Making
Firepits and birthdays. Starry nights and laughter. There’s no life more wonderful than The Heritage on Lake Martin. Set among Lake Martin’s nearly 900 miles of shoreline surrounding over 40,000 acres of pristine water, The Heritage is a 1,500-acre waterfront development along 12 miles of sparkling shoreline—all from Russell Lands, one of the South’s most respected land companies. The stunning community features spectacular waterfront and luxury interior homesites, as well as a flagship resident-owned lake club and private Coore & Crenshaw golf course. Don’t miss your chance to start your own cherished traditions. Opportunities to rewrite your Heritage are now open. Contact us today. THE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 { vol. 22 no. 6 }
58
decorating
22 Dressed and Ready
Stylist and floral designer Brooke McAfee of Lilt Floral takes each client’s personality and style into consideration as she integrates design and botanicals into a project.
28 In Full Bloom
For a new, historicallyreferenced Huntsville home featured on a holiday tour, floral designer Charlotte Wessel of Buckets and Blooms creates timeless arrangements with a bit of a twist.
makers
37 Made by Hand
These local artisans have turned their creative passions into thriving businesses—and we are the beneficiaries.
homes
42 Personal and Pretty
Designer Cassie Tonsmeire enjoys filling spaces with heirloom pieces and treasures that hold memories, as evidenced in her own Vestavia Hills home.
50 Home for Christmas
Jewelry designer and artist Elizabeth Adams and her husband find the perfect fit for both entertaining and everyday living in a 100-year-old Hollywood home.
58 Set for the Season
In keeping with tradition, designer Sandra Lynn pulls out all the finery, as well as some nostalgic pieces, for a holiday tablescape in this Mountain Brook home.
recipes
62 The Delicious Art of Giving
Check off that list with these easyto-make food gifts sure to please every recipient.
design
66 Artistic Endeavors
With a history that entails more than 125 years of craftsmanship, Gracie continues to create the elegant, handpainted wallpapers that have defined the brand from the beginning.
Photo by Jean Allsopp
Be sure to visit our 2024 Inspiration Home located in Homewood. The Resource Guide is our gift to you, but you won’t want to miss an in-person visit. You’ll find plenty of ideas to inspire your own mix for every room in your home.
It wasn’t that long ago that the trend was to toss out all of our knickknacks, reject our parents’ hand-me-downs and heirlooms, and decorate with items that were all new to us. More recently, however, we seem to have hit a crossroads with a common refrain: “It’s all about the mix!” Yes, we do want some new pieces that reflect our personal taste, but we also are finding interest in unusual items that have stories behind them. In this age of grandmillenial style mixed with grandmother chic, those once-rejected hand-me-downs are making a comeback, along with upcycled, thrifted, and antique pieces—and there’s no better time to dust them off than during the holidays.
Take a look at the stories in this issue. On page 58, designer Sandra Lynn offers a perfect example of this mixed-and-matched look. She set her clients’ dining room table with their own items while mixing in fresh pieces and new color combinations for an updated look. And she paid homage to collected art and antiques in the room’s décor.
At designer Cassie Tonsmeire’s personal home (page 42), she proudly shows off the breakfast table from her childhood home, along with items that belonged to her grandparents. Of course, she has brought in plenty of her own style as well with personal touches and her predominately blue color scheme. Cassie also shares some of her holiday traditions that have been passed down through generations.
As you decorate and prepare for guests, don’t forget to include a few items that are handmade. See how jewelry designer and tastemaker Elizabeth Adams fills her Hollywood Spanish Colonial home with pieces sourced from global artisans (page 50). And meet some of our favorite Birmingham makers on page 37. From bread bakers to handicrafters to woodworkers, these entrepreneurs let their passions guide them.
This year, I encourage you to reach into the china cabinet and the recesses of your closet to rediscover those tucked-away items and look at them in a new light. Use the silver turkey platter, fill the antique punch bowl, dress the table with the good linens, and layer in local and handmade finds. You’ll be honoring holiday memories of the past while creating new ones.
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Cover Photo: Jean Allsopp / Text: Alice Welsh Doyle Story begins on page 42.
STYLIST AND FLORAL DESIGNER BROOKE MCAFEE WITH LILT FLORAL SHOWCASES HER DEFT USE OF CUT BLOOMS, HOUSEPLANTS, AND FORAGED BRANCHES AS SHE CREATES A PERSONALIZED SCHEME FOR THESE HOMEOWNERS.
Text by CATHY STILL M c GOWIN | Photography by ART MERIPOL
DEFINING STYLE
“I do get complimented on my love for garden-style arranging, but honestly, I like to get as much of my clients’ personalities incorporated into whatever I’m working on—whether decorating their home, adding holiday accents, or designing a wedding,” Brooke says. For this house, she leaned into the dramatic color contrasts and modern details, topping them off with sweeping garlands, vibrant red blooms and bows, and a statement-making entrance.
ibbons, bows, greenery, and all the trimmings! For Porter and Brooke Mason’s Mountain Brook home, floral designer Brooke McAfee played to her clients’ striking interiors and topped them off with statement-making style. While people often comment on her garden-style arranging, Brooke says that it’s her clients’ personalities and tastes that truly drive her designs. “I like to meet with my clients, tour their home to assess their needs, and get their input,” Brooke says. “After that, I can generate the design scheme.”
