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Birmingham’s Got Panache

By
BHG Staff
-

Interiors Southeast is the first book in an international series showcasing the impressive work of professionals who effortlessly meet all of the challenges of design, expressing the homeowners’ lifestyle and sense of style in thoughtful and creative ways. Featuring the original and diverse residences of professional interior designers in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, the book offers an insider look at private retreats and delves deeper as the experts share their philosophy and advice gleaned through years of industry experience. For more, pick up a copy of the September/October issue of Birmingham Home & Garden today.

 

Marjorie Johnston & Co.

Marjorie Johnston & Co. / 2841 Culver Road / Birmingham, AL 35223 / 205.414.7860 / www.mhjinteriors.com

Marjorie Johnston and Wendy Barze have been taught by experience that the home is defined by who lives there. No matter the scope of the project, the challenge in designing is to interpret and fulfill the homeowner’s vision through the choices of fabrics, furnishings, and accessories. Rooms should be subtle and comfortable, while simultaneously exhibiting a classic, fresh design with unexpected twists. At the core of every project, a subtle Southern aesthetic prevails, living casually with fine things.

Jane Hawkins Hoke

Jane Hawkins Hoke / 2102 Cahaba Rd # A / Mountain Brook, AL 35223 / 205.879.3406

As the granddaughter of Harry Hayden Hawkins, who established Hawkins Israel in 1929, Jane has an innate passion for design. In Jane’s three-decade career, she has designed many home interiors and developed even more friendships. Although she enjoys creating vacation homes in the mountains and at the beach, her first love is designing the places that people call home, beautiful primary residences throughout the city of Birmingham.

Richard Tubb

Richard Tubb Interiors / 2829 Second Avenue South / Birmingham, AL 35233 / 205.324.7613 / www.richardtubbinteriors.com

Richard Tubb Interiors is an ever-evolving showroom of furnishings and vingettes set in spaces that look like you could actually live in them. In the living room above, Richard designed the space for a family of four. His design intentions are always for a room to have timeless appeal and be lived in and enjoyed daily. His foundations often begin with neutrals, mixing in pattern and color with artwork and accessories. Photo by Mitchell Sargent

Circa Interiors

Circa Interiors & Antiques / Birmingham and Charlotte / www.circaonline.net

Creating a timeless design requires a keen eye and a deep understanding of past trends. For Cindy Smith and daughter Whitney Johnson, those attributes translate into a refined ability to extract just the right elements from certain periods to create a classic, functional ambiance. The foundation for each room centers on quality furniture that won’t tire over time. Combining antiques and new pieces, conventional with contemporary, the quality furnishings impart a quiet, confident style. Photo by Steven Young

J. Edwards Interiors

J. Edwards Interiors / Jenny Edwards / 2839 Culver Road, Suite 203 / Birmingham, AL 35223 / 205.870.5100 www.jedwardsinteriors.com

“Designers are, in effect, part visionaries and part realists, ” says Jenny Edwards. “They must see the ideas that the homeowner may describe or create a vision based on their observations of the homeowner’s lifestyle. For Jenny, this philosophy seems second nature. Growing up in an artistic, well-designed environment where everyone respected what they had, Jenny has held onto her roots and developed a talent for seeing fresh ideas and knowing how to use them to design tasteful, beautiful spaces. Photo by Beau Gustafson

Images and words courtesy of Interiors Southeast (Panache Partners, published by Brain Carabet and John Shand, distributed by IPG.)

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From the Ground Up

By
BHG Staff
-
Birmingham Home & Garden is excited to give you a sneak peek into our 2011 Inspiration Home at The Cove at Overton. This fabulous new home will be previewed in our November/December issue. Then our January/February issue will feature a blowout special section showcasing each room and all building and design products and ideas that went into making it. For those of you who cannot wait for the January/February issue, the house will be open for tours from November 19 through December 4, as well as December 10 and 11 as a featured home on the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour.

