Beautiful décor meets innovative ideas in our 2022 Inspiration Home. Local and regional designers, as well as some of our favorite shops and services, fill this year’s house with fabulous finishes, innovative ideas, and gorgeous rooms. Take a close look around to check out the details—large and small—that will inspire the look and function of your own home.
All proceeds of the 2022 Inspiration Home benefit The Bell Center
The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs provides early intervention services in a center-based program in Birmingham. Infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay receive services from transdisciplinary teams which include a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, and an early childhood special education teacher as each child works on individual goals.
Some people travel the world over in search of adventure. This Vestavia couple, however, must look no further than their own living room. Practically every area of the space features pieces from their many globetrotting escapades—special memories or stories from faraway places brought to mind by each and every one.
But the home wasn’t always such a personalized haven for the owners. In fact, for many years, the couple felt quite out of sync with their house. “The style was a little all over the place, not only with the design, but also with the functionality,” the homeowner says. “We wanted the space to have character, comfort, and cohesion, but we needed help to make that happen.”
Architect Carrie Taylor designed the modern staircase. Its clean lines and bright white walls highlight two wooden oars the homeowners purchased on a visit to Hawaii. For years, the oars sat in a closet because the homeowners didn’t know how to properly display them. Catori Design House had them custom-hung to serve as a stand-out centerpiece in the home.
“The entire house was designed to showcase the homeowners’ incredible collections. Every piece has a story to tell, and that story is carried from room to room.”
Terra Mimikakis, Catori Design House
Custom steel cabinets with glass shelving served as a driving force in the design of the dining room. The cabinets provide plenty of space to display small pieces from the homeowners’ travels, such as wooden bowls, blown-glass items, and small pieces of artwork. The thin, almost translucent Hawaiian bowls on the dining table are made from Norfolk pine, which was originally brought to Hawaii to form masts for ships.
Thankfully, the couple knew just where to turn to bring that vision to life and transform their outdated house into a comfortable yet carefully-curated home. It all began with a meticulous renovation orchestrated by architect Carrie Taylor, who artfully reimagined the disconnected areas. She began by opening up the kitchen to the rest of the main living area and adding doors off the space to make movement to and from the backyard easier. She also took great care in the small details, removing traditional elements such as trayed ceilings and incorporating custom moldings and recessed lighting with clean lines for a more modern touch.
For the kitchen details, Carrie worked with Kristi Freeman and Terra Mimikakis of Catori Design House to meticulously plan out every feature for the homeowners, both avid entertainers. “Even the insides of the cabinets were specifically designed so that every item has a home,” Kristi says. “The sizes of some cabinets were determined by the size of the appliances. And we added outlets and charging stations in certain spots so that appliances can be used without even moving them. Functionality would be an understatement in this kitchen.”
To continue refreshing and reimagining what the space should be, Kristi and Terra outfitted each room with comfortable, modern finishes that complement the homeowners’ art and collections. “The design was really driven by those collections,” Kristi says. “I don’t think there is an accessory in the home that doesn’t have a story behind it.”
The challenge became creating spaces and places to display the wide variety of items. Working with an array of art, blown glass, and wooden bowls, Kristi and Terra creatively showcased the pieces in specific spots, from the étagères in the living room to the glass-and-steel cabinets in the dining room. The designers also reframed all of the artwork to better coordinate with the modern space.
“To see everything we had purchased over so many years repurposed and displayed in a beautiful design—it’s like a diary of our travels and our lives.”
the homeowner
For the furniture, the duo selected artisan and custom furniture, such as the running man console table in the living room and the metallic, egg- shaped coffee table in the living room, to underscore the contemporary vibe. And adding to the wordly theme of the home, the dining room sports a black elm tabletop produced in a small northern Italian town just miles from where the homeowner’s mother grew up. Even with such a variety of pieces throughout the house, the end result is a comfortable, cohesive space that feels more like a relaxing retreat—no passport required.
