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Natural Instincts

By
Cassandra Lenard
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On a corner lot in Cherokee Bend sits an unassuming brick home. Though it is charming enough outwardly, there is nothing distinctive about it, nothing that would stop you in your tracks—until you are invited inside.

When designer Melanie Pounds took on this home, she knew she was in for a delightful challenge. Though the homeowners wanted an elegant interior, they also wanted their outdoor adventures and hobbies woven into the whole scheme. They desired a house that was relaxed and cozy; a place where the children could bring in little gems found in the backyard and display them comfortably next to designer pieces without the new additions seeming out of place. Similarly, they wanted total authenticity in the interior design and asked that Melanie stick to real wood, metals, and fur, as well as organic fabrics of 100% wool or cotton. Melanie took these requests and created a truly unique fine-meets-found dichotomy throughout the entire home.

Designer pieces, such as this marble-topped chest anchoring the stairwell, coexist peacefully with the more natural elements of the interiors.

The soul of this home seems to be the cozy den with its large fireplace and built-in bookshelves. A tapered wooden ladder gives aid to the top shelves where thick books inhabit the crannies. The bottom shelves are earmarked for wooden toys and children’s books. On top of the mantel are a collection of discovered birds’ nests and a silver cup full of delicate feathers. A sofa faces twin winged-backed chairs, creating the foundation of the space. A gray ottoman—perfect as a coffee table or an extra seat—links the furniture pieces together for a cozy seating area. On the wall, Melanie has gathered the family’s art collection into one display, and while the art is done in a variety of styles, she has brought uniformity to the bunch by selecting gold frames for each piece.

Beside the den is a small dining area where the patina of a chalkboard wall stands in striking contrast to the gleaming brass chandelier. The light fixture’s rectangular shape is reflected in the high-back bench which accompanies the rustic farm table. Three stools, made from stone to look like reclaimed stumps, sit squarely in front. By placing these unique stools in full view, Melanie keeps the room controlled, allowing the eye to move from stool to table to bench and then to the beautiful contrast of chalkboard and brass. 

And still another cleverly designed room is the master bedroom. With a wall of windows that brings in natural light, an almost all-white color palette, and an eye-catching light fixture that resembles a cloud, the room physically feels heavenly. “The homeowner wanted the focus to be on the view of the garden, ” explains Melanie, “so I knew I had to go with white. Nothing in here needed to take away from what was going on out there.” Perhaps the intention was to keep the bedroom low-key, but it’s hard not to be wowed by Melanie’s influence on the space.

Additionally, the elegant dining room with its twin chandeliers and screened cabinets is a grownup’s version of the rich and rustic harmony of the home. Traditional Queen Anne chairs, painted with gold accents and re-covered in Edelman hide, surround a simple table that sits atop two metal sawhorses. Interestingly, the chandeliers are items that Melanie has worked with twice. Though such a gorgeous duo is rarely found together, Melanie made the discovery and used the fixtures with a previous client who then sold the pair back to her during a move. She knew the light fixtures would be perfect for this family’s design plan and had them reinstalled in the home.

In the end, Melanie struck that perfect cord between rusticity and elegance in a tailormade space that speaks to this family’s interests and lifestyle.

  

ABOVE LEFT The family’s devotion to the outdoors and to hobbies such as bee-keeping informed Melanie’s design direction, as seen in the vintage bee print and antique beehive stumps.

ABOVE RIGHT Snow’s Bend Farm is a local, organic farm that prides itself on producing wholesome food for the community. To sign up for freshly grown produce delivered to your door, visit their website: snowsbendfarm.com. You can also enjoy Snow’s Bend’s harvest at Red Cat Coffee House, Continental Bakery, and Classic Wine Company.
 

ABOVE A pair of statement chandeliers adds a touch of sophistication to an otherwise low-key dining room.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT A found tortoise shell keeps the more formal arrangement of roses and sterling silver pieces from being too stuffy in this family room vignette.

ABOVE RIGHT Soft and serene surroundings in shades of white keep the master bedroom elegantly understated with the focus on outside views.
 

  

RESOURCES

Interior Designer: Melanie Pounds, Mountain Brook Interiors • 236 Country Club Park, Birmingham, Alabama • 205.907.7002, [email protected]
Den: Wooden Ladder: Circa Interiors • Mt. Brook, Ala. • 205.868.9199 • circainteriors.com; Armchairs: Verellen through Mountain Brook Interiors; Sofa: Baker through Mountain Brook Interiors; Ottoman: Ochre through Mountain Brook Interiors 
Breakfast Nook: Light fixture: Visual Comfort through Mountain Brook Interiors; Bench and Stone Stools: Club Cu through Mountain Brook Interiors 
Home Office: Gray Doors: Circa Interiors; Chairs: Restoration Hardware, Birmingham, Ala. 205.967.1901 • restorationhardware.com
Master Bedroom: Light Fixture: Apparatus through Mountain Brook Interiors; Linens: Restoration Hardware and Mountain Brook Interiors; Chaise: Circa Interiors; Window Treatments: Custom through Mountain Brook Interiors; Rugs: Land of Nod • landofnod.com; Mirror: West Elm, Birmingham, Ala. • 205.968.7651 • westelm.com; Art: Maralyn Wilson 
Dining Room: Chandeliers: Ad Antiquities through Mountain Brook Interiors; Table: Circa Interiors; Chairs: Adams Antiques through Mountain Brook Interiors; Window Treatments: Custom through Mountain Brook Interiors

Clockwise: Laurie Grantham (standing) Amy Belt and Melanie Pounds.

