Home Feature- Change Up

For several years Mark Kennamer enjoyed buying and decorating older homes in the Birmingham area. His houses featured “cottage chic” décor in vibrant colors—providing a welcoming and festive backdrop for the lively parties he likes to throw.
But last year, feeling it was time for a change, Mark put his Crestwood home on the market. An offer came but with the contingency that he move out in just ten days. With little time to look and no time to make renovations to a new home, Mark found a condo where he could paint, change a few light fixtures, do some light cosmetic work and move on in.

Transitioning from an older cottage home to a newer, more modern condo called for a different look. But Mark was ready. “I’m a chameleon,” says Mark. “I think you need to adapt to your surroundings … I don’t honestly think I have a specific style. There is just way too much good stuff out there that I like. I go with the feeling of the environment. I think I’d get bored if I did the same thing.”

Mark chose a neutral décor for his new space that provides a soothing place to rest after packed weekdays working as a designer and weekends filled with travel. “I have never been neutral, ever in my entire life. But I think you evolve to this,” he adds.

Mark notes two designers who have influenced his current look—local designer Margaret Jones and world-renowned style icon, Ralph Lauren.
Mark rents office space in Margaret’s store, MCJ Company Interiors, and has come to embrace her love for clean, yet eclectic interiors. His neutral, textured color scheme is kept interesting through the use of natural pieces such as horn candlesticks, a coffee table inlaid with tortoise shells, a chandelier made from oyster shells and cowhide rugs in the dining room and master bedroom.
Mark attributes his masculine look to his admiration of Ralph Lauren, noting his streamlined pieces paired with warm, comfortable elements such as rich gray velvet upholstery, sisal rugs and contrast added through modern art.

While Mark’s personal style changes and his clients’ homes hardly ever share a similar look, consistency is found in his choice of accessories. “I love an English armchair, a Bombe chest and Christopher Spitzmiller lamps. I love the same artists like Kim Schuessler and Arthur Price,” says Mark. He also enjoys that with this home’s design he can change the look with just a few, simple tweaks—coral roses in the summer and white roses in the winter, turquoise pillows when he wants a jolt of color or the neutral pillows he currently has in place. “It’s just a simple way to make your house feel fresh,” Mark says.

Any initial hesitation Mark might have had about diving into condo life subsided as he’s come to embrace the joys of this new lifestyle. He loves the low maintenance yard (“I water two plants twice a week and that is my yard to worry about.”), “rock star” closet and best of all he’s learned that although he lives in close proximity to others, “I can have a blowout party here and (my neighbors) would never know.