The shower runs the length of the wall behind the tub and allows for entry on both ends. Photos by Jean Allsopp
Designer Laurie Fulkerson knows that bath renovations are costly. As a designer for Twin Interiors, she has tackled more than a few. That’s why, when given the opportunity to start from scratch for this client, she selected timeless, quality materials that promise to hold up in style and durability.
Key considerations included a separate tub and shower with dual shower heads, brass fixtures, natural stone and tile, custom cabinets stained in a white oak finish, and plentiful storage. “Storage can be limited in bathrooms, so cabinet layout is very important,” Laurie says. “We work closely with our cabinet designer to make sure there will be a space for all of our client’s needs. I love including a pullout trash in the vanity, as well as custom pullouts for hair dryers, etc.” Finishing touches included the decorative hardware and fixtures, as well as the stunning tile mirror from Restoration Hardware.
A handheld faucet and a really good shower head are both on the top of my must-have bath list. Most clients are not aware that any shower head can be swapped out at a minimal cost.
Laurie Fulkerson
The client asked for separate vanity areas, so the designer included a tower cabinet in between that provides storage space for makeup, jewelry, etc.
Every Christmas Eve when I was a child, my mother would make Crème de Menthe parfaits for dessert. I can see them now in our side-by-side freezer. The layers of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and mysterious green, grown-up liquor in cute little parfait glasses ready to serve. It was the ultimate dessert for the holiday.
Almost 50 years later, Crème de Menthe is making a much-deserved comeback in after-dinner drinks, such as an old favorite, the Grasshopper. This three-ingredient refreshing, festive drink can easily play the role of dessert too. It takes minutes to prepare and will not disappoint anyone.
Makes 1
1 ounce crème de menthe 1 ounce white crème de cacao 1 ounce heavy cream 1 cup ice Fresh mint and/or chocolate shavings for garnish
Combine first 3 ingredients in a cocktail shaker; add ice. Cover and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish as desired.
Annie Creech of Annie Bakes shares the joys of cookie and cake decorating at Christmas and all through the year.
What started as a hobby quickly turned into a business for confectioner Annie Creech. With backgrounds in apparel design and graphic design, the artist turned her ingenuity towards baking so she could work from home—something that is especially important now that she’s a mom to 6-month-old Josie. “It’s a good naptime job,” Annie says. “I like to sit at the dining room table, halfway watch my favorite show on my iPad (Gilmore Girls), and decorate. If I mess up or it’s ugly, I eat it.”
Annie and Ransom Creech with daughter Josie in their home kitchen and Annie’s bake shop. “Sometimes I’ll design cookies and cakes with the same theme,” says Annie. “I used to do more cakes, but Birmingham loves cookies!”
So how did she get started? A family friend passed along her recipe, along with 300 cookie cutters, and Annie’s imagination took off. Sorting through the themed cutters, she identified shapes that would suit any event. A scroll through her Instagram account shows just how creative she can be with her designs. There are pink and blue teacups, as well as monograms for bridal showers, SEC game day cookies, cowboy boot cookies for the bachelorette party, sparkly green uniforms for the Mountain Brook Dorians, zoo animals for a birthday party, and of course, Christmas. “If you can think of a theme, I probably have a cookie cutter that fits,” Annie says. Designs are elegant and playful. And they taste delicious. “A lot of people forget that cookies are meant to be eaten. They need to taste as good as they look,” Annie says. Fortunately her husband, Ransom, volunteers to be her professional taster and tester. “I take my job very seriously!” he says.
“Many times, cookies are prettier than they taste. I’ve perfected this recipe, so they are both pretty and yummy.”
–Annie Creech
Tools of the Trade:
Annie decorates her cookies by first piping them in icing. She then uses a paintbrush for a watercolor effect. Other designs are made with a simple metal pick.
Each Christmas, Natalie Smith makes the season merry and bright with her evolving décor and favorite family traditions.