To give you a taste of the quality and great ideas you will find in the 2011 Inspiration Home, we would like to introduce our building and design team:

Charles Kessler, Developer

The Cove at Overton, 205-999-9881

Charles G. Kessler, Jr. has been working in Birmingham real estate and development for more than 30 years. His reputation is defined by his commitment to building quality commercial and residential buildings and homes in and around the city. His ventures include properties in Homewood, Vestavia, and most recently The Parc at Overton in Mountain Brook and Pumphouse Village in Vestavia Hills, along with redevelopments of Heritage Parc in Hoover and Ross Bridge. Birmingham Home & Garden is excited about building our Inspiration Home at The Cove at Overton, a neighborhood bridging Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. With every project, Charles believes in creating a lifestyle and a place to call home.

Chris Reebals, Architect

Christopher Architects

, 205-413-8531

“My love of community architecture was shaped by my surroundings: front porches, neighborhood cookouts, sidewalks, and street side sports were extremely influential, ” says Homewood native and architect Chris Reebals.

After attending Auburn University’s prestigious Architecture program where he played football and graduated with honors, Chris began his professional career with a large southeast architecture firm. In 2002, he began Christopher and Associates with an objective to listen and create. “By understanding our client’s vision, we can create unique and beautiful spaces which express personality and passion, ” Chris says.

Chris is an award-winning architect and the president and founder of Christopher and Associates, an architecture and interiors firm specializing in custom residential design and community planning.

Tracery Interiors, Interior Design

2405 Montevallo Road, Mountain Brook,   AL  35223, 205-414-6026
72 Main Street, Rosemary Beach, FL 32461, 850-231-6755

Tracery is a nationally recognized interior design firm founded by Paige Sumblin Schnell in 2004 on the principle that all aspects of design are interconnected and the visions and needs of the client are paramount. “The melding of styles and materials instills a home with personality and character, ” explains Page. “I love to mix clean lined furniture with vintage and antique pieces.” Projects are executed with passion and personal attention to detail. An enhanced quality of life is the ultimate goal.

Tracery’s designers work in collaboration with studios located in Rosemary Beach, Florida and Mountain Brook, Alabama. Paige guides the firm and is joined by designers Anna Kay Porch, Bess Marshall, and Doug Davis. Their diverse portfolio spans nationally.

Whether it’s a grand home, a modest renovation, or just a color scheme, Tracery creates emotionally evocative spaces with timeless appeal. Tracery has been published in Birmingham Home & Garden, House Beautiful, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Vanity Fair, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Coastal Living, Country Living, Florida Life + Travel, and Southern Accents.

Jenny Carpenter, Landscape Designer

205-991-6063

Jenny Carpenter, of Carpenter’s Creations, is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Landscape Design and Ornamental Horticulture. After working in Auburn, then Columbus, Georgia, she and her husband Bill moved to Birmingham.

Jenny has designed residential landscape designs in the Over-The-Mountain area, assisting homeowners and builders to achieve custom looks to meet individual needs. She also has enjoyed doing design work for second homes at Lake Martin, Logan Martin, Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell, Smith Lake, and Lake Tuscaloosa.

She assists business owners and developers with commercial properties and enjoys helping homeowners update their existing gardens and landscapes.

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Frank Stitt’s Guide to Successful Kitchen Design

By
Molly Montgomery
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Frank Stitt knows a thing or two about kitchens. As the owner of Highlands Bar and Grill, Bottega, and Chez Fon Fon, he’s seen his share of kitchen designs and knows what works and what doesn’t. Frank recently spoke to AIA Birmingham at European Kitchen of Alabama about functionality both at home and in commercial kitchens.

“All the aesthetics come together when you create a place that feels really great. Architecture is so important, ” Frank says, pointing out that it’s not only the food that makes a restaurant successful, but also the atmosphere. Aesthetically pleasing kitchens rely on design as well. In fact, Frank stresses the importance of making the kitchen a focal point in any home.

