By Madoline Markham Koonce Photos by Maury Wald
The English Tudor-style house at 232 Poinciana Drive could tell a lot of stories from its 99-year history. It’s seen the families who have lived in its walls though the Great Depression, a world war and countless historical and life events. And for the last 46 of those years, the Homewood home has held the memories of the Bethea family.
Mac and Tumpy Bethea moved into the home in 1980 as newlyweds expecting their first child, and now nearly 50 years later, they welcome their three children who grew up in the home and the families they now have of their own (including six grandchildren) over for dinner every Monday night.
The Betheas’ home will also be one of four houses on the Historic Hollywood Home Tour on April 19 (see more details on page 26), and you too can take in the architectural charm of its the dark slate floors in the foyer and sunroom, the details carved into the limestone fireplace and the archways between living areas. While the Betheas have painted walls and added wallpaper and tilework over the years, they have never moved a wall in the home, preserving much of how it was built to look in 1927.
The only walls that were altered before the Betheas moved in, though, created a sunroom in place of a screen-porch, forming a cozy second living space off the living room where the couple spends a lot of their time. While, like most rooms in the house, it’s seen a lot of paint colors over the years, today a dark blue, Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, backgrounds a set of paintings of golden retrievers and collies as well as a horse painting by local artist Dirk Walker (fitting, since the Betheas have had a golden retriever and a collie since they moved into the home, and Tumpy has a horse).
In fact, the most notable features of the home outside its original architectural details are the paintings that adorn its walls that the Betheas have collected on their travels over the years. Most strikingly, a landscape with the bold pinks and oranges of a sunset by artist Ovanes Berberian commands the living room from over the fireplace, and Pat Hiden Interiors pulled colors from the painting to select upholstery for chairs and couch pillows that face it. Barbara Evans, a local artist and friend of the Betheas, painted a landscape of a lake that faces the fireplace from over a navy couch.
Paintings from a Paris flea market hang in the dining room, and in an upstairs bedroom paintings of the Betheas’ son and middle daughter that Tumpy herself painted add color to the walls. Also upstairs, art depicting the house itself captures a moment in time in the 1980s, when it was painted grey with blue trim, and their daughter’s tricycle sat out front.
In the past several years, Tumpy has worked with Hiden to freshen up the decor in several rooms in the home. In the breakfast room—where they eat most of their meals—the walls are covered in a blue (one of Tumpy’s favorite colors) and white Sister Parish wallpaper, and a corner cabinet was given a new look with corresponding blue paint. Upstairs, carpet was pulled up in a back bedroom to reveal original hardwoods then covered with a red patterned rug that Tumpy had paired with a blue chest found at Betty Margaret’s The Nest in Homewood. Coordinating textiles were the selected for the two twin beds.
In the back of the house, you can also see a 2016 kitchen renovation with plans that were drawn up by Cyndy Cantley. Although no walls were moved during construction, a drop ceiling was removed, and cabinets were expanded to the ceiling to create more storage space in the small footprint, while also adding a classic aesthetic with grey cabinet paint and marble countertops.
As the interiors of the home have evolved over nearly five decades, the Betheas have also watched the neighborhood around them change since their home was first on a Historic Hollywood Home Tour back in 1988. Some homes are larger than they once were. Many families have come and gone from the streets around them. Trees that were once saplings are now mature, including the cherry trees the Betheas planted in their side yard that bloom each spring. Through it all, 232 Poinciana has stood from its hilltop perch, holding the history of both the Betheas and the Hollywood as it was designed in the 1920s.
Additional homes on this year’s tour:
5 Pamona Avenue
Built in 1929, this Spanish-style home has been meticulously restored to honor its historic character while incorporating modern conveniences and additional space needed for today’s living. Original architectural details remain throughout, offering a glimpse into the craftsmanship and charm of the home’s early years.
323 La Prado Circle
This beautifully preserved 1935 English Tudor showcases the timeless
character of Hollywood’s early architecture. Thoughtfully designed additions
and modern renovations blend seamlessly with the home’s historic features,
creating a space that feels both classic and current.
206 Malaga Avenue
Constructed in 1927, this English Tudor has been impeccably renovated
with a refined modern aesthetic. The renovation thoughtfully balances
historic charm with clean, contemporary design, creating a fresh
interpretation of a classic Hollywood home.
Historic Hollywood Tour of homes
What: Tour four historic homes in the Hollywood neighborhood of Homewood
Organized by: Hollywood Garden Club
Benefitting: Neighborhood beautification projects and Shades Cahaba Elementary School
When: Sunday, April 19, 1-4 p.m.
Tickets: $40 each, available on the day of the tour at each home or
at https://bit.ly/hollywoodhometour2026 in advance.
