Birmingham Home & Garden - July/August 2021

Beautiful KITCHENS: MEET THE

the

WINNERS

Food Issue

THIRSTY? ENJOY A SUMMERTIME LIBATION FROM CAMPESINO RUM. Recipe on page 80.

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CON T EN TS J U LY/AUGU ST 2021 { vol. 19 no. 4 }

homes

38 Welcome to Hollywood The wait is almost over as we gear up for the opening of the Birmingham Home & Garden 2021 Inspiration Home.

48 Full Circle A Mountain Brook family builds their idyllic modern farmhouse on land that the husband remembers from his childhood.

57 Beautiful Kitchens We partnered with Triton Stone Group for our kitchens contest—and you chose your favorites. Check out the stunning results, and find just the inspiration you need to design the heart of your home.

recipes

78 Summertime Chillers Created from the finest and freshest ingredients, these cool drinks are tailor-made for warm-weather gatherings.

28 gardens

18 Stepping Out Utilizing the same principles and techniques that she applies to indoor spaces, designer Doris Haver Wilson creates her own garden as an outdoor entertaining mecca full of English character.

22 Cultivating Joy For Kate Graham, what started as a casual interest in gardening has since turned into a budding boutique flower business called Fig & Fern.

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dining out living well

28 Matters of the Heart As both her restaurant business and her family expanded, Ashley McMakin and husband Andy kept their brood grounded in a home that grew along with them.

entertaining

34 Party Ready

Longtime friends host a celebratory lunch-and-launch for Jessica Latham and her new tabletop business, Social Studies.

82 Destination Dining The new Valley Hotel in Homewood offers three restaurants, local art, and the best view in Homewood.

41 SPECIAL SECTION The Foodies 2021 Never before has the Magic City garnered so much attention for its culinary talent. Meet some of the local notables new to the scene and others who continue to put the city on the food map.

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B A R N S L E Y R E S O R T. C O M

FROM THE EDITOR

Have you tried to get a seat at a restaurant lately?

The doors are open and the industry is booming again.

Birmingham is ready to see and be seen—and who can blame us? We’ve had to maintain our distances for a while now. With summer in full swing, the freedom to be out and about couldn’t have come at a better time.

In this issue, we celebrate gatherings, food, families, and some of the people who are moving and shaking in the food industry—people who rose above the trials of the pandemic and came out better than ever. On page 41, meet some of these foodies who are making Birmingham a culinary destination. From ice cream to donuts to farm-fresh produce at Pepper Place Market, these entrepreneurs will cover any craving you may have. Then turn to page 28 for a peek inside the family home of Ashley McMakin, better known as the founder of Ashley Mac’s. (Be sure to order her Strawberry Cake the next time you are in the café.) And if reading about all this delicious food has you ready to serve up some yourself, check out Social Studies (page 34), a new tabletop company that will have you party-ready in no time.

Need some libations to add to your soiree? Stir up one of the cool drink recipes from Leslie Byars Register (page 78).

We also feature the top kitchens from our kitchen contest in conjunction with Triton Stone. All of the winners were chosen by you, our readers (page 57). You’ll discover unique features and custom details in each space, as well as some of the latest conveniences for today’s busy families. And you may even find the inspiration you need to upgrade your own kitchen.

If all of these stories on food and kitchens have you feeling hungry, be sure make a reservation at Ironwood Kitchen inside the new Valley Hotel in downtown Homewood (page 82). You can choose from delicious menu items such as grilled quail, red snapper, and blue crab pancakes. Wash it down with a craft cocktail from the adjacent Terrace Bar. Cheers to a summer full of good food, good company, and great style!

Birmingham Home & Garden is published bimonthly in addition to two special issues by PMT Publishing Inc. © 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: Birmingham Home & Garden, 3324 Independence Drive, Homewood, Alabama 35209, 205.802.6363. Letters to the editor are welcome.

Please query the editor before sending unsolicited articles or photographs. Moving? Please send the old label along with your new address to Birmingham Home and Garden, P.O Box 923773, Norcross, GA 30010-3373.

16 BH&G | j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1

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INSPIR ATION HOME SPONSOR Publisher / Walker Sorrell Editor / Cathy Still McGowin csmcgowin@pmtpublishing.com Art Director / Brittany R. Kenny PHOTOGRAPHER / Jean Allsopp WEB EDITORS / Abby Parrott, Caroline Luckie Copy editor / Julie Gillis recipe editor / Leslie Byars Register Contributors / Rachel Burchfield, Deana Callison, Mary Fehr, Christiana Roussel, Becky Staynor, Paige Townley Advertising / Sales Traci Owen 205.802.6363 ext. 110 towen@pmtpublishing.com Hope Roddam 205.802.6363 ext. 114 hroddam@pmtpublishing.com Director of Integrated media & events Sheila Wardy Administration / Office Manager Carol Ann Head accounting / Keith Crabtree Circulation / distribution Anita Miller Advertising Sales Office: 3324 Independence Drive Homewood, Alabama 35209 Office: 205.802.6363 / Fax: 205.802.6393 TO SUBSCRIBE OR FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, CALL 1-833-454-5060 or visit birminghamhomeandgarden.com T.J. Potts / President, PMT Publishing Inc. 3729 Cottage Hill Road, Suite H Mobile, AL 36609

Cover Photo: Leslie Byars Register, Page 78

j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 17

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GARDENS

Ste p pi ng Out

When an interior designer applies her decorating principles to an outdoor space, the result is a thoughtfullyplanned garden that rivals even her most beautiful indoor creations.

Text by P A I G E T O W N L E Y / Photography by J E A N A L L S O P P

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birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Doris Haver Wilson has spent the last

40-plus years as an interior designer.

Seeing fashion trends come and go—and come and go again—she has always been drawn to more of a transitional style, mixing together traditional elements with edgier, contemporary pieces. “I don’t like anything boring and stiff,” she says. “There’s no fun in that.”

That same approach carries over into her garden design as well. What started as a side hobby years ago has turned into a passion that rivals her love of interior design.

Doris’s first garden encompassed a small area that bordered the family’s pool and included a mix of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. That garden resulted in a bounty that not only provided plenty of summertime meals but also helped inspire her son, Will, to eventually become a restauranteur who focuses on fresh food. (Will is the founder of everyone’s favorite taqueria, Taco Mama.) And it was that tiny outdoor space that also propelled Doris’s gardening interests for years to come.

When Doris and her husband, Jim, moved into their Mountain Brook home, she knew it wasn’t complete until she had converted the overgrown backyard into a carefully crafted garden that was heavy on design and light on maintenance. “I think we achieved the design part, but

The lower terrace is beautifully outlined with old-fashioned snowball vibernum, Limelight hydrangea, oak leaf hydrangea, and azaleas.

Doris brought the collect-what-you-love philosophy to the garden by putting together an eclectic mix of flowers she loves in the center of the pea gravel pathway. Featuring everything from Meyer lemon trees to catnip for the family’s cat, Prissy, the beloved botanicals come together beautifully to complete the space. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 19

GARDENS

INDOORS AND OUT A design background isn’t required to create a beautiful outdoor space.

Here, Doris shares her advice on how to create a picture-worthy garden.

Start with a Plan

Focus In

Mix it Up

Does your garden have more sun or shade? Do you prefer a natural or structured look? Look at your space as a whole, then divide it into areas that suit your plants’ needs and personal style.

Sheds, containers, fountains, statuary, seating areas, walls, pathways, and hedges add structure and visual interest.

Use these fixtures to create focal points and destinations within your garden.

Think vegetables, perennials, annuals, and evergreens. “Variety not only adds diverse color and texture but also ensures that there’s something blooming year-round,” Doris says.

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birminghamhomeandgarden.com

“To me, greenery is peaceful. Everything doesn’t have to bloom.”

—Doris Haver Wilson

I did not really succeed on low maintenance,” she says with a laugh.

Doris approached the garden design much like she would any indoor project.

Laying the groundwork for transitional spaces that would highlight traditional elements in both formal and country English gardens, she incorporated boxwood and hedges, inviting entrys, meandering pathways, retaining walls, roses, hedges, an expansive lawn, and an oh-so-charming potting shed.

Working with some existing parameters, Doris opened up the home’s brick courtyard to the rest of the garden by shortening a tall wall that formerly blocked its view. Boxwoods now frame the edges while fig ivy covers the home’s exterior walls. A fountain adds a soothing melody to the border garden that includes Knock Out roses, Lamb’s ear, daisies, hydrangeas, English roses, lilies, phlox, and more.

Just past the courtyard, a set of iron gates beckons guests to a grassy terrace.

As a favorite entertaining space, the terrace includes a casual outdoor dining table and chairs shaded by a crisp blackand-white umbrella.

