Gavin and Ginny Prier’s kitchen had been well loved and well worn, so when sister-in-law and interior designer Jessica Prier of Birmingham Design House got the call for some updates, she was happy to help. The goal: to usher in a timeless look while also meeting Ginny’s need for improved organization.
The first step was taking on the kitchen’s choppy layout. The refrigerator sat stranded on one side of the room, there was no real pantry, and the oven stood out for all the wrong reasons. To solve the dysfunctional dilemma, Jessica relocated the refrigerator and carved out space in the former laundry room for an actual pantry. She also overhauled the area around the stove, creating a stunning focal point by thickening the wall to accommodate a custom hood insert accented with an oak beam.
The Zellige tiles are individually handmade, so each piece brings texture and color variety to the space. Jessica embellished the various neutral hues by mixing metals, opting for unlacquered brass cabinet hardware and a polished nickel faucet.
“We emphasized natural materials and classic details to give the kitchen a timeless feel, as if it has always been a part of the home.”
—Jessica Prier
BEFORE
The new layout allowed Jessica to supersize the island, providing ample workspace and seating for the family. The white oak island adds warmth and contrast against the painted cabinets (Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore). Jessica painted the walls, trim, and ceiling the same color. “I didn’t want to draw attention to different colors or sheens,” she says. “Instead, I wanted to draw the eye to the details.” Those details include unlacquered brass hardware, white marble countertops, and a polished nickel faucet. “We wanted the kitchen to blend with the rest of the house with simple yet sophisticated selections,” says Jessica.
Jessica Prier
Remodeling Tips for Cost and Beauty:
The stove and sink stayed put, which helped the budget. Iron sconces from Visual Comfort offer a unique aesthetic for task lighting near the sink. Removing upper cabinets simplifies the space so it doesn’t feel too busy or utilitarian.
Servers are more than just people who set down an entrée or bring you a glass of wine. Take a moment to ask them a question or two and you will discover that they see hospitality as a true calling. They arrive early, learn the daily menu changes, maybe sample new vintages added to the wine list, and ensure each place setting is just-so. Your enjoyment is what drives them.
When they aren’t creating memorable restaurant experiences, many of these hospitality professionals follow other passions. We’re pulling back the curtain on a few notables around town who share what they pursue in their off time. On your next visit to your favorite Birmingham dining spot, take a new look at your own server; we bet they have some stories to share.
Michael Krusinski / Chez FonFon / Five Points South
Michael credits the caliber of ingredients he uses in his homemade toffee for its unparalleled quality and buttery flavor – Imported European butter is his go-to.
Longtime Birmingham residents are well aware of the caliber of service at all Stitt Restaurant Group concepts. For someone to receive the coveted server vest, it takes weeks of training, a true dedication to excellence, and a heart for service. Michael Krusinski of Chez FonFon, also a 2012 Auburn University hospitality program graduate, can be found at the bustling hot spot every Wednesday through Friday. Outside of work, Michael spends his time updating and improving his Irondale property, thrifting for treasures he sells at pop-up events at places like Mom’s Basement, and perfecting his grandmother Honi’s treasured toffee recipe—something he hopes to bring to market later this year.
Photo by Stitt Restaurant Group
Table Service with Michael Kruskinski
Favorite menu item: If I said anything but the Hamburger FonFon, my coworkers would know I’m lying. Home cooking: I enjoy cooking/grilling with my dad and brother on Sundays. My favorite thing to cook for myself is an entire breakfast menu. It’s good any time of day. Best advice for other servers: Bring your authentic self to work and connect honestly with your coworkers and guests. People can sense the difference. Best gift from a customer: Artists Tony and Tracey Mose (ESOM ART) were visiting from New Orleans. We discussed art, collecting, and life. Before leaving, Tony took a scrap paper liner and drew a piece of art for me that resembles some of his previous works.
Sharing hot honey pizza and prosciutto-wrapped burrata might not be what Alexander Stern thought he’d be doing after earning a degree in international relations from UAB, but he could not be happier in his profession. After living in south Florida and working in various jobs outside the restaurant industry, Alexander got homesick and decided to come back to Birmingham. He landed at Slim’s Pizzeria and found a place where he feels his talents and passions are valued and developed. Alexander’s creative spirit and love of design and the visual arts has only grown as he’s become more enmeshed in Birmingham’s restaurant world and creative culture.
When he’s not at Slim’s, Alexander can be found planning or hosting pop-up dinners with friends. “I love putting designers and hospitality-industry people together to develop menus, create tablescapes, and design invitations,” he says. “You never know what might happen, but it will always be interesting.”
