Equal parts speakeasy and distillery, Sweet Home Spirits in Leeds, Alabama, is on the rise as one of the state’s latest signature liquor producers. Situated in the heart of the city’s Historic and Entertainment District, the Sweet Home Spirits Tasting Room is introducing the brand’s whiskey, vodka, bourbon, and limoncello to a whole new generation of cocktail enthusiasts. Founders Austin Creel and Carl Baldone can’t wait to pour you a taste of Alabama.
Austin Creel and Carl Baldone Photography by Mary Fehr
Tell us a little about Sweet Home Spirits and how you got started. Austin Creel: I was on a trip to Spain in 2017, and when people asked me where I was from, I decided not to say America but rather Alabama. The response I got was amazing. Their faces just lit up. Everyone knows the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Sweet Home Alabama” or has seen the movie Forrest Gump. Every bar I went to, they’d play the song. From there, I started to think about crafting an Alabama whiskey using Alabama ingredients.
What sets you apart? Austin Creel: We are really grassroots-based and want to keep it that way. We use Alabama corn in our vodka. We use a honey in our moonshine that we source from just down the road.
What was your “aha” moment? Austin Creel: We launched our House Divided Bourbon in 2021 on Veterans Day—and we immediately sold out. The ABC stores bought everything we had. It blew us away. From there, we knew we had to go all in.
Best Advice? Carl Baldone: A contact in the wine industry told us to customize, be unique, and set ourselves apart. For us, that means we will be doing something we call “Family Barrels.” Customers can custom-blend their own 15-gallon barrels to celebrate life events. For example, a groom and his groomsmen might come in to make a “Bachelor Barrel” that will get tapped at the wedding reception.
Austin Creel: In terms of advice, we actually experimented with Chat GPT and asked, “How does a small distillery compete with a larger brand with a bigger budget?” One of the responses was that you have to include special offerings and differentiate yourself with specialty products. It kind of underscored what we had planned to do with our limoncello and our Campfire Whiskey. We’re also developing new products like our brandies and moonshines, made with local strawberries and honey.
Recipe: Bama Belle
One serving Ingredients: 1.5 ounces Sweet Home vodka 0.75 ounces peach nectar 0.75 ounces pineapple juice
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until thoroughly blended. Strain and pour over a glass filled with crushed ice. Enjoy!
The light-flooded living room, filled with nuanced accents, imparts a calm yet welcoming atmosphere and looks out over the golf course. Photography by Laurey Glenn | Stylist Morgan Stephenson
You know the feeling when you’ve found a house that checks all your boxes—your favorite neighborhood, the ideal size, great outdoor space, and an ideal floor plan—but sometimes there is still something that doesn’t quite feel like ‘you.’ That’s what Wansley and Ryan Griffin thought when they toured a home in Vestavia Hills. “The house had a farmhouse attitude that didn’t align with their personal style,” says interior designer Mary Lauren McBride. But in the end, the assets far outweighed any negatives.
“With our children entering the teenage years, we wanted a bigger place that had a separate area for them to hang out and feel independent while still allowing us to keep an eye on them,” says Wansley. “The basement here was ideal.”
Another plus was that the home required no major renovations—no walls to move and no kitchen or baths to be reworked. Instead, smaller changes made a world of difference, thanks to Mary Lauren who gave it a winsome reboot.
Paint went a long way—a range of creamy whites imparts softness to the walls. In the dining room, a grass cloth wallcovering brings welcome texture. “I’m drawn to a mix of textures and finishes within a neutral palette,” says Wansley. “Mary Lauren knew how to make that happen with velvet, mohair, nubby carpets (from Billy Brown Flooring), and antiques with patina, but she didn’t choose anything that can’t handle a busy family.”
The homeowner and designer worked tirelessly to curate the engaging living room gallery wall. “We are both symmetrical thinkers, so we had to let that go! You want a gallery wall to feel organic.”