“We all want to hang out in the kitchen. We all want be drawn into that warmth, ” Frank says. “For me, it was my mom’s kitchen that set the tone for what I do.”

“Kitchens are the incredible, strong, spiritual center of our home and our life, and I think that we’ve got to do whatever we can to nurture and accentuate it, ” Frank says.

10 Tips for A Successful Kitchen

1. Pivot Point. Keep essentials within reach. Kitchen layouts work best in a triangle design. Refrigerators, prep spaces, and sinks should be equidistant from each another, preferably less than 15 feet.

2. Have a Seat. Every kitchen is different. Some may accommodate 4-6 guests; others can seat 8-10. A breakfast bar is a great option for maximizing seating without sacrificing square footage.

3. Wash Up. Two sinks in separate locations are helpful. Designating a sink for prep and a sink for clean up helps keep messes to a minimum.

4. Let Your Garden Grow. Herbs add flavor to any chef’s cuisine. Guarantee freshness by planting an at-home garden. Some of Frank’s favorites include rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and basil.

5. Act Professional. An excellent ventilation system is key to any well-functioning kitchen. Installing a professional-grade hood is both a good investment and will keep your kitchen fresh and clean.

6. Make it Count. It’s important to have prepspace as well as serving space, especially if the design incorporates a breakfast bar or counter buffet. Limestone or granite countertops add quality to quantity.

7. Give it Personality. Character and charm can come from folk art, retro lighting, or a rare flea market find. “My own kitchen is very simple, ” Frank says. “I have an 18th century French butcher’s table, slides for knives, and big marble slabs.”

8. Be Touchy Feely. Limestone sinks and wooden countertops invigorate the senses. Interesting textures and surfaces provide a stimulating environment for cooking and entertaining. Frank enjoys quality utensils that put you in contact with the food, such as sharp knives or a mortor and pestle.

9. Let Your Light Shine. Natural lighting is a must. Utilize windows and open spaces to bring in lots of outside light. Overhead lighting is important as well. Look for fixtures that are both practical and pretty.

10. Turn Up the Heat. Multiple ovens can be a huge time-saver when cooking for large groups. Frank says convection capability is essential, as well as a cooktop with at least six burners.

Tortellini Salad with Chicken, Pine Nuts, Sultanas, and Balsamic

Serves 4
The few times we’ve dared to replace this dish on the Bottega Café menu, our regular crowd screams in protest. It’s deliciously simple once you’ve assembled all the components, and very satisfying. I have been known to snack on this on those many afternoons when lunch has passed me by.

1/4 cup Homemade Mayonnaise* (see below) or high-quality commercial mayonnaise
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette** (see below)
2 small heads romaine lettuce, sliced into 1-inch-wide strips
4 cups (about 1 pound) cooked store-bought fresh cheese tortellini
Four 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, grilled and cut into large cubes
1 heaping tablespoon pine nuts, toasted*** (see below)
1/4 cup sultanas (golden raisins)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, or quartered if large
1 scant tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Whisk the mayonnaise and vinaigrette together in a small bowl.

Toss the romaine leaves with half of the dressing in a large bowl and divide among four plates. Add the tortellini, chicken, pine nuts, sultanas, half of the tomatoes, and the parsley to the bowl and toss to coat with the remaining dressing. Season with salt and pepper and toss again. Arrange on top of the lettuce leaves, garnish with the remaining cherry tomatoes, and serve.

To Drink: Pinot Grigio (Livio Felluga)

*Homemade Mayonnaise

Makes 1 3/4 cups

Homemade mayonnaise is one of the most versatile sauces there is. During my first book tour, a Southern grande dame exclaimed, “Southern ladies do not serve store-bought mayonnaise!” At the restaurant, we make mayo by hand with a balloon whisk and elbow grease, but the food processor does a good job. In a pinch, good store-bought mayonnaise (I like Hellman’s, called Best Food out West) is a fine stand-in.

