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Finding Balance

By
Jean Allsopp Photography
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Sometimes Mother Nature has a way of “forcing” a home-improvement project. Such was the case for this homeowner when his original master bath was flooded. “The water damage affected surrounding rooms as well, ” says designer Shea Bryars. “So we took advantage of the opportunity to shift some space.” By relocating the existing laundry room that backed up to the original bath, builder Joe Smaha was able to bring in additional square footage for the new bath. Shea then created a design full of sleek, contemporary details that works perfectly for this single homeowner but can easily transition into a shared bath for a couple. Says Shea, “We wanted the right balance that would bring in that dual appeal.”

Why we Love It

STAINED WOOD CABINETS Because this bath is for a bachelor,   Shea wanted to include some details that were more masculine. The wood cabinets also offer a nice change from the all-white palette used in many bath renovations.

FLOATING DUAL VANITIES In keeping with the more contemporary theme of the space, Shea chose floating vanities. The lack of legs maintains a clean aesthetic.

PATTERNED CEMENT TILE ON THE FLOOR The colorful pattern on the floor creates a pleasing balance to the otherwise sleek space. “It offers just the right amount of interest, ” says Shea.

MIX OF METALS Shea didn’t limit the room to one choice between silver and gold. “Sometimes people shy away from mixing the two finishes, but they can work so well together, ” she says. Here, gold-accented sconces complement chrome plumbing fixtures.

Resources

Designer: Shea Bryars Design sheabryarsdesign.com Builder: Joe Smaha/Smaha Building, LLC smahabuilding.com Light fixtures: Circa Lighting through Shea Bryars Design Cabinets: Parsons Cabinetry mattparsonscabinetry.com Tile: Cement Tile Shop cementtileshop.com Hardware: Brandino Brass brandinobrass.com Countertops: Cutstone Company, 205.624.3538

Photography by Jean Allsopp

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Standout Style

By
Alice Welsh Doyle
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ABOVE The oversized arched steel front door gives a hint of the unexpected and exceptional details inside.
 

While the Internet has opened up the formerly secretive world of design to anyone with a network connection, it has also spawned a sameness of sorts. Everyone seems to be pinning and posting similar looks so quickly that “good design” has become a bit predictable. So when you see a house that pokes a little hole in that—and makes you question the zeitgeist a bit—it’s like a blast of fresh air.

Laura Vogtle brings that blast, perhaps channeling decorating mavericks of the past, to help her clients make their new homes into something a bit extraordinary. Paint the dining room black, including the ceiling? Go for it! Put faux fur on the back of traditional dining chairs? Yes ma’am! Add an almost ceiling-height tufted banquette in the kitchen’s dining space? Most definitely! “I like a little unpredictability in design, ” says Laura. “But nothing so over the top that it looks random or distracts from the whole.” For this particular home, she certainly showcased her unique style.

ABOVE Unstained white oak floors flow throughout the home. “Originally, my client wanted a dark color, but when they put the floors in, the wood was so beautiful that we decided to keep it natural, ” says Laura. Calm colors in the living room set off the more dramatic features like the light fixtures, art, and antiqued mirror.
 

 

“Laura really encouraged us to take some chances, ” says the homeowner. “She has great vision, and I admire her talents so much. We’re so happy with the results that I have now become a serious homebody!”

Interior spaces are dynamic and generous with abundant seating areas and plenty of storage. The master retreat sits on the first floor and the girls’ suite is upstairs, offering the perfect amount of space for this family to spread out. The basement, a decidedly masculine affair, provides another hangout space. On the exterior, the house doesn’t fit any mold, but it’s beautifully proportioned and very well built. “Laura and I both can’t say enough about Trey Goldstein of Cotton Construction, ” says the homeowner. “He was a gem, and the process was easier than anyone thought it would be.” And, according to Trey, the feeling is mutual. “Laura really brought a different type of look to this special house, ” he says. “Sometimes I feel designers tend to do the same things, but she is really out there by herself.”

On the flip side of all that space and style is a serious dedication to comfort, as well as close attention to how the family lives. A television room sporting smart swivel chairs opens up to the pool area for ease in entertaining. There’s a wonderful office strategically placed to allow views clear through from the front to the back of the house. The kitchen offers plenty of space for large meals with barstools, a table, and the aforementioned banquette. Attic space was finished out to include a chic “bunkhouse” with five single beds for sleepovers.

Even with all of this unique style, the real showpieces throughout every room are the perfectly proportioned and amazing light fixtures that look more like art. That should come as no surprise to those familiar with Laura’s resume—art galleries, Gallery 1930, Scene, and Design Supply at Pepper Place, her most recent undertaking. She truly has that much-lauded “eye” that can’t be picked up at Parsons or SCAD. “Laura is very intuitive about what works in a room, especially when it comes to scale, ” says the homeowner. As Laura explains, “I do believe in taking some risks here and there.” Spoken like a true decorating maverick. After all, no risks, no rewards.

ABOVE Swivel chairs in the den work for television or conversation. The French doors along the back open up to the pool area. 
 

  

ABOVE LEFT The wood-paneled walls lend a casual note to the kitchen dining area while the faux fur-backed chairs and eye-catching chandelier up the sophistication factor.

ABOVE RIGHT “My husband wanted the banquette to look like something in a restaurant, and I think it does. Laura realized it beautifully. It’s better that anything I could imagine, ” says the homeowner. Laura adds, “The custom execution by Grant Trick is outstanding.”
 

ABOVE “At first, we were a little hesitant about the black paint. The painter was especially alarmed, ” laughs the homeowner. “But it made the room so comfortable that we always want to linger after a meal—we stay in there for hours.”
 

