Cathy Still McGowin

Birmingham

Editor at Birmingham Home and Garden

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Articles

How to Create a Welcoming Guest Space

2 months ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

A well-appointed guest space should always come with plenty of niceties. Here are some of interior designer Farris Ann Crace’s tips for creating the warmest welcome. Nashville-based designer Farris Ann Crace credits her upbringing in Mountain Brook as a big influence on the impact and importance our homes have on our lives. “Designed correctly, interiors should elicit an emotional response—stirring up fond, old memories and inspiring new ones,” she says.
Updating a Family Home on Lake Martin

2 months ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

If you have a lake house, be ready for guests! “The lake is the perfect place to host friends and family,” says designer Farris Ann Crace. To up the style quotient and make everyone feel even more welcome, Farris Ann updated the guest house and screened porch at her family’s second home in the Trillium neighborhood on Lake Martin. “Both the screened porch and the guest house are much loved spaces,” Farris Ann says.
Inside Georgia’s Redesigned Barnsley Resort

Mar 13, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

It’s no secret that travel inspires design. A different landscape and vernacular are quick to stir the imagination and ignite ideas. From gardens to interiors and architecture, English designs have long influenced Southern style. Just take a look at Barnsley Resort in the North Georgia mountains. Built around the ruins of a storied 18th-century manor and gardens, the resort offers modern appeal yet stays true to its historical endeavors.
Before & After: A Luxury Wet Room Remodel

Feb 20, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

Sometimes, you just need a fresh start. “For this project, we decided it was best to just take everything out and start with a clean slate,” says the designer Liz Kennedy with ELM Construction of this dated bathroom. With nothing worth saving, it was essential to strip the space back to its bones, eliminating the bubble-glass shower wall, built-in tub, dressing room lights, beige countertops, and two different styles of wallpaper that were just a little too past their prime.
How Global Influence Shaped a Stunning Bathroom Redesign

Feb 18, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

Travel is often an impetus for design. “My clients visit India frequently and they wanted to bring those rich colors and unique marbles into their home,” says designer Lauren Murphy. “We found the custom limestone mosaic tile for the backsplash first and let that influence the rest of the design.”Rearranging the floor plan, Lauren increased closet space while creating striking focal points.
Visiting 30A and Defuniak Springs in the Winter

Feb 11, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

When most people think of Florida’s Walton County, they envision the height of summer when Sandestin and Scenic Highway 30A are teeming with vacationers. Once temperatures cool, however, Walton County’s charms become more evident—and accessible. You’ll find emptier beaches and open tables in some of the area’s favorite restaurants. Plan your trip during this quiet season to enjoy the slower pace and all that it has to offer.
Off-Season Travel: Why You Should Visit 30A in the Winter

Feb 11, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

When most people think of Florida’s Walton County, they envision the height of summer when Sandestin and Scenic Highway 30A are teeming with vacationers. Once temperatures cool, however, Walton County’s charms become more evident—and accessible. You’ll find emptier beaches and open tables in some of the area’s favorite restaurants. Plan your trip during this quiet season to enjoy the slower pace and all that it has to offer.
Ciara Word Transforms a Small Bath into a Luxurious Retreat

Jan 30, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

Houses built in the 1950s weren’t exactly known for architectural extravagance. Room sizes were modest, finishes were simple, and ceiling heights were generally a standard 8 feet. Utilitarian spaces were simply that—purposeful and useful. Though this Cahaba Heights rancher received one renovation almost a decade ago, its newest homeowners, Ashley and Jake Ray, wanted to step it up another notch.
An Art-Filled Mountain Brook Home by Designer Sean Beam

Jan 25, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

Relocating to Birmingham from Jackson, Mississippi, to be closer to family, Jayne and David Westbrook quickly sought out a community and a house where they felt at home. An introduction to designer Sean Beam years earlier made the transition seamless. They first met the designer when their daughter, Hayley, moved here for a television career. “We joined her on a house hunt and discovered Hallman Hill in Homewood,” says Jayne. “Richard Tubb Interiors had done the model unit design.
Lilt Floral Decks the Halls of this Mountain Brook Home

Dec 10, 2024 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Cathy Still McGowin

Ribbons, bows, greenery, and all the trimmings! For Porter and Brooke Mason’s Mountain Brook home, floral designer Brooke McAfee played to her client’s striking interiors and topped them off with a statement-making style. While she often gets compliments on her garden-style arranging, Brooke says that it’s her client’s personality and style that truly drives her designs. “I like to meet with my clients, tour their homes to assess their needs, and get their input,” Brooke says.