. But the overall experience is a slower pace of life, watching the wildlife along the waterways, taking in the sunsets, reading a book on the porch or talking with neighbors. If you love the beach, like we do, we have Hunting Island State Park or head over to Hilton Head beaches just a hop skip and a jump from Beaufort and Bluffton. We spend many days throughout the year playing tennis, swimming, and exploring on horseback or hiking for miles and miles.”
Architecture and History. “History seeps through the Lowcountry, from ruins and forts to the Gullah Geechee community to the National Cemetery, Parris Island and historical churches. There are so many stories to hear and history for almost any interest or cultural heritage. I love strolling through the quaint towns of Beaufort and Bluffton among the live oak trees loaded with Spanish moss, shopping family owned businesses and eating outside by the waterfront or on the porch of an old inn. The faded pink color or crisp white wood siding of the Greek Revival, Antebellum, and Federal architectural homes lend a special experience to these small towns that takes you back in time. The Pat Conroy Literary Center is a wonderful resource and there are so many local workshops, house and garden tours, and art galleries you’ll never run out of things to explore and learn or people to meet. Camellias, magnolias, and salt air truly make it a sensory experience. One of my favorite strolls is through the Old Point Neighborhood in Beaufort. Though they are newer communities, but have that Lowcountry architecture, we love spending time in Habersham with its restaurants and shops or at the Montage, Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton.”
The abundance of year long fresh produce and Lowcountry cuisine. “Because of the mild, warm weather the growing season lasts nearly all year. We love going to the Port Royal Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and the Bluffton Farmers’ Market on Thursdays. There’s usually a festival in the county going on most weekends, especially for foodies, from BBQ festivals to shrimp festivals. But the area is very well known for oyster beds and you’ll most likely be invited to an oyster roast over open fire in the early evening while you’re here. Collard greens, grits, biscuits, and fried pickles are among other favorites here, and of course, my favorite, sweet tea. For a history of oystering and to learn about our complex coastal environment we often go to the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center.”