  

Make a Statement

  • Paint a room a deep color and extend that color to the ceiling for a moody or romantic look—works great in dining rooms, powder baths, and libraries.
  • Think outside the standard go-to resources for light fixtures and choose ones that will bring a layer of excitement to a room—almost like a great piece of jewelry.
  • Vary the finishes in a room—include wood with patina to temper slicker surfaces, and layer in throws and pillows for softness. Mix antiques with contemporary pieces.
  • Be selective about what decorative accents to include—choose things that are authentic and personal, and let those pieces stand out. A little can go a long way.
  • Art can transform a room. Buy what you love, but consider the scale. You may need to have something commissioned to work in a particular space. Seek out a gallery or specialist for assistance.

ABOVE AND BELOW The spacious master bedroom needed a sizable light fixture, and Laura found the perfect one in her hunt for unique accents for the home. Simple sheers line the room, cocooning and softening the space.
 

ABOVE The glass-paneled shower wall in the master bath relates back to the door at the front entrance, giving a design point of reference in the home.
 

ABOVE AND BELOW “I love that Laura really questioned my daughters about how they wanted their bedrooms to look. One loved the golds, and other wanted a silvery look, ” says the homeowner. Each daughter has her own private bath and den.
 

ABOVE A bunk room accommodates sleepovers.
 

Resources

Interior designer: Laura Vogtle, Design Supply • 205.910.5369  [email protected] Builder: Trey Goldstein, Cotton Construction Inc. • 205.413.1962 cottonconstructioninc.com Landscape design: Curb Appeal • 205.942.5200 curbappealonline.com Banquette in kitchen: Grant Trick of Design Industry • 205.224.5599 granttrick.com Vanity in powder bath: Brooks Barrow through Design Supply at Pepper Place select art available through Gallery 1930 • 205.870.1930 artgallery1930.com Foyer: ceiling light fixture: Ochre ochre.net Living room chandelier: Julie Neill through Design Supply Dining room: chandeliers: through Design Supply table: Taracea through Design Supply Family room: Verellen chairs: Patina • 205.802.9805 chandelier: Julian Chichester through Design Supply Master bedroom: bed: Oly Studio through Design Supply Chandelier: Arete Collection Aretecollection.com Master bathroom chandelier: through Design Supply Girl’s Gold Bedroom: bed: Made Goods through Design Supply Girl’s silver bedroom chandelier: through Design Supply.

Text by alice welsh doyle // Photography by jean allsopp

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Going for Bold

By
Paige Townley
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In the new floorplan, the old dining room was eliminated. That space became part of the kitchen, which gave the family much more functional space for daily living. For the cabinets, Annie and Ginny chose blue, one of Kaci’s favorite colors. So as not to overwhelm the space, they kept everything else light, such as the white quartz countertops, the wall color, and stain on the floor. They also opted to include some open shelving, which allows for Kaci’s white china and crystal to really pop. Photos by Jean Allsopp

When love happens, it’s something that can’t be denied. As Kaci and Wyman Hamilton learned, that can even apply with a house. When the couple’s third daughter was born and the family needed more space, they thought it might be time to move to a bigger home. But there was something about their 1937 Mountain Brook farmhouse that they just couldn’t leave. “It’s such a sweet house with lots of memories, and as we looked around, my mind kept coming back to it every time, ” says Kaci. “It broke my heart to think that someone would come in behind us and possibly tear it down. So I knew we had to stay and do the renovation.”

Since the dining room was removed, Annie and Ginny made sure the kitchen included enough seating for the entire family plus guests. Both sides of the island feature acrylic barstools—an easy-to-clean option for households with kids. They also added a curved, built-in banquette, which provides plenty of seating around the kitchen table.While the statement-making chandelier adds a bit of glamour to the room, its painted wood beads maintain the farmhouse feel of the space.

To make the house function for their family of five, Kaci and Wyman had to find a way to turn the three bedroom/two bath home into a five bedroom/four-and-a-half bath with a floor plan to fit the family’s active lifestyle. The Hamiltons worked with family friend and architect Matthew Costanzo to open up the space, creating a large kitchen and family room by removing walls and eliminating the dining room. They added square footage in the form of a much needed master bedroom suite and a large screened-in porch that doubles as a dining room for larger gatherings.

For the interiors, the couple wanted to keep the farmhouse feel intact but play up a more modern and colorful aesthetic. “I was looking for something different and fun, ” says Kaci. To make it happen, they called in designers Annie Bayer Goldberg and Ginny Monheit Maguire of AG Designs, who seamlessly blended farmhouse and fun with stylishly strategic choices. The duo set the tone in the kitchen, where they opted for unexpected bright blue cabinets yet kept it farmhouse casual with open shelving, light countertops and floors, a farmhouse sink, and an etched detail—a custom feature that gives the cabinets a beadboard feel. The designers carried the blue into the family room with pillows and accessories. “It was important to balance out the color in the other side of the room, ” explains Annie. Bold choices continue in the powder room with a graphic wall covering and in the formal living room, where Annie and Ginny used a textured Phillip Jeffries wall covering. To connect the space to the rest of the main living area, the designers chose blue velvet chair cushions. Caned wooden chairs and a hammered coffee table evoke the farmhouse feel. “The house came together perfectly, ” says Kaci. “It’s fun and modern while still being true to its roots. It’s definitely farmhouse chic.”

