When architect James Laughlin came across this historic home in Birmingham, Alabama’s historic Forest Park neighborhood, it was love at first sight, but he had to spend many years pining for this property in order to finally make it his own. Laughlin says he put multiple love letters in the home’s mailbox over the years and eventually tracked down the owner (Arnold Palmer’s former caddy, no less) to convince him to sell it. However, the home quickly became Laughlin’s largest undertaking to date.

The architect has an affinity for all things Federal and Colonial architecture and knew before stepping inside he wanted to restore the home to its original 1920s spirit and Philadelphia Georgian elegance. However, before he could get to the cornice restoration and create period-appropriate millwork, he was forced to split the renovation into two parts with the first to simply bringing the home back to basics in nearly every way.

“I came in knowing the home had been derelict for about 15 years and had fallen into a state of disrepair because the owner had relocated,” Laughlin says. “When we walked in, it was full of debris practically up to the ceiling.”

There ended up being 67 dumpsters worth of garbage, which had caused the floor to sag through the years, requiring foundational repair and plaster restoration. But his love and vision for the home endured, and partner in crime Heather Chadduck Hillegas was with him from the moment the house was purchased to help bring it back to life for the modern age on the inside as Laughlin reimagined its next era of architectural prominence.

“We took a very reverent approach to the architecture to breathe new life into it, from custom doors that were milled in profiles of the originals and all the hardware was missing so we had solid brass hardware put in,” says Laughlin. “All of the selections we made were of quality and in the style of the '20s. Really, the goal was to have it be a new-old house.”

Chadduck, a longtime friend and colleague of Jimmy’s, came into the project with a strong sense of his aesthetic preferences and lifestyle. She knew he prefers a more neutral color palette and his decorating philosophy was more about celebrating a home’s architecture through its interiors, rather than treating the architecture as a hand that had been dealt. The first design feature Chadduck brought to the home was the dining room’s swoon-worthy sepia-toned Gracie wallpaper that evokes a well-traveled atmosphere, which became the perfect common thread for the rest of the home.

“I personally find so much inspiration in travel and there’s something really lovely about bringing your experiences back home,” says Hillegas. “Jimmy and I have traveled a lot together, and we went to Egypt a few years ago and had the most amazing time. We were on this boat seeing the Great Pyramids buying rugs off its deck and had to drag them home in tote bags, but now they are layered throughout this house. Every room reminds you of something special or hilarious that occurred on a trip.”

Relics of the dynamic design duo’s Egypt trip can be found throughout the home in the art, alabaster, and other decor such as obelisks and pyramids. However, the most transportive space in the home is the primary bedroom suite, as it was designed to evoke the feelings and textures of a five-star hotel from the linens to the florals and state-of-the-art bathroom (Laughlin’s favorite space). It manages to feel properly suited for a bon vivant on a grand tour a hundred years ago—or today.

While this home is certainly well traveled, it’s a far cry from being cluttered and maximalist. While Laughlin leans towards a clean, refined design scheme, it strikes a pleasant balance of formality and warmth. It also feels collected and peaceful to the eye, while boasting plenty of delightful contrasts. Hillegas packs an impressive design punch by leaning into texture, patina, and juxtaposition to create visual interest for one-of-a-kind spaces that are, as both Hillegas and Laughlin found of the utmost importance, “trend-averse” with an appeal to the most discerning of globetrotters in need of a respite.

In fact, Hillegas says she spent as much time thinking through what not to place in a room as much as how to fill it in order to create the symmetry and balance Laughlin was craving. The end product is a home rich in personal history, his fondest memories abroad, and joy from day one, while honoring the home’s 100-year legacy, allowing both property and owner to shine through. What more could you ask for?

“All of the house tells its own story and relates in some capacity to travel,” Laughlin says. “I give Heather so much credit for the styling, because no room feels staged. Every piece tells a story, and there is a meaning and spirit behind each item.”

While Laughlin has since sold the home (love can’t always last forever), he credits one of his favorite spaces, the book room, as an endless source of inspiration. Full of warmth and coziness thanks to the wood paneling and antique brick floor, the tiniest room of the house is a workhorse for the architect’s creative brain, as it houses 800 books on art, architecture, and travel, leading one to wonder what his next great undertaking may be.

Exterior

heather chadduck birmingham laughlin house

The home is a 1920s Philadelphian Georgian that has been painstakingly restored to reflect its original architecture and even features period red brick.

Exterior

a person standing with dogs outside a house

Dining Room

a dining room table with a chandelier above it

The Gracie wallcovering was one of first elements selected for the home and set the tone for the interiors throughout the house. The antique dining set is from Circa and the rug is Egyptian. Light fixture, Jamb.

mclaughlin chadduck birmingham dining room vignette

Kitchen

laughlin chadduck birmingham kitchen

The cabinetry is swathed in Waller Green from Benjamin Moore's Williamsburg collection. The Ann-Morris, Inc. pendants Design Within Reach barstools add shape and visual interest.

Bar

a white door with a glass window

This bright and airy extension of the kitchen features a custom hutch by Cotton Woodworks. The antlers were sourced from Scott Antique Market.

Living Room

a living room with a table and chairs

laughlin chadduck birmingham living room fireplace

Book Room

a living room with a large window

This cozy wood-paneled reading room features an antique Egyptian rug and obelisks from Laughlin's travels that pair swimmingly with the Design Supply globe. Coffee table, Casamidy.

Primary Bedroom

a bedroom with a bed and a mirror

This bedroom suite was inspired by the little luxuries of a five-star hotel. Peacock Alley bedding atop a Hickory Chair four-poster bed and elegant Bungalow Classic lamps help achieve the look.