— Mary Lauren McBride
BEFORE The house had many existing features that appealed to the owners such as this custom, elegant vent hood and marble-topped island. Updates in the kitchen included brass hardware from Brandino Brass, a new faucet, and Visual Comfort brass-and-glass pendants. AFTER Steel doors and windows were part of the makeover. The ceiling light fixture in the foyer is from Visual Comfort.
Other easy transformations involved updating lighting, hardware, and plumbing fixtures. Wansley also shed her existing well-loved furnishings that had been around “through all the babies,” she says. A few cherished family pieces remained, but Mary Lauren was able to work with an almost blank slate.
Wansley has a design royalty aunt, Cindy Smith, a founder of Circa Interiors in Charlotte with an outpost in Mountain Brook, so most of the upholstery is from Lee Industries. Mirrors and other decorative touches also come from the well-loved Mountain Brook shop.
Mary Lauren often includes custom pieces in her projects, including this library table topped with a piece of art by McKenzie Dove. Armchairs are from Maison by Pam Evans. A Clarence House trim used on the leading edge of the drapery and on the Roman shades inspired the color palette in the room.The existing clawfoot tub was sent packing and a new, soaking style was installed, topped by a pendant from Visual Comfort. The petite table is from Details. The cabinetry is original to the house, but new hardware from Brandino Brass, faucets from Fixtures & Finishes, and complementary wall sconces bring sophisticated notes.
Art was paramount in the reimaging of the home. “We wanted our selections to feel like they had been acquired over time,” says Mary Lauren. To achieve that effect, she turned to unconventional choices in a variety of mediums. In the dining room, a grouping of carefully handpicked architectural fragments framed in shadow boxes draws the eye in. An outstanding formal gallery wall in the living room features a map of the family’s regular vacation spot in the Bahamas, along with pieces from Maison by Pam Evans in Mountain Brook Village, artwork from Birmingham-based McKenzie Dove, a white sandstone piece from Chattanooga artist Brook Soss, a mirror from Circa, and select botanical prints and etchings from Arceneaux Gallery in Homewood. Mary Lauren took the couple’s favorite hymn and had it realized in calligraphy and framed for the vestibule leading to the primary bedroom.
The basement morphed into a teen hangout with Lee outdoor loungers from Circa.
The home’s revamped style extends to the outside as well. Falkner Gardens spiffed up the landscape in the front yard while Mary Lauren filled the back entertaining space with furnishings from Summer Classics donned with pillows in fabric from Alessandra Branca and a custom table from Elegant Earth. “The back looks out onto a lake where the boys like to fish, as well as onto a golf course to tee off,” says Wansley. “It suits our lifestyle in all respects.”
Make it Yours
Using smart design tweaks and the addition of custom pieces, antiques, and art, Mary Lauren McBride shares how she traded farmhouse style for Southern elegance.
Peel away excess. Part of the process involved taking things away. We removed some of the shiplap or painted it so it wouldn’t look so prominent.
Restain the floors. The original hardwood floors were lovely, but the finish was gray. Stripping them down and restaining them in a natural finish reset the stage.
Add new lighting. We replaced all of the light fixtures in this home which instantly elevated it and made it unique. I mixed in antiques and new fixtures—some with a little edge—that better fit the scale and style of the new rooms.
What began as a LOCAL fundraiser to send her children on study-abroad opportunities has certainly become something much greater than April McClung ever envisioned for herself and her family. Now, people all over the country are enjoying her slices and it’s become a booming business.
April McClung Photography by Mary Fehr
Your story sounds like an old-fashioned bake sale. Yes! I actually started baking to raise money that would pay for my sons to travel. We raised more than $14,000 using my Grandmother Emily’s 100-year-old recipe for pound cakes. We have been in business now for almost nine years and are producing thousands of slices from hundreds of cakes each month. We ship all over the U.S., and our products can be found everywhere from local farmers markets to Amazon and Walmart.com. We even participate in Sam’s Club Roadshows in five Southeastern states.
