CALM & BRIGHT

Discover how an Alabama interior designer and her husband channeled family history and a combination of Southern and European style to build and decorate the perfect farmhouse for their family.

An Alabama interior designer channels European style and Southern charm to create the perfect family home.

When Dr. Steadman McPeters and his wife, Mindy, began planning their home, the Hollywood, Alabama, couple knew exactly what they wanted. “My husband and I love the Southern farmhouse style,” Mindy proclaims. They designed and built their home from the ground up in 2016, inspired by dwellings inhabited by previous generations. “It’s the same style our ancestors were raised in,” Mindy explains. “We wanted to bring that to our permanent home.”

The completed 3,400-square-foot, four-bedroom residence is loaded with character-rich details, including shiplap walls, exposed beams and posts created from salvaged wood, stained hickory floors and antique lighting. While most of the general living spaces retain a neutral monochromatic palette of alabaster white, the dining room and master bedroom feature darker tones that contribute an air of sophistication to those spaces.

A professional interior designer, Mindy describes her personal decorating style as “Southern farmhouse with a touch of European accent.” She took extra care with the home’s aesthetic elements, including vintage items and repurposed goods. “We wanted to take something old and make it new again,” she says. To achieve this, Mindy mixes everything from textures to time periods. Jadeite and ironstone make themselves at home on contemporary open shelves, while metal buckets, wooden breadboards and mashers, wire baskets, and other vintage wares add period flair to modern kitchen amenities.

When it comes to seasonal decorating, Mindy favors simple and charming. Homespun holiday garlands handcrafted from sheet music, twine, cloth, beads, greenery and ribbon adorn everything from the Christmas trees and mantelpieces to the light fixtures. In the family room and master bedroom, Christmas-themed throw pillows complement plaid and check patterns for a cozy vibe. But by far, one of Mindy’s preferred holiday decorating accessories is the natural fare she scores right from her own backyard. Evergreen sprigs, pinecones and lush foliage accented with ribbon and beads can be found in every room, from larger centerpieces to small side table arrangements. In fact, Mindy’s knack for incorporating holiday decor into the larger canvas of her home is rivaled only by her ability to blend it so impeccably. Still, that doesn’t keep her from inviting more playful items into the design, such as a Santa picture, gingerbread house, or candy-trimmed tree. “Our little boy loves gingerbread houses, and I love keeping it fun for him, too.” Mindy notes.

For the McPeters clan, family is a priority, so the couple and their son, Charlee, enjoy the time they spend in the warmth and comfort of their home, especially during the holidays, when they relish baking in the farmhouse kitchen. Together, they are making memories that are sure to inspire future generations.

Using wood salvaged from an old barn, Mindy and Steadman McPeters incorporated exposed beams and a prominent post as key design elements in the family room. The combination of hickory flooring and a sturdy dark-wood mantel plays to the rustic ambience of Mindy’s favorite gathering space. Swaths of greenery accented with ribbon, twinkle lights, and beads on the mantel draw attention to a trio of stockings labeled with beaded initial pendants. “In the family room, I try to keep it cozy and casual,” Mindy says.

Above: The McPeters family’s Alabama property provides an abundance of natural fare for use in their Christmas decorating.

Below: Crafted from antique mushroom wood, the exquisite island and range hood were designed specifically for this kitchen. The eyecatching conversation pieces balance white shiplap walls and sleek white cabinetry. Oilrubbed bronze cabinet pulls and an iron towel rack, along with baskets, mashers and other woodenware, complement the rustic aesthetic.

Left: Mindy’s kitchen exemplifies a seamless blend of casual and elegant. The cottagewhite palette maintains the airiness of the space, while darker woods and rustic textures, introduced via an impressive island, open shelving, metal pendant lights and industrialstyle barstools, bring dimension. Scales and animal figures contribute color and whimsy.