O Christmas Tree: Over the years, Natalie has chosen a variety of themes, from animal print to Auburn to Mardi Gras. This year, she chose elegance as her theme and kept the tree ornaments simple and straightforward. Along with 5,000-plus twinkle lights, she incorporated peacock feathers, green and gold bows, mercury glass, and a variety of ornaments in shades of blue and green to match the existing décor of the room. Also included in the mix are a set of vintage ornaments from Eutaw, Alabama, where her mother grew up—a set that can be found on her tree almost every year. Photography by Jean Allsopp
There’s nothing more special to Natalie Smith than Christmas, except for perhaps family traditions. So when the two combine, big things tend to happen. “Christmas is the most magical time of year for me, especially because it’s about tradition and family,” Natalie says. “It has been that way since I was little when we’d spend Christmas Eve at my grandmother’s house every year. We would always put on our pajamas before coming home so that we’d be ready to hop in bed before Santa came. Then we would get up Christmas morning and have breakfast and open presents with the family.”
A Family Affair: The Smiths are a tight-knit family, which is especially true at Christmas. Each year, Natalie and Shawn’s sons, Ryan (pictured on the left with his wife, Morgan) and Blake (pictured on the right with his girlfriend, Allie Adams) come over on Christmas Eve to spend the night. “I know at some point that will change as they have their own families, but for now we’re enjoying these longstanding family traditions,” Natalie says.(Left) Sleigh Ride: Natalie created an arrangement of fresh holiday foliage (including cedar, Fraser fir, poinsetta, and bay leaf magnolia, as well as pinecones and dried okra pods) inside a vintage toy sleigh she’s had for years, using it as the centerpiece for the bar. A twisted strand of tiny, battery-operated white lights sets it all aglow. Natalie accented the arrangement with items of special sentimental value such as the old-fashioned champagne flutes that belonged to her grandmother and the footed silver tray underneath that was one of her mother’s favorites. “My mother taught me that you always put your glasses on a tray to serve,” Natalie says. “It’s a tradition I’ve carried on.” (Middle & Right) Going Green: The front porch welcomes guests with classic Christmas cedar greenery draped around the front door. Sticks of various sizes were added to the greenery to give it height and movement, as well as to provide a whimsical feel, which plays nicely with the twinkle lights at night. The natural elements continue on the mailbox with the custom arrangement that features greenery, magnolia leaves, and berries. Going Green: Inside the front door, a simple cedar garland and vintage Santa head welcome guests. “I’ve probably had that Santa for more than 20 years,” Natalie says. “I don’t use a whole lot of red, so he becomes my focal point because he’s one of the few red pieces I have.”
Natalie kept the magical experience going when she and her husband, Shawn, had their own children. In addition to serving the traditional Christmas morning breakfast of sausage balls and monkey bread to a house full of extended family, Natalie decks out her entire home with carefully-curated Christmas décor. She begins working on the theme each year practically as soon as the last holiday wraps, and it all starts with her Christmas tree. “Anyone who knows me knows that I never do the same theme—ever,” she says. “I may use some of the same ornaments, but it will never be the exact same tree.”
Set the Scene: Taking center stage in the dining room is Natalie’s dining room table, which was originally her grandmother Sue’s. “We had family meals around that table for years,” Natalie says. “I remember hours and hours of conversations around it. There’s something special about this dining room table.” Natalie had a special orchid arrangement made to sit atop the table, and she paired it with gold reindeer from HomeGoods and fresh greenery on the chandelier to bring in the special holiday feel. She added to the formality of the space with place settings of her grandmother’s china and mother’s silver. Green-and-white napkins from Table Matters accent the china perfectly while also speaking to the season.
Though Natalie may not recycle her themes, there are a few details friends and family can expect to see each year: upwards of 5,000 twinkle lights on her tree alone and many of her favorite family heirlooms, including vintage Christmas ornaments, her grandmother’s china, and her mother’s silver. And a few new pieces are always mixed in with those special memories to add to the magic of her favorite time of year. “I love to get out the decorations, put on some Christmas music, and just start visualizing,” Natalie shares. “I think about and plan for it all year long.”
