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July/August
contents
24 MOD IS IN THE DETAILS BY ROY HALL » PHOTOS BY VICKIE PEWITT
A Shoals’ Brady Bunch-era home is guided into the new millennium by a photographer and her family of lake lovers. 82 ON THE COVER: THE ROWE’S SLOW SUMMER SUPPER RECIPES AND STYLING BY SUSAN ROWE PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ABRAHAM ROWE
No’Ala presents a locally-sourced summer dinner menu, complete with recipes and mouthwatering photography.
© Vickie Pewitt
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contents 38 MASTER(FUL) PLAN BY JENNIFER CROSSLEY HOWARD » PHOTOS BY BETHANY DEAN
A stylish interior extends beyond the threshold into one of the chicest poolside entertaining areas we’ve ever seen. 52 THOSE WHO CAN RE-DO BY ROY HALL » PHOTOS BY SETH PARKER
A second-generation home builder transforms a modest Monte Sano rancher into his own mountaintop showplace.
38 © Bethany Dean
52 © Seth Parker
65 LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL BY REBEKAH MILWEE » PHOTOS BY ABRAHAM ROWE & BETHANY DEAN
Three of the most charming and local destinations custom made for alt-travelers. 72 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE BY ROY HALL » PHOTOS BY ABRAHAM ROWE
A Florence-based artist turns her creative eye toward her own mid-century re-do. 90 LIVING HISTORY BY SARAH GAEDE » PHOTOS BY BETHANY DEAN
The ravages of time, a fire, and a cross-town move have not lessened this Huntsville landmark’s majesty and style.
72 © Abraham Rowe
90 © Bethany Dean
96 PROJECT: BARNSTORMER BY ROY HALL » PHOTOS BY VICKIE PEWITT
Designers Pillar & Peacock give us a sneak peak into their ingenious design process. 102 THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE BY ROY HALL » PHOTOS BY LAUREN TOMASELLA CARNEY
A growing family’s guide to practical design. 112 MAKE YOUR GARDEN GROW BY SARAH GAEDE » PHOTOS BY LAUREN TOMASELLA CARNEY
June Odom reveals her passion for landscape design in her Decatur home and the public spaces she champions.
96 © Vickie Pewitt
102 © Lauren Tomasella Carney
120 COOL, CALM, COLLECTED BY JENNIFER CROSSLEY HOWARD PHOTOS BY LAUREN TOMASELLA CARNEY
Stateliness and comfort coexist in a turn-ofthe-century Twickenham district bungalow. 17 CONTRIBUTORS 18 CALENDAR
SELECTED EVENTS FOR JULY/AUGUST 2017
36 RED MOUTH
BY ERIC GEBHARDT
112 © Lauren Tomasella Carney
120 © Lauren Tomasella Carney
46 MARKET: WEST
BY SUSAN ROWE PHOTOS BY ABRAHAM ROWE
108 MARKET: EAST
BY AISSA CASTILLO AND LAUREN MCCAUL PETERSEN PHOTOS BY LAUREN TOMASELLA CARNEY
128 FOOD FOR THOUGHT BY SARAH GAEDE
130 PARTING SHOT
BY ABRAHAM ROWE
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editor’s letter « Roy Hall
PLAYING FAVORITES
No’Ala Advisory Board Dr. Terrance Brown Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown Maggie Crisler Michelle Rupe Eubanks Guy McClure, Jr. Abraham Rowe Susan Rowe LuEllen Redding Andy Thigpen Mary-Marshall VanSant Carolyn Waterman
When asked to name their favorite song, book, film, or painting, artists often demur, retreating behind the excuse that their creations are their children, and parents should never play favorites with their children. But editors are hardly parents—co-parents, maybe. My co-parents are a small army of exceptionally talented writers, photographers, stylists, and designers, whose contributions are all equally (and then some) responsible for bringing No’Ala into the world. So I’m not nearly as protective of any one issue’s feelings as, say, one of the supremely talented songwriters we featured at our inaugural songwriters showcase at 116 E Mobile in May might be about one of her songs. And while I would never, ever go on the record stating that, say, the home and garden issue is my favorite, I’m happy to let that insinuation hover over the other issues, and let them sort it out in therapy. I’ll lay the blame for all that at genetics’ footsteps—my mother was a sort of volunteer interior decorator in my small hometown; furniture came and went through our house with the regularity of laundry. Chuck Vaughn, of Huntsville’s Vaughn Lumber Company, knows that story all too well. He grew up in the residential construction biz, and his recently completed Monte Sano re-do—which will take your breath away—is the culmination of a lifetime of planning, collecting, and know-how. Between them, Florence’s Pillar and Peacock and Huntsville’s Accents of the South have decades’ worth of know-how beneath their collective, designer belts, so much so, just glancing at their projects makes me think twice about ever making another interior decision again, without clearing it with them first. Marisa Keris isn’t a decorator, per se, although you may second guess that when you get a load of her Florence abode. Keris does have a degree in fine art, and she’s just returned from Rome, where she’s been studying and painting for a year. One of her pieces was recently published by the grand dame of art journals, The Paris Review; it, and others from the same series, hangs in the mid-century home she rescued from near-ruin. In a lovely bit of synchronicity, two more artists, Sarah Powell, an illustrator, and Vickie Pewitt, a photographer, looked at their homes through artists’ eyes and saw potential where others might have seen despair. All we see is panache. June Odom does not deal in despair, or idleness, or sloth. Since moving to Decatur in the ’50s, she has, to paraphrase a popular maxim, “bloomed where she’s planted.” Those blooms are on display in her sumptuous private garden and in the two community gardens in gorgeous downtown Decatur which Odom has championed, fund-raised for, and tended—with the help of a cadre of dedicated volunteers—for years. Ah, lush vegetation everywhere, but not a bite to eat. Unless Susan Rowe has something to say about it, and boy does she, in her mouthwatering farm-to-table photo essay (with recipes!).
July/August 2017 VOLUME 10: ISSUE 4
Allen Tomlinson PUBLISHER
Roy Hall
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Matthew Liles PRESIDENT
David Sims
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jamie Noles
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Rowan Finnegan GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Justin Hall
WEB DESIGNER
Carole Maynard PROOFREADER
Kathleen Bobo DISTRIBUTION
Tiffany Evans DESIGN INTERN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sarah Gaede, Eric Gebhardt, Roy Hall, Jennifer Crossley Howard, Rebekah Milwee, Abraham Rowe CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & STYLISTS Lauren Tomasella Carney, Aissa Castillo, Bethany Dean, Seth Parker, Lauren McCaul Petersen, Vickie Pewitt, Abraham Rowe, Susan Rowe No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Studios PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: (256) 766-4222 » (800) 779-4222 noalastudios.com Standard postage paid at Florence, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. © 2008-2017 No’Ala Studios, All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to Roy Hall, Editor, at the postal address above, or by email to roy@noalastudios.com. To advertise, contact us at (256) 766-4222 or sales@noalastudios.com. The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first. No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks. Please recycle.
Connect with us on Facebook: No’Ala Studios, Instagram: noalastudios, Pinterest: NoAlaStudios, and Twitter: @NoAla_Magazine
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contributors after graduating UAB, writing about the Shoals. She enjoys biking Point Mallard Trail and listening to records.
Lauren Tomasella Carney is a Huntsville-based lifestyle and wedding photographer. She’s married to her best friend, dog-mom to the world’s cutest Yorkie, and proud aunt to two adorable nieces. She loves travel and homecooked meals.
Sarah Gaede is an Episcopal priest, yoga teacher, and good cook—not chef! She loves to share her tried and true, accessible recipes with No’Ala readers. Like her inspirations Julia Child and Ina Garten, she vehemently eschews cilantro.
Retail manager, wardrobe stylist, blogger, and mom of two boys, Aissa Castillo has called North Alabama home for 17 years. A graduate of the University of North Alabama’s Radio, TV, and Film program, she lives in Huntsville.
Eric Gebhardt is a Shoals-based singer/ songwriter and musician and a product of the area’s mid ’90s punk scene. After a stint in Orlando’s punk/ garage scene and a tour of the States, Eric came home to rediscover his roots. He performs from North Alabama to Estonia and everywhere in between under his nickname, Red Mouth.
Bethany Dean was born and raised in Huntsville. Most people who know her consider her to be a serial entrepreneur. In recent years, she has traveled all over the world taking photos and is currently managing her husband’s band, The Sweeplings.
Jennifer Crossley Howard is an awardwinning freelance writer who lives in Decatur, Alabama. She considers Florence her surrogate hometown and her muse. She has reported on the South for 12 years in daily newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times. She started her journalism career
Raised by Alabama natives in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rebekah Milwee moved to the Shoals in 2013 to study English Literature at UNA. Milwee currently occupies herself as a writer, musician, and co-owner of local start-up Green Valley Recycle. Milwee enjoys spending time with her three cats, running on TVA trails, and kayaking Cypress Creek.
THIS IS HOME. THIS IS WHERE AWESOMENESS HAPPENS.
Seth Parker is an architectural photographer specializing in capturing amazing images of architecture, hotels, apartments, offices, restaurants, and other interior/exterior spaces.
256.366.0580 Lauren McCaul Petersen is a Huntsville-based interior designer. When she’s not shopping locally for No’Ala’s buying guide, she’s
Continued on page 19
PINNACLE PROPERTIES THE SHOALS AREA
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calendar
Monday, July 3 – Monday, August 7 (Mondays only) Concerts in the Park Great local and regional bands perform in the beautifully renovated Big Spring Park. Food trucks will be on both Church Street and Williams Avenue. Bring your own seating. Mondays; 6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; 200 Church St, Huntsville; artshuntsville.org
Friday, July 21 – Sunday, July 30 W.C. Handy Music Festival
Thursday, July 6 – Thursday, August 31 (Thursdays only) Greene Street Market at Nativity Visit this downtown open-air market to find locally-grown fruits and vegetables, freshly-prepared meals, traditionallymade relishes and jams, plus breads, teas, and artwork. Listen to live music as you browse, or borrow a bike to cruise around the historic districts. Thursdays; 8:00pm; Free; Eustis Ave from Green St to Southside Square, Huntsville Friday, July 7 and Friday, August 4 Florence First Fridays The exciting monthly event gathers artists of all kinds— musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators, and more—for a community-wide celebration. 5:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Downtown Florence; firstfridaysflorence.org © Courtesy W.C. Handy Museum
Sunday, July 9 – Saturday, September 23 Red Clay Survey: 2017 Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art The Red Clay Survey takes the pulse of contemporary Southern art through a selection of works in all styles and media determined by a juror with strong national credentials. From traditional to avant-garde and encompassing painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, fine craft, photography, and mixed media, works represent artists from 11 states. Tues-Wed 11:00am5:00pm, Thurs 11:00am-8:00pm, Sun noon-5:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Friday, July 14 – Sunday, July 23 The Sunshine Boys In this hilarious comedic romp, four friends keep the promise they made on the night of their senior prom: to be in each other’s weddings, no matter what. Now, more than 30 years later, these friends-for-life are still determined to honor that vow.
