Cherished Collections

Paige Albright’s Thanksgiving table welcomes family and friends with an eclectic collection of storied heirlooms and modern additions.

By
Lacey Howard
-
Resplendent in the surrounding fall color, the 1940s Colonial has been the Albrights’ home for 9 years. Paige called friend Jay Draper of Father Nature Landscapes for help with seasonal floral touches. “It all came from her yard, ” Jay says of the nandina, oak leaf hydrangea, and Japanese maple. Photos by Jean Allsopp

Anyone that has shopped at Paige Albright’s store in Mountain Brook Village (Paige Albright Orientals, if you didn’t know) knows Paige’s enthusiasm for provenance and pedigree when it comes to rugs. What may be less evident is her equal fondness for family heirlooms. But inside her own home—just a block from her storefront—such pieces are abundant, each with a story. 

Paige says her home is “eclectic; full of inherited, sentimental pieces; collected treasures; and things I can’t live without.” Aside from her personal collection of rugs, many of her home’s furnishings and accessories are heirlooms and hand-me-downs. A favorite piece, her English birdcage dining table, sets the scene for family gatherings and provides opportunity to use both her new and inherited tableware. “I have a love of antique china, and I have many sets inherited from family, ” she says. “I love to mix and match!” 

On the table’s top, Paige’s eclectic mix welcomes visitors. She rattles off the provenance of each piece: “Our wedding silverware is Francis I by Reed and Barton from Bromberg’s. The dinner plates belonged to my mother-in-law. The bread plate is turn-of-the-century Limoges with a hand-painted monogram and belonged to Carl’s great, great, great-grandmother. Those are her napkins with the same embroidered monogram. The crystal saltshakers belonged to my grandmother. Our wedding crystal is Lismore from Bromberg’s, and the wine glasses are German crystal collected from my mother-in-law’s travels.” 

Recently, Paige started adding Craven porcelain from Table Matters to her collection for a modern element. “It is pressed with antique lace and hand-glazed in England, ” she explains. According to Paige, her holiday table is much like her home—“gracious, welcoming, pretty, and not too overwhelming.” She insists that during the holidays, and every day, “I want everyone to feel welcome.” 

- Sponsors -
The dining room ceiling is covered in metallic silver/grey Phillip Jeffries grasscloth. Walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Bone White. The chandelier came from husband Carl’s grandparents’ Birmingham home. “The zebra rug has lived in almost every room of my house, ” Paige says, “but I put in my dining room after I sent my it out to be cleaned three years ago. It has been here ever since.”
Paige’s place settings include a mix of high and low—from her exquisite wedding silver and crystal to her ultra-casual bamboo placemats. “I found the placemats at the Dollar Tree 15 years ago. I bought three dozen and use them all the time!” she says. A silver punch bowl overflows with hydrangeas that echo the hues of rugs and paintings in Paige’s living and dining rooms. “The silver basket holds cranberries and crabapples to add a festive touch, ” she says.
In the living room, subtle holiday touches reflect the colors in the antique Oushak rug and painting above the sofa by Alabama artist JA Ritter (through Atchison Gallery). The bookcases house various collections—family Bibles, antique boxes and books, and blue-and-white porcelain.

RESOURCES
Rugs: Paige Albright Orientals • 2814 Petticoat Lane,  205.877.3232 paigealbrightorientals.com; Landscaping: Father Nature Landscapes • 205.956.3030 fathernaturelandscapes.com; Sofa pillows: Ware M Porter & Co. • 2718 Cahaba Road,  205.874.9800 waremporter.com; Artwork over sideboard: The Atchison Gallery and Village Framers • 2847 Culver Rd,  205.871.6233 theatchisongallery.com; Drapes: Beverly Ruff Antiques and Linens • 2417 Canterbury Road,  205.871.7872 beverlyruff.com; Tableware: Brombergs • 2800 Cahaba Road,  205.871.3276 brombergs.com; Craven porcelain and other tableware: Table Matters • 2402 Montevallo Road,  205.879.0125 table-matters.com; Starburst mirror: Mulberry Heights Antiques • 2419 Canterbury Road,  205.870.1300 mulberryheightsantiques.com; Dining room landscape: Dirk Walker available through the Beverly McNeil Gallery • 605 28th Street South,  205.328.1761 beverlymcneilgallery.com; Dining table: Kings House Antiques • 2807 2nd Avenue South,  205.320.2535; kingshouseantiques.com; Dining chairs: Argent Antiques • 2949 18th Street South,  205.871.4221 argentantiques.com

Get the best of Birmingham delivered to your inbox

Stunning local homes, inspiring before & after projects, Southern recipes, entertaining ideas and more!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR