Lacey Howard

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Articles

Expert Tips for a Successful Home Renovation

2 weeks ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

When it comes to renovating a home, Leigh Leak has tackled projects small and large. Here, she shares her best tips for a successful outcome. Because we were dealing with a lot of upholstered pieces, rugs, drapery, and art, I opted to simplify things with neutral walls. I wound up painting the entire main level the same color with the exception of the study and dining room ceiling. Always have your measurements for pieces on your list with you.
Before + After: A 1935 Mountain Brook Colonial Renovation

1 month ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

If practice makes perfect, then Leigh Leak is well on her way to perfecting the art of home renovation. Along with her husband Joe, she has embarked on six home makeovers in the Birmingham area, enjoying each for a time before moving on the next project. “Moving six times in one city sounds a little excessive,” Leigh says.
Two Ways to Make Pillow Covers

2 months ago | allpeoplequilt.com | Lacey Howard

Making throw pillow covers gives you control over the shape, size, fabric, closure, and type of insert for your pillows. They also allow you to change your cover to match your mood or season and they're easy to store when you're not using them! Fabric (1 yard is enough for our lumbar pillow)IronPinsFabric markerThreadSewing machine and buttonhole presser footButtonsPillow insert We created a 14×22-inch lumbar pillow with a button flange closure.
An Architect’s Waterfront House Essentials

2 months ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

FANS Ceiling fans are a must, especially on the porches. I also suggest hanging fans inside the house for when the weather is nice enough to leave the windows open. EXTERIORS I prefer using natural materials on the exterior of a home wherever possible, as they provide authenticity and timelessness that cannot be replicated with synthetic or manufactured materials. INTERIORS Install durable flooring wherever possible.
Architect Michael O’Kelley’s Lake Martin Escape

2 months ago | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

In 2019, Leslie and Michael O’Kelley were among the first property owners in Kennebec, a 41-lot gated community on Lake Martin. The couple was attracted to the community’s strict design guidelines and covenants. “We could see the vision of the neighborhood as a special place full of exceptional homes,” says Michael.
A Crestline Cottage Renovation by Mary Coley McMillan

Jan 17, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

Susanne and Tom McMillan had lived in Mountain Brook for a decade when they decided to downsize. With the help of middle daughter Luci, a local real estate agent with RealtySouth, found a four-bedroom, two-story house in Crestline that, despite its under-construction condition, was a perfect fit. The couple’s oldest daughter is a Charlotte-based interior designer and founder of Studio MC.
A Modern Cape Cod-Style Home Renovation in Homewood

Jan 9, 2025 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

When Kim and Bayless Ydel first walked into their Cape Cod-style cottage, “it had an energy that’s hard to describe, even now after four years,” Kim says. “It just felt like home.” But while the connection to the house was there, its functionality was definitely lacking. The flow of spaces didn’t fit the needs of this family of four. With a list of desires—the most important being a larger kitchen—the Ydels called on Leigh and Kevin Misso of River Brook Design & Construction for a makeover.
Creating a Beautiful Holiday Home with Elizabeth Adams’ Personal Touches

Dec 12, 2024 | birminghamhomeandgarden.com | Lacey Howard

We overcorrected,” Elizabeth Adams, owner of and designer behind ExVoto stores, says of her and husband Patrick’s move from a large family home to a small condo after their children were out of the nest. During the first holiday season when the young adults came home for an extended stay, the couple realized just how tight their quarters were. Soon after, they and their two dogs found a better fit in a 100-year-old Hollywood Spanish-style home.
Under One Roof: The Quilter's Lodge Shop Profile

Dec 5, 2024 | allpeoplequilt.com | Lacey Howard

Beginning Quilting The seven-week series of classes is a favorite of Leesa’s. “The first night, we take the entire class into the store and shop for fabric for their project. We shop with them, teaching them how to choose fabric.” By the end of the series, students see 12 quilts—one made by each student with the same pattern—that look completely different. “It’s a very empowering class. It is sold out every time.” A follow-up six-week series called Beginning Quilting 2.0 builds even more confidence.
Primitive Gatherings Shop Profile

Nov 26, 2024 | allpeoplequilt.com | Lacey Howard

“If you’re really into quilting, it’s a way of life. You’re doing it every day. We don’t know what people who don’t quilt do!” For me, it’s all about connecting with like-minded souls,” says Lisa Hoefler Bongean, quilting superstar and owner of Wisconsin’s Primitive Gatherings. “I grew up with all brothers, and I have all sons and grandsons. My world is filled with men.