1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch of cayenne
1 1/2 cups canola or grapeseed oil
1 to 2 tablespoons warm water, if needed

Combine the egg, egg yolk, and salt in a food processor and process for 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice, mustard, and cayenne and process for 15 seconds with the machine running. Slowly pour the oil through the feed tube until the mayonnaise is thick and emulsified. If the mixture becomes too dense, stop pouring in the oil and add warm water, a little at a time, until the mayonnaise loosens, then slowly incorporate the remaining oil. Taste and adjust the seasoning. The mayonnaise can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

**Balsamic Vinaigrette

Makes a generous 1 cup
Balsamic vinegar has become a victim of its own success. True artisanal balsamic vinegar is one of Italy’s treasures, but there are many more imitation balsamics than the authentic variety, aceto balsamico di Modena, which is aged in wood barrels of decreasing size as it matures and concentrates. As with most ingredients, you get what you pay for. An excellent value is condimento balsamico di Modena. It’s not the ultraluxe version, but it captures balsamic’s true spirit—the fruitiness of ripe grapes transformed and matured—and is good for most purposes.

Letting the shallot macerate in the vinegar tames its bite while infusing the vinegar with its flavor.

1 medium shallot, finely minced
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine the shallot, vinegar, thyme, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside to macerate for about 10 minutes.

Whisk in the olive oil and taste and adjust the seasonings. The vinaigrette will keep for several days in a jar in the refrigerator.

***Toasting Nuts 

Toasting nuts brings out their flavor and gives them added crunch. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 325°F oven, shaking the pan from time to time, until the nuts are aromatic and lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Monitor them carefully, as they can burn quickly. If you need only a small quantity of toasted nuts, you can toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant. We usually toast pine nuts in a skillet, so we can keep an eye on them; they tend to scorch easily because of their high oil content. Blanching hazelnuts or other nuts means removing their skins. To toast and blanch hazelnuts, walnuts, or almonds, toast as above, then wrap the warm nuts in a kitchen towel and rub together to remove the skins (don’t worry about removing every last bit of skin).

Old-Fashioned Tomato Salad

Serves 4
The old-fashioned salad I grew up with is a vinegary mix of tomatoes cut into chunks, with some sliced cucumbers and onions all tossed together with a little fresh dill. This presentation is just a bit more refined. Make this only when the ingredients are perfect, in July or August, and tomatoes and cucumbers are at their best. Choose varieties such as Brandywine, Big Beef, Atkinson, German Pink, or Green Zebra. Use small pickling-type cucumbers, such as Kirby or thin-skinned Persian. Avoid tomatoes that have been refrigerated—their flavor will have suffered substantially.

For a heartier version of this salad, add some blanched or boiled little green beans, tiny beets, and/or just-dug new potatoes.

2 small Kirby cucumbers, skin removed in wide zebralike stripes
Sea salt
1 small sweet onion, such as Vidalia, cut into thin rings
2 tablespoons cider-honey vinegar (2 tablespoons cider vinegar plus 1⁄2 teaspoon honey) or red wine or sherry vinegar
4 to 8 nice tomatoes—a variety of flavorful types in different colors, sizes, and shapes, cored and thickly sliced
About 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, preferably an assortment, halved
3 tablespoons finest-quality extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
A handful of fresh herbs, such as chives, dill, mint sprigs, and basil leaves coarsely chopped

If the cucumbers are small enough that the seeds have not fully developed, simply slice them thin. If the seeds are noticeable, cut the cucumbers lengthwise in half and, with a small spoon, remove the seeds; then slice. Toss with a good pinch of sea salt in a small bowl and place in the refrigerator to macerate for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss the thinly sliced onion with 1 tablespoon of the vinegar in a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes. (Macerating the onion slices both crisps them and tames their pungency.)