Stepping down from the lawn, flagstone stairs access the lower garden with its pea gravel pathway that wraps around an oversized urn and leads to the garden shed. Here, rounded boxwoods mingle with a mix of flowers, including plumbago, hydrangeas, lilies, climbing roses, and herbs. “I love to spend time here watching the world go by,” Doris says. “It’s my happy place.” j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 21

Antiques at the Gardens Sept. 30-Oct. 3

20 21

CELEBR ATING 15 YEARS

b b g a r d e n s . o r g /a n t i q u e s

GARDENING

Cultivating

JOY

KATE GRAHAM STARTED HER BOUTIQUE FLOWER BUSINESS, FIG & FERN, WITH LITTLE MORE THAN A BUDDING INTEREST IN GARDENING AND A DEEP AFFECTION FOR BLOOMS. Text by C A T H Y S T I L L M C G O W I N / Photography by J E A N A L L S O P P 22 BH&G | j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1

Kate and her daughter, Rose, collect blooms for a birthday bouquet. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Bunnies, puppies, chickens, children, friends, and neighbors—and a whole lot of flowers. These are the things in Kate Graham’s Bluff Park yard and garden that bring her the most joy. They are all part of a home and lifestyle she has been cultivating and nourishing since she and husband Will purchased their house 13 years ago.

At the time, Kate was working at a corporate firm in marketing. But when children came along, it seemed to make more sense for Kate to stay at home with their growing family. To fill the hours of nap time, she gravitated toward her interest in gardening and began experimenting with various plants and flowers to see what worked—and what didn’t. “I’m not a master gardener, so there was a lot of trial and error involved,” says Kate. “But I am a researcher, and I was determined to figure out what worked for me.”

The Grahams’ yard isn’t large—just under an acre—and Kate’s garden is surprisingly a very small part of it. Her main planting bed is merely 14 feet by 49 feet. The rest of her planting area consists of border gardens that line her front walk and continue around the backyard playhouse along with roses that climb up the back of the house. “Anyone can do this if they do it wisely,” Kate says.

Kate’s flower crop is prolific enough to provide bouquets for 20 regular subscribers (weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly), special orders (she created 30 bouquets for Mother’s Day this year), and small weddings and celebrations on occasion. “I only grow things I can cut and use in bouquets,” Kate says.

Those cuttings vary throughout the year beginning with February blooms j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 23

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Fragrance IN THE GARDEN

Kate prefers flowers grown from seeds, along with pass-along plants, heirloom plants, and roses for variety and fragrance. “Each old garden rose has its own unique scent, and most of them are quite strong,” she says. “I will never understand why folks would plant scentless roses when there are so many repeat blooming stunners with amazing scents.” Her favorite is Paul Neyron. “It’s the only bright-pink rose that I grow, but it has huge, cabbage-style blooms and smells just like Double Bubble gum,” says Kate. Another that she loves is Jude the Obscure. “It’s a buff color, and it smells like a citrusy champagne,” she says. “In late April, with the roses, the honeysuckle, and the mock orange, every part of the yard has a deep sweet smell that makes me want to stay outside as long as possible.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Grahams’ son, William (6), shows off a Lavendar Lassie Rose.

The family’s new chocolate lab nestles into a patch of lamb’s ears. The backyard includes a coop with six chickens. Rose (9) holds their Holland Lop bunny, Picket. BELOW: “We all have flower names,” says older sister Elodie (10), who is named after the Elodie lily. Here, she and Rose enjoying playing with their pup in the front yard. “I love that my kids are always outside,” says Kate. “We enjoy our lifestyle here in Bluff Park. And our neighbors are our best friends. After 13 years here, we have no intentions of leaving.”

of winter Daphne, iris, daffodils, hellebores, and tulips. “Every space is used all of the time. When one flower fades, something else is ready to go,” says Kate.

Spring ushers in peonies and early roses, along with foxglove, forget-menots, bachelor buttons, and more.

Summertime is zinnia season followed by dahlias and plenty of other varieties before and in between. “Seasonality is what makes the flowers so special,” Kate says. “Just like people who share their fresh vegetables, it’s fun for me to share what I have growing with my clients.”

In addition to her cutting garden, Kate preserves figs from the two small fig trees in her backyard (thus the name, Fig and Fern). “I can preserve 150-200 jars a season,” she says. “People really seem to love them. Like the flowers I grow, the preserves aren’t something you can get in a grocery store.”

IG: Figandfernflowers figandfernflowers.com figandfernflowers@gmail.com

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GARDENING

“All of the flowers have their own quirks and personalities. When they bloom in the spring, it’s like catching up with old friends.”

—Kate Graham

4 7 1

1. Fuzzy Deutzie

3

11. Mock Orange

8 9 10

2

5 6

2. Collard Green Tops

11

3. Ballerina Rose

4. Dalmation Peach Foxglove

10. Chinese Forget-Me-Nots

9. Paul Neyon Rose

5. Golden Celebration Rose

6. Sharifa Asma Rose

7. Ground Orchid “Kate”

8. Jude the Obscure Rose

Getting your CUTTING GARDEN started Kate insists that anybody can create a cutting garden—no matter their level of expertise. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Don’t plant one of 40 different things. Pick just a handful of varieties and plant them in sections to see what works and what doesn’t.

Similarly, she stores off-season bulbs in Tupperware containers in her garage. Seeds are wintered in plastic storage bags in her freezer.

Don’t obsess over garden design. Kate’s garden is set against a chain-link fence. Rebar supports roses and dahlias, and the PVC pipes on her homemade sprinkler system are exposed. “There’s nothing super fancy about it,” Kate says.

Learn your zone. Birmingham is in USDA Hardiness Zones 7b and 8a.

This means what may grow well on the west coast doesn’t necessarily thrive here. Kate suggests taking advantage of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ free resource library. “I also like taking

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field trips once a month to see what is blooming and take notes,” she says.

Find a mentor. “People who love flowers enjoy talking to other people who love flowers,” Kate says. “Find someone who has been gardening longer than you have and seek their advice. That knowledge will save you the heartache of trial and error if someone can share their wins and losses with you.”

Take note of what you already have; then use it, and build on it.

A cutting garden is more than just a pack of zinnia seeds.

Create a cheat sheet. Kate keeps a spreadsheet of everything that grows in her yard. “Each plant and flower is listed, along with what sort of care each plant requires,” she says. Notes include when to plant, when to fertilize, etc.

“It’s much less daunting with a guide.”

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 27

LIVING WELL

Ashley Mac's Strawberry Cake is a customer and family favorite.

The sweet confection stands sliced and ready to serve on the breakfast table in her kitchen. ashleymacs.com IG: @ashleymacs @ashley_mcmakin

Matters of the Heart

Even as Ashley McMakin’s home doubled in square footage, the backbone of the home remained the same—family.

Text by R A C H E L B U R C H F I E L D / Photography by J E A N A L L S O P P 28 BH&G | j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

W

hen Ashley McMakin—perhaps better known as Ashley Mac’s, the name of her four Birminghamarea cafés and her catering company—and husband Andy moved into their current home in 2010, life was much different. It was just the two of them and their eldest son, Ryder, who was a year old when they chose this home, picked specifically because it was near the Ashley Mac’s Cahaba Heights location.

Since 2010, Ashley has added three more cafés to her repertoire, as well as three more children to her home. Son Jackson was born in 2012, daughter Mally was adopted from China in 2015, and foster son Trey moved in with the family in 2018. At the time, all four kids shared one small bathroom. Something had to give.

“We were busting at the seams,” Ashley says. “We started looking for another house in this neighborhood, but we couldn’t find what we wanted.” Ashley, a deep design aficionado, didn’t want to buy a house that didn’t fit her aesthetic or that of her family. So she decided to take the home she loved and make it work through renovations that started, naturally, with the kitchen. “The

Small-space strategies

BE INTENTIONAL. “I try to live as minimalistically as I can," says Ashley. " Living in a smaller home forced me to keep only what I really want and need. If I don't use something, I get rid of it, donate it, or pass it on."

CREATE SPACE. Built-in cabinets in the family room

accomodate kids’ games, blankets, and items for movie nights. Shelves are a big win in small closets. Bins and birminghamhomeandgarden.com

baskets corral toys and clutter. A built-in banquette turned a small corner in the kitchen into a roomy breakfast area.

PLAN YOUR TASK AREAS. A new side entrance just off

the kitchen opens to a laundry room/pantry/mudroom.

Here, Ashley keeps her pantry supplies close at hand. A locker bay offers a convenient drop spot away from the front entrance. j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 29

LIVING WELL

ABOVE: The family den (above) evolved from a carport to an enclosed porch to what it is now. Ashley worked with Sally May Interiors on colors, furnishings, and finishes. BELOW: A new front porch offers a spot for the family to welcome friends and take in views of Overton Park across the street.

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kitchen was our first priority, as you can imagine,” she says. “I use it not only to test recipes for work but also as a place to indulge my hobby of cooking.”

