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Cool Spaces? We've got plenty of these in Alabama. From north to south, east to west, our state is home to palatial mansions, pristine cottages, trendy condos, rustic cabins, seaside escapes, quaint farmhouses and much more. Reporters and photographers from AL.com go in search of Cool Spaces every year, and the team discovered some great ones in 2017. Here are 18 places that made our love list.

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(Mike Kittrell photo/AL.com)

A secret garden near downtown Mobile

As often as she can, Kelly Baker likes to open all the windows of her unusual home on State Street in De Tonti Square, a historic neighborhood adjacent to downtown Mobile. Surrounded by a brick wall and sheltered by old oaks, her home blurs the line between indoors and out.

"I like my house to breathe," she says. "I love for it to be open."

Her home is what remains of a larger structure that was built in 1854 by the Crawford family, whose daughter Frank married Cornelius Vanderbilt after the Civil War and moved to New York. Originally, the house came all the way out to the street. The oak trees that line State Street had already been planted in a drawing she found of the now-long-gone house that was eventually demolished, leaving only the rear wing standing -- a two-story structure with upper and lower porches.

Over time, the house evolved as it passed through various owners, including, at one point, the writer Augusta Evans Wilson, and the Fletcher Gordon family, who had it for 80 years. When Harry Fisher owned it in the 1970s, he glassed in the porches and remodeled the house.

Full story by Michelle Matthews and photos by Mike Kittrell: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/11/cool_spaces_a_breath_of_fresh.html

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(Photo by David Warren/Cullman Aerial Photography.com)

Is Angelwalk the most breathtaking alpine log home in the South?

The solid magnificently carved mahogany double doors of Angelwalk only hint at the spacious yet comfortable sanctuary interior constructed by Alpine Log Homes of Montana for Brian and Lynne Scott. This is not a kit home. Every log timber was carefully chosen from standing dead trees. Each log was hand-hewn meaning there were no chain saws involved.

Using standing lodge pole pine trees that were dead for at least three years insured that the logs will not shrink further or produce sap.

The 16,500 sq. ft. home is hidden in the beautiful mountainside of Morgan County. The log and stone custom designed interiors contain 8 bedrooms and 13 one-of-a-kind baths with Italian porcelain sinks and stained glass windows that hold special meaning to Lynne. An indoor pool and separate self-contained "apartment" or office above the garage are also special features.

Full story by Lou Gathany and photos by Bob Gathany: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/10/cool_spaces_angelwalk_the_most.html#incart_river_index

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(Photo by Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

Alabama artist creates a unique house that's bold and beautiful

You'll never find another house like this one.

Normally, that would be a risky statement, but we can say it with assurance here.

Jean-Jacques Gaudel, an artist, and his wife Rachel, a decorator, have created a living space like no other. Their home in Birmingham -- all 4,000 square feet of it -- is absolutely unique, entirely special and utterly one-of-a-kind.

The eight-room residence -- a U-shaped building with a central courtyard, plus a couple of additions -- was designed by Jean-Jacques, melding the influences of Guatemalan, Mexican, Italian and Spanish architecture. In less skillful hands, this might have resulted in a chaotic or awkward design, but the artist had a clear vision for their ideal home, and he achieved it with confidence.

Full story by Mary Colurso and photos by Joe Songer: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2017/10/cool_spaces_jean-jacques_gaude.html#incart_river_index

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(Photo by Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com)

Mediterranean Ono Island home holds classic works of art, modern game room

What do you get for just over $1.2 million on Alabama's exclusive Ono Island? Well, right now you can get a luxurious Mediterranean beach home with some stunning works of classic art along with a game room.

The Mediterranean home, located on Sandpiper Drive is an interesting mix of classic art with modern touches, like a game room and media sitting room with a wet bar.

Built in 2006, this home boasts more than 6,000 square-feet of living space.

Full story and photos by Brian Kelly: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/05/ono_island_home_holds_classic.html

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(Photo by Tamika Moore | tmoore@al.com)

From suburbanites to downtown Birmingham city dwellers

Mike and Lisa Perez found a small-town sense of community and old-fashioned neighborly values in an unlikely place: downtown Birmingham.

Throughout the course of their 32-year marriage, the Perezes have progressively moved closer to the vibrant heart of the city.

The journey from suburbanite to city dweller, said Mike, was serendipitous.

While living in Vestavia, the couple checked out a few lofts with friends during a visit to Artwalk, a downtown Birmingham arts festival, and fell in love with the spaces. Although living in the city seemed a huge departure from suburban life -- they had previously lived in Cahaba Heights and Pleasant Grove -- they decided to look for a space to call their own.