Arrange the sliced tomatoes attractively on a large platter. Scatter the cherry tomatoes over and around them.

To serve, drain the cucumbers and squeeze to remove any excess liquid. Toss with the onion slices and scatter over the tomatoes. Drizzle over the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and the olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss the herbs over everything.

To drink: Sancerre, Delaporte, Sancerre, Reverdy

Molly Montgomery

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Close Quarters

By
Callie Blackwell
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When everyone else saw a hill, David Brush saw a pool. He’s not crazy. He’s the inventive landscape developer who transformed one of Birmingham’s rolling hills into a modern oasis created for restaurant owner, John Cassimus in 2007. John wanted the small space in his back lot to become a contemporary garden and with the help and ingenuity of David, he created just that. Of course, the biggest issue was space. The hillside was excavated and a retaining wall put in place to hollow out a workable area. “The more space that is grabbed can be used to create a marriage between reclaiming space but not having walls too big, ” David says.

The hill soon became a peaceful retreat with elements that optimized the area available and the wanted use of a contemporary design. The garden utilizes vertical plants to create dimension and also a unique gardening method called Espalier. Espalier is an age-old, plant-training technique, which creates beautiful and interesting plant formations. David designed this outdoor space with these plants in mind when he asked the developer to create hollowed out recesses in the retaining wall. “I wanted to create picture frames within the wall. The plants are the artwork.”

Using mostly greenery and blue pebbles for edging, the color palette pulls finishes off this serene escape. The entertaining aspect of this space was key in development and features three seating areas, an outdoor grill and speaker system that can be controlled from indoors. “John wanted it to be a social stage and an extension of the main room of the house, ” says David. John has since sold the house, but now, the pool is a playground for a new family.

David N. Brush Landscape Architecture • 76 Burnham Street, Birmingham, AL 35242; 205.408.2214; www.davidnbrush.com

Callie Blackwell

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Family Style

By
Katie Williamson
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The Sorrell’s newly renovated kitchen has become this family’s favorite gathering space. Warm natural light floods into the kitchen from French doors, glistening off of the white Italian Carrera marble-topped island and basket weave tiled backsplash. Folk art, by Mose T, hung by a pop tab, resides next to the stove. The family cat can be found weaving in and out through the dark brown bar stools lining the bar.

“We have been in this house for 15 years. The kitchen was the last thing we needed to do to finish remodeling, ” says homeowner Walker Sorrell. “Most people do the kitchen first, but since it was such a big project we kept putting it off.”

The old cramped kitchen proved to be an inadequate space for the family. The small cooking area, with dark wood cabinets and outdated fixtures, connected to the large pantry left much to be desired.

The Sorrell family spent two months in a makeshift garage kitchen while remodeling. The demolition began in October when Walker and his sons began tearing out the old kitchen piece by piece.

“Instead of hiring an architect and a contractor, everybody offered their input. Our neighbor, Diane Vakakis, suggested a deck off the kitchen with French doors and we designed the kitchen around that. We call it Diane’s deck. We all put our two cents in the pot, stirred it up, and this is what we came up with, ” Walker says.

Ray Crockett, of Crockett Remodeling, remodeled the whole house, including the kitchen. He did everything from plumbing and lighting to flooring and roofing. “A lot of people know a little bit about a lot of things, Ray knows a lot about everything, ” Walker says. The new kitchen is a more practical and useful room for the family. The island offers gathering space and the open floor plan gives much more flexibility for entertaining.

The color scheme is mostly neutral. Walls are pale gray, picking up on the veining in the marble countertop. The island is soft green. Kelly accessorizes with colorful folk art and bright cookware.

“My favorite thing about the kitchen is the pantry, ” says Walker’s wife Kelly. “Ray suggested the French doors. I was very apprehensive about it, but it makes me keep my pantry somewhat organized. If I decide I don’t want it to be visible, I can just hang curtains inside it.”