What kind of reaction do you get from customers? People tell me time and again how our Heirloom Pound Cakes flood their minds and their hearts with memories of their grandmother or another loved one—someone who used to love on them with cake or food. Those memories cause tears of joy and comfort. We tap into nostalgia after people sample our cakes, and we tell our story. People literally fall in love with the old-fashioned flavor, and it gives them chills to hear the story. We have seen various reactions—crying, dancing, screaming, singing, and even cursing! It’s amazing!
Best advice? Just because you have the ability to borrow money doesn’t mean you should! Force yourself to come up with other solutions and let borrowing money be the last option. As far as the worst advice? Never say “no” to a customer. Many times, it’s not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. Use discernment and lots of tact and explain your position. The goal is to create a win-win!
What would you tell readers who are considering pursuing a passion project of their own? I’m coming along at a time where women and people of color are starting and growing businesses at an enormous rate. Make sure before you leap that your business model is profitable! Remember your why, work smart, know your numbers, get a mentor, and avoid loans as much as possible. Stay relevant and think outside the box!
I’m grateful that my business can bring peace, laughter, and joy to others as it has for my family.
Slate Barganier Builders fashioned a stone bench made from remnants of the front steps that graced the Hocutts’ former residence. Photos by Jean Allsopp
If patience is indeed a virtue, then homeowners Aubrey and William Hocutt are well on their way to sainthood. After years of striving to stay one step ahead of their growing family, the couple was ready to bring their days of house hunting to an end. Their efforts culminated in building a new residence that they now happily call their “forever home.” But it would take several moves and lots of planning to get there.
When they were expecting their first child, the Hocutts moved from an apartment to their first home. They settled on a house that only had 1,500 square feet but stood on a property with almost an acre—a rare find so close to central Birmingham. “We liked the quiet, peaceful nature of the area, as well as having enough land to hopefully expand in the future,” Aubrey says. For the time being, however, she had to get creative with her storage, such as using the bathtub to store the vacuum cleaner whenever they entertained guests. “There was no other place to put it!” she says.
They considered adding on, but they also began combing through house plan books looking for ideas in a new build. “We found a Southern Living house plan that came close to addressing our needs but didn’t quite cover all the necessary bells and whistles,” says William. For starters, it lacked sufficient space for their three kids. In addition, when placed on the site as drawn, the predesigned structure threatened to encroach upon a mature pecan tree that shaded the backyard.
Designer Sarah Jernigan realized that blue was the homeowners’ version of a neutral color, so she chose Sherwin-Williams ‘Waterloo’ for the kitchen island’s base and as a striking way to highlight the custom built-in in the adjacent dining room. The kitchen hood finished by Paintworks Design Studio adds a rustic touch.The family room continues the interplay of old and new with collected items on bookshelves and new upholstered pieces from Richard Tubb Interiors. The coffee table belonged to Aubrey’s grandmother.
A friend recommended interior designer Sarah Jernigan, along with residential designer Rob Martin to remedy the plan. As former homes editors at Southern Living magazine, the two designers had already established a rapport for creating responsive, family-friendly dwellings. “When William first called me, he said they were somewhat hesitant to tear down their existing home,” Sarah says. “However, they quickly realized that their love for the property outweighed their efforts to look elsewhere.”
To alter the plan to fit their specific needs, the couple asked Rob to flip the entire design. They also commissioned him to add a new second floor, along with a bonus space above the garage.
“Instead of giving each other gifts for our anniversary, William and I have always bought something for the house together.”
—Aubrey Hocutt
Not all of the house plan’s features required a makeover. For instance, the Hocutts stressed to Sarah and Rob that the Southern character was to remain, as well as the broad front porch that punctuated the facade. “Both aspects just made the house feel more welcoming to us,” he says. “And the porch provided a readymade connection to our neighbors.” Aubrey further points out that the exteriors were well-suited to the neighborhood. “We weren’t looking to build a Tudor estate,” she says.
