While some things get better with age, this Vestavia Hills home was definitley not living up to that adage. In fact, the house was increasingly showing its maturity with dated features like living room columns, standard 1990’s floor tile, and original cabinets. But the things that were working couldn’t be overlooked, at least by one couple making the move from Texas to Birmingham. They saw through the stale design to the good bones and spacious floorplan. The key was finding someone else with the same ability to see past the uninspiring and untouched interior to what could be—a well-designed space for a growing family. Luckily, they knew which design firm could give the home the facelift it needed—River Brook Design & Construction.

“I have always loved Leigh Misso’s taste,” says the homeowner. “We knew the house had so much potential. It was obvious it had been well taken care of. It just needed updating, and Leigh and her team really brought it to life.” While the transformation didn’t include any floorplan changes—the home already had great flow—it did involve a complete gut of the interior, along with tiny tweaks to better utilize the existing space.

To start, Leigh and her team removed the traditional columns that sat awkwardly between the foyer and formal living room. They also reconfigured the kitchen, rearranging windows to better utilize the space and bringing in a bigger island to create a much needed focal point.

With the overhaul of the home’s architecture complete, the renovation continued with a new aesthetic for the space. Leigh put her expertise to work in creating a design plan that spoke to the two very different styles of the homeowners. “Her vibe is much more traditional, while his is more modern and masculine,” she says. “That meant finding ways to marry the two aesthetics, which is always fun.”

The designer started by keeping the basic color palette of the home neutral, painting every room except the powder bath and foyer Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Cover. She then put special emphasis on sourcing furnishings that would bring each style into the room without feeling out of place. In the formal living room, which leans more modern with the straight lines of the high-back sofa, block wood coffee table, and bold Colleen Leach artwork, she pulled in 19th-century French antique chairs to balance the aesthetic. “Well-placed antiques help create a curated feel and add unique character that will never go out of style,” Leigh says. “I always encourage clients to invest in a quality, one-of-a-kind piece. Plus, the value of a great antique appreciates over time.”

In the kitchen, she chose classic elements such as unlacquered brass and Danby marble but then incorporated the waterfall edge on the island to add a more modern feel. Leigh also blended both styles in the island pendants, which are traditional in style but made modern thanks to the frosted glass globes. In the same vein, contemporary shaker cabinets complement timeless flat-faced cabinets.

Leigh went heavy with both classic and cozy elements in the bedroom by adding cedar beams in the ceiling and incorporating neutral bedding and made-to-look-antique bedside tables. Pops of modern appear in the bedside lamps and the wicker chairs at the foot of the bed. “Everything Leigh did works together perfectly to create our ultimate dream home,” says the homeowner. “There isn’t a room in this house that I don’t love.”

Resources:

Designer, architect, builder: River Brook Design & Construction
Interiors & furnishings: River Brook Interiors
Cabinets: The Refinery Custom Cabinets
Hardware: Brandino Brass
Appliances: AllSouth Appliance
Kitchen countertops and granite mantel: Surface One
Lighting: Mayer Lighting
Bathroom tile: Fixtures & Finishes
Paint colors–kitchen cabinets: Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover

Sometimes, even a renovation needs a renovation. Especially if the last one was almost 25 years ago—and the home was built in 1928. Such was the case for these Birmingham homeowners when they bought their historic Warren Knight Davis home in 1999.

At that time, the couple started with the usual updates of upgrading the kitchen and baths and making a few cosmetic changes. But after living in the home for a while, they decided it was time to call on designer Dana Wolter and go next level.

“The owners wanted a home that was not only beautiful but also more cohesive and livable,” Dana says. “While the project didn’t require a complete renovation, it did need updated finishes and furniture, as well as a focus on functionality.” The designer formulated a plan and then brought in builder Francis Bryant to help execute it.

The kitchen and bathrooms involved the most structural edits. “Even though the house has nice square footage, it consists of several small rooms,” Dana says. “After this renovation, it feels larger even though the footprint didn’t change.” One of the biggest improvements involved the addition of a full wall of cabinetry behind a paneled wall in the kitchen. In the primary bath, Dana moved door openings, as well as a window that is now centered in the space. “This made a huge difference by allowing more light into the room,” she says. “We also moved some closet doors to create space for a tub and a walk-in shower.”