Introducing Mountain Brook Interiors

For a long time, Melanie Pounds was a one-woman show, balancing both design side and business side. Recently, however, she combined forces with Laurie Grantham and Amy Belt to create Mountain Brook Interiors, a new design gallery in Crestline Village.

“As a female, you’re taught your whole life that you can have children and you can also have a career you love, ” Melanie explains. “And once you have it all, you realize this is a lot of stuff! Then God gives you these wonderful people to help you and make it fun again, who understand what it means to be a mother and who understand what it means to work.”

So how did these three meet? Laurie and Amy have been neighbors for years. So close, Amy says, that they helped raise each other’s children. Amy was also Melanie’s client, and when Laurie confided to Amy that she wanted to start an interior design company, Amy insisted the three of them team up.

The women have created a shop with a fresh design look for a variety of budgets. And while some galleries offer a distinct look, Melanie says their shop is an ever-changing space so customers will find fresh inspiration every time they come in. “There are people who want what everyone else has, but we’re hoping to give our clients something that is different at any price point, ” Melanie says. “We’re going to show that we can do wood and iron but then we can also do really soft French pieces.”

Visit the shop at 236 Country Club Park, right next door to Snoozy’s Kids. 

text by Cassandra Ramos Lenard • photography by Jean Allsopp

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Dining In

By
BHG Staff
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Like other chefs, Angela Schmidt enjoys spending time in the kitchen, perfectly prepping mouthwatering dinner menus. But her real goal is to provide more than a meal—she wants to provide an experience, an environment that gets people out of their chairs and into the kitchen too. She achieved that goal just over four years ago with the foundation of Chef U, a meal she prepares in a client’s home for a dinner party with—hopefully—a little help from the guests themselves. “The concept is to get a group of friends together for a dinner where all you do is set the table, and I take care of everything else, ” Angela explains. “It’s entertainment but also like having the restaurant come to you.”

A typical dinner party consists of a four-course meal that gets dinner guests in on the culinary action. “We usually have the first course prepared when guests arrive, ready for them to nibble on in the kitchen, ” Angela says. “We make sure to save the fun, interesting parts of the meal prep for when guests are there to get them to participate in the process and learn some tricks of the trade or maybe just some fundamentals of cooking.”

Angela—who originally planned to study to become an engineer— started out at Highlands Bar and Grill after serving as a stage at Chez Fonfon. Then she continued to sharpen many of the skills she shares with dinner party guests in some of the most well-known restaurants in Birmingham, including working as Ocean’s pastry chef and as sous chef at 26. “My kitchen experience has definitely been on-the-job training and just taking advantage of opportunities that came my way, ” she says. “The kitchen was a natural fit for me.”

Realizing her own culinary dream motivates Angela to inspire others to spend a little more time in the kitchen. The relaxed environment she creates typically encourages even the non-foodies to get in on the action. “That’s the real fun of it—when people get into cooking and really want to participate, ” Angela says. “It makes me so happy when I hear one person saying how amazing a particular dish is and the next person chimes in to say they can tell them what’s in it because they helped make it. That interactive sharing is the best thing about it.”

Chef U • 205.492.0610, chefubham.com
On the Menu
Easter Egg Radish, Apple & Watercress Salad
Apple Gorgonzola Welsh Rarebits
Chorizo & Apple Stuffed Quail
Haricot Verts
Parmesan Spoon Bread
Apple & Cranberry Upside-Down Cakes
High Road Apple Tarte Tatin Ice Cream

Easter Egg Radish, Apple & Watercress Salad

1 cup greek plain yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
1/2  teaspoon sumac, plus more for garnish
1 garlic clove, minced
juice & zest from 1 lemon
Salt and fresh ground pepper
4 cups watercress, trimmed & washed
1 bunch Easter egg radish, shaved thinly
1 Fuji or Gala apple, cut into matchsticks

To make the dressing, whisk together yogurt and next 4 ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld. When ready, gently toss watercress, radish, apple, and dressing together. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Apple Gorgonzola Welsh Rarebits

1/2 ficelle or baguette, thinly sliced
3 teaspoons butter, melted
salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces gorgonzola or quality blue cheese, crumbled
3 teaspoons crème fraiche or sour cream
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dijon
1 teaspoon honey
1 Fuji or Gala apple

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Brush each slice of bread with melted butter and place on a baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake 8-12 minutes until lightly toasted.
3. Meanwhile, combine gorgonzola, crème fraîche, and next three ingredients in a small bowl, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Turn on the broiler. Place an apple slice on each crostini and cover with 2 teaspoons of gorgonzola mixture. Place under the broiler and cook until browned. Serve on the side of salad.

Chorizo & Apple Stuffed Quail

6 semi-boneless quails
3/4 lb Mexican chorizo (4 links)
3 tablespoons sweet onion
2 tablespoons celery
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled & diced
1 tablespoon butter
1/2-1 cup panko breads crumbs
Salt & freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare quails by spreading them out over paper towels; pat dry thoroughly.
3. Heat a large sautè pan over medium-high heat. Remove chorizo from casing and transfer to the sautè pan. Brown sausage, and remove any excess oil with a paper towel. Add onion, celery, spices and herbs; sautè for 3-4 minutes
until the vegetables are soft. Transfer chorizo mixture to a large mixing bowl.
4. Wipe out the sautè pan; add apples and butter. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until the apples release their liquid. Remove from the heat and drain off liquid. Add cooked apples to the chorizo mixture, and add panko bread crumbs starting with 3/4 cup. Keep adding breadcrumbs until mixture holds together. Season to taste.
5. To stuff the birds, season the interior of each bird with salt and pepper. With breast side facing up, stuff 2-3 tablespoons of filling until the quail is plump. Close cavity and secure by tying the legs in a criss-cross fashion with the butchers twine. Repeat the process with remaining quails. Once quails are stuffed, season the exteriors with salt and pepper.
6. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Sear the breast side (top) of each quail until golden brown.
7. Transfer to a baking sheet. Roast in the oven until a thermometer inserted into the stuffing register 100 degrees. Allow the quails to rest 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6. 

