By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Blair Ramsey

Bill and Andrea Briggs’ house hunt yielded more than a spectacular home–with it came the balance between the pulls of their every day life. After living in Helena for years, the husband-and-wife duo decided to relocate to lessen their commute to their staffing company, Stellar Staffing LLC, which is based in Homewood.

First married in 1997, the Briggses’ story spans more than mere geography. Their paths first crossed when they were both working at the Alabama State Employment Service years prior.

Bill launched Stellar Staffing in 1993 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, specializing in communications. His service includes stints at the Pentagon and in Okinawa, Japan.

With so many years of experience under his belt, Bill decided to capitalize on his knowledge and build a business that prioritized relationships, specifically in the working world. Andrea, who received her degree in human resources from Auburn University, later joined the team, and together, they have helped deserving individuals attain life-changing employment opportunities. One entry-level worker they assisted was later promoted to general manager within just a few short years of working with them.

Bill and Andrea’s desire to serve, coincidentally, also laid the foundation for their now-home. They dreamed of a house where they could host all of their family and friends–a place where love runs deep within its walls and where all feel welcome, entering through the front doors.

Andrea, a native of Vestavia Hills, was eager to return to her old stomping grounds, and after touring this homesite three different times, she and Bill finally pulled the trigger and purchased this fixer-upper in 2015.

Ten years later, they have restored this six-bedroom estate into a sprawling paradise, complete with a 20-foot-long pool, outdoor lounge, cascading waterfall and more. The pair credits local interior designer Leanne Cates for her talents in bringing their vision to fruition.

Best of all, Bill and Andrea say each room has a special touch—a design element Leanne incorporated—that reflects their values: hard work and putting people first. Overall, they love their new home because it’s not only a nod to their history and what they’ve accomplished, but it also reminds them of their building a life together and the people they will help along the way.

Face of the Home

Playing on the façade’s traditional aesthetic, Bill and Andrea opted to update the threshold with a nearly 300-pound, wrought-iron front door, with a new overarching window. Taylor Burton Construction reimagined the front patio, replacing the stone and widening the stair steps. Ensley Iron framed the entryway with classic iron railings.

Entryway

Leanne transformed the once dark, overbearing entryway into a light, airy space whose classic, neutral tones and handpicked paintings adjust one’s gaze upwards, elevating the room’s soaring height.

Sitting Room

The sitting room’s walls were once a heavy yellow, but Leanne refreshed this space with a lighter hue, accenting the room with custom drapery, pillows and Parisian-inspired artwork. floor-to-ceiling shelving and shaker-style French doors.

Making a Statement

This dazzling, Visual Comfort chandelier brightens the space in a warm ambiance. Its glass orbs scatter warm rays of light to engulf the room in a subtle ambiance.

Dining Room

Handpicked from Ethan Allen, this dining room suite anchors this space; whereas, the gorgeous drapes, accent rug and mixed-metal adornings add a dash of contemporary to round out the room’s more transitional design.

Powder Bath

As one of Leanne’s favorite rooms in the house, the powder bath features Perhaps the home’s boldest space, the powder bath features Schumacher’s “Queen of Spain” wallpaper and a beautiful marble vanity from Restoration Hardware. The light fixtures were selected from Mayer Lighting.

Master Bedroom

Leanne layered serene blue and green textiles to create an elevated yet unpretentious master suite, complete with furnishings from Stock & Trade, linens from Seibel’s and pillows from Argent.

Master Bathroom

What is one of the smaller rooms in the home actually creates the biggest first impression. The master bathroom was completely reconfigured, designed to model a spa-worthy area with an oversized steam shower with multiple nozzles; a freestanding tub; soft-close drawers; and hand-selected Robert F. Henry Tile flooring.

His-and-Hers

These floor-to-ceiling closets were designed by Wellborn Cabinetry. Bill and Andrea each have their own walk-in closets, which were organized by professional organizers, The Amandas.

Backyard Paradise

The massive, in-ground pool was designed by Bill himself and features a water slide; huge, standing fire pots; a swim-up bar; and a waterfall wall.