From the reclaimed hardwood floors to the marble-topped island, every piece comes together to create a warm and interesting environment to use for years to come.

RESOURCES

construction: RAY CROCKETT REMODELING 205.616.4233 hardwood floors: RIVER BOTTOM PINE 2336 F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive • Birmingham Alabama 35234 • 205.527.6848 • www.riverbottompine.com appliances: ALL SOUTH APPLIANCES 4 W Oxmoor Rd. • Birmingham Alabama • 205.942.0408 • www.allsouthappliance.net cabinet pulls: RESTORATION HARDWARE 205.967.1901 • 215 Summit Boulevard • Birmingham, AL 35243-3108 • 205.967.1901 • www.restorationhardware.com granite & cabinets: Yaffa and Abe Bernstein, Bernstein and Company 205.832.5577 • [email protected] lighting: AT HOME FURNISHING 2921 18th Street S • Homewood AL • 205.879.3510

 

Katie Williamson

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Jan Ware

By
Cara Clark
-

After 10 years of helping friends decorate, Jan Ware officially stepped out and started her own company, Jan Ware Designs. “I’ve always had that passion, but with four children, I’ve never had the time to be able to work, ” Jan says. “This is our home for awhile, I’ve loved fixing up houses. After our last move, my husband said, ‘We’ve found our forever home. You need to start doing this for other people.’” Jan says she always has felt a passion for décor, a trait she believes she inherited from her grandmother. “My mother’s mom always had a one-of-a-kind look in her home in Nashville and at her home in the Keys. I used to love all of her pieces. She grew up in the Boston area and had great taste and a real flair for style. She was always such an inspiration for me. She was a very classy lady, ” Jan says. “For nearly 18 years I have enjoyed treasure hunting with my two sisters and father at different flea markets around the Southeast. I truly have a passion for spending time with my sisters and father at different markets. Jan particularly enjoys working around sentimental pieces in her clients’ homes, and she wants each project to be individual to the owner. She never uses the same fabric in two homes. “It’s their home, ” Jan says. “I want it to suit their personality. It’s important to take an individual approach.”

Scroll down for a slide show, which includes more images and information on Jan's home and decorating. Click here to see the feature article that highlights the decorator's home. Click here for another of Jan's projects featured in the 2012 March/April issue of Birmingham Home & Garden.

Cara D. Clark

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Perfect Finish

By
Cara Clark
-

When Crestline devotees Jan and Kyle Ware needed more space for their four children, they considered razing and rebuilding to stay in the neighborhood where they’d lived for more than 10 years. Then Kyle found a promising property online two years ago. “We’d looked at several houses, but hadn’t felt like, ‘This is the one, ’” Jan says. “We felt so blessed when we found this house on Rockledge.” They knew it was meant for them when others vying for the French modern-style home were incommunicado due to spring break vacations, while the Wares were ready to ink the contract. When they did, Jan, a decorator, set about making it uniquely theirs.

The home’s décor reflects her taste—traditional for the most part, but with the verve of more contemporary pieces mixed among the antiques.

“I appreciate older pieces, but I love a pop of modern, ” Jan says. “I like a softer look, and I like refined lines. If you put those together, which I like to do, it really works.”

Jan loves that all of the home’s rooms are used, including the family room, which was furnished to work for a family of six. The combination of pieces Jan selected for the space is illustrative of her design philosophy.

“I buy pieces I really am fond of. I don’t buy space fillers. As I have found things along the way, I find places for them. I definitely have a love for antiques, but I have a new appreciation for fun, funky pieces. There’s a place for pieces you are really inspired by, whether it’s a trend or not.”