LEFT: The wide foyer is filled with primitive and antique finds such as the church pew and framed American flag. Brick pavers laid in a herringbone style, shiplap siding, and reclaimed wood on the ceiling add a sense of aged character. MIDDLE: A built-in buffet painted the same color as the kitchen island, along with reclaimed wood cross beams (River Bottom Pine) enhancing the ceiling, lend a traditional flair to this dining room. Rugs were purchased over time at Scott Antique Markets. “Not only do they go so well with our wood pine floors, but they also agree with the colors found throughout our house,’ Aubrey says. RIGHT: Aubrey decided to “go big” in the powder room by using a bold-patterned wallpaper called ‘La Provence’ in Sky Blue by Anna French.
Slate Barganier joined the team as the builder, and the project progressed at a steady pace. Even before construction, the homeowners started off with an impressive mix of antiques and other furnishings; specialty items like apron-front sinks, stained wood beams in the dining room, and wide plank flooring. The couple relied on Sarah’s direction for finishes, plumbing fixtures (Fixtures & Finishes), and light fixtures, as well as her knack for bringing all the elements together. “She has an uncanny ability to find the right place for everything,” says Aubrey. “That was no small feat, considering we wanted a new home that reflected a sense of bygone charm and well-worn comfort.”
The Hocutt family (from left to right): Thomas, William, Vivi, Aubrey, and John Harris
Photo by Beth Hontzas
Something Old, Something New
To get the right balance of past and present, Sarah Jernigan offers more how-to’s from her arsenal of trustworthy tips:
Embrace the wear and tear. Contractors are often reluctant to install materials like pine flooring because its soft composition can easily be dented and scratched. So when those seemingly unwanted results were explained to us, Aubrey and I looked at each other, and I responded point-blank, “Well….isn’t that the point?”
Keep an eye out for collecting. Aubrey is such a first-class finder; she can spot treasures among the clutter, which makes my job even more enjoyable. By scouring antiques shops, flea markets, and estate sales, you can fill in the chinks with an extra object or piece of furniture.
Don’t make hasty decisions. Some of the best decisions come about by “marinating” on them for a while. If you’re hesitant about a design move or an important purchase, give it some time to work itself out.
Guest-friendly gestures. When renovating or building from scratch, keep in mind how to make your home more inviting to family and friends. As a great example, the “friends’ entry,” a casual side entry, is a welcoming feature to guests and also serves as a natural “hello spot” when kids come and go to play with their buddies.
Photograph by Greg Curry/Auburn University College of Human Sciences
Sometimes, just one phone call can change the direction of your life. That certainly was the case for Justin Robinson, who was recently named one of Auburn University’s “20 Under 40” alumni. Graduating in 2016 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, he certainly never saw himself as “The Rockstar Chef” that he is now. Listening to his heart and pursuing his passion, Justin has gone from cooking out of his dorm room to now appearing on Food Network’s Iron Chef Showdown and producing culinary events in Birmingham and across the Southeast.
Tell us a little bit about what you do. I do weddings and private dining experiences. I roll out three-, four-, five-course curated events, baby showers, and bridal parties. I am also a member of the Traeger Grills Pro Team.
What were you doing before this? I was studying to be a physician’s assistant. It was my parents’ dream to see me go into the medical field. In fact, I have my master’s degree in public health.
What was your “aha” moment? I will never forget it. I was still in school and working as a travel phlebotomist while cooking for clients on the side. I had asked some of my (social media) followers to tag me in posts, promoting me as a personal chef in order to get on more people’s radars. Well, I was in class one evening when I got a call from a celebrity’s assistant in Atlanta who wanted me to do a dinner the following night. I apologized to the professor, but I left class to go prep for that event. It was a huge turning point for me.
Advice to share? Just know that no one will love your business and work your business the way that you do. I try to tell others to take action, lean on God, and have faith that He is going to lead you in the right direction.
Best Advice
I was Steve Harvey’s personal chef for a while—he is a man of many words. One afternoon, he said to me, “Justin, you know what got you here—right here right now, in this exact moment? It wasn’t those degrees, which are just paper on the wall. You are here because of your purpose in life. And when you marry your purpose in life with your passion, you will forever be rich in happiness and money.” I have never forgotten that conversation.