Photos by Kenslie Photography
A Side Helping with Alexander Stern
Dining in: The kitchen enjoys making off-menu pizzas for the staff. They are always delicious and memorable. Pay attention: I think a prerequisite to a career in the service industry is having a sincere interest in people. The more genuinely curious you are about people, the more attuned you can be to their needs. Favorite cocktail: My favorite summer drink is a French Gimlet Spritz. Combine 1½ ounces London Dry gin, ½ ounce St. Germain, ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup, and 1¼ ounces fresh lime juice. Shake and pour over ice in a wine glass. Top with club soda and Prosecco. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lime.
Sara Walker / Tre Luna Catering & Tre Luna Bar + Kitchen / The Village at Brocks Gap, Hoover
We’ve all been in restaurants that get noisy. For some patrons, that environment can create sensory overload. Sara Walker, chief operating officer of Tre Luna Catering and Tre Luna Bar + Kitchen, is keenly aware of these customer challenges. She has found a way to combine her passion for assisting adults with autism and developmental disabilities into her work life.
Before joining the Tre Luna team in 2016, Sara put her psychology degree from UAB to work at Triumph Services, a nonprofit organization that provides skills training and counseling for individuals with developmental disabilities. Once at Tre Luna, she partnered with KultureCity to help the business become the first catering company in the nation to be Sensory Inclusive Certified. “We have accommodations to support individuals with sensory needs,” she says. “We can seat them at a quieter table and offer them access to KultureCity Sensory Bags, a package that includes items such as noise-reducing headphones and fidgets.” Taking things full circle, Tre Luna has been the catering company of choice for the annual KultureCity KultureBall, where Sara and Tre Luna owners Erin and Brian Mooney continue their mission. kulturecity.org
At Tre Luna, Sara’s favorite menu item is the Forest Mushroom Pizza with Mascarpone Cheese, Parmigiana-Reggiano, Mozzarella & Arugula. Photo by Sara Walker
Service with a Smile from Sara Walker
Trust us: Planning an event or wedding can be stressful. A client’s anxiety can be very high leading up to the event. At Tre Luna, we can ease that burden. Our number one priority is to make every customer’s event the most memorable experience. To do that, we try to put ourselves in their shoes and consider the details that would be important to us if we were them. Kindness always wins: When I was younger and just starting out, I had some unexpected expenses and not enough money to cover them. I was working a small event, and at the end, the client gave me and the other server each a $500 tip. I almost cried. It came at the exact moment I needed it the most.
Jess Bennett / Lou’s Pub & Package Store / Lakeview District
You may have never ordered an old-fashioned or a martini with a side of art, but at Lou’s Pub & Package Store, you could do just that. Jess Bennett, a Birmingham hospitality veteran who tends bar at the storied watering hole, could fill both of those wants. An ASFA graduate, Jess spent several years at Chez FonFon followed by Aviné Caviste & Sociale on Second Avenue downtown. When the opportunity at Lou’s Pub opened in 2023, she leapt at the chance to be a part of this 37-year-old bar. Many in the business see Lou’s as a seminal part of a bartender’s career. Veterans often go on to open their own bars (Continental Drift, The Church Key, Juniper). While Jess has definite plans to one day open a bar of her own, she presently appreciates the schedule at Lou’s Pub for the time it gives her to spend on her other creative endeavors, such as her mixed media art and her first novel.
Photo by Lilla Gaylard
Off the Clock with Jess Bennett
Winding down: After an evening of running behind the bar, I love having a civil moment with a pilsner and a pour of Fernet Branca. Dining in: At home, I like to keep things simple with prepared food and wine pairings that are easy to execute. I love a chic French Muscadet with oysters from Sexton’s Seafood Market or an elegant Loire Sauvignon Blanc with a Valençay goat cheese. Chilled red Txakolina is the best porch wine. Flexible schedule: Time off gives me space to absorb, integrate, and express information, which is an important part of my artistic process. I need intervals to think about what I’ve been exposed to, how I feel about things, and what I want to say.
Not many Birmingham servers will tell you that less than a decade ago, they were homeless and living in a pop-up tent behind the Pep Boys in Palm Beach County, Florida. But that chapter was a key component in Kyle Berman’s ongoing journey of healing, redemption, and entrepreneurship. While he has been clean and sober for more than five years, Kyle has intimately experienced the death-by-overdose of more than 15 friends, as well as his own younger sister. After losing a coworker who had relapsed, he was overcome with a mission to help.