(Left) Festive Front Door: The focal point of the front door is a handmade wreath by Beth Phillips, better known as “Kudzu Mama,” thanks to her handcrafted items made from kudzu vine. (She also made the lighted orbs hanging in the tree in the front yard.) The wreath features dried kudzu, osage orange slices, lichen usnea, dried apples, cotton hulls, pinecones, acorns, berries, and lotus pods. (Right) Hang it Up: Greenery draped on the mantel is a staple of the holiday season, and Natalie ensures it looks fresh and full the entire season by supplementing the fresh strand with faux greenery. Hanging from the well-adorned mantel are stockings made of burlap and monogrammed for each family member. Atop the hearth sit a dough bowl with more fresh greenery, gold okra pods, pinecones, and Christmas bells similar to those used on the Christmas tree.
Resources:
Front door wreath, kudzu light balls, mailbox arrangement: Beth Phillips, “Kudzu Mama,” kudzumama.com; @kudzumama. Tree: Andy’s Creekside Nursery, andysgardencenter.com
The last thing I want to do on Christmas morning is follow a complicated recipe—especially for the first time. With all the excitement around the tree, I want to be enjoying time with my family, knowing that a beautiful, delicious Christmas brunch is waiting in the wings. For that reason, I decided to share a few tried-and-true, make-ahead dishes that will have you feeling like a guest in your own home on Christmas morning.
The biscuits in Easy Ham Biscuits with Homemade Honey Mustard can be made up to two months ahead. Be sure to split them in half once they have cooled before freezing. Thaw them out and add the ham a day or two before you serve them so they will be ready to warm on Christmas Day. These also make wonderful gifts.
For the Christmas Morning Sausage and Grits Casserole, I like to brown the sausage and grate the cheese a day or two in advance so I can quickly throw it together on Christmas Eve. I also go ahead and prepare the Winter Citrus Salad directly on my serving platter, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight. Before serving, simply add the dressing, which can be made several days in advance too.
Lastly, the Best-Ever Holiday Cinnamon Rolls are a fun Christmas Eve project to do with your family. These will make your entire house smell like Christmas, I promise! They can be placed in the pan and stored in the fridge until ready to bake on Christmas morning. Allow them to come to room temperature before baking.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention—to simplify things even more, all the recipes bake and reheat at 350 degrees. So if oven space is tight, I’ve got you covered. Here’s to a stress-free, make-ahead Christmas brunch all ages will enjoy. Happy holidays, and have a very merry Christmas morning!
Easy Ham Biscuits with Homemade Honey Mustard Recipe
Makes 24
3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup cold butter (1½ sticks) 1½ cups whole milk ½ pound thin-sliced ham
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly. Add milk, a little at a time until dry ingredients are moistened. (Note: All flour is slightly different, so you may need to add a little more milk if mixture seems too dry.)
Place 1- to 1½-inch balls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. (I like to use my ice-cream scoop for this.) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool on a rack, then split each biscuit in half with a serrated knife. Stuff each biscuit evenly with ham, replace lid, and place in a baking dish. Warm at 350 degrees for 15 minutes before serving. These can be assembled a day or two in advance. Serve with Homemade Honey Mustard.
HOMEMADE HONEY MUSTARD: 1/3 cup coarse ground mustard 1/4 cup honey 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Serve with warm ham biscuits.
3 cups water 1 cup quick-cooking grits 1 teaspoon salt, divided 2 pounds pork sausage, cooked and drained 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 3 large eggs 1½ cups whole milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup chopped roasted red pepper 1/4 cup chopped parsley plus extra for garnish Pepper to taste
In a saucepan, bring water to a boil, slowly whisk in the grits and half of the salt. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large bowl, combine grits, cooked sausage, and 1½ cups cheese. Beat the eggs and milk, and stir into grits mixture. Add the butter, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Pour into a greased 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until a knife inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese; bake 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Garnish with parsley.
Learn from Leslie: This casserole can be assembled the day ahead, covered, and refrigerated overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 to 45 minutes before baking.
Winter Citrus Salad Recipe
Serves 8
4 blood oranges 2 large navel oranges 2 large grapefruit 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1 cup arugula 4 tablespoons lemon juice 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey Salt and pepper Chopped toasted walnuts
Use a sharp knife to remove peels and pith of the oranges and grapefruit. (I like to cut both ends off first, then remove the sides as close to the fruit as possible.) Discard peels. Turn the peeled citrus on the side, and cut into ¼-inch thickness.