While some floral designers lean into themes or colors, Brooke doesn’t believe those are necessities for a successful design. “Everything doesn’t have to match perfectly, but items do need to work well together,” she says. “I love how fluid design is, and I really enjoy the story that layering colors, textures, and elements tells.”
A culmination of experiences led to Brooke’s holistic approach of integrating design and florals. “I started decorating and doing window displays at an antiques store in my home state of Oklahoma when I was 19 years old,” she says. “A lot of interior designers shopped at that store, and I began working with them to create unique vignettes. That led to interior styling, which made florals a very natural transition.” Brooke’s trajectory eventually led her to Birmingham, and she opened Lilt Florals in 2016.
by Mary
Photo
Fehr
PERSONAL COLLECTIONS
“I love incorporating keepsakes that already have special meaning to the homeowner,” Brooke says. For example, one of her clients has a collection of silver bells that her mother gifted her every year since she was born. “It’s always fun to come up with new and different ways to display them each year,” she says.
ENDURING DESIGN
“Live green and flowering plants will always last,” says Brooke. Some of her favorites include amaryllis, cyclamen, orchids, seasonal herbs, and topiaries. For cut greenery, she advises spritzing it with water. “Just be careful not to spray your furniture,” she adds. “Evergreens do tend to dry out, but they manage to last just long enough.”
DAZZLING TOUCHES
“The Masons love to entertain,” Brooke says. “Most years we do a different tablescape for each dinner party that they host.”
This year, Brooke’s decorating schedule fell weeks before their first event, so she created a striking but sweet centerpiece using candlesticks tied with red velvet ribbon. “I had to think of something impactful that would last but not be campy,” she says.
Resources
VISUAL IMPACT
“I love statement arrangements on kitchen islands, coffee tables, and dining tables,” Brooke says.
“And I enjoy adding different materials to one vessel. Playing with varying heights and different textures always creates interest.” For the kitchen island arrangement (page 24), Brooke filled a white vessel with redblooming cyclamen, amaryllis supported by bare branches, and two variations of moss. Then she tucked in tiny red ornaments.
Floral Design: Brooke McAfee, Lilt Florals Interior Design: Jan Ware and Kate Hartman Architect: Long and Long
In Full Bloom
FLORAL DESIGNER CHARLOTTE WESSEL OF BUCKETS AND BLOOMS DECKS A HUNTSVILLE HOME IN SOPHISTICATED HOLIDAY STYLE IN ANTICIPATION OF AN ELEGANT FUNDRAISING EVENT.
Text by CATHY STILL M c GOWIN | Photography by RACHEL CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY
earing up for a holiday party or homes tour requires next-level planning and design. Fortunately, when Michele and Ross Hunter were asked to open their Twickenham home for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Silver Tea, the owners knew to call floral artist Charlotte Wessel. Her eye for timeless and classical arrangements with just enough of a twist would be perfect for their new, historically-referenced home and modern interiors.
Working with a neutral, crisp interior scheme by designer Dana Wolter, Charlotte chose to highlight
COLOR CONSIDERATIONS
Charlotte worked with flowers in varying shades of apricot for the majority of her arrangements, mixing an abundance of ranunculus; cut and growing amaryllis flown in from Holland; and a selection of roses including Champagne, Kahala, Juliet, and Tiffany roses, as well as Saraha spray roses. A bright red bloom here and there adds punchy vibrancy. Dried citrus and velvet ribbons in a range of tones expand the analogous palette.
The primary closet will be filled with merchandise from our sponsors, and we will host a winner-take-all contest where one lucky person will take home prizes from our sponsors. Scan this QR Code to enter!
GIVEAWAY 2024 Dream Closet presents
Birmingham Home & Garden is giving away a fashion and lifestyle prize in conjunction with this year’s Inspiration Home, located in Homewood, AL.
Our readers and visitors to the Inspiration Home will be invited to enter to WIN a closet full of gifts including luxury home goods, beauty items, certificates, fashion accessories, and more!
Includes these sponsors!
the architecture and design with a rosy peach color palette. “Peach, apricot, and salmon are my favorite flower colors. I use them in almost every project I can,” Charlotte says. “They are great bridge colors for pink, they complement blue, and they can be moody.”
Selecting from the owner’s personal containers, along with a few of her own, Charlotte says it’s important to let a homeowner’s style shine. “Designing in
GO GREEN
“I love to enhance a space using just greenery as I did with the arrangements on the demilune tables. They are some of my all-time favorites,” Charlotte says. “I was initially going to add some amaryllis, but once we got the greenery in place, I decided it would be too much.” If you do add flowers, Charlotte advises pulling them out when they fade and just enjoying the greenery. Most fresh greenery will last the season, but some, like the olive wreaths, dry beautifully.
a home is different than a venue design,” she says. “I want it to feel thoughtful and planned—not like someone called and ordered five arrangements in the same vase and they were just dropped off. I love using something they own or a piece that is special to them, but it’s also important to have the right size, shape, and color. Michele was so generous with letting me get creative. I also really like her style.”
