By Donna Cornelius
Journal features writer
Interior decorator Mark Kennamer describes his design philosophy as “classic and timeless”—and said he loves incorporating his style into his clients’ spaces.
But he’s careful to take into consideration not only his clients’ tastes but their lifestyles.
“I ask them how they want their space to function,” he said.
Kennamer has made sure that his own home, a stylish condo in Birmingham’s Arlington Crest building, functions well for him—and for another family member. His cat, Honeychild Beyonce, has the run of the place and is welcome to curl up on a comfy sofa or bed.
Instead, the beautiful bundle of fur often takes catnaps in pots on the patio, Kennamer said.
Like his pet, Kennamer often does the unexpected, design-wise.
Guests sit down to eat at his Spanish trestle table beneath the straightforward stare of a horse, whose likeness is captured in a large close-up photograph. Kennamer likes the contrast between the contemporary photo, which is mounted on two acrylic panels, and the traditional sturdiness of the table.
“I’m pretty eclectic,” he said. “Less is more.”
For Kennamer, it’s all about what works.
He’ll be sharing his style and advice as a tastemaker at this year’s Antiques at The Gardens show, set for Oct. 3-6 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Kennamer will curate an area using a time-honored theme: “Southern Comfort.” And if all goes according to plan, his space will one where show-goers likely will want to linger.
“My area will be styled to look like a comfortable family setting—like a living room with some family heirlooms,” he said. “I’ll have new upholstery, old chairs, an antique chest from Henhouse Antiques, a mix of artwork, mirrors and great lighting. It will be a friendly, inviting setting.”
The Guntersville native came to Birmingham to attend Southern Institute.
“I got grounded here,” Kennamer said.
After six years at Table Matters, a Mountain Brook gift shop, he started his own firm, Mark Kennamer Design on Birmingham’s Second Avenue South.
He’s lived in his condo on Arlington Avenue for about five years, he said.
“The place works well for me,” he said. “Really and truly, I don’t have time to devote to a yard.”
The 1,600-square-feet condo includes a living and dining area with adjoining kitchen, two bedrooms and bathrooms and a balcony overlooking downtown Birmingham.
“My favorite area is the workspace that’s part of the kitchen,” he said. “It gets a lot of use.”
There, he’s set up a freestanding desk for his computer and still has room for a chair so a guest can keep him company while he’s cooking.
“Before, this area had a built-in desk, but it was so large that there was no room for a chair,” Kennamer said. “It was stained mahogany and looked very heavy.”
Just as he tries to find out how his clients plan to use their spaces, Kennamer kept in mind his love for entertaining when he planned the interior design of his condo. The open floor plan—from the kitchen you can see through the living and dining area to the balcony—combined with plenty of comfortable seating makes his home an inviting place for a get-together.
“I often have friends over,” he said.
On a recent weekend, his home was full on guests on Friday night and again the next day for grilling out and college football-watching, he said.
On the living room wall is Kim Schuessler’s vibrant painting of two girls in simple white dresses. The dark background is splatter-painted with bright colors.
“It’s one of my most prized possessions,” Kennamer said. “I got it at Monte Stabler Galleries.”
His living room sofas, covered in a linen-viscose blend fabric, make a neutral background for lively orange pillows—at least, they’re orange for the moment. Kennamer said he’ll change up the pillows with a darker Ralph Lauren fabric for the winter.
“I tell my clients that changing your pillows is the easiest and cheapest way to change your look,” he said.
Kennamer likes incorporating natural elements into his classic style. His coral collection includes a floral-like piece on his coffee table. The coral shares space on the table with a real turtle shell. Another turtle shell is on his trestle table, while a third in the master bathroom is a faux shell made of plaster.
Also in the living room are acrylic antlers, malachite pieces and a lamp with faux ram’s horns.
Coral isn’t the only thing Kennamer collects.
“I love coffee table books on design, fashion and travel,” he said.
He also likes finding and buying white Astier de Villatte pottery from Paris, which he houses in a large pine cabinet.
In the master bedroom are more finds with a French origin: framed sketches of wallpaper.
“In Paris, designers used do paintings of their ideas for wallpaper, and people would choose the designs they liked from the sketches,” Kennamer said.
Turquoise pillows on the bed add bright spots of color. The bed has an upholstered headboard, something Kennamer often uses when he’s designing for clients.
“People love those,” he said.
Kennamer said he’s looking forward to his duties as a tastemaker at Antiques at The Gardens—and not just because he’s eager to share his design viewpoint.
“It’s a fundraiser for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and I’m big on supporting my community,” he said. “Birmingham is an awesome design community, and this event promotes that and the Gardens.”