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contributors
Continued from page 17
traveling the world curating products for her global style brand, Agra Culture, or supporting Army medical facilities for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Fri and Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:00pm; Admission charged; Theatre Huntsville at VBC, 700 Monroe St; (256) 551-2230; theatrehsv.org Saturday, July 15 DFU Movie in the Park presents Finding Dory Join Downtown Florence Unlimited for a screening of the animated hit film Finding Dory. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and the whole family. 8:00pm11:00pm; Free; Wilson Park, Florence; facebook.com/movieintheparkflorence Tuesday, July 18 Florence Camerata presents America Sings The Florence Camerata performs the very best in American choral music. 7:30pm; Adults $15, Students $8; First Presbyterian Church, 224 East Mobile St; florencecamerata.com
Nashville native Vickie Pewitt and her family moved to Florence in 2014. Seeking to escape the crowds, she and her husband, Les, and their two daughters found just what they were looking for in a lakeside dwelling along Wilson Lake. A former corporate video producer for SunTrust Bank and HCA, Vickie now enjoys combining her interests in interior design and architecture with her skills in photography.
Abraham and Susan Rowe are Florence, Alabamabased wedding and commercial photographers and stylists. Their clients include Alabama Chanin and Billy Reid. The Rowe’s work has appeared in Elle, Elle Décor, and T, The New York Times magazine.
Thursday, July 20 – Friday, July 28 Fiddler on the Roof Tevye, a poor milkman, with help from a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, tries to protect his five daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Fiddler’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality, and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of joy and sadness. Thurs, Fri, and Sat 7:35pm; Admission charged; The Ritz Theatre, 111 W Third St, Sheffield; (256) 383-0533; tvaa.net Friday, July 21 – Sunday, July 30 W.C. Handy Music Festival A week-long tribute to the “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy. Great Jazz and Blues music can be heard throughout the Shoals at restaurants, theatres, malls, parks, and other locations. The week will include over 100 events for the jazz and blues enthusiast, as well as great family entertainment. Various locations and times. For a full roster of events, visit wchandymusicfestival.org. Friday, July 28 – Sunday, August 6 Into the Woods In Stephen Sondheim’s fairy-tale inspired musical, characters get more than they bargained for when they venture into the woods to make their wishes come true. See the show, be entertained by wonderful local performers, and find out what happens after “happily ever after.” Fri and Sat 7:00pm, Thurs 7:00pm, Sat and Sun 2:00 pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Community Chorus at VBC, 700 Monroe St; (256) 533-6606; thechorus.org Friday, August 25 – Sunday, August 27 Billy Reid Shindig Each summer, internationally-celebrated designer Billy Reid honors the city where his flagship store is located with a cultivated gathering of fashion, food, music, art, and friendship, during the company’s annual Shindig. Event info at billyreid.com.
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scene
Danielle Fisher, Nicole Adams, and Nicole Ingram Joy Grosso, Teresa Bartek, MeLeah Suddith, Theresa Wood, Kerry Del Pizzo, and Jessica Cook Caitlin Holland and Beth Haddock
Dr. Russell Jennings, Whitney McCartt, and Pamela Varnagatas
Sandi McGee and Angela Counts
Jean McIntyre and Willa Oates
Above: 5th Annual Girlfriend Gala, benefitting Success by 6 and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library April 6, 2017 · Locust Hill, Tuscumbia
Ben Alexander and Niles Floyd
Ashley Morrow
© Kristen Mance, Alabella Studios
Below: “Bloom” Art Exhibit and Reception featuring Lucy Thomas
May 4, 2017 · The Little Green Store & Gallery, Huntsville
Jim and Ana Byrne MaCrae Olinzer and Alan Davis
Susan Redmon and Becky Tillery
Ron Cooper, Lucy Thomas, and Mark Kimbrough
Daniel Adamek
Rainey Maxwell and Dabsey Maxwell Lucy Thomas
* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.
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MOD IS IN THE DETAILS 24 | NOALASTUDIOS.COM | July/August 2017
text by ROY HALL » Photos by VICKIE PEWITT
VICKIE PEWITT KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTED. DEEP DOWN, SHE’D KNOWN EVER SINCE CHILDHOOD, WHEN SHE SPENT CHUNKS OF HER SUMMER VACATIONS AT HER AUNT’S LAKESIDE HOUSE. Vickie wanted to live on the water. But adulthood and parenthood intervened, and the photographer lived the suburban lifestyle in Brentwood, Tennessee, with her husband, Les, and daughters, Sydney and Sarah. “We’d lived in the ’burbs for a decade. Before that, we lived in Nashville for another 10 years,” Pewitt said of her family’s land-locked life. Then, two-plus years ago, the Pewitts declared enough with the commutes, the strip malls, and the developers’ soul-less subdivisions. The family was ready for something different, something family-oriented. Something calming but chic, comfortable but stylish, spacious but practical. Something on the water. “I visited the lake just outside Florence as a kid and loved it, and my husband and I have been bringing our daughters here on weekends for years.” The Pewitt girls, 14 and 13, won’t be at home forever, Vickie and Les understood, and “so we talked about spending more quality time with them. Weekends on the lake, water activities, fishing; those were the activities all four of us enjoyed together for long periods of time.” The Pewitts determined to make time spent enjoying one another’s company a priority, not an occasional weekend exception. “We started looking at lake houses here,” Pewitt said. But it wasn’t enough for a house to be on the lake. The house had to “scream lake house.” “I didn’t care if it was quirky,” Pewitt explained. Quirky was good. “Unique” and “retro” were good, too—20-some-odd years of cookie-cutter suburban architecture can have that effect. So when the Pewitts stepped through the front door of the 1970s post-and-beam home they’ve since redone to stunning effect, looked
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“I LIKE ’70S ARCHITECTURE, AND THIS HOUSE DEFINITELY HAD THAT PACIFIC-NORTHWEST, RETRO ’70S VIBE.”–VICKIE PEWITT
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from the front door, past the vaulted ceiling, through the picture windows, to the canopied lagoon beyond, “I knew it was the one.” Yes, it was true love. But that love was not unconditional. “I like ’70s architecture,” Pewitt clarified. “And this house definitely had that Pacific-Northwest, retro ’70s vibe.” The new abode also had light fixtures, wall-to-wall carpet, and an internal intercom system, all straight out of The Brady Bunch. Mere inconveniences all, as it turns out. “A can of white paint makes a huge difference,” Pewitt said with a laugh. It doesn’t hurt to have an artist’s sense of space, a mom’s patience, and a good contractor. Two half-walls—possibly vestigial remains of an enclosed porch—separating the living room and the dining area were goners. In their place, an unobstructed view of the verdant outdoors. White walls from baseboards to ceiling transformed a rumpus room into a cheery showplace, and a sculptural, dramatic staircase connected the main living area to the upstairs studio. “Prior to the staircase installation, the upstairs room was only accessible through the carport,” Pewitt said. Rectifying that was the first project on the list, and Stockton Construction did the honors. “We added the stairs and bumped out the lake-facing wall to make room for windows.” Light from those windows spills into the living room below, via the sliding doors’ opaque frames.
Above: Sydney and Sarah Pewitt make the short walk from living room
The stairs went up a full year before Stockton Construction tackled the kitchen overhaul. Cabinet maker Richard Hardison, of Florence’s Splinter Custom Woodwork, selected a birch plywood to match the steps and unify the adjoining spaces. White-painted brick pavers from Acme Brick and Stone replaced the dated tile backsplash, achieving what Pewitt calls an “earthy—but not rustic—polished look.”
to lagoon, fulfilling mom Vickie Pewitt’s resolution to live “like we’re on vacation all the time.” Facing page: Colorful family photographs, from the photographer’s
“Earthy and polished.” As apt a description as any for the entire house—maybe even its inhabitants—who embarked on a substantial de-cluttering spree before relocating. “Before we moved here, we cleaned house,” Pewitt said. That purging created a clean slate from which Pewitt has carefully, selec-
own camera, make for a colorful—and easily interchangeable— focal point for arriving guests.
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“I VISITED THE LAKE JUST OUTSIDE FLORENCE AS A KID AND LOVED IT, AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN BRINGING OUR DAUGHTERS HERE ON WEEKENDS FOR YEARS.”–VICKIE PEWITT
tively chosen pieces that contribute to the clean, spare look of the house, without burdening the family with anything too precious to resist the occasional sandy foot, of the human or canine variety. The home’s primary palette is soothing neutrals, punctuated by bursts of color, most of which are the product of Pewitt’s camera. “I love to support local artists and artisans,” Pewitt said. But producing her own art means she can “change stuff out. What you see today won’t be here in month.” The Pewitts will most certainly be here in a month—they haven’t invested two years of their lives redoing the house to vamoose too soon. Whether they’ll be here in a decade, time will tell. If they do stray, it might not be that far.
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Right: A sliding loft door with opaque panels provides privacy for overnight guests without depriving the living room below of outside light. 
 Facing page, bottom: The living room, before and during the installation of the floating staircase.
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“A CAN OF WHITE PAINT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.”–VICKIE PEWITT
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Above: The kitchen before its rennovation was an uninviting and dark cul-de-sac. Right: Floating shelves, which bisect the kitchen window rather than stop at the frames, provide warm back lighting for objects and plants.
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Above: Pewitt’s contractor cut a groove into the sloped ceiling to house the door’s track, facilitating the client’s vision for a sliding door in place of the standard, hinged variety. Right: The family’s first order of business was to tear out the lake-facing wall and replace it with floorto-ceiling windows.
“We got a boat shortly after we moved here,” Pewitt said. “One of my favorite pastimes is to cruise around and look at all the cool houses. I keep a running list of the ones I’d like to buy, if we ever sell this one.” In the meantime, onward and downward: the Pewitts plan to take a year-long vacation from renovations before tackling the downstairs.
» Look for more on that renovation when the project is finished, at readnoala.com.
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Branded (2 Halves)
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What you see is a mud-soaked champion.
But what you don’t see are the visits to the surgeon who performed her knee replacement, or the sessions with her physical therapist. All covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Or the Blue Cross Transition of Care Nurse who was there to answer her questions throughout recovery.
Blue Cross works hard behind the scenes.
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AlabamaBlue.com/MudRun
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red mouth » Eric Gebhardt
In addition to the great talent that attracted big stars here to record, the Shoals’ insular culture and location made for a prime getaway for high-profile talent.