IN THE MIX
Charlotte’s greenery includes winged elm, magnolia (teddy bear and little gem), short and long needle pine, cedar, and fir—and always nandina leaves and berries. Bare branches provide additional height, interest, and structure. “I have a thing for branches,” she says. “I really love their curves. I also like short needle pine branches with the little pinecones attached to the branch.”
INSTALL SMART
Be mindful about hanging florals. “In my house, I’ll put a nail almost anywhere to hold something, but I can’t really do that in most clients’ homes,” Charlotte says. Her advice? Opt for suction cups with hooks, as well as oasis cages to hold the flowers. Be sure the oasis cages are fully soaked but no longer dripping water. Ribbon and twine are usually enough to secure arrangements.
Resources
Floral design: Charlotte Wessel, Buckets and Blooms Architect: Frank Nola, Nola | VanPeursem Architects, PC Builder: William Lemaster, Lemaster
Construction Interior design: Dana Wolter Interiors Art in window: Craig Green, available through Design Supply
GET GROWING
Charlotte orders cut flowers but also forces her own bulbs. “This year, I had seven different colors, and some definitely did better than others.” She acknowledges the difference in bulb quality and cost. “There is a huge difference in pricing of amaryllis bulbs. I do like the ones from the box stores, and they are less expensive. But they are not the same as the ones you will get from a local nursery. Most of the nursery varieties have double blooms and will continue to bloom after the holidays.”
FORAGE OR FAUX?
“I learned from the best at an early age to cut my own greenery. My mom always kept clippers in her station wagon,” Charlotte says. “You just have to know where you can forage and what’s off-limits.” Charlotte has generous friends who allow her to cut from their yards, and she’s never afraid to hit off-the-beatenpath spots with overgrown eleagnus or other greenery. For large swaths of garlands, the designer doesn’t eschew faux but takes care to enhance them with fresh cuts.
2024 MAKERS
With the arrival of fall and the holiday season, we all seem to want to nest a little more tightly—creating spaces that nurture and filling them with the people and things that bring us joy. That often means returning to the traditional and the familiar, but it can also mean starting new traditions, like gifting locally-made works from true artisans. Here are a few of our favorites for the season.
made by hand
Produced and written by CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL
Photography by MARY FEHR
House of Hallmark Lampshades
Kelly Dorough
IG: @houseofhallmark
purchasing the shades for the frameworks they offered, and then she taught herself to make the shades she wanted.
Illumiate
Armed with a cache of her favorite fabrics, Kelly Dorough set out to make a big impact with her line of custom lampshades. Like many with a penchant for great design, she was drawn to the very high-end versions of lampshades but needed them to be a bit more budget-friendly. “I’ve always loved thrift store and antique shopping,” says Kelly. “I can look at a great lamp base and know I could create a better shade than the one it has.” She started by
your own space.
Follow Kelly on Instagram to find her at her next pop-up, or reach out directly IG
@HouseofHallmark
An Auburn apparel merchandising and design graduate, Kelly says she is largely self-taught via YouTube videos and has always loved collecting fabric. When she and her family moved from Homewood to Cullman a year ago, she started House of Hallmark, producing custom shades and pillows for clients. “I love working with decorators and designers who know exactly what shape and fabric they are looking for,” Kelly says. “I’ve had clients DM me their ideas and then mail me their fabric to create exactly what they want. It brings me so much joy when I can pull that off.”
“I’ve always been drawn to lamps and lighting. They can make such an impact in a space. My goal is to create shades for clients who want to make their house a home.”
— Kelly Dorough
E. Maison Art
Dan Carlisle IG: @e.maison.art
The grain of a piece of wood serves as a siren call to Dan Carlisle, telling the artist what it wishes to become. Some felled stumps become side tables or lamps. Others are coaxed into beautiful sculptures with undulating curves. While most of Dan’s days are spent handpruning and doing tree removal (a boon to keeping his wood supply at its fullest), he has been channeling his creative spirit into something more since 2019. “During a trip to 30-A, I came
across the work of artist Chad Awalt,”
Dan says. “I was taken in by the lines and what he was able to achieve with wood.” A seed was planted—one that would settle into the meditative grooves of his mind until it flourished.
Add to or start your collection.own
Dan’s work can be found at ALKMY in Crestline Village (shopalkmy.com) or directly through IG @e.maison.art
Dan grew up in a home surrounded by art and creative vibes. His father is noted landscape artist Ben Carlisle, and his uncle is celebrated interior designer Richard Tubb. In his day-today work, Dan often comes across cut samples with the whorls and patterns that whisper their potential. Back in his Irondale studio, he listens to the wood, working with and against the grain. When asked how he knows a particular work is finished, he offers a warm smile and replies, “I have to step away from something I have been
“This
work
feels more
like meditation and therapy to me. I’ll put on a playlist, work with the wood, and just let my mind be moved.”