When he’s not at Le Fresca, Kyle is working to connect a group of developers, tech startups, and investors to create a wearable opioid overdose detection device and alert system called OD Revive.
You may be thinking, “Why not just install an app on the Apple watch that would do the same thing as OD Revive?” Kyle already has your answer: “What is the first thing an addict is going to do with an Apple watch when they relapse? They’re going to sell it for drugs. Also, most addicts cannot afford an Apple watch in the first place. Creating a device that has no value outside of its intended purpose is essential.”
While OD Revive is still in its pre-seed funding stage of development, Kyle has a full business plan through distribution and end use. “You may think that you don’t know anyone personally who would benefit from this device, but when you learn that 6 out of 10 pills purchased illegally—college kids buying off-market Xanax or Vyvanse—contain lethal levels of fentanyl, your eyes become wide open.” That was exactly how Kyle lost his sister; she purchased a pill she thought was Xanax that was laced with fentanyl.
While Kyle knows he can never replace the loved ones he’s lost to this scourge, he will have achieved his goal with every life saved by OD Revive. odrevive.com
Family Matters with Kyle Berman
Best advice: Love what you do. Some might see a job in the service industry as a temporary job, but the truth is you can make a decent living and meet some wonderful people along the way. Tokens of appreciation: It’s so thoughtful when customers leave notes and Christmas cards (some with money tucked inside). One of our guests owns a clothing store, and he gifted me a handmade Italian suit. I’ll be wearing that to the inevitable important business meetings we will see in the near future with OD Revive. A servant’s heart: People should know that they can restart their day at any time, and even if someone feels alone, they’re not. It’s important that we all show compassion and be more understanding of each other.
Photography by Laurey Glenn and Styling by Morgan Stephenson
Each kitchen renovation comes with its own set of challenges. This one was drastically dated, not to mention plagued by a completely impractical layout. To solve both issues, interior designer Amanda Hickam transformed the room to maximize the space, enhance efficiency, and rid the antiquated aesthetic.
TIP… Work with It: Adding a cabinet around the existing refrigerator gave it a custom feel, unifying it with the space.
Before, the kitchen had no real countertop space, with the sink and stove squished together on a single wall of cabinets. Amanda relocated the sink and added a row of cabinets.
BEFORE
She began with the floor plan, focusing heavily on a single transformative change—relocating the sink. This shift opened up the entire space and allowed for a much bigger island while also providing additional countertop and cabinet space.
For finishes, the homeowners longed for a classic design that would stand the test of time. Cabinets are neutral, painted Old White by Farrow & Ball, but to keep them from becoming too basic, Amanda brought in a neutral handcrafted tile around the stove and then carried it over to the entire wall around the bay windows. The softer backdrop allows the details to shine, particularly the brass pendants above the island. “We wanted the kitchen to look current but not trendy,” Amanda says. “The result is a space that feels classic with just a touch of modern—a design that will serve the family for years to come.”
“Hardware is like jewelry in a space and can change a room’s personality easily. Here, it pops against the white and helps the kitchen feel really warm.”
The painting by Alexis Walter that inspired the home’s interior color palette is flanked by doors to the office (left) and playroom. “We used tongue and groove on the ceiling for some movement,” Kelly says. “My husband built the coffee table.” Photography by Hector Sanchez | Styling by Kathleen VarnerLEFT: “A custom black-and-white skirted table allows for correct clearance in the entry hall,” Kelly says. The black iron console with a pink- and black-marble top is vintage from Stash. RIGHT: “In our planning stages, white-painted brick was the norm,” Kelly says. “The style of this home needed something super light or super dark—nothing in between.” Color: Rock Bottom by Sherwin-Williams.
Life is messy—especially when you share your home with young children. But two small humans, ages 4 and 2, didn’t stop interior designer Kelly Neely from creating the beautiful home she desired for her family. “Yes, it drives me a little nuts when they jump on the sofa, color on the walls, and get chocolate on pillows—all of which happens often—but this is just the season of life our family is in,” says Kelly. “They have to have fun and be able to really live in the house.” Rather than hold her sense of style back in order to keep furnishings and accessories safe from accidents, the designer has gone boldly forward. “I have learned to let go,” she says. “I would rather have the things I want in my house than live in an ‘unfinished version’ because I’m afraid things will get messed up.”