Arrange citrus slices and red onion over a bed of arugula. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.
To make the dressing: Whisk together lemon juice and next 4 ingredients until creamy.
Before serving, drizzle dressing over citrus. Top with chopped walnuts.
Learn from Leslie: This recipe is easy to increase for a larger crowd. Plan on one whole citrus per person.
Best-Ever Holiday Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Makes 9 large rolls
DOUGH: 3/4 cup warm whole milk 2¼ teaspoons quick-rise or active yeast (¼ ounce) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk at room temperature 1/4 cup salted butter, melted (½ stick) 3 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting 3/4 teaspoon salt
FILLING: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Step 1: Warm milk to around 110 degrees, about 40-45 seconds in the microwave. Transfer warm milk to the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle yeast on top. Add in sugar, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Mix until well combined. Stir in flour and salt with a wooden spoon until a dough begins to form.
Step 2: Place dough hook on mixer, and knead dough on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes. Dough should form into a nice ball and be slightly sticky. If it’s too sticky and sticking to the bottom of the bowl, add a tablespoon or 2 of flour until resolved. If you don’t want to use an electric mixer, you can use your hands and knead dough for 4 to 5 minutes on a floured surface.
Step 3: Transfer dough ball to a well-oiled bowl; cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Allow dough to rise for 1 to 1½ hours or until doubled in bulk.
Step 4: After dough has doubled, transfer to a well-floured surface, and roll out into a 14- x 9-inch rectangle.
Step 5: For filling, spread butter over dough. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Use your hands to sprinkle over buttered dough, then rub brown sugar mixture into the butter.
Step 6: Tightly roll up dough, starting from the long side, and place seam side down making sure to seal the edges of the dough. Trim off about an inch on each end to ensure even filling in all the rolls.
Step 7: Cut into 1-inch sections with a serrated knife. You should get 9 large pieces.
Step 8: Place rolls in a greased 9- x 9-inch baking pan lined with parchment. *Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Let rise again for 30-45 minutes.
Step 9: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and towel, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until slightly golden brown on the edges. Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the icing ingredients until smooth. Allow rolls to cool for 5 minutes before spreading the icing on top.
*Note: If making the day ahead, place tightly covered in refrigerator before second rise (Step 8). Remove from the refrigerator, and allow rolls to come to room temperature before baking.
Looking for the ultimate holiday gift? Wrap up a 2024 trip to France with Riviera Driving Tours. The anticipation of this glorious getaway will make the winter months speed by.
Photography Courtesy of Frederic Lefeuvre/aSeed Photography
Dirk Dominick lives in Birmingham, but he knows France. He has traveled there for years, and he and his family even bought an apartment in the small village of Bar-Sur-Loupe in 2000. “This really gave me the opportunity to dig into the area deeply,” says Dirk. “I’ve always loved hopping in a car and exploring new roads, villages, restaurants, all of that.”
Now, he’s sharing that love via Riviera Driving Tours, the tour company he founded in 2011 that offers driving tours of the South of France (with a little bit of Italy included). On four-and-a-half days of the seven-day tours, guests can expect to drive either Mini Cooper or Porsche convertibles, traveling by convoy with daily itineraries that include scenic drives, stops for lunch and sightseeing, and more.
Dirk, who lives in Avondale with his wife, Westcott (who helps run Riviera Driving Tours), and daughter, has explored those corners to find the best for guests on his seven-day tours. “The itineraries take full advantage of the beauty of the South of France,” he says. That includes famous spots, such as the the site of Princess Grace Kelly’s fatal accident and locations used in the filming of To Catch a Thief, as well as off-the-beaten-path treasures that Dirk has found in 20 years of researching the area.
“France is just so culturally rich and geographically diverse that it’s very easy to find something to pique your interest. Delicious food, great roads, fascinating towns, and beautiful scenery seem to be around every corner.”
