My Houzz: Rustic Charm on a Summer Campsite in Alabama
Farmhouse touches mix with antiques and locally crafted pieces for a home that reflects its woodsy surroundings
Sliding barn doors, a farmhouse sink and homey antiques make for an idyllic summer retreat for Glenn and Carter Breazeale and their two daughters. Though most of the year the family resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this woodsy Alabama refuge on the campgrounds of the Alpine Camp for Boys, which the Breazeales codirect, acts as a second home.
Befitting the warm summer days, colorful prints and patterns brighten every room, while rustic accessories and decor reflect the home’s natural surroundings.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Glenn and Carter Breazeale and their daughters, Caroline and Virginia
Location: Mentone, Alabama
Size: About 3,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: The second-floor bathroom has a laundry chute connected to the downstairs laundry room.
Befitting the warm summer days, colorful prints and patterns brighten every room, while rustic accessories and decor reflect the home’s natural surroundings.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Glenn and Carter Breazeale and their daughters, Caroline and Virginia
Location: Mentone, Alabama
Size: About 3,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: The second-floor bathroom has a laundry chute connected to the downstairs laundry room.
Double doors lead into the living spaces from the screened-in porch; a timeworn hutch stores firewood and everything needed for a last-minute tea party.
Hutch: vintage, White Elephant Antique Galleries
Hutch: vintage, White Elephant Antique Galleries
The open floor plan includes a connected dining room, living room and kitchen. “Because we were using different paint colors in each space, the transitions between the main-floor rooms created a problem," Carter says. "I was not sure how to make the break in colors not seem too harsh." She solved the dilemma by using vintage eaves with curled trim in the corners to create a sense of separation.
Glass-front built-in cabinets showcase the couple’s favorite Mississippi pottery along with local handmade tumblers and pitchers by friends at Orbix Hot Glass.
Glass-front built-in cabinets showcase the couple’s favorite Mississippi pottery along with local handmade tumblers and pitchers by friends at Orbix Hot Glass.
The dining room mixes formal and casual furnishings. Soft vintage linens are draped over a French antique table, dating back to the early 1800s, while a vintage chandelier hangs it. Both pieces were found at Scott's Antiques in Atlanta. "I love a treasure hunt," Carter says.
Pottery and small chalkboard tags designate seating on a vintage tablecloth. A wooden candleholder stores antique flatware.
Pottery: McCarty's Pottery; tablecloth: White Elephant Antique Galleries
Pottery: McCarty's Pottery; tablecloth: White Elephant Antique Galleries
Natural wood protects the interior beams and gives the kitchen rustic charm.
A farmhouse sink sits under large kitchen windows that face the front yard. The sink “was one item I knew from the beginning that I wanted in my kitchen,” says Carter.
She personally sketched and designed the open shelving for the cabinet designers to build. Glass vases color the shelves and brighten the kitchen wall.
Sink: Ferguson; glass vases: Orbix Hot Glass
She personally sketched and designed the open shelving for the cabinet designers to build. Glass vases color the shelves and brighten the kitchen wall.
Sink: Ferguson; glass vases: Orbix Hot Glass
Flowers fill locally made vases from McCarty's Pottery on the mantel. “This Mississippi pottery is my absolute favorite. It connects us to our Mississippi roots, and the wonderful greens and browns remind me of the mountains,” says Carter.
Couch: Akins Furniture; rug: Pottery Barn; pillows: Orient Express and Pottery Barn; art: Cathy Lancaster
Couch: Akins Furniture; rug: Pottery Barn; pillows: Orient Express and Pottery Barn; art: Cathy Lancaster
More Mississippi pottery and plants decorate the dresser and record player. “My idea of gardening is being able to walk out my back door and cut flowers or greenery in any season,” Carter says.
Pottery pitcher: McCarty's Pottery; lamp: Scott's Antiques
Pottery pitcher: McCarty's Pottery; lamp: Scott's Antiques
“My main goal in our house was to have large, open spaces where we could easily entertain and open up our home to our staff, and small nooks and crannies where you could cozy up to read, or our girls could play,” Carter says.