LEFT: “The dining room’s Graffito by Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa is the first fabric I bought for the house,” Kelly says. The Caracole table is surrounded by custom chairs beneath a Visual Comfort chandelier. CENTER AND RIGHT: Cabinetry by RTS Construction sports hardware from Brandino Brass and includes a range hood and 10-foot-long island with fluted panels painted in Black Fox by Sherwin-Williams. Pendants from Visual Comfort coordinate with plumbing fixtures by Newport Brass and Wolf/Subzero appliances (Allsouth Appliance).
When Kelly and her general-contractor husband, Ross (Neely Construction) first chose their Vestavia Hills property, they didn’t do so with kids in mind. “We bought the house in January 2015 and made cosmetic updates through April 2019,” says Kelly. “But when we welcomed our first child in 2020, we made the decision to tear down and rebuild so we could have more room to grow our family. We love our location, so building on our lot was a no-brainer.”
LEFT: Framed art by AK Hardeman brightens the home’s side entry. The Birmingham artist says, “I focus on colors that express my emotions and feelings in an image that leaves room for the viewer’s interpretation. There is rarely a point I try to get across, a statement I try to make, or a system of signs I wish to give message or meaning. I am simply interested in the use of color and aesthetic freedom.” RIGHT: Bedside tables via Noir and lighting from Visual Comfort flank the sage-green velvet bedframe. Vintage botanical prints hang over a reupholstered vintage settee.
With the unique opportunity to reimagine what her home could be, Kelly went to work dreaming big. For the exterior, she skewed away from the beaten path of the homes around her. “I really wanted to push the envelope with a modern vibe. A dark paint color and flat roof are not typical design elements in our neighborhood, so it was definitely a leap,” she says. “Today I’m so thankful that I didn’t give much thought to what others would think about our out-of-the-box design choices.” She also bucked some trends with the floorplan. “I wanted a great flow, but I didn’t want open concept. I really like a formal dining room, and we needed an office and dedicated playroom. It was important for me to have separation in spaces so that each room could have its own character.”
LEFT: “The living room includes a bar for entertaining. CENTER: House of Harris wallpaper and a Palmer Industries vanity via Fixtures & Finishes/Surface One make the powder room one of Kelly’s favorite spaces. RIGHT: A soaker tub from Fixtures & Finishes is framed by drapery panels in a pink floral Schumacher fabric. Overhead lighting is from Visual Comfort. Floor tile is Calacatta marble.
“We often entertain family and friends of all ages at both large and small gatherings. I never want anyone to feel like something is untouchable or off-limits. As a hostess, I hope I’m always creating a sense of calm and ease for our guests.”
—Kelly Neely
Although individual rooms stand alone, a color palette of soft, sage greens and pretty pinks makes every space feel a part of a larger family. “I commissioned a piece of art by New Orleans-based artist Alexis Walter,” Kelly says of the abstract painting hanging above a sofa in the living room. “The colors were based on a fabric I ended up using in the primary bedroom. That was the catalyst for all the color decisions in the house.”
LEFT: Kelly’s office, just off the living room, features vintage furnishings including “black dressers and re-covered barrel chairs from my grandmother’s home,” she says. RIGHT: “A mix of new, modern, and treasured vintage pieces is a very important balance I strive to achieve in all of my projects,” Kelly says. The nursery is a wonderful example where walls are hand-painted by Bridget McCart (inspired by a GP&J Baker wallpaper), a modern Stokke crib sits atop a vintage rug, and pink lamps from Stash are topped by lampshades via Village Firefly.
Green on walls gives a restful quality to both the office and playroom. The color also appears in pleated drapery panels that frame the windows of the dining room and on velvet that covers the bedframe in the primary suite. Pinks pop off throw pillows in the living room and in a floral fabric Roman shade in the kitchen while also blooming in the floral wallcoverings of both the powder room and the nursery. Kelly explains, “On paper, pink and green sound very preppy and bright, but I used muted versions of the colors to create more of a moody vibe.” She adds that the palette brings a sense of calm to the many playful features in the home, making spaces more livable and inviting—for the adults and the young ones alike.
“My vision was pretty simple—a floor plan that had a nice flow with enough separation to feel intimate. I wanted a feeling of connection and togetherness even if we were spread out in different spaces.”
—Kelly Neely
Comfort & Joy with Kelly Neely
Designer Kelly Neely shares tips for balancing beautiful interiors with the realities of a busy life with young children.
DON’T SWEAT IT. “Friends, acquaintances, and clients ask all the time how I keep my kids from destroying everything. The answer is that I don’t,” Kelly says. “We teach them to respect the house and what’s inside of it—but at the end of the day, kids are kids.”
