Bottega, Helen, and Little Bird Chefs Shared the Recipes You’ll Want to Make at Home

By
Christiana Roussel
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From left: Christiana Roussel, Frank Stitt, Bill Briand, Rob McDaniel, and Adam Evans

A Gathering in Fairhope

Fairhope is the kind of town that makes you want to slow down — bayfront porches, live oaks heavy with moss, a downtown built for wandering. So when word came that four of the South’s most celebrated chefs were gathering there for a single night of cooking, just for each other, it didn’t take much convincing to make the drive.

The evening belonged to Bill Briand, chef and founder of Little Bird, who had invited three old friends to join him behind the stove: Frank Stitt of Bottega and Chez Fonfon, Rob McDaniel of Helen and Bayonet, and Adam Evans of Automatic Seafood & Oysters. Together they’d become known, affectionately, as “the Bama Boys” — a nod to years of crossing paths at each other’s restaurants, at industry dinners, at the kind of gatherings where great cooks end up trading notes long after the kitchen has closed.

This particular evening traced back to a tradition Briand started years ago at Fisher’s in Orange Beach: Southern Grace dinners, built on a simple premise — invite the friends whose cooking you admire most, and let them loose in your kitchen. At Little Bird, which Briand opened in 2025 alongside Robert and Bentley Evans of Deep Roots Restaurant Group, that tradition found a new home. The format hasn’t changed: a cocktail reception, a five-course dinner paired course by course, and a room full of strangers who leave as something closer to friends.

Courses, Pairing, and Community

Arriving early, there was time to slip behind the swinging kitchen door before the first guests took their seats. The mood back there was loose and bright — four chefs in their whites, trading good-natured jabs, walking through the night’s courses like old teammates running a familiar play: Warm Asparagus with Crawfish from Stitt, Oyster & Leek Soup from McDaniel, Crab-Crusted Red Snapper from Briand, Speck-Wrapped Swordfish from Evans. Briand’s own staff moved through the space with the same ease, the kind of quiet confidence that comes from a kitchen that trusts each other.

Eventually, hospitality called from the other side of the door. Cocktails were poured, passed hors d’oeuvres made their way through the room, and it was time to trade the kitchen for a seat at the table — a hard trade to make, but the right one. Each course arrived paired with a wine chosen by Little Bird’s wine director, Will Jones, who worked the room with the easy authority of someone who genuinely loves what’s in the glass. Course by course, the evening unspooled the way the best dinner parties do: unhurried, a little loud, full of new introductions and old stories.

A Lasting Legacy and Recipes to Try

By the time the last of the coconut ice cream profiterole had disappeared from the plate, no one at the table seemed in any hurry to leave. There was a final round of drinks, a last toast among the Bama Boys to a good night’s work — and already, the easy talk of when the next one might happen.

That’s the real takeaway from a night like this one: you don’t need four James Beard–adjacent chefs in your kitchen to borrow the spirit of it. You need good company, a menu built with care, and a table set for the people you love. Below, three recipes from the evening — including the tomato pie worth planning a whole dinner around.

PLAN YOUR OWN NIGHT IN FAIRHOPE

Fairhope has earned comparisons to Carmel-by-the-Sea, and it’s easy to see why — a walkable downtown, sweeping views of Mobile Bay, and a pace of life that encourages lingering. If a dinner at Little Bird is the draw, make a weekend of it. A few favorites:

  • The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection — A Point Clear landmark since 1847, with sweeping Mobile Bay views, golf, spa amenities, and old-school Southern hospitality.
  • Jubilee Suites — A boutique bed-and-breakfast perched on the bay, minutes from downtown Fairhope, with sunset views, made-to-order breakfasts, and complimentary kayaks and paddleboards.
  • Emma’s Bay House — A quieter, cottage-style stay within walking distance of the pier and downtown shops — intimate, charming, and classically Fairhope.

THE RECIPES

BOTTEGA’S TORTELLINI SALAD

Recipe by Chef Frank Stitt, adapted for the home cook

SERVES 8

Ingredients

  • Sweet yellow corn, enough to yield 2½ cups kernels
  • 1 large red onion, enough to yield one cup when diced
  • 1 pound cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated, such as Rana 5 Cheese or Tricolor Cheese Tortellini)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 cup mozzarella, diced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 2 tablespoons seeded and minced jalapeño (optional)
  • ⅓ cup aioli
  • ½ cup sherry–red wine vinaigrette
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Heat a grill, grill pan, or broiler to high heat. Lightly oil corn and grill, turning often, until lightly charred on all sides. Remove and cool.
  2. Slice red onion into 1-inch-thick rings, brush lightly with oil, and grill until charred. Cool, then dice; you will need 1 cup.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain and cool slightly. Cut corn kernels from the cob, and place in a large bowl with tomatoes, mozzarella, and diced onion. Stir in parsley, basil, and jalapeño, if using.
  4. Add aioli and vinaigrette; toss gently to combine. Fold in cooked tortellini, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Serve chilled or at room temperature, on its own or over salad greens.

