Among the host of charming residential trends that took root in American neighborhoods during the 1920s and ’30s, the English Tudor style has remained an endearing favorite. Inspired by romantic cottages and rural manor houses that dot the villages and countryside of Great Britain, this quaint aesthetic hearkens back to the days of thatched roofs, half-timbered walls, and stucco or brick.
Such imagery characterizes Anne and John McPherson’s Alabama home as well. Built nearly a century ago, the Mountain Brook residence displays a stately permanence that’s intrinsically evident in its steep, slate-covered roofs, clinkerbrick exterior walls, and windows and doors outlined with limestone surrounds. But contrary to appearances, this alluring abode is anything but a museum piece that’s still stuck in the ’20s. In fact, it was imperative that the couple update the house before it was move-in ready. While smitten with its Old-World charm, the McPhersons needed a place that could accommodate their family’s busy schedules. And with a household brimming with four growing boys, they required a bevy of conveniences that would make their daily routines more manageable.
To accomplish these improvements, the homeowners called upon the expertise of Atlanta interior designer Mary McWilliams for help. Having worked with the McPhersons in the past, Mary—or rather Mary Mac, as she is more commonly known among friends and clients—proved to be the perfect choice.
“Since the house had already undergone several renovations over the years, we didn’t add any square footage but rather refreshed and remodeled some of the existing spaces,” she explains. “Anne and John loved the integrity and age of the house, along with all the character found within each room; however, they also wanted a fresh, more modern feel to complement their tastes.”
Sharing the couples’ desire to preserve the home’s architectural richness, McWilliams relied upon colorful artwork and furnishings with clean, straight forward lines to interject some upbeat freshness. “Also, since Anne has a true love for the beach, I followed her wishes by using various shades of blue throughout the house, both in paint colors and fabrics,” she points out. Likewise, the interior designer steered away from selecting any floral or overworked patterns and chose solid or geometric designs for rugs, pillows, and upholstery pieces to create a sleek, contemporary look.
Although McWilliams, along with local building company Lovette Construction, had to pull everything together quickly, the team remained undaunted by the tight turnaround. Adding to the challenge, the McPhersons didn’t bring anything with them since they already owned another home in Dallas. This meant that they basically entrusted the interior designer with making all the design decisions on her own. And for McWilliams, such an understanding was music to her ears.
Summing up her experience, McWilliams confides, “I was overjoyed to bring this dream home together, down to the silverware and mattresses!” As further proof of her commitment, she even consulted with the McPherson brothers separately to find out their individual tastes, including the brand of candy they prefer. And as the boys settled into their respective rooms, each one found his own sugary treat in canisters just waiting for him. With this much attention to detail, the McPhersons were eager to call this personalized house their home.
McWilliams’s affinity for fun, innovative light fixtures also gave the interiors a decidedly current feel. “Since I’m a big fan of unexpected lighting, I added lots of low-voltage art lights and put dimmers on everything,” she states. One notable example of this is the playful chandelier in dining room. “It’s a sphere composed of flowerlike shapes that casts a warm glow in the evenings.” she explains. “You would never expect to see it in a home like the McPhersons’, but they love it!”
