MAY/JUNE 2011 $3.95

noalamag.com

THE PERFECT HOME IIISOUTHERN SHADOWS: A PHOTO ESSAY OF FORGOTTEN DWELLINGS

A DOWNTOWN LOFT GETS A HIP MAKEOVERA BRIGHT SPOT SHINES ON SHOAL CREEK

9 DESIGNERS SHARE SOME COLORFUL SECRETS

2 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 3

300 East Tennessee Street, Florence, AL 35630

(256) 767-2568 • mcdanielwd.com

Follow us:

“Several years ago, we built a new home, and McDaniel Window and Door gave usgreat products and service. When I decided to remodel my store, there was no questionabout who to use for our business. Once again, we are extremely pleased with their performance! We appreciate them so much!Kevin Arnold, Village Discount Drugs

“What a tremendous difference our new frontdoor makes! The folks at McDaniel Windowand Door made it all so easy! My wife and Iwere absolutely pleased with their professionalservice, installation, and products. They are afabulous group!”Mike Randall, Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Properties

4 | No’Ala

DANNYMITCHELL

PHOTOGRAPHY

Member, Professional Photographers of America

WEDDINGS · RESTORATIONSENIOR PORTRAITS

COMMERCIAL · ADVERTISINGEVENTS · SPORTS · INTERIORS

PRODUCT · STOCK

1712 Birmingham Street · Sheffield, Alabama 35660256-386-0944 (office) · 256-627-3056 (cell) · www.dannymitchell.com

May/June 2011 | 5

Is it time to talk about

Wisdom Tooth

Removal?

When school ends for the summer, many families take care of removing wisdom teeth. That’s one of our specialties!

Why is it Necessary toRemove Wisdom Teeth?

Impacted wisdom teeth can causepain, infection and tooth damage.But if you’re having trouble withyour wisdom teeth, we have theadvice you need!

•As your wisdom tooth tries to eruptat an angle, it can push on the neigh-boring tooth, causing pain and possi-bly damaging the tooth.

•Food gets trapped next to the wisdomtooth, making the area a breedingground for the bacteria that causedecay and periodontal (gum) disease.

•An infection called pericoronitis maydevelop around the impacted tooth,and this infection can spread into theface and jaw.

•Your jaw may become painful and thesurrounding gums may swell andbecome tender.

•A fluid filled sac called a cyst maydevelop around the impacted tooth;this can destroy a great deal of jawbone.

Early removal can prevent problems

You can avoid the pain and possi-ble damaging effects of an impact-ed wisdom tooth by having itremoved early, before its roots arefully developed. At Oral & Facial,we’re the place to turn for wisdomtooth advice. Call DoctorsMcIlwain, Nester or Frederick at256-383-1499 to arrange for anappointment.

We’d love to help you look and feelyour best!

(256) 383-1499Offices in Colbert andLauderdale Counties

www.oralandfacialoftheshoals.com

Mark R. McIlwainD.M.D., M.D.

Christopher B. NesterD.M.D., M.D.

Jonathan W. FrederickD.M.D., M.D.

Oral and Facial Surgery of the Shoals, LLC

6 | No’Ala

ON THE COVER: The kitchen is theheart of the home, and this room, created by Jolie Lauderdale of Florence, isroomy and welcoming. On this page isa sculpture from the garden of artistTommy Mathis. It’s our annual Homeand Garden issue, and we’re going toprove that the best looking homes inthe world happen to be located righthere in the Shoals.

{ contents}

Photo by Danny MitchellSculpture by Lucas Stokes

May/June 2011 | 7

In cooling and heatingcompanies, THERE IS

A DIFFERENCE!

AL Certification #06222AL Certification #50045

Mitch Parrish,Owner

Alvin Lynch,Owner

We’ve been in business for 56 years because we take care of our customers. We would like you to experience our difference!WE BELIEVE:• Personal service starts when a live person answers the phone• Courtesy and respect are expected, not a privilege• There is no substitute for taking care of our customers• If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is; you get what you pay for• Honest and fair pricing is the best way to grow a company• Doing what’s right - even if it costs us money• If we wouldn’t invest the money — why should you?• Our people should know you by name, and vice versa

May/June 2011Volume 4: Issue 3

• • •C. Allen Tomlinson

Editor-In-Chief

David SimsManaging Editor/Design Director

Contributing WritersSarah Gaede, Claire Stewart

Contributing PhotographersDanny Mitchell, Wes and Tera Wages

Business ManagerFrances Adams

Marketing Coordinator/Advertising SalesLyndsie McClure

Administrative AssistantClaire Stewart

Printing and DistributionPrinters and Stationers, Inc.

• • •No’Ala is published six times annually by ATSA

PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106

Toll-free: 800-779-4222 Web: www.noalamag.com

Standard postage paid at Florence, AL.A one-year subscription is $19.95for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of theauthors and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the editors.Advertisers are solely responsible forthe content of their advertisements.

© 2008-2011 ATSA, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence toAllen Tomlinson, Editor,

at the postal address above, or by e-mail toatomlinson@atsa-usa.com.

Letters may be edited for space and style.

To advertise, contact us at:256-766-4222, or sales@noalamag.com.

The editor will provide writer’s guidelinesupon request. Prospective authors should notsubmit unsolicited manuscripts; please query

the editor first.

No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inkson 100% recycled paper.

Join us on Facebook: No’Ala Mag

8 | No’Ala

GOLDGAMMAAWARD

BEST DESIGN2009

{ contents}

22

86

Features16 Magic Carpet Ride22 The Perfect Home III48 A Bright Spot on Shoal Creek59 Designers’ Colorful Secrets74 Transplants80 Feelin’ Groovy: A Downtown Loft

Gets a Hip Makeover86 Southern Shadows: A Photo Essay

by Armosa Studios

Everything Else12 Calendar52 Shopping92 Bless Their Hearts94 Twenty Questions98 Parting Shot

{ editor’s letter}

You would think that as an artist I might have a certain flair for home decorating, butsadly that’s not the case. In fact, the more I interact with our local designers, the moreinept I feel. I will gladly admit—I envy what they do. And even more, I covet the results—I want all of that cool stuff and I want it now. Maybe that’s my biggest weakness.

Looking back, I should have spent more time listening to two of most patient people inmy life: Howell Leak (my maternal grandfather), and Paula Ross (my lifelongbest friend). Although these people never really met, they shared a laudabletrait: they wanted the best and were willing to wait until they could afford it.My grandfather bought only the finest—best cars, best furniture. And if hecouldn’t find it, he would make it (I didn’t inherit those genes). My friendPaula (we grew up next door to each other) adhered to that very same goal.If she wanted a certain piece of furniture, expensive piece of jewelry, or set offine bedding, she would painstakingly save the money. In the meantime, shewould do without. No junk would ever satisfy her. And now, as I look aroundmy hastily decorated home, I’m starting to think I should start a new resolu-tion to buy the best, or make it myself—or have someone make it for me. Ifyou’d like to see how’s it’s done right, take a look at our third Perfect Home feature,beginning on page 22. Paula and my grandfather would be so proud.

If there’s an underlying theme to this issue, it would probably be color. From the brightlyhued Arts & Crafts style creekside home designed by Kevin Jangaard (page 48) to thefunky loft Keith Rhodes created (page 80), to the fantasy moodboards some of ourfavorite interior geniuses conjured up on page 58, you’ll get a fresh perspective on howcolor can be used inside and out. This issue never fails to inspire in me a new resolu-tion to improve and energize my surroundings!

Finally, you will not want to miss our summer music/entertainment issue. As always, wewill profile several up-and-coming musicians who deserve your attention. And sincesubscribers will receive a free CD with a sample song from each, you might want tohead over to noalamag.com and sign up!

As always, thank you for your continued support.

BY DAVID SIMS

May/June 2011 | 9

A Shoals resident since2003, Sarah Gaederecently had somethingakin to a road to Emmausexperience, and is nowtotally in love with Flo-rence (the news of theimpending Publix helped.)She and her husbandHenry and Siamese catsMaggie, Flossie, and Percy,live in town. Priest, chap-

lain, yogini, cook, and amateur spin doctor, her currentcause is having bacon declared a vegetable so that south-erners will find added motivation to eat as vegetarians.

In the process of docu-menting our area’s notablebut forgotten homes (Seepage 86), Tera and WesWages were chased fromone property by four angryPit Bulls—something thecouple has probably neverexperienced while shootingthe portraits, engagements,and high-end weddings forwhich they are well known.Gladly they were unhurt,and we can look forward tomore of their unique and stylish portraits created by theirShoals business, Armosa Studios. Armosa has been fea-tured in top wedding magazines and blogs and strives foran “unordinary” style. See more of their work at

www.armosastudios.com.

There’s no doubt about it,Claire Stewart is a fasttalker. But somehow shemanaged to slow it downenough to interview ourfive couples who have cho-sen to live in the Shoals. Astudent at UNA, Claire willfinish a degree in profes-sional writing and,hopefully, choose to live inthe Shoals as well.

10 | No’Ala

{ contributors}

Sarah Gaede

Wes and Tera Wages

Claire Stewart

May/June 2011 | 11

Residential and commercial doors that are functional . . . and beautiful. Trust Shoals Overhead Door to help youselect the door for your application, and then provide service after the sale. Some of the most beautiful entrances in

the Shoals start with a call to Shoals Overhead Door.Visit our showroom at 2402 Woodside Drive, Muscle Shoals

(at the intersection of Wilson Dam Road and 2nd Street)

256.383.DOOR • www.shoalsoverheaddoor.com

12 | No’Ala

MayMay 1–6Shoebox SculpturesTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water Street, Tuscumbia;9:00am–5:00pm weekdays and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sundays; $5adults, $3 children; Sundays free.

May 2-4Sculptural Basketry by Mary Jane EverettKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence; weekdays9:00am–4:00pm, no admission charged. Call (256) 760-6379 forinformation.

May 6 & 7Crappie USA Super EventRiverfront Park, 1416 Alabama Ave., Sheffield; Free to the public.(256) 383-0783 or www.fishpickwick.com. Weigh-In at 3:00pm.

May 6First FridayCourt Street, downtown Florence, 5:00pm–8:00pm; no admissionThis monthly event is a gathering of artists of all kinds: musicians,painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators,and more.

May 7Rogersville First SaturdaysDowntown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm; no admission charged.Live music and merchants line the streets of downtownRogersville.

Kids Fishing RodeoRiverfront Park, 1416 Alabama Ave., Sheffield; Free; Registrationbegins at 8:00am, Weigh-In at 11:00am (256) 383-0783 orwww.fishpickwick.com.