HELEN TOMATO PIE

Recipe by Rob McDaniel of Helen, adapted for the home cook

SERVES 8-10

Ingredients

  • 2 prepared refrigerated piecrusts
  • 10–12 medium ripe tomatoes (about baseball-size), sliced ¼-inch thick
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 pound prepared white pimento cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Fit piecrusts into 2 (9-inch) pie plates. Line with parchment paper and pie weights or dried beans; bake 15 minutes. Remove weights, and bake 5 minutes more, until lightly golden. Cool slightly.
  2. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then top with another layer of paper towels. Let rest at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate several hours) to draw out excess moisture.
  3. Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Layer tomatoes tightly into prepared crusts, slightly overlapping slices and filling pies to the top.
  4. Spread pimento cheese evenly over each pie, covering tomatoes completely.
  5. Bake 20–25 minutes, rotating halfway through, until cheese is bubbling and lightly browned.
  6. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

HOME COOK NOTES: Store-bought pimento cheese works beautifully here; look for a high-quality Southern-style version with white cheddar. Depending on size, expect to use about 5–6 tomatoes per pie. Allowing the tomatoes to drain before baking is the key to preventing a soggy crust.

OYSTER SALAD WITH WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Recipe by Bill Briand of Little Bird Restaurant, Fairhope, AL

SERVES 4-6

Ingredients

Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

  • 1 cup thick-cut bacon, diced
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup Creole mustard

Oyster Dredge

  • 2 cups corn flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (omit if seasoning is already salted)

Salad

  • ½ pound fresh spinach
  • ½ red onion, thinly shaved
  • 1 pint shucked oysters

Directions

  1. Make the vinaigrette: In a small saucepan, cook bacon in canola oil until crisp. Strain, reserving both the bacon and oil. Let the oil cool slightly. In a bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar and Creole mustard. Slowly whisk in the reserved oil until emulsified. Stir in the bacon and keep warm.
  2. Prepare the oysters: In a shallow bowl, combine corn flour, cornmeal, Creole seasoning, and salt. Dredge oysters in the mixture, shaking off excess. Fry in 350° oil until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
  3. Assemble the salad: Combine spinach and shaved red onion in a large bowl. Toss lightly with warm bacon vinaigrette.
  4. Divide salad among plates, and top with hot fried oysters. Serve immediately.

HOME COOK NOTES: Ask your seafood market to shuck the oysters for convenience. For extra flavor, use a stone-ground Creole mustard. The warm bacon vinaigrette also pairs beautifully with grilled shrimp or roasted vegetables.

Red Fox on the Run

For more conversation with Chef Bill Briand, tune in to “Red Fox on the Run” with Christiana Roussel HERE.

Also available on YouTube, iHeart, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

More From Our Kitchen

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5 Things Homeowners Should Know Before Choosing Kitchen & Bath Fixtures

By
BHG Partners
-
Kitchen and bath fixtures from GLS Supply

The right fixtures don’t just complete a space—they make everyday life more beautiful, functional, and enjoyable. Here are five things experienced homeowners often wish they’d known before making their selections.

Building or remodeling a home is exciting, but it also comes with countless decisions. Cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint colors—the list goes on. It’s easy for plumbing fixtures to become one of the last items on the checklist, but they play a much bigger role than many homeowners realize.

After helping thousands of homeowners create kitchens and bathrooms they love, we’ve noticed a few lessons people often share once their projects are complete.

1. Don’t Choose Fixtures Last

Fixtures should complement the overall design of your space, not simply fill a spot once everything else has been selected. Finishes, sink styles, and faucet designs all contribute to the final look and feel of a room.

Bringing fixtures into the conversation early helps create a more cohesive design and can also prevent unexpected changes later in the project.

2. Pictures Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Online photos are a great place to gather inspiration, but they rarely capture how a product actually looks or feels.

A brushed brass finish may appear warmer in person than it does on a screen. Matte black finishes can vary from one manufacturer to another. The weight of a faucet handle, the depth of a kitchen sink, or the comfort of a soaking tub simply can’t be appreciated through a photo.

Seeing products in person at a local showroom often gives homeowners the confidence to make decisions they’ll be happy with for years to come.

3. Think About How You Live

The most beautiful fixture isn’t always the best choice if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle.

Do you cook every evening? A pull-down kitchen faucet and workstation sink may become everyday favorites. Love to entertain? A larger farmhouse sink or bar sink might make hosting easier. Looking for a place to unwind after a busy day? A deep soaking tub or a spacious shower with multiple spray options can transform your daily routine.

Your home should work for the way you live—not the other way around.

4. Mixing Finishes Can Create a More Collected Look

Many homeowners assume every fixture throughout the house needs to match perfectly. In reality, thoughtfully mixing finishes often creates a more layered and personalized design.

The key is consistency. Repeating a finish throughout the home while introducing complementary accents can add warmth and character without feeling mismatched.