Full story and photos by Tamika Moore: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/03/cool_spaces_from_suburbanites.html

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(Mike Kittrell photo/AL.com)

A coastal classic beauty in Mobile

When he spotted the raised cottage through the overgrown woods that separated it from the street, Ryan Dunagan knew he had found a diamond in the rough. Ryan, who owns Ryan Studio Interiors in midtown Mobile, could see nothing but potential in the two-and-a-half-acre property in Spring Hill.

Three-and-a-half years later, the home he shares with Chris Bailey epitomizes Ryan's comfortable yet elegant style that combines antiques with modern touches. And the grounds -- Chris's passion -- are breathtaking, with brick walkways and pebble paths leading through azaleas and hydrangeas, beneath oaks and magnolias.

"You feel like you're tucked away," Ryan says of the property that's still hidden from the roadway. But behind the gate, it's a thoughtfully designed oasis of green, where sometimes the only sound is the song of birds.

Full story by Michelle Matthews and photos by Mike Kittrell: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/05/cool_spaces_a_coastal_classic.html

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(Photo by Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com)

Jack Daniel's childhood cabin stands inside this Smith Lake house

Sometimes opportunity can fall into your lap if you are open to taking on a project. In October 1989 Joy Roussell and her husband Lawrence were living in Town Creek, Alabama, when they received a call from Don Kennedy, of Don Kennedy house moving fame.

He had a disassembled log cabin on one of his trucks and needed a place to off-load this piece of history. Roussell and her husband had prior experience with moving and assembling a log cabin, but hadn't planned on taking on another one.

However, when she got home from work there was a pile of logs in her yard. They soon recognized a major problem; Kennedy had been in such a hurry to get the cabin moved, he had not numbered the logs.

And this was not just any log cabin. After much research with the Lynchburg Historical Society, Joy discovered the cabin had a rich history. It was the cabin of D. H. Call, a Lutheran preacher, shopkeeper and whiskey seller. D. H. Call and his wife had their first of 16 children (4 of whom died as babies) when they took in 7-year-old Jack Daniel to work in the shop, care for the farm animals and help a slave named Nearest Green distill whiskey on Louse Creek near Mulberry, Tennessee.

Full story by Lou Gathany and photos by Bob Gathany: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/09/cool_spaces_-_jack_daniels_chi.html#incart_river_index

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(Photo by Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com)

Villa Norte along the banks of Bayou St. John

What do you get for $3.2 million on Ono Island these days? Well, you can be the proud owner of Villa Norte, a stunning Mediterranean style home nestled along Peninsula Drive in Orange Beach.

The home is situated along the banks of scenic Bayou St. John. The home holds five bedrooms and five bathroom, boasting more than 5,000-square feet of beach home. Villa Norte is one of the few remaining large parcels on Peninsula Drive.

Sure, the inside is jaw-dropping but the home features an incredible pool. The home wraps around an infinity pool which spills onto the white sand beach that parallels the waters of Bay St John. No reason to ever leave this pool.

Full story and photos by Brian Kelly: http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/villa_norte_along_the_banks_of.html

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(Photo by Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

Blount County property, former site of a music festival, is 61 acres of awesome

When Steve Masterson got his first real glimpse of the hilly property in Blount County, he felt right at home.

"I walked up on it, and it seemed sort of magical," says Masterson, 63. "It just fit."

The thickly forested land -- with its limestone outcroppings, hardwood trees, carpets of wildflowers and abundant wildlife -- seemed perfect to him in 1994, when this nature lover was in search of privacy, peace and a place to call his own.

Masterson bought about 40 acres that year, and added 20 more in 2008. Now, he's the master of a 61-acre domain in Hayden that's ideal for hiking, hunting and critter watching.

Full story by Mary Colurso and photos by Joe Songer: http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/cool_spaces_steve_mastersons_p.html

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(Mike Kittrell photo/AL.com)

A pied-a-terre in the heart of downtown Mobile

On a recent, spring-like day in downtown Mobile, the jazzy notes of a saxophone floated across Cathedral Square, past the glossy leaves of a magnolia tree, over the railings of a balcony and through the wide-open French doors of a third-floor apartment above Dauphin Street.

Though the building was constructed in the mid-19th Century, the apartment is a newly designed, comfortable, 1,150-square-foot space with two bedrooms, two baths and an open floor plan with a modern kitchen overlooking an eating area and a living room. Brick walls, old pine floors and a fireplace have been preserved to provide hints about the building's past. A spiral staircase inside the front door leads to the rooftop deck, with an incredible view of the city.

