Open House #2: Shook Hill Mansion
May 6, 2008
Ready to check out the second home on our Fantasy Open House tour? All week we’re looking at homes worth millions of dollars in Birmingham, Alabama. This is Shook Hill Mansion and it’s on the market for $4.99 million.
According to the MLS Listing, it’s a European-style mansion that sits on over 3 acres. There’s plenty of room to entertain for the weekend because it has 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. Other features include 4-story elevator, red tile roof, heated Gunite pool, exquisite moldings, coffered ceilings, and “handsome paneling.”
To top it all off, the home was designed from top to bottom “by famous decorator Andrea Carmichael.” I have to admit I had never heard of famous decorator Andrea Carmichael, so feel free to fill me in if you have. I did find her website if anyone’s interested: Andrea Carmichael Inc.
Okay, now that you’ve read all about it, it’s time to look around.
What did you think? Will this go on your short list of favorites or not?
All of the rooms are all pretty massive, so I’m thinking that those of you who thought yesterday’s house was too big are really going to dislike this one! You could be in the living room with someone but at opposite ends and need a bullhorn to communicate. “Helloooo over there!”
I think it’s safe to say that either the homeowners really love wallpaper, or Famous Decorator Andrea Carmichael does.
At the end of the week you’ll vote for the house you want to buy, so make a note if you think this might be it. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to tour House #3! All of the houses are worth millions, but I’ve chosen a range of architectural and decorative styles for you to choose from. Tomorrow we’re going more contemporary.
In the meantime, if you missed the first Open House tour of the French Chateau in Birmingham, click here.
If You’re Hooked on House Tours:
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park, Ohio: Paxton Avenue
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park, Ohio: Rookwood Drive
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park, Ohio: Edwards Road
- Fantasy Open House in Hyde Park, Ohio: Observatory Drive
- HGTV Green Home ‘08
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s William P. Boswell House (never publicly photographed before)
- Designed to Sell? The Purple Angel House
- The Spite House in Virginia (only 7 feet wide!)
- Cobble Court, a French-Norman Estate in Ohio
- Stokesay Court, the manor used in the Keira Knightley film “Atonement”
- Coco Chanel’s elegant Parisian apartment at 31 Rue Cambon
- 1908 Gaslight Mansion in St. Louis
If You’re New Here: Hooked on Houses features decorating inspiration, celebrity house tours, fabulous before and afters, real estate news, fantasy open houses and more fun stuff. It is always 100% ad free. Comments from my readers are the only payment I receive, so I hope you’ll leave one! To see what we’re talking about today, click here.
Entry Filed under: Fantasy Open House. Tags: Alabama, Andrea Carmichael, Birmingham, crown molding, Decorating, decorator, gunite pool, House Tour, mansion, open house, paneling, Real Estate, wallpaper.
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1.
Nancy | May 6, 2008 at 6:31 am
I love the exterior of the house and grounds (especially the pool). I was shocked at the decorating. When was it decorated? I suspect 20 years ago or more. A lot of the furniture was placed along the perimeter of the room (surprised a decorator would do this). I would never buy a home this large, even if I could afford it. My family would never use all that space and rooms would remain unlived in. Thanks for posting this. I lived in AL from 2000-2006 and loved the charm of many of the homes there. Birmingham is a great city.
2.
Hairy Weisenheimmer | May 6, 2008 at 7:28 am
Good grief, could there possibly be more things going on here? I counted 5 different patterns and color schemes in the dining room 6 in the tenth picture and 8 eight in the last room. Multi-million dollar home furnished with thrift store crap.
Too big,too much work to do, and the decorating ( and I use that term very loosely) gives me a big fat headache.
3.
atticmag | May 6, 2008 at 7:39 am
Where do I start? I was loving the exterior too, but once inside, I’m afraid vertigo set in! Once I recover, I’m going back and take another look to see what the true bones of the room look like.
Hmm, first the scary wig scene from yesterday and now this, I’m betting you’re saving the best for last….
This is a fun tour, and great idea!
Jane
4.
janet | May 6, 2008 at 7:47 am
I won’t be calling “Famous Interior Decorator Andrea Carmichael anytime soon. It really does look like it was done 25 years ago…too big and way too busy.
Janet
PS. My book arrived yesterday and I spent all last night poring over it…great book, perhaps Andrea should get it, LOL.
5.
DaK | May 6, 2008 at 9:33 am
I like the outside and the porches. I agree with most of the posts above, too big and too busy.
6.
diana | May 6, 2008 at 9:42 am
Just found you…. I am hooked on hooked !!
7.
Tori | May 6, 2008 at 9:48 am
What a tacky home. I thought it would look good inside,
but it didn’t really. (Not meant badly) It kind of reminds
me of the White House, you know, big, spacious,
furnished, yet lacking true personality and warmth.
8.
Amy | May 6, 2008 at 9:48 am
Where to begin? I really liked the outside so I was hoping that I’d like the inside too but I was very disappointed. I too, think that this was probably decorated years ago and needs to be redone. Ick.
9.
Laura | May 6, 2008 at 10:48 am
As others have said, the outside definitely does not match the insides. It looks like so many estate homes that I have been in where it is obvious that the homeowner has little to no influence in the decor. Decor should reflect the homeowner in some way — personality, their family, interests…something.