Lagrange College Site “Recall LaGrange”1491 LaGrange College Road, Leighton (7 miles southwest of Tus-cumbia); Donations accepted; Saturday: 10:00am–4:00pmA vignette of Civil War life with skirmishes, re-enactments, a CivilWar-era funeral, a daily life camp, and musical entertainment.

May 9Hospice of the Shoals “A Little Taste of Goodness”Marriott Shoals Conference Center; Silent Auction at 5:30pm; din-ner at 7:00pm. Tickets are $40 each or a table of 10 for $375.www.hospiceoftheshoals.org. This is the biggest fundraiser of theyear for not-for-profit Hospice of the Shoals.

May 12–15Shoals Community Theatre presents Hamlet II: Better Than the OriginalShoals Theatre, Florence; 7:30pm; admission $10, students $8. Call(256) 764-1700 for information.

May 14–1525th Annual Arts Alive FestivalWilson Park, Florence; 9:00am-5:00pm; no admission charged.Stroll through beautiful Wilson Park and enjoy this juried fine artsand crafts festival featuring artists from across the country.

May 15–July 8Watercolor Society of Alabama, Annual Juried CompetitionTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 North Water Street Tus-cumbia, 9:00am-5:00pm weekdays and 1:00pm-3:00pm Sundays;$5 adults, $3 children; Sundays free.

May 17Florence Camerata presents “America Sings”Location to be determined; 7:30pm. Admission charged. Ticketsavailable at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 EastTuscaloosa Street, Florence, or at the door.

May 20–21The University of North Alabama’s Front PorchStory Telling FestivalUNA Campus near the President’s home; Admission $15, students$5 for each day. www.una.edu/storytelling. The University ofNorth Alabama’s Front Porch Story Telling Festival will be hostedby Bill Foster. Special Guests will be Syd Lieberman, Sparky andRhonda Rucker, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Dolores Hydock, Car-men Deedy, Bill Lepp, Andy Irwin and Donald Davis.

May 20Florence City Schools Education Foundation’s 7th Annual GolfTournament at Blackberry Trail9:00 AM shotgun start; 3 person scramble. Catered outdoor grillingby Stephen Callahan included! To register go to www.fcsef.org oremail gfox@florencek12.org or call 256-768-2680.

May 21Cystic Fibrosis Charity Motorcycle RideRide begins at McBride Elementary School at 10:00am. Door prizesand food. Silent auction from 8:00am–12:30pm Registration8:00am–10:00am. $20.00 per Bike (Free T-shirt). For more informa-tion: Joyce Mitchell, (256) 383-3942.

May 28Walking Tours of Historic FlorenceRogers Hall at UNA; 10:00am; Free; The historic district featuresmany architecturally unique homes built in the mid 1800's andseveral examples of early 1900's Sears catalog houses. Tourbegins at Rogers Hall at 10:00am, 1 Harrison Plaza, Florence, AL35630. Tour Guide: Billy Warren.

Back to the Sixties on a Saturday NightMontgomery Avenue, Sheffield; 6:00pm–10:00pm; Tickets $20 inadvance, $25 at the door. Celebrating 60's music with a reunion ofpopular sixties bands.

Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum Presents Comedian James GregoryFlorence Lauderdale Coliseum, 7:00pm–10:00pm; Admission $20.(256) 760-6418

May 29Edsel Holden presents “Swingtime in the Shoals”Shoals Theatre, Florence, 2:00pm. Admission $15, to raise moneyto improve the lighting system at the Shoals Theatre. Military vet-erans admitted at no charge (must acquire a ticket prior to theshow). Popular local singer Edsel Holden has assembled a groupof the Shoals’ best, including Lenny LeBlanc and the Edd JonesOrchestra, to present an afternoon of favorites.

Calendarof events

May/June 2011 | 13

Continued page 14

May 30Memorial Day CeremonyColbert County Courthouse, 201 North Main Street, Tuscumbia;11:00 am; free. (256) 381-2298, (256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783.www.colbertcountytourism.org.

JuneJune 2 and every ThursdaySpring Park Market: Upscale Farmer’s MarketSpring Park, Tuscumbia; no admission charged

June 3–July 9The Miracle WorkerGrounds of Helen Keller’s Birthplace, 300 North Commons West,Tuscumbia; Gates open at 6:45pm, play begins at 8:00pm, Fridayand Saturday only. $10 reserved seating, $8 general admission.(256) 383-4066 or (888) 329-2124; www.helenkellerbirthplace.org.

June 3First FridayCourt Street, downtown Florence, 5:00pm - 8:00pm; no admission

June 4, 11, 18, & 25Sheffield Walking ToursDepart from Sheffield City Hall on N. Montgomery Avenue. Beginsin front of the Sheffield Municipal Building and travel north on N.Montgomery Avenue, around the historic Standpipe and returnback to the starting point. Free. (256) 381-3907.

June 4, 11, 18, & 25Historic Tuscumbia Walking ToursBegins at Cold Water Books, 101 West Sixth Street, Tuscumbia;10:00am (Saturdays Only). Free. (256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783;www.colbertcountytourism.org. Stroll downtown with a knowl-edgeable guide, learn the town’s early history and listen tointeresting stories about the earliest townspeople.

June 4North Alabama African Heritage FestivalWillie Green Center, Tuscumbia; 10:00am until; Free. For moreinformation: Wallace Ricks (256) 381-1797; Offers opportunities toexplore African art and fashions, culture, crafts and food.

Rogersville First SaturdaysDowntown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm; no admission charged.

Muscle Shoals Area Street Rod Run100 Spring Park Road, Tuscumbia; 10:00am–4:00pm; Free to thepublic; Registration fee to participate. (256) 381-3518, (256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783.

41/20 Mixer at Bluewater CreekThe 41/20 Club - a leadership group for professionals under theage of 40, and named for the Alabama license plate numbers thatdesignate Lauderdale (41) and Colbert (20) counties, holds anintroductory mixer at Bluewater Polo Club. Come watch polo,beginning at 4:00pm, and stay for the party. Tickets are $20; callWill Beadle at 256-764-8481 or 256-766-4222 for information.

June 5Frontier Day CelebrationPope’s Tavern, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence; start time TBD. Noadmission. (256) 760-6439; Step back in time and watch artisans incostume spinning wool, carving wood, working a forge, makingbrooms, creating corn shuck dolls and playing dulcimers.

IMPROVE THREE DIMENSIONS OF VITALITY:

PHYSICAL VIGOR

MENTAL ACUITY

SEXUAL DRIVE

Available at:

Complimentary week’s trial pack for the month of May, 2011

Want more energy for outdoor spring activities?

256-764-5997 256-577-8391

14 | No’Ala

June 6-July 8Helen Keller Art Show of AlabamaTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water Street, Tus-cumbia. 9:00am-5:00pm weekdays and 1:00pm-3:00pmSundays; $5 adults, $3 children; Sundays free. A touring exhibition of inspiring art created by Alabama chil-dren who are visually impaired, blind, or deaf/blind.

June 6, 13, 20, & 27Tuesday Evening Trolley ToursBegins at Cold Water Books, 101 West Sixth Street, Tuscumbia;Two tours each Tuesday. Tours depart at 4:30 pm, then again at6:00pm. $5 per seat. (256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783;www.colbertcountytourism.org.

June 9–11, 16 & 17Summer Stock at the Ritz: Guys and DollsRitz Theatre, 111 West 3rd St, Sheffield; Performances at7:35pm; Tickets: $12 for adults and $10 for students at thedoor and $10 for adults and $8 for students in advance fromthe Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, (256) 383-0533, or fromwww.ritztheatre.ticketleap.com.

Calendarof events Continued from page 13

June 13–17 and 20-24Summer Art Camp/ Young Master’s Art School at the Kennedy-Douglass CenterKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence; admissioncharged. Call 256-760-6379 for information.

June 14–17Kid’s Art Camp at ReliqueRelique, 1136 N. Wood Ave, Florence; 9:00am-12:00pm; Ages 7-12.Admission charged. (256) 767-4810. Daily art projects for kids!

June 17PAWS Benefit Wine Tasting and AuctionSweet Basil Cafe, English Village, Florence; Tickets $25 per person. Great food paired with great wines, and an auction to benefit PetsAre Worth Saving (PAWS). Sponsored by Sweet Basil Cafe and TheFrench Basket.

June 18PAWS Adoption DriveThe French Basket, English Village, Florence; Come look at theadorable pets for adoption–and perhaps choose one to rescue?

June 25Walking Tours of Historic FlorenceRogers Hall at UNA; 10:00am; Free.

June 23–2633rd Annual Helen Keller Festival100 Spring Park Road and downtown Tuscumbia; Wed–Thursday:Free, Fri–Sat: (one time) admission, Sunday: Most events are free.(256) 383-0783 or (800) 344-0783; www.helenkellerfestival.com.Over 100 events including headliner music artists, fine arts andcrafts show, parade and Keller Kids educational activities.

At the area’s newest Garden Center, we sell everything you need to make your landscape

project spectacular. At ColdwaterNursery & Garden Center, we sell

every blooming thing!

1001 Koonce Street, Florence - formerly The Garden Spot, behind Dale’s Restaurant256-349-2352 • coldwaterlandscapes.com

Will you comeout and play?Our friends at PAWS are having a fundraiser at

English Village on June 17th and 18th. There will be a winetasting, auction, and lots of great food. There will even be

an Adoption Day, in case you want to take some of myfriends home to play with all the time!

PAWS Fundraising DaysJune 17 & 18

June 17: Wine Tasting & Auction at Sweet Basil:$25/ticket

June 18: Adoption Drive at The French Basket

Sponsored by Sweet Basil Cafe and The French Basket

Purchase Wine Tasting tickets at either location or at the door

May/June 2011 | 15

1627 Darby Drive in English Village, Florence(256) 764-5991

16 | No’Ala

{ everybody’s business}

TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

May/June 2011 | 17

That is pretty sound advice, and many interior decorators agree.Bill’s business, The Flying Carpet, located on the grounds of hisfamily home near the Central community, has been the region’sprimary source for top-quality hand-knotted rugs for a longtime. In fact, Bill is following in his maternal grandmother’sfootsteps—she owned an antique store in downtown Florencethat dated back to 1924, and his mother, Inez Wright, ownedCabin Antiques on North Court Street for years. The FlyingCarpet, started in 1972, was an addition to The Cabin that tookon a life of its own, and after Mrs. Wright’s death in 1978, Billand his sons Paul and Neal grew the business to two locations(the second in Huntsville) and over 3,000 rugs. The Wrightsare acknowledged as fine rug experts by almost four genera-tions in north Alabama and southern Tennessee.