Throughout these warm summer months, we are often challenged to find new ideas for cookout components. For this issue, I tried to come up with a few unexpected offerings to take to your next event.
Cheddar-Corn Muffins
With the “bunless” craze going on these days, no one will be able to resist the savory Cheddar-Corn Muffins. These take advantage of fresh corn at its peak, and they pair beautifully with BBQ or a summer vegetable plate. For a sweeter option, make a loaf of Corn Light Bread. This old-fashioned recipe uses only a few ingredients and packages up for an attractive hostess gift.
It’s always nice to include a lighter option for those watching their calories. Serve Thai Cucumber-Watermelon Salad with its sweet-and-spicy dressing as a refreshing option. Be sure to use lots of fresh mint and basil for garnish.
Zucchini-Tomato Gratin provides a nice alternative to an expected potato or pasta dish. It screams summer in a baking dish! The recipe can be assembled the morning of the cookout and refrigerated until ready to bake. It also pairs beautifully with a steak.
My grand finale is the easiest, most delicious dessert I’ve made in a long time. Key Lime Bars simplify your final course. One recipe makes about 14 servings and is much easier than baking two pies. It’s the perfect four-bite dessert to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, and it’s sure to be your new dessert go-to!
Cheddar-Corn Muffins
Makes 12
1¼ cups flour ¾ cup yellow cornmeal ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1¼ cups buttermilk 2 large eggs 6 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese, divided 2 tablespoons butter, melted ¾ cup fresh corn kernels 3 tablespoons chopped jalapeños Heat oven to 425°.
Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, half of the cheese, and the melted butter. Stir into flour mixture. Add corn and jalapeños. Divide batter among greased muffin cups, and top with remaining cheese. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
Thai Cucumber-Watermelon Salad
Thai Cucumber-Watermelon Salad
Serves 10 to 12
8 cups watermelon, cut into bite-size pieces 2 English cucumbers, cut into bite-size pieces ½ cup thinly sliced red onion 2 red or green jalapeños, thinly sliced ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped, plus more for garnish ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish ½ cup coarsely chopped cashews
For the dressing: ½ cup water ¼ cup sugar or honey ¼ cup rice wine vinegar 3 tablespoons red chili sauce 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes Juice of 1 lime
Make the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; then simmer for 5 minutes. Allow to cool. Refrigerate until ready to use. This can be done up to 24 hours in advance.
In a large bowl, combine watermelon, cucumbers, and next 4 ingredients. Toss with dressing. Garnish with additional fresh mint, basil, and the cashews.
Learn from Leslie: The watermelon, cucumbers, and remaining vegetables can be chopped in advance and stored in a serving bowl in the refrigerator until ready to toss with the dressing.
Corn Light Bread
Corn Light Bread
Makes 1 (8-inch) loaf
2 cups white cornmeal 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups buttermilk 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or bacon drippings
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine cornmeal and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. In a measuring cup, combine buttermilk and oil or drippings. Add buttermilk mixture to the dry cornmeal mixture. Combine thoroughly.
Place mixture into a greased loaf pan.
Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden brown.
Slice and serve warm with lots of butter.
Zucchini- Tomato Gratin
Zucchini- Tomato Gratin
Serves 6
3 zucchinis, thinly sliced 2 onions, thinly sliced 3 tomatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces Salt and pepper ½ cup Parmesan cheese 1 cup buttery cracker crumbs
Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease an 8- x 8-inch square (or 2-quart) baking dish with butter.
Starting with zucchini, evenly layer zucchini, onions, and tomatoes in a baking dish. Top with half of the butter pieces, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then repeat the layering process, ending with tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper again, Parmesan, cracker crumbs, and remaining butter pieces.
Bake 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender and crumb topping is golden brown. Allow gratin to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Key Lime Bars
Learn from Leslie: You can make these up to 2 days in advance; the crust will soften slightly over time, but they are still delicious! I prefer to make them just 1 day in advance or the morning of for best results.