5. Expert Guidance Makes the Process Easier

With so many brands, styles, and finishes available today, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Working with a knowledgeable showroom consultant allows you to compare products side by side, coordinate selections across multiple rooms, and ask questions before making important decisions. Sometimes a simple conversation can help uncover options you hadn’t considered—or prevent costly mistakes down the road.

The best kitchen and bath spaces aren’t created by chance. They’re created through thoughtful planning, quality products, and expert guidance. Whether you’re building your forever home or simply updating one room, taking the time to see, compare, and experience fixtures in person can make all the difference.

After all, these are the details you’ll use every single day—and they’re worth choosing with confidence.

Visit the GLS Supply Kitchen & Bath Showroom

Explore kitchen and bath fixtures in person, compare finishes and styles, and work with a showroom consultant to find selections that fit your home and the way you live.

Visit GLS Supply

 

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Lake House Know-How

By
Lacey Howard
-

When the Baugh family set out to refresh their longtime Lake Martin cottage, they weren’t looking to turn it into something unrecognizable. They wanted to preserve the easygoing gathering place where four generations have made memories. Interior designer Lauren Conner layered updates such as fresh paint, hardwoods, lighting, and appliances with the family’s beloved quilts, folk art, and collected natural treasures, creating a bright, personality-filled retreat made for dock jumps, full weekends, and the simple pleasures of lake life. To lay the foundation for an effortless retreat, lean into these essential lake house “know-hows”:

Prioritize the view.

A natural palette indoors will let the great outdoors command the attention they deserve. Arrange furniture accordingly.

Use durable materials.

Opt for performance or indoor/outdoor fabrics and rugs along with furnishings made of stone, rustic wood, rattan, or composite material. Eliminate anything that is formal or has a delicate finish.

Add blackout lining to window treatments.

Because deep sleep is a priority in a vacation home.

Built for entertaining without the fuss, an antique wooden trunk doubles as a heavy-duty coffee table and the stage for an impromptu chess match. Woven rattan furniture helps bring rugged, natural textures indoors. Photos by Jean Allsopp, Styling by Christina Brockman
A hardy rattan coffee table topped with a bowl of lemons anchors the room, while while low-maintenance performance-fabric sofa cushions, vibrant embroidered accent pillows, and a durable patterned area rug offer effortless global style made to withstand everyday lake-house life.

Outsmart spring’s green.

Splurge on outdoor furniture covers to protect from the inevitable pollen attack.

Set up a self-serve coffee bar and stock a drink fridge.

Let guests can help themselves. A refrigerator in the outdoor space is ideal—hot summers call for cool drinks.

Hang something unexpected.

A collection of natural objects like turtle shells or arrowheads, or a collection of vintage fishing equipment add an interesting layer.

Soft white bed coverings provide a neutral base for a collection of cherished blue-and-white quilts. Bold gingham check pillows offer a simple pattern boost, while a framed collection of unique fish illustrations adds a whimsical, nature-inspired note.

Ask guests to bring their own towels for swimming.

There will be plenty of sheets and bath towels for the hosts to wash after a big weekend.

Give your home a name.

Monogram it on towels and bags. A name can also be helpful when giving directions for visitors and deliveries.

A cozy corner is transformed into an eclectic gallery, showcasing a joyful collection of floral and folk art. The textured jute ottoman and small limestone side table add subtle, natural touches that prevent the abundant pattern from feeling overwhelming.

READ THE FULL STORY

Inside the Baugh Family’s Lake Martin Retreat

Family Treasure

Resources

Interior design: Lauren Conner, laurenconnerinteriors.com, IG @laurenLaureninteriors

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Lake Martin Family Treasure Refresh by Lauren Conner

By
Lacey Howard
-
Screened porch dining table set with dried floral arrangements, candlesticks, and a vintage quilt tablecloth, overlooking Lake Martin through the trees.
The view that started it all — the screened porch table looks straight out over Lake Martin, the reason the Baugh family never left. // Photos by Jean Allsopp, Styling by Christina Brockman
38 years of family fun.

Four Generations at Lake Martin

“The lake house is our home base,” former Mountain Brook Elementary sixth-grade science teacher Pam Baugh says of her family’s beloved vacation home on Lake Martin. “My parents bought the house in 1988 when my daughter, Kat, was two years old. It was intended to be a gathering place, and it has fulfilled its mission!” Pam and her brothers brought their families to the lake for weekends and summers together jumping off the dock and exploring. “Cousins grew up together,” she says.

Today, those cousins are all adults, and Pam and her husband, Robert, own the home. They are excited to welcome the next generation—the fourth who will don life jackets and run barefoot down to the water, their little feet slapping on the dock’s wood boards. But after more than 35 years of family fun, the cottage needed some TLC beyond regular maintenance. “We didn’t want to mess with a good thing,” Pam says, “but we did need to redecorate.” She invited her friend and neighbor, interior designer Lauren Conner, to help with making updates. “Pam is colorful in personality and in design, so I wanted to embrace that,” Lauren says. “I wanted to use what they already had and make the cottage reflect Pam’s fun personality.”

