Tour an Antique Collector’s Funky Birmingham Home With its Dash of Tropical Decor

Antique-hunter, owner and curator of Mary and Wilma, Beth Hubrich lives among her curated collections and uses a tried-and-true method of design: follow your gut. “I'm always looking for great pieces, that might not even work in my home, but I know they really deserve a great second story," Beth says. "I really feel like if you’re drawn to a piece in an antique store, or there’s something you just fall in love with, I think there’s a reason — so buy pieces you love, and if it speaks to you, I think it will definitely work."

You wouldn’t be in Beth Hubrich’s home if there weren’t tropical wildlife on the walls, as framed art or wallpaper. “I’m from Florida, so I’m always finding things that remind me of Florida — and that definitely influences my decor,” she says. "I’m drawn to things that look more like the sea or the ocean or coastal areas.”

Beth's passion for palm trees extends to her powder bath and actually fueled an idea for other creative projects in her home: DIY wallpapers. “I really wanted some great palm wallpaper in this powder bath, and so I thought, maybe I’ll just give it a go and see what happens," Beth explains happily. After a few practice rounds with a paintbrush, she was off and running. “The nice thing is, I got to pick out the exact color of green I wanted, so that was a real advantage,” Beth says.

Her DIY doodling trend continues into one of the most trafficked (and often most boring) rooms in the home. “This is the laundry room. And this is where we used a Sharpie to create this wallpaper effect,” Beth says laughing. You read that correctly — she drew on her walls with a Sharpie. “I took a few pieces of paper and practiced drawing with a Sharpie, and making these doodles and birds and things, and then I thought, ‘OK. I’m ready!’"