Key Lime Bars
Makes 14 bars
For the crust: 1½ packages graham crackers (about 15 sheets) 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter 1/3 cup sugar
Filling: 4 large egg yolks 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk ½ cup key lime juice 2 teaspoons lime zest (about 2 limes) Freshly whipped cream and lime wedges or lime zest for garnish
Preheat oven to 350°.
In a food processor, pulse graham cracker sheets until finely ground. Empty the graham cracker crumbs into a mixing bowl, and add melted butter and sugar. Stir to combine. Press the crumb mixture into a 9- x 9-inch baking dish. Press firmly with the back of a measuring cup to make it even and crack-free. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
In a second mixing bowl, combine first four filling ingredients with a whisk. Pour over the graham cracker crust, and bake an additional 15 minutes until set. Allow the bars to cool on a wire rack before slicing. Bars can be refrigerated up to 2 days.
Right before serving, remove from the refrigerator, cut into bars, dollop with whipped cream, and garnish with lime wedges or zest.
Leslie Likes: I bake my Key Lime Bars in a rectangular baking dish by Emile Henry measuring approximately 6 x 14 inches; available at The Cook Store in Mountain Brook Village.
When it comes to being in the kitchen, there are usually two types of producers—those who wing it and those who prefer precise measurements and exacting methods. You know which one you are. Jennifer Lyne—one-half of the dynamic duo behind Tasting TBL and the forthcoming Frenchie concept in Five Points (slated to open September 2023) is decidedly the latter. As a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, Jennifer is simply more comfortable in the kitchen when the dish at hand requires precision. Her passion is dessert, and her tools of choice include a scale for measuring dry ingredients, bowl scrapers, offset spatulas, and her ever-present trusty red Kitchen-Aid stand mixer. The opening of Frenchie early this fall will at last provide the showcase for her pastry art talent, with dedicated space to the confections that are her culinary hallmark.
Photography by MASON ERWIN
Can you give us a little backstory? My husband, Tyler (also a CIA-trained chef), and I moved to Birmingham early in the pandemic in order to be closer to family. Tasting TBL came about when a neighbor, now friend, asked us to do a dinner for her and 10 friends. We started by just cooking for friends and neighbors here in Ross Bridge, but word of mouth spread. We made a website and an Instagram page and started selling tickets to dinners we do here in our home every Friday and Saturday night.
Your Instagram feed is stunning! Tell us about a dessert you’ve created that really wowed guests. Thank you! So, I am kind of an introvert by nature, and when I worked in a traditional restaurant setting, I did not get to interact with guests when they enjoyed dessert. But being in our home changes all that. I get to be myself, be creative, and make people happy—with every single dessert. A favorite was a little play on a broken egg. The shell was made of spun sugar, and the yolk was a passion fruit gel with a coconut mousse. It looked just like an egg had been dropped on the plate and broken open! I loved seeing everyone’s expressions.
Tell us what to expect from Frenchie. It will be in the historic Rucker Place, a charming three-story home with a wraparound porch. The bottom level will have a patisserie with pastries, croissants, and desserts. We’ll also have grab-and-go sandwiches and coffee. At night, that space will turn into a bistro, serving things like steak frites and burgers. The main floor will be more of the Tasting TBL concept with some à la carte fine-dining items. The top floor will be a members-only space for private dinners. Guests can enjoy the cigar room and also store their bourbon collections.
Tyler and Jennifer Lyne
Driving Jennifer’s Passion
With a curious streak and a penchant for trying new techniques, Jennifer turns to these sources for inspiration and hard-to-find ingredients:
Books like Tarte by Garuharu, Bachour Gastro by Antonio Bachour, and Fruit: The Art of Pastry by Cedric Grolet inspire Jennifer to create the most whimsical of confections and challenge her to grow in her skills.
AUI Fine Foods is Jennifer’s online source for hard-to-find ingredients.
