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Text by Mary Forsell
The secret’s finally out. Known as the “over-the-mountain” suburbs, three
villages dating from the 1920s on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama, offer a
bucolic shopping getaway. Inspired by the architecture of the English
countryside, the villages form a triangle and are all within a few miles of one
another. “There’s a small-town feel, but the shopping is sophisticated,” says
Barbara Ashford, co-owner of Henhouse Antiques.
(a) At Park Lane Flowers, jewel-bright vases and compotes inspire shoppers to
concoct intriguing bouquets. (b) Oak Street Garden Shop calms the senses with
bubbling fountains and fragrant plants.
English Village
The most artsy of the three enclaves, English Village abounds
with curvy streets and Tudor-style buildings. (c) At Henhouse Antiques,
look for iron and crystal chandeliers, wing chairs, and cottagey cabinets mixed
with quirky lamps. (d) Les Trois Marchés offers French, Belgian, and
English finds from centuries past. (e) Arteyes is an optical boutique
featuring very cool eyewear.
Crestline Village
For upscale shopping and
great dining, head to
Crestline. (f) Serious gardeners and gift seekers alike
visit Oak
Street Garden Shop, where they’ll create custom container plantings
while you wait.
Mountain Brook Village
The largest village,
Mountain Brook
features fine clothing boutiques and great
antiquing.
(g) Vellum-lined books stacked on a Louis XVI pier table at
Charlotte
Woodson Antiques. (h) Table Matters
carries everything to make
your next
dinner party shine, not to mention
luxurious
pillows.
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