—Dan Carlisle
working on and let it rest a bit before coming back to it. In that moment, I might see the small details that were bothering me, but then I fall back in love with it and know it is ready.”
ALCO Baking
Geoff Luke
IG: @alcobaking
One look at these baguettes and loaves of sourdough, and you’re going to wish these photos were scratchn-sniff. Geoff Luke of ALCO Baking knows this firsthand. What started as a passion project quickly morphed into a full-fledged foray into the world of baking.
DailyBread.
Geoff turns out specialty breads twice a week for pickup on the front porch of his Mountain Brook home. Visit IG @ALCObaking to sign up for an email alert to place your orders.
After years in the business world, most recently with Shipt in operations and finance roles, Geoff left the corporate world to pursue his
yen for baking, completely pivoting his work-from-home status from corporate executive to baker. These days, you’re more likely to find this husband and father feeding his sourdough starter, scoring baguettes, and loading loaves into his RackMaster RM2020 oven instead of thinking about spreadsheets and P&Ls. His whole face lights up as he talks about the process: “There is this incredibly fascinating thing that happens with naturallyleavened bread—it is mysterious and elemental. You’re just putting together flour, water, salt, and yeast, but then it becomes alive and vibrant.” For a naturally curious soul like Geoff, he likens the bread-making
“Making bread became a steadying force of consistency in my days, and it became a source of connection to the people around me.”
— Geoff
Luke
process to pure alchemy, a notion he riffs on with the name of his company. “It’s the idea of alchemy—transforming something elemental and basic into something distinguished and special,” he says. “That’s a big part of where the name ALCO Baking came from.”
Soluna Bags
Sarah Okinedo IG: @solunabags
Who among us does not recall the thrill of being in elementary school and having a new back-toschool pencil pouch? Sarah Okinedo certainly does. As a sixthgrade Teach for America instructor in the Birmingham City Schools system, Sarah wanted her students to have this same feeling and spent the better part of a semester crafting the pouches. She’d visit Hobby Lobby and select fabrics and coordinating trims that matched each child’s personality. By Christmas 2018, she’d crafted 28 bags, one for each child in her homeroom. “They all knew whose was whose because I’d chosen patterns that fit their personalities.” Pretty soon, she had other students, fellow teachers, and friends asking for bags of all shapes and sizes. She added stabilizers and interior linings and also upgraded the trim selections for each new round. By the time COVID hit, Sarah had honed her craft and was able to up her inventory with more
HandStitched.
To shop for bags or other items such as bandanas, wristlet straps, scrunchies, and lanyards, visit solunabags.com
time on her hands. From her home in Irondale, she is now turning out a variety of bags—bucket, snap, beauty, and box shapes—that can also be embroidered.
While Sarah is no longer in the classroom, she says that those students are still on her mind as she sews. After all, they were the reason for starting this business that brings so much joy.
“I
find so much creativity in nature.
I
have a lot of pictures in my camera of trees and leaves and grass. I go back to those again and again for inspiration.”
— Sarah Okinedo
Personal & Pretty
DESIGNER CASSIE TONSMEIRE’S HOME IN VESTAVIA HILLS REFLECTS HER STRONG AFFINITY FOR PIECES STEEPED IN FAMILY HISTORY, ALONG WITH A BALANCE OF REFINEMENT AND EASE, ALL WRAPPED UP IN A PALETTE OF SOFT BLUES AND CREAMY NEUTRALS.
Text by ALICE WELSH DOYLE | Photography by JEAN ALLSOPP
In a renovation, the kitchen was opened up to connect to the family room. “These two rooms are where daily life happens,” Cassie says. In that regard, the designer included generously proportioned swivel armchairs, a sectional sofa, and small ottomans that can be used as extra seating when there’s a crowd.
For the breakfast nook, Cassie designed a movable banquette for extra seating. She had the chairs refinished with blue paint in a worn look to add color and help break up all the wood finishes.
esigner
Cassie
Tonsmeire describes her style as traditional with a clean aesthetic. She eschews too much fussiness but does opt for a more feminine spin when decorating her own home. And she especially loves filling a space with treasures that tell a story, as seen in her dining room. Heirloom pieces include unique, carved dining chairs from her husband Burgett’s grandmother, as well as an antique buffet that was a
wedding present from her in-laws. In the foyer, the designer placed a circa-1930 antique gentleman’s shaving mirror and stand from Burgett’s grandfather. And after her in-laws passed away, she took their beautiful brass doorknocker engraved with “Tonsmeire” and had it framed as art.
In addition to the many passeddown pieces, Cassie makes a point to
The renovation also included a built-in cabinet and serving spot where the Tonsmeires set up the bar when entertaining. A small antique mirror adds a glamorous note.