The Art of Display
From artwork to ceramics and antiques to tiny trinkets, there’s something truly special in seeking out unique finds— especially while traveling throughout the country or across the globe. Even better is bringing these items home and turning the collections into decorative focal points on full display. But figuring out how to do so in a beautifully balanced way can be over– whelming. Kristi Freeman and Terra Mimikakis of Catori Design House share their tips on creating and displaying collections.
Buy What You Love Don’t assume that everything you buy has to be alike. Buy what you love, regardless of how varied each piece may be. “The collection should be about spirit and what speaks to you,” Terra says.
Mix and Match A mix of materials, dimensions, and textures will create a much more interesting space. “It’s important to balance vingettes with a variety of items,” says Kristi.
Focus on the Art When purchasing artwork, don’t get caught up in the frame. If you like the art, you can always reframe the piece later.
Go With a Group Groupings could be based on color, shape, or material. For art, Kristi and Terra suggest measuring out the wall space first, then arranging the pieces on the floor to figure out what works.
PETS ARE WELCOME! The hotel offers plush dog beds and custom food and water bowls. Dog-walking service is complimentary. Or ask the hotel for an area walking map. Photography courtesy of Windsor Court
Since its opening in 1984, Windsor Court in New Orleans, with a name that has become synonymous with tradition and gracious hospitality, has hosted royalty, rock stars, diplomats, and world travelers. Whether you are looking to take in a show, shop for antiques, or just want to have a little fun, this hotel is all but guaranteed to make your stay feel too short.
Returning guests love driving into the walled courtyard with its bubbling fountain that seems to make the rest of the world dissolve. Tradition dictates that the bellman will collect your things and the valet will whisk your vehicle away, leaving you to step inside the grand lobby, filled with displays of hundreds of roses from local florist extraordinaire Dunn & Sonnier. These are the moments guests look forward to each and every time they visit.
Not long ago, the 23-story property underwent a massive $15 million renovation to update and enhance the landmark hotel while staying true to the aspects that longtime guests have come to love and appreciate. Many pieces of the Windsor Court’s $10 million fine art collection continue to grace its walls. Revamped and updated, rooms and suites are still dressed in the hotel’s signature New Orleans-themed toile, while expansive marble bathrooms offer Diptyque amenities.
New Orleans is most decidedly a gastronomic destination, so one of the hotel’s greatest upgrades is their dining program. The Polo Club Lounge on the second floor has been expanded. Here, live jazz, an extensive wine collection, and signature cocktails are the perfect start to any evening. Views from the Waterman Poolside Bar rival only those from the Club Level with its dedicated concierge, afternoon tea service, cocktails, and hors d’oeveres.
In the Grill Room, the menu is extraordinary—think foie gras torchon, redfish with a citrus mignonette, and wagyu beef from the famed Uenae Lake Farm in Japan. Be sure to save room for dessert (or have it delivered to your suite). The pastry arts team crafts confections that are as delicious as they are whimsical.
Whether your travel is for a girls’ getaway, a family affair, or a couple’s retreat, the Windsor Court Hotel is freshly gussied up and ready to welcome you back—in the style to which you are accustomed.
Like a fine bourbon, Barnsley Resort in the north Georgia mountains just gets better with age. Established on the ruins and restored gardens of an opulent Italianate estate built in the 19th century, the 3,000-acre resort in Adairsville, just two hours from Birmingham, has continued to build on its sublime location, honoring its history and century-old gardens infused with plenty of Southern gentility. A visit to this countryside retreat is both relaxing and invigorating, thanks to the blissful accommodations and glorious natural surroundings. Within the pedestrian village, guests can enjoy historically- appropriate, English-style guest cottages; a perfectly-scaled 55-room inn; and three dining venues.
Barnsley Resort uses house-smoked pecans to create a rich, flavorful, signature bourbon. After the infusion process, the resort chefs use the bourbon- soaked pecans in desserts and other menu items.
