An Idyllic Southern Home in Mountain Brook, Alabama

Some homes have good bones. Others have undeniable curb appeal. And then there are homes like this one in Mountain Brook, Alabama—a gracious Southern residence that feels as though it has stepped straight from the pages of a magazine.

While the home was always beautiful, the homeowners envisioned something even more personal: a home that reflected their travels, embraced Southern hospitality, and felt effortlessly collected rather than perfectly decorated.

The result is a home that went from pretty to truly extraordinary.

As a travel enthusiast, the homeowner finds endless inspiration in the destinations she visits around the world. Whether it's a charming European boutique hotel, a centuries-old English estate, or a thoughtfully designed coastal retreat, she has an eye for the details that make a space memorable. Bringing those influences home, she partnered with Birmingham landscape designer Todd Dorlon and Melanie Pounds Interior Design to thoughtfully reimagine both the exterior and interior of the property for their family.

A Front Elevation That Makes a Lasting First Impression

From the moment you arrive, it's clear every detail was carefully considered.

Towering white columns frame the stately brick façade while manicured hedges, lush lawns, and oversized planters create a warm, welcoming approach. The crisp white exterior paired with classic black shutters gives the home timeless Southern elegance, while layered landscaping softens the architecture and makes the property feel established and inviting.

One of my favorite details is the front entry.

The custom door knocker from Birmingham-based Agatha Studio is equal parts functional and sculptural, offering the perfect finishing touch to the handsome front door. Flanking the entrance are beautiful copper lanterns from Brandino Brass that will only become richer with age, while coordinating brass door hardware throughout the home creates continuity from room to room. Oversized planters from Elegant Earth complete the front porch, adding texture, greenery, and a welcoming sense of scale.

It's these carefully selected details that quietly elevate the entire home.

Before

A Home Filled With Personality

Striped settee linked here

Before

Inside, the home embraces a beautifully restrained neutral palette, allowing architectural details, layered textures, and collected furnishings to take center stage. Rather than every room feeling identical, each space has its own personality while still flowing effortlessly into the next.

The family room is one of my favorite spaces in the home. Both sophisticated and comfortable, it's thoughtfully arranged into two distinct seating areas, creating natural places for conversation, entertaining, or simply relaxing as a family. A Samsung Frame TV hangs discreetly above the fireplace, blending seamlessly into the room without competing with the home's classic architecture.

Around the corner, the dining room offers a more intimate atmosphere. Anchored by a striking Visual Comfort chandelier, the space feels refined yet approachable—a room equally suited for holiday dinners, casual family meals, or gathering friends around the table long after dessert has been served.

Throughout the home, layered textures, timeless furnishings, and subtle nods to the homeowner's travels create spaces that feel collected over time rather than designed all at once.

Visual Comfort chandelier linked here

striped chair with fringe linked here

Linear chandelier linked here

Thoughtful Design That Tells a Story

Pictured: Homeowner, Mary Pat, and Garden & Grace founder, Crystal Moore with a framed photograph from the family’s beloved vacation destination

What makes this Mountain Brook home so memorable isn't simply its beautiful finishes or impeccable styling.

It's the story behind it.

Every design decision—from the landscape and exterior architectural details to the curated interiors—reflects the places that have inspired the homeowners throughout their travels while creating a home that feels deeply rooted in Southern tradition.

The result is a home that's elegant without feeling formal, timeless without feeling predictable, and beautifully designed for the way this family lives every day.

If you love classic Southern homes, timeless interiors, and thoughtful design details, check out these curb appeal renovations in Mountain Brook. They each have their own stories and are a beautiful reminder that the most memorable homes aren't just well-designed—they're deeply personal, layered with meaning, and created to be lived in.

Shop the home

A Design-Enthusiast’s Journey to an Elegant, Family-Friendly Living Space

‍ ‍As we move into the holiday and a cozier time of year, I’m feeling so grateful for my home. In the last couple of weeks I’ve talked about how I’m decorating this year, quick Christmas prep tips and my love for Fig & Dove, so today I wanted to give you a closer look at my living spaces.

I worked with Anne Pearson to pull together the living and dining room and am so happy with how it turned out! I wanted these rooms to feel unique, grounded and formal but still comfortable enough for our family to enjoy. Let’s step into my home!