Artwork: Cathy Lancaster
Artwork: Cathy Lancaster
Large cushioned furniture creates an ideal place where the homeowners and camp staff can relax.
Ottoman: Country Living Collection, Kmart; sofa, chairs: re-covered with fabric from Associated Fabrics; pillows: Associated Fabrics and Pottery Barn
Ottoman: Country Living Collection, Kmart; sofa, chairs: re-covered with fabric from Associated Fabrics; pillows: Associated Fabrics and Pottery Barn
A farm table doubles as a storage unit for electronic devices and accessories. The painted wooden floor adds a cottage aesthetic.
Farm table: The Mustard Seed Antique Emporium; pillow: Target; "You are my sunshine" artwork: Sophie's; pottery: McCarty's Pottery
Farm table: The Mustard Seed Antique Emporium; pillow: Target; "You are my sunshine" artwork: Sophie's; pottery: McCarty's Pottery
Soft yellow wallpaper depicts tree branches in a guest bathroom off the family room. “I love wallpaper and thought this was an economical way to incorporate it into the house instead of doing a whole room,” Carter says. A mason jar with dried flowers and a weathered window decorate the antique hutch.
Cabinet: Dixie Salvage; wallpaper: Thibaut
Cabinet: Dixie Salvage; wallpaper: Thibaut
Modern bedding and accessories create a calm, comfortable atmosphere in the main bedroom.
Bed: Pottery Barn Outlet; bedding: Pottery Barn
Bed: Pottery Barn Outlet; bedding: Pottery Barn
The Breazeales commissioned artist and friend Susan Woodard to paint the portrait of their two kids above their dresser.
A Walter Anderson block print hangs above the bathtub.
Tub: Ferguson; wall paint: Harbor Haze, Benjamin Moore
Tub: Ferguson; wall paint: Harbor Haze, Benjamin Moore
Colorful banners and string lights bring a dose of magic to a second-floor reading nook. The space is the daughters' favorite in the house. “They are the ultimate critic for me: If they love the home they are growing up in, then I have succeeded,” Carter says.
Rug: Pottery Barn Outlet; flags: Ikea
Rug: Pottery Barn Outlet; flags: Ikea
Matching twin beds, pink paper lanterns and floral bedding outfit the daughters' bedroom.
Beds: eBay; duvet: Pine Cone Hill; wall paint: Frosty Pink, Benjamin Moore
Beds: eBay; duvet: Pine Cone Hill; wall paint: Frosty Pink, Benjamin Moore
A mudroom helps cut down on clutter inside the house. The space doubles as the laundry room.
The Breazeales added a counter to the top of the washer and dryer for folding clothes or clipping branches on. A small chute above the wooden basket connects to the second-floor bathroom.
Curtains: Target
Curtains: Target
A neon-green-framed chalkboard, family photos and graphic grocery totes adorn the wide beadboard walls.
Tote: Amelia; chalkboard: flea market in Rosemary Beach, Florida
Tote: Amelia; chalkboard: flea market in Rosemary Beach, Florida
Metal garden planters and a wooden bench adorn a small porch just off the mudroom.
Pillow: Land's End; vase: Sophie's
Pillow: Land's End; vase: Sophie's
The two-story house is nestled in the woods miles away from the main road. “I love that I can walk out my door and take my girls on a hike, or they can walk to a nearby creek and play for hours,” says Carter.
Trim paint: Litchfield Gray, Benjamin Moore
Trim paint: Litchfield Gray, Benjamin Moore
Carter exits her front door with some of the season’s colorful trimmings. The natural wood doors and soft gray exterior color bring warmth to this covered front entry. “I wanted my house to be cozy and to complement the environment surrounding it,” Carter says.
Paint: Whitall Brown, Benjamin Moore
Paint: Whitall Brown, Benjamin Moore
Outdoor rug: Dixie Salvage; pillows: Land's End