By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Blair Ramsey

Cradled between towering pine trees, this beautiful, American Colonial-style home reflects rays of sunlight seeping through the plethora of branches swaying overhead. Resting on an idyllic street corner, the home receives a host of passersby–children pedaling down the street and around the curve on their bikes, or mothers happily chatting away, pushing their newborns in their strollers.

Originally built in 1939, this estate has weathered the rise of its surrounding neighborhood, and yet, it remains a staple of architectural opulence on the block. Its street is actually what first drew homeowners Jodie and Dorothy Smith to the neighborhood in 2003.

Celebrating 35 years of joyful union, Jodie and Dorothy’s meet-cute occurred while they were students at Birmingham-Southern College. After tying the knot, they traveled all over, pursuing higher education before starting their family and moving back home to Birmingham.

In 2010, they jumped at an opportunity to purchase this generational residence on their “dream street,” spending the first few years in the home focused on raising their children. Then in March 2020–just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic–they embarked on another dream of theirs–remodeling their kitchen.

Uniquely, the Smiths’ first home’s kitchen was the center focus of the house, so Dorothy wanted to replicate this design during their renovation. They became connected with Katrina Porter Designs and Gary Speegle of BECA Residential Construction, who began the remodel by gutting the original kitchen to the studs.

Next, they elongated the kitchen island and perimeter countertops before knocking out the adjacent wall to transform a hall closet into a wet bar. From there, they remodeled the powder room next to the wet bar, as well as the breakfast nook connecting the kitchen to the dining room parlor.

Now standing in the kitchen, one’s line of sight can reach nearly every other room in the house. Thanks to Katrina and Gary, this design allows for the Smith family to cook meals and eat with one another in the “heart” of their home.

As stunning as this architectural marvel may be, this house was built with family in mind, and that’s exactly how the Smiths intend to keep it.

Face of the Home

The shingle-style exterior alludes to the transcendent beauty of the house’s original build.

Dining Room Parlor

Vintage from the 1920s, this Art Deco table was handcrafted entirely out of one piece of wood. Dorothy sourced the dining room chairs’ brightly colored upholstery from King Cotton for a bit of added flair.

Adorning Lights

Handmade in Venice, Italy, the dining room’s chandelier is a Murano glass handblown  chandelier.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

An original by Meredith Keith, this urban cityscape depicts a scene in Europe. While it is a more modern painting, Dorothy says it connects her home today with her Dutch heritage.

Breakfast Nook

The high back bench originally sported a bright red leather, but it was reupholstered to match the color palette of the kitchen’s renovation. 

Kitchen

Dorothy loves how the kitchen’s open, inviting design lends itself to a more welcoming atmosphere for her family.

The Island

Utilizing Alabama White Marble for the countertops, Dorothy says Katrina encouraged this more traditional stone to honor the age of the house.

Wet Bar

To open up the kitchen, the hall closet once blocking the open concept’s posterior view was torn out, and this niche, little bar was built in its place.

Powder Room

This space was remodeled during the kitchen’s renovation. Dorothy opted for the silver-toned, textured wallpaper featured to bring out the undertones in the vanity’s marble. The cabinets in this room were handmade to match the kitchen’s cabinetry, too.

Den

A site of fellowship, the Smith family enjoys relaxing in the den, bonding with one another in conversation.

French Doors

Engulfing the den with natural light, the French doors giving way to the patio ground this room’s interior design in sophisticated functionality.

Living Room

Circa the mid-1800s, this armoire has been passed down through Dorothy’s family for generations.

The Desk

Dorothy’s father first purchased this desk for her, when she was in the fifth grade. Now, it rests in her living room facing a large, well-lit window, which provides the perfect space for light reading.

Behind the Scenes

Interior Design: Katrina Porter, Katrina Porter Designs
Construction: Gary Speegle, BECA Residential Construction