Nothing adds a farmhouse feel to a kitchen like open shelving. White china creates a nice contrast to the bright blue scheme.
To keep the space open, Annie and Ginny went with a U-shaped couch in the family room. The couch takes up the entire back wall, but it maximizes the space. “Because the family room is open to the kitchen with the dining table in the center of the room, you don’t want to bring in too much furniture. Otherwise, it would overwhelm the space, ” says Annie.
Annie and Ginny connected the formal living room to the rest of the house by incorporating plenty of blue and including touches of brass and iron. Unique statements come through with the textured Phillip Jeffries wall covering, patterned cowhide rug, and the brass and crystal sconces. “We decided to stack the sconces to create the look of sculptural art, ” says Ginny.
The home’s entryway doesn’t have a defined foyer, so Annie and Ginny had wall-mounted tables designed to fit the small space. The tables have an antique look, creating a pleasing juxtaposition to the more modern feel of the wall covering.
“The powder bath is the best place to really make a statement, ” says Annie. “It’s a small room that everybody sees.” Annie and Ginny created impact in the Hamiltons’ powder bath with a playful wall covering. They kept the rest of the selections simple—such as the white cabinet and countertop and the glass ball cabinet pulls—so as not to compete with the pattern.

Bold Decor in a Small House

Keep the surroundings light. If the walls are bold or bright, that means the floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture should be in lighter, more neutral shades. “You can still use colorful accessories, but you should keep the furniture light, ” says Annie. “The reverse of that is also true. You can have bold furniture and light walls. There must be a balance.”

Be consistent. For bold choices to make sense, the entire space has to feel cohesive. “If you were to walk into a house and only the kitchen had bold color, it wouldn’t work, ” says Ginny. “Consistency throughout the home is important.”

Be thoughtful with every single detail. All of the elements should complement each other rather than fight with each other. “Sticking to the right shades of the color you’re using makes all the difference between creating a sophisticated environment and having a chaotic space, ” Annie says.

Resources

Designer: AG Designs ag-design.com Residential design: Matthew Costanzo • 205.266.2825 Builder: Bobby Scholl • 205.368.1370. Wall, ceiling, and trim color: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter: benjaminmoore.com Kitchen: custom cabinets: AG designs Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Summer Nights Hardware: Architectural Heritage • 205.322.3538 architecturalheritage.com Appliances: Ferguson • 205.323.7473 ferguson.com Countertops: Surface One • 205.621.1125 surface1.com Chandelier: Pottery Barn potterybarn.com Barstools and chairs: Gabby • 205.358.9600 gabbyhome.com Table: Restoration Hardware restorationhardware.com Pillows on bench: Defining Home • 205.803.3662  defining-home.com Runner: custom through AG Designs Tabletop bowl: Circa Interiors & Antiques • 205.868.9199 circainteriors.com Family room: sofa and pillows: Defining Home Mirror: Mirror-tique • 877.248.6656 mirror-tique.com Sconces: Mayer Lighting • 205.583.3500 mayerlighting.com Hurricane vase: Defining Home Living Room: wallcovering: Phillip Jeffries through AG Designs Sconces: Mayer Electric Lumbar pillows: through AG Designs Coffee table: Arteriors through AG Designs Foyer: lamps: Three Sheets • 205.871.2337 threesheetslinen.com Floating console: Bliss Studio through AG Designs Powder bath: cabinets: through AG Designs Wallcovering: Kelly Wearstler for Schumacher through AG Designs Sconces: Mayer Lighting Countertop: Surface One

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Bowl Game Delights

By
Leslie Byars Register
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After the holidays, many of us try to cut back on calories, restart our exercise plans, and get healthy. And every year, just as we get in a good routine, Super Bowl Sunday arrives. But it doesn’t mean you have fall off the wagon at your bowl game party. Even your most health-conscious guests will love these crowd pleasers. They’re delicious and—best of all—guilt free.

Creamy Guacamole Bites

Juice of 2 lemons
4 avocados, peeled and seeded
1 ¼ cups red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Multigrain tortilla scoops (Leslie likes Tostitos)
Garnishes: cherry tomatoes, jalapeños; seeded and chopped; and freshly chopped cilantro

Combine lemon juice and next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. (I like to squeeze the juice of the lemons first to prevent the avocados from turning brown.) With a potato masher or fork, combine ingredients until smooth and creamy; cover tightly and refrigerate. Prepare the garnishes for filling; refrigerate until ready to fill. Makes approx. 48 bites.

Slow-cooker Boston Butt Sliders

1 (6- to 7-lb.) boneless shoulder roast (Boston butt), trimmed
1 onion, quartered
1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Whole wheat slider buns
Marinated Mexican Vegetables (see recipe below)
Shredded iceburg lettuce
Sweet barbecue sauce, optional (Leslie likes Sticky Fingers Smokehouse (Carolina Sweet) Barbecue Sauce)

Place Boston butt in a 6-quart slow cooker; add onion, water, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on high for 6 to 7 hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork. Transfer to a cutting board; shred with 2 forks, and remove any large pieces of fat. Keep warm in a serving dish. Serve on slider buns with vegetables, lettuce, and barbecue sauce. Makes 12 – 14 sandwiches.

Marinated Mexican Vegetables

1 bunch radishes (about 10)
1 small red onion
3 carrots, peeled
3 pickling cucumbers
1 ½ cups white wine vinegar
1 ½ cups water
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 jalapeño pepper, sliced
Canning jars (any size)

Slice radishes, onion, carrots, and cucumbers as thinly as possible. Toss in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a saucepan, combine vinegar and next 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes; remove from the heat, and allow to cool slightly. Divide vegetables into jars, and pour vinegar mixture over to cover them completely; cover and refrigerate. Makes 6 cups.