And one typically doesn’t aime to have thier room layout include space for roller skating rinks or bowling alleys, many of these rooms do.
10.
Jessica | May 6, 2008 at 11:49 am
I LOVE this HOUSE! I hate the stuff they put in it. And the wallpaper or whatever that is is awful and I can’t believe the rugs they put in there. I’d redo the whole kitchen. But it’s a gorgeous house!
It looks like the spent all their money on buying the house and had nothing left to decorate it.
LOL the more I look at it, the uglier the decorations get. That is BAD. The pool room? What the heck? The bathroom is sad.
Can’t… stop… looking…
11.
JLB | May 6, 2008 at 11:56 am
I was so pumped up after the exterior shots….but then you had to go and show interior pictures. I don’t know what that decorator is famous for. Maybe its carnival inspired color schemes that are her specialty. I HATE the way this house is decorated!
12.
Lynn | May 6, 2008 at 12:05 pm
OH MY WORD
I hate this place. Okay, not the actual house, but the colors are horrible. Are they colored blind? I sure hope they didn’t pay someone to decorate. I’m sorry, I’m being critical. I have nothing else to say
13.
Lynn | May 6, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Okay, I went to that famous decorator’s site. All I have to say is “Don’t blame the homeowners.” All her stuff is yucky on her site. I think she’s stuck back in the 70’s or 80’s. Take a look for yourself.
Lynn
14.
Julie | May 6, 2008 at 12:45 pm
That decorator should be shot!
15.
Pat | May 6, 2008 at 1:25 pm
My question is…when did the famous AC do the decor? There are certain aspects I like about this house (exterior). The kitchen is okay. Not crazy about the color schemes throughout the rest of the house, though.
Pat
16.
Amanda | May 6, 2008 at 1:38 pm
NO! NO! NO!
17.
abbreviated | May 6, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Dining room too too too busy.
Sunporch is nice !
18.
mamacita | May 6, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Wow…the patterns are too busy and all over the place, and the rooms are just too huge for my taste. But lots of fun to look at, nonetheless!
19.
REAGAN | May 6, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I don’t like the interior of this house! The color scheme is way too broad and like another commenter stated, the furniture layouts do not provide adequate conversation areas…I know we wouldn’t be keeping the furniture but people viewing the house are probably trying to picture their furniture in the house and those layouts are horrible. I would go for bold furniture OR bold walls…not both.
20.
Courtney @ nestinginstincts | May 6, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I saw the pool on the first pic and wanted it immediately. Then I saw the next picture…and the next…and the one after that…then I changed my mind. DON’T want it! Yowsa…somebody’s decorator went crazy!!!
21.
Christine | May 6, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I like the exterior and the grounds but HATE the interior decor! I guess someone was on an acid trip when they decorated this home! I would negotiate decorating costs in the purchase of the home before I buy.
22.
Judy | May 6, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Whoa! What in the heck could these folks be thinking? I hope they didn’t PAY to have this place decorated!!! Bet it cost them big bucks for it to look this tacky!
Anyway Julia, thanks for stopping by my blog. I am going to try and figure out the comment problem and if I do I’ll let you know. But in the meantime, please keep visiting me. Also, try the e-mail thing again…it may be messed up from my blog page….have you tried to send it from your home page?
Judy
23.
mrslimestone | May 6, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Just found your blog and its great fun. Love peaking in on homes. Im an open house addict myself.
Jennifer Connoly and Paul Bettany just put their home up for sale and I can’t help but snoop: http://www.sothebyshomes.com/nyc/sales/0134264
24.
Angela | May 6, 2008 at 7:22 pm
ah, the house everyone loves to hate.
That bathroom is so strange. It looks like just a regular suburbia master bath–just puffed up on extra square footage. If I am paying over 4 million that bathroom better knock me off my feet. Or, I guess the peeps paying that much for a house have enough money to totally gut the bathroom and start over.
1992, It was a good year for Hunter Green.
I will say, I LOVE that pattern on the dining room ceiling.
25.
melissa lewis - off the wall | May 6, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Oh me! Oh my! There is a lot going on in that house. I love the exterior as is but would have to do some major decorating!
26.
Billy | May 6, 2008 at 9:59 pm
$5000k seems a little high for a house that had every room spun so the furniture is lines up against the wall
If the first house is worth its asking price, then this one should fetch $1900k.
27.
Leigh Ann | June 24, 2008 at 12:39 am
The driveway. It might be the only thing that I like about this house.
28.
rue | June 24, 2008 at 9:09 am
I don’t think it’s all that bad except how HUGE it is. Wallpaper is back in style, and I think she was trying to make the rooms cozier, but it’s just NOT working. Pass!
29.
chris | July 25, 2008 at 8:36 pm
This house is only 5 years old. I would have killed the interior designer. WHO USES WALL PAPER? Everyone is trying to get rid of wall paper and this woman puts it in?!?! I just dont understand it… I love the pool though. It is currently for sale for $4.995 Million in Mountain Brook, AL. There is a mediterranian home two doors down that is a million less and knocks the doors off of this home.. If I had 5 mil to blow on a home 2853 Shook Hill Circle, Mountain Brook, AL 35223 would be my address. Not this house located at 2959 Shook Hill Circle, Mountain Brook AL 35223.