With an eye for art, Pam filled the lakehouse with her own collections, pieces inherited from her parents, and some of her own work. The painting over the screened porch sofa was bought by her parents from a farmer on a road trip through Switzerland.
An antique baker’s table is a piece Pam and her mom upcycled years ago. The encaustic on the easel is one of Pam’s own creations.
“My mother taught me how to refinish furniture,” Pam remembers.

“Our house is not fancy by today’s standards, but we are not fancy people.”

-homeowner Pam Baugh

Lauren went to work, starting with modernizing and refreshing: hardwoods to replace carpet in bedrooms, new appliances, fresh paint inside and out, updated lighting and fixtures. Then, she turned to reusing pieces, adding new furniture where necessary, and accessorizing with Pam’s colorful cache of interesting objects and art. “She has many beautiful, handmade things, and collections of folk art, quilts, and natural objects such as turtle shells, bird nests, fossils.” The result is a cottage that feels bright, happy, and colorful—just like Pam herself.

An island brings additional work space to the kitchen while a large freestanding cupboard offers storage. On top is a collection of berry baskets, many handmade by Pam.

The house, Lauren adds, “is quirky and interesting. The scale is humble but it’s a place designed for the simple pleasures of lake life,” Lauren says. “And it lives larger than you might think. It is comfortable for lots of people.”

Green cabinetry beneath a window with printed café curtains, open wicker storage baskets, and a countertop. Styled with garden vegetables and a floral pitcher on display at a Lake Martin home.
Two rows of baskets provide undercounter storage near the home’s washer and dryer.

Just like her parents, Pam intends to fill the home with friends and family for weekends and summers growing up and growing old together. “Our son, Richard, who wasn’t born yet when we started going to the lake house, and his wife Mariana have two little girls who soon will be jumping off the dock together,” Pam says. “The world has come full circle and it feels just right for us. I’m so glad we made the decision to keep the lake house.”

The primary bedroom’s neutral palette is punctuated with red and green. “We started with the fern fabric because Pam’s such a biologist,” Lauren says. The photo over the bed is Pam’s own of flowers she grew. “She also has a whole closet of vintage quilts,” Lauren says.
A carved Spanish bench occupies a nook in the primary bedroom. A photo of zinnias by Pam hangs above it and a batik pillow cover Pam purchased in Botswana adds a handmade touch.
Bed with a vibrant Suzani textile hanging above the headboard, styled with graphic black-and-white bird-print pillow shams at Lake Martin home.
“Lauren found the fabulous Suzani over the bed,” Pam says of one of the main-level bedrooms. To the left, a Woody Long painting of ballet dancers hangs above a cowboy and bride kissing by Annie “Frantic” Morley. “I have several Longs and several Frantics,” she says. “I’ve been collecting my whole life.” Lamps are made from old French shutters.
iving room with cream sofa, two olive-green swivel chairs, colorful quilted throw pillows, a stone fireplace, and a vase of fresh dahlias on a glass coffee table at a Lake Martin lake house.
In the living room, Pam and Lauren decided to clean and keep a rug that had been in the house for years. New olive-green swivel chairs from Odette in Pepper Place and pillows made from a French fabric Pam purchased long ago echo the rug’s palette. Over the fireplace, a photograph of Cahaba River Lilies by Pam holds court.

Related:


Lake House Know-How: 8 Designer Tips for Life on the Water →

Resources

Interior design: Lauren Conner, laurenconnerinteriors.com, IG @laurenLaureninteriors

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Luxury Lives in the Details: Custom Storage as a Design Essential

By
BHG Partners
-
Custom luxury closet and wardrobe storage designed by Space Cadets

In today’s most thoughtfully designed homes, beauty is no longer reserved for what is seen at first glance.

It lives in the details.

The quiet precision of a well-lit wardrobe. The seamless flow of a dressing space. The subtle satisfaction of opening a drawer and finding everything exactly where it belongs. These are the elements that define modern luxury. Not excess, but ease.

Increasingly, that sense of ease begins with how a home is organized.

The Shift From Afterthought to Intention

For years, storage was treated as a secondary consideration. Closets were standard, utilitarian and often overlooked during the design process. The focus remained on kitchens, living spaces and finishes that made an immediate impression.

But the way we live has evolved.

Today’s homeowners are not simply seeking beautiful spaces. They are seeking spaces that function beautifully. Homes that support their routines, reduce friction and create a sense of calm in everyday life.

As a result, storage has taken on a new role. It is no longer an afterthought. It is an integral part of the design conversation.

A well-designed closet is not just a place to store belongings. It is an extension of the home’s architecture, reflecting the same level of care, craftsmanship and intention.

Where Form Meets Function

True luxury is found where form and function meet effortlessly.

In a custom storage space, every element serves a purpose while contributing to a cohesive aesthetic. Finishes are selected to complement the home’s palette. Layouts are tailored to the homeowner’s wardrobe and lifestyle. Lighting is considered not just for visibility, but also for ambiance.