Mango Salsa

2 mangos, diced
½ cup green pepper, chopped
½ cup red pepper, chopped
¼ cup red onion, chopped
¼ cup green onion, sliced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 jalapeños, finely chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Tortilla chips (Leslie likes Red Hot Blues Tortilla Chips)

Combine all ingredients except tortilla chips in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate. (Salsa can be made up to 24 hours in advance.) Stir before serving. Serve with tortilla chips. Makes 4 cups.

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Color Scheming

By
Lacey Howard
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When Sara Walker, design assistant to local interior decorator Fran Keenan, and her husband, Chris, bought their Edgewood three-bedroom, one-bath home, they had an inspired vision to completely gut the house, rework the floorplan, and claim the idle attic space. And they did it all—creating a master suite on the main floor and adding four bedrooms and two baths upstairs—without adding a single square foot or even a dormer. “I love that we were able to get all the modern amenities within the beautiful old shell of a 1925 brick Tudor—it’s the best of both worlds, ” Sara says.      

Within the rooms, furnishings are a collection of inherited pieces, inexpensive antiques, thrift store scores, and estate sale finds—all from a spectrum of styles and eras. Sara’s daring palette unites the rooms with a consistent thread of color. But choosing such vibrant, saturated hues wasn’t a casual decision for the design pro. “It was a leap of faith, even for a color-lover like me!” she says.

The Magic Mix

As a close friend and design mentor, Fran Keenan shares and appreciates Sara’s love of color. “She has a rather fearless approach to color—we are like-minded in that, ” Fran says. “I love the combination of the greens we selected and how they play off the raspberry red, anchored with black and brown.” Sara balances her savvy color scheme with interiors that stand up to real life. “I have embraced having an honest home that is full of things that are imperfect but all work together in a way that we love.” 

  

ABOVE LEFT Doors: Leafy Bower, Pratt & Lambert ABOVE RIGHT Ceiling: Green Drop, Pratt & Lambert
 

Comfortable with Color

A Bessarabian kilim from Paige Albright Orientals brings red into the room, which is topped with a vibrant jade green ceiling. “The painted ceiling has this glow about it, ” decorator Fran Keenan says. “There’s a warmth you feel in the space.” The plaid blanket on the sofa “adds a fun retro vibe and keeps the seat cushion clean, ” Sara says. “Living with color and pattern is super forgiving—these fabrics camouflage the wear and tear.”  

White Wall Challenge

“Before we moved in, my husband thought Fran and I were nuts for choosing this bright green color for the ceiling, ” Sara says, “but he grew to love it after the rest of the furnishings were placed. It makes the whole room glow.” The color was chosen from a floral Schumacher fabric that adorns the sofa’s throw pillows. Furnishings, including an antique French bergere covered in a geometric Lee Jofa fabric, an open-arm chair found at a local thrift store and covered in a modern malachite fabric, and a red trunk from a local antiques mall, offer a mix of styles and eras.  

  

ABOVE LEFT Walls: Oak Glen, Pratt & Lambert ABOVE RIGHT Ceiling: Greenage, Pratt & Lambert
 

Verdant Cocoon

The master bedroom’s walls and trim are painted mint green.  “A white or bright trim next to strong color amps up that color. Instead, we softened the vibrant wall color by using the same color on the trim, ” says Fran. “It makes the room feel sophisticated and really stylish.” Sara capitalized on the local trend of moving away from red Orientals and snapped one up for a steal. “I loved going against the trend with this over-dyed red rug. The contrast of the mint and red really makes the room, ” Sara says. To complete the space, she added a Parsons bench wrapped in what she calls “a very 80s chintz.”

Art Works

Sara pairs vintage art with new—like this collage of colorful pieces including some by her sister, local artist Liz Landgren. A trunk used by Sara’s grandfather in World War II is topped by a trophy mount from Chris’s youth. “I subscribe to the philosophy that if you love something enough, it will look good in your home, ” says Sara. “It’s all about creating that custom mix that makes it feel distinctly you.”

  

ABOVE Kitchen & Dining Walls: French Canvas, Benjamin Moore
 

Setting the Table

Drapes in a Greek key print douse the dining room in pattern, while a garage sale artwork score (a signed original!) adds color to a small expanse of white wall. An overscale Restoration Hardware lantern, painted red for a bold visual, holds court over an antique French farm table from Gabby Home. “Signed Thonet chairs in their original striped vinyl were purchased at a local antiques mall for a song!” Sara says of host chairs by German furniture maker Michael Thonet. A painted-to-unite collection of vintage bentwood bistro chairs are the dining side chairs.

Counter Culture

“Stairs are always the hardest part—the floorplan juggernaut, ” Fran says of finding a place on the main floor for the stairwell rising to the newly finished second floor. “And then the kitchen was a brain cramp. Sara wanted it to feel gracious enough to support the size of the house.” Eventually, after many sketches, Sara nestled the stairs at one end of the kitchen and tucked counter seating beneath the rise of the stairs. For kitchen lighting, she went a different route than the usual canned lights. “I was inspired by some of interior designer Steven Gambrel’s kitchens where he used flush-mount lighting on a grid. With some very modestly sourced lighting and a can of brassy spray paint, I achieved this look, ” Sara says. 