CHOOSE PERFORMANCE FABRICS. “We used performance fabrics where they made sense,” Kelly says of upholstery, pillows, and other items often touched by little hands.
BUILD SMART STORAGE. “The wall of cabinetry in the playroom is full of toys,” says Kelly. “The floor-to-ceiling doors and drawers make cleanup a quick-and-easy task.”
Cabinets are painted Glacier and walls Oyster White (both by Sherwin-Williams). Calacutta gold suede quartz countertops feature just enough streaks of gold to harmonize with the room’s gilded accents. Photography by Jean Allsopp
When interior designer Lisa Shaddix and husband Jamie made the decision to build their dream home, the kitchen was top priority. Lisa centered the entire design around one specific detail—the range. That meant going all in with gold and black, a glamorous color combination. A custom hood matches the La Cornue oven, while more gold shines through in the brass pendants from Inline Lighting, barstools from Ballard Designs, and elegant hardware, including the Cremone bolt on the door to the adjacent pantry.
The rich notes continue in the task and storage area, but here, Lisa introduced a green accent with the cabinets (Roycroft Bottle Green by Sherwin-Williams). The cabinets house all of her extra serveware, baking accessories, and even a complete gift-wrapping station. “My personal style comes out so much in the space, and it’s also incredibly functional,” Lisa says. “Everything works together so well yet still allows the range to be the star of the show.”
A walk-in pantry provides generous storage for dry goods. Cabinets on either side house shelving specifically designed to fit cookie sheets, cutting boards, and charcuterie boards.
“The kitchen blends elements from various design styles, resulting in a space that exudes both beauty and function.”
After living in their Crestline home for years, these homeowners found themselves at a crossroads with their tired, dated kitchen. Eager to enhance the space, they hired an architect to draw up what they thought best served their needs. But once they got the numbers back, their ambitious plan spiraled into a budgetary nightmare. Not ready to give up, the homeowners turned to Leigh Misso of River Brook Design & Construction, who got creative with a new plan—one that would fit their budget and still give them the wow factor that they desired. “Oftentimes, people have a misconceived idea they need a lot of space, but really what they need is organized space,” Leigh says.
To open things up, Leigh tossed out the narrow, L-shaped layout and created a circular flow around a new, larger island. She chose a bold color for the cabinets and used the same hue on the living room wall, creating an easy transition between the two spaces. “We repurposed the space to make it work so much better while staying within the budget,” Leigh says.
Since the kitchen feeds into surrounding rooms, Leigh was careful to keep the overall design cohesive with color and material selections. Artwork introduces lively pops of color. Performance fabric covers the sofas and patterned swivel chairs. Gold accents come through in the Greek Key design on the coffee table, frames, and occasional table.
Corral Clutter: Shelves and pull-out drawers were designed to specifically fit certain pieces of cookware. An appliance garage corrals countertop clutter.
High Style on a Budget with Leigh Misso
Weigh Your Options. Leigh chose Black Mist Granite countertops that mimic soapstone, a pricier item. Take It Up a Notch. Leigh extended the granite countertops to the wall behind the range, creating a display ledge topped with brass picture lights to highlight favorite artwork from McKenzie Dove. Don’t Cut It Short. Extend cabinets to the countertop for a seamless, modern flow. Silver and Gold. Yes, it’s okay to mix metals. The polished nickel faucet is more budget-friendly than unlacquered brass, and it also works well with gold and brass accents. Copy Cat. The custom vent hood mimics the look of plaster but was made out of drywall instead.
“We wanted a place that we could all enjoy,” says Barbara of the house she and her husband Greg purchased for themselves and their three grown children. The open floor plan connects to the screened porch and deck, providing the family with plenty of gathering spots. Photography by JEAN ALLSOPP
Real estate agents see hundreds of homes every year. Because of their easy access to properties both in person and online, they have a pretty good idea of what is available that would fit the needs and wants of each client. And when house hunting for themselves, they have an even better idea.
A lake house was on the wish list for ARC real estate agent Barbara Lummis, husband Greg, and their family. When this Lake Martin property popped up, Barbara knew it was “the one” in an instant. “I never even looked at another house in person,” she says. “This one had everything we all wanted.”
Open to the kitchen and living area, the dining room accesses the deck and outdoor dining area via French doors.
The house checked all the boxes, including its location on the Dadeville side—just a 30-minute drive from Auburn, the entire family’s alma mater—and its square footage that offered plenty of room for all three of the Lummises’ grown children (and more family, later). Plus it had already been renovated by the previous owners, so it was move-in ready.