LIVING ROOM

In terms of furniture for our living room, I wanted to design something that’s both timeless and cozy. These sofas are a collaboration between Lester Furniture and Cambridge Row, and totally embraced my vision. I also think mixing in antiques helps foster that timeless feeling in a space. My brown antique chest is from Canterbury Antiques in Nashville. After a lot of samples, I landed on Creamy by Sherwin Williams in an eggshell finish and Loggia by Sherwin Williams in a semi-gloss finish on the trim and fireplace. It's a warm, formal look that pairs so well with my blue-green silk drapes and neutral rug.  

DINING ROOM

The dining room has become one of my favorite rooms in the house. I especially love the subtle pop of color we did on the ceiling. It’s Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball in full gloss.  

I’ve said it before, but antiques are a must in every room for achieving a traditional style. In this space, the dining room chairs are from The KS Collection, a wonderful antique store in Nashville. The dining room table was a result of a long-time search on Facebook Marketplace! Hint: search for "double pedestal mahogany dining table." It includes an extension and table pad, and I only paid $800. Besides one minor scratch it's in great condition. Definitely a favorite second hand find! 

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The lamps are from Visual Comfort and so is my chandelier! It's easily, one of my all-time favorite lighting brands and is constantly adding new pieces to their collection. Finally, I polished off the space with orchids from Botanica. If you’re in Charlotte you have to stop in (thankfully, you can shop online and at Scott's Market in Atlanta, too). Their flowers are real, but preserved, so they last for about five years!

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CONVERSATION ROOM

I’ve given you a tour of my conversation room before, so I wanted to share a few more sources! There are so many details I love in this room. The club chairs, which I love sinking into with my morning coffee, are from Wesley Hall. I have a couple of pieces from Poppy’s of Macon including the burlwood waterfall coffee table and the chest! I worked with Laurin White of Cambridge Row to pull together my vision for this space. It's better than I could have dreamt. Oh! and the federal bullseye mirror was also a Facebook Marketplace find that Laurin told me to immediately grab when she saw the picture of it. I paid under $300, a fraction of the price in most retail shops. 

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The rug in this room is so special to me. It’s from English Village Lane and the topiary details along the border make me so happy. It’s also incredibly durable and easy to clean, a non-negotiable in a house full of kids and pets!

The window treatments in my conversation room really pull the space together. The cornice boards, which are in Thibaut Williamson fabric, help the room feel buttoned up while the Schumacher brown check drapes add some whimsy — a perfect balance!

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I share more about my Christmas decor here including this amazing no-fuss mantle garland that instantly elevates the room. For more sources in my home, check out my past blogs on the powder room and boys’ bathroom.

See How I Got My Home Holiday Ready With Fig & Dove

This holiday season I had the total joy of working with Fig & Dove to get my home holiday ready. Interior designer Colleen Waguespack started Fig & Dove because, as a designer, she couldn't find holiday decor that complemented her clients' elevated interiors. Her pieces are meant to seamlessly blend with your personal home, and everything at Fig & Dove works together. I love how you can get one or two pieces a year and build a cohesive collection of timeless decor that you'll treasure forever.

I'm going to walk you through my living, dining and conversation rooms. Let the Christmas cheer begin!

LIVING ROOM

Let's start this holiday home tour in my living room! I just love the way our tree looks by the fireplace, especially with those gorgeous Fig & Dove stockings! The stocking holders are totally genius — they're very kid-friendly which is a must in our house. You can dress up your stockings even more by adding a bauble tassel. I went with the ombre gold option. I also love the idea of putting these on dresser knobs in a guest room so your guests get a dose of holiday cheer, too. 

I use a lot of blues, greens and browns in my home, so I really appreciate how these ornaments work with the existing space rather than compete or stand out too much. The double glass ball ornament is so pretty and adds some unique dimension among the other ball ornaments. The gilded doves are so special but not fragile — again, a must with three little kids and a dog running around!

The classic look is polished off with a tree skirt, also from Fig & Dove. It's definitely an investment but it really pulls the scheme together and I know I'll use it forever. 

dining room

I couldn't take my eyes off the dining room during this photoshoot. I'm so proud of this space and a few Fig & Dove pieces really made it shine. The gold decorative angel doubles as a tree topper, but I really liked having it on the table to help carry some elements from my living room into the space. 