Privately owned, the resort is managed by former five-star hoteliers who are personally invested in creating unparalled service for their guests. From customized itineraries for corporate groups to family getaways to memorable weddings, experiences are tailored to suit any whim, whether it’s an activity, signature cocktail tasting, or private dinner in the gardens or at the historic Rice House restaurant.
For adventurers and hunters, instructors are at the ready to help both experienced and novice guests who want to ride horses, explore trails on UTVs, shoot skeet at the Beretta Shooting Grounds, or practice axe throwing or archery. Seasonal quail hunts are available at the neighboring 1,800-acre hunting preserve. Golf enthusiasts return for the Golf Performance Center that offers private instruction, as well as the 18-hole Jim Fazio-designed golf course that winds around placid lakes and mountain vistas.
A new introduction, the seasonal Fire Kettle Cooking School launched in 2021. This open-air dining experience is hosted by Chef Javier Cuesta who prepares his favorite recipes over the open flame of a Sea Island Forge fire kettle. Dishes often include ingredients freshly picked from the resort’s vegetable garden.
At Barnsley Resort, there’s much to experience, explore, and do—and thanks to the saltwater pool, serene full-service spa, plentiful fire pits with complimentary s’mores, and hammocks dotting the property, there are plenty of ways to unwind as well.
As fall creeps into Alabama, chef and owner of Andiamo Lodge, Steve Carpenter, shares two of his cozy fall recipes.
Photo by Colleen Duffley
Marinated Goat Cheese
1 (16 oz) log of local goat cheese 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 15 garlic cloves One lemon sliced into wheels 2 tablespoons pink peppercorns 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary 5-6 sprigs fresh thyme
Shape goat cheese into a 1 1/2″ patty on a dish that will hold liquid. Bring garlic, olive oil and lemons to a gentle simmer until garlic browns and softens. When garlic is ready add fresh herbs. Simmer 5 more minutes. Add pink peppercorns and stir. Remove from heat so pepper doesn’t burn. Let cool. Pour over goat cheese and let marinate at least an hour – preferably overnight. Serve with toasted baguettes, crackers or pita.
Photo by Colleen Duffley
Potato Leek & Mushroom Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 10 medium red potatoes – partially peeled and cubed 1 bunch cleaned and finely chopped leeks 3 ribs finely diced celery 4 cloves finely diced garlic 1 large handful of fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced 5 cups chicken broth 1 cup half & half 1 cup milk kosher salt fresh black pepper fresh thyme springs 2 large shallots, julienned 1/4 cup olive oil
In a medium dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat add oil and butter When gently bubbling add garlic, celery, and leeks, and stir constantly until soft and melding (5-7 minutes) Add mushrooms, potatoes, thyme, and chicken stock Simmer about 15 minutes until potatoes soften Add 1T salt and 1T black pepper Remove thyme springs Add milk and half & half – heat until simmering Remove from heat Using an immersion blender, gently blend for 20-30 seconds In a small skillet gently fry shallots in olive oil until lightly browned Drain on a paper towel Serve soup warm, topped with shallots and thyme sprig
The butterfly garden and Monarch Waystation. Produced by Charlie Thigpen / Photography by Jean Allsopp
When Allison Stephens inherited her Indian Springs log cabin, she turned it into a place of healing and renewal. “As you drive in across the covered bridge, it feels like you are entering someplace special,” Allison says. “It’s close enough to everything, but it’s also a wonderful escape. Living here is a way to surround myself with nature in a sort of cocoon.”
Located on 10 acres, the Hearthstone Home, designed by architect Bob Moody, was constructed in the late 1990’s. Thanks to the authentic materials and construction techniques, the house belies its relative newness with features such as 8-inch-thick logs and dovetailed corners. The chimneys, foundation, and gable ends are stacked stone. Copper gutters and wide-plank, rough-sawn, white oak porch decking, along with a cedar shake and standing-seam metal roof, offer even more character.