LEFT: The primary suite enjoys a private side porch with a hanging bed swing. Crisp blue-and-white bedding is trimmed in just enough red to add nautical flair. RIGHT: The Lummises’ daughter chose a green-and-white palette for her room—the only departure from the blue scheme in the rest of the house.
The only thing it lacked? Furniture. “We didn’t have anything to bring from our home, so we had to find everything” Barbara says. She called in decorator Lauren Conner, a longtime friend who is well tuned in to Barbara’s style. “She knows that I love anything blue and beachy, and she easily created that mood,” Barbara says.
Perched on a hillside, the home takes in sweeping views of the Sandy Creek area of Lake Martin. Joe Ellis of Dwelling Architecture renovated the home for the previous owners. The porch was later screened by TCC Contractors for the Lummises. Lauren outfitted the space with weather-resistant furnishings. A fireplace opposite the lake views makes this spot a favorite year-round.An upstairs TV and game room makes for a fun retreat on rainy days.
Using a range of blues as accent colors—navy, royal, peacock, denim, and sky—punctuated with just enough pops of red, Lauren brought an assembly of mostly neutral upholstery and finishes to life. Pillows, drapery, bedding, artwork, and even the monogrammed napkins stay true to the scheme. Graphic designs, polka dots, and stripes, all in varying scales, push and pull the eye across the rooms to the vast lake views beyond. And while the house certainly shines, the real star is outside. “Not only is the house perfect, the views are incredible,” says Barbara.
Lauren deferred to each of the Lummises’ children when decorating their rooms. This one belongs to one of the sons.Rooms had already been freshly painted by the previous owners. The only change to any wall was the addition of the striped wallpaper in the powder bath.
Classic Craftsman — Homewood, Alabama — Opening November 2024 October 31 – November 24, Thursdays – Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays 1pm-5pm
Tier One Sponsors:
Homewood continues to be one of the most desirable communities in Birmingham. Developed in the early 20th century, the city offers homes that range from Spanish Colonial to ranchers to Tudors, as well as traditional bungalows and Craftsman-style homes. For the architect and developer of this home, it was only natural to want to revisit a classic look. “We chose to design a Craftsman-style house to pay homage to the more traditional character of original Homewood houses,” says architect Jared Bussey. “The Craftsman/Arts & Crafts style can be roomy and modern on the inside while still maintaining an appropriate scale and proportion along the street.”
The plan consists of a 4,165-square-foot house with five bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. An inviting front porch leads to a gracious foyer and an open stairway to the second floor. The main level hosts a generously-sized living area with a fireplace that seamlessly connects to the kitchen. A focal point of the home, the kitchen features a 48-inch range, refrigerator and freezer towers, and a spacious island, all complemented by an attached working pantry/scullery equipped with prep space, cabinets, sink, oven, and built-in microwave. A convenient wet bar links the living and dining areas.
The primary suite on the first floor boasts exclusive amenities such as a dedicated washer and dryer space, a niche for coffee/beverages, and a steam shower, in addition to separate vanities, a freestanding tub, and an expansive walk-in closet. The second floor houses the main laundry room adjacent to the other bedrooms.
Out back, a screened porch equipped with a fireplace and built-in bar connects to a two-car carport. Additionally, the dining room offers access to the screened porch via a large sliding door unit, enhancing the seamless indoor-outdoor living experience.
Meet the Team
Builder: Willow Homes Willow Homes began over 10 years ago, winning numerous awards and accolades in professional programs. The team strives to create affordable custom luxury in upscale home markets in Birmingham, including Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Avondale, and surrounding areas. The Willow Homes team consists of tenured project managers, award-winning plan designers, and artistic home designers, all working diligently to bring custom homes or renovations to life—on time and on budget. They also have the experience and resources to coordinate furniture, rugs, artwork, and window coverings with a turnkey installation through Willow Interiors.
Architect: Jared Bussey, founder and principal of Architectural Cooperative Architectural Cooperative is a full-service architectural design firm located in Homewood, Alabama. Registered in eight states around the Southeast, the firm provides high-quality design services that are catered specifically to each project and each client. The firm understands that the architect’s task is to meet a client’s needs while also contributing to the overall beauty and sustainability of a street, community, and city.
