Timeless and Traditional

A balance of form and function gives this Mountain Brook build a masterful mix of laid-back living and classic style.


Countertops and backsplash of Montclair Danby marble from Triton Stone Group add to the kitchen’s bright, all-white color scheme. Brass pendants over the island complement the library sconce above the farmhouse sink. A white oak cabinet offers a bit of contrast to the palette. Photography by Jean Allsopp.

Building a home was top of the bucket list for Kelsey and Carey Davis since the day they got married. “Every Sunday we would drive around to look at homes and talk about what we’d build,” says Carey. “That was our fun thing to do.” Those weekly drives paid off when the couple made the lot-purchasing plunge and began designing their dream home.

From the beginning, the couple was like- minded in their must-have list. At the very top was a traditional style with a layout that was open yet included intentional, well-defined spaces. Another prerequisite was functionality—without compromising on form and finishes. “We knew we wanted to start a family soon, so the space needed to be designed for a family,” Kelsey says. “We wanted it to be pretty yet livable with classic finishes.” Thanks to architect Scott Carlisle’s vision and interior designer Shea Bryars’ elevated eye for design, the Davises were able to check all of those boxes—and then some.

Top Left: The rich warm finishes in the hearth room were inspired by the Davises’ recent trip to Europe. Here, the couple enjoys catching up fireside in a pair of velvet wingback chairs accented with plaid pillows.
Bottom Right: To continue this English gentlemen’s club look from the Hearth room, designer Shea Bryars wrapped the adjacent powder room walls in a large-patterned wallpaper from Cole & Son.

Starting with a large foyer, Scott created an open concept for the main floor. Each space connects to one other through arched openings and is further distinguished by various ceiling treatments such as cedar beams and pecky cypress. In addition to the main living areas, Scott also designed spaces for respite, such as the keeping and hearth rooms.

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To meet the couple’s functionality needs, Scott added graciously-sized, task-focused rooms, such as a butler’s pantry and a separate laundry room with a shower just for the family dogs, Gus and Allie. And to provide easy accessibility to the outdoors, the architect incorporated doors wherever possible, including in the master bedroom where they lead directly to the backyard.

Top Left: The silver canopy bed inspired the white, beige, and silver color palette in the master bedroom. A bench from Stock & Trade creates a comfortable spot to slip shoes on or off—or for Gus, one of the family’s dogs, to lounge.
Top Right: Two sets of French doors open onto a covered outdoor room that extends the living space in warm weather. Along with the cedar beams, well-placed accents such as the brown leather chairs and rustic console table provide warmth to the family’s main hangout space.
Bottom Right: The master bathroom provides plenty of room with storage for two.

Shea added details and finishes that ensure the new home’s design balances out the couple’s traditional aesthetic. While most walls are covered in Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee, the designer injected color in the hearth room by painting paneled walls in Jack Pine (Benjamin Moore). Fabrics were thoughtfully chosen to be durable enough for an active, growing family. For example, a performance fabric gives the classic camel sofa its linen look. And because it’s slipcovered, it is easily washable. The same linen-look fabric was carried over to the keeping room for the swivel chairs. And in the main living spaces, Shea relied on leather upholstery for easy care. “We are amazed at how
the interiors combine funtionality with beauty,” Kelsey says. “And it all feels so cozy.” For this young family, it strikes the perfect balance.

“The biggest compliment we get is when friends who come visit for the first time tell us how homey it feels.


Kelsey Davis

Left: The dining room serves as the formal eating area when friends and family visit. Tufted linen chairs dress up the custom-made, white oak table, while the brass chandelier provides a bit of shine. The Oushak rug from LillieKat Rugs features pops of blue, periwinkle, green, and coral that tie the space together with the living room.
Right: The keeping room just off the kitchen offers a brighter counterpart to the hearth room thanks to light upholstery and window treatments.


RESOURCES: Interior Design: Shea Bryars Design – IG: @sheabryarsdesign
Architect: Carlisle Moore Architects – IG: @carlislemoorearchitects
Builder: Davis Construction – IG @davisconstructionservices
Landscape: Daviscapes, Inc.
Kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, and china cabinet in kitchen: Hamm Custom Cabinets – IG: @hamms_custom_cabinets
Dining room table: Seth Hart Carpentry – IG: @sethhartcarpentry
Kitchen and bath hardware: Brandino Brass – IG: @brandinobrass
Kitchen appliances: Ferguson
Draperies: custom by Deanna Hollis – 205.612.5821 – IG: @housewarmingsbirmingham
Living room accent tables, dining console, and paintings: White House Interiors – IG: @thewhitehouseinteriors


To make the home’s exterior feel as classic and timeless as the interior, architect Scott Carlisle chose a traditional, non-painted brick featuring a reddish hue and accented with cedar beams at the front entry.

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