Allison Stephens in the garden with her Standard Parti Poodle, Detal Dawn
Leaving the house unchanged except for a few updates and repairs, Allison put her focus on the garden. She called landscape designer Charlie Thigpen to help select plantings and navigate the process for creating a monarch waystation, something that would turn into a full-fledged makeover. “When we began to plan the butterfly garden, Allison asked me what I thought about the existing plants around the cabin,” Charlie says. “The shrubs were overgrown, and I felt like most of them didn’t look like they belonged in the rustic surrounding.”
Charlie’s advice? Replace the overgrown bushes with native plants appropriate to the setting. “I wanted to enhance the house instead of covering it up,” Charlie says. Saving a couple of camellias and the two large sculptural crepe myrtles that framed the front of the home, Charlie and his wife, Cindy, drew up a new and improved landscape plan. Plantings called for a variety of ferns, Itea, and native azaleas. Charlie also added limelight hydrangeas, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers for seasonal color.
The cedar arbor was made from trees from the property. Vines will eventually cover the structure. The blue flowers at the base are plumbago.
“Monarchs from Eastern North America migrate each fall to the mountainous forest of Mexico. Some will fly over 3,000 miles. In my butterfly gardens, I always try to plant fennel, parsley, or dill, which are also great food sources for other varieties.“
Charlie Thigpen, landscape designer
As for the butterfly garden, Charlie brought in lots of milkweed, the necessary diet of monarch butterflies. He also added bronze fennel to attract swallowtails. Planted in the spring of 2020, the garden grew quickly—and then the caterpillars arrived. Allison was able to start the process of collecting the leaves with eggs from the milkweed plants and bring them inside to protect and nourish them until they transformed into beautiful butterflies. “Last year, we released about 80 butterflies,” she says. “This year, we hope to have even more.”
Along with her personal fascination with the butterflies, Allison loves to share and educate others on the importance of protecting monarchs. “I’ll let my friends’ children release them,” she says. “I love to see the wonder on their faces. And I always give them a milkweed plant and encourage them to start their own garden.”
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around the garden
Butterflies are always welcome in Allison Stephens’ garden. Every year she invites them to her Indian Springs home with plantings of milkweed (1), the diet for monarchs, as well as bronze fennel (2), the favorite dish of swallowtail butterflies. For nectar, blooms consist of Profusion zinnia (3), Pinca zinnia (4), Red coleus (5), Mystic Spires salvia (6), Homestead verbena (7), Angelonia (8), and coneflower (9). Other blooms around the garden include Mrs. Huff lantana, Happy Returns daylilies, Vitex trees, and Limelight hydrangeas.
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Allison’s hope is that her monarch waystation inspires others to look at gardening in a different way. “I want people to see beyond a pretty garden and think about how something can be beautiful while also serving nature,” she says. “Everything comes full circle. It’s important to give back.”
“Mother Nature has taught me so much about gardening. It’s a continuous education.”
Allison Stephens
Get to KnowCharlie & CindyThigpen
A licensed horticulturist and landscape designer, Charlie Thigpen has a vast knowledge of plants, design, and, most importantly, how to maintain a garden and landscape. For many years, he was director of landscape for the award-winning 27-acre Southern Progress campus, as well as garden editor for Southern Living. He and his wife and business partner, Cindy, spent a decade sharing their expertise through their retail garden shop, Charlie Thigpen’s Garden Gallery. The shop closed in late 2019, and the Thigpens now focus on landscape design, offering consultations and landscape plans.
Creating a Monarch Waystation
Monarch butterflies were listed as endangered in July 2022. Threats include declining habitats, climate change, and pesticides. To offset the loss of milkweed and nectar sources, it’s essential to create and protect their environments. Here are a few tips to get your monarch waystation started.
Allison and her assistant, Kendahl Schnell, created a cut flower garden by seeding zinnias and sunflowers. “I love to share bouquets with friends,” Allison says. “My parents will visit from Tuscaloosa and take back buckets to give to neighbors.”
