An Art-Filled Mountain Brook Home by Designer Sean Beam

After working with Jayne and David Westbrook on previous homes, designer Sean Beam helped usher the couple into their Mountain Brook house by finding new placements for existing pieces, treasured collections and David's personal art.

Living Room designed by Sean Beam
Photography by Jean Allsopp
Designer Sean Beam (left) and homeowners David and Jayne Westbrook

Relocating to Birmingham from Jackson, Mississippi, to be closer to family, Jayne and David Westbrook quickly sought out a community and a house where they felt at home. An introduction to designer Sean Beam years earlier made the transition seamless.

They first met the designer when their daughter, Hayley, moved here for a television career. “We joined her on a house hunt and discovered Hallman Hill in Homewood,” says Jayne. “Richard Tubb Interiors had done the model unit design. We liked it so much that we visited the store, and that’s where we met Sean.” The couple quickly engaged Sean and David Walker, another designer at Richard Tubb Interiors, to work on their daughter’s future home— the first of several projects that Sean would be a part of.

Since David was not quite retired from his medical practice when the couple first moved, they split time between Jackson and Birmingham, maintaining a townhouse in Mississippi and a house in Homewood where Sean was involved with the design. After too much back-and-forth, Jayne and David closed up the house in Mississippi and moved to their Homewood house for good—until an unsolicited offer appeared at their door that was just too good to pass up.

The Westbrooks sold their home and set about house hunting once again, calling on Sean, who had just launched his own interior business, for help. “Coincidentally, because of our shared love for stalking real estate listings, we found the new house at the same time and called each other,” David says.

- Sponsors -

Designed by architect Hank Long and located on a private, wooded lot, the French-style house, though lovely, wasn’t appointed in the Westbrooks’ style.

The formal living room is open to the front and back of the house. The landscaping is by Millhouse Howell Landscape Company.
The foyer, painted Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore, envelopes guests into the home’s serene palette. The lantern is original to the home.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and airy living spaces became cleaner, more modern, and lighter thanks to the couple’s restrained style and Sean’s ability to interpret it. “We ‘shopped’ their Homewood and Jackson houses for furnishings and relocated the items to their new spaces. Everything just worked,” Sean says. “The only thing we bought new for this house was the living room sofa.” The designer claims the easy transition between homes is thanks to the classic pieces the Westbrooks bought over the years. “We never went with anything too trendy,” he says.

“We looked beyond the ornate French antiques and heavy draperies and stripped it back to the refined architecture,” says Sean.“Then we could see how the house could be reimagined.”

Orbix Hot Glass by artist Cal Breed
An installment of Orbix Hot Glass by artist Cal Breed (through Gallery Services) catches two stories of light through the windows in the stairhall. Gilded-and-glass decorative boxes reside on a pair of mid-19th-century chairs from The Nest.

“We worked with a palette of neutrals including creams and ebony. There’s not a lot of pattern. It’s the perfect canvas for David’s artwork.”
—designer Sean Beam

The burled-elm parsons table in the dining room came from the Westbrooks’ Jackson home. The table is set with Jayne’s china (Royal Crown Derby Gold Aves) and Annieglass chargers.

The neutral palette shines with a play of contrasts, shadow, and light—and, of course, David’s art, a hobby that began at age 13 in his hometown of Lexington, Mississippi. “I took lessons from a teacher who mostly taught me to paint still lifes of things around us,” says David. “But she also introduced me to church icons, an interest of hers.” After those early lessons, David put his art aside. Many years later, Jayne encouraged him to pick up his charcoal and brushes again at age 40.

Now, David’s hobby is in full force as he creates pieces that he, Jayne, and his children cherish. “All of the artwork in the house was done by David,” Sean says.

“If you are from Mississippi, you likely have at least one piece of McCarty,” says Jayne of her collection that fills a wall of shelves in the casual den. “People love to use the pieces for weddings and entertaining.” (mccartyspottery.com)
David caught the shadows and depth of an unmade bed in this painting that hangs above a chest in the bedroom.

Walking through the home, it’s a surprise to realize that the varied styles are by a single artist. David claims his diverse subjects and mediums are due to boredom. “I like to experiment with materials and subject matter. It’s a way to continue learning and keep it interesting,” he says. When asked what his favorite medium is, he laughs and says it’s always mixed. “You start with charcoal. If you happen to spill a little wine, it becomes a watercolor—but I usually finish with oil.” And now, the many fruits of his labor perfectly personalize the couple’s new home.

The breakfast nook features a Hockney-inspired work by David. The room looks out onto the deck, making bird-watching a pleasure.
The primary bedroom resides on the second floor and takes in treetop views. The room’s vaulted ceiling made the Talia Grande Chandelier from Visual Comfort an easy choice. Sean designed the custom bolster using a vestment cloth found at Maison de France. The walls are painted Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore.
Den of the David and Jayne Westbrook's home.
The den is a comfortable place for family and pets, DD and Smokey, to gather. The walls are painted Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore. A bay window looks out onto the forested lot filled with beech trees. All of the paintings are by David.
French-style home by architect Hank Long
The French-style home by architect Hank Long was transformed into a cool retreat under Sean’s guiding hand. “Opening it up allowed us to see the architecture,” Jayne says. “We were able to appreciate the quality and detail of everything—down to the doorknobs.”

Resources

Interior design: Sean Beam Design, IG: @seanbeamdesign Contractor: Martin McCayna Interior; Painters: Lipsey Painting and Chris Young Painting Company; Sisal rugs: Billy Brown Flooring; Zebra rug and pillows in den: Paige Albright Orientals; Framing: Gallery Services and Arceneaux Gallery

Get the best of Birmingham delivered to your inbox

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