Bill didn’t necessarily plan it that way. He went to Auburn tostudy engineering and made his way to Detroit to work forChrysler, where he was involved in all phases of automobiledesign. In 1956, he was transferred to Huntsville, where heworked with Chrysler’s engineers on products that were usedin the Redstone Jupiter and Saturn space programs. One of theautomotive products he worked on was the Dodge Daytona,the fastest production car in the world, tested in a Georgia windtunnel at 249 miles per hour. He even worked on automotiveradio and instrumentation, working in a warehouse inHuntsville they rented from Woody Anderson Ford.

But while he was working in the engine labs for Chrysler, trav-eling the country, he was also learning the rug business,purchasing fine quality hand-knotted wool rugs to send to hismother in Florence. He eventually made his way back to theShoals, where he settled in to the family business and becamethe resident expert on fine floor coverings.

“India is the primary source for hand knotted rugs today, butthey are copying designs made popular by the Persians,” saidBill. Making rugs is an ancient tradition, dating back to 500B.C.; the Old Testament even mentions carpets as preciousartifacts in the building of King Solomon’s temple (Exodus 36:35-37). Persian carpets became the gold standard, and the tra-dition of making rugs was an art handed down from generationto generation within families. To craft a 9’x12’ rug by hand, itcan take eight people up to a year.

The best way to decorate your home, according to Bill Wright,is to pick a rug you like and build your room around it.

18 | No’Ala

“In the 1840s, the Indians discovered rug making; they set uplooms, and by the 1880s were creating rugs with a finer knotand more knots per square inch than the Persians themselves,”said Bill. “The best wool is found in mountainous areas, andcomes from the underbelly of the animal; the Indians had thebest wool.” Today, the best wool comes from New Zealand, andmuch of the materials used in modern rug making, whetherhand knotted or machine made, comesfrom Down Under.

The Persians were credited with invent-ing the process; the Indians made it better.The Romanians took ancient Persiandesigns and made them prettier—and theEnglish, who colonized India, made therugs commercially popular. Persia—nowknown as Iran—still produces as much as30% of the world’s hand-knotted rugs, butworldwide competition, the ability toobtain products from anywhere in theworld, and political unrest in the MiddleEast means antique rugs are much morevaluable.

And that’s The Flying Carpet’s stock intrade. Most of the rugs in the shop areantique, in a variety of sizes, colors andstyles. All are wool and all are hand knot-ted, but that’s where the similarity ends;you can just about find anything youwant, in terms of fine floor coverings, inBill Wright’s shop.

“A rug is considered antique if it was madebefore World War I,” said Bill, “becausebefore then there were only natural dyes.After that war, artificial dyes were intro-duced.” If the wool is good, the colors willset and will not run, even if the dyes arenatural, but an antique rug, of course, isconsidered more valuable. Natural dyesare created from plants, or sometimesfrom insects—Madder Root, for example,is used to make Red, Indigo Plant is usedto make blue, and Pomegranate Skins areused to make Yellow. Natural-dyed rugsare both vibrant and subtle in their varie-gated hues. As they mellow with age they

develop a three-dimensional quality that cannot be found inrugs made with the flatter chemical colors.

Oriental rugs came to America in the 18th century, used asfloor coverings and also for wall hangings. During the Victo-rian era, in the 19th century, there was a dramatic increase inthe use of area rugs. The rug business has to endure a certain

amount of fads—remember wall-to-wallcarpeting, which pretty much negated theuse of rugs?—but today, most people pre-fer hard surfaces for their flooring, such aswood or stone, and rugs are back in vogue.“These days, younger people tend to loverugs if they grew up with them,” said Bill.“If their parents had them, they wantthem.”

But rugs also follow color trends. Whenyou stand at the door of The Flying Car-pet, your first impression is that the placeis filled with traditional Oriental rugs,most featuring some form of deep red andbrown. But Bill can point out patterns andstyles that feature trendier colors, such asteals, greens, blues and peach tones, proofonce again that when you use a rug as thebasis for your design, almost anything ispossible.

Weaving a rug is a tedious and time con-suming process. The foundation of a rug isstrong warps, thick threads of wool, cot-ton or silk which run the length of the rug,and wefts, similar threads that pass overand under the warps from side to side.From this base, loosely piled knots of dyedwool or silk are tied around warps to cre-ate the pattern. Patterns are often drawnon paper to use as a template for theweavers. And the fringe that distinguishesan Oriental rug from a piece of machine-made carpet? That fringe is actually theends of the warp, which then can bebraided, tasseled, or otherwise secured.

Typically, the more floral or formal thepattern in a rug, the more urban the areain which it was made, as opposed to a geo-

“A RUG IS CONSIDERED ANTIQUE IF IT WAS MADE BEFORE WORLDWAR I, BECAUSE BEFORE THEN THERE WERE ONLY NATURAL DYES.AFTER THAT WAR, ARTIFICIAL DYES WERE INTRODUCED.”

May/June 2011 | 19

metric pattern, which would have been made by a nomadictribe. Patterns with a distinct flow in a single direction wereprobably designed as prayer rugs. Each family of weavers wouldinclude certain elements or colors in their rugs that wouldrecord their history; certain colors might signify a wedding, adeath, a hunt or a famine. Reds generally represents happinessand joy; oranges signify devotion or piety; yellows signify powerand glory; green is for paradise; blue for solitude or truth; andwhite is for purity, peace, and sometimes grief.

In addition to being beautiful, a good hand knotted wool rug isvery serviceable. There are antique rugs in The Flying Carpetthat look almost new, and there is a line of thinking that saysthat the more a rug is walked on the more beautiful it willbecome. “Rugs are meant to be used, and there is very little youcan do to damage one,” said Bill, with a few cautions: pet urinecan ruin a rug, and the use of a vacuum cleaner with a beaterbrush will wear a rug out prematurely. It’s best to used a vac-uum with a suction attachment only.

Good wool doesn’t burn, and it feels wonderful underfoot; theonly other shame, says Bill, is that sometimes a family over-dec-orates and covers up the beautiful rug. An investment in finefloor coverings shouldn’t be hidden!

Through the years, the Wrights have developed relationshipswith rug brokers in New York who import fine carpets. In addi-tion to selling rugs and the ability to discuss with authority thepedigree, the design and the history of their rugs, the Wrightscan also clean them, and the method they use is surprisinglysimple: they have huge racks behind the store, where they layout the rugs, shampoo them with a gentle solution, wash them,and let them dry in the sun. “Machines you rent, like carpetcleaners, tend to drive dirt deeper into the wool and leave aresidue,” says Bill, “but if you vacuum without using the beaterbrush, and keep the pets from wetting on the rug, it won’t needa deep cleaning very often.” Cleaning never involves hot water,high pressure, steam or harsh chemicals.

When you visit The Flying Carpet, be prepared to encounter afew things you probably won’t expect. First, your encounterwith Bill Wright will be a fascinating history lesson, as you learnabout the process of rug making and learn more about his per-sonal involvement in the rug business. Secondly, you’ll probablyspend more time there than you think; as you wander amongthe gorgeous rugs, you’ll find your creativity will soar as youconsider what each rug would bring to your home. Finally, it’sprobably the only place in town where you actually are encour-aged to walk on the merchandise. Mr. Wright would probablynot discourage you from taking off your shoes and actually feel-ing the rugs underfoot, and that alone makes the experiencealmost magical. N

20 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

Audrey Murscoe andAaron Erbe

Dale Dobbs, Andy Sullivan, Maria Dobbs

Bill Connolly and Chad Cohenour

John Dupuis and Chris Tant

Amy and Cathy Lennartz

Robin and Brian ThompsonAndy and Jana High

Margene Thompson

Evangeline Hawkins and Melissa Hardin

Rev. Ricky Cole

Willadean and Isaac Younger

Rev. Andy Keyse andMary Elizabeth Marr

Anthony Brooks

Theresa and Mark Wood

Glenda Beckwith and Mary Bolden

Above: 11th Annual Krewe of Columbus Jaguar BallMARCH 5, 2011 ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

Below: Baum in Gilead Prayer BreakfastSponsored by AAC, Chad’s Payless Pharmacy

and OBGYN & AssociatesMARCH 12, 2011 BRANDON MINISTRIES CENTER

Yeinyai Quewea

20 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 21May/June 2011 | 21

I’m Anne Bernauer and I want to be your Realtor® — for life.

Call 256-740-0706 or 256-757-9008Email anne@annewillsell.comVisit www.annewillsell.com

Spring is in the air, and it’sthe perfect time to considera new home. Talk to meabout your home owningdreams — I can help!

203 Seville Street, Florence • 256-760-9991www.mattresscountryflorence.com

Serving the Shoals since 1992

We have thelargest

selection ofname brand

mattress in thearea. Come see

us for a goodnight’s sleep!

Free same day and next day

delivery

88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsvillewww.apr.org

AlabamaPublicRadio

Your source for NPR news, classics and jazz

22 | No’Ala

THEPERFECT

HOME

PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELLTEXT BY DAVID SIMS

May/June 2011 | 23

The Bath Designed by Susan Trousdale

Susan Trousdale’s teenage daughterfound the photographs on a trip toFrance—which undoubtedly set thestage for this bathroom’s design. Whitemarble floors, mosaic details and sim-ple, clean finishes (plus just the rightamount of navy) give this bathroom thelook of a five-star hotel.

Cabinets (Dan Roberts Cabinetry); Mirrors/Accessories/Fabric (Susan Trousdale Interiors);Suitcase (Halsey House)

24 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 25

The Screened PorchDesigned by Susan Trousdale

No matter what time of year, the Florence porch of Scott and Ellen Cross is always warm, thanks to themix of textures and rich, russet hues used in the accent fabrics and in the rusty faux finish of the diningtable. The mix of metals and distressed woods make this outdoor room less fussy, and sets the stage for agathering of friends and family for an evening of football-watching or an afternoon cookout.

China, White Vases,Table Linens (TheFrench Basket); Seat-ing/Lamps/CoffeeTable (Susan Trous-dale Interiors);Television Console(The French Basket);Paintings by EllenCross, Homeowner

26 | No’Ala

Things Taste BetterWhen They Come

From the Farm

Kitchen Open in Season or by ReservationServing homemade meals and treats

Spring Season: Mid April thru Memorial DayHanging Baskets, Knockout Roses, Container Gardens

Fall Season: Mid Sept thru HalloweenHayrides to the Pumpkin Patch, Pumpkins, Mums, Fall Decorations

8211 County Rd 7, Florence, AL (256)766-2725www.mcgeefarm.com

Glenwood Healthcare has all the help you need. We offerexcellent rehab services, and recently we were again namedas one of the top facilities in the nation! For those who needa little more care, we offer assisted living—and long-termcare for those who need round-the-clock attention. If you or

someone you love is a candidate for rehab services, assisted living or long-term care, askaround. You’ll probably hear our name a lot. We are dedicated to quality, and we workhard to earn our great reputation every day. We want to give you a good experience totalk about, too!