A kitchen renovation opened up the room to the adjoining spaces in the 1982 house. The blue upholstered counter stools provide a color link among the downstairs rooms.
“Art
is so personal, just like perfume. I would never try to pick anything out without my client’s say-so. I want each home to reflect the homeowner’s passions.”
—Cassie Tonsmeire
The dining room is steeped with family references which include Empire, splat-back dining chairs in mahogany from Burgett’s grandmother and a buffet that was a wedding gift from his parents. To avoid an overly formal look, Cassie added slipcovered, monogrammed host chairs.
Above: Kumquats and magnolia leaves serve as a runner along the dining room table.
Gold chargers are topped with Cassie’s wedding china and antique Belgian linen napkins, a gift from her mother.
Below: Cassie is an equal opportunity decorator, combining both antiques and reproductions if she’s drawn to them and they serve a purpose. Tall, chalky-white, curvy candlesticks topped with reproduction shades that she found on a girls’ trip to Italy adorn the foyer.
One of the designer’s mantras is that every house should have a dark room that envelops you. Here she put together a mash-up of varying furniture styles and lighting, along with a herringbone cowhide rug presented against a background in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Downspout.’
feature items that hold fond memories of her own. In the breakfast nook, her childhood dining table and rush seat chairs keep company with a special antique chandelier. “My siblings found the fixture in New Orleans and gave it to me for my birthday one year,” says Cassie. “It was originally a candelabra, and I had it wired.” The chandelier in the foyer was purchased on a shopping trip with her sister-in-law in Mobile. The candlestick lampshades in the same space came from a girls’ trip to Italy, and two wrought-iron lanterns were gifts from Burgett.
Among all of these meaningful items, Cassie layers in some very practical, comfortable pieces that cater to everyday living. The family room features a large sectional to sit at least six for football viewing. (Cassie also designs game-day home décor and fashion accessories— ctonsmeire.com.) Two capacious bluevelvet swivel armchairs topped with animal-print pillows find their places at opposite ends of the room. “No home is complete without a dose of animal print,” says Cassie. “It’s like a neutral!” The rug in the sitting room is indestructible
cowhide in a mixed herringbone design, and in the family room, she chose a reproduction Oushak. And while Cassie loves the aged beauty of antiques, she does sprinkle in modern kitchen counter stools and pendant light fixtures to instill a little tension.
Nothing in the Tonsmeire home was chosen to make a splashy statement; instead, each piece nods to the others with a distinct but complementary demeanor. For Cassie, it’s the merging of memories and modern style that makes her house one of a kind.
Christmas A Tonsmeire
Holiday Decorating: I love to incorporate the colors already in my house, so blue is a natural choice, along with cream, white, and gold. I like adding ribbons, textural elements, and fresh greenery. Orange is a favorite accent color; it pairs so beautifully with blue and adds a vibrant touch.
Traditions: We have always had big family gatherings, and I’ve taken over the role as host. On Christmas Eve, we go to our church’s candlelight service. Afterwards, we come back to our house and enjoy my father-inlaw’s famous milk punch, along with some hearty appetizers.
When the boys were small, we made reindeer food and put it in the front yard; we still do this even though they are 16 and 18! I also have their school pictures in ornaments that hang on the tree; it’s fun to see how they’ve grown. German, clip-on candle ornaments reflect our family roots.
On Christmas day, I make my mother’s breakfast casserole. We sit in a circle and everyone takes turns opening gifts. As the boys have gotten older, there are fewer gifts, but they still want to see the unwrapped Santa presents on “their” chair in the morning!
HOME FOR Christmas
Text by LACEY HOWARD | Photography by JEAN ALLSOPP
THE MEANING OF EXVOTO
Elizabeth Adams created ExVoto in 2009 as a form of creative therapy after she and her husband’s youngest daughter passed away from a brain tumor. The Italian word means “a testament of gratitude.” ExVoto specializes in timeless jewelry to encourage conversation and gratitude, as well as to inspire a creative spirit. A portion of each ExVoto sale goes to The Cure Starts Now Foundation for pediatric brain cancer research.
JEWELRY DESIGNER AND ARTIST ELIZABETH ADAMS AND HER HUSBAND WELCOME THEIR YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH COLOR AND SPARKLE IN THEIR 100-YEAR-OLD HOLLYWOOD HOME.
e overcorrected,” Elizabeth Adams, owner of and designer behind ExVoto stores, says of her and husband Patrick’s move from a large family home to a small condo after their children were out of the nest. During the first holiday season when the young adults came home for an extended stay, the couple realized just how tight their quarters were. Soon after, they and their two dogs found a better fit in a 100-year-old Hollywood Spanishstyle home. “It’s feels like the perfect size when it’s just the two of us, but it also has plenty of space for overnight guests,” she says.
For the family’s first Christmas in their right-sized house, Elizabeth echoed the home’s historic character with her holiday décor. “I didn’t want a strict red-and-green palette,” she says. “I don’t superimpose Christmas in my home. I don’t rearrange everything or undo and upend.” As Elizabeth explains, she prefers to layer on the merry.