Elsewhere, Dana brought in new cabinetry and changed colors and finishes. “When we straightened out the arched, corner cabinets in the dining room, we gained more breathing space around the dining table,” she says. The new cabinets with Chippendale designs offer glass doors and shelving that runs from floor to ceiling. Here, china, crystal, and silver are on display and within easy reach. Drawers below hold linens and other entertaining accoutrements.

In the music room, built-ins replaced open bookshelves. “Electronics come with a lot of wires and equipment,” Dana says. “We designed custom cabinets that hide the hardworking pieces but also allow space to display collections. The owner’s assortment of guitars now reads like art behind the antique glass-front cabinets. We also included a pullout keyboard.”

For the walls, the designer chose to keep the room’s original paneling and update it with a darker, custom gray wash. The surrounding cabinetry and a new bar area are painted a dark, custom blue that complements the moody scene. A Phillip Jeffries snakeskin print on the ceiling adds depth. Dana also introduced new furnishings into the space. “By using the correct scale of furniture, the room actually feels bigger,” she says. “The blue velvet sofa was customized to fit like a glove between the built-ins we designed.” Above the sofa, she hung a commissioned photograph by David Hillegas of the horses at the client’s family farm. “I love including a piece that has such a special meaning to her,” Dana says.

In the guest bedroom, the designer used the owner’s existing bed and brightened the space around it with a soft paint color (Ballet White by Benjamin Moore, half formula) and light furniture and linens. In contrast, the primary bedroom brings drama and depth with a custom velvet headboard. “I wanted to ground the space by adding the upholstered headboard to the entire wall,” Dana says. “It’s the first place your eye goes when you walk into the room.”

With renovations complete and appointments in place, these owners now enjoy a home that is well-poised for the next several decades.

Fine artists have a unique and often enviable eye. So when they turn their gaze towards other creative endeavors, the results are pretty magical. Native Texan McKenzie Dove, known for her moody and texture-laden canvases created with a palette knife, used her neutral-driven style in the renovation of a Forest Park condo-turned-vacation-rental. She also folded in some blues for a dose of color.

Not only is the condo super stylish, it’s also filled with original artwork by McKenzie that is totally unexpected, even in an upscale rental. In the dining space, oversized framed murals—featuring her signature warm black as the background color and a Greek key silk border—have an aged look. “It’s my version of chinoiserie,” says the artist. A hand-painted custom mural decorates the bathroom, and one of her large contemporary works takes a starring role over the living room sofa.

The condo is full of seagrass, rattan, and wicker with a melding of vintage and antique pieces such as mirrors, bedside tables, bed frames, and a linen press picked up at Hanna Antiques. She paired these with more contemporary elements like metal Bertoia-style chairs and an edgy white plaster dining table designed by McKenzie for a light and bright mélange.

“Even though there are nods to Birmingham throughout the space, I wanted my guests to feel as though they were staying at a vacation destination,” says the artist. “The existing architecture at 42nd Street lent itself to a New England feel. The art, the interiors, and the rental’s shell logo that I designed are intended to make guests feel as though the Nantucket shoreline is right outside.”

The whole experience hints at a new career for the artist as a decorator, but McKenzie says she would miss the absolute freedom she feels in her studio where she flings paint around with great abandon. “I am constantly making a mess and constantly cleaning up, only to make a mess again,” McKenzie laughs. “I guess that’s the life of a working artist.”

Visiting Forest Park? Walk through the tree-lined, historic neighborhood. Visit MK Quinlin, an upscale vintage clothing store, or Shoppe, a charming garden shop with English conservatory. General is both a store and dining spot. For libations, pick up a bottle at Red or White, or stop in for a cocktail at Juniper.

Playing House with McKenzie Dove

Love McKenzie’s rental? Take her tips for creating her look in your own guest space.

Decorate with things you love: Use items you would choose for yourself. I think guests appreciate a more stylish and personalized place to stay.

Seek unique finds: Shop antique and thrift shops and seek out places on your travels for cool pieces with low price tags. This will give your rental a unique feel rather than looking like everything came from a big-box store.

Work with existing elements: I kept the blue tile in the bathroom and simply refinished the hardwood floors. I also kept the kitchen cabinets and countertops. These things are pricier to update, so I tried to use what was there as much as possible.

Easy updates: McKenzie’s husband applied the interior trim and molding. This is a creative way to dress up flat, sheetrock walls and add architectural interest. Fresh paint and new hardware and light fixtures are also inexpensive ways to make a big impact.

mckenziedove.com
For condo rental information: IG: stayat42nd