Rehab • Assisted Living • Long-Term Care___________________________________211 Ana Drive, Florence, AL 35630 • 256-768-2775 • www.glenwoodhc.com

When you come to us for rehab,our job is to get you back home.

17 fruits and vegetables 1 convenient capsule

Good health is not an option - it’s anecessity. It’s also a lifelong journey!I’m a Juice Plus+ Wellness Educator,and I would like to give you informa-tion to help you along that path. Askme about Juice Plus+, your goodhealth, and how to sponsor a child forfree!

Call Lucy CrosbyJuice Plus+ Wellness Educator

256-577-8106www.lcrosbyjuiceplus.com

+=

May/June 2011 | 27

YOUR REAL ESTATE SOURCE

Phone 256-483-9325

The perfect accent or pieceof furniture—like the

perfect home—dependsupon your taste, style, and knowing just where to look.Firenze is a treasure chestof beautiful things for yourhome, and it’s just one of

the many places I can introduce you to. Whether

you’re relocating or movingacross town, I know all the

best places. Come to the source!

Mitchell-HollingsworthNursing & rehabilitation Center LLC

Summit Rehab atMitchell-Hollingsworth

specializes in:• Orthopedic Care (Fracture,

Joint Replacement)• Stroke • Amputations

• Cardiac Disease• Comprehensive recovery from

surgery or illness

• Free wireless internet availablefor residents and family

members.• 222 bed skilled nursing facility• 24-hour skilled nursing services

805 Flagg Circle, FlorencePhone 256-740-5400 • Fax 256-740-5495

Caring for those who cared for us

28 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 29

The Kitchen Designed by Jolie Lauderdale

If there was ever the perfect combination of kitchen, dining and family rooms, this would be it. The room is large enough tospread out and accommodate the extended family, yet cozy enough to feel intimate and comfortable. Jolie used exposed beamsand an old wooden cutting table, as well as exposed brick and wood floors rescued from the old Stonewall Jackson Cotton Gin,to create a farmhouse feel, but the upscale appliances and built-ins make this a modern space at the heart of the home.

Construction (Ricky Felker); Cabinetry (Olde Barn Millwork–Bill Boyle, Jr.); Countertops (CNC Stonecrafters); Rug (Noble Passage); Pine Table(Halsey House); Appliances (Hunt’s TV & Appliances); Faux Copper Hood (Mary Duncan); Oil Painting (Firenze); Floors (Reclaimed from theStonewall Jackson Cotton Gin); Walnut China Cabinet (White Oak Antiques)

30 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 31

The Dining Room of Tommy Mathis is not only a place to entertain, but, much like the rest of his home, a galleryof art gathered from trips around the world and around the corner. Mathis, an artist and gallery owner, has created a roomthat’s visually delightful, with something to look at every turn. The muted colors of the walls, draperies and rug simply serve asbackdrops for the explosions of color on the wall.

Brick Fireplaces/Walls (James Ray Smith, Art Mason); Carpet (The Flying Carpet); Marble Top Table (White Oak Antiques); Busts are from Greece,Turkey, Italy, France, Belgium and New York; Paintings by Marigail Mathis (above), Noel Shinn, Tara Bullington, Barbara Pennington, Barbara Long,and Hilda Mitchell

32 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

2011 Shoals Heart Ball “A Time to Shine” in Memory of Bob BurdineSATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2011 MARRIOTT SHOALS CONFERENCE CENTER

Jackie and Debra Hendrix

The Burdine Family: Robbie, Butler,Betty, Susan and Greg

Terese Lango and daughtersCybil and Kate Geiss

Brantley andRalph Holt

Carmen and Joel AndersonMichelle Miller, Cary Burnleyand Anna Burnley

Keith Sims andCatherine Baroco

Brittney and Greg Solomon, withBrandy and Kelly Burrough

Ashley Anderson and J.D. Emmons

Susie Rickard, Liz Muhlendorf, TracyPrater, Stephanie Coleman, and SusanGoode with Marty Abroms

Ashley Beadle, Jerica Woodand Sarah Beth Alexander

Parke and Julie CochranRyan Hamm and Holly Cabler

Kyrel and KyleBuchanan

David and Anu Fields,and Divya and Ajit Naidu

May/June 2011 | 33

If you are buying or selling realestate, we should talk. At

Alabama Land Services, ourprofessionals can help you with

title searches, title insuranceand real estate closings from the convenience of our downtownFlorence location. Our tech-nology is state-of-the-art, butour dedication to service is

124 years old. We make it easy for you!

Chris Bobo, owner

110 South Pine StreetFlorence AL 35630256-764-2141

www.alabamalandservices.com

Proper(ty) Authority

No Job Too Large or Too Small!James Koch, Owner

256-314-1884www.aandjhomeimprovements.com

Licensed and InsuredServing the Shoals With Pride

FREE ESTIMATES Commercial & Residential

4617 Huntsville Road, Florence256-767-1900 • 866-767-1900 • jaredhicks1666@gmail.com

www.alabamaawnings.com

TarpsBoat Covers

Patio Cushion Recovers

UmbrellasCustom Canvas

Retractables

Metal Patio/Carports

Standing SeamSun Rooms

Jared Hicks

34 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 35

The Living RoomDesigned by Paige Thornton

There’s no doubt here that Paige tookher design cues from the expansive lakeviews of this lakeside Florence home.Rather than fighting with nature, sheinstead set a calming backdrop—relyingmore on subtle patterns and textures,rather than bold colors and overwhelm-ing accessories. The result here is notunlike a seaside retreat—warm, casualand effortless.

Furniture and Accessories (The FrenchBasket); Artwork (John Lane, Shells inShadows)

36 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 37

The Master Bedroom Designed by Paige Thornton

Like the living room she also designed for this Florence family, Paige approached the master bedroom with the same strategy,adding only the fresh and subtle hues of pale aqua—the perfect color to create a refuge in this sunny home. Spare lines, soothingart, and timeless accessories set the stage for the most restful of nights and lazy weekend sleep-ins.

Furniture and Accessories (The French Basket); Paintings by Lisa Wallace

38 | No’Ala

256.718.1010 • lambertlandscape.netCell: 256-443-5858

The only name you need to knowwhen you’re looking for personalized metal art!

At Alabama Metal Art, we specialize increating unique and personalized art forthe home and the garden. Crafted from

durable metal in a variety of finishes, ourpieces help identify, direct, or decorateyour home. Visit us online to see what we

can do for you!

409 Gerrard Drive, Florence AL • 256-246-0001

May/June 2011 | 39

201 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, at the corner of Florence Blvd. • 256-718-6868

Sushi was introduced to Japan from China in the seventh century, and is the most famous form of Japanese food outside of Japan. Sushi does NOT mean raw fish - that’s called sashimi, andalthough sashimi can be used in sushi, it is not always. Sushi is healthy, fresh, and a work of art—and we would love to introduce you to it at UMI Japanese Steakhouse.

For a unique dining experience, come to UMI Japanese Steakhouse. We make your occasions SPECIAL!

Bring this ad and get a Banana Tempura dessert FREE!(Expires July 31, 2011)

40 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 41

The Nursery Designed by Ashley and Steve Winkle

No blue. No pink. No yellow. It was Ashley Winkle’s idea thatthe new baby should be surrounded with chic, sophisticateddetails. Ashley and her husband Steve took a DIY approachto their son’s nursery, combing second-hand stores (like theSalvation Army and Habitat Restore), area specialty shops—even mail order—for the perfect mix of old and new,traditional and contemporary. And nary a pastel in sight! Theresult is a room that little Gunnor can effortlessly grow into,without a dramatic makeover after a few years. Smart.

Crib and Linens(Halsey House);Mobile (Josey Ella);Acrylic Lamp (YellowDoor); Rocking Chair(Family Heirloom);Picture Frame (TheFrench Basket);Giraffe Painting byAshley Winkle,Homeowner

42 | No’Ala

Vanity/Linen Closet(Fabricated by Doorsand More); TileInstallation (KeithFulks); Marble Slabs(G&L Marble andGranite in Birming-ham, AL); MarbleSlab Installation(Florence Marble)

The Hall Bath Designed by Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins, RID, ASID

When designing this tight hall bath for her parents, Mr. andMrs. Billy Ray Warren, Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins wasgiven only one marching order: create a jewel box. From theCalacatta Gold marble on the shower wall and skirt to thehoned crown molding, to the polished nickel hardware andthe hand-cut mosaic tile used on the floor, the tiny bath has atimeless look that respects the character of this historichome—and an acquired, not decorated, look that’s just whatMom ordered.

May/June 2011 | 43

44 | No’Ala

The front of theMathis home withmagnificent cherrytrees.

May/June 2011 | 45

The Secret GardenDesigned by Tommy Mathis

You would never expect a refuge like this to be located in the middle of Florence, and the space is a pri-vate retreat, surrounded on all sides by tall brick walls. This secret garden has a variety of plantings thatprovide color and beauty all year round, and offers the owner a place to leave the cares of the worldbehind.

Female CopperStatue/Iron Orbs(Lucas Stokes);Plants (Porter Gar-den Center, andColdwater Nursery & Garden Center);Patio Furniture(Ingram’s OutdoorFurniture); YardMaintenance(Dependable LawnCare & GreensKeeper)

46 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

Below: American Cancer Society “Coaches vs. Cancer 2011 Colors of Hope” Kick Off PartyHonoring Marigail Mathis and Sandra Johnson

APRIL 8, 2011 THE HOME OF BOB AND GINA BAILEY

Sandra Johnson and Wanda Nesmith

Sandra Johnson, Tommy Mathis,and Jeannie Rogers

Will and Audrey Newton, Jessica Johnson

Dana Thomas and Robin Coussons

Chris and Laurie Tant

Bob and Gina Bailey

Pat Slusher and Anna Champagne

Jeannie Rogers andLynn Coleman

Leah and Kendall Hollingsworth

Bobby Champagne

Mayor Bobby Irons, Sarah Irons, Wanda Nesmith, and Debe Robinson

Woody TruittMike Johnson Tracey and Sandy HolcombeBobby Champagne, UNA Lions Basketball

Players, Bob and Gina Bailey

May/June 2011 | 47

Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Myron Gardner, LUTCF 1819 Darby Drive, Florence, AL 35630 Bus 256-764-2234;Cell 256-335-6080 Email myron.gardner.b17k@statefarm.com

Phil Wiginton419 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, AL, 35660

Bus 256-383-4521; Cell 256-762-5859Email phil@philwiginton.com

ALZHEIMER’S CAREAlzheimer’s and Dementia diagnoses require specialized care. If you have aloved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia relatedsymptoms, it’s comforting to know that the Memories Unit at FlorenceNursing and Rehabilitation Center provides exceptional care for your lovedones. The Memories Unit takes pride in offering the unique setting of anAll Female, Secure Dementia unit where clinically trained professionalsprovide specialized care and daily therapeutic activities developed specifically for residents with Alzheimer’s and Dementia related symptoms.Schedule a tour today and experience loving excellence in senior care.