Resources

Designers: Sara Walker and Fran Keenan frankeenan.com Builder: Cotton Construction cottonconstructioninc.com Windows: Holcombe Doors and Windows holcombedoorandwindow.com Windowpane trim color throughout house: Pratt & Lambert Field Gray prattandlambert.com Hardware and restoration of vintage hardware: Brandino Brass brandinobrass.com Kitchen: cabinets: Cannon Custom Woodwork Inc.: 205.296.3745 Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Paris Rain benjaminmoore.com Countertops: Triton Stone tritonstone.com Barstools: Serena & Lily serenaandlily.com Dining room: Vintage striped thonet chairs: Hanna Antiques hannaantiques.com Cowhide rug: Paige Albright Orientals paigealbrightorientals.com Living room: club chairs: Hiltz Lauber hiltzlauber.com Red trunk: Hanna Antiques Sofa: custom through MCJ Interiors 205.458.2700 Hemp area rug: Paige Albright Orientals Fabric on open-arm lounge chair: Duralee duralee.com Antique French console: Argent Antiques argentantiques.com Vintage emerald lamp: Urban Suburban Antiques: 205.592.0777 Mid-century buoy lamps: Scott Antique Market scottantiquemarket.com Wall color: Benjamin Moore French Canvas Keeping room: wall color: Benjamin Moore French Canvas Italian chrome folding chair: The Nest thenestbham.com Rug: Paige Albright Orientals Master bedroom: linen bedding: Restoration Hardware and West Elm restorationhardware.com, westelm.com Parsons bench: The Nest Oriental rug: Chelsea Antiques chelseaantiques1.com

Text by lacey howard // Photography by hector sanchez

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Fabulously Festive

By
Paige Townley
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ABOVE The front walkway sets the holiday tone with embellishments of fruit, pinecones, and all sorts of flowers, including garden roses, English tea roses, berry branches, and tulips.
 

In the beginning, I just wanted to spend some time with those that I don’t get to see very often, ” says Suzanne Oparil. “I wasn’t really thinking about doing anything big or elaborate.” Yet it didn’t take long for her simple gathering to grow into anything but your average holiday party—complete with live music, exquisite ice sculptures, a mouth-watering menu, and over-the-top decorations

Now, that fabulously festive holiday atmosphere is created year after year thanks to famed wedding and event designer Scot Wedgeworth, who helps Suzanne plan the party in between designing for celebrities and major events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade. His philosophy each year is simple: Go big or go bigger. “Suzanne and I both love a good party, so I like to go for that ‘wow’ factor, ” he says. “When people arrive, I want them to be completely blown away. I like doing the unexpected.”

ABOVE Almost every table is dressed with a festive centerpiece. Suzanne likes to travel, and her home exhibits many pieces of art she has collected. When possible, Scot incorporates those sculptures into the décor, using them as vases. “I like utilizing pieces she already has, ” the designer says. “To me, that keeps the overall look all about her.”

 

To deck out Suzanne’s circa-1924 home, Scot brings in decorations by the truckload, including at least 3, 000 fresh flowers, 1, 000 feet of garland, and case after case of fruit. Added to that are dozens of wreaths, yards of colorful ribbon, and all sorts of potted plants. “We want the party to be a real experience for the guests, ” he says, “and that means covering every aspect of the house.”

And it’s not just the inside of the house that Scot covers—it’s the entire property. He embellished the front of the house with fresh garland trailing the railing and a Williamsburg-style design complete with berries, greenery, and tightly packed fruit above the door. Inside, every doorway, chandelier, mantel, table, and window is dressed with florals, fruit, ribbon, and seasonal accents such as pinecones and berries. “Suzanne is very environmentally friendly, so I try to always incorporate some fresh flowers and fruit and various natural elements, ” Scot says.

The designer also comes up with a different theme each year, never repeating the same look twice. One year he focused on shades of red. Another year was all about purple and lavender. Last year’s décor included lots of pinks and apricots. “I thrive on changing it up and making sure guests never know what they are going to see, ” Scot says. “I want every guest to walk in and be wowed, Even if it's been a year since they’ve been there, I want them to see a noticeable difference.”

Now 25 years in, Suzanne can’t imagine spending the holidays any other way. “Once each party is over, we immediately start talking about the next one, ” she says. “It somehow keeps getting better every year.”

ABOVE The mantel is outlined with fresh coned cedar and Carolina Sapphire topped with dried quince slices, pinecones, apples, and cinnamon stick bundles. 
 

Meet the Designer: Scot Wedgeworth

For 24 years, Scot Wedgeworth has been jetting around the country as a celebrity wedding and event designer, working with everyone from Dolly Parton and Elton John to Sela Ward and Reba McEntire. Known as “Mr. Fabulous, ” he even had his own Food Network reality series called Bama Glama, which followed him as he created the most exquisite weddings and events in the Heart of Dixie. And while this award-winning designer has had a successful career thus far, he actually never planned to focus on floral design. “I really stumbled into it, ” he says. “I was in college as a pre-med student planning on being an ER doctor. But I quickly realized I didn’t like it.”

Scot had always enjoyed art, so when a friend who owned a Tuscaloosa flower shop needed a floral designer, Scot decided to apply for the job. He not only got the job but was soon designing flowers for dozens of weddings. Today, Scot handles about 75 events a year, including working as a designer for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, for the past five years. Last year alone, he designed eight of the floats for the parade.

While his job keeps him busy and always on the go, Scot never tires of transitioning a space from normal and bland into an unexpected wonderland. “I absolutely thrive on the responses I get from people when they see my end product, ” he says. “That’s what makes all of the hard work and long hours worth it. I love creating something that makes people so happy.”

Scot Wedgeworth, Scot Wedgeworth Weddings, Events & Entertaining, 205.233.7614
 

Text by paige townley // Photography by art meripol

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Home for the Holidays

By
Alice Welsh Doyle
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ABOVE The tree is decorated with tufts of cotton tucked in among sterling silver, baby rattles, cups, and napkin rings. White lights and a large green-and-coral bow with trails of ribbon complete the charming look.
 