The result is a space that feels as refined as it is practical.

Long hanging sections accommodate gowns and coats with ease. Drawers glide open to reveal neatly arranged accessories. Shelving is spaced with intention, allowing each item room to breathe. Even the simplest routines become more fluid when everything is thoughtfully placed.

This is not about adding more. It is about designing better.

A Seamless Extension of the Home

When storage is approached as a design essential, it transforms the way a home feels as a whole.

Closets begin to mirror the quality and tone of adjacent spaces. A primary suite flows naturally into a dressing area that feels just as considered as the bedroom itself. Finishes align. Materials echo one another. Nothing feels disconnected or overlooked.

This level of continuity creates a quiet sense of harmony.

It also elevates the daily experience of living in the home. Mornings become more efficient. Evenings feel more relaxed. There is less searching, less decision fatigue and more space to move through the day with ease.

For many homeowners, this shift is subtle but profound.

Designed Around the Individual

Perhaps the most defining element of custom storage is that no two spaces are alike.

Each design begins with a simple question:

How do you live?

The answer shapes everything that follows.

A client with an extensive wardrobe may prioritize visibility and display. Another may value simplicity and streamlined access. Some may need flexibility for changing seasons or evolving lifestyles. Others may be navigating a transition and seeking a space that feels manageable and calm.

Custom design responds to these needs with precision.

Every shelf, every drawer and every hanging space is created with intention. Not to impress, but to support. Not to fill space, but to make it meaningful.

The New Standard of Luxury Living

As homeowners continue to invest in spaces that reflect both beauty and function, custom storage has become a defining feature of elevated design.

It is not simply about organization.

It is about creating an environment that works in quiet partnership with your life. One that anticipates your needs, supports your routines and enhances your sense of calm without calling attention to itself.

Because in the end, the most luxurious spaces are not the ones that demand attention.

They are the ones that make everything feel effortless.

Sponsored by Space Cadets

Schedule your private design consultation and step into a space that feels effortless.

Visit Space Cadets

 

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Back to Routine: Is Your Home Ready for the Season Ahead?

By
BHG Partners
-
Custom blue Roman shades and coordinating drapery in a bright living room

There is something about August that feels like a reset.

The backpacks come out. Calendars start filling up. Mornings become more structured, and evenings settle into familiar routines. Whether you have children heading back to school or you are simply returning to a regular rhythm after summer, your home starts working a little harder.

The rooms you use every day suddenly matter a little more.

The kitchen table becomes homework central. The home office fills back up with meetings. Family rooms become the place where everyone gathers at the end of a busy day.

As routines change, it is worth asking one simple question: Is your home ready for the season ahead?

Take a Quick Walk Through Your Home

Before fall arrives, spend a few minutes looking at your home with fresh eyes.

1. Visit the rooms you use most.

Start in the spaces where life happens every day. Your kitchen, family room, home office and bedrooms often reveal little frustrations that were easy to overlook during the slower pace of summer.

2. Notice the light.

Does afternoon sun make it difficult to work on a computer? Does glare reach the dining table where homework gets done? Are there times of day when you automatically close the blinds because the room becomes uncomfortable?

3. Think about privacy.

As evenings arrive a little earlier and lights come on inside, are there rooms that feel more exposed than you would like?

Sometimes the biggest improvements come from solving the small annoyances you experience every day.

Where Routines and Comfort Intersect

Here are a few places where homeowners often notice the biggest difference.

Home offices should support focus.

Natural light is one of the best features of a workspace until it creates glare on a computer screen. The right window treatments can soften harsh sunlight while keeping the room bright and inviting.

Family spaces need flexibility.

The family room serves many purposes throughout the day. Morning coffee, afternoon homework, movie nights and everything in between require different levels of light and privacy. Flexible window treatments make it easier to adjust the room as your day changes.

Bedrooms deserve better rest.

A comfortable bedroom is about more than the mattress. Managing early morning light and creating privacy can make the room feel more peaceful and better suited for rest.

Small details shape everyday life.

Sometimes it is not one big problem, but an accumulation of little inconveniences. Pulling the blinds halfway every afternoon. Rearranging furniture to avoid glare. Avoiding a favorite chair because it sits in direct sun. Solving those everyday frustrations can change how a room feels.

Simple Improvements Can Make a Lasting Difference

If your home feels too bright during the day, consider light-filtering shades that soften sunlight while preserving your view.

If privacy is your priority, layered treatments can provide flexibility without making a room feel closed in.

If convenience matters, motorized shades allow you to adjust multiple windows with the touch of a button or according to a schedule that follows your daily routine.

The best solution is not the one with the most features. It is the one that fits the way you live.

A Fresh Start Does Not Require a Major Renovation

As the pace of life picks up again, your home should support the way you live, not work against it.

Ask yourself:

  • Which room do I spend the most time in each day?
  • When does that room feel the least comfortable?
  • What small improvement would make the biggest difference?

Sometimes the answer is surprisingly simple.

A few thoughtful updates can make your home feel calmer, more comfortable and ready for whatever the season brings.