Parmesan Spoon Bread

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons sweet onion, finely diced
1/4 pound slab bacon, diced
4 1/2 cups water
Salt
1 1/2 cups stoneground yellow cornmeal
2 eggs
3/4 cup parmesan, grated
Splash of heavy cream

Prepare a casserole dish or skillet by spraying with a nonstick pan spray. Set aside. In a medium stockpot over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once the oil begins to smoke, add onion and bacon; sautè until soft. Add the water and some salt, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat; whisk in cornmeal. Be careful, as it will likely rise initially. After the initial rise, turn on heat to medium. Cook gently, whisking occasionally, until thickened. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, parmesan, and a healthy splash of heavy cream. Once the mixture has thickened, whisk in the egg mixture and remove from the heat. Pour batter into prepared dish or skillet allow to set up 1 hour before baking. When ready, pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Bake spoon bread for 15-25 minutes until set and lightly browned on top. Serves 6.

Apple & Cranberry Upside-Down Cakes

2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons cold butter
3 firm Granny Smith apples
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons applejack or calvados
3/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare soufflè or gratin dishes by spraying pan. Set aside on a baking sheet.
3. For syrup, place 2 1/4 cups sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until sugar has dissolved.
Continue cooking until light amber. Remove from the heat.
4. Swirl in 3 tablespoons cold butter and quickly distribute evenly in prepared dishes. Set aside.
5. Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch rounds. Arrange 2-3 slices per dish, overlapping slightly.
6. Place cranberries, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and a splash of water in small saucepan. Bring to boil and cook briefly until fruit bursts; remove from heat. Scatter cranberries over apples.
7. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, set aside.
8. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment. Cream until light and fluffy.
9. At medium speed, add eggs and applejack; beat until thoroughly combined. Using paddle attachment, add a third of the flour and milk alternately, beating batter on low until just mixed. Repeat process twice.
10. Divide the batter, smoothing it over fruit.
11. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until the cakes are deep gold brown.
12. Run tip of a knife around the rim of each cake, then carefully invert cakes onto individual plates. Serve with a scoop of ice cream. Serves 6. 

Written and produced by Paige Townley • Photography by Art Meripol

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Spirited Style

By
Cathy Still McGowin
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Emily Lassiter was always fond of vibrant hues, but she and her husband, Joe, were working from a hand-me-down furniture assembly of browns and beiges. “I had a lot of ideas of things I wanted to do to liven up my décor, but I needed someone to help make them cohesive, ” says Emily. So decorator Alison Smith stepped in to assist in pulling pieces together.

Seeking a starting point, Alison and Emily looked to Emily’s favorite color in the living room—purple. Maintaining the neutral foundation of the interiors, Alison layered in the regal hue with patterned pillows, lamps, and small doses of upholstery.

For Alison, shopping bargain stores such as Tuesday Morning to find the lamps in the foyer and browsing through wheel-and-deal sites such as Ebay and Craigslist only add to the thrill of cultivating a pretty interior. “We found Emily’s dining chairs online. Dipped in a fresh coat of white, they have a striking new look, ” Alison says.

Other bargain finds include the dining console. “We bought the three individual pieces from different HomeGoods stores and put them together, ” Emily says. The dining shelves? Ikea, spray-painted gold. Many of the accessories came from ZGallerie. Still, there are splurges mixed in. “Alison is really smart about helping me know where to spend my money, ” Emily explains. “She knows where to have fun and what to invest in.”

For Emily, big spends included swivel chairs in the living room and designer fabric in small doses. A rug from Paige Albright Orientals makes a statement in the orange foyer. The wallpaper is Thibaut—on the splurge side—but since it was used in a little room, the cost was practical. Are these bright colors for everyone? Maybe not. “But, I’ve never been scared of color, ” says Emily. “God knew what He was doing when he gave me two girls and a husband that lets me indulge my fondness for pinks and purples. With Alison’s help, I have taken a home that could have easily been cookie-cutter ranch and made it a place of our own.”

    

“My client base doesn’t have thirty thousand dollars to spend on a room. I like to work with what people have first and fill in from there.” — Alison Smith

Meet Alison Smith

A native of Tupelo, Mississippi, Alison learned the art of sewing in an 8th-grade home economics class. “I always helped my mom, and I continued sewing for myself and friends, ” Alison says. After graduating from Ole Miss and starting a career in nursing, she continued to find time to hone her sewing skills. On her off days, Alison produced projects for Southern Living and various Birmingham designers. Her first design client hired her four years ago because she admired her work. As more clients fell in line, Alison switched gears and became a decorator full time. Now, she thrills in the hunt for the perfect find and keeps a running list for her clients, believing that great style comes in a variety of price points. “You really have to take time to look for just-right pieces, ” says Alison. “You can’t do a room in a day and make it great.”

RESOURCES
Alison Smith Interiors • [email protected] • 205.427.3547; Art Above Dining Room Console: Katie Strickland Robinson, Memphis, Tenn. Dining Room Chandelier: ZGallerie; Foyer Chandelier: Village Firefly; Foyer Ceiling Color: Orange Burst, Benjamin Moore

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Custom Color

By
Cathy Still McGowin
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A past life as a research librarian can be pretty handy when it comes to a second career as an interior designer. After years at Southern Progress in the corporate library, Laurl turned corporate downsizing into an opportunity and took her long-loved passion for interiors, antiques, and crafting full-time through a variety of part-time ventures. You can find her on Etsy (Owl and Thistle), and you may see her at any number of local art shows. Laurl also has more than one antiques booth, and, most recently, she became a dealer on Hunter’s Alley (a branch of One Kings Lane).