While thoroughly ensconced, successful, and happy in Birmingham, Eufaula natives Ragan and Brad Cain felt the tug of their charming hometown—a tug they kept thinking and talking about. Then, a particular property became available that turned the ‘maybe’ into a big ‘yes’—a house that was next door to the couple’s best friends and a hop, skip, and a jump from many family members. It also backed up to acres of undeveloped family-owned property with quite possibly the largest gingko tree in the state of Alabama. Providence was in play, and the couple knew this was the second home they had always dreamed about. Christmas also played its part. “I have spent every Christmas in Eufaula around family tables, ” says Ragan, “and having our own place to decorate and entertain in is really special to us.”

ABOVE On the mantel, an iron piece topped with a crown holds cedar, white Tibet roses, snapdragons, and magnolia.

 

The 1920s house was ideally located, but Ragan knew some changes were in order for the inside. “We reconfigured the rooms, painted, and totally updated the kitchen, ” she says. While Ragan’s day job involves serious number crunching as the vice president and treasurer of Tacala Companies, she also has a passion for style. With a treasure trove of collected pieces to place in the house, she just needed a little help putting it all altogether. Melanie Pounds of Patina in Mountain Brook came into the picture. “I had long admired Melanie’s work and knew she was the person to make my vision come to life, ” says Ragan. The only catch to the partnership involved Ragan’s fondness for color. “I challenged Melanie a bit to get out of her comfort zone of more understated, neutral interiors, and she was up for it, ” explains Ragan. The beautiful result is a coral-colored lacquered living room with a deeper coral on the ceiling that creates a cozy elegant attitude. Yellow envelops both guest rooms, while deep green covers the walls in the den and mudroom. The home shows off finds that Ragan unearthed in antique shops, flea markets, and estate sales, as well as from online sources.

With their renovated and colorful home complete, the Cains were asked to put it on the Eufaula Christmas tour. Ragan paused only long enough to make sure that Mary Cox Brown of Marigold Designs was available. “I would not have said yes to the tour without her talents to draw on, ” says Ragan. “We have worked together many times and are now good friends. She is my voice of reason.”

Both women agreed that the Eufaula home didn’t lend itself to traditional red and green Christmas décor. The coral living room provided the perfect jumping off point. “I ordered all kinds of ribbon in coral, salmon, and apple green shades. Those colors provided the foundation for other choices, ” says Mary Cox. “Ragan had so many wonderful things, but she also borrowed items from family members and neighbors. Eufaula is that kind of place.”

One piece from Ragan’s collection was destined for a starring role. “I have a pair of swan containers, and I am absolutely obsessed with them, ” says Ragan. One of the swans, placed on the dining table, shows off a cornucopia of flowers and greenery. At every turn, there are holiday treasures, flowers, and greenery to attract the eye. “Ragan wanted this tour to be a really special experience for the visitors, ” says Mary Cox. “Some people came back two or three times during the day to take everything in.” And for the Cains, seeing the success of the tour was the perfect way to celebrate their homecoming.

  

ABOVE LEFT An urn filled with ilex, magnolia, and gold-painted pinecones greets guests in the entry. Jan Roberts of Finishing Touches hand-painted the detail on the floor.

ABOVE RIGHT Amaryllis blooms perfectly fit the home’s color palette.
 

ABOVE A favorite vessel, one of a pair of swans is filled with antique hydrangea, Juliet garden roses, white O’Hara roses, magnolia, and cedar.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT Vintage napkin rings bring a cheerful note to the place settings.

ABOVE RIGHT Elegant hand-painted botanicals on the wall provide more visual appeal.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT “We wanted to put something in the kitchen that wasn’t too flower heavy, ” says Mary Cox. “We used a lemon cypress and then skewered fruits around the base and filled in with green cymbidium orchids. It’s our take on a Williamsburg Christmas tree.”

ABOVE RIGHT Bright red tulips and anemones liven up a kitchen corner.
 

ABOVE The color palette takes a bit of a turn in the master bedroom with more muted tones. A gilded French mirror, Italian tole lamps, and a velvet bolster pillow add layers of luxe to the room.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT “I had a fit when I saw this Carolyn Goldsmith painting and had to have it, ” says Ragan. “It brings so much interest and color to this small space.” A banquette and round table make the most of this tight nook.

ABOVE RIGHT Santa mugs add a touch of whimsy to the décor.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT The den’s handsome walls are papered in grass cloth set off by green trim in an artichoke color.
 

RESOURCES
Floral design: Mary Cox Brown of Marigold Designs • 205.447.4747 marigold-designs.com Interior design, fabrics, wallpaper, and select furnishings, lighting, and accessories: Through Melanie Pounds at Patina • 205.802.9802 Decorative painting on entryway floor and master bedroom wall: Jan Roberts of Finishing Touches • 205.823.8305 Living room paint color: Pratt & Lambert ‘Mineral Red’ in high gloss: prattandlambert.com Ceiling color: Pratt & Lambert ‘Poppy Petal' Iron ring with crown on mantel: maison 205.848.2727 Den wall trim: Pratt & Lambert ‘Artichoke’ • 205.447.4747 marigold-designs.com Kitchen island: through Ware & Co. • 504.267.3868 Painting in breakfast room: Carolyn Goldsmith through Gallery 1930 • 205.870.1930 artgallery1930.com Wallpaper: Degournay degournay.com Porcelain swan: Blackmon Antiques at the Farm • 334.687.6360 vintage Santa napkin rings: Homewood Antiques • 205.414.9945 homewoodantiques.com Master bedroom mirror: through Libby Greene Interiors libbygreeneinteriors.com

Text by alice welsh doyle // Photography by jean allsopp

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Pretty & Polished

By
Alice Welsh Doyle
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While most of us look back fondly on our first house or two and can recall many anecdotes about early attempts to renovate and personalize it ourselves, we are seriously excited when we transition to a “grown-up” house. This is the one that you want to reflect who you are stylistically and how you like to live. When one Mountain Brook homeowner found her particular house, she was ready for some grown-up decorating to go with it. All she had to do was engage one of her dear friends, Lisa Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors, for a design partnership made in heaven. “Lisa totally knows my style and the colors I gravitate towards, ” says the homeowner. “It was so easy and fun working with her. She really listens to what you want, and she doesn’t try to turn you in a direction that doesn’t suit you.” Adds Lisa, “My friend loves blues, grays, and greens—very cool colors—and they flow throughout, uniting the rooms. She also is extremely decisive when it comes to her interiors, so we could make selections quickly and move on to the next thing.”