BOSTON CALLING: A PUNK ROCKER WARMS TO THE SHOALS Growing up in the Shoals, you hear a lot of tales, some of the tall variety, some not. Stories like how Townes Van Zandt sold “Dead Flowers” to The Rolling Stones, or Mick Jagger told a Tourway Inn waitress that he and his entourage are in a band—a band called Martha and the Vandellas. It’s anybody’s best guess which of those stories are true; not a lot of the original players are around to corroborate the accounts. And besides, from what we learned in the Muscle Shoals documentary, the tales don’t always match up to history anyway. But what brought those big names here in the first place? In addition to the great talent that attracted big stars here to record, the Shoals’ insular culture and location made for a prime getaway for high-profile talent. That’s because, even today, what’s done here happens quietly, right under our noses. Sure, every now and again, teenage girls get a Beatles-era thrill when they run into John Paul White downtown. Or people get giddy over rumors of Johnny Depp walking the streets. And Facebook news feeds do occasionally fill up with selfies, when a Backstreet Boy is spotted at On The Rocks. But while we might be impressed that Brooke Burke found downtown Florence interesting enough to spend an afternoon here, we don’t clamor down the street demanding autographs. Basically, we’re all just working people walking to and from our jobs—even the stars. A great example of what the Shoals has to offer comes from a punk rock legend’s magical introduction to the area’s people, and their warm, welcoming acceptance, which lead to yet another recording session for the history books. Above: Rick Barton, founding member of the Boston-based punk band The Continental
I share a booking agent with Boston-based punk band The Continental. When given the opportunity back in December to book this band in my hometown, I jumped at the chance. The Continental’s founding member and front man, Rick Barton, had been on my radar since ’97, when his former collaboration, The Dropkick Murphys, came into being. The Murphys are a punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, with a heavy dose of Irish roots running through their melodies and storytelling—kinda like the Pogues, but more hardcore punk. The challenge for an Alabama promoter like me is that the only thing “Southern” about The Continentals, and the The Murphys before them, is the vague, melodic similarity connecting their Irish influences to the earliest iterations of country music. And that’s a pretty tenuous connection, at best. So the question presented itself: had anyone in my hometown even heard of this band? To my surprise, we found out that Rick and his son and bandmate, Stephen, had heard of the Shoals, and they were excited to visit this historical town, whether the Shoals knew them or not. For their performance at 116 Mobile, I paired Rick and his band with local Americana legend Doc Dailey and The Dismals and local alt rockers Furniture, splitting the difference between The Continental’s rootsy rock ’n’ roll. Then I hit the streets with one hand’s fingers crossed and the other stuffed with handbills. The Shoals didn’t disappoint. The show was a hit.
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Among those in attendance were talented violinist Kimi Samson and her man, Danley Murner, co-owner of Sheffield’s Portside Sound, the music studio and production team recording and producing records out of the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield. The Shoals musical gods brought Rick, Kimi, and Danley together that night. Later, back in Boston, Rick sent Kimi a song called “The Fight” that he’d recorded into an iPhone. Some months later, Barton returned to the Shoals to record his first solo record, with Kimi and Danley producing. The producing duo overdubbed strings to Rick’s recording, and a new entry in the canon of Muscle Shoals’ musical history was written. “I’ve always known about Muscle Shoals from Lynyrd Skynyrd and from knowing the Stones cut ‘Wild Horses’ here,” Rick said. “I was here for 12 hours and met great people like Albert Rothstein [co-owner of Portside Sound Studios].” The warmness of the music scene here reminded Rick of “growing up in Boston.” While here, Rick enjoyed the same respect for his personal space that the Stones had, yet he also got to meet Donnie Fritts, work with Kimi Samson, and fall in love with the Shoals. Kimi remembers one moment when they invited Louisa Murray (from the great Shoals-area band The Bear) to sing backing vocals for Rick. Rick was so enamored that he quickly mentioned another song called “Busted.” “He didn’t plan to record this song. Hadn’t even brought it up,” Kimi said. But they cut it quickly so Rick could get Louisa on one more track before they had to move on to other things. After it was all complete, Kimi and Danley both agreed that this discarded afterthought “was the best song of the whole project.” And so was forged an unlikely musical alliance between the Shoals music scene and a Boston punk legend. Rick is already plotting his return, “I’m planning to be back later in the summer to record again,” and I’m anxiously waiting to promote the concert! We filled 116 Mobile for The Continental show that night in December, and in the process, we won Rick Barton’s heart with our small-town charm. We also showed him how we got our reputation for supreme musical talent and worldclass recording studios. We are creating a new musical reputation that includes both the studios and off-the-map vibe, but by supporting shows and events outside our comfort zone, we are slowly making the area a live-music stop for touring acts. There’s a whole world out there interested in our heritage and if we open our eyes, allow our ears to hear, our hearts to be moved, and our booties to be shaken, we can add to what we have to offer back. We might discover as much about the world as the world is still discovering about us. Maybe looming just around the corner, down a cobbled oneway street, your new favorite band is waiting to share with you in the exhilarating release that is the live show.
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text by jennifer crossley howard » Photos by Bethany Dean
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MASTERFUL PLAN
Grand inspiration can be scaled to fit any space, a lesson Beverly Farrington applied when designing an outdoor living and pool space in a small backyard. The stately columns, geometric landscaping, and green lawns of the Westchester Country Club in upstate New York inspired her work for the Alison home in Huntsville’s Twickenham Historic District. Farrington helped renovate and redesign the kitchen as well, but the scene stealer is the pool area. Both were added two years ago. Christy Alison—who owns the home with her husband, Dr. Bill Alison—called on Farrington, of Huntsville’s Accents of the South, to create a functional area to live outdoors, one that could withstand football parties and games of pool basketball while looking traditional and elegant. The overall look of the area falls somewhere between clean, spare classic design with a touch of Tuscany.
“Our goal was to create the ultimate room with a view.” —Designer Beverly Farrington, on the Alisons’ outdoor living space
Large limestone blocks that serve as outdoor flooring with grass growing between them are the foundation for a gazebo, trellis, dining area, and sitting area with a gas fire pit and heaters, controlled with the flip of a switch. “Even though it’s a harsh surface, you still have the feeling of being in a grassy space,” Farrington said. Wood lawn chairs, stacked stone work around the pool, and a rose-hued stone bench are accented with pale Mediterranean blue pillows, side tables, and dinnerware. “We kept everything neutral, and we accented with azure to pick up the color of the pool,” Farrington added. The pool, only 42 inches deep, is the centerpiece of the yard. Its surroundings are used almost year round. The Alisons’ teen children and friends spend summers there, and, in the fall, the family hosts neighborhood football parties to watch Alabama games.
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“The backyard was really small, and not many people thought there was enough room to have a pool, but we maximized it, and we love it,” Christy Alison said. The house was built in 1889, and the Twickenham neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. As such, exterior changes, which require approval from the Historic Huntsville Foundation, must reflect how the homes looked when they were built. “It’s kind of like going in a time warp,” Farrington said.
The sun room allows the clients to extend their Southern hospitality to guests, by entertaining in a relaxed and comfortable space.
The gazebo took the most planning.
“We built this pavilion to soften the unattractive view,” Farrington said of the structure which serves the dual purpose of hiding a nearby, unsightly garage roof. Her plan worked. To blur other structural edges, two-foot flower beds were added around the perimeter of the yard, including miniature, manicured magnolia trees and shrubbery. “I wanted the backyard to be not modern, but updated,” Alison said. “I just wanted it to be soft and welcoming.” The Twickenham neighborhood welcomed the Alisons soon after their marriage; they’ve lived in the downtown neighborhood ever since. “It was already nice,” Alison said, “but it continues to
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MASTERFUL PLAN
Pops of teal blue and pewter accent the neutral color palette.
get better as more people move in and redo houses. We like that the houses are close together. It creates a good neighborhood environment. We spend a lot of time outside.” Their house, 424 Randolph, and the one next door, 426 Randolph, were built for two sisters, according to historical documents. Both homes were part of the Bradford Homestead, an Antebellum property that stood between Randolph and Eustis avenues. The original owner of the Alisons’ home was Sally Ewing Long. Fourteen years ago, the Alisons added on to the home, to make room for a growing family. They have four children, all teens. “Back then, I was pregnant with twins, so we felt like we needed a bigger house,” Alison said. It has expanded to 6,500 square feet, with Farrington aiding in the recent renovation of the range area of the kitchen and knocking out a wall to open to the family room. Alison wanted more flow and to be able to converse with her kids while she was in the kitchen.
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Recently, Farrington was at the home when the Alisons’ teen son commented on the room’s openness. “I feel like I’m in the kitchen with Mom,” he told her. Century-old details—such as heart of pine flooring and brass doorknobs—blended seamlessly with newer elements through the use of timeless colors and materials.
Updated light fixtures in brushed brass add a dash of modernity to the space.
“We definitely wanted it to blend with the rest of the house,” Alison said. “Most people can’t tell where it starts and stops.” The home’s old kitchen was accessible to the den by two small entrances which obstructed views and sunlight. To open it, a 20-foot wall containing the stove had to go. A steel beam hidden in the ceiling joist and new pilings in the basement were added to support the new expanse. Farrington changed Old World-inspired light fixtures in favor of contemporary gold and brass hardware to match the open, spare room and to add more light. Natural light in the kitchen was adequate, she added, but installing LED brightened the space with “clear, white light.”
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MASTERFUL PLAN
Predictable neutrals get new life when paired with bold, current colors.
Shades of pewter and palomino gray updated predictable neutrals in the kitchen. Interior designers have been using gray as a neutral for years, and while that trend shows no signs of slowing, Farrington noticed at this year’s design market in High Point, North Carolina, that bright colors are making their way into the kitchen and dining room. “We’re going to start seeing a lot more color mixed with gray and neutral backgrounds,” she said. “We’re going to see emerald greens, Chinese reds, mustards, and royal blues.” Farrington recently refurbished and painted a butler’s pantry at another home in peacock blue, a bold teal. She is using emerald green on dining room walls in another home. Such solid, contemporary backgrounds, whether calm or bold, update backdrops for cherished household heirlooms such as the Alisons’ English and French antiques. “It makes both elements more outstanding,” Farrington said.
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market: west » By Susan Rowe » Photos by Abraham Rowe A
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ORANGE PATCHOULI CIRCLE E CANDLE ($17) CLOTH + STONE (256) 767-0133
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HOME SWEET HOME TEA TOWEL ($12) CERAMIC SOAP DISH ($8) HANDMADE SOAP ($6) BATH SALTS ($6) LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OILS ($30) STUDIO 23 (256) 247-2601
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LAVENDER BATH BOMB ($8) BRANDED BOUTIQUE (256) 349-9293
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ETCHED GLASS ($12) ALABAMA CHANIN (256) 760-1090
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market: west
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CAPRI BLUE CANDLES ($17-$62)
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TRAVERTINE TOP TABLE ($599)
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2X3 BLACK SAND RUG ($25)
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2X3 WOVEN BLACK RUG ($25)
E
LEE MOROCCAN PILLOW ($259)
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GOLD PILLOW ($170)
RIVERWORKS DESIGN STUDIO
(256) 314-2444
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CLASSIC PILLOW IN NATURAL ($110)
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JASPER PILLOW ($115)
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JAMES PILLOW ($172)
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THE BILLIE THROW ($560)
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COLOR BLOCK NAPKINS ($54)
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COLOR BLOCK WATER PITCHER ($108)
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SMALL COLOR BLOCK
GLASSES ($62 EACH)
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TOPSTITCH COASTER SET ($38)
ALABAMA CHANIN
(256) 760-1090
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WOODEN COASTERS ($25)
STUDIO 23
(256) 247-2601
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GIORGIO LINEN FELIX PILLOW ($120)
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SLUBBY LINEN WITH
SILK PIPING PILLOW ($95)
PILLAR & PEACOCK
(256) 349-5202
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KALALOU RECYCLED GLASS
LARGE WINE DECANTER ($56)
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KALALOU RECYCLED GLASS
SMALL JUICE DECANTER ($70)
PSI PRINTERS & STATIONERS
(256) 766-5402
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PROTEA CHENIN BLANC 2015 ($19.95)
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PROTEA RED BLEND ($19.95)
THE CREATIVE GRAPE
(256) 668-6939
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CUSTOM GOLD FRAMES
(PRICES VARY BY SIZE)
COOPER FRAMING
(256) 320-7767
PLANTS ($4.95-$29.95)
GREEN VALLEY NURSERY,
LANDSCAPING AND PRODUCE
(256) 712-5451
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scene
Michael Pretes, Tom Ross, and Christopher Maynard
Julie Causey, Jeffrey Bibbee, Santanu Borah, Joy Borah, Bethany Green, David Johnson, and Mary Beth Willis Beth Sewell, David Johnson, and Linda Austin
Tammy Jacques, Kimberly Greenway, Rachel Hillis, and Clarissa Hall
Bethany Green and Callie Brewton
Tom Ross, Claudia Vance, Linda Austin, and Joy Borah
Above: UNA Haiti Cooperative
April 20, 2017 · Home of Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee, Florence
Above: Front (left to right): Peyton Brown, Cacky Cape, Melissa Dillard, Sydney Cole, Sarah Grace Copeland, Molly Kathryn Cornelius, Lily Grace Couvillon; Back (L to R): Hayley Dent, Callie Campbell, Hannah Page Clayton, Victoria Fennell, Polly Gartrell, Libby Gold, Carol Graffeo Right: Front (left to right): Jordan Hanks, Mary Grace Hash, Windham Hunter, Alexa Janssen, Emory Johnson, Macey Johnson, Caroline Jones; Back (left to right): Megan Kesting, Bonnie Lioce, Anne Dillon Loflin, Jordan Loftin, Claudia Lynn, Lillie Markwalter, Sarah Miner
* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.