For this project, Laurl meshed all her knowledge, creativity, and verve into one smart, budget-minded condo in downtown Birmingham’s Liv on Fifth. Owner Shaun Chavis, a book editor, hostess, and lover of all things culinary, asked Laurl to bring a colorful sense of fun to her lofty space. Other requests? Find creative ways for extra seating and storage—and, bring in some pink.

Brainstorming ensued, and Laurl decided to maintain the industrial white walls and use color as bold accents. The half wall that divides the living room from the bedroom makes the biggest statement. Coating the wall with a swath of fushia pink chalkboard paint, Laurl took the punchy accent one step further by overlaying it with a hand-crafted stencil and painting it orange to create just-enough contrast. This allows Shaun to use the wall as an ever-changing tableaux for recipes, musings, and inspirational quotes. “It’s never the same, ” Laurl says.

To make sure Shaun had plenty of room to serve the Sorghum & Tahini so elegantly scripted, Laurl created extra seating—out of the way. Custom ottomans tuck beneath an internet-order, glass-top coffee table. “I checked and double-checked the measurements. They had to be exact for the ottomans to fit just right, ” Laurl says. Underfoot, carpet tiles from Flor.com offer a pretty and budget-friendly way to warm up the concrete room. An armchair culled from Mountain Brook Trading received a fresh finish with black-and-white fabrics and orange accents.

With all that has been added to the condo, there is one thing missing—a TV. And Shaun doesn’t care to have one. On her chalkboard wall, she has tacked a note: “Dear Guests, I don’t have a TV so please entertain yourself by drawing on the wall.” The result is a home that sets the stage for many fun evenings filled with colorful conversation. 

  

ABOVE Laurl stands in front of a bold abstract—a secret source she found for replicating existing artwork in any size.
 

RESOURCES

Laurl Self, Laurl Designs 205.249.5863 • laurldesigns.com • bergerechair.blogspot.com
Artwork (poodle portrait), Christopher Davis etsy.com/people/christopherdavis5

text by Cathy Still McGowin • photography by Jean Allsopp

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Making an Impression

By
Jean Allsopp Photography
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Best known for their keen eye for gardening, Max Garcia and David Swindal approach everything they do with passion. When asked to decorate the foyer of Dr. Chandler and Jane Paris Smith’s Vestavia Hills home for the holidays, the designers embraced it with their usual spirit and dressed the room from floor to ceiling with an abundance of traditional holiday décor. A sweeping, freestanding staircase sets the stage for a grand tree filled with sparkling silver and gold ornaments. The banister is wrapped in a garland made from greenery clipped from the homeowners’ garden. Red velvet ribbon wraps the handrail, striping it like a candy cane, and angel candle holders stand sentry to the great ascension.

“This was such an amazing space to decorate because of the antique chandelier, hand-blocked Chinese wallpaper, and hand-painted ceiling medallion, ” says David. “We were able to honor the space with decorations worthy of this amazing house and the couple who lives here.”

GartenFest, Maximino Garcia and David Swindal • 205.414.6740 • [email protected]

Photography by Jean Allsopp

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Art of the Season

By
Lucy Merrill
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Margaret and Bruce Alexander of Vestavia Hills love art. Not only have they built an impressive collection of paintings and objets d’art, to show it off they transformed an ordinary, mid-century house into a home for art that is art itself.

But like fine art, an artful home isn’t the work of a few weeks or months.

“It has taken 20 years for us to put the house together, ” says Margaret.

When the Alexanders bought the home in 1990, it was a museum piece, of a sort—a not so perfectly preserved portrait of 1954-style suburban life, complete with a fur storage closet and maid’s bathroom, “just like in ‘The Help, ’” Margaret says.

The house still had its original wallpaper and flooring—curling, green linoleum—but Margaret could see the beauty there, just as a sculptor sees a figure in a block of stone.

The tree in the family room is chockablock with handmade baubles—straw ornaments from Guatemala, tin angels from Mexico, colorful origami balls and more, all collected over during the Alexanders’ 44-year marriage. Looking through the glass wall to the kitchen, hand-carved wood figures from Oaxaca huddle around a simple arrangement of gerbera daisies.

“It was a ranch house that was trying to be Georgian, but it had good bones, ” she says. “I knew it would take a lot of work, but we liked the layout. I knew it was a house we could grow old in.”

Over the years, the confused Georgian rancher was reinvented as a light-saturated contemporary home—the perfect, understated backdrop for the Alexanders’ collection of artwork. While much of the art is modern and minimalist, in keeping with the house, here and there works of folk art provide a contrast.

“My interests in art are rather eclectic, ” Margaret says. “As a docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art for more than 20 years. I learned you’re supposed to collect in one area, but I couldn’t do it. I’ve dabbled in African and Native American art, but most is contemporary.”

Margaret tends to buy art and furnishings, not as part of an overall plan, but when a piece strikes her. Then she works to find the right place for it.

“I buy things as I see them. Nothing matches, ” she says. “I’m drawn to abstraction and color and texture in a work.”

When ’tis the season, Margaret extends her artistic sensibility and preference for simplicity to holiday decorating. For the Alexanders, Christmas is a quiet day. Thanksgiving is the festive family holiday for them.

So when the Alexanders’ home was featured on the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour, they expressed their understated approach to Christmas with traditional trees, adorned with collectible ornaments from around the world. Colorful and joyful, the decorations are perfectly framed by the home’s clean lines and contemporary character.