Working with kitchen designer Cyndy Cantley of Cantley & Company, Ashley doubled the size of her kitchen. She also enlisted architect Robert C. Martin to design plans for a master suite addition and for a family room created out of a carport-turned-porch. The family also requested a covered patio for outdoor living.

To complete the renovations, the McMakins added a bathroom to one of the kids’ bedrooms. All told, the home doubled in square footage and went from four bedrooms and two bathrooms to four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.

The best result of the upgrade? More room for family. “For us, our family is the center of our home," says Ashley. "We wanted our house to be a safe space for our kids and their friends. That’s important to me as a mom.” birminghamhomeandgarden.com

“Of course I want our home to be beautiful, but I also know my boys run in with mud on their shoes and jump on the couch. I tried to keep the kids in mind as we planned the renovation.

They live here too. So we wanted to be practical and functional while also creating a pretty space."

— Ashley McMakin

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foster|architect We i n h e r i t a w o r l d w e d i d n o t c r e a t e .

We will leave a world we did not create.

W h a t w e c r e a t e i n b e t w e e n s h o u l d m a t t e r.

w w w . f o s t e r a r c h i t e c t . c o m

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LIVING WELL

In the kitchen with

Ashley Mac

How often do you eat Ashley Mac’s at home? Almost every day.

I joke that the café has made me a lazy home cook.

What are the kids’ favorite Ashley Mac’s recipe? Each kid likes something different. For Jackson, it's the poppyseed chicken—he could eat that every day of his life. For Ryder, it's the chicken salad and the Greek pasta salad. Mally loves the brownies.

How much time do you spend in your home kitchen? A lot! I'm always experimenting and learning new recipes.

I’m inspired by traveling and dining out, and I always want to try to re-create the dishes I enjoy in restaurants at home.

RESOURCES: Builder: Alan Simpson,

Highland Construction & Preservation Landscape: Blake Jones, Red Mountain Landscapes Kitchen: Hardware: Brandino Brass Appliances: Ferguson Countertops, tile, and backsplash: Triton Stone Group Green cabinet color: Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball Exterior and interior paint colors: Dove Wing, Benjamin Moore Art in family room (Lynn Sanders) and breakfast nook (Kathryn Gage): Design Supply Sisal and cowhide rugs: Billy Brown Flooring Turkish Rug: Hazel House 32 BH&G | j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1

“We sold hundreds of these cakes when I first started catering in 2005. This is still my family's favorite.

I am all about desserts made from scratch, but this doctored-up cake mix is hard to beat! ” — Ashley McMakin

Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake 1 box yellow cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe) 1 large box instant chocolate pudding mix 4 large eggs

¾ cup vegetable oil ¾ cup water 1 cup sour cream 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 325°. Mix all ingredients together except chocolate morsels. Stir in morsels. Pour into a greased bundt or tube pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out almost clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 15 minutes.

Remove from pan, and drizzle with Chocolate Glaze. Yield: 1 bundt

Chocolate Glaze 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

4 tablespoons milk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt the butter, and stir in the remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over cooled cake. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Shop Local Open WE ARE

Birmingham boasts some amazing antiques stores. Whether you are searching for a bergère chair, buffet deux corps, or a French Louis Philippe gilt mirror, our shops have it all.

Enjoy the hunt.

Lighting • Mantels • Fountains • Chimney Pots Gas Logs/Fireballs • Doors • Garden • Statuary Gates & Iron • Antiques 2718 19th Place South • Homewood, AL 35209 205-322-3538 www.architecturalheritage.com @architecturalheritage

2424 7th Avenue South • Birmingham, AL 205.323.6036 • hannaantiques.com Monday-Saturday 10-5 Once again, Hanna Antiques has been named the “Best Antique Store in Birmingham.” With 27,000 square feet and around 100 dealers, the store has something for everyone. Browse American and European furniture, rugs, vintage linens, accessories, as well as 38 showcases of jewelry, silver, and collectibles. For almost 42 years, Hanna Antiques has been the spot with room after room of antiques, curiosities, and fun!

ANTIQUES & ACCESSORIES

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Tuesday - Friday: 10:30 - 5 Saturday: 11- 4

Hanna Antiques

hannaantiques

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ENTERTAINING

Party Ready Text by C A T H Y S T I L L M C G O W I N / Photography by B E C K Y S T A Y N O R

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! THE MASK MANDATES ARE GONE, AND BIRMINGHAM IS ONCE AGAIN OPENING ITS DOORS TO SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND GET-TOGETHERS. WELCOME TO THE PARTY.

TOP: Floral designer Sybil Sylvester added live, potted flowers and greenery to the company’s Provence collection. Everything else on the table is from Social Studies.

ABOVE(from left): Event planner Mimi Brown, Jessica Latham (Social Studies cofounder and CEO), Kirk Reed Forrester (associate editor, Flower magazine).

INSPIR ATION HOME SPONSOR

To celebrate our new-found freedom (and, dare say, ability to give our friends and family hugs again) Kirk Reed Forrester and event planner Mimi Brown welcomed their friend, Jessica Latham, to Birmingham for a funfilled lunch-and-launch at Chez Fonfon to introduce Jessica’s tabletop company, Social Studies, to friends and fellow creatives.

DESIGNED BY ANNA CLAIRE INTERIORS

STREET ORIENTALS old | new | modern | traditional

As it often happens

in the business of creativity, paths cross.

Such was the case with Mobile native and former Birmingham resident, designer, and event planner Mimi Brown. After relocating to New York City for career opportunites, Mimi began planning events for Gwyneth Paltrow’s company, GOOP. A friend of the brand and a regular guest at GOOP parties, Social Studies founder and CEO Jessica Latham was impressed.

She called GOOP to find out who their event planner was, and the connection was made. “It was a total coincidence that Jessica was old friends with Kirk (Reed Forrester), and so was I,” says Mimi.

(Mimi, along with floral designer Sybil Sylvester, arranged Kirk’s wedding flowers several years ago.)

Enlisting Mimi’s help in launching her new business, Jessica decided to kick off the festivites in Birmingham at one of her favorite restaurants, Chez Fonfon. Kirk helped make the guest list, and friends both old and new reunited on a warm spring day. “I am always looking for a chance to come to my favorite town,” says Mimi. “It is so fun for me to have my two worlds collide—NYC and the HAM!” j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 35

1829 29th Avenue South • Homewood, AL 35209 • 205.870.3838 www.18thStreetOrientals.com

www.katrinaporterdesigns.com

Refining the Heart of the Home

So, how does it work?

Social Studies offers 40 different curated tabletop looks to serve parties from 2 to 250. Think dinner plates, salad plates, stemless glassware, linen napkins, flatware, a table runner, salt and pepper bowls, candles, décor, and dried florals—basically, everything but the food. Once you log into the website, simply choose your look and place your order. Themes range from colorful and festive to floral and sophisticated to dramatic and decadent. The neatly packaged kit will arrive the day before your event and will be picked up the day after.

Social Studies was started to help people gather with style and ease—without the stress. “It’s kind of like if Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog planned a party together.”

—Jessica Latham, Social Studies co-founder and CEO

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Country Living editor Rachel Hardage Barrett. Floral designer Sybil Sylvester (left) with Susan Dumas, the queen of vintage clothing (iwishicouldkeepitall. com). Whitney Smith Johnson of Circa Interiors & Antiques. Chez Fonfon’s berry trifle topped with pistachios. BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: The main dish: shrimp and avocado salad, sherry vinaigrette, and sauce rémoulade. Creative details complete each individual place setting.

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birminghamhomeandgarden.com

INSPIR ATION HOME SPONSOR

Featuring

Outdoor Living

Furniture • Rugs • Accessories • Lighting • Art • Interiors

Atlanta

Birmingham

Destin

Nashville

Spanish Fort

To-the-Trade Services • In-Home Design Consultation www.stockandtrade.com birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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inspiration

Birmingham Home & Garden and River Brook Design & Construction can’t wait for you to experience our 20th anniversary Inspiration Home!

WATCH FOR UPDATES ON OUR PAGES AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

Our doors are opening in October!

DON’T MISS BIRMINGHAM HOME & GARDEN’S

2021 INSPIRATION HOME

Welcome to

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HOLLYWOOD

e’ve selected Birmingham’s top vendors and talented designers to bring innovative and exciting style to our next Inspiration Home in the Hollywood neighborhood. You’ll find fresh, stylish ideas from longtime Birmingham favorites, as well as newcomers to the design scene.

S P EC I A L T H A N K S TO T I E R 1 S P O N S O R S

Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery, Land Title, Mayer Electric, Ray & Poynor, Specialist Landscaping, and Triton Stone Group.

W E C A N ’ T WA I T TO G R E E T YO U AT T H E F R O N T D O O R !