While there’s decidedly French leaning inside, a favorite style of the homeowner, modern touches do appear, as seen in the Lucite coffee table and bold gold fireplace screen in the living room, the white beaded chandelier in the dining room, and accents of fur here and there. Beautiful jewel-like lamps and well-edited accessories provide engaging punctuation marks in the soothing color scheme. Lisa paid special attention to the selection of rugs—all from local sources—to bring texture and softness to the rooms. “I first fell in love with the Oushak rug from King’s House when I was working on the Kappa Delta house at The University of Alabama, but it was too small to use there, ” Lisa says. “But when I saw my friend’s foyer, I knew that the rug had found a home—it was in her color palette!”

Another highlight of the interiors is the art, which is varied and brings out the best in the interior design. “The art choices were very important to us, and I knew I wanted to include pieces by Carrie Mullins, who is one of my sorority sisters, ” says the homeowner. “We bought two of her pieces at Argent, and Carrie actually came over and customized them to be perfect for the setting.” Lisa also arranged for an art approval period where other pieces were brought in so the homeowner could live with them for a few days and decide what worked. The resulting mélange includes paintings by Arthur Price and two commissions by Emily Farish, both represented by Gallery 1930 in English Village, a go-to source for Lisa. In addition, the designer requested approval days for certain pieces of furniture, rugs, and accessories. “I buy a lot of things locally, so I am often able to do this for my clients, ” she says. “It especially helps to give the husband—who is sometimes left out of the process—a chance to weigh in.”

When it was time for the house to make its Christmas debut for a neighborhood party, the homeowner enlisted the talents of Leah Hazzard of 3 Graces Design to work her floral magic. “We wanted the decorations to complement the perfectly curated interiors, so we were mindful to create calm, elegant designs, ” says Leah. To accomplish this, she used a lot of unadorned cedar garlands, eucalyptus pods, and amaryllis with pretty ribbons in shades of silver, sage, taupe, and blue. With these holiday touches layered in, the house looks appropriately festive and, well, very grown-up.

ABOVE “The look we wanted was fresh, traditional, and not too trendy. The rooms have fun touches here and there, but they can stand the test of time.” — Lisa Flake
 

  

ABOVE LEFT When decorating the house for a neighborhood Christmas party, Leah Hazzard of 3 Graces Design used a light touch with lots of greenery adorned with bows. The white-and-green palette for the floral arrangements in the dining room and kitchen includes amaryllis, paperwhites, and roses.
 

ABOVE “We decided to go all in with the blues in the family room, ” says Lisa. “We painted the paneling and chose blue window treatments as well.” A wood chest and fur-topped ottomans stand out against the soft color palette.
 

ABOVE In the kitchen, Leah created an arrangement with live and cut florals including decorative cabbage, paper white narsisius, amarylis, and hydrangea.
 

RESOURCES
Interior design: Lisa Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors • 205.222.9139 caldwellflake.com Floral design: Leah Hazzard of 3 Graces Design • 205.902.3635 [email protected] Foyer lamps: Hiltz Lauber • 205.879.0039 hiltzlauber.com Foyer chest: Antiquities • 205.870.1030 Foyer rug: King’s House Orientals • 205.244.1933 kingshouseorientalrugs.com Chair pillows in foyer: TOO, Unique Pillow Accents • 205.862.8060 Feather paintings in foyer: Lacey Russell bylacey.com Custom dining room table: Ed Greer of the Nest • 205.870.1264 Rug in family room: Hiltz Lauber Furniture in family room: Richard Tubb Interiors • 205.324.7613 richardtubbinteriors.com Mirror in family room: Three Sheets • 205.871.2337 threesheetslinen.com

Text by alice welsh doyle // Photography by jean allsopp // Floral Design by Leah Hazzard

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Holiday Hot Chocolate Bar

By
Anne Cain
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Easy Hot Chocolate for a Crowd

Make this two-ingredient hot chocolate in a slow cooker and serve with a variety of festive toppings.

2 (1½-quart) containers chocolate ice cream
6 cups milk
Mini marshmallows (optional)
Cocoa powder (optional)
Shaved chocolate (optional)
Crushed peppermint candy (optional)

Spoon ice cream into a 3-quart slow cooker. Add milk. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.  Ladle hot chocolate into mugs, and top with marshmallows, cocoa powder, shaved chocolate, and peppermint as desired. Yields 18 servings.

Hot Chocolate Toppers

Whipped cream // Mini marshmallows // Crushed gingersnaps // Mini chocolate chips // Shaved dark or white chocolate // Peppermint sticks // Peppermint candies // Caramel topping // Caramel syrup // Hazelnut syrup // Cocoa powder // Ground cinnamon

Spiked Holiday Coffee

In addition to the hot chocolate, add an “adults-only” coffee to the menu.

6 cups brewed Christmas blend coffee
3/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlua)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Shaved chocolate (optional)

Prepare coffee in desired coffee maker.  Add liqueur, and stir.  Pour whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla into a large chilled bowl.  Beat with a hand-held electric mixer using the whisk attachment until cream thickens and soft peaks form. Pour coffee into mugs, and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with shaved chocolate, if desired. Yields 6 servings.