CHOOSE A SPACE
Your home, school, or local park, as well as unused plots of urban land, are ideal places to start a garden. You need a minimum of 100 square feet.
FIND A SUNNY SPOT
Butterflies and butterfly plants need lots of sun. To ensure successful blooms, plant in an area that gets as least six hours of sun a day.
CONSIDER YOUR SOIL
Milkweed and nectar plants perform best in light soil with good drainage.
Swallowtail Butterfly
CHOOSE YOUR PLANTS
A monarch waystation needs at least 10 milkweed plants made up of two species. Adding even more will create a bigger draw of butterflies for a longer span of time during the season. Mix in other blooming perennials and annuals for nectar sources. Always follow planting instructions for spacing. Plants placed close together will help protect the monarchs in their developing states.
NEVER USE PESTICIDES
Allison keeps an eye out for aphids on her plants. Should they attack her foliage, she handpicks them off. “Gardening is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work,” she says. “It’s a daily labor of love.”
Adam Evans found his culinary calling early. He spent much of his childhood gardening with his grandfather and cooking their harvest with his grandmother and mother. In college, Adam worked summers as a line cook at The Grand Hotel in Fairhope, Alabama. And even though he graduated with a degree in psychology from Auburn University, he decided to return to his earliest passion—food. Along his path, Adam found well-regarded mentors while working various positions in New Orleans, New York City, and Los Angeles. In 2012, he garnered national recognition from Esquire and Bon Appétit magazines while serving as executive chef for The Optimist in Atlanta.
Chef Adam Evans and wife Suzanne Humphries Evans of Automatic Seafood & Oysters
Eventually, Adam and his wife moved to Birmingham with the goal of starting their own restaurant. Opened in 2019, Automatic Seafood & Oysters features simple, high- quality seafood dishes, primarily sourced from the Gulf. With its lively, inviting atmosphere and a menu full of bold flavor, the establishment has already become a favorite destination for locals and visitors.
The James Beard Awards were established in 1990 by the James Beard Foundation to “recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields.” The program “furthers the foundation’s mission to celebrate, nurture and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.”
Originally constructed as a summer retreat in the late 1800’s (later adapted as an Inn in 1922), the High Hampton property has been a coveted destination in the area for generations. And while the summer months offer cool mornings and sun-drenched afternoons, it’s autumn that beckons even more guests to experience the beautiful colors of the leaves along rhododendron-lined trails.
Returning guests will be delighted with the bevy of thoughtful upgrades here, not the least of which is the addition of central heat and air-conditioning. Yes, higher elevations lend themselves to windows thrown open wide, but the occasional heat wave makes us relish the option of flipping a switch for a cool blast.
Most notably, the inn’s renovation included expanding room sizes to almost double while also featuring larger closets and well-lit dressing areas.
Fill your days by exploring the 15 miles of onsite hiking trails, lounging poolside, or dipping in the hot tub overlooking the 15-acre Hampton Lake. Pack a picnic and take out a canoe or kayak for the afternoon. Bring your tennis racquet and pickleball paddle if you’re looking to get in some cardio— the courts are sublime. And if spa time is more your speed, book your appointments in advance. The always- popular spa offers a range of treatments that will have you in a deep state of zen in no time.
While the town of Cashiers proper has plenty of sought-after dining options, the resort’s exemplary culinary program will most likely keep you on property. Capitalizing on local and seasonal ingredients, the menus are well-balanced in scale and scope, which means there is something here for everyone: Little Gem lettuces with carrot vinaigrette, flat-iron steak from nearby Simpson Farm, lemon custard with a thick wedge of honeycomb. More casual fare can be found downstairs in the Tavern: Think burgers with housemade sauce, smoked chicken panini with a green garlic confit, and ice cream sandwiches.
Guests who have had the pleasure of visiting Blackberry Farm or Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee, will feel the same attention to detail in the design elements here at High Hampton. The Blackberry Farm Design team was charged with honoring and keeping the original spirit of the heritage mountain retreat while injecting it with modern-day amenities and polished style.