• All Female Secured Dementia Unit• In-house Physician: Dr. Christine Davis• 24-hr RN Coverage• Semi Private Rooms

To learn more about the Memories Unit and other specialized services:Call Kristi or Stephanie at (256) 766-57712107 Cloyd Boulevard, Florence, AL 35630-1503

Your family is our family

48 | No’Ala

A BRIGHT SPOTON

SHOAL CREEK

Recently there has been an upswing ininterest in the Arts and Crafts style ofarchitecture. This style goes by severalnames: “Craftsman,” because thesehomes celebrate hand-crafted detailingof wood, stone and metal; or “ShingleStyle,” for the distinctive use of shinglesas a major design element. This home,located on a bend of Shoal Creek, wasdesigned by Kevin Jangaard of Hill &Jangaard in Florence and was influ-enced by the shingle style cottages ofthe Great Lakes.

Before moving to the Shoals, Jangaardlived in coastal communities of thenortheast. He grew up in Sea Cliff, NewYork, and has owned Victorian stylehomes in Rumson, New Jersey andNahant, Massachusetts. “I alwaysenjoyed the welcoming appearance andease that the late 19th and early 20thCentury shingle style homes offered,” hesaid. “They allowed informal living butinstilled a feeling of enduring quality.”

One of the home owner’s most impor-tant inputs was the selection of theunique color scheme. “The owner is an

TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

May/June 2011 | 49

50 | No’Ala

Jangaard’s design is considered“Craftsman,” because it cele-brates hand-crafted detailingof wood, stone and metal; or“Shingle Style,” for the distinc-tive use of shingles as a majordesign element.

Credits: Hill & Jangaard Architects, P.C.Bobby Bryant, Builder

artist and was not afraid of bold colors,” said Jangaard. “The colors are representative of the Arts and Crafts tradition and arein harmony with the color of the tall pines on the site and the water of the creek.” Many of the details are true to the period,such as the use of flared stone walls and column bases, as well as the combined use of use vertical siding and horizontal shin-gles, accented with broad moldings, deep overhangs and brackets. The windows and doors and the wide screened porchfacing the water are all detailed in the Craftsman Style.

Although the home was influenced by century-old historical styles, the design of the home meets the current-day needs ofthe owners. The house layout is wheelchair accessible, and designed for family visits and entertaining. The kitchen, diningand living areas are connected to the screened porch with large double doors and windows. Activity rooms include a sky-lighted art studio and workshop. The home design also includes a large walk-in closet that doubles as a storm shelter. N

“The colors are representative of the Arts and Crafts traditionand are in harmony with the color of the tall pines on the site

and the water of the creek.”

May/June 2011 | 51

CONFIDENCEWe offer a variety of plastic surgeryand cosmetic enhancement proce-dures, including:

Breast: • Breast Augmentation • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Breast Reconstruction

Body: • Body Lift • Liposuction • Tummy Tuck • Arm/Thigh Lift

Face: • Botox Treatments• Injectible Fillers• Ear Surgery• Eyelid Surgery• Facelift• Nose Surgery• Cancer Removal

G. Russell Jennings, M.D.

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Our entire team is dedicated toproviding you with excellent,

personalized care and service tomake your consultation andsurgery as comfortable and

pleasant as possible

203 West Avalon AvenueSuite 300

Muscle Shoals, AL 35661

• Phone: (256) 386-1450 • www.shoalsplasticsurgery.com

2504 East Avalon Avenue, Suite AMuscle Shoals · 256-381-6889www.jamiehoodonline.com

Dream it. Design it. Discover it.

{ shopping}

52 | No’Ala

ARThropology Instructional Painting Classes($35 each)

Relique256-767-4810

Aqua Trout Pillow ($145)The French Basket

256-764-1237

Chandelier ($395)SBS Electric

256-764-8481

Area Rugs (prices vary)Towles House of Carpets

256-766-1705

Scroll Urn ($100)Lola’s Gifts & Flowers

256-383-2299

Interior Wisdomby Leah Richardson ($24.95)

The French Basket256-764-1237

Book signing thissummer!

May/June 2011 | 53

Wooden Scroll Chalkboard ($260)Halsey House256-764-9294

Jardin de Roschelle Diffuser ($48)Marigail Mathis256-764-9444

Bamboo Salad Bowls ($36 & $50)The Yellow Door

256-766-6950

Chia Ling Dawn Yang“Waiting for Sunflowers”($350)

Artisan256-765-7779

Birdbath ($65)Murphy Brothers

256-766-6768

Fresh Flower Centerpiece(Prices starting at $30)Will and Dee’s Florist

256-768-9919

54 | No’Ala

{ shopping}

Tommy Mathis OriginalKindle Cover ($64)

Tommy Mathis OriginaliPad Cover ($129)

Artifacts256-765-7779

Patterned Lamp ($229.95)Southern Shades

256-757-8481Outdoor Snail ($14.99)David Christophers

256-764-7008

Ice Bucket ($39.99)Wine Glasses ($9.99 each)

Flor White Sparkling Wine ($17.99)Wine Seller

256-766-1568

Horse Shoe Chair ($595)Custom Designed Pillow ($120)

Firenze256-760-1963

Aesthetic MovementEra Desk ($525)

Hodgepodge Antiques256-766-4101

May/June 2011 | 55

Bottle Tree ($49.95)Fiddledee D!

256-383-9797

Walnut Slab Arm Chairby Robin Wade ($1750)

Showings by appointmentrobinwadefurniture.com

Regal Dish Fountain ($629.99)Across the Pond

256-765-0233

Garden Pots ($36–$67)Halsey House256-764-9294

Metal Address Sign ($139)Alabama Metal Art

256-246-0001

56 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

aMuse Painting Social with Artist David SimsMARCH 18, 2011 KENNEDYDOUGLASS CENTER FORT HE ARTS, FLORENCE, AL

Ann Greer

Mindy Bullock and Mercy Winters

Keith Sims

Morgan Ary

Helen Nichols

David Sims, Morgan Ary,and Beth Keyse

Erin Froman

Mercy Winters

Phong Do

David Sims, Jonathan Anderson,and Rhonda Dillard

Sheila McCord

Kimi Samson &Kate Tayler Huntof Shoals Strings

Beth Keyse

Lauren Winters

Lauren Winters

Mary Armstrong and Sheila McCord

May/June 2011 | 57

Our company was founded in 1952 on trust and fairdealings. Now, our family is moving into its fourthgeneration, and we’re still teaching those same values. When it comes to your family’s comfort, relyon the professionals at JC Hamm & Sons, Inc. We’lltreat you the way we want to be treated, becausethat’s the way we’ve built our business!

Heating • Air Conditioning • Air Purification • Duct Cleaning(256)-764-7386 • www.jchamm.com

AL #83391

Davis, Carter, Chris and Lilly Hamm

Rick, Gregg, Chris and Jameson Hamm

58 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 59

Zac Abramson, Lynn Coleman, The French Basket,Julie Gargis, Halsey House, Maray Langley,

Keith Rhodes, Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins,and Susan Trousdale

Photos by Danny Mitchell » Art Direction byDavid Sims

The green from thistapestry was the inspiration

for the palette

Trim color

wall color

A Study Inspired bythe Color Green

Designed by Zac Abramson

60 | No’Ala

Green is one of the most common colors innature and there is nothing like a sooth-ing muted green room. The room I havedesigned is a family room/ den, or multi-purpose area. My inspiration for this roomcame from a piece of 18th century Flemishtapestry I have had in my collection, whichI paired with a subtle green wall color with“bone” as the secondary color for trim andaccessories. I envision oak flooring in aherringbone pattern and stained a rich,dark brown. For artwork I would pick blackand white prints of animals, shells orbotanicals. Stacks of books, big pillows,hunting trophies, a big bowl of ostricheggs, framed photos and a sisal rug finishit off.

A Living Room Inspired bythe Color Cream

Designed by Lynn Coleman

Lisa WallacePainting

Tommy MathisPainting

May/June 2011 | 61

Cream is a timeless color and mixes sub-tle, timeless elegance with modern chicliving. Contemporary pieces contrastedwith velvets provide a classic, yet glam-orous atmosphere. The simplicity of thecolor, with cottons and proper lighting,and its versatile nature allow a designerto infuse personal style in any room.

62 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

Above: Shoals Symphony at UNA Winter ConcertMARCH 6, 2011 MUSCLE SHOALS HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

Below: Crosspoint Church of Christ Ladies DayMARCH 5, 2011 CROSSPOINT CHURCH OF CHRIST

Rhonda Dillard

Joel, Judy Charis, and Ashlyn Linton, BlairReinlie and Viljar Weimann

B.J. and Bill Cale with Gerry Byers

Nick Gold

Gerry DiNella, George Petty,and Pete Akers

Beth RothSelwyn Jones, Ellenand Bob Reinlie

Wilodean Blalock

Sheri Hiebel, Malinda Baggett,and Kathy Parkinson

Joann Bridges

Darwin Bridges, Bobby Jones, Jerry Renfroe,Richard Whiteside, Alan Brooks, ConnieBriggs, Tom Corum, Scotty South, GeraldBriggs, and Mike Kilpatrick

Patsy HarrisJerry Renfroe and Italy McCreless

Nathaniel White

Pat Malone, Beatrice Hanback, Libby Berry,Diane South, Wendy Darby, and Lisa Morris

Photos Courtesy of Chris Anderson,Updownmedia

May/June 2011 | 63

Shoals Christian SchoolNOW OFFERING K-3 with a variety of schedule options!