Mary Beth Willis and Mollie Schaefer
Jeffrey Bibbee and Juliette Butler
Below: 2017 HSO Guild Debutantes Announcement May 18, 2017 · Huntsville Country Club
Above: Front (left to right): Elle Noller, Lizzy Norris, Megan Pollard, Annie Reiney, Hannah Schrimsher, Aly Sexton, Riley ºAnne Sharpe; Back (left to right): Sally Frances Smith, Evie Sutton, Sally Swing, Allison Taylor, Meredith Walker, Taylor Willis —Photos by © Jeff White
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THOSE WHO CAN (RE)DO tex t by
roy hall
» Photos by
seth parker
Charles Vaughn comes by his love for home design honestly. The scion of Huntsville’s venerable Vaughn Lumber Company, Vaughn spent a few years post-college exploring other directions before acknowledging that his childhood bedroom, already crammed with collected furniture before he’d graduated high school, was a clear indication of where his real interests lay. Surrendering to the influence of DNA, Vaughn joined the residential construction business his dad bought from the estate of his long-time boss, in 1973. Vaughn Lumber Company’s work is entirely residential, and Vaughn, who succeeded his father as owner, does much of the design—including his first house, which Vaughn conceived and
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THOSE WHO CAN (RE)DO
contracted when he was a mere 25 years old. “That house was on a hillside, and it was two-and-a-half stories,” Vaughn said of the house he called home for 33 years. “Over the years, I’d played with it and done all I could.” Vaughn decided four years ago that the time had arrived to downsize, and while he was eager to sacrifice space (“I only wanted rooms I would live in every day.”), his previous home had one perk he wasn’t willing to forego in a move. “My house had a view, and I didn’t want to lose that.” Location, location, location, as they say, and for Vaughn, only one would do: Monte Sano Mountain. A three-year-long search culminated with a modest ranch house purchased the same year Vaughn’s dad purchased his business—1973. Calendar-kismet aside, the match was anything but love at first site. “When I walked in the first time, I was disappointed,” Vaughn said of the house. “I left thinking there was nothing I could do with it.” Vaughn’s builder-brain had other ideas, and after a few hours of mulling and a good night’s sleep, “I had a plan.” Vaughn returned the next day, construction crew in tow. His foreman’s diagnosis: “The house is in good shape structurally. We can do it.”
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“I WAKE UP SMILING EVERY MORNING TO LIVE IN THIS HOUSE, IN THIS LOCATION, AMONG THESE GREAT PEOPLE I ADORE, ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN.” —CHARLES VAUGHN PRO TIP What they could do—Vaughn’s master plan—was nothing less than a complete interior overhaul, right down to the framing. Vaughn takes us on a verbal tour of his starting place: “The home was a typical three-bedroom rancher. You enter via one corner of the living room/dining room combo, with the kitchen and the den in the rear.” While the living areas were less than ideal, the bedroom/bathroom situation was dire, dismal even, by modern standards. The master, which didn’t take advantage of the majestic view, was a whopping 11feet by 13-feet, and the adjoining bathroom was a shoulder-crunching 42 inches wide, not including the toilet, which had to be squeezed past in order to reach the shower stall.
“I don’t care for cold showers,” Vaughn declared, but the shower’s faucet was only accessible from inside the shower.
“Too often, people are so concerned about resale, they don’t do things that are personal. In my own spaces, I have always created rooms that made my heart sing, even if they ventured from the norm. I have been rewarded when somebody came along and said, ‘This is the house I want, and I know there’s not another one like it.’”
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THOSE WHO CAN (RE)DO
Most house hunters would file all that under “dealbreakers” before resuming their search. But for Vaughn, a choppy floor plan, a miniscule master bedroom, and an inconvenient john are just challenges to be overcome by smart design, patience, and know-how. “So many people have said to me, ‘Oh, it must have been the most horrible thing in the world,’” Vaughn said of his renovation. “But I loved it.” The only aspect of the project Vaughn didn’t relish was “writing the checks,” he said with a laugh. The unified goal throughout the home was to “open the house up as much as possible by combining spaces and increasing volume rather than square footage by raising the ceiling.” Abetting his goal of openness, Vaughn utilized a
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neutral color palette to “make the background recede,” allowing Vaughn’s collection of art, objets, case goods, and other treasures to take center stage. First on the chopping block: removing the wall separating the living room and the den and raising the ceiling. With that encumbrance removed, guests are now greeted at the front door with an unobstructed view right through the heart of the house, to the picture windows in the rear and the mountain beyond. Next, the dining room became the mud room—and the repository of large, unsightly appliances. The adjoining, newlyopened kitchen is outfitted in warm wood tones mimicking grass cloth wallcoverings across the way in the living room. “An open kitchen,” Vaughn said, carries with it a dual burden and obligation: “to be functional, but also to be a beautiful room.” Mission accomplished. Artfully placed cookware and a flood of light from above integrated the kitchen into the living area
around it. Dinner guests gather on barstools—Vaughn’s only furniture purchase for the new house—for conversation, even to lend a hand with meal prep. And those open shelves mean if a dinner guest/sous chef needs a particular tool, he can spot it without even having to ask. “It works,” Vaughn declared, “as long as you’re comfortable with being casual.” Comfort with some other, slightly unorthodox design choices is necessary, too. “There is no crown molding anywhere in the house,” Vaughn pointed out. The exclusion of what many considered a finishing touch might intimidate some, but in limiting the use of molding throughout the house, Vaughn achieved what he described as a “modern” look. “Modern,” in the sense that an eclectic, cultivated collection of disparate pieces and styles form a variety of eras and cultures are displayed together, harmoniously, without the interference of busy fixtures and features, in a design equation in which subtraction becomes addition.
PRO TIP “Things look better when they’re grouped.”
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THOSE WHO CAN (RE)DO
“When renovating, 90 percent of what we do is what we take away,” Vaughn said, “not what we put back.” A dated, badly proportioned mantle was not among the 10 percent to make the demolition cut. “It was one of those energy efficient fireplaces, with four fans and grills. We took it all out.” The fireplace that occupies that space today is off-center, “exaggeratedly horizontal and low,” but from the living area’s fireside vantage point, it seems proportional to the large wall. A staircase, positioned intrusively across the room from the fireplace, was removed and replaced with a circular version, which Vaughn located just inside the front door. “Because the stairwell is circular, I wanted the wall behind it to match, to hug the stairs,” Vaughn said. Bender board accomplished that task, but the seams between the panels “just wouldn’t suffice.” Vaughn added more battens to cover the seams, creating recessed panels, and painted the walls white, to reflect the light that pours in from the windows above.
Like most well executed rennovations, the details are what give a project its distinctive character. Vaughn's skill lies in his ability to effortlessly combine a variety of finishes, colors, shapes, and textures to create a unified whole. Matt metals and rustic painted wood live comfortably with vintage modern antiques and a plethora of regional art and carefully collected objects. Everything has a place in this warm mountain retreat.
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The concrete floor was already there, hidden beneath wall-to-wall carpet. Vaughn’s team repaired the chips and painted it a shade of gray lifted from the guest bedroom’s Roman shade fabric, whose green Vaughn pulled from the curtains. Green recurs throughout the guest bedroom, in jute rugs, fabrics, and accessories. “It’s a basement,” Vaughn acknowledged, but “I’ve tried to make it warm and bright.” Whether or not warmth was Vaughn’s goal for his new home atop Monte Sano, that is the effect—modern, chic, stylish, thoughtful, yes; but, warm.
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THOSE WHO CAN (RE)DO
Inspirational, too, and not just for Vaughn’s houseguests. “I wake up smiling every morning to live in this house, in this location, among these great people I adore, on top of a mountain.”
PRO TIP “When choosing a color, commit to it; no second guessing. And remember: colors are scarier when a room is empty; once you move in, you’ll see less wall.”
Top left: Suspended over the bed, the handmade light fixture from Carolina Lantern adds drama to the calming, warm space. Left: Vaughn replaced the existing wood-burning stove with a glass door model, to mimic the look and feel of a fireplace. Bottom left: A skylight adds even more depth to the enlarged master bath.
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• • • PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND NONPROFITS! • • •
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Your BizHub Watchdog
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jtrayco.com 64 | NOALASTUDIOS.COM | July/August 2017
4127 Helton Drive, Florence (256) 767-7210 450 Production Avenue, Madison (256) 464-0010
LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL: A Tour of North Alabama Airbnbs Airbnb, the web- and app-based booking service, is creating a new generation of 21st century hoteliers by providing homeowners with a platform for renting unoccupied homes and apartments to travelers. tex
In addition to renting out their own homes, a growing number of Airbnb property owners are utilizing spaces that are not permanently occupied but are
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specifically for rental on Airbnb. The truly groundbreaking service allows travelers to experience their destinations in a more authentic and personal way than ever before, by exchanging the predictability of hotels for an immersive, locallyinspired lodging experience. As a result, Airbnb users expect to be immersed in their destination’s culture, neighborhood, and pace of life—a locals only experience, complete with a host debriefing on local hot spots or tourist destinations. No’Ala spoke to three Airbnb hosts from across the Tennessee Valley, whose warm and inviting spaces offer their guests a glimpse into life in North Alabama. Peeking into these local listings, and the entrepreneurs responsible for designing and maintaining them, may inspire you to book a trip of your own, or even consider cashing in on a commodity you already own, your home.
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LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL
“Airbnb is ideal for families. It is private and allows you to have access to multiple rooms without paying per room like you would at a hotel.”