Birmingham Ties
A heritage property such as High Hampton has a life of its own. Born of a desire to make the most of a particular place and space in time, the inn was destined to outlive those who first conceived the escape. The responsibility of honoring this legacy has only been held by a select few families. Most recently, Birmingham- based Arlington Family Offices and Daniel Communities led the redevelopment of the golf course, adding club amenities and private real estate offerings for those who decide they too want to own a slice of Cashiers heaven.
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is pleased to celebrate the 16th Antiques at the Gardens (AATG) this fall. Presented by First Horizon Bank and featuring textile sponsor Sister Parish Design, Birmingham’s premier antiques show will include talks by nationally and internationally acclaimed interior designers, floral designers, architects, landscape architects, and furniture designers.
The show kicks off on September 29th with Gala in the Gardens, sponsored by Cooper Construction. Enter the show through the special garden entrance created by Millhouse Howell, and visit 22 celebrated dealers offering furniture, fine art, vintage and fine jewelry, silver, rugs and textiles, home décor, and garden accessories.
September 29–October 2, 2022
For tickets, show schedule, speaker bios, and dealer information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques. Follow show announcements and reveals on Facebook and Instagram @antiquesgardensbham.
2022 Show Ambassador Richard Keith Langham
Alabama-born and Manhattan- based, Richard Keith Langham has been a force in the decorating world for more than 30 years. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and attending the Center for the History of Fine and Decorative Arts in London, Langham apprenticed with design legend Mark Hampton. He then spent 10 years with Irvine & Fleming before founding his own firm in 1990. Langham’s keen eye and ebullient talent serve well in assembling his signature rooms—those that speak to the past in a fresh way and are brimming with luscious color, pattern, and couture detailing. Perhaps no one summed up his aesthetics better than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who once proclaimed him to have “a sorcerer’s eye.”
Friday, September 30 Red Diamond Lecture Series Sponsored by Red Diamond, Inc.
KEN FULK
For over 30 years, interior designer Ken Fulk has crafted some of the most enchanting spaces around the globe. The designer—who has been named to the Architectural Digest AD100 and Elle Decor A-List and has been twice nominated for a James Beard Award for his hospitality projects—is known for his signature blend of cinematic flair and layered spaces. He is the author of The Movie in My Mind in which Fulk takes readers behind the scenes of some of his most extravagant endeavors. In 2018, he founded Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local artists at revitalized historic landmarks in San Francisco and Provincetown. Followed by book signing.
LEWIS MILLER
Creator of the viral Flower Flash, Lewis Miller was born and raised in California farm country, where he developed a respect for nature at a very young age. Miller is the founder of LMD New York, Lewis Miller Design, one of the premier floral design houses in New York City, with a new second office in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the author of Styling Nature: A Masterful Approach to Floral Arrangement and FLOWER FLASH. Miller’s Flower Flashes are street art floral installations repurposed from events to create pop-up street installations. He has expanded these from New York to Los Angeles, Miami, Charlottesville, and Nashville. Miller’s goal is to continue this work and bring joy and surprise to urban neighborhoods and city dwellers. Followed by book signing.
Saturday, October 1 VERANDA PANEL Presented by Veranda magazine MODERATOR: Steele Marcoux, Editor in Chief, Veranda Followed by book signings.
BRANDON INGRAM
Portrait
Georgia native Brandon Ingram’s eponymous firm, C. Brandon Ingram Design, is an Atlanta-based residential design firm with major concentration on custom homes, historic renovations, and architectural interiors. Drawing inspiration from classic and traditional architecture of the past, the firm artistically crafts homes that are not only rooted in history but also unique and of their time. A sense of charm, character, and familiarity created through subtle, honest details has become a hallmark of the CBI portfolio. A Georgia Tech alumnus and four-time winner of the prestigious Philip Trammell Shutze Award for excellence in Classical Design from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, Ingram has designed classic, traditional homes across the country.