Sponsored by VanGogh Window Fashions

If your home could use more comfort, privacy or light control, the VanGogh Window Fashions team can create a custom solution suited to your style and the way you live.

Visit VanGogh Window Fashions

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Kitchen Contest Runner Ups Evolve the White Kitchen

By
Riley Hays
-

The classic white kitchen remains a staple in home design, but today’s top interior designers are rethinking the traditional monochrome look. In our recent design contest, these standout runner-ups demonstrate how to evolve the white kitchen using warm wood accents, textured tile, and unexpected metallic finishes.

Modern white kitchen featuring warm oak island and brass hardware
A single continuous run of cabinetry unites kitchen and dining, with crisp white perimeter cabinetry giving way to warm, custom wood millwork on the dining side. // Photography: Leslie Davis
Interior designer Leslie Davis stands in her winning project, a departure from the traditional white kitchen
Leslie Davis of Deeply Southern Home

A Departure from the “Usual Suspects”

When designer Leslie Davis was asked to revamp this kitchen in Hoover, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with it. It was perfectly acceptable as functioning kitchens go, but it didn’t suit the way the owners wanted to live or their personal style. Leslie’s first move was the floor plan.

“I shuffled the layout to create one long line of cabinetry to unite the kitchen and dining spaces,” Leslie says. Custom wood cabinetry anchors the dining side and kitchen wall opposite, enveloping the central white space in a warm finish. The break in color brings both interest and distinction to the room’s varied uses.

White kitchen cabinetry paired with custom wood dining nook cabinets creating a warm color contrast
A quiet color break adds depth and defines each space’s purpose.

Rooted in Place: Natural Materials Elevate the White Kitchen

Organic touches extend to material choices such as the countertops, backsplash, and tile framing the kitchen window. “The island’s River Black granite was chosen for its durability as well as contrast,” Leslie says of the sleek surface that harmonizes with veining in the perimeter countertops and backsplash. As a finishing touch, Dolomite tile extends from the backsplash to frame the kitchen window.

Evolved white kitchen design with zellige backsplash tile and custom range hood
The hood uses a concrete-and-colorant blend to create a durable, wipeable plaster texture. African Christos Dolomite marble extends into a low-shelf backsplash for displaying ceramics and forms custom-fabricated casing around the window.
Designed to mimic a distinct piece of custom furniture, the central island features a deep, durable River Black granite top resting on rich custom-stained oak cabinetry with turned legs.

Blurring Boundaries

“I designed the hood with a soft, organic shape specifically to capture the texture,” she says. “I love every step of designing a custom kitchen. Like all of our work as interior designers, it’s very personal,” Leslie says. “I learn how my clients desire to live in their space.”

Spacious white kitchen remodel with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and hidden storage
Rich wood shelving balances open display with tailored storage. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry features a mix of unlacquered brass cup pulls and elongated handles that will patina gracefully over time.

Why We Love It

Beyond White

Cabinetry is painted Sherwin-Williams ‘White Duck,’ while walls are ‘Accessible Beige,’ a warm neutral with creamy golden undertones that reads as a natural extension of the custom wood stain in the dining nook.

Light Focus

This kitchen was designed around natural light. Aged brass and mirrored pendants and sconces offer 19th-century character—artfully inspired pieces designed to be noticed without overly demanding attention.

Personal Touches

The tower cabinetry flanking the dining nook handles the practical storage, but the real moment lives in the open space between them. There, prints brought home from a trip to China and sculptural pieces gathered from years of travel spark curiosity and conversation.

Runner Up: Creating a Mood Beyond the White Kitchen

Moody cottage kitchen with oxblood-red cabinets and honed soapstone countertops, an alternative take on the white kitchen trend
Oxblood-red cabinetry sets a moody, sophisticated tone against dark, honed soapstone countertops and a matching backsplash, while cool slate flooring grounds the space in quiet contrast. // Photography: Cole Youngblood

Designed by Tombrello Collective, a residential design company and shop in Gardendale, this warm, moody cottage kitchen brings sophistication and style to the forefront. Oxblood-red cabinets combine with dark, honed soapstone countertops and backsplash for drama and flair. Slate tile floors keep things cool underfoot. A custom island built from pine brings a handcrafted touch to the space, upping the welcoming vibe even more.

Pine kitchen island and slate tile flooring in a moody cottage-style kitchen designed by Tombrello Collective
A custom pine island brings warmth and handcrafted texture to the room, its natural grain softening the drama of the soapstone surfaces and oxblood cabinetry that surround it.

Resources

Designer: Leslie Davis; Deeply Southern Home, deeplysouthernhome.com Countertops and Tile: Maranatha Stone and Floors Light Fixtures/Lighting: Visual Comfort Cabinets: Mendez Woodworks Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Group, Inc.