Benefiting Trinity’s Outreach Hub
Feed, Clothe, Teach, Grow and Connect
The vision of Trinity’s Outreach Hub is to welcome neighbors in need with radical hospitality, prioritizing dignity, provision, and empowerment as they offer assistance, build relationships and create connections. The Outreach Hub offers tangible relief in the form of food, clothing, household items, and utility assistance to those struggling with financial insecurity and displacement, especially refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Barbara’s gallery wall features a variety of styles and pieces by local artists and artwork purchased during travels. “The portraits are fun,” she says. “I don’t know the people in them, but I am so curious about their stories. I like to conjure up a narrative behind the faces, and it makes the art come more alive for me.” The chairs and coffee table are So So Spiffy designs, a preview of Barbara’s indoor furniture collection coming fall 2024. Photography by Jean Allsopp
When Barbara Cooney and her husband, Jobay, first spied the brick ranch-style house that would become their family’s new home, Barbara was intrigued. Even though it had wall-to-wall carpet, linoleum floors, paneling, and dated fixtures, she saw the potential. “I loved the floor plan and the kidney-shaped pool,” Barbara says. “It had a groovy vibe, and it spoke to the 1970s home I remembered from my childhood.”
There’s plenty to love about a ranch-style house. This one just needed a few exterior updates with a modern twist. Cedar boards on the front are replicated in the new pool cabana .
BEFORE
Vibe aside, Barbara had no desire to turn the clock back to the disco decade. Instead, she aimed to create an airy, modern home that recalled West Coast style—another aesthetic she was introduced to at a young age. “I was born and raised in Birmingham, but I have some eclectic relatives,” she says. “One of my aunts lived in Palm Springs, and her style really made a big impression on me. When people walk into my house now, they tell me they feel like they are in California.”
To achieve the airy, relaxed look, Barbara worked with builder Chris McFarrin to redress the interiors and façade. “We kept the same floor plan but bumped it out a few feet here and there, raised the ceiling in places, and updated the kitchen and baths,” she says. In addition, some walls were removed, windows and doors were relocated to modify room access in places, salvaged doors were retrofit for new doorways, and hardwood floors discovered beneath those top layers of carpet and linoleum were refinished.
“I’m not an interior designer—I’m a stager. Birmingham has so many great, qualified designers that do interior elevations and finishes. I prefer to focus on the furnishings and accessories.”
—Barbara Cooney
Taking advantage of unused attic space, Barbara had the ceilings vaulted and raised wherever possible. This living area, overlooking the pool, exudes a West Coast vibe with its pale finishes, neutral upholstery, and desert color scheme. Barbara and Jobay added the corner bar for entertaining.LEFT: Antique doors, discovered at Henhouse Antiques years ago and used in the Cooneys’ former house, found a new home in the specially-designed arched doorway. RIGHT: The doors in the sitting room were custom made from salvaged barn wood. Gus, everyone’s favorite So So Spiffy model and sidekick, is always quick to pose for the camera.
Once the framework was in place, Barbara set about filling the new abode with furnishings both familiar and new—much like the approach she takes with her staging business. “My own home has items that are personal to our family, but I believe any house needs a good mix to feel welcoming and comfortable,” she says. “In my work, if it looks like a staged home, I haven’t done my job.”
LEFT: Stripping out the 1964 kitchen and starting over allowed for a vaulted ceiling with a white-washed wood accent, new cabinets, modern appliances, and a center island. RIGHT: The dining area features an antique table from Roundtop Antiques Fair in Texas, a custom-built banquette, and an assortment of chairs, including a pair of antiques. “The chairs were the first pieces I ever bought at auction as an adult,” says Barbara. “My dad took me to an auction when I was 8 years old, and I bought a blue-and-white soup tureen. I have been hooked ever since.” Art is by Hatsue Miki.
BEFORE
To cultivate that lived-in look in both arenas, Barbara and her team shop for new furniture at market, buy antiques from auction, and procure vintage finds and accessories at fairs such as Roundtop in Texas. Just this past April, she even launched her own So So Spiffy line of outdoor furniture. (Her indoor line is debuting fall 2024.)
The outdoor furniture line features four collections that offer weather-proof seating and dining options in addition to occasional tables. All of the transitionally styled pieces are equally at home in traditional and contemporary settings, as well as in Barbara’s own backyard.
Donaldson Landscape and Design spruced up the home’s exterior and poolscape, adding paths, new plantings, and a firepit (with the assistance of the Cooneys’ son, Harrison). For much-needed shade, Barbara designed the pergola built by Perkins Building Company and filled it with pieces from her new line of So So Spiffy outdoor furnishings.In the garage-turned-guesthouse, Barbara removed the dropped ceiling to expose the rafters, painting them black. An accent wall of wallpaper by Windy O’Connor adds to the graphic scheme. Though Barbara deals with a lot of neutral upholstery in her staging business, she likes to add flair in her own spaces with pops of color such as the hot pink ottomans.