—Tera Wages
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WES AND TERA WAGES P h oto s by
abraham rowe
As the owners of their own videography and photography business, Armosa Studios, Wes and Tera Wages frequently find themselves traveling for work. And as the proud parents of Olive (three), Walker (two), and Abbott (one month), the Wages rarely find themselves traveling alone. Wes and Tera first heard of Airbnb during work trips to New York City, when a client suggested a listing tailormade for the family. According to Tara, they were instantly hooked. “Airbnb is ideal for families. It is private and allows you to have access to multiple rooms without paying per room like you would at a hotel,” she said. The Wages recently purchased a historic home conveniently divided into three apartments within walking distance of downtown Florence. The Wages moved into one of the three units and converted another into a guest space for visiting friends and relatives. Soon after moving in, Tera’s mother suggested they convert the guest space into an Airbnb, for extra income. They followed Mom’s advice. “We love the tourism in the Shoals. We love Florence, and we love to show it off,” Tera said. When guests arrive, Wes typically goes downstairs and greets them, familiarizes them with the area, and answers any questions they may have about their stay. So far, lodgers from places as close as Nashville and as far away as France have come to enjoy the mid-century apartment. Wes and Tera designed their Airbnb to feel as local as possible. All of the apartment’s signage and posters are representative of Southern culture, specifically the Shoals. They also put an emphasis on providing families with a comfortable stay, including a Pack ’n Play infant nap station, an extra air mattress, and a washer and dryer. “People travel from all over the world to see the Shoals and for so many different reasons. We’ve had a lady come just for Alabama Chanin, another visitor who came to see Tom’s Wall, and others who have come to see the architecture of the Frank Lloyd Wright house, and, of course, there are those who are in town for concerts,” Tera said. July/August 2017 | NOALASTUDIOS.COM | 67
WHITNEY AND BETHANY DEAN Ph o t o s by
bethany dean
Photographer Bethany Dean and her husband, Whitney, of the folk/pop duo The Sweeplings, own a pictureperfect cottage in New Market recently dubbed “The Cutest Tiny Home in Alabama” by MSN.com. The Deans had never used Airbnb themselves before a friend suggested listing their property on the website. The Deans researched the website and decided to go for it. “We just figured we would take some decent photos of the property and people could come and stay there,” Whitney said of those early days as hosts. “Because we had never experienced Airbnb as a guest before listing, we had no clue in the beginning what our guests expected.” Quickly, the Deans achieved the delicate balance between hospitality and privacy. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to have a totally private getaway with minimal interaction, if that was the kind of vacation they wanted,” Whitney said. For quests who appreciate a more interactive experience with their hosts, the Deans are happy to oblige. “We have this tiny 100-year-old little cottage right across from downtown New Market that is said to have been the first post office in Alabama. We tried to especially emphasize the history and preserve the integrity of the original design, while also making it functional with modern touches,” Whitney said.
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LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL
�We wanted to give people the opportunity to have a totally private getaway with minimal interaction, if that was the kind of vacation they wanted.�—Whitney Dean
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LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL
“We fell in love with the Shoals after visiting, and decided to make it our home. We see so much potential here.” —Matt Golley
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MATT GOLLEY AND SARAH BAXTER P h oto s by
abraham rowe
Sarah Baxter, a nurse practitioner in her native Austin, Texas, relocated to Florence two years ago with her musician husband, Andy, in search of a new professional horizons. Shortly after arriving in the Shoals, Sarah began perusing local antique stores for pieces she could breathe new life into, reinvigorating her lifelong passion for design in the process. Meanwhile, the Baxters’ friends Matthew and Piper Golley fell in love with the Shoals’ music culture, aesthetic, and history during a visit from back home in Texas. Like their friends before them, the Golleys decided to relocate to Florence, where friends Matt and Sarah put their shared love for residential design to work, as partners in a burgeoning home renovation business. The Golleys had listed a property on Airbnb once before, but had ultimately chosen to remove it from the site in order to rent it out long-term. With that experience under his tool belt, Matt and business partner, Sarah, were hired to consult, design, and renovate an Airbnb guesthouse for a local homeowner. The Nonesuch Guesthouse is a fullyrenovated, one-bedroom garage apartment nestled away in a cozy side street off Wood Avenue, in Florence. Matt and Sarah did the majority of the labor themselves, with the exception of plumbing and electrical. Guests at Nonesuch, which Matt manages for the homeowner, are provided with two bicycles, Apple TV, and keyless entry, as well as a record player complete with local records from Florence’s Single Lock label. “We fell in love with the Shoals after visiting, and decided to make it our home,” Matt said. “We want people to know that other people are hearing about this area and coming from all over the place. We aim to help perpetuate that buzz, because we see so much potential here.”
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Artist in Residence Te x t by
ROY HALL
» Ph o t o s by
abraham rowe
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“I wanted to look at my ordinary surroundings in an unordinary way.”
“Wherever you go, there you are.” That old chestnut serves as a reminder that no matter how far off the beaten path we wander or how new the terrain, the essential questions of life follow. But new vistas can also offer fresh perspectives, and in the service of an artist, like Florence’s Marisa Keris, a change of scenery can become the catalyst for a journey toward a more complete sense of self. Keris’ own journey has led the artist from her native New Jersey, to Rhode Island and Rome, before returning to her adopted home in the Shoals, where she has lived since shortly after college. Exploration is a recurring theme for the trans-genre artist, who has, over the course of her young career, worked
in a variety of mediums—photography and graphic, interior, and product design. But painting is where she feels most at home. And of late, it’s Keris’ home she’s felt most inspired to paint—both literally, with the walls of her recently refurbished house, and representationally, on the canvases that bring those walls to life. The concept of home began for Keris in the sylvan surrounds of her family’s Christmas tree farm situated in the heartland of the Garden State. Far removed from the urbanity of Newark or Bayonne’s commercial waterfront, life on the family farm inspired the teenage artist, initially, toward family portraits, followed by paintings inspired by the flora around her. The latter portfolio led her to the esteemed Rhode Island School of Design. “I had a great art teacher,” Keris said of her primary high school influence, “and my parents always thought arts were a valid choice.”
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Her first stint post-college was with Tuscumbia-based Robert Rausch, of GAS Design Center, where Keris “learned a lot by helping with design.” Keris’ relocation southward was by design. “I sought out an artist’s residency in the South. I love Southern lit—Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor—and Alabama inspired me to deal with landscapes.” The fruit of that inspiration is displayed throughout the home Keris shares with Matt Green, who performs with Florence-based band Belle Adair and John Paul White. Keris described her Jungle series as “closed, a bit claustrophobic. They’re almost interior, despite depicting exterior scenes.” The canvases stand in stark contrast to the bright, airy, minimalist space around them, and that juxtaposition of light and dark elicits a heightened sense of presence from both. And while the work is intellectually challenging, their muted pallet is an ocean away from intimidating or dreary. Quite the opposite—Keris’ work invites the viewer inside a new world. “The Jungle series was, for me, about capturing this frozenin-time mood or atmosphere. It’s about telling a story in a visual way and evoking an emotional response.” The work earned Keris admission into Philadelphia’s prestigious Temple University Tyler School of Art graduate school last year. Tyler is considered Ivy League in the world of visual art, and their Temple University Rome program, from which Keris has just returned after a year abroad, is coveted among student artists.
“After living out of two suitcases for a year, I realized I needed less.”
“Graduate school presents an opportunity to experiment, to expand your ideas,” Keris said. What better place for an artist to do that than Rome? The light in Rome and the architecture, along with the input of professors and students, propelled Keris in a new and unexpectedly—and literally—interior direction. “I wanted to look at my ordinary surroundings in an unordinary way,” Keris said of her most recent, and still evolving, series, Interiors. Keris eschewed the grandiosity outside her front door in favor of the modest details of the two-centuryold, five-floor-walk-up Keris called home while in Rome. A lamp, her bed, drinking glasses, and a piano are the protagonists of her most recent series. Based on the artist’s own
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photographs, each canvas depicts its subject’s actual size. (The piano painting had to be removed from its stretchers and rolled into a tube for shipment from Rome.) Artists are uniquely effected by their surroundings, and while deciphering the meaning behind their work can sometimes be as foggy and imprecise as dream interpretation, in Keris’ case, her shift from the wilds of nature to the confines of home seems logical, even inevitable. “After living out of two suitcases for a year, I realized I needed less,” Keris said, of her mindset after returning home to the Shoals. The home she returned to reflected that viewpoint. Adding to the other disciplines mastered by Keris, she, along with her mother and aunt, assumed the daunting task of rescuing the home Keris now lives in, a stone’s throw from Florence’s Frank Lloyd Wright home, from neglect and disrepair. “I love potential. I can look at something and see how it could be amazing.” Nine months of work, starting with a complete gut, resulted in a remarkable transformation from a boxy ranch with the standard living room/dining room/ kitchen configuration to a loft-like interior that manages to honor the home’s mid-century provenance without sacrificing creature comforts. And while open floor plans often achieve fluidity at the expense of well-defined spaces, Keris’ home does not. Within a single space, living room, dining room, kitchen, common space, and den are each precisely delineated: five spaces coexisting within a single frame. Keris’ canvases contribute to the expansiveness of the space—each painting is “like a plane where you can enter another world.” Keris’ studio in the back of the house, where she continues to create more work for her Interiors series, serves as a portal to that dimension. “An artist needs their own space to do their own thing.” After making art at two of the most acclaimed universities in the country and the most storied city for art in the world, Keris has found her muse in her adopted southern home. “So, in a way, it’s more influential than New York City or Rome. So you never know.”
» Information about Keris and prints of her work are available at marisakerisstudio.com.
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When in Rome: familiar objects in Keris’ home-away-from-home served as inspiration for the artist’s latest series, “Interiors.”
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Alabama Chanin
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re c ip e s a n d s tyl in g by
susan rowe
» t e x t an d ph o t o s by
abraham rowe
A few months back, my wife, Susan, and I made our way out to Killen’s Bluewater Creek Farm, to check out the early spring produce. After picking up some veggies and farm pork, we were given a farm-wide tour by Bluewater’s proprietor and chief go-getter, Collins Davis. As Collins led us through freshly planted blueberry bushes and raised vegetable beds, past the heritage pigs, on our way to the beef cows, he gave us the lowdown on Bluewater’s governing philosophy, something called “holistic farm management.” Holistic farm management follows the natural cycles that occurred in the grasslands centuries ago. Using nature as a guide, the cows and chickens move almost daily, with the chickens following a day behind the cows and eating the flies that are attracted to the compost. Not only do the chickens spread the compost, but eating all those bugs and grasses make for the best eggs money can buy, and it keeps the unwanted bugs in check on the farm. This holistic philosophy informs everything they do at the farm, from making their own compost out of discarded plants and spent grains from the local brewery, to using heritage seeds passed down from local farmer friends. Using local farmers as a sole source of vegetables isn’t easy, especially in the winter, but our trip to the farm invigorated my and Susan’s resolve to get as much as we can, as often as we can, from our local farmers. Food grown locally is better for the environment and the local economy, and because it is picked at the peak of freshness, it’s healthier—better tasting, too! Bluewater Creek Farm and lots of other great local farmers care about what goes into their soil, which goes into our food, and into us.
