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A woman in sunglasses smiles while holding a glass of champagne. She wears a red shirt and necklace, surrounded by a city skyline on a sunny day.

Kathleen Purvis

location-pin Charlotte, North Carolina

School: Florida State University

Expertise: landscaping and garden, product testing, cleaning and, organization, decor and design, pets, outdoors and camping, kitchen organization and food preparation tips, outdoor cooking

Kathleen Purvis

  • Former member and officer of the Association of Food Journalists
  • Former committee member for the James Beard Foundation Awards from 2000 until 2018, including chairing the book awards and founding the Leadership Awards for innovation in the food industry.
  • Authored three books for UNC Press, "Pecans" and "Bourbon"
  • Appearances in Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Our State, Imbibe, The New York Times, and "The Splendid Table" from Public Radio International.
 
Winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Award for Outstanding Writing from the North Carolina Associated Press
 
Winner of the 2004 Missouri Lifestyles Journalism Award for her series "Nowhere to Shop."

Experience

Kathleen Purvis is a journalist with more than 40 years of experience in consumer reporting and product testing. She's a freelance writer based in Charlotte, NC, where she’s spent more than 20 years restoring, maintaining and landscaping a vintage mid-century modern home. Now an empty nester, her next project will be downsizing and remodeling a home for aging in place. Her work appears in many magazines, including Southern Living, Our State, Garden & Gun and Imbibe.

Education

Florida State University

Family Handyman Editorial Policies

For more than seven decades, Family Handyman has been providing its audience with ideas, inspiration and step-by-step directions on how to maintain and enhance indoor and outdoor living spaces. In addition to having our own staff of experts, we hire individuals whose skills have been honed through years of experience in the building, plumbing and electrical trades, and as passionate homeowners who have translated DIY (do it yourself) skills into careers as respected creators.

Articles

Two front-loading washing machines are placed side by side in a laundry room, surrounded by cabinetry, shelves, and a neatly folded stack of towels.

The Best Washer and Dryer Pedestals for Your Laundry Room

Pedestals for your washer and dryer, also called risers, can raise the utility of your laundry room by adding space and improving ergonomics
A stainless steel ice maker sits on a countertop, producing ice while two glasses filled with ice and drinks stand nearby in a bright kitchen.

The 6 Best Countertop Ice Makers That Beat the One in Your Freezer

Chill out: If your freezer keeps leaving you on thin ice, a countertop ice maker may be just what you need to ensure you always have icy cold drinks.
A man adjusts his hat while seated outdoors, wearing gloves and a blue neck gaiter, surrounded by greenery and flowers.

10 UV-Protective Clothing and Accessories to Stylishly Block Harmful Rays

This UV-protective clothing keeps you safe from the sun whether you're an outdoor sports enthusiast or at-home gardener