Shoals Christian School is now enrolling for grades K-12 • 301 Heathrow Drive, Florence, AL 35633 • 256-767-7070 • www.shoalschristian.orgSACS and ACSI Accredited

Sponsored byThe Wine Seller, Epicurean Day Spa, Relique

Scent-Sations, Billy Reid, Shoals Yoga Gentle Touch Car Wash, Me SpaDish, Jewell’s, Frolic, Salon Mod

Mefford’s Jewellers McCorkle’s InteriorsXtravagance by Susan, Tan City

Featured wine selectionsLive music

complimentary hors d’oeuvresOn the rocks

110 North Court Street Florence, AL256-760-2212

On the Rocks

Presents:

Wine Down Wednesday

The Shoals’ Premier

Girls Night Out

Every Wednesday

5:30-9:30

On the Rocks

Presents:

Wine Down Wednesday

The Shoals’ Premier

Girls Night Out

Every Wednesday

5:30-9:30

Sponsored byThe Wine Seller, Epicurean Day Spa, Relique

Scent-Sations, Billy Reid, Shoals Yoga Gentle Touch Car Wash, Me SpaDish, Jewell’s, Frolic, Salon Mod

Mefford’s Jewellers McCorkle’s InteriorsXtravagance by Susan, Tan City

Featured wine selectionsLive music

complimentary hors d’oeuvresOn the rocks

110 North Court Street Florence, AL256-760-2212

A Living Room Inspired bythe Color White

Designed by The French Basket

64 | No’Ala

A Breakfast Room Inspired bythe Color Blue

Designed by Julie Gargis

Ceiling Detail

Pillow

Dining Table

May/June 2011 | 65

A collection of blue accents inspire a neutral landscape to transform a familybreakfast room into a dual purpose dining area.

Chair Finish

A Dining Room Inspired by the Color OrangeDesigned by Halsey House

66 | No’Ala

A Dining Room Inspired bythe Color Black

Designed by Maray Langley

Drapery Fabric withWooden Valance

Mirror

Decorative Screen/Divider

Faux Leather Upholstery

Flooring

Contemporary Art

May/June 2011 | 67

There's an old rule in designing spaces:"Every room can use a touch of black."Black can add drama and sophistication,classic simplicity, and fun and whimsy. Inmy dining space I have used black to con-vey all of those to create drama, simplicityand fun!

A Bedroom Inspired bythe Color Silver

Designed by Keith Rhodes

Drapery SheersBedding Fabrics and Trim

Artwork behind the bed is madefrom faux tin ceiling panels

68 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 69

Chef Jeff Eubanks invites you to join him at the Shoals Area’s newest restaurant, Table 18.Conveniently located at Cypress Lakes Country Club in Muscle Shoals. Delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere.

1311 E. Sixth St, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661(256) 389-0466

11am-2pm Tuesdays through FridaysJoin us on Sunday for our lunch buffet from 11am-pm2

The Exclusive Center That Offers Laser Varicose Vein Ablation

Dr. Ajit Naidu and the Team at Cardiovascular Institute of the Shoals, believe that treating the whole personis critical in providing a happy and healthy lifestyle.

A painless, in-office procedure that returns yourlegs to a youthful and healthy appearance.

Call today for a consultation.

Dr. Naidu Proudly Serves ECM, Shoals & Helen Keller Hospital

Currently Accepting New Patients

Ajit Nthe Sh

WHOLE PERSONTITREAAT

of the Shoals, believe that treating the whole personeam at Cardiovascular Institutaidu and the TTe

WHOLE PERSONTING THE

of the Shoals, believe that treating the whole personeam at Cardiovascular Institute

WHOLE PERSON

s critica

is critical in providing a happy and healthy lifestyle.of the Shoals, believe that treating the whole person

rrently Accepting New PatientsCu

. Nar.Dr

rrently Accepting New Patients

& Helen Keller Hospital. Naidu Proudly Serves ECM, Shoals

A Den Inspired by the Color BrownDesigned by Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins

70 | No’Ala

I believe in juxtoposing contem-porary and traditional elementscombined with a sophisticatedpalette to create an individualspace for each client based ontheir personal aesthetic. I loveorganic materials—wood, silverand stone—used in their naturalstate to add texture and depthto each project.

A Sitting Room Inspired by the Color NavyDesigned by Susan Trousdale

May/June 2011 | 71

I have fallen in love with navy! Whilepulling together this small sitting room, Iused prints, geometrics, linens and a joltof color. Navy is the new black; it servesas the neutral while keeping the spaceclean and crisp. The sitting room is tradi-tional, but the textures and colors keep itfresh and updated.

Orange Pillowfor a punch

of color!

Follow the entire experience at ShoalsPerfectWedding.com

The Winners of the Shoals Perfect Wedding!Alex Wittscheck and Erin Speed

Photography by Armosa Studios

Erin and Alex have begun the planning process and have

scouted locations, looked at wedding dresses, met with

Dish Café, Sweet Basil

Café, Table 18, and Sweet

Magnolia Café, who will

provide food at the recep-

tion, discussed their plans

with Jackie Hendrix at Party

Pros, and have discussed in-

vitation designs with Mag-

gie Crisler. Stylist Jordyn

Dean has been shepherding

them through the process,

giving thoughtful advice and

helping them consider their

options.

If you are planning a wed-

ding of your own, or if you’d

like to relive the sometimes

crazy planning process, follow Erin on

her blog at www.shoalsperfectwed-

ding.com. Feel free to weigh in with

tips and advice—it’s an open forum,

and it’s sure to give you lots to think

about. September will be here before

we know it—and so will the Shoals Per-

fect Wedding. Stay tuned!

More from Erin’s Blog at ShoalsPerfect Wedding.com—

“That’s all I could write to express how I felt when Jordyn

Dean called Alex and my names as the winners of the Shoals

Perfect Wedding. There

just aren’t words to de-

scribe how thankful we are

to be a part of such a great

opportunity! Little girls

dream of their perfect

wedding, but never did I

imagine that I’d have a

chance to work with so

many amazing people for

our special day.

Alex and I are excited to

have the privilege of work-

ing with the Shoals Perfect

Wedding team to create

our perfect wedding.

We’re looking forward to

meeting and working with all these won-

derful people who help make weddings

magical for so many couples! These ven-

dors are the best in the Shoals, and that’s

why the SPW team picked them. We’re

looking forward to the journey, and

with only seven months to go, we are so

ready to get started!”

SHOALS PERFECT WEDDING PARTNERS:

Andy’s • Armosa Studios • Center for Skincare and Wellness • Cherry Tree LaneCoker Family Dentistry • Dish Café • First Southern Bank • Grogan Jewelers • Halsey House

Jamie Hood Jewelers • Jordyn Dean • Lola’s Gifts & Flowers • Magpie Designs • Meffords JewelersNatalie Faggioni • No’Ala Magazine • Party Pros Printers and Stationers • Sweet Basil Café • Side Lines

Table 18 • The French Basket • The Sweet Magnolia Café • The Wine Seller • Thread

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”—Erin Speed

Erin and Alex were announced as the winners of the ShoalsPerfect Wedding at an Event held March 4, 2011 at ArmosaStudios in Florence. Alex, who was away performing, waspresent via Skype.

74 | No’Ala

TEXT BY CLAIRE STEWART

Those of us who live in the Shoals know all of the amazing things it has to offer. Thelocal food, music, and scenic locations keep us here and make us proud. We knowwhy we want to live here. We think everyone else would want to as well!

Thousands of people visit the Shoals every year, on vacation, to play golf, on business,or just traveling through. A select few stop and realize how amazing it is. They fallin love with the Shoals just like we have, and they decide to move here. We met a fewfamilies that came to the Shoals and decided to settledown. Some came from very far away, and some havemoved away and just can't stop coming back! No matterwhat the reason they came, they caught the fever andfell in love with the Shoals; here are just a few of theirstories.

BUD AND LOIS ELLISONIn the Spring of 1996, Bud and Lois Ellison traveled fromtheir home in sunny California on an excursion to theSouth to find the perfect town in which to retire. Ontheir list of places to visit were most of the notable,bustling, Southern towns like Oxford, Mississippi andLouisville, Kentucky. They knew they wanted to live ina college town with a historic residential area.

While driving through back roads to find the quintes-sential Southern town, the Ellisons discovered that many of the quaint, charmingtowns they were looking for were things of the past. The towns they were finding

Lois and Bud Ellison

May/June 2011 | 75

were in varying stages of decline. Theywere not sure if they were going to findexactly what they were looking for.

They say that driving through Sheffieldand Tuscumbia sparked their interest inthe Shoals area. Maybe the pleasant townof their dreams could actually be a real-ity? The Ellisons say as soon as theycrossed the O'Neal bridge, they foundexactly what they had been looking for.Lois said “Like its namesake in Italy, Flo-rence truly was like experiencing arenaissance.” They were enchanted by thedowntown area, the university campus and particularly takenby Leo, the UNA mascot.

That very day they found a house they adored. They traveledback to the Shoals one month later and bought their historicdream house, and Bob and Lois became the owners of Lime-stone Manor on Wood Avenue in Florence.

Since then, the Ellisons have moved away from theShoals...then moved back...then left and moved back one addi-tional time last year. Some people can't get enough of theShoals, and for others, there’s an almost magnetic effect thatkeeps drawing them back!

BOB AND MICHELLE ARMSTRONGBob Armstrong met his wife Michelle in Perth, Australia whenhe was teaching at a local college there. They married in 1993and lived in Perth until 2000, when Bob's father passedaway. The couple then moved back to the States tolive closer to his mother living in Tennessee.He started looking around at colleges in theSoutheast, when he remembered travelingto Florence when he was younger. Hisfamily used to visit the Shoals on theweekends, where they would shop andeat. The next trip he and Michelle madeto the area reminded him of why heloved visiting so much. When he wasdriving downtown, all of the lights wereup for the holidays and he said the cityresembled the movie Its a WonderfulLife. He thought it was a great place tostart a family. He then interviewed with thedean of UNA and a few months later, wasmoving to live in the Shoals.

Even though Dr. Armstrong has lived in parts of Ohioand Pennsylvania, as well as Hong Kong and Perth, he said that

the Shoals is his absolute favorite town.Although he sometimes misses the hustleand bustle of the big cities, he loves wherehe is now.

Bob and his family, (wife Michelle, daughterAllyson, 7, and 15 week old twins Eden andWilliam), have lived in Florence for ten yearsnow. They live in a beautiful house over-looking Cypress Creek. He teachesmarketing and management at UNA andpaints scenes from his travels that have beenshowcased in Artifacts art gallery.

DAN AND DONNA EHLEDonna Ehle and her husband, Dan, first came to the Shoals in2001 when they were dropping off their daughter, Sarah, atUNA for her first year of college. Coming from Cool Springs,Florida, the family was used to living in a busy, coastline city.They did not expect to come to the Shoals and find such abeautiful and captivating little place. They loved the historicspirit of the city and they were excited when they saw the har-bor so close to the college. Soon, they started visiting Florencemore and more often, and eventually brought their boat to themarina. They loved being able to come visit their daughterthen go down to the marina and be out on the water in tenminutes. Florence became their little getaway spot for theweekends.

A few years later, Dan took an early retirement and theythought that Florence would be the perfect place to

live after retirement. They knew that they wantedto live in the historic district of town and

found a beautiful house on Wood Avenue.It was the house that Captain Coffee andhis wife lived in with their daughter, Eliza.