» The recipes were all inspired by, and sourced from, Bluewater Creek Farm (see page 126). The farm offers tours most Saturdays. For more information, visit bluewatercreekfarms.com.
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SLOW SUMMER SUPPER
Bluewater Creek Farm co-owner Collins Davis tends to his brood.
» Pro Tip: “The better quality your ingredients, the less you have to do to them to make them taste good.” —Chef Zach Chanin
with cheese spread
grilled vegetable toast
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SLOW SUMMER SUPPER
Grilled Summer Succotash 86 | noalastudios.com | July/August 2017
Our Favorite Local Markets Killen Farmers Market, Killen College Street Market, Florence Jack-O-Lantern Farms, Muscle Shoals and Downtown Florence Green Street Market, Huntsville Isom’s Orchard, Athens
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SLOW SUMMER SUPPER
with alabama White Sauce
Spatchcock Chicken
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popsicles Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemon, and Blueberry Swirl
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LIVING HISTORY:
A MADISON TREASURE STANDS THE TESTS OF TIME
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text by sarah gaede » Photos by Bethany Dean
Although the Alabama Historical Commission marker on the front lawn refers to this Federal-style house as the Lee Mansion, it’s really just a period plantation house—albeit with quite a history. In 1818, James Cooper, a cotton and indigo farmer, constructed the house, located a mile north of the Tennessee River on what is now Redstone Arsenal, for his bride, Charity Allison, who had immigrated to Madison County from Ireland the year before. Two years after the wedding, according to legend, James committed suicide by throwing himself in the river with a large iron pot on his head. After Cooper’s death, Charity ran the plantation herself. Her neighbor, a younger man, came over frequently to “assist” her, as the current owner Ann Marie Lacy put it, and eventually asked for her hand in marriage, even though he was five years her junior.
A
Before Charity would agree to marry Colonel Houston Lee, she insisted on a prenuptial agreement, in which she would keep her own land, and be the sole heir of his land. (This did not go over well with his siblings.) The smitten Colonel agreed to all her demands, and had the twisting stairway in the center hall built for his bride. Charity outlived the Colonel, who left her over 2,000 acres when he died in 1853. She lost the plantation to the bank for unpaid taxes after the Civil War, and died in 1872. In later years, the Lee house had several owners, including the Harris family, from whom the United States Army acquired the estate in 1941 to expand the Arsenal. The house, then known as the Harris House, was used as the residence of the commanding general and later as housing for visiting dignitaries. In 1973, when the Army decided the house was too costly to maintain, it was sold to Tyler and Evelyn Darwin, who moved it to its present location, in Madison. In 1999, Anne Marie, then the Madison city prosecutor, was sent to inspect an old house that had burned while the owners were out of town, to see if it should be condemned. She immediately fell in love with the original wide-plank
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Anne Marie fell in love at first sight with the heart pine floors, the five fireplaces, the high ceilings, and especially the twisting staircase, built especially for Charity by her second husband. She knew she had to save it.
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LIVING HISTORY: A MADISON TREASURE STANDS THE TESTS OF TIME
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LIVING HISTORY: A MADISON TREASURE STANDS THE TESTS OF TIME
heart of pine floors, the five fireplaces, the high ceilings, and especially the twisting staircase, which had not been damaged by the fire. She tracked down Mrs. Darwin and learned that she had offers from people who wanted to tear the house down and subdivide the three acres of property. Anne Marie, who was engaged to her husband, Allen, at the time, asked him, “If I can get financing, can we buy it and restore it?” Allen agreed—he didn’t think there was even a remote possibility of that happening. A week later, they had a deal, and Allen learned a valuable lesson about his bride-to-be. Anne Marie chuckled, “He’s not that easy to fool anymore.” Ten months later, thanks to their diligent and capable contractor, Bonnie Marlow, the house was completely restored and updated, with insulation and new wiring and plumbing. Because they wanted to maintain the character of the house, the couple decided not to change the original footprint. They did do a complete remodel of the kitchen, which had borne the brunt of the fire, and added a cedar closet above the kitchen. About 10 years ago Anne Marie and Allen decided the house looked too much like a museum, and replaced a good deal of the furniture with more contemporary pieces, because, Anne Marie observed, “Victorian furniture is not all that
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comfortable.” The house is a perfect showcase for outsized pieces that would be overwhelming in most contemporary dwellings, including the grand piano discretely tucked in a corner of the parlor. The Lee House has been a wonderful venue for entertaining up to 100 people at a time, including fundraisers for governors and US senators. But now the couple spend most of their time in the kitchen, with its easy access to the patio and lowmaintenance perennial garden with tool house and workshop. I asked Anne Marie if the house is haunted, as so many old houses in Alabama seem to be. Evelyn Darwin told her several people had seen a woman on the stairs, but Anne Marie has never seen or heard her. Since the house would not be here today if Anne Marie had not taken it on as a labor of love, we decided that Charity is happy Anne Marie saved her house, and has left her alone. Anne Marie would not mind meeting Charity, whom she admires greatly. In fact, as she was describing Charity’s financial machinations, she exclaimed, “Charity! What a girl!” Much as Anne Marie and Allen love their house, they find themselves at the downsizing stage of life. Their hope is to find someone who will love Charity’s house as they love it, preserve it, and care for it as a 200-year old grande dame deserves.
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PROJECT: BARNSTORMER te x t by
roy hall
» ph o t o s by
vickie pewitt
Pillar & Peacock gives us the low-down on high-end design, with exclusive glimpses into the designer trade.
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A ground-up design project is every interior designer’s dream assignment, and adventurous homeowners willing to explore new and uncharted creative territory are dream clients. So when the perfect project and the ideal client converged on the LaRoche family’s empty plot of land in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Brandeis Short and Adrianne Bugg, of Florence’s Pillar and Peacock, pinched themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming before proceeding with a comprehensive home design. Hope-brand doors and windows occupied the top spot on the homeowners’ wish list. But the price point for the custom-made bronze accents was a real budget buster. We compromised with aluminum-clad bronze exteriors over a primed wood interior. The windows’ interiors (frame, sash, and muntins) were painted “Kendall Charcoal” by Benjamin Moore.
As with all projects large or small, the starting point for Short and Bugg’s process was the family’s wish list. The LaRoches envisioned a welcoming, design-forward home in which seasoned surfaces and natural textures co-exist with contemporary elements, while taking into account the practical considerations of two young children.
One of the home’s real treasures—reclaimed wood from a barn in Manchester, Tennessee— lends texture and character to the floors, beams, and island.
Pillar and Peacock’s design solutions (annotated here) include the inventive use of reclaimed wood from a nearby barn, reimagined family treasures, artisanal elements from local craftsmen, a flood of light—even a teepee or two.
The upper cabinets are 20” deep and rest directly atop concrete counters. The doors are inset with hardware that allows them to open and recess back into the cabinet. Appliances are concealed inside the cabinets, out of sight, but easily accessible.
The net effect is a stylish and practical home, situated on the design continuum somewhere between industrial and traditional.
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PROJECT: BARNSTORMER
The vestibule displays original prints of Ryman Auditorium show plaques. The dresser is a family heirloom, updated with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware.
After testing a multitude of color samples, the designers settled on “Knoxville Gray� by Benjamin Moore. The shade is a perfect combination of blue and gray and is used throughout the house. Stained mahogany doors with dark bronze Ashley Norton hardware and copper lanterns that will patina over time greet visitors.
Brick from the exterior is repeated in the breakfast nook, mimicking the look and feel of an enclosed porch or other enclosed space. The ceiling is pitched with reclaimed wood beams. Large windows bring lots of light and a porch-like feel to the space. Motorized solar shades, controlled by the touch of a button, provide privacy and a break from the afternoon sun. The shades are tucked away behind reclaimed wood casings.
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Hand-glazed ceramic tile runs the full height of the wall, adding drama and height to the space. Concrete countertops— poured on site—cover the perimeter’s stained alder wood cabinets. The island countertops are polished white Carrara marble with reclaimed wood cabinetry.
A glass bottle chandelier from Arteriors Home hangs above a custom, chevron, inlaid wood table.
Adjustable wall sconces accent the kitchens narrow, tall windows, which provide slivers of light to brighten the otherwise dark interior. White bronze hardware adds a distinctively contemporary, sleek touch to the traditional cabinetry. Seasoned Lodge skillets are suspended from customwelded iron hooks, with iron backplate. An easily wiped tray catches dripping grease.
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PROJECT: BARNSTORMER
The ceiling is covered with a metallic faux bois (French for “false wood”) wall covering that extends down the upper portion of the walls where it meets the painted wood. A custom welded mirror, by local craftsman Lucas Stokes, includes sconces mounted directly on the mirror, to stunning effect Four-inch thick stained Alder cabinetry is encased by concrete counter tops, integrated sink and sides in a continuous line. The faucet is mounted to the eight-foot paintedwood wall, clad with brushed nickel, reveals every six inches.
In the playroom, the designers created custom tee pees for the kids and mom and dad—even the cat! Bookcases house bins for toy storage.
The home’s public spaces are swathed in white, creating a calm backdrop for the character of the reclaimed wood. Shades of calming blue are used throughout the interior and exterior, including the front and rear entry vestibules.
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The white Carrara marble shower features a beautiful, exposed thermostatic shower system. A reclaimed wood barn door conceals the toilet.
A custom, leaded glass window by Nashville artisan Tyree McFarland with Helios glass sits above a freestanding tub.
The floor is a bluestone tile in a herringbone pattern. Walls are a simple nickel gap paneling. White Carrara marble counters accent the painted gray vanity. Reclaimed wood beams are reintroduced.
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The Best Things in Life text by roy hall » Photos by Lauren Tomasella Carney
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S
arah Robins Powell devises design solutions for a living. So when the graphic designer, her husband, Luke, and their three children, ages two, four, and six, opted to forego the spacious ’burbs in favor of tightly-knit downtown quarters, Powell used her professional know-how to solve her family’s issues of limited space.