Located directly across the street from the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the apartment is one of eight that were quickly rented after being renovated. On the ground floor of the development, in the former John Word's restaurant space, Southern National -- one of the most-anticipated new eateries in Mobile, soon to be opened by the owners of the former One Flew South restaurant in the Atlanta airport -- is taking shape.

For Colin Ayres, the developer of the two buildings at 358 and 360 Dauphin St., the apartment is his home away from home when he travels to Mobile from his native Australia, where his company, Ayres Composite Panels, was established in 1996.

Full story by Michelle Matthews and photos by Mike Kittrell: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/02/cool_spaces_a_pied-a-terre_in.html

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(Photo by Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com)

Turning a 1960s rancher into a cool space

This cool house is all about texture. Charles Vaughn wanted to be atop Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville so when a modest ranch built in 1964 on the east rim of the mountain went on the market 18 months ago, he decided to make it his home.

Charles and his team at Vaughn Lumber Co. took the walls down to the studs in order to update electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. He vaulted some ceilings, removed some walls and expanded views with larger expanses of windows and skylights.

The dining room became a combination mudroom, pantry and laundry space. The previously 11'x13' master bedroom became a much larger master suite when an adjoining bedroom was swallowed up to make space for enlarging the room and creating a walk-in closet.

Full story by Lou Gathany and photos by Bob Gathany: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/01/cool_spaces_turning_a_1960s_ra.html

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(Photo by Amanda Pair/Courtesy of Deborah Wood)

Century-old farmhouse gleams after loving family restoration

On summer afternoons in Alabama, Deborah Wood can sit on the porch of her family's farmhouse, reading a book and sipping ice-cold water drawn from a nearby well. The wrap-around porch is spacious and welcoming, with clusters of rocking chairs, a handsome church pew, colorful pillows and cozy quilts.

The wood-frame house sits on 40 acres of land in Jasper, embraced by shade trees, flowers and fields. At night, crickets and katydids offer a chirping chorus and an abundance of stars can be seen overhead.

"This is my peaceful place," says Wood, 63. "We're very proud of it."

Although she grew up in Birmingham, Wood (born Deborah Gay) spent many Sundays and holidays here during her childhood -- playing on the property, helping with chores and eating meals with relatives and friends. This farmhouse -- known in the community as the old Gay farmhouse -- has belonged to her family for more than 80 years, and Wood hopes it will stay that way for at least 80 more.

Full story by Mary Colurso and photos by Amanda Pair and Deborah Wood: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2017/08/cool_spaces_century-old_alabam.html

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(Photo by Tamika Moore | tmoore@al.com)

Inside a small luxury hotel and private club in downtown Birmingham

A resurgence of new and renovated hotels has created hundreds of sleek rooms available to visitors taking in the best of Birmingham.

Downtown Birmingham's John Hand Club and Hotel quietly added a small set of sophisticated suites to that inventory late last year.

The boutique hotel is located on the seventh floor of the historic John Hand building, one of four buildings commonly known as the "Heaviest Corner on Earth." Construction of the iconic mixed-use building was completed in 1912. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and many of the 21-story neoclassical skyscraper's original features -- like windows with bronze moldings and marble covered walls and floors -- remain intact.

Step off the elevator onto the hotel floor and you'll be greeted by a serene space with gold accents, marble floors, light gray walls, elegant moldings and high-end transitional furnishings. The decor compliments the building's classical exterior.

Full story and photos by Tamika Moore: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/02/cool_spaces_inside_a_small_lux.html

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(Mike Kittrell photo/AL.com)

This (former) schoolhouse rocks!

After designing the layout of the Old Shell Lofts in the former Old Shell Road Elementary School in midtown Mobile, Taylor Atchison moved from his Oakleigh Garden District shotgun into one of the building's smallest one-bedrooms units to finish the project.

He jokes that the apartment, located just east of Louiselle Street/Mobile Infirmary Drive, is the farthest west he's ever lived in Mobile. He misses Oakleigh, he said, but he considers the move to be a form of on-the-job training.

"Living in a multi-family building you've designed teaches you so much about the next one," he said.

Old Shell Lofts is the second project he's worked on for Albany, Ga.-based developer Pace Burt Jr.