JANICE PARKER
Janice Parker studied at Parsons School of Design and then with John Brookes at the Clock House School of Garden Design in England. Her firm, Janice Parker Landscape Architects, has conceptualized and directed innovative landscape architecture for private and public clients globally. Under Parker’s guidance, Janice Parker Landscape Architects has been honored with multiple awards, including the Stanford White Award for Garden Design, the Professional Merit Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Interior Design’s Best of Year Award for Residential Landscape in 2020, and the Veranda Best in Outdoor Living Awards in 2020 and 2022. Parker was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame in 2017.
STEPHEN SILLS
Stephen Sills is renowned for his ability not only to design innovative and beautiful rooms but also to establish a pervasive atmosphere of luxury and calm. With a fresh approach to classicism, Sills brings together furnishings that span four centuries, as well as innovative choices of surfaces, textures, and colors. Architectural Digest described his work as “a lucid synthesis of opulence, rigor, and surprise.” Sills is a member of the Architectural Digest AD100 and is one of its “30 Deans of American Design.” His Bedford residence is included in Dominic Bradbury’s American Designers at Home and HGTV’s “Top 10 Most Beautiful Homes.” Elle Decor named Sills a “titan of design,” and he routinely appears on its annual “A List.” Sills’ third monograph, Stephen Sills—A Vision for Design, will be available this fall.
SUMMER THORNTON
Summer Thornton is known for decorating with the wildest abandon to create fearlessly bold and colorful interiors that give homes life. Her first book, Wonderland: Adventures in Decorating, debuted in March and was an immediate No. 1 new release and best seller. Thornton’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and more. She is regularly named to exclusive lists of the top designers in the world, including the “1stDibs 50” list and Sotheby’s list of the “Top 20 Designers to Watch.” Thornton’s style inspires 100K+ followers on Instagram and is often imitated but never replicated. Headquartered in Chicago, her firm works on projects throughout North America.
Saturday, October 1 Alex Papachristidis Presented by FLOWER magazine
The work of interior decorator Alex Papachristidis has been described as thoughtful, sophisticated, and eclectic. Papachristidis has inspired editors, designers, and clients to use the word “fresh” to define his elegant approach, color palette, and the delightful details that make rooms sizzle with style. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, InStyle, and The New York Times. He also is the author of The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis. Followed by book signing.
Sunday, October 2 James Farmer, Sunday Host
interiors, portrait
James Farmer is a Southern author, interior designer, and speaker known for his ability to create beautifully familiar and welcoming homes. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal best-selling books A Time to Plant; Sip & Savor; Porch Living; Wreaths for All Seasons; A Time to Cook; Dinner on the Grounds; A Time to Celebrate; and A Place to Call Home. His most recent publication, Arriving Home, features projects from the farmlands of Georgia to the rolling countryside of Connecticut.
Sunday with Kreis Beall Sponsored by The Travel Studio
Kreis Beall is co-founder of Blackberry Farm, an award-winning Relais & Chateaux resort in the Smoky Mountains. Beall has a passion for the art of living, a love of beauty, and a knack for transforming big dreams into real, uncontrived elegance. She is also author of The Great Blue Hills of God, based on the challenges she has faced, including the loss of her house, her health, and her husband. Followed by book signing.
Sunday, October 2 HOUSE BEAUTIFUL DESIGN PANEL Moderator: Carisha Swanson, Director of Editorial Special Projects, House Beautiful magazine Followed by book signing.
BETSY BROWN
Betsy Brown’s namesake firm, Betsy Brown Inc., specializes in comfortable, collected spaces where modernist sensibilities form the foundation and antiquities create exquisite tension and balance. Brown’s body of work is filled with intelligent homes that genuinely reflect her clients’ true nature. She has been honored with numerous awards, including Southeastern Designer of the Year by Veranda and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, as well as Top 125 Designers by House Beautiful.
