By Kaitlin Candelaria
Natalie and Irving Meisler weren’t intimidated by the idea of a fixer-upper when they found their dream home in Mountain Brook. In fact, Irving said he looked forward to the challenge.
“I have a real passion for construction,” Irving said. “When it comes to houses, it’s more like an art project to me. When I start remodeling a house, I want to know how much I can do to it.”
This isn’t his first renovation project. A real estate developer and builder by trade, Irving found the house with a leaky basement and a rotten roof.
“There were problems all over this house,” he said. “To me, that was an opportunity to get it for a great deal because I knew there were a lot of items I could fix.”
For nine long months, the Meislers worked hard to restore the home in the Lockerbie community. Once they began the process, they hired designer Dana Holcombe of Holcombe Interior Design to bring their French cottage-inspired look to life.
As is the case with any remodel, the Meislers ran into many obstacles along the way.
“The fireplace had this ugly brick and I wanted something to blend with the limestone mantle,” Irving said. Although he did a lot of work himself, he contracted out this particular project to a Romanian stucco company based in Atlanta.
“They’re like stucco gods,” he said, laughing. The floor-to-ceiling stucco fireplace also matches the range over the oven.
The Meislers also spent a lot of time working to open the house’s floor plan and find custom looks and accents that were a perfect fit for their dream home.
“I got inspired by the house’s design,” Irving said. “What shape it should take just sort of lends itself. It’s a good size home for entertaining and it’s very comfortable.”
Irving’s love for antiques adds an eclectic appeal to the home.
“Irving loves antiques and I don’t really have a background in them,” Natalie said. “He is just so passionate about them and finding the perfect piece to go in a spot. I never thought I would enjoy it but it’s so beautiful and I can’t imagine not having them.”
Some of Irving’s favorite antiques include a bust of Cicero in the formal dining room. The piece originated in the 1800s and was purchased at M.S. Rau Antiques in New Orleans.
Another interesting piece is the large Italian chandelier in the kitchen.
“It looks like a big bird’s nest,” Natalie said. “I saw it at an auction but I didn’t think he would like it, but he did. It’s funny because people either love it or they ask, ‘What on Earth is that thing hanging from your ceiling?’”
Their best advice for people considering a remodel is to stick with professionals.
“I knew what I was doing from experience,” Irving said. “If you don’t have the experience, you better have someone on hand who does. Something this complicated is going to have problems once you start opening things up. There’s a lot that pops up in remodel jobs.”
Many unique aspects – including custom doors, textured wall papers in the bathrooms and powder rooms, and a uniquely decorated elevator – come together to form the Meisler’s dream home. The kicker? Only a year after completing the remodel, the couple has put their home back on the market.
“We’re buying a house in California and hope to be spending a lot more time there,” Irving said. “We’re thinking to either downsize here…or maybe find another project.”