Donna and Dan are able to walk to thepost office, library, and church fromtheir home. They believe it is the per-fect place to live right now. Even thoughthey no longer have the boat they oncetook out on the river, they appreciateeverything else the city has to offer

them. Donna says, “The Shoals is defi-nitely off the beaten path but it has so

many advantages. We have the feeling of liv-ing in a small, progressive city, while still

being in the country.”

The Armstrongs

Donna and DanEhle

76 | No’Ala

DON AND LINDA WALKERIn the summer of 2005, Seattle residents Donand Linda Walker decided that they wantedto retire. They were not even thinking aboutmoving from the Seattle area until theirdaughter sent them a copy of Where to Retiremagazine. There were many factors that thecouple thought were important for their newtown: cost of living, housing, local arts andentertainment, and weather (especially sun-shine, after living in Seattle where it rains alot!). Don filled out a response card for themagazine and began receiving packets ofinformation from different regions around the country.

One of the packets caught his eye, from among the hundredsof others, and it was sent by Bob Nicholas, Relocation Coor-dinator with the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. It appearedthat the Shoals offered everything they were looking for, so theWalkers called and spoke to Bob and a Florence Realtor andthen planned a trip to the area.

On the day of their arrival, the couple met with Sue Brewerand they said their experience was like “having your grand-mother show you through the area she was raised in andloved.” They soon found a house in the final stages of con-struction in Muscle Shoals. They walked around and met theneighbors and by the end of the weekend they had purchasedtheir retirement home.

As luck would have it (and what the coupledescribed as divine intervention) they wentback to Seattle and put up a For Sale sign infront of their house at 10 a.m. on a Satur-day. By 10:45 a.m. the house was sold. Theday they finished their 2,550 mile drivefrom Seattle to Muscle Shoals, it was 105degrees on moving day. Though it tooksome getting used to, the couple says thatthey have become accustomed to theheat and weather the South is known for,and they have embraced the Southernculture and all that it represents. Althoughmany of their friends were wary and in dis-belief over their move, many of their friendscome to visit and absolutely love it. They saythat the rumors are true—Life is slower; People arefriendlier.

Interestingly, in the May-June, 2007, issue of Where to Retiremagazine, Don and Linda Walker were featured with theirstory about the Shoals area. Like they say, what goes around,comes around!

SKIP AND KAREN BINKLEYSkip and Karen Binkley are self proclaimed'boat people'. When they were first marriedand living in Fairbanks, Alaska, Karen thoughtthat her husband would not rest until they vis-ited every hiking trail, camping spot, andfishing hole they could reach by boat. But Skiphad never traveled out of Fairbanks during thesummer. He piloted a riverboat companycalled the Riverboat Discovery that ran all sum-mer and usually took up most of his time.

Finally, in the fall of 2004, after sending theirtwo older children off to college and coercing their youngest tojoin them, they left on a two year adventure to see the U.S—by boat, of course! They spent the next two school years doingThe Great Loop on a 50' catamaran. They traveled through theriver systems near Chicago, down the Mississippi River, intothe Tennessee River, then down Tombigbee Waterway to theGulf. Karen was amazed that she could see see the Heartlandof American from a boat! At the end of the trip they sold theboat in Ft. Lauderdale and then returned to Alaska.

In the March of 2007 they planned another trip, but theywanted to find a base of operation somewhere near the EastCoast on a river. Skip came and scouted condos on the Ten-nessee. Southbridge Condominiums in Muscle Shoals had justbeen built and they caught his eye. The couple flew down inApril to scout out the area. They fell in love with what they

found in the Shoals. They were impressed by the fabu-lous parks, hiking trails, and accessibility to

everything they needed from the river. Moreimportantly, everyone they met, whether it

was walking down Court Street, at thegym, or at the marina, were incrediblyfriendly and welcoming. The MuscleShoals area had the warmth and friend-liness of a small town that they loved. Atthe same time, the area had many of the'big city' amenities that they didn't havein Alaska, as far as shopping and prox-imity to sight seeing.

Ever since, the couple has had a close rela-tionship to the Shoals and they are now

trying to convince their youngest daughter toattend UNA in the fall. Their newest boat cur-

rently resides at the Florence Marina, and wheneverthey get a free moment they come back to Alabama. Whilethey may not change their address permanently from Alaska toAlabama—at least not yet—they relish in the moments theyget to spend in the Shoals, both on a boat or on shore withtheir favorite locals. N

Don Walker

Karen and SkipBinkley

May/June 2011 | 77

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78 | No’Ala

{ guess who I saw}

Above: Lights, Camera, Auction!MARCH 19, 2011 SHOALS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Below: Trinity Mardis Gras PartyMARCH 8, 2011 • TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Emily Wood

Tom and Janet Hughes

Mike and Jennifer Adams

Marline Sellers

Anne Burton Elliott and Macy Bowling

Shantae Agnew

Travis Hagler, David Green,and Terrance Johnson

Kathy and Scotty Bobo

Patty Klos and Diana Osborn

Gunther Sigle

Amy and Will Darby

Erika Sigle

Janice Pride and Rachel Mitchener

Latasha Gandy

Scott Townsend, Mary Garner,Martha Jo Daniel

Susan Pride, Amy Darby, ChristySpearman, and Amy Letson

May/June 2011 | 79

Floral Design, Event Planning & Home Accessories • (256) 383-2299 • 214 North Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield, Alabama

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80 | No’Ala

TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

May/June 2011 | 81

“I WORKED WITHTHE MAJOR PIECESTHAT THEY HADKEPT IN STORAGE,AND FILLED IN TOMAKE THE SPACEFIT THE PERIOD”

It’s colorful.It’s retro, and true to the period. And “itwas a blast to work on,” says KeithRhodes, the designer of this loft renova-tion in downtown Florence. Themid-century modern restoration of thelate 1920s building provides the ownerswith a comfortable home that’s easy touse for entertaining and gives themwalking access to all that the downtownhas to offer.

The building has an interesting history.Built in 1929 or so as the “Korner KoffeeKup,” as the owners took the buildingapart and uncovered the originalceramic tile flooring they could seewhere the stools had been bolted to thefloor. Damaged by a fire that destroyedthe building next door, the building hadto undergo renovation in the late 1950sand became a beauty parlor with aplumbing contractor in the back, until itwas purchased for use as Ryan PianoCompany. The building today is stillknown as the Ryan Piano Companybuilding.

“I’m not sure if the upstairs was ever usedas a residence, but there was a bathroomthere,” said Rhodes, “and we were able totake the building back to its bones. Theflooring throughout the upper floor isthe original heart pine, which, eventhough some of it was painted and somewas covered with glued-down carpet,refinished beautifully.”

The coffee table (above) was designed byRhodes as a nod to the building’s musicalpast (left). The painting above is by localartist Jordan Charles Weisenauer.

82 | No’Ala

Nearly everything in the space is vin-tage. The owners collect art by localartists or artists with ties to the Shoalsarea, and it was important that thespace be a showcase for their collection.

The owners are antiques dealers andhave had a series of residences, but forthis one decided to use furniture theyhad from one of the first places theyever lived, back in the late 1960s. “Iworked with the major pieces that theyhad kept in storage, and filled in tomake the space fit the period,” saidRhodes. “Although we started actualconstruction in January of 2010, wehave been shopping for this place sinceabout 2005.”

Everything in the space is vintage. Theowners collect art by local artists or byartists with ties to the Shoals area, andit was important that the space be ashowcase for their collection. “Just likeevery space, this one is a work inprogress,” said Rhodes, “but we wereable to find some beautiful vintagepieces, like the large round lights whichcame out of a church in Cullman thatwas being renovated.”

The project went relatively smoothly,and the bones of the old building wereso good that there were no surprises.The downstairs is currently being reno-vated for use as an antique store thatspecializes in mid-century modernpieces; named “Scobek’s,” it’s projectedto open shortly—and Keith Rhodes willserve as the in-store designer. It’s a fit-ting new life for this historic place, andyet another new project for this tal-ented designer.

May/June 2011 | 83

84 | No’Ala

Cabinetry (Signature Cabinets); Carpeting (Quad Cities Carpet); Bathroom Flooring (Centiva); Addi-tional artwork by Ann LaBarge

May/June 2011 | 85

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86 | No’Ala

PHOTO ESSAY BY ARMOSA STUDIOS

May/June 2011 | 87

“He who loves an old house never loves in vain.”—Isabel La Howe Conant

88 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 89

90 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 91

“In the end, the character of a civilization is encased in its structures.”—Frank Gehry

Recently I was at a funeral/familyreunion in Florence, SC. (Our Florenceis much nicer, even though the SC onehas a Starbucks. And, I’m embarrassedto report first-hand, a brand-new, deluxeSuper Walmart. I know because I had torun in on my way to the funeral to buy abottle of Worcestershire sauce to put inmy aunt’s casket. Oh, and a bottle ofwine for a nightcap the previousevening. So, yes, I went there twice.) Iobserved to my family that I missedSouth Carolina. My youngest sister, whohas never lived farther than 100 miles

from where she was born and raised,sneered, “How can you miss somewhereyou never lived?” I pointed out that mySouth Carolina roots go back throughmy father’s lineage to 1697, and the PeeDee region is similar to the Low Coun-try, where Savannah, my home for 11years, is located. This is the same sisterwho reproved me for reporting on my

Facebook page that Raleigh, NC is myhometown. True, I was only there for aslong as it took my mother to recuperatefrom giving birth before toting me backto Chapel Hill, but by Southern stan-dards, it’s where you were actually bornthat counts.

Periodically I get to thinking aboutwhere I want my ashes strewn, orinterred, or whatever, beyond beingstashed on the top shelf of my daughter’scloset. (I can always go in the family plotin Darlington, SC, or the family plot in

Kinston, NC, neither of which is anappealing prospect, although Kinstondoes have good barbecue.) That leadsme to thinking about where I considerhome. I grew up in Prince George’sCounty, MD, a suburb of Washington,DC, and got away when I was 17, neverto return except for short visits. (Youwould understand why if you ever wentthere—though why would you?) Thefirst place I ever really felt I belonged wasAtlanta, where I lived in the 1970s,before it was ruined by Yankees. I lovedbeing in a city with culture and shop-

ping, in the middle of everything,within walking distance of Piedmont

Park. Then I got divorced, and Atlantalost its allure.

I moved to Savannah in 1980, became anEpiscopalian, met the husband I’m plan-ning to keep, bought a house, and madewonderful friends. We lived in the his-toric district where we could walk prettymuch everywhere, and saw people weknew wherever we went. We had justdecided to stay there forever when Godpushed me in the direction of the priest-hood. So we set off to Sewanee, TN,which also immediately felt like home.

