Erin Davis has a penchant for the color blue, in abundance. However, when it was time to adorn her newly built home in the verdant expanse of Mountain Brook, Alabama, she and her spouse, Collins, turned to the seasoned expertise of Elizabeth Miles and Janie Jones from the local design firm Hundley Hilton Interiors. “My taste can wander without guidance,” Erin admits. “That’s where they stepped in. They truly steered me back to our vision, ensuring we remained true to our plan.” Elizabeth and Janie, when they drive, tend to lean towards a maximalist aesthetic with a contemporary twist.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
“We each contribute a unique touch,” Janie reflects on their collaborative partnership. “I believe merging our styles sets us apart from other designers, as we seamlessly blend the traditional with the modern.” This blend of old-world charm and contemporary practicality is evident throughout the home.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
Erin, with a chuckle, shares, “I’ve heard many say they live in their homes, but I truly do. I have a daughter with perpetually grubby hands, a shedding dog that comes and goes from the yard, and a husband who, despite working in a bank, somehow ends up with muddy shoes.”
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
The designers’ influence is immediately noticeable in the foyer, where a cobalt blue geometric fixture from The Urban Electric Company seems to hover above Carleton V Ltd’s feathery Kauri wallpaper and a vintage rug from Paige Albright Orientals, which is more than capable of enduring the daily wear and tear. “We want the entryway to narrate a story of what lies ahead,” Elizabeth explains.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
This story of blue hues continues in the adjacent dining room, where Schumacher’s Madame De Pompadour wallpaper infuses the space with an ageless charm. Erin had already sourced the antique table and chairs.
“We relish it when clients bring us pieces they wish to repurpose, so we find creative ways to reupholster them with more vibrant or modern fabrics, giving them a new lease on life,” Elizabeth notes. This approach was applied to the dining chairs, with the fronts wrapped in sea glass-hued velvet and the backs in Schumacher’s Santa Barbara Ikat, complete with ruffled skirts on the end chairs for added volume.
Over the course of their nine years working together, the decorators have honed their craft, skillfully integrating practical choices with aesthetic appeal. “A multitude of patterns can create a room with a sophisticated, layered look,” Elizabeth observes. “But they also enhance durability, as fabrics with texture and pattern can easily mask signs of wear.”
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
This principle is exemplified in the family room, where they re-covered a swivel chair (another piece Erin already owned) in Pierre Frey’s Amboise in Ciel and adorned the pair of small seating areas in front of the fireplace with Jean Monro’s Hydrangea & Rose chintz in Green/Pink.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
For the breakfast nook, which is a busy hub, they took extra precautions. “We actually laminated the fabric on those chairs,” Janie explains, referring to the Nicholas Herbert Ltd. (Toile de Rosa in Blue) pattern. “It’s virtually undetectable! But that’s precisely where young children will be eating and potentially spilling.” They reinforced this with bench seating covered in a performance fabric by Perennials (Tatton Stripe in Zephyr). “We adore the comfort of a banquette,” Elizabeth says. “It softens the space and is so inviting. It’s perfect for sitting and conversing while cooking in the kitchen.”
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
The kitchen, which is bright and airy, is equally welcoming, thanks to the floral cafe curtains, the homeowners’ existing counter-height barstools (reimagined with Lee Jofa’s Cambrose Weave in Mineral), and two pendants in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue (No. 22). “The space was already beautiful due to its materials,” Erin acknowledges. “But Elizabeth and Janie transformed it into a warmer, brighter, more inviting, and simply sweeter space.”
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
The designers aimed to maintain this balance throughout the upper floors. In the guest bedroom, a headboard, already upholstered in Bennison Fabrics’ Chinese Paper, served as a starting point. “We’re fans of that pattern, so it was a delight to work with,” Elizabeth explains. For contrast, they installed Robert Kime’s Chou wallpaper in the opposite color scheme and placed a sunny rug with a leafy lattice pattern beneath it. The vintage chandelier was sourced from Europe. “It adds a touch of whimsy to this very traditional room,” Janie adds.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
Down the hall in the toddler daughter’s bedroom, they embraced classic girly themes, adorning the walls with Jean Monro’s Templeton Stripe paper in Sugar Pink and installing the floral Roman shade (Schumacher’s Floreana in Berry), which had previously adorned her nursery. Sister Parish’s cheeky Verbena fabric in Pink on the ottoman and the striking blue-striped canopy above the bed helped to tone down the whimsy. “We wanted to create a space for her that could grow with her, while remaining playful and youthful,” Janie says.
“We wanted to give her a space that she could grow into that is still playful and young.” —Janie Jones
This philosophy of enduring comfort was their aim for the entire house. “I didn’t want the home to feel too delicate or precious,” Erin acknowledges. “I didn’t want to worry about reupholstering items in a year or about handprints on the walls. We’re in every room every day.”
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
The entryway, which opens into three other spaces, is anchored in soothing tones that are echoed throughout the home. The study features Benjamin Moore’s Stratton Blue (HC-142) on the walls and trim. An abstract painting by Tuscaloosa, Alabama, artist Kristin Blakeney hangs above the mantel in the family room.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
Pattern and texture prevent the predominantly white kitchen from feeling cold or sterile. A formal dining room was a must for the homeowner, who enjoys hosting family gatherings for holidays. The breakfast nook was designed with messy eaters in mind.
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathleen Varner
For the young daughter, they wrapped a trundle bed in Jim Thompson’s Jasmine Stripe and designed a playful hallway play area. In the guest bedroom, they paired butterfly wallpaper with a plaid chair.