“I take what I love—my all-the-time furniture, art, pillows, and throws—and ‘holiday-ify’ it.”
Last season, she used vintage and new mercury glass ornaments, dried citrus slices, and magnolia garlands and wreaths. “I bought rolls of velvet ribbon in the colors found in the rugs and art in my house,” she says. This year, however, Elizabeth’s home will look completely different for the holidays. “I never do Christmas the same way twice,” she says.
WARM WELCOME
On the front porch, the 100-year-old home’s history meets Elizabeth’s modern and traditional mix. “My aunt loved antiques, and she always displayed an antique sled at Christmas,” she says. “I couldn’t let my cousins put it on Facebook Marketplace. That sled holds a lot of my childhood memories!” A midcentury modern design touchstone, the Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chairs serve as contemporary treasures next to the home’s original cast-iron mailbox.
FLORAL CREATIONS
Florals throughout the home were created by Elizabeth and her friend, Mary Blake Williams. Elizabeth ordered 100 red roses shipped from Greenrose farm in Ecuador to create arrangements in her house for the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour.
GLOBAL MIX
“There’s a small painting of apples on the countertop that my father [modern artist Phil Coley] did in the 1960s,” Elizabeth says. “The blue glass vases in the window are water bottles I brought home from a trip to Italy last summer. The stack of blue glass dishes, called ‘Slumped Glass,’ are by an artist out of North Carolina. We visited his studio on our first anniversary,” She adds that the bowls are a virtual European tour: Turkish, Spanish, Moroccan.
“The fruit pie on the cake stand is actually a candle by an Italian maker from John Derian in SoHo,” says Elizabeth. Colorful candy and Christmas crackers amp up the playful vibe, while red blossoms echo the living room’s décor.
Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour
This year marks the 75th Annual IPC Holiday House Tour in Birmingham. The tour is a fundraiser for local women’s and children’s charities. Last year, Elizabeth and Patrick Adams were asked to participate with their historic, Spanish-style home, located in the Hollywood neighborhood of Homewood. Elizabeth and Patrick’s appreciation for color, travel, and fine art can be seen throughout the home.
For information and tickets for the 2024 tour, visit ipc-usa.org
RESOURCES
Elizabeth Adams, ExVoto Vintage Three Locations: Mountain Brook, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; and Rosemary Beach, Florida
Silvertip Firs: Leaf & Petal
Magnolia wreath and garlands: Shoppe
Rugs and pillows throughout and laundry room lampshade: Paige Albright Orientals
Kitchen chandelier: Village Firefly
Wrapping paper: St. Frank
Paint colors: interior wall color and trim: Sherwin-Williams Dover White • Laundry room cabinets: Farrow and Ball 19 Lichen
BLUE CHRISTMAS
“The Ladies’ Lounge has a different color palette than the rest of the house,” Elizabeth says. “While the other rooms are hot with orange and red, this one is cooler. But I created some continuity throughout the house with the holiday touches.” She used some of the same elements— velvet ribbon on a Silvertip Fir skirted with a Kantha blanket (Indian quilt) topped with the same gift wrap patterns but in different color ways. “This tree has white lights, white and clear glass ornaments, metal sacred heart ornaments, and dried lemon and lime rounds instead of the oranges I used in the living room,” says Elizabeth. “Large glass orbs on the tree are filled with straw and air plants.”
“My sense of decorating is not about the trends or what’s cool. Its what’s comfortable, personal, and meaningful—and what my kids love.”
—designer and homeowner Elizabeth Adams
“I’m okay with something that is imperfect and has patina and scratches. Those things authenticate an antique and make it more interesting—it’s a story not an imperfection.”
—Elizabeth Adams
PRETTY IN PINK & ORANGE
“When she’s home from school, my daughter stays in this guest room, so I made it feminine and youthful,” Elizabeth says. “The mask is something she made in elementary school. It inspired the room’s décor.” Elizabeth crafted candy-covered trees out of papier-mâché cones. “And we put a tiny Silvertip tree with fun felted ornaments from Nepal in the window.” A magnolia crown over the headboard completes the holiday décor.
The Slice on Dried Citrus
Elizabeth’s formula for this holiday: dried orange and lemon slices + velvet ribbon + magnolia leaves. The result is pure Christmas magic. Here’s how to dry your own citrus rounds.
1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Use convection settings if available.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or use an ovenproof wire rack nestled in a baking sheet.
3. Thinly slice the citrus. Tip: A mandoline guarantees uniform slices.
4. Add slices to the tray or rack with at least ½ inch of space between each, and bake.
• Lemons & Limes - 2-3 hours
• Blood, Cara Cara, Navel Oranges - 3-4 hours
• Grapefruit - 5+ hours
Be sure to remove the tray at the two-hour mark and flip each round over, as well as rotate the tray for the best results.
5. Once cool, use a large needle with twine or sturdy thread to create a loop for hanging each round. Use them as ornaments, gift toppers, additions to garlands, wreaths, and more!