One of my favorite holiday decor tricks is to hang a wreath on mirrors. All you need to do is give this Fig & Dove boxwood wreath a quick fluff and then voila! It's tied with a sash — one of Fig & Dove's calling cards! They have so many options to choose from. If you're someone who likes to keep a wreath up all year, you can just switch out the sash depending on the holiday. 

conversation room

Last but not at all least, is my conversation room. I was seriously impressed with the Fig & Dove gold magnolia garland we used in this room.

I find live garland to be pricey—considering you have to toss it every year—and have been on the hunt for a good faux option. I haven't found something with as much depth and texture as this one. It was super easy to lay across the mantle, too. It's an investment piece but something you'll admire for a long, long time. We jazzed it up with a few small stockings and flameless candles. 

Looking for more holiday inspiration? We shared How I Decorate for Christmas and a Tuckernuck tablescape.

Curb Appeal: Discover the Architectural Beauty of Nashville

I was recently in Nashville for an opportunity to shoot a home tour that I can't wait to share with you. When I travel, I have a habit of strolling through the city's most established neighborhoods. The treasures I find often stop me in my tracks and I can't help but take a photo. Nashville was no exception to this tradition—I was totally charmed by its traditional Southern architecture, with homes old and new.

With their rolling estates, long gravel driveways and mature landscaping, these character-filled Nashville homes made the most gracious first impressions. Take a stroll with me. 

The leaves starting to change color frame this traditional painted brick home perfectly. 

I love how the double staircase entry mirrors the shape of the circular driveway. 

Every time I look at this photo I appreciate something different, from the stone facade to the shingled roof to that enviable front door. 

Have you ever seen a garage with so much character?  The arched garage doors, climbing ivy and cupola perched right on top? Swoon. 

Even the street signs in Nashville are charming. I love the horse detail here. 

I love the scale, light blue front door and porte-cochère here. 

A true storybook cottage, I just love the green peeping through. 

What other cities do you want to stroll through with us? We've done Charlotte, North Carolina and Birmingham, Alabama so far. Tell us in an email. 

SHOP CURB APPEAL FINDS

See Inside: A Magazine-Worthy Home Designed For Family Living

This Raleigh, North Carolina home was recently featured on the cover of Southern Home Magazine. Garden & Grace is proud to show off a few more photos, thanks to interior designer Katherine Connell and photographer Dustin Peck. 

It's a Master Class in how to design a traditional home that'll grow with your family for years to come—brought to life by builder John Sanders, architect Carter Skinner, interior designer Katherine Connell and stylist Kendra Surface. Let's take a look around this unforgettable residence.

The character is evident as soon as you walk in the door. With wide cased arches and openings, a delicately curved staircase and a well-styled entry, it's hard to believe this home hasn't been here for decades already. 

The character is evident as soon as you walk in the door. With wide cased arches and openings, a delicately curved staircase and a well-styled entry, it's hard to believe this home hasn't been here for decades already. 

The architectural details throughout the home give it so much traditional character. I love seeing that balanced with color, fun hardware and modern comforts like a built-in bar and large, open kitchen. It creates a skillful blend of classic and contemporary. 

The dining room is one of my favorite spaces in the house. It really leans into that formality with a classic dining set, mural walls and an elegant, timeless chandelier. It feels like a treasure box. 

You see a lot of soothing blues throughout the home, and I like how this living area is a little more unexpected, but you still see the blue through piping and a few accessories. The vintage framed panels and deep, plush salmon couches are truly one-of-a-kind. 

Something that really stuck out to me in the Southern Home Magazine feature was how well the design team thought about building around the owner's current needs, while still planning for the future. For example, the bedrooms were all made larger than necessary for a small child—knowing those kids would grow into teens who still call this place home. It's that kind of thoughtfulness that makes hiring the right team so important. 

I also really appreciated the attention to detail spent on the curb appeal and outdoor living spaces. In North Carolina we're so lucky that we're able to spend most months outside—and I sure wouldn't mind family dinners out here. 

Building out your home design team? Visit our directory which features a curated list of skilled designers, architects, builders and more. 