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birminghamhomeandgarden.com

GUIDING

DESIGNER & BUILDER: River Brook Design & Construction Owners Kevin and Leigh Misso launched River Brook Design & Construction as a husbandand-wife team in 2017. Since then, River Brook has expanded to include custom luxury new builds, renovations, and additions, as well as residential and commercial design. The River Brook team of talented designers and experienced project managers is committed to working with each client to identify their unique needs and expectations while delivering a beautiful project that is on-time and in-budget.

raypoynor.com 205.879.3036

Benefitting

MAGIC MOMENTS

YOU

HOME

Ray & Poynor is a trusted real estate firm serving the Birmingham metro area since 2010. With an average of 17 years in the industry, our residential real estate experts guide our clients through the buying, selling and relocation process. As a locally owned and operated company, we know the market and are invested in our clients and in our community. Whether you're looking to buy or sell, we'll guide you home.

INSPIR ATION

HOME SPONSOR

Unveiling

AUGUST 3

Magic Moments was founded with the sole purpose of providing happiness to children throughout Alabama who are diagnosed with chronic, life-threatening illnesses. To date, the organization has provided close to 5,000 special experiences. Not only does Magic Moments provide children with nonmedical opportunities, such as a family trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity, or going on a shopping spree, they also offer events to enhance relationships between the staff and families, as well as relationships with other families.

Watch for 2021 Inspiration Home ticket and tour information at birminghamhomeandgarden.com (Tickets will be available online and at the door.)

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F I N E A R T . G I F T S . H O M E WA R E S .

1818 28th Street S. • Homewood 10-2 TuesDAY-FriDAY • SatURDAY 10-4

TILE. IT’S WHAT WE DO. BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS

4500 1st Ave N

Montgomery • Huntsville

Birmingham, AL 35222

Tuscaloosa • Pensacola • Memphis

205-592-8615

Nashville • Baton Rouge

COLLABORATING TO CREATE THE BEAUTIFUL SPACES YOU LIVEbirminghamhomeandgarden.com IN EVERY DAY.

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DIES O O F

2021

The city of Birmingham is teeming with culinary talent.

From the national spotlight of such award-winning, decades-old establishments like Highlands Bar & Grill and Hot & Hot Fish Club to newer, stellar standouts like Le Fresca (whose pizza was named by Food & Wine Magazine as the best in the state) and winemerchants-cum-tapas-bars (such as Aviné and Golden Age), the Magic City knows a thing or two about good food.

Check out our behind-thescenes peek at a few notables and you’ll quickly see what makes this place so rich in all things food.

Text by C H R I S T I A N A R O U S S E L Photographs by M A R Y F E H R

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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Ice cream and cookies! What makes Bendy’s so craveable?

the

Cool kids:

We make everything from scratch. We cook, spin, and churn everything we serve.

We’re proud of our hits like our Cookie Butter, which is our signature sweet cream ice cream with a tasty Biscoff cookie swirl.

BENDY’S COOKIES & CREAM WHEN YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION FEATURES homemade cookies and milk, you may be on to something. When you develop recipes for cookbooks at Oxmoor House (now Meredith Food Studios), you realize your life’s work might involve ingredients like sugar, cream, and eggs. And when your first “child” is a food truck, you may have found your calling. Ben and Wendy Treadwell are those people. As the owners of Bendy’s Cookies & Cream in Cahaba Heights (and new parents to Josie), the pair has gone from daydreaming about making people happy with food to executing that reality. The journey may not have been easy, but it sure has been sweet.

LOCAL FAVORITES: We live in Bluff Park, and one of our go-to spots is Mr. P’s Deli where the Jeffro and Muffaletta sandwiches are our favorite choices. And as new parents, we crave caffeine – the cold brew coffee at O’Henry’s is always a good idea.

“Our specialty is made-to-order ice cream sandwiches.

Customers can pick any two cookie flavors with any ice cream.”

Any creations that missed the mark?

Well, there was the Mint Chocolate Chip that we wanted to have a natural green color so we tried adding avocado. We’ve since perfected that flavor. And it isn’t green now. We also had to tweak our Peach Cobbler ice cream. When we folded in chunks of cobbler into the ice cream, they froze like bricks!

Now we add in housemade peach jam and cinnamon pie crust pieces.

If 2020 was a dessert, what would it look like?

We would make a sundae with our brownie cookie (a brownie inside two chocolate chip cookies), scoops of Coffee and Sweet Cream ice creams, hot fudge sauce, crumbled Oreos, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. The concoction would probably be called “The Kitchen Sink” since “everything, but the kitchen sink” was thrown at us last year.

Bar-B-Que and Bendy’s? Sure! Why not?

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“We think ice cream should be enjoyed with some chill-and-relax music. We play Alex Rainbird playlists on YouTube in the store, which are described as Indie/folk/pop compilations.”

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We are located next door to Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, and we think we complement each other very well. It is great that you can grab dinner from Martin’s and come see us for dessert, all in one space.

The patio area is the perfect place to hang out with friends and family.

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

THE PHRASE “PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD” IS TYPICALLY PRECEDED BY THE WORD “DON’T.” For Emily Nabors Hall and her husband Roscoe Hall, however, no admonishment is needed. Food is a medium in which these two creatives actively work and play. She created the much-lauded chocolate chip Breakup Cookie, while he was most recently featured on Bravo TV’s Top Chef: Portland. She also works in recipe-testing and food-styling, while he favors painting to express himself outside the confines of the kitchen. Together, they are parents to Ruby, age 6, and Eli, age 4.

Emily: I majored in sociology at Samford, but on a whim, I took a cooking class and fell in love with it. After graduation, I worked at the Crisis Center, but on the side, I made shortbread cookies. I longed for a way to make a living in the food world, without restaurant hours.

Making Breakup Cookies for Church Street Coffee & Books allowed me to do that. I also began testing and developing recipes for Southern Living and Cooking Light.

Roscoe: My first gig was with Bottega when I was 18. I’ve been a working chef/cook and visual artist for the past 23 years.

And now?

Emily: In late 2020, I started selling the dough for Breakup Cookies to my family and friends, but it quickly grew

into something way bigger. I’ve known Mary Drennan and Tiffany Vickers Davis of NOURISH for years, so when they started selling and shipping products from other Southern makers, I decided to try it. Locally, you can also buy Breakup Cookie dough at Farmstand by Stone Hollow Farmstead at Pepper Place.

Roscoe: Even thouigh I was eliminated from Top Chef, it has brought many new opportunities my way. I still cook with many of my chef buds from the show.

Stars:

ROSCOE HALL & EMILY NABORS HALL

Are your kids openminded about food?

Emily: They are your typical picky eaters. There are a few raw veggies they’ll eat without complaint; we consider that a win.

Roscoe: I do try to introduce them to food from other cultures by adding things like Nigerian or Jamaican spices.

“Being selected for Top Chef was wild! Someone referred me and I got a call. This was early on in the pandemic and the beginning stages of the Black Lives Matter movement – the world felt heavy – but I did it. ”

—Roscoe Hall

What do you take to dinner at a friend’s house (besides Breakup Cookies)?

Emily: I like a pasta salad that actually involves salad—a mix that is equal parts gemelli pasta and punchy arugula. From there, it is kind of “choose your own adventure” with ingredients—an herb vinaigrette, a protein, any vegetables you happen to have around, and you’re done. It is satisfying without being heavy, and it can be great chilled or at room temperature.

Roscoe: I’d probably bring some charred onion dip and Wavy Lay’s—just saying. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

the breakout

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Getting Started

ON YOUR PLAYLIST: Emily: When I am alone, you would think that I never left the mid2000’s. I play a lot of Modest Mouse, Jay-Z, Death Cab for Cutie, and Missy Elliott. When the kids are around, there’s a lot of Stevie Wonder and the Hamilton soundtrack.

Roscoe: I cannot live or work without music. A solid playlist sparks creativity: Stereolab, Freddie Gibbs, Fred Hubbard, Anita Baker—it is all good.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH LES DAMES D’ESCOFFIER (LDEI): When LDEI seeks nominees for its female food entrepreneur award or is recruiting new members, I can easily recommend outstanding women from our market community because, like LDEI, the Market at Pepper Place curates and brings together the highest quality, most creative, hardest-working farmers and food producers in the state. Being part of LDEI is incredibly rewarding. The members are extraordinary, smart, savvy, and FUN! They love food and flavors and beautifully put-together celebrations. These women are compassionate and are always looking for opportunities to help others.

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“Women are becoming the fearless innovators of our community, launching food businesses, opening food trucks and restaurants, and stepping up in leadership roles like never before.” —Leigh Sloss-Corra

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Champion: LEIGH SLOSS-CORRA

LONG BEFORE THE WORD “INCUBATOR” was bandied about in business and pop culture circles, Pepper Place Market was one, quite organically. Operating for more than 20 years in what has become Birmingham’s design district, the market is overseen by executive director Leigh Sloss-Corra, scion of the Sloss Furnace Company founder. Leigh’s love of all things food has taken her to California, France, New York, Australia, and beyond to work with chefs, “We are invested in food stylists, recipe developers, and writers. this place. We are And after landing back in Birmingham at determined to discover and invest in its best Pepper Place, she has used her experiences qualities, in its best to empower others, facilitate connections, version of itself because and tell the larger story of food in Alabama. it’s our home.”