Set for the Season
DESIGNER SANDRA LYNN CREATES AN INVITING TABLESCAPE TO ENHANCE THE ALREADY-WARM WELCOME IN THIS MOUNTAIN BROOK HOME.
Text by CATHY STILL M c GOWIN | Photography by JEAN ALLSOPP | Styling and florals by SANDRA LYNN
Tradition matters— especially during the holidays when family and friends gather. “It gives us a sense of belonging and reminds us of where we come from,” says designer Sandra Lynn of Lynn Allen Design. “Compassion and being grateful is
what the holidays are all about.”
To that end, Sandra says there’s no better time than the holidays to pull out all the finery: the wedding silver, the crystal and china, heirlooms passed down, and the pressed linens that have been patiently waiting in the sideboard. For Sandra and her Mountain Brook client, the dining room was the perfect venue. With
holiday celebrations and family occasions in mind, the designer worked with the homeowner to create a dining space that would welcome all these events yet remain fresh and relevant for generations to come.
Cocooned in dark colors with a slate floor, mirrored accent wall, crystal chandelier, and silver-leafed ceiling— elements from the previous owners that
Sandra and her client embraced—the space feels intimate yet grand thanks to a mix of wood and painted finishes and antique and modern appointments. “The mahogany table belonged to the homeowner’s parents,” says Sandra. “We gave it a fresh look by adding the painted cane-back, antique French chairs. We then
repeated their lighter tone with a modern X-base server and an antique painted and gilded French mirror.” A French buffet from Henhouse Antiques fits perfectly between wood columns on the mirrored wall. A family portrait is a reminder of one of the client’s three, now-grown children in the younger years.
To welcome family home, Sandra created a tablescape that was traditional yet a little bit playful. Starting with the homeowner’s Royal Crown Derby china, she mixed the pattern with the Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf gold chargers and soft blue, round, woven placemats. Tapping into the colorful place settings,
the designer leaned into earth tones and fall notions for the centerpiece and accoutrements. Pinecones and feathered birds nestle into a long, low arrangement of dried blue hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, creamy white and rust-colored roses, and sprigs of dried white snowberry and eucalyptus, along with a variety
of greenery cut from the homeowner’s garden. White pumpkins scattered at the base further nod to the season, and twig candles in a collection of silver holders repeat the earthy feel. All prepared in the anticipation of another cherished year, there’s nothing more for this family to do except enjoy being together.
Tradition Embracing
Sandra Lynn shares her style tips for creating an elegant holiday table that nods to formality with minimal fuss.
• Don’t cover a beautiful table with a white tablecloth. “So many of us grew up with our moms using tablecloths,” Sandra says. “I believe you should be proud of your wood table and enhance it with the right colors and tablescape.”
• Always use cloth napkins. “If you don’t own them, invest in them,” advises the designer. “You can’t go wrong with monogrammed, traditional white or cream dinner napkins, but don’t be afraid of color or patterned linens.”
• Polish the Silver. An heirloom tea set on the sideboard and silver water goblets gleam against a warm wood table.
“If you don’t have a complete collection or full silver service, use what you have and add to it over time,” Sandra says.
• Layer in the texture. Monogrammed linens tied with ribbon, silver pieces, decorative glass, and candles can fill in the spaces between a centerpiece and place settings.
lynnallendesign.com
Pepper
see recipe pg. 65
“Vintage Christmas cards from an antique shop and a few berries are the perfect complement to go with this ‘almost glowing’ red jelly.”
Recipes and Photography by LESLIE BYARS REGISTER IG: @lesliespartydiaries
Red
Jelly
Every autumn I try to come up with holiday dishes to share that I’ve never made before.
This year, I’m spotlighting recipes I didn’t realize were so simple to make. For instance, last December I went to several liquor stores on a search for Crème de Menthe. Little did I know, I could have made it at home in about 15 minutes with five simple ingredients. I’ll never buy it again!
Intrigued by the entire mustard process, I recently picked up mustard seeds and ground mustard, plus a handful of other ingredients, to make an authentic Spicy French Mustard in my own kitchen. And then I made my first attempt at a true jelly—Red Pepper Jelly, a definite crowd-pleaser. Don’t let the liquid pectin scare you off from this recipe. If it doesn’t set the first time, you can always boil it again—as I did! Just take your time during the boiling process—it’s going to be just fine.
For the kids, I love the idea of a One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. It requires little cleanup and yields a tasty sweet for any time of day.
And it wouldn’t be the holidays without some type of cheesy bite to set out during cocktail hour. The Southern Pecan Cheese Wafers package up nicely in an antique bowl for gifting. Search estate sales, flea markets, or your own house for a dish that you think your friend would like as a keepsake.
Homemade holiday food gifts for friends and family are not only meaningful but also what the season is all about—giving thanks and sharing some joy.
Southern Pecan Cheese Wafers
MAKES 50 TO 55 WAFERS
1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (grate your own)
1 stick unsalted butter, melted (8 tablespoons)
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 cup pecan halves
Pulse flour, salt, and chile flakes in a food processor until combined. Add cheese, butter, and cream; pulse until dough just holds together, about 10 to 15 seconds.
