Toulmin’s Kitchen & Bath Design Expert Builds a New Home in Tuscaloosa
Jay and Mary Harmon Young's Newly Built Tuscaloosa Home
Experience What A Kitchen and Bath Design Professional and Realtor's Waterfall Neighborhood Home is Like
We've all seen exquisite interior design photographs on Houzz, you know the ones – they show off the mastery of kitchen and bath designers. Have you ever wondered what their personal homes look like? Are they as luxurious as the work they showcase?
When it comes to master designer and owner of Toulmin Kitchen and Bath, Jay Young and his wife, real estate agent Mary Harmon Young, the answer is that you get a build that goes beyond being just a house, it's a home!
Their 4500 square foot home in the desirable Waterfall subdivision mirrors Jay's craftsmanship and the exquisite designs he creates for his clients. Jay enlisted the help of his father Tuscaloosa builder Michael Young, a longtime friend and noted architect Clem Burch and decorator Randall Bobo of Randall Dress and Design to help achieve his creative vision. High-end materials came as a result of partnering with a host of Toulmin's vendors to create a style that transcends from his clients.
A Classic Blend of English Tudor and French Country
According to Jay and his wife Mary Harmon, the home is “a super classic blend of English Tudor meets French Country." It features a white painted brick exterior, complete with gas and electric Bevolo copper lighting, half round gutters, stepped brick and a classic Bluestone entryway.
Step through the beautiful solid mahogany front door into the home, and you're greeted by clean, classic lines, beautiful engineered hardwood floors throughout the lower living area and a beautiful Limestone fireplace. Engineered hardwood from Birmingham based, Hallmark Flooring was used throughout the home's living spaces. It looks natural is durable and it is more environmentally friendly than natural wood. All of Hallmark's flooring from their Novella collectionis named after famous authors. The flooring used in this home is "Elliot” colored Hickory.
The light-filled living room is courtesy of Sierra windows throughout the space. To give it a modern, industrial look the mullions were painted with Benjamin Moore midnight oil. The contrast between the dark mullions, the light-filled space, the light walls, and natural limestone fireplace is warm and inviting.
The Heart of The Home
Jay, Mary, and their team spent a lot of time focused on the kitchen. Mary's dream was to create a kitchen that was perfect for family mealtimes as well as entertaining friends. As a result, every functional need was taken into account, and the result is a room whose aesthetic beauty is only rivaled by its smart design.
The open floor design is truly stunning, and a Toulmin Kitchen and Bath specialty. It features a large marble-topped island and countertops made from Montclair Danby marble, quarried in the United States. The tops are six centimeters as opposed to the standard three, giving the countertops a chunkier, more modern look. The 5-foot by 8-foot island features a Kohler vault sink and Delta faucets for easy clean up when preparing meals.
Jenn-Air appliances including a Jenn-Air gas steam oven and a pot belly style hood add both modern style and plenty of functionality to the space. Custom shallow depth cabinetry provides plenty of storage, and the built-in refrigerator keeps the lines in the kitchen clean and modern.
Lighting is an essential element of any kitchen design, and the Young's kitchen features a blend of under cabinet lighting by Task and ambient lighting with fixtures provided by Gabby Light and Visual Comfort.
Just off the kitchen is a butler's pantry with the same Montclair Danby marble counters. It has a mini refrigerator, hammered steel sink, and an ice maker and plenty of storage. The space is designed so that you can entertaining and talk to guests during meal prep and after dinner.
A Place To Hangout
One of the favorite areas of their new home is the second-floor living area. It's where the family often gathers to watch TV, sporting events and movies. The fabrics used are a mixture of linen, leather, and velvet. Much of the furniture was sourced locally in Tuscaloosa.
A Mix of Old and New
Throughout the home, the décor is a mix of old and new. Along with new pieces chosen for the home by Jay, Mary, and Randall, there are plenty of family treasures like daughter Sadie Grace's bed and dressing table, both dated from the 1920s and handed down from her great-grandmother. A clock in the open den near the children's bedroom dates from 1805. It's been in Jay's family for three generations and originally belonged to his grandfather, Toulmin Warren Young. An antique Empire butler's chest lives in the guest bedroom along with a new painting by Tuscaloosa artist Kristin Blakeney.
Family is very important to Jay and Mary Harmon, and there are many touches spread throughout the home that relate to their families. Several pieces of art created by Mary's father Dan Rountree are displayed throughout their home, including a small photo in Sadie Grace's bedroom of roses that Rountree created.
Overall, Jay, Mary, and their team worked to create a home that not only is functional on a day-to-day basis but is also a showcase of their aesthetic style and a tribute to their family histories. As you can see, Their house is much more than a build; it's a place they call home.
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The Companies That Provide Services, Materials, and Fixtures For This New Home
Fine Art - Dan Rountree, Northport, Alabama
Draperies - Jeanette Remaley Design, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Lighting Fixtures - Gabby Home, Pelham , Alabama
Lighting Fixtures - Visual Comfort & Company
Interior Furnishings - Capitol Park Interiors, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Interior Furnishings - At Home Furnishings, Birmingham, Alabama
*Toulmin Kitchen & Bath Is the exclusive local representative for these providers.
If you're planning a kitchen or bath remodel in the West Alabama area, give the designers at Toulmin Kitchen and Bath a call at (205) 579-9906. Let us help you design and deliver your dream kitchen.