Although Margaret says “I was a fine arts major, but I am not an artist, ” her home, designed around an eclectic art collection, testifies otherwise.

  

ABOVE LEFT A small tree in the living room displays a collection of traditional ornaments. “I fell in love with handmade German ornaments and started collecting them over a period of 10 years, ” Margaret says. “It’s pretty full now. I keep all the ornaments on it and pull it out every year.”

ABOVE RIGHT Colorful handmade German ornaments portray holiday themes, such as Christmas angels and evergreens, everyday life, and traditional German tales, such as the Pied Piper.
 

ABOVE This tranquil bedroom was designed around a pair of paintings that were created as part of a large installation local artist Annie Butrus had done for a show at Space OneEleven depicting the seasons. This pair portrays springtime. The dramatic metal bed was crafted by area metal artisan Shea Scully.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT In the bedroom, Christmas comes in the form of potted rosemary decked out for the season, adding a bit of holiday color to the winter-white decor. Rosemary has a traditional association with Christmas. Not only is it an evergreen, legend says that the Virgin Mary rested beside a rosemary bush, spreading her blue cloak over it. From that day forward, rosemary’s flowers, previously white, were bright blue.

ABOVE RIGHT A miniature “Christmas tree” of rosemary is festooned with white ornaments, including porcelain okra pods from artist Frank Fleming. Friends of the Alexanders started their collection of Fleming ornaments as gifts
 

IPC Holiday House Tour 2013

Independent Presbyterian Church’s Holiday House Tour has opened some of the city’s most beautiful homes for six decades. It’s a Christmas tradition that not only is fun and festive for tour guests and hosts, it provides a life-changing gift for disadvantaged children—the Summer Learning Program at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, the church’s camp in Bluff Park opened in 1926 as a respite from the smog and concrete of the inner city.

Homes on this year’s tour, set for Dec. 14-15, are: Maggie and Will Brooke, 2500 Lanark Road; Louise and John Beard, 2920 Stratford Road; Vicki and Marvin Perry, 1621 Lanark Place; Rita and James Dixon, 11 Clarendon Road; Staci and Ben Thompson, 2701 Argyle Road.

Tickets are $20 and will be available during the tour at each house and at the church.

text by Lucy Merrill

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Holiday Hospitality

By
Lucy Merrill
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With a commanding view of the Samford campus, Jeanna and Andy Westmoreland’s home is an official venue for university functions, hosting as many as 8, 000 guests during the year. As preachers’ kids, “we grew up having people in our home, then we got in the university world, ” says Jeanna. “It’s just part of our lives.”

The Christmas season is a marathon of entertaining for Jeanna, who calls herself an “event manager, ” with a team of creative ladies who help deck the halls for the season.

Samford First Lady Jeanna Westmoreland holiday hospitality comes from the heart. She genuinely enjoys the Christmas season. “In addition to significance of the holiday, I enjoy trying to think of the perfect gift for everyone on my list, ” she says. “I even enjoy the crowds in stores. People are in a hurry, but they are positive and bright and friendly.”

“We go over the big picture, and they take odds and ends and find new and interesting uses for them, ” she says. “After they are gone, I do the smaller things.”

Parties include an open house for several hundred faculty, staff, and spouses, receptions for student groups, and functions for the Legacy League, including serving as a stop on the scholarship organization’s Christmas Home Tour.

The Westmorelands do plenty of unofficial entertaining with family and friends, too, although she says “the line between personal and university is blurred, to say the least.”

Christmas itself is a family affair, with special attention to the menu.

“We make everyone’s favorite dish, either for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, ” Jeanna says. “Usually the day after, I make homemade biscuits and my family’s favorite cheese grits.”

Above all, Christmas means a spiritual observance, starting with the Hanging of the Green in Samford’s chapel, followed by scripture reading and carols
along luminary-lined walkways.

“It’s a good way to get the season started, with the focus on the birth of Jesus, ” Jeanna says.

ABOVE The rich red walls of the dining room in the Samford president’s home seem designed for Christmas dinner parties. The table is set with Lenox Holiday china on red chargers and topped with back-painted glass plates. The framed tapestry was one of Jeanna’s finds at Tricia’s Treasures. “We needed a large piece of artwork there, ” says Jeanna. “It was all the right colors, and fits perfectly in the room.”
 

  

ABOVE LEFT Small Christmas touches are sprinkled throughout the house. Here a shelf displaying leather-bound books and a tole-painted vase are enlivened with a red-and-gold Faberge egg and glass Christmas balls, guarded by a traditional, mustachioed nutcracker.

ABOVE RIGHT A tree in the kitchen area is festooned with ornaments representing Christmas goodies—candy, cookies, and gingerbread men—and topped with red ribbon and huge, candy canes.
 

The Legacy League's 3rd Annual Christmas Home Tour

Thursday, December 12, 2013
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 8 p.m.

Samford University President Andy Westmoreland and his wife, Jeanna, will open their home at 1994 Shades Crest Road for the Legacy League's Third Annual Christmas Home Tour. This year's tour will also feature the following homes: Redonda and Lowell Broom, 2604 Vesclub Circle; Janet and Jerry Taylor, 237 Monterey Place; Phyllis and Roye Tinsley, 2800 Overhill Road; and Danielle and Bart Yancey, 2312 Shades Crest Road. 

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Click here for advanced tickets and more information. Tickets are also available at featured homes during tour hours. Proceeds will provide life-changing scholarships to Samford University for deserving students with financial need.

text by Lucy Merrill

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Home for the Holidays

By
Paige Townley
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Keep it cozy, casual, and unique—that’s the Motto Katie Gaston adheres to when decorating the circa-1929 Homewood abode she shares with husband Michael. “I have always loved that cozy, cottage feel, so I’ve constantly been drawn to comfortable interiors, ” she says. “I try to keep it fun and just a little quirky.”