After all, it is Episcopalian Mecca andBrigadoon all rolled into one. In fact, fortwo years after I graduated, every time Iwent back to visit I would cry. (Youwould cry too if you had been exiled byyour bishop to Augusta, GA while hefigured out what he was going to do withyou.)

We ended up in Orlando, FL, onlybecause we announced to the cosmosthat we would never move there. Westayed for eight years, the first few ofwhich were spent trying to escape. Wewere so resistant to putting down rootsthat we moved from rental to rental fivetimes in three years, before we finallygave in and bought a house. (Call me ifyou need a ruthless eye when packing tomove.) It was hard to make friendsbecause we lived in an old area of town20 miles from The Attractions, wherethe parishioners in the churches I served

92 | No’Ala

{ bless their hearts}

There’s no place like home, if you can figure out where it is

We have created a community of like-minded individuals who, rather than closing ranks onstrangers, welcome kindred-spirited newcomers with open arms like nowhere else I’ve ever lived.

BY SARAH GAEDE

May/June 2011 | 93

153 S. Cox Creek ParkwayFlorence, AL • 256-764-3532

There’s something foreveryone at La Ha!

Located between K-Martand TJ Maxx

had known each other since kindergarten. They felt they did-n’t need any more friends. Finally we found some new peoplein a similar situation to hang with, and became involved withthe arts. We came to appreciate the opera, Shakespeare, andcontemporary theatre companies, the independent moviehouses, and even more the myriad of Cuban, Thai, Viet-namese, and sushi restaurants, and, yes, a Publix on everycorner. (I admit it; my god is my belly.)

Just when I decided I could be happy in Orlando indefinitely,I was called to a parish in Florence, Alabama, of all places.Who knew we would be going back 25 years in amenities thatwe had long taken for granted. Good thing we have high-speedInternet and UPS. (Did you know you can order exotic foodon Amazon?)

We’ve been in Florence for seven years now. Even though I fre-quently drive an hour to shop at Publix (and don’t even get mestarted on the dearth of decent first-run movies, not to men-tion that Comcast doesn’t carry Bravo or TCM), we love ourhouse, we love our gym, we love our friends, we love beingable to walk pretty much everywhere, and we love seeing peo-ple we know everywhere we go—especially at the Friday nighttastings at the Wine Seller, the best place in town to meet funnew people and hook up with your pals. It’s like Shakespeareand Company in Paris, where the English-speaking expatshang out.

Speaking of which, it came to me after we had been here a fewyears that we and our Florence friends are akin to expats. Manyof us are from somewhere else. We have seen the world. Wehave expanded our minds and our horizons. Yet somehow wehave ended up calling Florence home, either because we havereturned from our travels, or fate has brought us here. We havecreated a community of like-minded individuals who, ratherthan closing ranks on strangers, welcome kindred-spiritednewcomers with open arms like nowhere else I’ve ever lived.

When I was driving back from the funeral, after a weekendspent with family who are deeply rooted in one place, I realizedto my amazement that I’d be happy to stay here forever. Asunlikely as I find it to be, Florence feels more like home thanany other place I’ve ever lived. In the wise words of RobertFrost: “Home is where, when you have to go there, they haveto take you in.” Florence has taken me in, and I’ve taken Flo-rence into my heart.

So now I’ve cursed myself, and will probably receive a call to aneven more unlikely place. But I know Florence will be waitingfor my return. There’s no place like home! N

10 for the landscaper*…

In North Alabama, two of the biggest landscape prob-lems are…

…dealing with the heavy clay soil and proper drainage.

When in doubt……plant ferns, hosta, and Lenten Rose for the shade.  In thesun plant reblooming daylilies and Black-Eyed Susan.Shrubs for the shade include native azalea and for the sunuse Knockout Roses and the new spreading rose.

The most common landscaping mistakes are……improper planting bed preparation; not giving plantssufficient room to grow; using the wrong plant for the site;and not preparing proper drainage.

In large spaces……use disease resistant American dogwood, the new vari-eties of Redbud, Witchhazel, Snowball Viburnum,Prunifolium Viburmnum, and Florida Anise in the shade.

In smaller spaces……use dwarf azalea Pink Cascade, Frostproof Gardenia, thenew varieties of Abelia, Leucothoe axillaris, and the newspreading rose. Small trees include weeping varieties ofJapanese maple, Pigmy Dogwood, Little Woody Redbud,and Traveller Redbud.

The strangest landscape decision I eversaw…

…was planting azaleas in the ground withouttaking them out of the plastic pots. They werestunted and eventually died. 

Some of my favorite native plants toNorth Alabama…

…include Canescens azalea, Alabama  azalea,Alabama Snowwreath, Alabama Croton, Fothergilla,

Red and White Buckeye, Itea, and Clethra. Perennialsinclude Bluebells, Red Columbine, numerous ferns, Blood-root, Hepatica, Trillium, Foamflower, Jacob’s Ladder,Woodland Phlox, and Celendine Poppy.

Some of my favorite projects are……all of them! We have been very blessed to have workedin many yards and enjoy great working relationships withour customers. Linda and I are particularly proud to pro-vide the public with information encouraging greater usesof our native plants.

It makes me cringe to see……“Crapemurder.” Florence adopted the crape myrtle as ourcity shrub/tree and the continued abuse and misuse of thisplant is unfortunate.

You can never go wrong……if you properly prepare the planting bed before actuallyplanting. Amend with compost for better drainage andplant growth. Amend! Amend!

20 Questions for a Landscaper and a Kitchen Designer

{ 20 questions}

94 | No’Ala

May/June 2011 | 95

We can print that.

Printing • Office Supplies • Furniture • Gifts

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256-764-8061

From four color publica-tions and bridal invitations

on Crane stationery tocopies and reports fromour Copy Cat Center, if

you need printing we’re theonly name you need to

know. We can print that!

96 | No’Ala

…and 10 for the kitchen designer*

On the first meeting with a designer, always……make sure your needs and wants are being heard. Agood designer will always have a listening ear and makeyour style fit you, your family, and your home, not looklike everyone else. We have different stages in our lives—ayoung family will have different needs than an emptynester—and addressing those issues are important.

If you want to renovate your kitchen……be sure and put yourself at the beginning of a trendcurve, not the end, or your kitchen will be outdated in notime. (Remember gold & green appliances?) The NationalKitchen & Bath Association (NKBA.org) website hasinformation regarding the latest trends in America &Canada. A good example: Most appliance colors are madefor a 10 year cycle. Stainless steel appliances are in theirsecond decade of manufacturing, with no end to this trendin sight. This is a universal trend, not just North American.

People always overlook……lighting! It’s amazing what layered lighting can do foryour design. It can make or break a kitchen or a bath. Nomatter what amount of money you spend in a kitchen orbath, if you can’t see it what good is that?

The key element in a kitchen should be……function first and then safety. In judging kitchen designs,I have seen many elaborate kitchens that you can walkyourself to death in. The proximity of a sink, refrigerator,and cooking surface placement should be first. Safely get-ting there is the second element. Then comes the fun partof selecting the finishes of cabinetry, countertop material,flooring, backsplash, appliances, etc. The kitchen is only asgood as its function.

The worst decision in kitchen design is……not completing the backsplash with some sort of ele-ment other than sheetrock. It’s like getting an outfit on andnot adorning it with jewelry—it looks like it is missingsomething! The splash will be the least amount of moneyyou will spend on your kitchen, so it needs to be some-thing of a statement. There are so many interesting thingsto use: tiles of all kinds, mirror, bead board, marble, rocks,metals, semi-precious stones, recycled glass, metallicpaints…the list is endless. (Be sure and remember to lightit!)

When it comes to your budget……be realistic. When exposed to higher end products, mostpeople opt for them over builder lines. If you stick some-where in the middle and use a few more expensiveproducts and mix it in your design it can be elegant and

May/June 2011 | 97

• AMAZING Steaks • Salads • International Cuisine • Gourmet Sandwiches • Paninis • Wine & Beer • Home Made Desserts • Catering

• Private Parties • Event Planning1154 N. Wood Avenue (Seven Points), Florence • 256-765-2234

There is nothing like dining under the stars, especially as Summer begins. Join us for a dining experience like none other. Your table is waiting!

understated. As I have told clients over the years, at leastget one thing your heart really desires—you can always cutother places.

My favorite part of a kitchen is……that it becomes the new family room. When going backto see clients after we have finished a project I marvel atwhere they are spending the majority of their time: theirnew kitchen/family room. It is such a social space; it isreally the heart of the home.

In the Shoals, I see kitchens that are……in need of pantries of all kinds! A case of paper productscan take a huge amount of space. If you love dishes youwill need additional space for them too. Pet products needa home. I didn’t even mention food storage—see what Imean?

A kitchen should always be……as low maintenance as possible. As Americans we spendmillions each year buying machines that can make our lifeeasier and more efficient. Furniture grade finishes on cabi-

nets, quartz countertops, porcelain tile, epoxy grouts,induction cooktops, self or continuous cleaning ovens,washable paints or wallcoverings, etc., can save you timeon maintenance. One tile company just introducedceramic tile that “cleans” itself and is antipollution andantibacterial. I’m still waiting on the “self cleaning kitchen”!

You can never go wrong……with updating or remodeling your kitchen or bath. Thelatest statistics from NKBA says nationally that a home-owner will get 90% of their money back on theirinvestment in the kitchen or bath. Don’t choose overlyelaborate hardware or that’s all you will see when you lookat your kitchen. Enhance, don’t overpower.

* Our guest landscaper is Harry Wallace, historian, andowner of Little Cypress Natives Nursery. Harry specializes inplanting and conserving native Southeastern plants. Ourguest kitchen designer is Debe Robinson, CMKBD (CertifiedMaster Kitchen & Bath Designer). Debe owns Kitchen Expres-sions.

{ parting shot}W

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98 | No’Ala

BY DANNY MITCHELL

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Florence: 256-718-4200Muscle Shoals: 256-718-4242

Killen: 256-718-4273Ford City: 256-718-4255St. Florian: 256-718-4282

Mortgage Department: 256-718-4237 or 256-718-4241

Trust Department: 256-718-4238www.firstsouthern.com

MEMBER FDIC

Convert the equity in your home into a line of

credit with First Southern Bank! The money

you draw from the line can be used for home

improvements, new cars, educational expenses

or any other financial need, and there may be

tax advantages for having an equity line.*

Lines are based on 80% of the equity in your

home, with easy repayment plans and compet-

itive interest rates. Your home could represent

a financial resource for you—gain access to it

with an Equity Line of Credit from First

Southern Bank! Ask your First Southern Banker for details. Approval subject to creditunderwriting guidelines. *Please consult your tax advisor to see if youqualify for tax advantages. The interest on the portion of the Creditextension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling isnot tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes.

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