“I try to keep my furniture neutral, then bring in accent colors, ” Jan says. “If I get tired of a look, I can throw in a new pillow versus having a really bold sofa that’s harder to change up.” She also mixes up periods and styles. In the living room, she combines a velvet damask linen on an old English armchair with a pair of chairs with clean lines and “really cool” metallic hide seat and back. “These are funky 1950’s pieces that I stripped down, reupholstered, and finished with silver nailheads, ” Jan says.

The mantel, adorned with a pair of English limestone corbels, was refinished by Daniel Whitsett to be more in keeping with the informal atmosphere. Above it, a painting of a horse by artist Meredith Keith was framed to disguise the television.

In lieu of a more expansive rug, a cowhide allows the beauty of the original 1928 hardwood floors to show, as well as adding to the atmosphere of casual elegance. “I wanted a big rug, but with two dogs and four children, this was more practical, ” Jan says. “I also love the cleanness and openness of exposed hardwoods.” In dividing the family room into seating and entertaining areas, Jan chose an area for a marble-top game table with seating for children Patterson, Britt, Anne Adams, and Louise. “They eat there, play games, and do homework, ” Jan says. “It’s a great space.”

Adjacent to the area, French doors lead to an open-air, covered porch,

The dining table is surrounded by six mutton-leg French chairs upholstered with French flower tacks. The chair backs are covered with linen velvet and the front with a lovely damask fabric. Hanging above the table, an Italian, wooden chandelier with wooden tassels is dressed with silk shades. Below, a hammered silver tray usually hosts a vessel of fresh cut flowers from the yard.

Jan’s favorite place to sit and enjoy coffee or a good book.
For a more formal setting, Jan outfitted the dining room with silk drapes, hand-stamped with a silver metallic paisley and floral accents. A 19th-century Italian mirror reflects the abundant natural light. The round dining table, crafted with antique wood from England, is in use every day, and it’s also ideal for entertaining. “Our house is very functional, ” Jan says. “We actually use our dining room. There’s no wasted space, which I love.”

In the master bedroom, Jan created a tranquil retreat in hues of pearl white, dove gray, and pale taupe. “I wanted it to feel dreamy like a bridal suite with silk drapes and organza, ” Jan says. “It feels soft and relaxing. I like to have calmness in my life and a soothing place to go.” Intimacy and function are essential elements to Jan in feathering a comfortable nest.

She also appreciates having a sizable front yard with a venerable old live oak that seemed to demand a board swing, a family favorite. The home’s landscape, designed by Beatty Hanna, is another of its appeals. “Everything is placed so strategically, ” Jan says. “The bones of the yard are great. There’s so much potential here. This home is perfect for our family.”

Scroll down for a slide show, which includes more images from Jan’s home. For more on the decorator, click here.

RESOURCES

interior design: Jan Ware: JAN WARE DESIGNS • 205.585.7891 • www.janwaredesigns.com iron lamp on foyer table, pear on foyer table: RICHARD TUBB INTERIORS • 205.324.7613 • www.richardtubbinteriors.com bird painting in foyer: artist Laura Beers through WARE DESIGNS 205.585.7891 • www.janwaredesigns.com half bath: French faucet and French catch by HERBEAU CREATIONS www.herbeau.com • 800.547.1608
 • half bath brass fixtures: KENNY AND COMPANY www.kennycompany.com • 205.323.5616 front yard swing: LITTLE HARDWARE 205.871.4616 family room: limestone bowl on coffee table: RESTORATION HARDWARE www.restorationhardware.com • 205.967.1901 hand-blown glass lamp by designer Barbara Cosgrove: AT HOME www.athome-furnishings.com • 205.879.3510 horse painting above mantel: Meredith Keith through WARE DESIGNS 205.585.7891 metallic hide chairs wood finish and mantel finish by Daniel Whitsett PAINTWORKS DESIGN STUDIO www.paintworksdesignstudio.com • 205.879.2751 purple linen pillow in armchair: CIRCA INTERIORS AND ANTIQUES www.circaonline.net • 205.868.9199 floor iron sconces: ARGENT argentantiques.com • 205.871.4221 antique chest: finish by Daniel Whitsett, PAINTWORKS DESIGN STUDIO www.paintworksdesignstudio.com • 205.879.2751 European mirror: RICHARD TUBB INTERIORS 205.324.7613 • www.richardtubbinteriors.com bust on chest: TRICIA’S TREASURES www.triciastreasures.us • 205.871.9779 orchids: OAK STREET GARDEN SHOP www.oakstreetgardenshop.us • 205.870.7542 dining room chairs: TRICIA’S TREASURES www.triciastreasures.us • 205.871.9779 master bedroom: custom design headboards and linens through WARE DESIGNS 205.585.7891 • www.janwaredesigns.com