Jennifer still leans into the guidance of her mentor, Ghaya Oliveira, with whom she worked at Daniel Boulud’s award-winning restaurants in New York City.
With so many amazing entries, we couldn’t resist sharing some others. To learn more about the design behind these spaces, and to see a complete submission of entries, visit our website.
The Swag Home Staging & Design team members are experts at creating inviting interiors —whether they are serving clients who want to stage their home to sell it or furnish a new one.
FROM LEFT: Lizzy Dunavant, Erin Barrow, Mollie Piccirilli, Jennifer Felton Photo by DEIDRE RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY
Tell us about the two divisions of your business. Swag: We do home staging for sellers, and we fully furnish model homes in residential and new construction for builders. For home staging, we offer monthly rentals for turn-key furniture, art, and accessories. We also provide builder design and interior services where we assist with all interior and exterior finishes.
Can we shop with you? Swag: Our warehouse is not open to the public, but our Design Studio is open by appointment only for our contracted Builders’ Design Clients. To keep things looking new, we rotate our inventory regularly and transition furniture pieces as design styles shift. We visit markets in Atlanta, High Point, and Las Vegas regularly and order inventory bi-monthly direct from our favorite brands. Furniture pieces we always keep on hand are sofas, accent chairs, beds of all sizes, dining tables and chairs, and barstools.
Why is staging so important? Swag: Staging allows prospective buyers to visualize themselves living in a home. It gives them a sense of being home without looking at the current owner’s items.
When staging a house, what are a few can’t-miss items that make a house feel like a home? Swag: We like to use a base of neutral furnishings. Then, we add color and texture through large pieces of art, rugs, and pillows. Greenery is good for softening spaces, and lamps are important because they create a cozy glow.
Staged properties sell up to 25% over listing price and spend 75% less time on the market than a non-staged home.
Favorite paint colors that you can never go wrong with and why?
Westhighland White, Sherwin-Williams. This is a cool but neutral white without any creamy undertones.
Elephant’s Ear, Sherwin-Williams. This is a warm taupe that we prefer over a cold harsh gray.
Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball. This dark, moody green-gray-blue is chameleon-like. It changes with the natural light. It’s one of our favorite go-to’s if you are feeling bold in your paint color choice.
An eclectic blend makes for an engaging tableau in the living room. “I always aim for a mix and try to include pieces with character and patina. You want your home to be distinctive and to reflect you,” says Lauren Conner. Here, she’s assembled a pair of new lamps, a Lee Industries sofa from Circa Interiors & Antiques, and custom Scalamandré and Lee Jofa pillows. Lauren also mixed in heirlooms such as her mother’s antique French mirror, as well as her own vintage and antique finds including the 1970s brass coffee table, rug, and French landscape. Photography by Jean Allsopp
Not everyone wants to live in their childhood home, but when you grew up in a stately 1928 white colonial in Mountain Brook (in walking distance to Mountain Brook Village)—and you get the opportunity to return—well, it would seem like a no-brainer. However, there aren’t many who would be willing to take on the necessary renovations to update the house for today’s lifestyle. Interior designer Lauren Conner, a self-described sentimentalist, was certainly up to the task since she loves pieces steeped in family history. “I’m also a bit of a hoarder,” laughs Lauren. “It’s hard for me to let go of things from my parents and grandparents, so I used as many of their items as I could.”
Before the decorating part of the project began, Lauren made some smart changes to the downstairs floor plan to open it up and give it a more comfortable flow. She worked with architectural firm Shepard & Davis and contractor Philip Woods to figure out the layout. “Some of the spaces were really tight,” says Lauren. But that did not discourage the trio as they also renovated and expanded the kitchen, adding an island, more windows, and an eating area.
Small but significant changes refreshed the elegant façade. A gas lantern with a custom bracket hangs above the original set of doors, now painted French blue. The exterior is Simply White, and the shutters are Elmira White (both by Benjamin Moore).