Design: Tombrello Collective Honed Soapstone Countertops: Stone Concepts Lighting: Mayer Lighting Island: Tombrello Collective Hardware: Brandino Brass Plumbing Fixtures: VW Supply

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Why We Love It: A Mountain Brook Kitchen Refresh

By
Paige Townley
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When Mountain Brook homeowners set out to rethink their kitchen, they weren’t looking for more square footage—they were searching for a space that worked harder and flowed more naturally. By working within the existing footprint, interior designer Kelly Neely subtly shifted how the entire home is experienced day to day.

Read on to find out why this kitchen is a masterclass in quiet confidence:

Updated Mountain Brook kitchen featuring a long runner rug, white cabinetry, fluted island details, and milk-glass pendant lights
From the fluted hood and island to the brass accents and cheerful floral shades, every element plays its part to make this space feel warm, layered, and effortlessly tailored. // Photography by: Laurey Glenn, Styling: Kathleen Varner

Details that do the work.

Every element is quietly pulling in the same direction, creating cohesion without ever feeling repetitive. Fluted detailing on the island and range hood break up the all-white cabinetry, while milk-glass globe pendants echo that movement overhead in a more sculptural way. Unlacquered brass hardware warms the palette just enough to keep the white from feeling flat, and the waterfall-edge marble peninsula adds a quiet material shift that anchors the space.

Custom pantry cabinetry with brass hardware in a renovated Mountain Brook home kitchen refresh
A tight color story of moss greens, warm mustard, and brass ties block prints and textured mesh into one cohesive, purposeful moment.

Pattern with purpose.

Across the kitchen, breakfast nook, and laundry room, pattern is used as a unifying thread rather than a repeated motif, creating continuity that feels natural instead of overly coordinated.

Custom built-in wet bar with detailed cabinetry and marble counter in a Mountain Brook kitchen refresh
By tucking heavy-duty storage and appliances behind seamless lower cabinetry, the bar stays completely serene. This smart concealment is exactly what frees up the brass shelving above to act as a curated display rather than a cluttered catch-all.

A balance of form and function.

Every decision in the kitchen is rooted in how the space is actually used, with smart storage and concealed cabinetry keeping the room visually calm while working hard behind the scenes.

LOVE THIS LOOK?

Explore more of interior designer Kelly Neely’s signature approach to custom millwork, curated patterns, and intentional space planning across her recent projects.

Devoted to the Details

Resources

Interior Design: Kelly Neely Kitchen cabinetry (custom, Sherwin-Williams ‘Alabaster’), Burnham’s Fine Cabinetry Countertops & waterfall-edge peninsula (Alabama white marble) Cottage Supply Kitchen lighting: (oversized milk-glass globe) Visual Comfort, Window treatments & fabric: Lee Jofa Wallpaper: Kravet

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A House Collected Over Generations of Family and Design

By
Cathy Still McGowin
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Converted storage closet turned jewel box china pantry in a historic Athens Alabama house displaying fine porcelain and cabbage plates.
Formerly a storage closet for paper goods and cleaning supplies, this little space was converted into a jewel box for housing china and entertaining items. Fine china mixes with cabbage plates from Hobby Lobby — proving that style doesn’t always translate to dollars. // Photos by Jean Allsopp.

“Everything here has a story,” says Mary Catherine Folmar of her mother’s Athens, Alabama house. “Some may be older than others, but everything has a narrative behind it.”

It’s not a decorating philosophy so much as a way of living. Cross-stitched samplers and needlepoints — some found, others half-completed until they fell into Mary Nelle’s hands — Staffordshire figurines, and an enviable china collection bring interest to cupboards, shelves, and walls throughout the 1929 Georgian.

Vintage china cabinet filled with curated heirloom dinnerware and porcelain collectibles inside a Georgian family house.
An enviable china collection brings interest to cupboards and shelves throughout the house.

Inside, Mary Nelle welcomes her daughter’s eye for keeping her style in the present through fresh takes on historical patterns, color, and a mix of furniture eras and styles both inherited, new, and sourced or thrifted, along with items from her mom’s former business, one of the first Colonial Williamsburg gift boutiques.

Traditional living room interior of a 1929 Georgian house featuring custom drapery, decorative pillows, and antique furnishings.
Mary Catherine’s designs show up in living room drapery, pillows, and upholstery. Sofas were thrift store finds—a bargain at $60 for both. Walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Palladian blue, and the ceiling is Stratton Blue. A portrait of Mary Catherine hangs above the fireplace.

“Growing up, my mom introduced me to beautiful table settings, the allure of historical design—and especially a love of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.”

– Mary Catherine Folmar

Her mother’s former business, one of the first Colonial Williamsburg gift boutiques, introduced generations of Alabama families to American decorative traditions that Mary Nelle and Mary Catherine continue to celebrate.

In addition to fabric and wallpaper designs, Mary Catherine’s creative reach extends to tabletop items, topiary forms, caftans, still life cloches with found objects, and a collection of fabulous finds — each one adding another chapter to the story this house already knows how to tell.

Elegantly styled bathroom in a 1929 Georgian house featuring classic fixtures and refined interior design accents.

A Cotton & Quill design adds panache to the walls and sink skirt in the tiny powder bath.