Spiffing Things Up
When Barbara Cooney began her staging business, So So Spiffy, she started with one house. “At that time, I just moved everything out of my own home,” she laughs. “My family wondered what happened to all of our furniture!” Before long, her client list grew. “Two houses turned into four, and four turned into eight, and so on,” she says. That was seven years ago. Now, she and her 20-plus-person team that includes Lucy Gaede, Wendy Henry, and Jenn Larson (in the Austin, Texas, location) have the inventory and capability to spiff up to 30 houses a month with everything from furniture to art to lighting and even the sheets on the bed. With so much turnover in staging real estate, the So So Spiffy team recently started hosting Shopping Shindig, a discounted resale event held once a month at their warehouse. And this past April, Barbara launched a So So Spiffy line of outdoor furnishings. For more about staging, Shopping Shindig dates, and So So Spiffy furnishings, visit sosospiffy.com
As Jessica Prier knows all too well, working from home is great—until it isn’t. But giving up the comforts of it? That’s a narrative the interior designer wasn’t quite ready to embrace even though her design business, Birmingham Design House, was quickly outgrowing its designated work-from-home space. “When I started the company three years ago, we were working out of one room in my home, but soon I was searching for storage in every nook and cranny of my house,” Jessica says. “We had to go somewhere.”
That somewhere, however, was proving difficult to find. Jessica valued being at home—or at least near home—every day, but there were no commercial spaces available close to her neighborhood. To keep it within the community, the designer decided to get creative by turning her attention to a new option—a run-down rental house just down the road. She purchased the property, had it rezoned for commercial use, and adapted the space to serve as a studio. “It was the perfect decision for our business,” Jessica says. “It’s a place that fits what we do, offers office space for each of us, and is close enough for all our kids to drop by after school.”
Renovation Revolution While the location of the structure checked all of the boxes, its outdated design did not. But the circa-1957 abode did provide a promising canvas for Jessica to construct a creative space that speaks to her keen eye for design. To carry out her vision, she turned to friend and architect Richard Long of Long & Long Design, who helped put together an overall plan to turn the eyesore into a stunning studio.
Working with her husband’s company, Prier Construction, Jessica and the team started by raising the front gable to give it more of a presence, which also allowed for larger windows to be brought in to increase the amount of natural light inside. She also enclosed the front porch to make it more substantial and introduced a circular window in the space. Both choices enhanced the overall elevation.
“The studio really reflects what we do for clients every day, which is create spaces that are comfortable and inviting.”
—Jessica Prier
The conference room makes every client feel at home. A painting by Courtney Garrett, shelves and tables filled with antique jars, scented Trudon Candles, and collected accessories all represent the design aesthetic of Birmingham Design House. The art on a stand (image below) is by Birmingham artist Porter Rivers.
BEFORE
Commercial Conversion The structure didn’t need significant demo work—most of the spaces were left intact and just given a fresh coat of paint—but the journey of converting the residential abode into a commercial space required navigating some challenges. The biggest was making the structure ADA (American Disabilities Act) accessible. The first priority in doing so was eliminating the steps on the front porch. Then, to make the bathroom ADA compliant, Jessica moved the door slightly over to provide the proper clearance and also removed unneeded items from the room to allow for the required 5-foot turnaround.
Crafting Comfort Though the structure officially became a commercial space, Jessica didn’t want to lose the homelike aesthetic since it sits in a semi-residential neighborhood. To keep the studio feeling as comfortable as the homes she designs, she selected many of the same finishes her team often uses in residential spaces. On the outside, Jessica brought in reclaimed brick for the driveway and added gas lanterns to the front porch for a warm glow. For the landscape, she turned to Neil Couvillion of Forme Design Group to install a trim boxwood garden with a fountain from Elegant Earth.
BEFORE
Inside, the designer refinished the original red oak hardwood floors and topped them with Oushak rugs from Hazel House Collective. She also opted for natural materials wherever possible, including the Imperial Danby marble countertops from Alabama Stone Works, a wooden conference table by Manufacture Good, and brass fixtures from Brandino Brass in the bathroom and on cabinetry in the sample library. “The studio reflects my personal style, which is organic and earthy, while also mixing in a little unexpected moodiness and drama,” Jessica says. “My hope is that anyone who comes in feels relaxed and comfortable.”
The Birmingham Design House team, from left: Kate Magley, Jordan Elkins, Jessica Prier birminghamdesignhouse.com
