Houzz Tour: Casually French Birmingham

In Mary Evelyn McKee’s Birmingham house, polished and serene choices really are a mere extension of this designer’s naturally distinguished palette. The Norman-style house reflects her Francophile inclinations, while constantly keeping things slightly casual in family-heavy areas like the mudroom entrance and kitchen. Comfort is key, but it never takes over the sophisticated aesthetic and chic color palette of cream, white, beige and moss green. Carefully chosen antiques complete the spin on traditional, Southern fashion.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The outside is an architectural example of understated design. With no shutters on the house, the oversize lamp hanging over the door is prominent. The ivy growing up the side allows the house blend in the surroundings.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The barrel vault-ceilinged foyer leads straight to the garden. French doors in the entryway and back of the hallway bring in a lot of light. Two armless club chairs offer you a place to sit and read.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

McKee wanted to maintain the kitchen conservative, so she put a classic table in the middle and utilized dark grout to offset the subway tile backsplash. Simple white upholstered chairs keep the black and white wood color palette.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

From the kitchen, a drop-down desk is surrounded by storage for dishes, glassware and serveware. The dark gunmetal grey finish feels dramatic against an otherwise white kitchen color scheme.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

Skirted chairs surround a French walnut table in the mushroom-gray dining area. Neoclassical rolls include the grandiose chandelier and lush, gold raw silk drapes.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

A watercolor print of vibrant yellow flowers above a traditional sideboard adds a number of the brightest color in the house.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The color tones of rock, straw and white are calming enough to permit the various antiques to stand out well. Children’s portraits lean against a mantel flanked by golden French sconces.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The designer’s long-haired dachshund Nicholas sits to the overstuffed daybed in the living area. A traditional metallic base lamp covers a tablescape of accessories which have shells and crystal pieces. An abstract nude hangs solo on the far wall.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

McKee painted the bedroom a color she calls the”sacred” color. “It is the color of the Virgin’s veils in Renaissance paintings,” she says. A mix of green and blue, the overall effect is very cerebral and calm. The blue-on-blue linens and draperies improve the fairly aesthetic.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The Fortuny upholstered seat plays off the beige/gold mirror and little walnut table. Local designers are responsible for the little prints she’s layered using plate stands.

Mary Evelyn Interiors

The mudroom entryway includes a bit of country-chic, with baskets and hooks for keeping necessities.

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