She’s the kind of person who believes in you before you even believe in you.

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What is the best thing about your job as executive director of Pepper Place Market?

I get to connect directly with the finest farmers, food producers, and makers in the state on a daily basis. I have a vested interest in their productivity and success at our market, which means we have a stronger relationship. That is personally very rewarding.

Any silver linings from 2020?

People embraced drinking and dining alfresco, whether in the backyard, on the patio, and even in the street. Birmingham bars and restaurants have commandeered every outdoor option, and it’s awesome! The food tastes better, people are more relaxed, and you get to look around you and see your surroundings differently.

During the height of COVID, I got such a kick out of seeing people sitting in lawn chairs in

their front yards enjoying a glass of wine just to feel connected.

People were hungry for community, and they became more neighborly as a result.

It sounds like you have an unquenchable thirst for connectivity.

Maybe I am what you’d call an enthusiastic matchmaker. I am drawn to colorful, creative, smart people, and I enjoy introducing them to other people or places I know and love. That gives me immense pleasure. It helps that I am a “localist.” I dig in where I am.

I don’t wish I were somewhere else (until I am on the road and find myself in Paris or Perth—then I am there!). Right now, I am here, in Birmingham, in Alabama, at this time in space—and it’s pretty awesome. My 92-yearold mother is here, along with my son, my sisters, and their families. I convinced my partner to move here. And one thing I’ve discovered about all the people in my life—we are all kinda similar. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Fry Daddy:

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SONS DONUTS

THESE ARE NOT YOUR GRANDDADDY’S DONUTS. Sure, they might start the same way with dough and a fryer, but from there, prepare to have your mind blown. Beyond straight-up glazed, think peanut butter and cocoa-sugared with a hot malted fudge (that would be The Jude). Or try The Fisher with cinnamon and cardamom-sugar and a vanilla bean diplomat cream. Pair it with a locally-roasted specialty blend from Non-Fiction Coffee or ice-cold milk spiked with shots of Valrhona chocolate or strawberry, and you’re beginning to get the idea of why Sons Donuts in Avondale is so special. The brainchild of two couples in the frozen dessert industry, Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara of Big Spoon Creamery and Jim and Amy Watkins of Steel City Pops, Sons Donuts capitalizes on the strengths of these Magic City confection pioneers, creating something altogether amazing.

How does ice cream + = donuts? popsicles=

Ryan: Geri-Martha and I have known Jim and Amy since the early days of us starting Big Spoon Creamery. They were already crushing it with Steel City Pops, and Jim reached out to us to see if they could help us in any way. We quickly developed a friendship and partnership. Sons Donuts was started in late 2017 with testing, branding, and developing the concept as a whole. We are pleased to finally launch it! birminghamhomeandgarden.com

The four of you bring a lot of talent to the collective table. How does it work?

Jim: Geri-Martha is strong on menu and flavor development.

Ryan knows operations and puts together fantastic teams.

My strength is in branding and developing while overseeing the creative aspects. Amy is the heart of Sons Donuts. Her influence guides the employees and the entire customer experience. Honestly, we are just better together than we would be individually.

When you aren’t indulging your sweet tooth, what’s your favorite meal out?

Ryan: Mr. Chen’s is easily the best Chinese food in the city, and they do a superb job on all the classic Chinese dishes we’re accustomed to in America, as well as tons of very authentic Chinese dishes.

Geri-Martha: It is a tie between two of our neighbors here in Avondale—Post Office Pies and Saw’s Soul Kitchen.

Both restaurants are passionate about their craft.

“On social media, a lot of the food isn’t actually delicious—it’s just for show. I’d like to see food made only for Instagram viewing disappear. I’d love to see the use of more simple ingredients—sort of a getting back to the basics.” — Geri-Martha O’Hara

KITCHEN ESSENTIALS: For Ryan, a solid supply of kitchen towels is a necessity.

“In restaurant kitchens, clean kitchen towels are basically like currency,” he says. “It feels amazing to have a nice stack of clean towels, and it’s the absolute worst to have none.”

For Geri-Martha, it’s her scale. “All my formulas are in grams, so I must have a proper and precise scale,” she says.

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IT YOU’RE ENJOYING A GOOD STEAK, pork chops, or porchetta in Birmingham, there’s a good chance that the source of that meat was Evans Meats. This family-owned business supplies many of our notable dining spots, ensuring chefs have the exact cuts customers crave. And those cravings didn’t cease when restaurants were briefly shuttered during last year’s pandemic. Time and again, Addam Evans and his team fielded calls from folks wanting to cook exceptional meats at home, asking to purchase from the wholesaler directly. Enter their retail space, Son of a Butcher, opening in Pepper Place this summer. This one-stop-shop for restaurant-quality meats, seafood, cheeses, and accoutrements means the best dinner spot in town could just be your kitchen table.

the

BUTCHER: ADDAM EVANS

Who knew a pandemic could create the perfect environment for a new business?

We were definitely taken aback last year by the response from people asking to buy direct, but looking back, we definitely had a bit of a captive audience! And because we had a warehouse full of fresh meats, seafood, and cheeses to sell, it made sense to try it. In addition to carrying those same items in Son of a Butcher, we’ll also sell some pantry items like interesting jams, finishing oils, and vinegars—things you cannot find anywhere else in town.

Working in a family business can be a mixed bag. What is it like at Evans Meats?

My dad is mostly retired now, but when we were working together, it forced us to develop an honest relationship with each other. I wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work with

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family for anything. My brother and I have a great working relationship. We each have different gifts and oversee different parts of the business.

Moreover, we trust each other and know we have each other’s best interests in mind. I love the culture we’ve created. We work hard, but we have a lot of fun.

And we’re all very protective of what we’ve built.

Asking you to pick a favorite restaurant in town might cause a little friction at work. But is there a dish you especially love to eat out—one that might be too intimidating to make at home?

There’s a real art when it comes to creating things like pâtés, rillettes, chicken liver mousse, and foie gras torchons. At home, I prefer to keep things simple—usually just doing something on my Big Green Egg.

IN THE COOLER: When we go to the lake or the beach, I like to pack St. Louis ribs, crabmeat, fresh oysters, beef tenderloin, rosé, and Stone IPA. I’m also partial to these new Jamboree Jams we are bringing in from New Orleans; they are great with any of the cured meats and cheeses we’ll sell at the shop.

For a brief stint during the pandemic, Evans Meats set up direct-to-consumer operations, and the seed for their new retail space, Son of a Butcher, was sown. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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“The Center for Food Education (CFE) will anchor Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s work and create a dynamic community hub that will allow us to reach more students, teachers, and neighbors than ever before.” —Amanda Storey So much has happened in your tenure with Jones Valley Teaching Farm, but the crown jewel has to be the Center for Food Education, opening this year.

The Center will position Birmingham as a national leader and model for foodbased education and workforce development. This is going to be the realization of a collective dream shared by so many people.

Did the pandemic change anything in these plans?

As I’ve watched our local partners—markets, businesses, chefs, restaurateurs—respond to COVID-19, I am reminded of why a food community is so important to the health of our city. I really hope the Center for Food Education will be a flagship for our food community, demonstrating in partnership and in action how we can grow, cook, learn, and share together.

And as we emerge from the impact of the global pandemic, we will keep young people at the heart of all of our decisions and dreams.

The kitchen is the heart of a home, and we bet The Culinary Studio at the Center will be the heart of the farm.

My kitchen at home was designed by me and my husband, Mike, so it is incredibly close to my heart. It’s open to our den and dining room, and we can host a lot of family and friends—something that is very important to us. I want The Culinary Studio to be the same kind of connector for the Jones Valley community.

Speaking of family, are your kids good eaters?

Martin Everitt (9) loves cheese dip, watermelon, and grapes.

Mae (6) loves cheese dip and pancakes. However, if they are both at the farm, they prefer carrots (all colors).

AMANDA’S “CAN’T WAIT TO TRY” LIST: Helen, Los Valadores Taco Truck, Red Sea Ethiopian and Mediterranean Restaurant (vegetable plate), Luna, and Sol y Luna. “My first time out with my husband at an actual restaurant in over a year was on Chez Fonfon’s patio,” says Amanda.

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

the

EDucator: AMANDA STOREY

AMANDA STOREY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM, the non-profit organization she now helms as executive director, started rather humbly as a mere fan. Years before, she’d gotten to know JVTF (formerly Jones Valley Urban Farm) founder and director Edwin Marty when they both worked at Southern Progress Corporation.