JEFFREY DUNGAN
Jeffrey Dungan is principal of Alabama- based Jeffrey Dungan Architects. Recognized for his clean, modern approach to traditional vernaculars and classical architecture, Dungan has been honored with the 2017 Southeast Architect of the Year award by Veranda and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, as well as numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects. Dungan also is the author of The Nature of Home: Creating Timeless Houses.
GRANT TRICK
Furniture maker and artisan Grant Trick is the founder of his namesake furniture upholstery workroom in Birmingham. Trick began his career as a sportswear designer in New York, followed by creative stints as a showroom designer and propmaker for various fashion brands. Through his Alabama company, he hand-tailors, hand-tufts, and hand-sews custom pieces for the design industry. Trick’s namesake furniture line, the Grant Trick Collection, is available through select trade showrooms.
The name Russell Lands is synonymous with legacy, community and a love for the natural beauty of the lake and land. A timeless retreat nestled in the deep Southern Forest along the shores of pristine Lake Martin, Russell Lands is a place where generations gather to connect and enjoy the simpler things in life.
Russell Lands is a steward of the area’s beautiful natural resources and some of the most sought-after residential real estate across Lake Martin’s over 40,000 acres of pristine water and nearly 900 miles of shoreline.
The Heritage
The Heritage, the newest community unveiled at Russell Lands, is a masterfully designed neighborhood featuring roughly 240 waterfront homesites with panoramic lake views and 130 wooded interior lots spread across 1,500 acres on 12 miles of shoreline.
In July of 2022, Russell Lands debuted the first collection of 51 waterfront properties in The Heritage, and only a few homesites remain. With stunning designs from some of the most renowned lake home architects and designers in the South, The Heritage offers distinctive plans perfect for each family and unique homesite.
Amenities
One of the community’s distinctive amenities is The Benjamin Lake Club. The resident-owned club offers a stunning space to gather and enjoy an array of health-and-wellness amenities, all with breathtaking views of Lake Martin.
The Benjamin’s saline pool beckons just outdoors along with a nearby grill facility, eight tennis courts and full-service tennis pro-shop, and eight pickleball courts. A picturesque event lawn, fitness center, covered pavilions, firepits and waterfront beach area provide a backdrop for gatherings of all sizes. A community dock complex adds an element of convenience, as residents have the welcome choice to boat to the lake club from their home.
Wicker Point Golf Club
The crown jewel of The Heritage is the highly anticipated Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed Wicker Point Golf Club private golf course, expected to debut in summer 2023. Wicker Point Golf Club is home to the only Coore & Crenshaw-designed course in Alabama.
Russell Lands selected Coore & Crenshaw, one of golf’s most respected architectural teams, due to their signature approach of honoring the land in their designs.
Defined by its pine plantations, meandering creeks, and lakefront holes, the 18-hole course will emphasize the land’s natural beauty and serenity. Players will feel they are enveloped in the natural environment as they navigate through varying terrains and topographies, with each hole providing a unique and unforgettable challenge.
The Wicker Point Golf Club clubhouse, designed by Hank Long of Henry Sprott Long & Associates, sets the tone for classic golf and an authentic Lake Martin experience. The wraparound porch will provide views of multiple holes with Lake Martin vistas in the background—all with a lake-house ambiance providing an ideal setting for dining, events or simply relaxing after a round.
Accompanying the golf clubhouse, a standalone golf shop, complete with pro shop and men’s and women’s locker rooms, will also feature a “wind down” room, including a lounge area and adjacent bar.
Additionally, a full calendar of special events and live entertainment at Russell Crossroads and The AMP—an open-air amphitheater—ample hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, and an on-site Naturalist who educates guests on the local flora and fauna mean a variety of fun for all ages can be found just minutes away from your door.
Russell Lands is a destination for friends and families to reconnect, create cherished memories and share in new lake traditions. Don’t miss the life that will rewrite your heritage for generations. Sign up for exclusive updates at russelllands.com/the-heritage or call 256-215-7011.
