By Donna Cornelius Journal Features WriterWhen Mike Thompson played golf with his father, he kept his eye on the ball and his mind on one objective: to play the first hole well.“That’s because Dad would always pick on the worst player in the foursome,” said Mike about his father, the late Hall Thompson. “My goal was to beat the other two guys so he’d pick on … [Read more...]
2011 Decorators’ ShowHouse
The Thomas E. Jernigan Residence Mountain Brook April 30-May 15 Click on the links below for more on this 2011 Decorators' ShowHouse:Best of Both Worlds: ShowHouse Had Resort Qualities but Was Still Tom Jernigan’s Retreat Past Perfect: Living Room Recalls Days of Elegant Living How Suite It Is: Perry Umphrey Creates European-Style Retreat Highland Fling: … [Read more...]
Best of Both Worlds
By Laura McAlister Journal EditorThe 25 rooms and outdoor spaces on display at this year’s showcase have different themes and stories to tell, but if you want to hear the real story of what life was like in the 2011 Decorators’ ShowHouse, you’ll want to talk to Ed Pyle.Ed is the property manager and groundskeeper of the Mountain Brook estate once occupied by the late … [Read more...]
Past Perfect
By Donna Cornelius Journal Features WriterWhen Nancy Gowens and her team from Issis & Sons walked through the empty ShowHouse living room, they immediately recognized the potential of the expansive space.“”It’s the largest room in the house,” said Nancy, the company’s operations manager, “and we saw its grandeur. The house itself is classic and tasteful, and we … [Read more...]
How Suite It Is
By Donna Cornelius Journal Features WriterThere’s only one negative about Perry Umphrey’s guest quarters: Your company may never want to leave.Umphrey, a ShowHouse veteran, transformed three connecting rooms on the house’s lowest level into inviting quarters designed to accommodate visitors for an extended stay.“I knew my ideas would work only by taking on all … [Read more...]