Katie purchased the historic house in 2008 before she was married. Since then, the home has undergone two renovations, all without changing the footprint of the structure. “It’s important to me to keep as much of the original house as possible, just updating parts of it as needed, ” Katie explains.

A new coat of paint and updated light fixtures were the main changes in most of the original rooms, but the kitchen received a major overhaul. “We took out a wall to open it up a bit and added a breakfast nook, ” Katie says. “Luckily, we were able to add the nook without changing the foundation in any way.”

Another major part of the renovation process was creating more usable space for Katie and Michael, who married in 2011. An existing bedroom was reformed to serve as a master bathroom and closet. And the couple also completed the basement, adding in a bedroom and bathroom downstairs, along with a small living room.

“The house has just been a process over time, ” Katie says. “We’ve tried to create a place we can actually live in and not have to tiptoe around anything. So we’ve just taken our time with it and let it evolve on its own.”

When Katie is not decorating her house, she spends much of her time buying merchandise for her home and gift store, Full Circle, located in Forest Park. And sometimes the two tasks overlap, as was the case when she found the vintage wooden Italian café chairs for her dining room while on a shopping spree for her shop. “I knew the chairs would just make the room pop, ” says Katie. “That’s what I’m always trying to find for both the store and my home—something I can enjoy looking at every single day. To me, that’s what decorating is all about.”

  

ABOVE LEFT “I love Christmas and the holidays, but going all out and decorating isn’t realistic for me, ” says Katie. Instead, she utilizes items already on hand, such as glass jars filled with simple greenery from the backyard, to create a natural holiday look. “Just taking a wreath and looping a ribbon over the top can really change its look, ” she says.

ABOVE RIGHT The breakfast nook, an addition that was made without changing the structure’s footprint, serves as a popular hangout for not only Katie and Michael but also family and friends. “The banquette is a cozy spot to enjoy the morning together, ” Katie says. “And the table is perfect for our nieces and nephews to gather around when they come to visit.”
 

TIP: Beautiful wreaths are an easy do-it-yourself project. Simply purchase a pre-formed wreath and insert a few stems from the yard such as magnolia, nandina, and holly to create a just-purchased-from-the-nursery look.

ABOVE Katie’s home décor has been a collection over time of items she can’t live without, such as the vintage Italian café chairs and vintage chandelier in the dining room. “I hate to pass something up that I just love, ” she says. “I know I can always find a place for it eventually.” 
 

Katie’s Forest Park shop, Full Circle, opened in 2011. With a lifelong interest in interior design and her past experience as an antiques dealer, Katie decided this was the logical next step in her décor obsession. “I was ready to get more into accessories rather than just focusing on formal European antiques, ” she explains. “I also wanted to start mixing accessories with things that were handmade and made in the USA.”

Full Circle carries clothing, jewelry, and home décor accessories, including textiles, candles, and furniture. Katie maintains the store much like she does her home, making sure never to sway from her signature style. “We really sell a little bit of everything, but in the back of my mind, I always try to keep it unique and fun, ” Katie says. “I want the store to be a place where people can go to find something they wouldn’t find elsewhere.”

This holiday season, Katie is decking the halls of her own house with many items she sells in her shop. “We’re bringing even more holiday items into the store this year, ” she says. “Just like at home, I’m trying to keep it pretty natural with décor that doesn’t scream Christmas but is still festive.” Here, Katie shares some tips for holiday decorating:

  

ABOVE LEFT When creating containers of greenery, wrap some wire around the bottom of the leaves on each steam to make them look fuller. 

ABOVE RIGHT Felted animal ornaments, mercury glass jars and felted wool garland create a simple yet jovial holiday feel.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT Even packages can maintain a natural look, including the nametags. This holiday season, custom stationery and paper goods are a highlight of Full Circle’s offerings. 

ABOVE RIGHT Olive trees, a symbol of peace, are a natural addition to holiday decor. 
 

ABOVE AND BELOW RIGHT Ornaments don’t have to be in traditional holiday colors—and they don’t have to grace the limbs of a tree. Try blending them in containers with greenery or adding them to tabletop décor for a more unique approach.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT Add the aroma of your favorite vino with Rewined wine-themed candles, a top seller at Full Circle.
 

Full Circle • 3908 Clairmont Avenue South. 205.202.5907.

text by Paige Townley • photography by Jean Allsopp

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Sophisticated Elegance

By
Paige Townley
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When Marci Grant was ready to decorate her 4, 200-square-foot Mountain Brook Tudor, she knew exactly what she wanted—a neutral palette, lots of textures, and plenty of antiques. Luckily, she also knew exactly who to call: her good friend—and boss—Jenny Garrison of Thomas and Garrison Designs. “One aspect I love so much about Jenny’s work is that none of the homes she designs look the same. She puts so much thought and effort into making them reflect the homeowners, ” says Marci. “So I knew I could give her a few ideas of what I really liked and she could take it from there and make my vision come to life.”

When Marci and family first moved into the home three years ago, Marci actually started working with another interior designer, Beth McMillan, to begin the design process. “I absolutely loved what she did, ” Marci explains. “But before we could finish, I ended up taking a hiatus from decorating for a while. In the meantime, I also started working for Jenny. So when I was ready to get everything complete, it was just natural for me to turn to her.”

From neighbors to friends to coworkers, Marci and Jenny have a long history. Because of that, Marci (seated) knew that Jenny could create the effortless elegance she desired while keeping it practical for her active family of four.

