Layers of Intrigue: A Hollywood Neighborhood Renovation

No matter how many places you roam, there is always a strong pull to your roots, and that may include the neighborhood where you started a meaningful chapter in your life.

Interior designer Melissa Salem and her husband, Richie, bought their first house on Broadway and then moved a couple of doors down to Grove Place, both in Homewood. Detours took the couple to Vestavia Hills and Highway 119 near Leeds where they raised their children. However, when the Salems received a tempting offer to buy their home, they decided to move back to their first love—Homewood. “I have always been attracted to the Hollywood neighborhood, but houses there are hard to come by,” says Melissa. Unbeknownst to Melissa, her husband knocked on the door of a Bonita Drive house that was not on the market. “I had always loved this particular house with its upstairs triple windows, carriage house, and porches,” says Melissa. “The owners wouldn’t sell at first, but they finally decided they didn’t have the time it would take to bring it back to life.”

“My goal is to create spaces where all walks of life feel welcomed, loved, and honored—otherwise it’s just brick and mortar and stuff.”
—Melissa Salem, homeowner and designer

The home was rife with challenges that had to be tackled before any of the beauty could unfold. The family lived upstairs for two years while the first floor was modernized. Despite trials presenting themselves almost daily, such as the collapse of the carriage house, the Salems kept their eyes on the outcome that was executed in phases.

 

When it came to the décor, Melissa dialed into her personal preferences. “When I work with clients, I’m a little more constrained than I am with my own homes, although I always encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone,” she says. “If I come across something I love, I generally just go for it knowing that there is a reason it speaks to me. Later, I always find a home for it.”

Some of those things she loves include ethnic-inspired pieces such as the pair of Moroccan inlaid tables on the side porch, along with rustic natural elements, including the many reclaimed wood beams added throughout. She’s also drawn to rattan and to captivating light fixtures both vintage and new, and she’s a self-confessed “color” girl who looks for thoughtful ways to use hues. “I think color adds interest, and it can be done in smaller doses,” she says. “I love to look for unappreciated spots to add color such as stair risers, window trims, or the ceiling.”

“I love antiques, and I love the unexpected finds. You turn the corner and there’s something surprising and you think ‘wow!’”

—Melissa Salem

Melissa avoids trends and has a strong penchant for décor that’s been purchased over time. “I always advise my young clients to slow down. You don’t have to buy a bunch of stuff to completely outfit a room all at once,” she says. “Be patient and do it right the first time; it will be worthwhile. Plus the collecting process is exciting!” She’s also a fan of the unexpected but eschews the word eclectic as overused. However, in this case, it aptly describes her style, especially her art collection, which is a main character throughout the interiors. The designer as a very heartfelt approach to choosing art. For example, after her mother died, Melissa took all her much-loved lipsticks and commissioned an original artwork by Jill McCool. Then she had prints made for her sisters and female family members and actually taped one of the lipstick tubes to the back of each.

Melissa believes that art should express your family’s personality and tell a story. “People can be very intimidated when it comes to art, so I advise them to get out their children’s creations and their beloved family photos to start with,” she says. Her 1925 Hollywood Mediterranean proved an ideal canvas to put her advice into practice, creating spaces sure to resonate for generations to come.