Divide dough in half, and form each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325°.
Leslie Likes:
The ease of this one-bowl, crowdpleasing, kid-friendly recipe.
Leslie Likes:
Collecting antique or vintage bowls to use as packages.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 10-inch by 12-inch rectangles about 1/8 -inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out wafers. Transfer wafers to parchmentlined baking sheets; gather and reuse scraps. Lightly brush bottoms of pecan halves with egg wash, and press into tops of wafers. Bake until firm and crisp, about 15 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool, and store in an airtight container. These also can be frozen for up to 3 months.
One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
6 ripe bananas
2/3 cup melted butter
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
Preheat oven to 350°.
MAKES ABOUT 5 MINI LOAVES
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini chocolate morsels, plus more for topping
In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Stir in the melted butter until well combined.
Add the sugars and next 5 ingredients, and stir until batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate morsels, and pour into 5 lightly greased mini loaf pans. Top with additional chips.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool before serving.
Homemade Crème de Menthe
MAKES 6 (8-OUNCE) BOTTLES
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 cups vodka
2 teaspoons pure peppermint oil
4 to 6 drops green food coloring
Boil water and sugar together over low heat until sugar dissolves to make
simple syrup. Set aside, and cool.
In a glass container, stir together cooled simple syrup, vodka, peppermint oil, and food coloring.
Funnel the crème de menthe into bottles for gifting.
Serve over ice cream or in your favorite Grasshopper drink recipe.
Red Pepper Jelly
MAKES 9 CUPS
4 red bell peppers
3 jalapeño peppers
6½ cups granulated sugar
1½ cups apple cider vinegar
1 (3-ounce) pouch liquid pectin
Remove seeds and stems from peppers, and roughly chop into 1-inch pieces. (You should have about 2½ cups chopped red peppers and ¼ cup chopped jalapeño peppers.) Place peppers in a food processor, and pulse until peppers are very finely chopped but not pureed. Measure out 2¾ cups of this mixture.
Place 2¾ cups chopped peppers, sugar, and vinegar in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil where it can’t be stirred
Learn from Leslie:
It can take up to 24 to 48 hours for the jelly to fully set.
down, and boil for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Quickly stir in the pectin pouch, and return to the full rolling boil for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, and skim off and discard any foam that has formed on the surface.
Ladle into clean jars, and cool to room temperature; seal jars with their lids. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Serve over cream cheese with crackers, or use as a glaze for meats and vegetables.
Spicy French Mustard
MAKES ABOUT 5 CUPS
1½ cups mustard seeds
¾ cup mustard powder
¾ cup white wine vinegar
¾ cup white wine or water
2 tablespoons salt
3 teaspoons turmeric
3 tablespoons honey (for a sweeter mustard), optional
2 to 3 tablespoons horseradish (for a spicier mustard), optional
Place mustard seeds and next 5 ingredients in a covered jar, and allow to sit for a couple of days. The seeds will absorb almost all the liquid and soften. If the liquid is completely absorbed and the seeds look dry, add a little cold water.
Process the mustard in a food processor or blender. Add water if needed to reach desired consistency. (I added about 1 cup.)
Add optional honey or horseradish, if desired. Place the finished mustard in jars; seal, and chill. The homemade mustard will keep in the refrigerator for 6 months.
Artistic
ENDEAVORS
FOR MORE THAN 125 YEARS, GRACIE HAS BEEN RENOWNED FOR THEIR HANDPAINTED WALLPAPERS THAT ADORN THE ROOMS OF SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE HOMES IN THE WORLD.
he Art of Gracie (Rizzoli, September 2024) is the first book from the esteemed firm and offers a stunning look not only at the singular history of this family-run company, but also at the extraordinary artistry that goes into each
and every Gracie wallpaper.
Founded in 1898, Gracie designs exquisite wallpapers that draw on 300 years of hand-painting techniques, craftsmanship, and motifs. The Art of Gracie walks readers through spaces that feature a variety of sumptuous Gracie wallpapers, including atmospheric,
“Birmingham appreciates craftsmanship and true art. Each piece of Gracie paper is hand done. The look is nostalgic, formal, and fresh all at the same time. It’s a timeless look that can make a huge impact in any space.”
—Interior Designer Sumner Starling
AVAILABLE
panoramic landscapes that depict vibrant city streets and transporting seascapes; wallpapers that shimmer with metallic details and add modern touches to traditional designs; and lush, floral wallpapers that embody the grandeur and elegance that have defined the Gracie brand since its earliest days.
With 320 pages of rich, full-color photographs, the book reveals what makes Gracie designs so special, from Papier Chinois and silk to wrinkled rice paper that evokes a sense of age to the glazes that create a vintage patina. In addition, readers are treated to personal reflections from the family themselves.
© The Art of Gracie: Handpainted Wallpapers, Timeless Rooms; Rizzoli New York, 2024. © The Art of Gracie