With a few core pieces already taken care of, Jenny began translating Marci’s vision into reality. To make it happen, she paid particular attention to the details. “Those details are what made everything just come to life, ” Marci says. “They were small but made things a little more unique.”

Some of the details Jenny added were chosen according to the numerous textures that had been incorporated into the home’s original design. “We wanted to get a variety of woods in the construction to bring in those textures, but we had to be careful about having too many different wood colors, ” explains architect Brian Jernigan, who worked with the Grants on the plans. “So we put a faux finish wash on many of the surfaces to create all the different textures that blend together well.”

In the master bedroom—where Marci maintained she wanted no patterns or prints—Jenny brought in a variety of textures and pops of color to create an elegant, pared-down look. “We used a mixture of fabrics, such as velvet, wool, and leather, on the custom bedding, all while keeping a more sophisticated palette, ” Jenny explains. “We also knew we wanted to incorporate navy, so we looked for a color to pop against that navy. The turquoise worked perfectly.”

Jenny did manage to persuade Marci to incorporate a pattern in the dining room with Schumacher linen upholstered walls—a detail that turned out to be one of Marci’s favorites. “I was determined to keep it all solids, but Jenny was so good about getting me outside of my comfort zone when I really needed to be, ” Marci says. “And, of course, it turned out to be amazing. This is now one of my favorite rooms in the entire house.”

Another detail Jenny worked into the décor of the dining room is original artwork. “I love to bring in things that have a history, such as an art collection or a sculpture, ” Jenny explains. “It increases the warmth of the home in a way that can’t be duplicated by getting a new sofa or bringing in a new table.” So when Marci was searching for a piece of art to hang in the dining room, Jenny suggested having the piece commissioned. “She knew that would make the piece more special to us, ” Marci says.

Marci and Jenny worked with local artist Meredith Keith to create a portrait of a church in the Scottish town where Marci’s husband, Douglas, grew up. “To make it even more special, she creatively ‘hid’ other items in the painting for the rest of the family, including a crown for my daughter, Mary Campbell, and my son Will’s favorite Scottish flag, ” Marci explains.

The end result of Jenny and Marci’s collaboration is an elegant, yet family friendly home that’s perfect for the Grants’ everyday use, as well as for hosting parties for 100. “The home has a great mixture of antiques with a sophisticated, modern edge, ” Jenny says. “But just as importantly, all of the details reflect the personality of the family and tell their story, not mine.”

  

ABOVE Instead of a traditional wreath, Jenny went for a more unique front door adornment with a grapevine floral cone wrapped in white birch bark and moss.
 

  

ABOVE LEFT In the front hall of the home, numerous textures are incorporated as Marci originally requested, including the pecky cypress walls, iron railing, and cowhide rug. For the holidays, fresh garland, tussy mussies filled with flowers, and pinecones add a rustic touch. 

ABOVE RIGHT The banquette’s zinc top table serves as a favorite gathering place for the Grant family and the children’s friends. “We knew it would really be put to a lot of use, so we wanted something that could take a beating but still look great, ” Jenny says. 
 

ABOVE Jenny brought in a variety of textures and pops of color to create an elegant, pared-down look in the master bedroom.
 

  

“I love to bring in things that have a history, such as an art collection or a sculpture. It increases the warmth of the home in a way that can’t be duplicated by simply getting a new sofa or table.” — Jenny Garrison
 

RESOURCES

Interior Design: Jenny Garrison, Thomas & Garrison Designs • 205.936.7385
Residential Design: Brian Jernigan 205.877.3831 wmbrianjernigan.com  
Foyer: Antlers: Scott Antique Market • scottantiquemarket.com; White Cowhide Rug: Paige Albright Orientals, 2814 Petticoat Lane • 205.877.3232; Pillow: Too, Unique Pillow Accents facebook.com/TooUniquePillowAccents; Settee Fabric: Lee Jofa leejofa.com; Birch Paper and Ribbon: Leaf and Petal, 2817 Cahaba Road • 205.871.3832; Antique urn container: Village Firefly, 2816 Culver Road • 205.870.4560; Zinc-top table: Thomas & Garrison Designs 205.936.7385 White hide-on hair with acid burnout pillow and linen pillow: Suite Dreams, 2409 Montevallo Road • 205.414.1922; Purple lumbar pillow: Too, Unique Pillow Accents Upholstered walls: Chivasso chivasso.com; Window Treatments and Rods: Thomas & Garrison Designs; Painting: Meredith Keith meredithkeith.com • Custom table: Lucy Smith, Oxford, AL • 205.202.0922; Concrete tabletop: Scott Antique Market
Bedroom: Custom Iron Bed: Thomas & Garrison Designs; Acrylic Table: Scott Antique Market; Bedside Tables: Lucy Smith; Rug: Hiltz-Lauber, 2838 18th Street S • 205.879.0039

text by Paige Townley • photography by Beth Hontzas

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The Magic of Mountain Brook Village

By
Cassandra Lenard
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Probably the best thing about the holidays are the traditions that we practice—that recipe that we bring out only for Christmas Eve, the décor that we tuck away until the day after Thanksgiving, the dragging in of trees, and the lighting of the menorahs—even that questionable dessert that your aunt insists on making year after year. All of these rituals seem to practically shout, “Let the celebrations begin!”

This is why we love Mountain Brook Village so much. With yearly practices such as the Christmas Parade and the lighting of the Bromberg’s Christmas Tree, this little epicenter of shopping delight has become a community tradition that we hold as dear as the sentimental observances we perform in our homes. If Mountain Brook Village hasn’t made it into your roster of holiday rituals, set aside one day to enjoy the magic of this place. With more than 100 shops and restaurants to choose from, you may find that you’ve crossed off everybody on your gift list after one day!

