Betsy Brown: FACES of Birmingham
Today's FACE is the brilliant designer Betsy Brown. Find out what her local go-tos are for decor finds, what her teenage bedroom looked like, and more!
Today we welcome Betsy Brown, a woman well known throughout these parts and beyond our Southern borders for her decorating prowess. Betsy combines neutralΒ palettes with a bold flair, creating a unique visual harmony with the masterful eye of a true artist. She may be an award-winning designerΒ accustomed to full spreads in all the glossy design magazines, but look beyond the surface of thisΒ out-of-this-world interior designer and youβll find a charming, down-to-earth girl next door. Welcome, Betsy!
How did you get your start in decorating?
My mother was an antiques dealer and was obsessed with design, so it was always discussed in our house. I felt like Billy Baldwin was someone she actually knew. When my older sister announced she was going to major in interior design, I knew I had to, as well. Couldnβt let her house look better than mine! It does anyway, though.
How would you describe your style as a decorator?
A harmony of oppositesΒ β modern and traditional, dramatic but comfortable.
Where would you suggest people put their money to get the most design bang for their buck, if they arenβt able to do it all at once?
The first purchase should be a very well thought-out plan. Everything else is so easy after that.
What trends do you see in home decor going into the future?
Nuanced collections of traditional and modern elements. Pinterest and design blogs are letting people suss out their own style and keep records of it. The more a client knows about whatβs available, the more they can articulate the elements theyβre drawn to, so a better collaboration takes place with their designer. This deeper knowledge base is allowing for more nuanced decisions and a cooler mix of elements. Itβs great.
What are your favorite local places for decor finds?
Beta Pictoris gallery, Paige Albright Orientals, Liz Hand Woods Interiors, Henhouse Antiques, Table Matters, Margueriteβs Conceits, At Home, Suite Dreams, Three Sheets.
What are three design faux pas?
Yikes. I donβt like rules, and a lot of things I do would be considered faux pas by some. The biggest mistake you can make is anything that feels pretentious or inauthentic. Whatever that is for you, donβt do it.
What did your bedroom look like when you were a teenage girl?
My friends had floral bedrooms, but mine was bohemianΒ β oriental rugs, wooden beads in the doorways, a leopard-skin chaise longue. Itβs a room Iβd probably like today.
What local event are you most looking forward to?
The Sidewalk Film Festival. My daughter, Liz Brown, introduced me to it a few years ago, and now I never miss.
Favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?
I have small cabin with the most dramatic view Iβve ever seen on the Green River Gorge near Asheville, NC. You can usually find me there on Saturday nights snuggled in bed with Finn and Hurley Bell (coolest grandchildren ever) watching multiple kid movies on multiple devices.
Favorite local restaurant?
Oh my gosh, Birmingham has so many classics that everyone knows, and some fun new ones. Carriganβs is great, Post Office Pies if you like pizza, Todd English P.U.B., Vittoria has great cocktails. I canβt pick just one.
What books are on your bedside table/e-reader?Β
Hmm β¦ The Goldfinch, Deep Meditation and How to Raise the Perfect Dog.
What are you listening to?
Iβm currently stuck on Mumford & Sons.
What do you do to recharge your batteries?
I read anything and everything. And when Iβm driving I listen to Audible books.
Whatβs the best piece of advice ever given to you?
1) Look deep inside, decide what you really believe and own it.
2) Floss.
What advice would you give to others?
Above all, be authenticΒ β anything else is wasted energy. I wish I had always known this.
Do you have any personality quirks or irrational fears?
The studies coming out about introverts have finally let me appreciate being one. It takes a lot of quiet mental work to be creative.
If your house was on fire, whatβs the one nonliving thing you would grab?
Three great pencil drawings of my daughters when they were younger.
Name three things you canβt live without, excluding friends, family and faith.
High-speed Internet, meditation and Dropbox.
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Thanks for sharing, Betsy!
And a huge thank you to Beth Hontzas for todayβs fabulous photos!Β
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