In 2009, finding herself between work opportunities, she exchanged marketing and communications help for the farm in return for a box of downtown-grown produce. What began as Amanda’s appreciation for Edwin’s work grew into a passion for exploring policies and systems related to food access. She went on to enact change through her work with United Way and with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. And now, under Amanda’s leadership, the future for the farm is strong. “I truly believe in JVTF’s vision of a Birmingham inspired by food and transformed by youth,” she says.

“It’s all about the way we choose to invest in young people who want to grow their own food on their own land, own their own businesses, start their own restaurants, and lead our communities.

That’s the future of Birmingham.” j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 47

Full Circle

Text by R A C H E L B U R C H F I E L D / Photography by J E A N A L L S O P P / Styling by C A T H Y S T I L L M C G O W I N

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birminghamhomeandgarden.com

A MODERN FARMHOUSE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK PROVIDES A SENSE OF PEACE AND YOUTHFUL ESCAPISM FOR FAMILY.

W The back of the house is the architect’s favorite elevation, and the back lawn is a favorite playground for the homeowners’ children. The country aesthetic is cemented with a raised vegetable garden, firepit, bee boxes, and sweeping trees with swings. TOP RIGHT: Taking advantage of the long, narrow lot, the architect set the house back from the street to emphasize its country setting. Farmhouse styling is evident in the vertical siding, metal roof, and stacked stone fireplace. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

alker Renneker of Tent Shop Design is a third-generation architect and has worked on many houses—but he says if his wife could trade their personal home for any of the ones he’s designed, this modern farmhouse would be it. This project allowed him to combine his two loves: architecture and his role as a father and family man. The icing on the cake? Reconnecting with an old friend from childhood and reminiscing on shared memories.

For Walker and his clients, life came full circle through this project, and the dots from their pasts connected to the present serendipitously. It all started with a tired mom and a determination to lull her children to sleep.

Like a lot of people, this parent knew that sometimes, the best way to help your children fall asleep is by fastening them into their car seats and taking a drive. On one such occasion when the wife was driving her young daughters around town, she was also using the outing as an excuse to look for houses. She discovered a “For Sale” sign on a property in the Abingdon area of Mountain Brook and told her husband about it. j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 49

GET TO KNOW TENT SHOP DESIGN For Walker Renneker, principle architect of Tent Shop Design, architecture is the family business. A Birmingham native and Auburn graduate, Walker followed the footsteps of his grandfather, who was only the 72nd architect in the state of Alabama, and his father, who passed away from pancreatic cancer when Walker was young. “It’s in my blood,” he says of the business he started 10 years ago.

Tent Shop Design garners its name from 2 Corinthians 5:1, a verse that Walker uses to implore that “even the best architecture we could possibly produce for you would only be a tent in light of eternity,” he says. His faith in Jesus Christ propels him forward, he says, as do the words of John Eldridge: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs is man fully alive.”

The company’s success is substantial: Tent Shop Design’s work has been featured everywhere from Architectural Digest to People, and the team has done work as far west as Jackson, Wyoming.

Tent Shop Design is (from left): Walker Renneker, Chandler Overcash, and Nick Purvis.

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“We’ve been all over the place, working on projects ranging from residential to retail to churches,” Walker says. “But our team is about as grounded as you’re going to get.” tentshopdesign.com birminghamhomeandgarden.com

ABOVE: To give rooms in the open floorplan distinction, Walker varied ceiling heights and ceiling treatments. The kitchen and dining room feature lower ceilings with beams, while the living room’s ceiling peaks to the second story (page 52). In the kitchen, a half wall of cabinets next to the fridge shoulders the stairwell leading to the basement. This design decision allowed windows to continue across the back of the house to bring in natural light.

TOP RIGHT: A sliding barn door accesses the girls’ side of the house that includes bedrooms, baths, and a playroom, as well as task areas such as the mudroom, laundry, and powder bath. Walker imbued instant character through the cobblestone flooring (salvaged from Morris Avenue), timber accents, and custom doors and windows.

RIGHT: The entry is reminicient of a historic dogtrot thanks to its enclosed steel-and-glass pass-through and covered breezeway. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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THIS PAGE: A round window opens the upstairs to the main floor, a design replicated in the master bathroom (page 54). OPPOSITE TOP: The dining room, just inside the entry, overlooks the expansive front lawn. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The breakfast nook offers a built-in banquette for casual meals. Walker designed the half wall of cabinets and counter-height door so it wouldn’t block light or backyard views.

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“We like to live simply,” the wife says of their few-frills design aesthetic.

There’s no coffee table in the living room, for example, because that is where the three girls play on the floor, turn on the music, and put on dance shows.”

Ironically, the husband knew exactly where the land was located. The site had once belonged to the family of his childhood best friend. He fondly remembered the area known for its estate-size lots, small horse farms, and pastoral setting.

“I shot BB guns and bow and arrows there as a kid,” he says.

“We’d been looking for houses for two-and a half years, but we never thought we’d build—until we found this lot.”

The couple knew right away that this find was meant to be. “I grew up having a big yard and a place to roam,” says the husband. “I am drawn to the outdoors and didn’t want to be elbow-to-elbow with our neighbors. So when we found a place with space, we jumped all over it.”

The couple then brought Walker on board and asked him for a design with simplicity that offered functionality over bells and whistles. Walker’s answer was a modern farmhouse with the attributes of a historic dogtrot, including the classic, central breezeway. However, instead of keeping that space open to the elements, the architect added custom windows and doors to connect spaces yet allow the house to be closed tight when birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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RESOURCES: Architect: Walker Renneker, Tent Shop Design Builder: Chris Franks, Franks

Building Company Interior finishes: Emory Ratliff Interiors Landscape design: Fletcher Smith, Curb Appeal Kitchen runner: Lilikat Rugs at Design Supply Kitchen cabinets: Alan Deal, Deal Cabinets Hardware: Brandino Brass Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Group Countertops: Alabama Stone Works Tile/Backsplash: Cottage Supply Company Custom range hood and chandelier in living area: Jeremy Roegner, Artistic Birmingham Artworks Plumbing fixtures: Ferguson Custom steel doors and windows: Iron Horse Metal Works Interior paint color: White Dove, Benjamin Moore Exterior siding: James Hardie

The couple’s master suite is set in its own part of the home, an oasis after a long day of running around with kids. “Everyone needs to have their own space,” architect Walker Renneker says. “I know how valuable recovery time is for parents.”

OPPOSITE (Top): A pair of Adirondack chairs in the backyard offers the perfect spot for taking in views. OPPOSITE (Bottom): One oversized sink serves the purpose of two separate sinks in the master bathroom, allowing for plenty of counter space.

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desired or opened up to fresh air at a whim. The breezeway also serves to separate the children’s rooms and task areas from the main house. “Looking across the house through the glass entryway, you can see through to the playroom from the kitchen and living area, but you don’t have to hear everything going on in there,” the wife says. “It works.”

While Walker dislikes the term “open concept,” he did utilize the principle with shared living spaces that flow together comfortably yet stand apart in function. “The different spaces all have a design connection to each other,” Walker says. “And while it all feels close, the rooms each have a distinct purpose. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

For example, the homeowners have a somewhat detached space to enjoy once they put the kids to bed.”

To maintain the calm continuum within the interior spaces, Walker and the homeowners worked with interior designer Emory Ratliff on hard finishes. “We wanted to reflect the couple’s personal style and keep things pretty clean,” Emory says.

The result is a family home with plenty of space to spread out. “I love coming home from work, pulling in the driveway, and seeing the girls running around in the yard,” the husband says. “And we spend a lot of time in the backyard. We kind of feel like we’re in our own private, peaceful world.” j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 55

INSPIR ATION HOME SPONSOR

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KITCHEN CONTEST

WINNERS

THE KITCHEN IS TRULY THE HEART OF THE HOME. It’s the place we gather, nurture our families, and entertain. To celebrate this favorite room in the house, we partnered with Triton Stone Group to host a kitchen contest. Professionals entered. Readers voted. And the winners couldn’t be more different.

When it comes to kitchen design in Birmingham, it seems we all like a little something unique.

Check our your favorite entries on the following pages. You’ll find a light and airy country French kitchen; a contemporary take on a mid-century modern home; a crisp, transitional space that plays to contrasts; and an elegant revival of a historic home. No matter which one you voted for, you’re sure to find plenty to love about each—and the resources to create (or update) your own.

Text by C A T H Y S T I L L M C G O W I N / Photography by J E A N A L L S O P P

birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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1st

CLEAR VISION T PLACE

A circa-2006 Vestavia Hills home receives a makeover filled with French country flair while taking advantage of its mountaintop views.

THE VIEW WAS INCREDIBLE. The kitchen? Not so much. “It took some convincing to talk my husband into buying this house,” says owner and interior designer Mary Ann Smith of Dogwood Designs. The standard stock cabinetry looked dated, an overabundance of upper cabinets crowded the space, and the window above the kitchen sink was little more than a peephole into the expanse beyond.

