By Kaitlin Candelaria
Birmingham’s industrial past and environmentally-conscious future collide in Liberty Park’s newest model home.
The Miner model will be one of two models featured in the upcoming Parade of Homes. The model is the brainchild of Liberty Park’s senior builder, Josh Sexton and Shawn Arterburn, vice president of development at Liberty Park.
The name is derived from what Arterburn describes as the rich heritage and tradition of Birmingham.
“Birmingham’s heritage was so rich in three minerals — coal, iron ore and lime — and it really did catapult Birmingham into where it is today through mining, steel and bodies of water,” Arterburn said. “We thought it would only be fitting to pay tribute to that.”
That sense of tribute is heightened when taking into consideration that Liberty Park’s almost 4,000 acres were once mining land.
Visitors to the Miner model will see touches of this homage to days of old through more than just the home’s name. The foyer, kitchen, dining room and living room are all connected, creating a large open space.
“This is a home where families can get back to old tradition,” Arterburn said. “They can play in their home together in one large room.”
Brick accents throughout the great room also evoke an old-time feel. The pantry is framed by a real brick wall, and the island is built on top of a brick pallete. The brick fireplace in the living room creates a unified look of rustic elegance.
“We’re trying to incorporate local vendors and trades,” Sexton said. “A few things in this house alone include reclaimed wood that came from different barns in northern Alabama as well as the cabinets, which were built right outside of Talladega.”
Erin Dunavant of Swag Home Studio and Design also drew inspiration from the home’s historic vibes. She added her own twist in the living room by using black and white photographs gathered from the Birmingham Library that depict Birmingham’s past as well as adding accents such as chicken wire to the kitchen’s hutches.
The house will be a part of the emerging Forest Hills neighborhood, which is centered around a park that is in the process of being constructed.
This specific model will back up to the park, offering a spectacular backyard view.
Out of the five bedrooms in the Miner model, two, including the master bedroom, are on the ground floor. Reclaimed wood and natural light from large windows dominate the room. The custom-made headboard in the bedroom continues Sexton and Arterburn’s salute to local vendors.
The guest bedroom on the ground floor is a versatile space with a built-in Murphy bed, opening the room up to many different possibilities for use.
“You can grow with this house,” said Amanda Parker, sales ambassador and communications coordinator for Liberty Park. “You can move in with no kids or a lot of kids.”
At the top of the stairs, visitors are greeted by a large playhouse built in the hallway, a fun touch added to this home to showcase the builder’s versatility.
“We want to make this a personal experience for each individual customer,” Sexton said. “We like to have buyers involved in the process by sharing pictures and their Pinterest boards. We want to work to be creative with their home.”
At the top of the stairs, visitors will see a full guest bedroom that includes a full bathroom as well as a walk-in closet. Two children’s bedrooms are connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom.
The most unique aspect of this house? Despite the walk-in closets in each room, a large walk-in pantry, ample storage space in the kitchen cabinets and island, and linen closets throughout the home, the house is still less than 3,000 square feet.
“In this house, a five-bedroom that’s under 2,900 square feet has been pulled off with success,” Arterburn said.
Parker agreed.
“This house is really nice because you have large vaulted ceilings and a wonderful open feeling, but it’s still not out of (financial) reach for a lot of people,” she said.
Although the model home draws from Birmingham’s rich industrial roots, it also reflects modern times by its eco-friendly and energy-efficient features.
“We included not only energy-efficient lighting and building into the house but also additional insulation, tank-less water heaters and energy-efficient windows,” Sexton said.
Other contemporary touches include stainless steel appliances and hardwood throughout the first floor.
Overall, the building team has created a unique juxtaposition of where the development as a whole has been and the direction it’s headed.
“At the end of the day, we’re so proud of where we’re headed and the small goals we’ve achieved,” Arterburn said. “We take it so seriously. We want to strive to be Birmingham’s hometown homebuilder.”