Mary Catherine Folmar | Cotton & Quill

For more about her workshops, events, or products, visit cottonquill.com.

To see more inside the house click here.

Designer Mary Catherine Folmar of Cotton & Quill standing with her mother Mary Nelle inside their family house in Athens Alabama.
Mary Catherine Folmar and Mary Nelle Clem enjoy a shared love of entertaining and design.

Resources

Interior Design: Mary Catherine Folmar Garden Design: Troy Rhone Florals: Matthew Jimmerson with Athen’s Florist

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Kelly Neely is Devoted to the Details

By
Paige Townley
-

When these Mountain Brook homeowners set out to rethink their kitchen, they weren’t looking for more space as much as they were searching for better space—one that worked harder and flowed more naturally. To bring that vision into focus, they turned to interior designer Kelly Neely, whose approach centered on reworking the existing footprint to subtly shift how the home is experienced day to day. “The sink and range stayed where they were, but everything around them was reworked,” Kelly says. “Cabinetry and circulation now function completely differently, allowing the kitchen to feel more connected and better suited to how the family actually lives.”

White kitchen with fluted island, custom Alabaster cabinetry by Burnham's Fine Cabinetry, and oversized milk-glass pendant lights in a Mountain Brook, Alabama home designed by Kelly Neely.
The kitchen’s footprint stayed the same, but every inch around the sink and range was reworked for how the family actually lives. Photography: Laurey Glenn, Styling: Kathleen Varner

The Palette

Working with a stepped-down ceiling height, Kelly selected all-white custom cabinetry by Burnham’s Fine Cabinetry in Sherwin-Williams ‘Alabaster’ paired with Alabama white marble from Cottage Supply to keep the room feeling light yet elevated. Fluted detailing at the island and range hood introduces movement, while oversized milk-glass globe pendants from Visual Comfort complement those details without competing. “It’s really about restraint and rhythm, letting the finishes do the work so nothing feels heavy,” says Kelly.

“It’s a kitchen that looks beautiful, but more importantly, it works beautifully. Every decision—from storage to seating—was made with how they actually live in mind.”

Kelly Neely

Pattern with Purpose

Kelly introduced color in the kitchen with a light but intentional hand. Tailored window treatments by Lee Jofa weave in soft browns, blues, and greens that carry into the breakfast nook and laundry room, creating continuity without repetition.

The breakfast nook, with its bold Kravet wallpaper, offers a moodier counterpoint, while the laundry room is treated as a moment of its own, wrapped in pattern thanks to a Kravet wallpaper tied to other spaces through shared tones. “We didn’t want one thing to dominate,” Kelly says. “It all had to feel connected but still have its own personality.”

Laundry room wrapped in patterned Kravet wallpaper, tied by color to the adjoining kitchen and breakfast nook by Kelly Neely.
The laundry room was treated as a moment of its own — wrapped in Anthropologie wallpaper that echoes the tones found throughout the rest of the home.
Kelly Neely designed breakfast nook with bold Kravet wallpaper and Lee Jofa window treatments in soft brown, blue, and green tones.
Bold Kravet wallpaper gives the breakfast nook a moodier counterpoint to the kitchen’s light palette, while Lee Jofa window treatments carry the same soft browns, blues, and greens throughout.
Kitchen sink wall with Alabama white marble countertops and backsplash from Cottage Supply, and a fluted range hood in Kelly Neely interior.
Alabama white marble from Cottage Supply keeps the sink wall light and elevated, while fluted detailing at the range hood adds quiet movement without competing for attention.

Built to Work

Just as important was how the kitchen functions day to day. Storage and usability guided the design, with tower cabinets working quietly behind the scenes to conceal small appliances while the island is maximized with drawers for everyday essentials. The range was centered on the base cabinetry rather than the full wall to preserve storage. A waterfall-edge marble peninsula from Cottage Supply was introduced to extend function, offering seating without compromising circulation around the island. “The result is a kitchen and connected spaces that feel natural to the home, as if they have always belonged,” says Kelly. “I love that it feels a bit more collected, like it’s been built over time, even though it hasn’t. Those layers give it such staying power. That’s really what makes the space feel finished.”

Kitchen island with waterfall-edge Alabama white marble peninsula from Cottage Supply, providing additional seating in Kelly Neely designed kitchen.
A waterfall-edge marble peninsula from Cottage Supply extends the island’s function with extra seating, without disrupting circulation around the room.

WHY WE LOVE IT

Three details our editors couldn’t stop talking about — from the fluted island to the pattern-as-thread wallpaper strategy.

GET THE BREAKDOWN

Resources

Interior Design: Kelly Neely Kitchen cabinetry (custom, Sherwin-Williams ‘Alabaster’), Burnham’s Fine Cabinetry Countertops & waterfall-edge peninsula (Alabama white marble) Cottage Supply Kitchen lighting: (oversized milk-glass globe) Visual Comfort, Window treatments & fabric: Lee Jofa Wallpaper: Kravet

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