Soho Retro, Pam Evans and Charlie Mabry complete the home interior

Every counter, wall and shelf is officially spoken for inside the designer show house.

I need to give a big AMEN to Soho Retro.  I have knocked on many doors, sent numerous emails, made many phone calls and follow up calls to get a retailer from Homewood and Soho retro answered.  They will be tackling the kitchen.  The kitchen already has great cabinets and a wonderful farm sink, but it needs the stylish design for the counters, cabinets and eating area.  In addition to the kitchen, they will also take on the front patio.  I can't wait to see what Steve and Rob come up with.  Thanks guys!

Some of you may know Pam Evans from the French Hen.  She has branched out into design work and has decided to turn one of the rooms into a quaint nursery.  Her ideas of color and texture seem just perfect.  "It's a boy" nursery.  I would suggest that if you know someone who is expecting a baby in summer or fall to check out this nursery before they design their space at home.  And like I keep mentioning - if you like it, you can buy it!!!!

Lastly, we have added Charlie Mabry to the lineup.  Charlie is a potter and a senior at Auburn University.  I love pottery.  My friends will tell you I have a crush on my home state potter, Jonathan Adler - and it's all true.  Charlie's lines are different, but just as interesting.  To me, and I am not an expert (just a fan), Charlie's work is new but with a twist of southern folklore.  He will be able to tell you more about his influences than I can.  There is a niche with shelves that will include Charlie's work.  Please check it out.

Next week I will share the landscape news, but let's review what we have so far -
Living room - Birmingham Wholesale Furniture
Dining Room - Table Matters
Kitchen/side patio - Soho Retro
Master bedroom/bathroom - Suite Dreams
Second bedroom - CE Toliver (Carla Edgeworth)
Thrid bedroom - Pam Evans (French Hen)
Back patio - Leaf and Petal Design (Lydia Pursell)
Artwork - Pam Till and Beth Bradley
Pottery - Charlie Mabry

I ask that you support these designers and retailers by visiting their storefronts and letting them know you are looking forward to seeing them on tour day.

If you want to meet them in person mark you calendar for Friday, April 29.  For a small donation (and I mean teeny tiny), you can get a sneak peak of the tour house before tour day.   This will be a great opportunity to talk to the designer and tag what you want to take home before anyone else.  BUT you will have to keep reading to get the information.

I'll save that information for a rainy day.  Now get outside and enjoy this fantastic winter weather.

Local artists to help with designer house

Today I met with two local artists to discuss the common areas of the designer house on the tour.  Beth Bradley, Holly Oak Garden Club member and Hollywood resident, will offer her artwork to make this house feel more like a home.  Joining her will be Pam Till.  Pam, former teacher turned artist, grew up in the Hollywood area and is thrilled to place her oil paintings in the home.

Just like all the other pieces in the home the artwork is for sale.  If you like it, you can buy it for your home.

I cannot wait to see what the final product will be for this home.  All the participants have been brainstorming to make each room special.  I'm sure it will be completely fantastic.  

Designers announced for show home

In past years the tour has featured completely furnished family homes.  This year we have the wonderful opportunity to show you what our local designers and retailers can do with a historical Spanish Revival home.  The Taylors, who recently moved, have offered their Hollywood home to be transformed into a modern day classic.

Without further adieu I give you the participants and which room they will design
Birmingham Wholesale Furniture - Living room
Table Matters - Dining Room
Suite Dreams - Master bedroom and hall bathroom
CE Toliver Design (Carla Edgeworth) - second bedroom
LP Design (Lydia Purcell of Leaf and Petal) - back patio

By Friday I hope to announce our last designing room participant.  I am doing my best to make sure that Homewood is represented in this home.

All of the items in and around this home will be for purchase.  If you see something you like our garden club volunteers or the designer will be able to tell you the cost.  The item, whether a piece of art, container of flowers or sofa can be tagged and sold to anyone who attends the tour.  In addition to our tour day, the designer house will have a preview party.  I will elaborate on that on another blog.

Stay tuned for when I announce other participants like local artists and potters who will showcase some of their works in the home as well.  Outside of the home we will feature a local landscape design and installation group as well.  I don't want to spill all the beans in one blog so you have to keep checking in!!!!!

Enjoy this amazing weather.

Architectural renderings are complete

Friday was a special day for me.  For the first time I got to peek at the sketches of the featured homes.  They are magnificent.  These renderings are the work of architect Ken McBride, Vice President of KPS Group and long time resident of Hollywood.  Ken offers his time creating these beautiful renderings as a way to support his community.  This year he has done an amazing job.