–Dirk Dominick
Guests stay in a hotel just outside of St. Paul de Vence, a medieval town on the French Riviera, taking day trips from there. Nights bring wine dinners, including a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant in an ancient chateau.
When Dirk started Riviera Driving Tours, he offered two or three tours a year. In 2024, nine tours are scheduled, with more possibly in the offing. They are limited to five or six couples, and other than airfare, everything is included in the price of the tour ($4,450 per person for the Mini Cooper tour, $6,000 per person for the Porsche tour). That includes meals, accommodations, the car, fuel, and insurance.
For Mountain Brook’s Chris and Beth Wilder, the Mini Cooper tour was the perfect way to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. “It was by far the most amazing vacation we have ever taken,” Beth says. “We have been blessed to travel quite a bit in our 30-plus years together, but this trip topped everything else we have done.”
She praised the location, her friends and family that she traveled with and, most of all, Dirk’s attention to detail. “From the time we stepped off the plane until the time we stepped back on, every detail of each day was handled for us,” she says. “All we had to do was relax and enjoy the ride.”
That’s music to Dirk’s ears. “My goal is to take people to places they would never see if they had traveled to the area by themselves or with a traditional tour group,” he says.
Dirk Dominick’s 5 Favorite Drives
The first drive of the tour—a late afternoon run up to the Col de Vence. A challenging but tremendously fun road to drive, and the view from the top is spectacular.
The Route Napoleon, arguably one of the best driving roads in Europe. We drive from Castellane south toward Grasse, enjoying sweeping curves and magnificent views of the Mediterranean.
Anything along the Gorges du Verdon, but specifically the Routes Des Cretes. It is a beautiful, slightly hair-raising drive along the north rim of the canyon. It never disappoints.
The Route de Gentelly above the village of Greolieres, a short stretch along one of the most dramatic “balcony roads” in France. Countless films, commercials, magazine articles, and car launches have featured this wonderful road. My wife, Westcott, loves this one too.
The D37 that runs from La Turbie down to the coast. Something about this drive I always love, probably because of the view high above the Mediterranean. This is also the road where Grace Kelly had her tragic car crash in 1982.
The key word to remember in this decadent drink is martini. Lately, the Chocolate Martini is not only the after-dinner drink of choice, but often the first cocktail of the night. I’m seeing people order these whenever they feel like it. They are that good! It will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep the night going all at the same time.
I couldn’t wait to make these at home. Place your martini glass in the freezer about 15 minutes before serving. This allows the chocolate drizzle to stay perfectly in place. Then chill the vodka, Baileys, and chocolate liquor over ice in a martini shaker, and pour into prepared glass. For the holidays, I like to garnish with fresh raspberries threaded on a cocktail pick. Chocolate and raspberries are a winning combination. This drink also makes an impressive dessert.
A sure sense of style allows Cotton & Quill founder Mary Catherine Folmar to transform a utilitarian barn-like structure in Andalusia into a charming year-round country home, made all the more magical during the holidays.
Photography by Jean Allsopp
A little more than four years ago, Mary Catherine and Tyler Folmar purchased 94 acres of forested farmland near extended family in South Alabama as a getaway from Birmingham. With the idea of occasional weekend visits, the creative couple outfitted a pre-fabricated metal farm building as a simple country retreat. “We never intended it to be a full-time residence,” recalls Mary Catherine. “Then Covid happened just as were finishing, and we ended up staying there more and more.”
LEFT: Mary Catherine Folmar stands by the front door of her home with the family’s dogs, Toby and Butters. Her patterned skirt is from her line of clothing and colorful kaftans. Her apple-and-greenery wooden wreath and the crooked stick festooned with ribbon and yaupon berries are a vision of Christmas things to come from Cotton & Quill. RIGHT: Every vignette has a story to tell. “My grandparents had an old dinner bell. It’s still at her home so I found my own at an estate sale,” says Mary Catherine. Green apples rest on a bird feeder that has seen better days, but a garland of pine and a red ribbon turn it into a festive focal point in the garden.