“Utlimately, though, it was the view that sold him,” Mary Ann says of the birdseye view of Samford University and Vulcan.

The goals for the renovation were two-fold. Mary Ann not only wanted to open up the kitchen to those spectacular vistas, she also wanted to update finishes. To start, she removed all of the upper cabinets (save the bar area) and replaced the wall and tiny window above the sink with a trio of counter-to-ceiling windows. Functionality and flow weren’t issues, so she maintained the

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TIP: Mary Ann painted all of the walls and cabinets Seapearl by Benjamin Moore.

“It’s the only white color I have found that doesn’t take on the colors around it,” she says. “No matter what time of day it is or what else is in the room, it always appears white.”

RESOURCES: Interior design: Mary Ann

Smith, Dogwood Designs, 205.541.0250, designs. dogwood@yahoo.com Builder: Ross Neely, Neely Construction Hardware: Avondale Specialty Hardware Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Countertops and backsplash: Triton Stone Group Cedar beams: Cole-Hall Lumber Co. Pecky cypress (range hood accent): City Hardwoods Counter stools: Stock & Trade Design Co. Antique doors: Old World Antieks, La Grange, TX Lighting: Ella Home, Atlanta, GA, and At Home Furnishings, Homewood, AL

location of the appliances—a budget-saver that allowed for custom appointments in country French style. She did replace a toosmall island with one that now suits the scale of the room.

To get the refined-yet-rustic aesthetic she wanted, Mary Ann brought in materials with plenty of patina to complement the new cabinets. Cedar beams frame the windows, honed marble replaced speckled granite countertops, and pecky cypress trims the range hood. A pair of brushed aluminum lanterns over the island appear aged. For authentic, Old-World character, she installed antique doors between the kitchen and dining room. “I think the finished space is a good example of never settling for a stock plan if it doesn’t accomplish your design goals,” says Mary Ann. “A room can always be modified to suit your style.” birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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LOOKS TO

love

The same marble on the cabinets (honed shadow storm marble) is repeated on the backsplash. The custom fabricated curve complements the lines of the hood.

Gold sconces, sleek appliances, and a smooth finish on simply-styled cabinets balance out the room’s rustic, country French design elements.

Drawers, not doors, fill the area below the countertop. “Drawers are easier to organize,” Mary Ann says.

For French flair, and to break up the expanse of white, Mary Ann painted the island a soft, French gray-blue finish (Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams).

inside

THE BOX

Considering a renovation?

Mary Ann Smith of Dogwood Designs shares her tips for achieving a whole new look just by resurfacing the space you have with updated finishes.

Focus on what you can change easily without relocating plumbing or electrical.

Eliminate upper cabinets to make the space look and feel larger.

The difference in stock and custom is in the details. If you can’t refresh everything, choose a few places to elevate a stock plan.

Consider new hardware, lighting, an accent paint color, or a custom hood or backsplash.

Factor in how long you plan to live in the house when making budget decisions, but remember that the kitchen sells the house.

A beautiful kitchen is always a good investment.

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2nd

PLACE

CULINARY ARTS Downsizing to a one-level rancher meant upgrading the kitchen.

For empty nesters Amy and Steve Jackson, designer Katrina Porter brought in a transitional aesthetic that put the focus on space and style.

TIP: Trying to choose the right paint color?

Katrina looked to the dark veining in the marble (Invisible Grey) to inform her choice for the lower cabinet color (Railings, Farrow & Ball). Walls, hood, and other cabinets are Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore.

M

MOST RANCH HOUSES were built long before the open-concept kitchen became vogue. Their 1950s-style kitchens were typically small and tucked away from the rest of the house. Designer Katrina Porter is very familar with these spaces. In her 25 years of kitchen design, she’s remedied more than a few by knocking down walls and reconfiguring layouts—and the results certainly speak for themselves.

For the Jacksons, empty nesters with three adult kids, Katrina stepped in to design a spacious kitchen with easy flow and lots of amenities. The couple needed a space that would suit just the two of them but also allow room for convivial gatherings when friends visit or their children come home. And they wanted something with a bit of a dramatic, modern edge to highlight their art collection—brightly-saturated paintings with predominately red and yellow hues.

Relocating the home’s existing laundry and mechanical space made way for the room the Jacksons craved. “Even though the kitchen stayed within the walls of the existing home, it became more efficient for the family,” Katrina says.

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RESOURCES: Interior design: Katrina Porter, Katrina Porter Designs Cabinets and wood hood: custom, Village Woodworks Builder: Mike Ross, 205-296-1025 Perimeter countertops, backsplash, and shelf: Triton Stone Group, fabricated by Alabama Stone Works Island countertop (Caesarstone Pure White Quartz): Alabama Stone Works Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Group Hardware: Brandino Brass Rug: @Hazelhousecollection Sconces: Cedar & Moss Fixture above island: Mayer Lighting Faucet: V&W Supply Bar stools (sourced from Rejuvenation): Paula Coldiron Cafe curtains: Paula Coldiron j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 63

TIP: A narrow shelf above the backsplash offers a convenient space for keeping accoutrements close at hand.

With more than 300 kitchen designs to her name, Katrina Porter says, “Each kitchen I design tells a story of the owner that lives in the home.

The space reflects their personality, while also paying tribute to the home itself. No two kitchens look alike.”

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modern

CONVENIENCES

The homeowners love their morning caffeine. Katrina served up a coffee cabinet with retractable doors that keeps everything close at hand for morning brews yet stays out of sight for everyday living. A 15-inch-wide, under-counter beverage refrigerator holds coffee creamer and drinks. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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Q: What sets you apart?

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In addition to being a cabinet and door hardware retailer we also offer lighting, metal repair, brass finishing such as delacquering, polishing and lamp repair. We pride ourselves on our extensive knowledge and experience to fine details. Brandino Brass appreciates our local community and enjoys to give back to various local schools and organizations.

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Q: What should customers expect when they come to your showroom?

Customers should expect a vast selection as well as extensive displays for clients to see and touch before making their final decisions. Our friendly customer service and knowledgeable experienced sales representative are amazing at finding just the right look. Appointments are recommended for a one-on-one consultation.

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Q: What is your design approach?

Since each client has their own unique project, we first start with many questions. This helps us meet customer requirements such as budget, style, finish preferences while creating the perfect look for each individual.

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Q: Tell us what are some of the hottest trends for 2021?

Unlacquered brass remains popular and is a timeless look. Satin Brass and Black are selling strong in both hardware and lighting. Mixing metal finishes for cabinet and door hardware as well as lighting is still trending strongly. We also see textures such as knurling, hammering, coining or crosshatching prevailing.

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3rd

PLACE

MODERN LOVE Designer Katrina Porter rises to the challenge of re-creating a kitchen that incorporates stylish finishes yet plays well with this mid-century modern home.

The marble hood and backsplash serve as not only a focal point for the kitchen but also for the family room that opens up to the space.

A

AFTER PURCHASING her circa-1963 midcentury modern home, Cathy Pryor enlisted the help of Katrina Porter to upgrade the kitchen. She asked for something that would honor the home’s edgy style while offering a fresh, contemporary look. The home featured timber-framed windows and doors, along with brick pavers—finishes Cathy was determined to keep.

One of the biggest challenges in the space was its lack of light. “There were no real windows in the kitchen,” says Katrina. “We knew we needed to remove the wall to borrow light from the adjacent living room.” Not only did that solution bring in more light, it also gave the kitchen expansive views of the

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Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00 – 5:00

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TIP: Thick floating shelves made of white oak combine modern form with practical functionality. The same material is used for the refrigerator cabinet, the coffee cabinet, and the back of the bar, creating a cohesive look.

RESOURCES: Interior Design: Katrina Porter,

Katrina Porter Designs Builder: Steve Grigsby Island, backsplash, and hood: 3 cm. Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Premium Polished Stone from Triton Stone Group Stone Fabrication: Alabama Stone Works Range wall and sink wall countertops: soapstone purchased from and fabricated by Alabama Stone Works Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Faucet: Triton Black base cabinets: purchased through Counter Dimensions Custom refrigerator panel and cabinet surrounding the refrigerator: Village Woodworks Wood cabinet housing toaster oven and coffee maker and floating shelves flanking range: Village Woodworks Cabinet hardware: Brandino Brass

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backyard through the large windows across the back of the house.

To reflect the airy feel of the newly opened kitchen, Katrina designed a waterfall island of white polished marble. Black laminate perimeter cabinets offer a striking contrast that grounds the space and also complements the color of the LaCornue range. And while the unique color combination perfectly fit Cathy’s vision, it also attracted buyers when the house was sold shortly after the renovation. As Katrina says, “The kitchen is where lots of life’s memories are made.” And thanks to her expert design, this one stands ready to make more with its new owners. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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EDITORS CHOICE

ELEGANT REVIVAL W

For her own kitchen, designer Jan Ware created a space that pays tribute to the home’s past yet offers the conveniences of the present.