To that end, Powell employed all the tools of the designer trade, thoughtfully combining color, space, line, rhythm, balance, and other elements that designers, of both the graphic and interior varieties, use to solve problems for their clients. Only this time, Powell’s client was herself and her still-growing family—a fourth Powell is on the way. Children are blessings, of course, but, they—along with their toys, clothes, and sticky hands—raise design issues, too. Powell addressed those challenges through thoughtful furniture arrangement, fabric choices, and a host of other interior decisions.
house was touched,” Powell said, by carpenters, electricians, and painters. With guidance from draftsman Mark Brubaker, the Powells reimagined the space, without altering the ’50s footprint, to make the home as practicable as possible, while honoring its legacy; no easy feat for most modern families. “People have been doing this for hundreds of years,” Powell observed of all the lives lived in less-than-large spaces. The Powells’ home, for the record, is right at 2,000 square feet. “Who are we,” Powell asked, “to think we need so much space?” Naturally, space-conscious living requires choices and discipline, both of which, Powell says, are intrinsic to her work. “Graphic design lends itself to making economical use of space.” That economy prompts questions: “What do you
“My husband and I talk about this all the time,” Powell said of the practical considerations inherent in design choices for a young family. The guiding principle for the Powells is the old adage that form must follow function. The function, in the Powells’ case, is a nurturing, welcoming home that takes a durable form without sacrificing warmth or character. “Our home has to be flexible, and it has to be able to take a beating,” Powell said with a laugh. The airy, chic interior of the Powell’s downtown Huntsville home certainly doesn’t look like it’s ever been handled with anything other than kid gloves. To the contrary, Powell insists, her children’s fingerprints are throughout the home; that they aren’t visible is a testament to Powell’s interior choices. “We don’t live in a museum or a designer furniture gallery. I chose interior surfaces that are easy to clean, plastic mould-
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The Best Things in Life
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ed chairs that can be wiped down, and magic-erasable walls.” In what might send a chill of dread up the spine of most parents of young children, those walls are a gleaming shade of white, and the sofa’s and chairs’ slipcovers are light gray. Not a problem, she insists: they’re washable. Powell is equally sanguine about the fate of two pieces that can only be described as family heirlooms. “My dad and I made the coffee table,” Powell said. And the exquisite farm table around which the Powells eat and entertain was a wedding gift from Powell’s great-grandparents to her grandparents. Meaningful and beautiful, certainly, but hardly off limits: “I don’t worry about it getting hurt,” Powell insisted. “For a while, it was a ping pong table; there are still holes on the sides from the net.” The importance of family extends beyond furnishings to the house itself, which Powell and her husband bought from her parents. Before making it their own, “every surface in the
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The Best Things in Life Come to think of it, “transitional” is an apt description for the young, vibrant, colorful family’s relationship to their current home. While Powell acknowledges that even the most careful attention to selective buying and decluttering may not overcome the limitations of two bathrooms for a family of six, the Powells love their nest, even if they transition into another, larger one sometime down the road. For now, though, it’s the little things that make life in downtown Huntsville meaningful. “I find often that the things I appreciate about this house are the small ones,” Powell said. “I love the light, the small vignettes around the house, the climbing tree our girls play on every day, or the sidewalk where they ride their bikes.” Powell knows that these little things—like a tree fit for climbing and sunlight—don’t necessarily translate into a “ton of value,” at least not of the monetary variety. Then again, the best things in life aren’t always for sale.
have that’s extraneous? What is taking away from your goal? What is impeding your life?” The answer to all those philosophical questions is prosaic: stuff. “I limit their clothes. I go through and give things away. We try to be smart with what we buy.” Powell is smart with what she doesn’t buy, too: Sarah Robins created much of the art herself, and she intentionally chose a gallery white (magic-erasable) wall color to emphasize her work, as well as the other pieces that add such exuberance to the space. With an artist’s eye, Powell curates her own professional portfolio, selecting and framing pieces she loves. The overall look of the home Powell defines as transitional, a style of decorating in which older pieces coexist with newer ones, creating a juxtaposition that highlights each.
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108 »
market: east » By Aissa Castillo and Lauren McCaul Petersen » Photos by Lauren Tomasella Carney H
A
GLASS PITCHER ($35.95)
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GOLD TIN CANDLE ($22)
C
HAND-PAINTED BOWL ($24.95)
INSPIRED GIFTS
(256) 527-2488
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CHARGERS ($9)
SWEET PINEAPPLE
(256) 964-7563
E
WHITE PLATE ($34)
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SEASTONE GLASSES (SET OF 2, $30)
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PENNETTI TRAY ($90)
THE LITTLE GREEN STORE
AND GALLERY
(256) 539-9699
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and STORAGE
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110 »
market: east
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ALAN DAVIS PAINTINGS ($200 EA.) THE LITTLE GREEN STORE AND GALLERY (256) 539-9699
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CTC FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRINT ($14) BLACK SHADOW BOXES ($28- $42) TURKISH TOWEL ($39.95) KILIM BACKPACK ($215) RAG RUG ($12.99) INSPIRED GIFTS (256) 527-2488
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Make Your Garden Grow: June Odom’s Well-Cultivated Life
text by sarah gaede » Photos by lauren tomasella carney
As we chatted over a lovely lunch replete with chicken salad sandwiches, homemade pickles, deviled eggs, fruit, and lemon squares, served on crisp white linen and sterling silver, June Odom paused while pressing food upon me and asked, mostly rhetorically, “Why don’t people commit to things?” June has been committing to things all her life—her husband of 63 years, Jim; her family; her church; and her adopted hometown. She moved to Decatur in 1955 and began working as a floor nurse at Decatur General Hospital. Within a few weeks, thanks to her organizational skills, she had moved up to operating room supervisor. After starting a family, June continued her commitment to the hospital and other causes as a volunteer. Just this past April, she was presented the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Miss Athelyne C. Banks Citizen of the Year award for her contributions to and volunteerism in the community.
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Make Your Garden Grow: June Odom’s Well-Cultivated Life
She and her husband both commented that Decatur has been very good to them, and they believe in giving back in every way they can. June embraces the idea of blooming where you are planted, figuratively and literally. She is a kindred spirit to Voltaire’s character Candide, who concluded: “Let us cultivate our own garden.” Alan Gopnik of The New Yorker writes about this classic pronouncement: “By ‘garden’ Voltaire meant a garden, not a field— not the land and task to which we are chained by nature but the better place we build by love. The force of that injunction, ‘We must cultivate our garden,’ is that our responsibility is local, and concentrated on immediate action.” This is a perfect description of how June has lived her entire life.
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Of all the causes she is passionate about, gardening may be June’s first love. She is a member of the Friends of Delano Park (Decatur’s oldest public park, dating from 1887). She is especially enthusiastic about Frazier Park, a project she has been involved with since its inception in 2003. She herded me and the photographer down the street from her house in a drizzle (with Jim serving as umbrella carrier) so we could behold the park’s glory. June and her committee had been feverishly putting the finishing touches on the newest landscaping just in time for photographs, and she was not going to have us miss it. Frazier Park is a lovely oasis in the middle of the city where people from surrounding offices come to eat lunch. It’s also a popular site for weddings. The park has been a work in progress since 2003, when Daikin America sponsored the creation of a traditional Japanese tea garden at one end. Retired mayor Lynn Fowler was responsible for the pretty red footbridge. The second stage, for which June served as chair of the design and fundraising committee, and which has been in progress since 2010, is an English/Southern-style garden. As with all gardens, there is still work to be done.
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Make Your Garden Grow: June Odom’s Well-Cultivated Life
June’s personal secret garden, and her public gardens, are a powerful witness to her love of community, her joy in creation, and the life-giving power of growing things.
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Of course June has her own garden, behind the house in the historic district where she and Jim have lived for 12 years. When they bought the house, they never thought they would live in it, but after an extensive remodeling, including gutting the interior and finishing the attic, as well as designing an extensive garden from scratch, they are there to stay. June emphasized more than once that a good landscape architect is the key to a successful garden. Hers were Samuel Bennet and Janice Maxwell. When they began to plan the garden, there was nothing there worth keeping but some white crepe myrtles. Everything else has been brought in. The garden is a wonderful example of how much can be accomplished in 12 years. The outside walls are covered with loropetalum, a shrub with burgundy evergreen foliage. There are Little Gem magnolias, some planted in urns, and limelight hydrangeas; Encore azaleas and Lenten roses. I was much taken with her Picasso petunias, featuring small purple blossoms with green edges. The two brightest touches of color in the garden when I visited, after azalea season, were the pomegranate tree that June hopes hangs on to its fruit, and the orange roses that her Auburn grandson insisted she plant. The garden has a paved sitting area, a little garden house with rocking chairs, and an oriental rug out front; winding paths; and little surprises like a bunny statue and a life-size stone dog. An unusual feature of the garden is the latticing on the walls of the house, built to support the Carolina jasmine. June told me they had run out of wall space, and a landscape architect at Mount Vernon who was visiting his mother down the street suggested the lattice arrangement. She can’t remember his name, but she is thankful for his suggestion. Channeling one of my husband’s anxieties, I asked her if having wood lattice against the wood siding of the house was a problem. She replied softly, “We don’t talk about that.” I asked June what her favorite flowers are. She said, “I’ve always loved geraniums, and I put them everywhere when I first started. Mama always told me, ‘Don’t let them go to bed with their feet wet.’ Then I graduated to boxwoods—so Southern and pretty!” There are indeed many boxwoods in June’s garden, but I’m sure I saw some geraniums subtly interspersed among them.
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Although June’s house is in the city, her garden is a surprisingly quiet retreat, even though an occasional train whistles by. The high walls and burbling fountain help screen street noise. Her architect Janice Maxwell observed when designing the garden: “We don’t want to shut out your neighbors; we want to screen for privacy, which benefits everyone.” June’s personal secret garden, and her public gardens, are a powerful witness to her love of community, her joy in creation, and the life-giving power of growing things. She has indeed cultivated a beautiful garden, and a beautiful life.
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COOL,CALM, COLLECTED text by jennifer Crossley howard Photos by lauren tomasella carney
A
home’s interior needn’t use warm colors to be inviting, which Beverly Farrington proved when she took on the renovation of the Gann home, a 1913 Craftsmanstyle bungalow in the Twickenham Historic District in downtown Huntsville.
The Gann family enjoys the downtown life, with walks to church down the street at Central Presbyterian as well as to the grocery store or out to dinner. The family often walks to nearby parks and to the beautiful Maple Hill Cemetery, the oldest in Huntsville. The Ganns bought the house in 2015 and embarked on an eight-month renovation by Farrington of Accents of the South, a home design and interior firm in Huntsville. This is the third home she has designed for the Ganns. Farrington oversaw moving the master bedroom, bathroom, and closet to the first floor, and redesigned and restructured the kitchen, great room, and living room. Pam Gann’s inspiration for the redesign came from Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, a relaxing retreat with roots grounded in rugged, Southern refinement. Think lots of white, wood, neutrals, and natural light. The Ganns, including Pam, Tony, and daughter Rachel and two adult sons who’ve moved away, are the third family who have lived in the home. That meant managing a melange of renovations and styles into a cohesive theme. “We simplified it,” the designer said. “That’s the thing about having an older home. It goes through many owners who put their taste in it.”
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COOL,CALM, COLLECTED
In the absence of a foyer—the living room greets guests as they enter the house—Farrington created an inviting sitting area facing the front door with two off-white rounded back chairs positioned in front of an arched, white brick fireplace. Walls are gray, and coral accents that repeat throughout the house are introduced here in pillows, an area rug, and the flowers in a patterned armchair. White, coffered ceilings complete a stately aesthetic. Farrington’s goal was to create a warm and inviting space through the use of color and furniture placement. She accomplished that mission in part by adding two large rose medallions urns on the fireplace mantel. With the reconfiguration of the house, the large kitchen needed opening. Various enclosed nooks made navigating the room a challenge, and Gann needed the space to bake and make soups for fall football parties she and her husband host. She gutted the kitchen and positioned it to face the great room at the front of the house. She added a pantry and butler’s pantry bar and wood inset cabinets painted slightly different
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shades of gray to frame the Thermador appliances. The addition of a sink and marble counters in Calcutta Gold converted a corridor and its two large windows overlooking hydrangeas and azaleas into the focal point of the kitchen. Wood floors and a Shaker-style door seal an elegant simplicity. The kitchen opens to the great room, which had been added by previous owners in 1999. One of the first changes Farrington made there was removing a stained glass skylight and replacing it with a coffered ceiling. Dark cherry wood built-in cabinets and white oak flooring remained, though the floors were dyed darker to match heart of pine flooring on the second floor. Gann works from, and her office is on the other side of the cabinets. Gann mused that the mix of wood floors in the their home hinted at trends decades ago. Farrington added history and more coral with a Oushak rug from Pakistan. The rugs contain medallion centers in soft colors, a contrast to more bold Persian rugs. A coral angled linen chair sits in front of a redesigned limestone fireplace.