Full story by Michelle Matthews and photos by Mike Kittrell: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/04/cool_spaces_this_former_school.html

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(Photo by Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com)

Arts & Crafts masterpiece on High Mountain

The Arts and Crafts movement emerged during the late Victorian period of the mid nineteenth century industrialized England. It was a turn away from stark, sterile industrialization in home design towards an emphasis on fine detailed craftsmanship in creating spaces that reflect deep, intense earth colors and exquisite wood furnishings and accessories such as hand-woven rugs, stained glass, lovely metals and natural colors.

On High Mountain Road in Huntsville, AL David and Deborra Byrd have created an Arts and Crafts masterpiece. The home they have named INNISKARE is set into an earthy hillside lovingly landscaped with natural beauty. This very specific craftsman style house was accomplished with the talents of builder Steve West and wood artist Bob Lewis.

Fine mahogany, walnut, ebony, hickory, poplar and maple woods are used extensively to create a cohesive yet divergent series of gallery spaces. There is an owner's suite gallery, a gathering space gallery consisting of an open kitchen/dining/living area with a see-through fireplace looking onto the pool and patio courtyard.

Full story by Lou Gathany and photos by Bob Gathany: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/07/cool_spaces_-_arts_craft_maste.html

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(Photo courtesy of Kayla Beckworth photography)

Southern charm in every room of this modern farmhouse in Trussville

Crisp and clean. Casual and welcoming. Warm and inviting. And very Southern.

Kayla Beckworth wanted her new home in Trussville to reflect all of these qualities. And she got her wish -- with careful planning, clever design ideas and some DIY hard work -- at a modern farmhouse on the bend of the Cahaba River.

Beckworth, 30, a photographer, says an engagement shoot led her to this charming spot near the banks of the river in Alabama. At the time, about two or three years ago, it was nothing but a grassy hillside, but Beckworth immediately saw the potential.

Now, she's created a living space that's beautiful, comfortable and tailored to the needs of her young family, smack-dab in that dream location. The Beckworths -- Kayla, her husband, Daniel Beckworth, 30, and their son Sawyer, 6 -- moved into the house in January, and it took about eight months to check off most of the items on their to-do list.

Full story by Mary Colurso and photos by Kayla Beckworth: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2017/11/cool_spaces_theres_southern_ch.html

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(Photo by Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com)

Magnolia Springs river cottage up for sale

There's nothing better than life along a river in lower Alabama in early autumn. And you can have that picturesque lifestyle for just under a cool million bucks. Actually, $995,000 to be exact.

Ballard Sweat of Orange Beach has recently listed this rustic, beautifully constructed home along the banks of Fish River along with the main house. Nestled along Cotton Stocking Lane, the home is tucked behind a residence but offers a breathtaking view of Magnolia River.

Actually, for just under a million bucks you get two charming homes situated around an acre of beautiful lush gardens, all directly on the Magnolia Springs River. The main home was built in 1956 and features three beds and two bathrooms inside of a ranch style floor plan.

Full story and photos by Brian Kelly: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/09/cool_spaces_magnolia_springs_r.html

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(Mike Kittrell photo/AL.com)

A Fairhope cottage grows up

When Coleman and Alix Mills first moved into the coastal cottage he designed across the street from Mobile Bay in Fairhope, the 1,600-square-foot home was just right for them. Their youngest child was just a baby. His older sisters shared a bedroom.

Over the years, they changed the configuration of the bedrooms several times. Finally, Coleman said, "The house had to grow up along with the kids."

Not only did he design an addition that blends seamlessly with the original structure, but he took the opportunity to re-do the existing home, as well. The changes were so extensive that the family moved everything out of it, and lived in a rental house, for about four months in 2016.

As it turns out, Coleman had designed the home with an eye to the future by aligning it all the way to the edge of the buildable space of his property. The addition was built on the other side, where a garden used to be. Both structures have metal roofs and five-foot overhangs. Now the front of the home, facing South Mobile Street, has two porches, one screened and one open.

Full story by Michelle Matthews and photos by Mike Kittrell: http://realestate.al.com/realestate-news/2017/07/cool_spaces_a_fairhope_cottage.html

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More Cool Spaces:

Cool Spaces: Charming, canal-side Ono Island home

Cool Spaces: La vida LoDa in downtown Mobile

Cool Spaces: Giving elegance to an aging colonial

Cool Spaces: Design ideas to steal from an ultimate Southern home

Cool Spaces: Oceania condo in Gulf Shores up for sale

Cool Spaces: Meet Eldon, a school bus converted into a modern DIY tiny home

Cool Spaces: The Dwell Hotel is a wow hotel