WHEN INTERIOR DESIGNER JAN WARE MOVED into her 1928 French-style home, the bones were there. The house was filled with high ceilings, archways, and plenty of architectural charms. After all, it was designed by Warren, Knight and Davis, the venerable firm that designed so many of our city’s homes and landmark buildings (the Alabama Power building, Independent Presbyterian Church, the Country Club of Birmingham). Previous owners renovated the kitchen in the 1980s, but the hallmarks of the decade of decadence had seen its day. For Jan, it was time to design a space that would not only serve contemporary needs, but also pay respect to the home’s history and character.

Working with architect Jeremy Corkern and Francis Bryant Construction, Jan took advantage of existing plumbing lines and the location of appliances but pulled out all the stops for upgrades. Highlights include new cabinets with marble countertops, a fluted island with hidden storage, and a wet bar. The finished look is classic yet offers all the necessities today’s cook needs.

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RESOURCES: Interior designer: Jan

Ware of Jan Ware Designs Architect: Jeremy Corkern Builder: Francis Bryant Construction Kitchen plumbing faucets and sinks: Fixtures and Finishes Countertops: Triton Stone Fabrication: Alabama Stone Works Cabinet hardware: Brandino Brass Antiqued mirror: Paintworks Appliances: Subzero/Wolf through AllSouth Appliance Hardwood flooring: Ovi’s flooring Rugs: LillieKat Lighting and furnishings: CleverHaven by Jan Ware Designs j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 73

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“Light, light, and more light. You can never have enough natural light in the kitchen. That has always been my design philosophy.”

A butler’s pantry/wet bar between the kitchen and dining area is equally purposeful and stylish. The coffee service is hidden behind an antiqued mirrored wall.

smart

—Jan Ware

STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Refrigerated drawers in the island: These convenient built-ins offer easy access to cooking staples. The fluted style maintains design consistency when drawers are closed.

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Think about your furry friends.

Jan created a cozy, out-of-the-way space for Lola, the family’s Latotto Romagnolo. “Of course, she never sleeps in there,” she laughs.

Out of sight. Jan made efficient use of every square inch within the kitchen, including space on either side of the range. Drawers and doors hide essentials while clever, vertically-oriented shelves keep muffin pans and cookie sheets within arm’s reach. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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GIFTS

WEDDING REGISTRY j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 77

RECIPES ... S P O N S O R E D

BY

Recipes and Photography by L E S L I E B YA R S R E G I S T E R IG: @lesliespartydiaries

“It doesn’t take much to make this freshly squeezed, skinny margarita. It’s so light, you’ll be able to enjoy a few!”

Paloma (Skinny Margarita)

Summertime

Chillers

If you have ever been out to dinner with me, you know I am very particular when it comes to my cocktails—down to the glass! Every drink tastes better with the finest and

freshest ingredients. All of the drink recipes here are companyworthy—and guaranteed to leave you feeling great!

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Kosher salt Lime wedge, plus slice for garnish 2 ounces white tequila 2 ounces freshly squeezed Ruby Red grapefruit juice (about 2 grapefruits), plus wedge for garnish 2 ounces sparkling water (like Topo Chico) ½ ounce fresh lime juice ¼ ounce simple syrup or 1 teaspoon honey (optional) Ice Fresh mint leaves Place kosher salt on a small plate. Rub lime wedge onto rim of glass, and dip glass rim into salt.

In a mixing glass or small pitcher, combine tequila and next 4 ingredients, stirring to combine well. Pour over ice in prepared glass. Garnish with grapefruit wedge, lime slice, and fresh mint, if desired. birminghamhomeandgarden.com

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RECIPES ... S P O N S O R E D

BY

DRINK LOCAL

Shake up your summer with this cool refresher from Campesino Rum

“The secret ingredient in the Bloody Mary recipe is the dill pickle juice—don’t skip this step!”

Photo and recipe: T Y L E R A N D E L I S E B R O W N

6-7 (1-inch) pineapple cubes 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds Ice 5 mint leaves 1.5 ounces Campesino Silver Rum 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice .75 ounce Simple Syrup .5 ounce Apricot Liqueur Add pineapple and pomegranate seeds to shaker tin and muddle. Add ice, mint and remaining ingredients to tin and shake vigorously. Double strain into glass filled with ice and garnish with mint and a pineapple frond.

Campesino Rum founder Hatton Smith II’s affections for finding adventure south of the border comes naturally. The Birmingham native grew up traveling to coffee farms around the world with his father, the owner of Royal Cup Coffee. At 19, he took off for the wilds of Central America and continued to visit as often as he could during his college days. Those jaunts inspired his venture in rum making, something he started in the jungle and has since refined as Campesino Rum. Now based in Birmingham, the company sources its blends from the Caribbean and South America. Campesino can be found throughout Alabama at bars, restaurants, and ABC stores.

French 75 2 ounces gin 1 ounce fresh lemon juice 1 ounce simple syrup 2 ounces Champagne Lemon spiral and nasturtium Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice; cover and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 30 seconds.

Strain cocktail through strainer into a Champagne flute or coupe-style glass.

Garnish with lemon spiral and nasturtium.

LESLIE’S

COCKTAIL TIPS:

1

Buy the good Champagne and liquors—you’ll be glad you did. For the best spirits, try the ones from Birmingham’s Redmont Distilling Company. They won’t look too shabby on your bar either. For tequila, I like Blanco Casamigos tequila.

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2

4

3

5

Use freshly squeezed juices whenever possible. If you need a substitution, though, try Natalie’s Juice Company. orchidislandjuice.com Garnish like a pro.

Think lemon and lime twists, fun olive picks, and edible flowers.

Chill the glasses when you can. Serve with pretty cocktail napkins, straws, and stirrers.

(Glassware is from A’mano in Mountain Brook Village.)

No one wants the bar to run dry. Be sure you are stocked with plenty of everything—including mixers and ice! birminghamhomeandgarden.com

Everything Dilly Bloody Mary Everything but the Bagel seasoning salt Lemon wedge 1½ ounces vodka ½ ounce lemon juice 3 ounces bloody Mary mix ½ ounce dill pickle juice Dash of Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper to taste Dash of hot sauce (optional) Celery stalk or dill pickle wedge Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of Everything but the Bagel seasoning salt into a small plate. Moisten the rim of a glass with lemon wedge. Dip to coat the rim of the glass in the seasoning.

Carefully add ice to the glass, being careful not to knock the salt off the rim.

Add vodka and next 5 ingredients, and, if desired, hot sauce. Stir to combine thoroughly.

Garnish with a celery stalk or a dill pickle wedge.

For more recipes and fun entertaining ideas, visit dearpartydiary.com or birminghamhomeandgarden.com j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | BH&G 81

DESTINATION DINING

THE VALLEY HOTEL EMBRACES OUR CITY’S CHARACTER WITH SOUTHERN FARE AND INSPIRED ART.

The new Valley Hotel in Homewood is a treat for all of the senses,

offering both culinary delights and local art. No matter what time of day (breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour, or dinner), the 129-room hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton,serves up plenty of dining options at its three restaurants. For your morning Joe, try out The Valley Coffee Co. in the main floor lobby. The counter bar service has a wonderful neighborhood feel to enjoy a light breakfast (avocado toast!) or casual lunch with friends. Upstairs, have a seat at Ironwood Kitchen + Cocktails for elevated comfort foods and seasonal delights such Grilled Quail with Bangin’ Bama Collards and Mac-n-Cheese, Gulf Blue Crab Pancakes with Crispy Lousiana Crawfish Tails, McEwen and Sons Poached Farm Egg and Tomato Jam, Roasted Gulf Red Snapper and Jumbo Shrimp. For after-dinner craft cocktails, meander out to the Terrace Bar to enjoy a happening social scene for both locals and out-of-towners—and the best view in Homewood. —Cathy Still McGowin

ABOUT THE ART: Don't miss the mural in the lobby, “The Middle Way” by Trés Taylor, representing a fable he wrote about the founding of Homewood.

The outdoor metal sculpture, “The Outpouring,” by artist Salem Barker nods to Birmingham’s history in the iron and coal industries. The sculpture’s curves reflect the city’s art and music scene.

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ARE BACK E W RELOCATED TO !

PREMO FACTORY

Call (205) 251-0203 for more information.

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With its tree-lined streets, broad sidewalks, and plentiful green spaces, Mt Laurel is a sustainable neighborhood that offers residents a relaxed pace of life. It’s a place with a unique identity, formed by three core values: community, respect for nature, and a commitment to the future.

For more information, contact: ARC Realty | Mt Laurel Office 84 BH&G | j u l y. a u g u s t 2 0 2 1

205.408.8696

mtlaurel.com birminghamhomeandgarden.com