Set your table with The Cook Store

The Cook Store • 2841 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham. 205.879.5277

To kick off your day of shopping and to keep up your energy, we recommend breakfast at ANOTHER BROKEN EGG (2418 Montevallo Rd., 205.871.7849, anotherbrokenegg.com). Unsure what to try? You can’t go wrong with the Lobster and Brie Omelet. This scrumptious omelet, topped in a champagne butter sauce, might just be the most decadent breakfast choice in Birmingham.

Ready to hit the stores? Head across the street to CHRISTINE’S, a wonderful stationery and home décor shop (2411 Montevallo Rd., 205.871.8297). We’re in love with the delicate, beautifully crafted Karen Adam’s calendar collection—a perfect gift for that special girl in your life as she prepares for the New Year.

Make sure that you don’t miss SUITE DREAMS right next door (2409 Montevallo Rd., 205.414.1922). This shop has everything a person needs to create the perfect bedroom, from decadent Lafco candles (Ski House is a must this time of year) to the most luxuriously soft throws you’ve ever touched. You’re bound to find the perfect accent for any bedroom.

Searching for some unique art to give? Something that will make everybody else envious when he or she opens it? Look no further than MULBERRY HEIGHTS ANTIQUES and their Becky Davis collection (2419 Canterbury Rd., 205.870.1300, mulberryheightsantiques.com). Not found anywhere else in Birmingham, this artist fuses nature and art into gorgeous masterpieces you’ll love so much, you may decide to gift it to yourself!

Looking for more art and antiques? Head over to CHARLOTTE WOODSON ANTIQUES to find beautiful china, furniture, light fixtures, and more. (2410 Canterbury Rd., 205.817.3314, charlottewoodson.com). Be sure that you say hello to the resident puppy,  Foxie Toro!

Set your table with Table Matters

Table Matters • 2402 Montevallo Rd., Brimingham. 205.879.0125

Take a left onto Culver Road to find CIRCA INTERIORS (2831 Culver Rd., 205.868.9199, circainteriors.com). This is a wonderful place to find inspiration for your home. Pick up some fabulous throw pillows for the sofa or book an appointment with a designer about sprucing up the whole house.

A few doors down, you can stop in at VILLAGE FRAMERS a delightful framing and art shop (2847 Culver Rd., 205.871.6221). Now’s the time to find the perfect frames for all the kids’ pictures that Grandma and Grandpa are getting this year.

Next door you’ll find JOJO HOME, formally known as Marjorie Johnston & Co. (2710 Culver Rd., 205.414.7860). This great company is dedicated to providing quality pieces at a variety of price points, so you’re sure to find something fabulous for yourself and a friend.

We all have that person on the list who isn’t so easy to shop for and who always figures out what you’ve gotten them. Not this year. Make a beeline to PAIGE ALBRIGHT ORIENTALS for the most unexpected gift—and we’re not talking about rugs (2817 Petticoat Ln., 205.877.3232, paigealbrightorientals.com). For the most unique weekender bag in Birmingham, Paige is the lady to see. This bag is a must for all holiday travels, and both men and women will love it!

Getting a little hungry at this point? Stop in at the MOUNTAIN BROOK CREAMERY for some seriously delicious goodness (2715 Cahaba Rd., 205.870.0092). Not even the cold can stop us from coming here. We love the salted caramel peanut ice cream, but if you’re trying to go light, you can’t go wrong with their Only 8 frozen yogurt.

Set your table with Bromberg's

Bromberg's • 2800 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook. 205.871.3276

Now that you are fed and happy and ready to get back to business, head down the street to LEAF & PETAL (2817 Cahaba Rd., 205.871.3832, leafnpetal.com). You’ll find a magnificent array of plants, flowers, gardening tools and a staff who is ready and willing to help. But don’t be fooled—Leaf & Petal is more than just a shop for those with a green thumb. Find great home accents and stocking stuffers here as well. We love the chevron patterned jewelry boxes.

Across the street, check out VILLAGE DERMATOLOGY’S new location (2901 Cahaba Rd., 205.877.9773, villagedermatology.net). As the only dermatology practice in Birmingham to be awarded Diamond Status, you know this is the place you want to send yourself, friends, and family. Book a facial or purchase some items from the j.edwards mineral makeup line—created by fellow Alabamian James Edward Starnes!

What about that person on your list that always gives you handmade gifts? Return the favor and head on over to SEW SHERI DESIGNS to find a huge variety of fabrics in some of the best patterns on the market (2832 Culver Rd., 205.879.8278, sewsheri.com). But you don’t have to be crafty to frequent this shop—they also monogram and create custom window treatments and pillows.

Right next door you will find VILLAGE FIREFLY (2816 Culver Rd., 205.870.4560, thevillagefirefly.com). Besides the Bromberg’s tree,  this shop is the best light show in Mountain Brook Village. You’ll love the variety of lamps, shades, sconces and chandeliers.

Now your shopping bags are full and your feet may be tired, but your list is done! Has holiday shopping ever been this easy? Probably not. Reward yourself with a final stop at AVO & DRAM (2721 Cahaba Rd., 205.871.8212 dramwiskeybar.com). This unique restaurant features two very different eateries in one spot. Upstairs you’ll find Avo, a modern California-style place with dishes like the Kael Ceaser! or the Pan Roasted Gulf Dayboat Fish. Downstairs is Dram Whiskey Bar, a place that has let tradition inform its menu. Try the Bison Burger or the Sour Mash Sweet Potatoes— because a little Maker’s Mark never hurt anything. 

Produced by Cassandra Ramos Lenard • photography by Jean Allsopp

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