Walk With Us Through Beautiful Charlotte North Carolina

I was lucky enough to grow up in Charlotte, and while plenty has changed, the tree-lined streets, lush lawns and beautiful examples of classic, Southern architecture  continue to make this place feel like home. 

Charlotte's oldest neighborhoods are now filled with a mix of original and new builds. I always appreciate when homeowners find ways to maintain their home's original architectural charm. 

The patina on this stately brick home makes it feel grounded and elegant all at once. 

The facade of this home has been recently refreshed, and we love how timeless the finishes are. 

You may have seen this classic Charlotte adobe on the Garden & Grace Instagram a time or two. It always stops me in my tracks. I love the winding sidewalk up the front door. 

This painted brick beauty was featured in our August Home Edit—and for good reason. The gentle arch of greenery over one window and slight asymmetry is so charming. 

You'll find quite a bit of painted brick in Charlotte—which we love—so there's something refreshing about seeing it exposed here. The Juliet balcony and deep navy front door dress it up just right.

No surprise—I'm totally charmed by the use of green here. 

Have you ever seen a sweeter storybook home? The twin clay chimney pots are delightful. 

I love a lime wash, especially paired with such classic shutter paint colors. 

I love how the glass front door brings a slightly modern touch to this classic brick home. The limestone surround and gas lantern give it a traditional frame. 

Looking for more Southern architecture? Stroll through Birmingham, Alabama with us. 

Before and After: My Personal Bathroom Renovations

Today I'm sharing some before and after images from my personal home's powder bath and boys' bathroom. My husband and I bought our 60-year-old house in 2022, and have been making it our own ever since. I hope you enjoy!

POWDER BATH

I had the honor of working with Zoffany for our powder room—an absolute dream collaboration. I wanted something to play well with the antique vanity and slate floor tiles, and complement the rich blue grasscloth and trim color in the hallway. 

I landed on Emperor’s Musician in Charcoal. This beautiful chinoiserie scenic paper is inspired by oriental draughtsman Jean-Baptiste Pillement. The textured finish adds the warmth the room needed—and it’s even better in person. I also lightened the space by painting the interior trim, door and ceiling Farrow & Ball Old White No 4. I love how it pops against the slate floor tiles. 

BOYS' BATHROOM

We made some big changes to this small space, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. We created more square footage by pushing the tub back 5 inches into the closets behind it, and replaced doors with pocket doors to save even more space. We also took the bathtub tile all the way up to the ceiling, and put in a framed mirror that matched the detailing and color of the cabinets to make the space feel bigger. 

We went with Benjamin Moore's White Dove for the cabinet and mirror frame, and Farrow and Ball Chappell Green for the trim and door color. The wallpaper is Farrow and Ball Closet Stripe 357 from a local Charlotte wallpaper shop called Celedore.  They also offer online shopping and shipping across the U.S. I love how cheerful the green is, and how playful the stripes are. 

All images are by Dustin Peck Photography. Read more about the renovation process here. Follow @garden_and_grace for more home renovation updates. 

This Classic Raleigh Home Showcases the Beauty of Blue and White

Today we're re-sharing inspiration from one of the most-loved Garden & Grace home tours to date. Years later, and the classic Raleigh home still stands the test of time—proof you can't go wrong with shades of blue and white throughout your home. Here are five rooms where you can incorporate the classic color combination. 

Living room

A collection of ginger jars on built-in shelves, a pair handsome chinoiserie sofas and fringe-framed throw pillows work together to create a modern interpretation of classic design. 

BEDROOM

Used here in a mintier hue—and with pops of pink—this blue primary suite is elegant and relaxing. 

POWDER ROOM

A half-bath is the ideal spot to experiment with wallpaper. We love the darker blue floral paper used here, and the light blue painted trim. 

BREAKFAST NOOK

Ikat blue and white cushions and woven dining chairs punctuate this playful dining space. 

OUTSIDE

Blue cushions bring a nature-inspired pop of color to this white outdoor patio space. A sisal rug and chippendale furniture complete the look.

In the previous post Raleigh-based home builder John Sanders took us on an exclusive tour, and we shared all the details, including specific paint colors for each room. Take the full tour here.

All images are by Garden & Grace. Katherine Connell Design is the main designer with recent additions by Allison Davis Interiors. The landscape design is by Liggett Design Group.

Blue & WHITE TABLETOP INSPIRATION

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