The sketches are used for our posters and brochures to promote the tour.  In a few weeks all will see these masterpieces in shop windows all over town.  The homeowners get a copy to place in their home compliments of Ken and Holly Oak Garden Club.

Many thanks to Ken and all his hours of work.

Homeowners and Hostesses meet at the Aloft Hotel

This evening the lobby at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Homewood was the backdrop for the homeowners of the featured homes of the tour to meet their tour hostesses.  It was a great evening for all to mingle and get to know one another over some wine and cheese.  I can never thank the homeowners enough for all that they are about to do and allow.  I am also very appreciative for this year's hostesses.  In the next two weeks they will take time out of their busy lives to sit and retrieve all the little details that make this tour so much fun.  Many thanks to Brooke Bell, Jennifer Cleavland, Michelle Wright, Eva Dillard and Katie Tipton for accepting the task of hostess.

Special thanks to Cathy Still Johnson and Nicole Beers of Birmingham Home and Garden for coming tonight to discuss the magazines role with the tour.   Also a special thanks to Garden Club President Emily Beaumont and my co-chair Denise Hancock for all their ongoing support.

I would be remiss if I did not thank the Aloft Hotel.  Elaine Powell, General Manager of the Aloft, has offered the hotel to the homeowners to enjoy while we are walking their homes.  The Aloft is a great addition to Homewood.  We are fortunate to have this hotel near our neighborhood.

Everything is moving in such a positive direction.  I am sure this will be a fantastic tour.

What makes the Hollywood neighborhood special

Not being a native of Birmingham or Alabama there are certain neighborhoods that I believe give Birmingham a unique sense of character and charm.  I believe that Hollywood is one of those.  My husband and I have lived in many places over the years and we enjoy calling Hollywood our home.  The obvious perks to the neighborhood are the many sidewalks, interesting architecture of homes, large trees and location to just about anything you need.   What I love about Hollywood are my neighbors.  I love that a stroll around the block can sometimes take hours to complete because you want to catch up with your friends. That neighbors are quick to share plants that work in their yard with hopes they do the same in yours.  It's what you can't see that makes this neighborhood truly special and is why it needs to be celebrated.

What many of you that attend the tour won't see are the weeks leading up to tour.  Homeowners will rake, dig and plant to make their home sparkle just for tour.  By tour day we all walk a little taller and happier because we know just how special our neighborhood is.  On tour day please take time to stroll around the blocks and enjoy what spoils us Hollywood residents everyday.

More support for the Tour

It is with extreme giddiness that I can announce Birmingham Home & Garden will be offering exclusive coverage of the tour.  Many thanks to Cathy Still Johnson and Nicole Beers for meeting with me today to discuss the tour.  The coverage will focus on all the homes of the tour with special consideration for the retailers and designers that are helping with the designer home.   This is a great opportunity for the Hollywood Home Tour as well as our community.  

Looking forward to a great tour

I am so excited about the upcoming Hollywood Home Tour.  Today is the beginning of our blog.  To kickoff the blog postings I would love to share the participating homes.  Many thanks to the homeowners who have decided to open their homes to the many of us who are eager to see great landscapes and interiors.  The goal of this year's tour is to show how modern day living, whether formal or casual, can be achieved with style while living in an older home.

First, the Logan Home at 307 English Circle is still under renovation.  The Logan's purchased the home this summer and have been reconfiguring walls, updating the kitchen and redesigning the landscape.  The Logan's have lived in different homes throughout the Hollywood area of Homewood and are putting a stylish stamp on this 1920's home.

Second, the Bishop home at 304 English Circle finished renovations September of 2010.  With a growing family the Bishop's took this classic brick home and added a second floor without compromising the grace and charm of the residence.  In addition to the welcoming front porch the redesigned landscaping completes the look of this home.

Third, the Hain home at 212 Poinciana. This home is a gardeners dream.  I encourage all to walk by and see how the recent warm weather has started to wake up this yard.  The Hain yard never disappoints a passerby.  The interior of the home is classic cottage elegance.  A true gem in the neighborhood.

Our fourth home is 102 Hollywood Boulevard owned by Mort and Rebekah Taylor. The home is currently empty, but come May 1 it will be filled with beautiful interiors furnished by local designers and retailers.  We will get to see how current styles in design can easily be incorporated into this fantastic mediterranean style home. 

We will announce the designers in an upcoming blog.  

Looking forward to sharing more with you.