The other big change downstairs involved the addition of a new laundry room, now a spacious bright place to wash and fold. Upstairs, the floorplan remained as is but with updated bathrooms.
Other spaces stayed the same or morphed only slightly, but every room still reflects the feel of Lauren’s childhood home. Her original bedroom had painted white floors that she kept for one of her three daughters to enjoy in her room. The family room’s wood-paneled den was painted to lighten it up, while most of the furniture and art remained in the space. Most of the light fixtures stayed in the home but were moved around. And almost every piece of furniture has a family history.
LEFT: Lauren’s mother collected blue-and-white Chinese export porcelain before it was embedded in the design zeitgeist, and her finds are proudly displayed above the dining space. CENTER: The kitchen was completely gutted to become a white- and light-filled gem with a marble waterfall island and a large-scale lantern. Corner cabinets covered in faux leather and trimmed in nailheads complement the custom barstools. RIGHT: The new laundry, formerly a porch, also serves as a sunny gardening room and home office.
In addition, her mother’s original choice for the Clarence House wallpaper pattern (The Vase) still graces the foyer and stairway—just in another colorway. “She preferred it in pale peach,” Lauren says. “I simply changed it to blue.”
The house has been in Lauren’s family for almost 50 years—something that invites reflection. “I look back at my grandmother’s life, and many of the things she did are in vogue today,” says Lauren. “She upcycled furniture and décor with no packing materials and a very low carbon footprint!”
Shades of blue fill the dining room. Lauren put her spin on her mother’s Sheraton sideboard and Duncan Phyfe table and chairs by adding a bright blue tablecloth from Amanda Lindroth and re-covering chair seats in a graphic Scalamandré print. Icy blues come through in the framed Gracie wallpaper panels and fretwork trim on velvet draperies.
“I’ve been predicting the return of brown furniture for a long time. Now it’s back! I encourage clients to rethink pieces they inherited that may be languishing in the attic or basement and to be open to painting or stripping them to give them a new look.”
—Lauren Conner
The designer tries to walk a fine line between celebrating the past and keeping her home lively and evolving. “I’m so attached to old things, but I don’t want the house to look too ‘grandmotherly,’” she says. “I just think rooms are much more interesting when there’s a mix of antiques and more transitional pieces. You want your home to tell a story.”
LEFT: Lauren’s bedroom is soothing and serene. The bed is a wood French piece that Lauren’s daughter painted French blue. The new chest from Gabby exhibits an antiqued finish. White linens, an antique starburst mirror, a vintage trumeau mirror, and an antique French walnut armoire create a blend of old and new. RIGHT: For daughter Catherine’s bedroom, green and white create a soothing palette. The Schumacher fabric and trim on the bolster, along with the framed botanicals and custom iron bed, are standouts against white walls and furnishings.
When asked if she is finished collecting for her home, Lauren says the thrill of the hunt for treasures—whether for herself or a client—is still a passion. “I went to an estate sale just last weekend and bought a lot of amazing pieces,” she says. There’s no doubt she will find just the right place for each item to continue its story.
A bath renovation resulted in a luxurious soaking tub, a dramatic-tiered chandelier from Gabby, and an oversized antiqued custom mirror.
In With the Old
Lauren Conner with Catherine, one of her three daughters, shares her tips for using antiques and family heirlooms in a fresh new way.
• Move things around and they can take on a whole new attitude. I took the original foyer chandelier and moved it to the dining room and put the dining room chandelier in one of my daughter’s bedrooms. It suits her personality perfectly.
• Paint is powerful! If you paint a wood piece, it will look totally different. You can also strip dark brown furniture to give it a lighter finish that feels fresh.
• To keep things from looking too historic, add contemporary lamps, pendants, and chandeliers. I am also slowly trying to mix in some more modern art to go with my parents’ collection of more traditional pieces.
• Fabric is transforming. If a piece has good lines and is good quality but has a dowdy fabric, you can reupholster or add slipcovers, depending on the look you want. These are not inexpensive to do, so make sure you really love the piece.