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

For a different take on traditional hot chocolate, use white chocolate chips and add festive holiday flavor with peppermint candy.

8 cups milk
14 hard peppermint candies, crushed
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Whipped cream (optional)
Crushed peppermint (optional)

Place milk in a heavy saucepan, and cook over medium heat until warm (do not boil). Add crushed peppermint, stirring until candies dissolve.  Add white chocolate chips, stirring with a whisk until chocolate melts. Cook until bubbles form around the edge of pan (do not boil), stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat, and stir in extract. Ladle into mugs, and top with whipped cream and crushed peppermint, if desired. Yields 12 servings.

Note: Cookies were purchased from Icing on the Cookie in Homewood, 2907 Central Avenue, 205.871.9852, icingonthecookie.net.

Photography by Art Meripol

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Christmas Classic

By
Lacey Howard
-
Photo by Jean Allsopp

This is very much my nest, my fortress, ” James Carter says of his Mountain Brook stunner of a home. After a storied 30-plus-year career as a visionary architect, he says, “This is the first time I have built a house for myself.”

His house, a classically styled, three-level structure clad in white-washed antique brick and a slate roof, nestles into a hill far from the road on the property where James has lived since 2000 (he tore down the small home that came with the property). “I wanted a place that lives well, like an old-fashioned house, ” he says. “This was an opportunity to do the things I think are important—natural light, a lot of detail, a house that lives big on a small floorplan—for myself.”

But having himself as a client proved to be a bit of a challenge for this designer who specializes in giving other people a beautiful backdrop for their lives. “It was very difficult because I’m so used to taking cues from my clients. There was the pressure of having to decide what would work for me for the rest of my life, ” he says. In the end, James landed on an American Georgian exterior with interior detailing that “pulled in a little of this and that from houses I’ve admired—things that spoke to me from the American South and East Coast and from Europe, ” he says. “Much of the interior detailing is Virginian in style, with old-fashioned Southern touches thrown in.”

James designed the dining room around the 19th-century Italian three-panel screen. His tabletop Christmas tree holds court on the Louis Phillipe dining table. “I couldn’t find the fullness and shape I wanted in a small tree, ” floral designer Carole Sullivan says. So she shopped for shape, bought a 5-foot tree and cut it to size. “We cut the boughs off the cut-off trunk and used them around the house, ” she says. The tree stands in a Swedish copper planter and is decorated with red roses in water picks and a collection of Italian papier-mâché angels.

Inside and out, the architect’s prevailing design direction was quiet luxury. “To me, it was all about something that felt low-key but was very elegant, ” he explains. “I wanted a house that would wear well for years to come—I’m not trying to be cutting edge.” However, as both architect and client, James says he needed an outsider to be a voice of reason. For that, he turned to his longtime friend and collaborator, interior designer Jane Hawkins Hoke. “She did tell me that less is better, and I have a great respect for her taste, ” he says. Jane’s advice helped him keep things in perspective. “I often did what she recommended because I knew she was probably right.”

Furnishings in the home exude the same quiet elegance as the structure—one that does not come from a catalog or a retail store. “I inherited a good bit of furniture from my parents and grandparents, and for years I’ve been bringing home souvenirs—art or furniture or little things—from travels all over the world.” In the home’s wood-paneled library, James gathered his collected and inherited furnishings such as the portrait of King George IV’s brother he bought in London, a lion sculpture from Florence, a table from Paris, a chair from Boston, a vase that belonged to his grandparents, and French and Italian art.

One way of embracing his furnishings and collections was to use reclaimed building materials in places such as the floors and the interior paneling that graces many of the rooms. “They are ecologically practical, and you get a quality of wood you can’t find in new materials, ” he says. “The feeling you get from each room is different than what you would get if the walls were all drywall. For example, the stained library walls immediately make the space feel aged and mellow.”

By bringing together classical architectural details, collections of furnishings and art, aged building materials, and a particular attention to scale and proportion, James has created a home that is steeped in timeless beauty and grace—exactly what has made him such a success as an architect. “I’m used to doing a backdrop for other people, but you can forget how important that backdrop is for yourself, ” he says. “I never appreciated how nice it can be to come home to something you love.”

“I really wanted a timeless Christmas feel with an old-fashioned tree covered in lights and tinsel and ornaments, ” architect and homeowner James Carter says. “I wanted to create a Christmas that felt like the ones I grew up with, the same tree my grandparents had, my parents had. My house is the same way—you can look back at a long line of wonderful ideas.”
A black-and-white photo of James and his older brother as children at Christmastime has earned a place of prominence in the holiday scene.
Floral designer Carole Sullivan of Mountain Brook’s Lagniappe Designs adorned the home’s windows with mixed-green wreaths and classic red ribbons. A container of forced paperwhite bulbs adds to the holiday vignette in the stairwell.
The architect’s eye for detail really shines in the stair hall—the thoroughfare on the main level of his home. The paneling adds a rich backdrop for his collected furnishings and display of books that covers one entire wall.

RESOURCES
Architect: James F. Carter Architect, Inc. jamesfcarter.com Designer (in collaboration with James Carter): Jane Hawkins Hoke/Hawkins-Israel Company Floral Design: Carole Sullivan/Lagniappe Designs Landscape architect: Norman Kent Johnson Christmas decor/floral design (in collaboration with James and Jane) and installation: Lagniappe Designs lagniappe-designs.com Paint colors: stair hall: Alaskan Skies 972, Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com Front door & trim: Glacier White OC-37, Benjamin Moore

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