As the founder of Cotton & Quill in 2012, Mary Catherine has come to be known for the exuberant colors and striking patterns of her hand-illustrated textiles, wallcoverings, and lifestyle brand. Although she credits travels to Europe and Asia as her early influences, she believes getting in touch with the land and rural roots keeps things fresh. “Spending time on the farm is life-changing,” says Mary Catherine. “As a result, Cotton & Quill has recently evolved with more botanical prints and organic forms.”
The island’s blue base (Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore) with white-washed butcher block top anchors the kitchen. In lieu of island lighting, Mary Catherine opted for a pair of vintage crystal lamps finished with blue shades from Lowe’s. A recessed window above the classic farm sink and the horizontal wood paneling add old-world character. A sleek range hood pairs with Quartzite countertops to add a sleek touch. Blue-and-white bar stools are by Kenian.
“I’m surrounded by a natural world that inspires me, and almost anything I need to be creative is right outside my door. The landscape speaks for itself.”
–Mary Catherine Folmar of Cotton & Quill
Royal Doulton Toby Jugs and a wooden advent calendar tree from a recent trip to Williamsburg reflect Mary Catherine’s talent for creating unexpected combinations.
In the short term, Mary Catherine and Tyler are growing more of their own food, encouraging wildlife habitat, and adding greenhouses for citrus and winter gardens. As a lasting legacy, they are planting orchards of apples, pears, peaches, figs, and persimmons and reestablishing stands of native long-leaf pine.
Every season brings its rewards, and Mary Catherine especially relishes all that the land offers up when Christmas rolls around. “I’m surrounded by a natural world that inspires me, and almost anything I need to be creative is right outside my door,” she says.
STANDING TALL The Christmas tree stands tall in a sunny corner of the living area where sloped ceilings rise to 12 feet. This year’s tree topper is an elf ferry from a great aunt, but some themes are repeated year after year. “My grandmother had a gift shop in Athens, Alabama, and she started giving me Christopher Radko as a child. I’m still collecting them,” says Mary Catherine. Ever balancing high with low, she hangs old-school tinsel and admits there might be a few “knock-off” ornaments hidden amid the branches.
During the holidays, the spirit of Christmas abounds at the farm. A dried magnolia wreath marks the welcome gate, while another wreath surrounding a cattle skull found on the property adorns an old barn. “I love balancing the unexpected with the traditional,” Mary Catherine says. With a knack for merging old and new, as well as personal and professional, she re-imagined a vintage wooden wreath originally from Colonial Williamsburg that had belonged to her mother Mary Nelle Clem. Pleased with the effort, Mary Catherine found a woodworker in Auburn to adapt and craft the form, along with wooden topiaries, and she now sells these through Cotton & Quill. She also produces ‘How-To” videos to create your own.
FAVORITE FINDS There’s an art to both discovering vintage flea market treasures, as well as embracing new products by other up-and-coming designers that are sure to become an instant classic. Mary Catherine scores in both regards. A few of her favorite new things grace the dining area. The table and matching candelabras are Dunes & Duchess. The red leather tufted ottoman is from Van Collier. The chair from Mainly Baskets is a contemporary take on a traditional Irish high-back chair designed as a cocoon for nestling by a fire. It can easily be moved from dining to living area. The Cotton & Quill Napoleonic Bee in olive on velvet makes the chair uniquely Mary Catherine’s own.
Inside Mary Catherine and Tyler’s unassuming abode, the magic continues to unfold. The couple chose a sleek eye-level fireplace with a herringbone-brick inlay. Vintage gun racks supporting hand-carved walking sticks made by Tyler serve as the mantel, while a wild boar head swathed in greenery and stuffed with an apple is the “piece de resistance.”
A navy-blue wood camp blanket and a pair of vintage brass lamps lend a more masculine air to the guest bedroom.MASTERFUL MIX A blend of old and new inspires the primary bedroom. Window treatments are a simple pleated design in a fresh pink-and-green floral. A vintage bamboo headboard from Mary & Wilma was refreshed with Woodlawn Blue by Benjamin Moore. A pair of contemporary swing-arm lamps are outfitted with Cotton & Quill shades. Hand-embroidered pillowcases and family heirloom needlepointed pillows dress the bed along with a vintage Suzani textile. Garland hanging on antlers and a portrait above the bed nod to the season.