Cara D. Clark

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Outdoor Oasis

By
BHG Staff
-
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A Little Flourish

By
Margaret Phillips
-

Mia Abrams and Morgan Gillespie started with an art show at the 2010 Moss Rock Festival in Hoover with the idea of presenting recycled vintage fabrics into a line of home goods such as bedding and accent pillows. After positive sales and great feedback, they decided to develop their idea into a true company with their collage of textiles.

Fabrics come from estate sales and donations or from a client for custom projects. Individuals often ask the duo to repurpose their mother’s or grandmother’s linens into items they can use. This branch of the business? Heirloom Creations. Sentimental fabrics such as old quilts and tablecloths become pillows or tableskirts. Another venture? Mia and Morgan plan to teach sewing classes so customers can take part in designing their own pieces.

Flourish • 1665 28th Ave. S • Homewood, AL 35209 • [email protected]

Find their products in:
Atmosphere 224 29th Street South • Birmingham • AL 35233
Weddings, Etc. 2843 18th Street South • Homewood, AL 35209

“If either of us sees something at a garage sale or thrift store, we just pick it up and find a usefor it later.” — Morgan Gillespie

 

Margaret Goodwyn Phillips

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30A Style

By
Eleanor Nesmith
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The best beach towns give us deep-down good feelings. Every stretch of waterfront has its own character and each of the communities along Scenic Highway 30A has a personality to match.

Florida boasts thousands of miles of tidal shoreline, yet Northwest Florida and its beaches aren’t like the rest of the state. And the 20 miles of coast that parallels a modest county road known as Scenic Highway 30A, isn’t like the rest of the Panhandle. There are no incorporated towns, and for a long time it was barely indicated on the map. Yet this string of beach communities nestled along the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City flourished in their relative obscurity. Over the years, the area evolved and grew in popularity.

Take a journey with Eleanor Lynn Nesmith and photographer Jean Allsopp along Scenic Highway 30A, for their words and images illustrate why this vivacious, pristine stretch of coastline is so special. Decades before Seaside drew national attention in the 1980s, generations of Southerners flocked to South Walton’s pristine beaches for summer holidays. Santa Rosa was a thriving town and Grayton was emerging as a coastal resort 100 years ago.

From Seagrove to Seaside to Alys Beach, 30A Style opens the doors of 22 homes within historical villages and vibrant new towns. Along the way, discover the rich traditions of the region and pioneers who saw the potential in protecting the natural landscapes of this corner of Northwest Florida. Explore New Urbanist towns that prompted the unofficial title of “The Design Coast” for these 20 miles of Scenic Highway.

30A Style is a full-color, 192-page coffee table book showcasing diverse communities and individual houses, as well as the homeowners who share a role in this unique architectural proving ground. Each home featured in 30A Style is a distinctive expression of the personality of its inhabitants and the characteristics of the terrain.

The book offers both the novice and aficionado of architecture an engaging take on why homes matter to a community and how communities come together. Whether the owners are born-and-bred locals or loving transplants doesn’t matter. They share a passion for the locale and belief in a broader purpose. 30A Style is a celebration of a unique way of life along the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a book worth going back to again and again.

Eleanor Lynn Nesmith

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