In artful combination, the clients’ collection of antiques, Oriental rugs, and art create a living environment that manages to be both distinguished and inviting.
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COOL,CALM, COLLECTED
“THAT’S THE THING ABOUT HAVING AN OLDER HOME. IT GOES THROUGH MANY OWNERS WHO PUT THEIR TASTE IN IT.” —BEVERLY FARRINGTON Cool silvers and pale blues bring a European sophistication to the master suite, which Farrington designed after relocating the bedroom from the second floor to the first. The ice blue master bedroom walls and long draperies match to create a calming flow. A painted, dark charcoal four-poster bed poses a stark contrast to the walls. Farrington even mixed gold and silver—an ornate oblong mirror and more modern dresser—to luxurious effect. A large area rug matching the walls and curtains ties the room together and shows off the wood floors. Built-in white shelves that meet crown molding marry various neutral materials and colors against the cool canvas. A supple, rounded silver velvet chair plays on the soft metallic scheme that extends into the master bathroom and large closet. Ceilings soar 11-feet high in the adjoining master bath, and Gann requested that low-hanging light fixtures bring it down, which Farrington did with a chandelier over the tub.
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“I didn’t want it to feel cold,” Gann said. Farrington used large-print silver floral wallpaper to play off the diamond-paned window above the soaking tub. The diamond motif, echoed in the great room’s window surrounds, is a common accent in Craftsman homes. The manufacturer custom painted the tub to match the wallpaper, leaving it a shiny dark silver. “I love the style and the quaintness of it,” Gann said. “It’s a quiet place to rest. It’s easy.” The return of wallpaper is a trend that Farrington says will endure. “We’re seeing a lot more wallpaper now, more tone-ontone monochromatic, bold and larger print,” Farrington said. “It’s just got that real cottage feel to it,” said Gann of her home. “It’s very livable.”
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Slow Summer Supper (from page 82) Recipes • 3/4 cup mayonnaise (we use Duke’s) • Pinch of cayenne • Black pepper to taste Whisk lemon juice, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Whisk in mayonnaise and peppers. Serve on the side. Store extra sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for one week.
Grilled Summer Succotash
Spatchcock Chicken • • • • • • •
1 small whole chicken (3-4 pounds) 1/2 cup olive oil 1 lemon, juice and zest 2 cloves chopped garlic 2 tablespoon fresh thyme 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Chicken will need to marinate for up to 4 hours To spatchcock the chicken, use strong kitchen scissors or poultry shears and cut down either side of the spine. Pull out the spine, turn the chicken over, and press down on the breast of the chicken to flatten it out to one thickness. Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Place the chicken in a large ziplock bag. Pour marinade over chicken, making sure to coat the entire chicken. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat: for gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Place the chicken breast side up on the indirect side of the grill with the legs facing the hotter side. Grill for 20-25 minutes then flip the chicken and continue cooking for another 20-25 min. Continue to grill chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165°F, 40–50 minutes for a whole chicken. Let chicken stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Serve with Alabama White Sauce.
Alabama White Sauce • Juice of 1/2 lemon • 1 tablespoon sugar • 1/2 teaspoon salt
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns 1 clove garlic, rough chopped 1 bunch fresh dill (no need to chop) 2 cups fresh or frozen lima beans 3 slices of bacon Olive oil 4 ears of corn 1 red bell pepper, seeded and halved 2 zucchinis, halved 1 medium yellow onion, halved 1 jalapeño, seeded and halved 1 pint cherry tomatoes, threaded onto skewers Salt and pepper to taste 3-4 ounces feta cheese, or to taste
In a medium sauce pan, bring first five ingredients to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add dill. When cooled, strain, discard solids, and reserve liquid. In a medium sauce pan, add lima beans and water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or until beans are tender. Drain beans and set aside. Cook bacon in a large skillet over moderate heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Lightly coat the remaining vegetables in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes; 3 to 5 minutes for the tomatoes. When cool enough to handle, cut the kernels from the corn cob, chop the peppers, zucchini, and onion into 1/2 inch pieces, dice the jalapeño, and add lima beans. Combine 1/4-1/2 cup reserved vinegar sauce with vegetables in large bowl and lightly toss. Top with bacon crumbles and feta cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.
Grilled Vegetable Toast • • • • • • • • • •
1 medium sized onion, cut into 1/2 inch rounds 2 red bell peppers, seeded and halved 2 beets, cut into 1/2-inch rounds 4 radishes, halved 2 to 3 carrots, whole 3 medium zucchini, trimmed and halved lengthwise 1/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 1 loaf ciabatta bread, sliced (we got ours from the Alabama Chanin Factory Cafe) Cheese spread (recipe follows)
Coat vegetables with olive oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat until vegetables are lightly charred, around 8 to10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool enough to slice into bite-size portions to top the toast. Lightly brush each side of sliced ciabatta with olive oil. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes. To assemble, slather each toast slice with cheese spread and top with vegetables. Drizzle with a little good olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to finish.
Cheese Spread • • • •
10 ounces queso fresco 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt Zest of 1 lemon Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together into a creamy spread.
Lemon Lime Popsicle • 1/2 cup simple syrup* • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice Combine all ingredients and fill popsicle molds almost to the top, freeze 4 to 5 hours. APR Noala HG 2011_Layout 1 10/18/11 8:51 AM Page 1
Yield: 6 popsicles
Strawberry Lemon Popsicle • 3/4 cup strawberries blended • 3/4 cup lemon juice • 1/2 cup simple syrup* Combine all ingredients in blender and carefully pour into popsicle molds. Freeze 4 to 5 hours. Yield: 6 popsicles
Blueberry Swirl Popsicles • • • •
1/4 cup simple syrup* plus 2 tablespoons Zest of 1/2 lemon 1 cup blueberries, blended 1 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
Add 1 tablespoon simple syrup and lemon zest to blueberries and blend. Distribute the blueberry mixture evenly to the bottom of each popsicle mold. Mix the remaining syrup and yogurt together and carefully pour over blueberries. To create swirl, use wooden popsicle stick to slowly stir the blueberries upwards from the bottom. Freeze for 5 to 6 hours. Yield: 6 popsicles
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*To make simple syrup, add equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Dissolve sugar and set aside to cool.
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food for thought » Sarah Gaede
I grew up eating kale, and other greens, cooked, as God intended, with animal fat.
THE RAW TRUTH Maybe it’s because I’m getting old and cranky, but I’m growing weary of trendy food trends. I can’t tell you how happy I am that pickled ramps have had their day, and I’m yearning for the shiitake mushroom craze to ebb. And let’s not even discuss raw kale. I grew up eating kale, and other greens, cooked, as God intended, with animal fat, accompanied by my grandmother’s Jerusalem artichoke (speaking of trendy food) pickle. Not only are cooked greens more digestible than raw, many of the vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and micronutrients in food, especially greens, are fat-soluble, which means they cannot be absorbed without animal fat. Your Southern grandma knew what she was doing when she added bacon grease or fatback to her collards. Plus, most greens taste better when they are cooked. Other foods that are better for you when cooked are mushrooms, carrots, and tomatoes. Mushrooms have thick cell walls that break down with cooking, making them more digestible, drawing out the nutrients, and killing any toxins they may contain. Raw carrots are more difficult to digest, along with the beta-carotene they contain. Raw tomatoes only release about four percent of the available lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to lower rates of heart disease and cancer. This doesn’t mean I’m going to stop eating fresh heirloom tomatoes during the summer, of course, because that would be crazy. I can’t imagine foregoing tomato sandwiches or Caprese salad. The season is so short for really good tomatoes I feel sure I will not develop a lycopene deficiency even if I eat them raw every day. Just to make sure, I’ll also make a regular batch of Marcella Hazan’s tried-and-true, yet trendy, tomato sauce. Marcella Hazan was the cookbook author who changed how Americans cook Italian food. This sauce recipe is said to be her singular most popular recipe ever. I make it when I can find plain old non-heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market for a dollar a pound (no reason to use the expensive heirlooms), but it is perfectly fine made with canned tomatoes. Do not be tempted to change or add anything to this recipe—even red pepper flakes, my go-to addition to pretty much anything tomato-y. It is perfect just as it is. Marcella says to discard the onion, but I think that’s the best part. She also says it’s enough to sauce a pound of pasta, but I can barely make it stretch to cover eight ounces of pasta to my satisfaction. If you want to be a bit more adventurous, try this eggplant casserole. Eggplant is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and it doesn’t have to be fried to be tasty. My Yankee husband grew up eating only eggplant parmesan, but this is now one of his favorite dishes. Even people who think they hate eggplant like it. I often serve it as a meatless main
dish, along with fresh field peas or butter beans, and sliced fresh tomatoes. The original recipe, from my grandmother, calls for two slices of buttered toast, crumbled. I finally figured out that Grandma made buttered oven toast every morning for breakfast, and she always had some left over, so you can use that if you have it. It’s got a bit of a kick to it, which I like, but if you are heat-averse, you can leave out the cayenne pepper. The eggplant is a bit slimy-looking when it’s cooked, but don’t let that deter you. After you mix it all together with the other ingredients and bake it, it’s fine. Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce • 2 cups peeled, seeded tomatoes (or a 28-ounce can San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes, seeded, with juice) • 5 tablespoons butter • 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half (I like to use a Vidalia or other sweet onion) • Salt • 8 to 16 ounces pasta of your choice, depending on preferred ratio of sauce to pasta. Combine tomatoes, butter, and onion halves in a heavy saucepan. Add a pinch or two of salt. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up big pieces of tomato with a spoon. Discard the onion (or not) before tossing sauce with pasta. Marcella thinks it makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta, but I am hard-pressed to get the necessary fix when I divide it between 6 ounces.
Eggplant Pie • 1 large-ish eggplant or 2 small ones— you want 1-1/2 to 2 pounds total • 2 slices toast, torn into small pieces— I usually use whole wheat • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 cup (4 ounces) sharp cheddar, grated • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 2 large eggs, slightly beaten • Salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray an 8x8-inch (or equivalent) casserole dish. Peel eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes, place in large saucepan, cover with lightly salted water, bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer, covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. While eggplant cooks, place crumbled toast, butter, 3/4 cup cheese, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. When eggplant is done, drain well, and mash lightly. I use my potato masher to mash it while it’s still in the colander. Mix with ingredients in bowl. Whisk eggs together lightly and stir into eggplant mixture. If you aren’t afraid of raw eggs, you can taste it to see if it has enough salt. Pour into dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake until browned and bubbly, about 40 to 50 minutes. Serves 4.
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parting shot » Abraham Rowe
Hatching a Plan
Bluewater Creek Farm, Killen, AL
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