Framing the interior walls required deep recessed windowsills that add character. “We incorporated tall doors with oversized knobs and added wide trim to create a more custom look,” Mary Catherine says. Everything is designed for ultimate flexibility. “It’s just us, so the dining room table doubles as a desk or dinner for two. But we can also set it for six or push it against the wall as a buffet for casual entertaining.”
AROUND THE FARM CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Mary Catherine decks everyday items with holiday décor, including work boots stuffed with greenery. She revived a vintage wingback chair with new upholstery from her Cotton & Quill line of fabrics (C&Q Shu Te’s Chintz in Mint). The pillow, also in her collection, is Thistle in Olive on velvet. She sourced the Majolica collection in Andalusia. The barn gains a festive, country look with a wreathed cow skull and red ribbon. A magnolia wreath marks the front gate.
Furniture placement defines the one continuous space and creates gracious scale and livability. The once-blank canvas of a pre-fab building is now animated with layers, details, textures, prints, collections, and, of course, color. And best of all, it’s where Mary Catherine and Tyler feel right at home.
Pottery has always been that thing that kind of grounds me,” says artist Katherine Tucker of the pieces she creates for her Civil Stoneware line. Classically trained, Katherine began with an inky-black clay body, turning out bowls, cups, plates, and serving pieces which are stunning in their simplicity. Next she added pieces in white (which she calls “blanc”), adding sand and then some colorful super-matte finishes like lime green and cobalt blue. “All the pieces play well with each other and with other ones many people already own,” she says. “They are great to mix and match.”
Katherine is drawn to working in clay, as it feeds her sense of grounding and connection. “I heard a saying once that the frequency of the maker can be found and felt in each piece,” she says. “I like thinking about that bond I have with someone who drinks their morning coffee from one of my cups.”
Beyond platters and mise en place bowls, Katherine has recently started producing ceramic pendant lights and sconces. You can see these locally at June Coffee Roasters.
“This is such a receptive community, open to fine arts and supporting creativity. I feel honored that my work resonates with so many.”
– Katherine Tucker, founder, Civil Stoneware
What & Where To Buy
In addition to her tabletop wares and culinary pieces, Katherine creates special works each Christmas—ceramic ornaments that sing and miniature creches nestled into matchboxes. She also offers private lessons in her downtown studio space, where individuals or groups can learn the basics of pottery, fashioning their own heirloom-worthy vessels. Find Civil Stoneware online and at Table Matters in Mountain Brook Village, Still-Johnson on Morris Avenue, and the Mentone Market.
Homewood-based designer Julie Terrell has always had a thing for the holidays. “When you think about it, your holiday décor is usually up for about six weeks of the year,” she says. “Why not incorporate your personal style into those details too?”
When her children were younger, Julie created a refined version of the traditional Advent Calendar, one her family still pulls out each December. Her design clients started asking for them as well, which got her thinking about how each particular client might celebrate the holidays. “I decided to create custom stockings for them as housewarming gifts based on their individual styles,” she says. And MERRY by Julie Terrell was born.
Julie’s line of handcrafted Christmas stockings in luxe fabrics can be made unique with the addition of personalized elements, including the porcelain charms she creates. “I encourage buyers to add family pieces like cufflinks or brooches,” she says. When asked if there is a sentiment that underpins her work, Julie adds, “My life goal is to be MERRY! Prioritize the things you value most and let the rest go.”
“What does it mean to be a maker here in Birmingham? I’d say that as a Southern city, there is a great appreciation for creativity, quality, and craftsmanship—all of the small things that make a home beautiful. I enjoy being a part of the tradition of creating timeless pieces that can be passed down for generations.”
— Julie Terrell
What & Where To Buy
Julie’s entire MERRY line can be found on her website (julieterrell.com), where buyers can choose their stocking fabrics and add an array of adornments. Her tabletop Advent calendars, a sophisticated take on this Christmas tradition, are also available. And her ceramic snowflake ornaments make great additions to any gift. Julie promises there will be holiday pop-ups too, which she’ll share via social media: @julieterrelldesign
