A Colorful Alabama Ranch House Decorated by Mark D. Sikes

When California designer Mark D. Sikes was enlisted to decorate the Mountain Brook, Alabama ranch home of Ragan Cain, it was clearly meant to be. Originally published in the March/April 2019 issue of Veranda, the Southern home is bursting with vibrant color and playful pattern (chintz, ikats, and checks, oh my!). Ragan and her husband Brad had grown fond of their midcentury home’s quirky charm, but wanted to mix in both some of Ragan’s timeless antiques and some youthful color. Ragan trusted Mark to keep the home’s retro character intact throughout the decorating process. Below, explore more of the fun and far from conventional 1950’s home. (Photography by Amy Neunsinger)

The picturesque property includes nine acres. Above, sheep graze in the backyard of the Southern ranch home.

The green and white wallcovering in the entry hall is by Quadrille. The yellow settee upholstery is by Brunschwig & Fils. I love the leafy ferns atop the tall pedestals.

Homeowner Ragan Cain strikes a pose in her lovely living room. The walls are painted Farrow & Ball’s Citron. The floral chintz drapery is by Lee Jofa.

I love how the tufted chintz sofa matches the drapery. The patterned abaca rug is by Patterson Flynn Martin. The armchair is by Hickory Chair Furniture Co. with ikat upholstery by Pierre Frey.

The exquisite dining room is covered in a hand-painted wallcovering by Gracie. I love the majolica plates on display.

Cain left the bones of the 1950s kitchen almost exactly as it was, simply adding a new window, range hood, and island. The cabinets were painted Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray. The fabulous floral wallcovering is by William Morris.

The floral William Morris wallcovering extends into the breakfast nook area where a cozy corner banquette and sweet bistro chairs surround a Saarinen table.

The homeowners elected to keep the original decorative lining inside the kitchen cabinetry.

I’m crazy for the hunter green wicker furniture in the sunroom (it’s by the American Country Home Store). The drapery and the chair cushions are all in the same Colefax and Fowler print.

In the den a gorgeous green Farrow & Ball wallcovering was used and the floral sofa was upholstered in a fabric by Jasper. I also the skirted table under the window with its wicker table lamp and topiaries.

On the other wall of the den is a fabulous bird painting and two hanging baskets holding ferns. My favorite touch? The ceiling is wallpapered in a pattern by Sister Parish.

A handsome upholstered bed by Highland House in the sunny Master Bedroom.

Local artist Jan Roberts was commissioned by Sikes to hand-paint paint the chest above using a Claremont fabric (Tolie de Lapis) for inspiration.

How dreamy is Ragan’s dressing room? The blue and white floral wallpaper is by Claremont.

On the upstairs landing a blue and white floral Soane wallpaper makes a fun and busy statement. The sectional is a mixture of patterns with fabrics by Claremont and Duralee. The striped rug is from the MDS Rugs for Merida collection.

A handsome blue and white guest room with two twin beds.

This guest bedroom is one of my favorite rooms! The floral wallcovering by Quadrille looks so fabulous with the headboards in watermelon linen by Brunschwig & Fils.

The natural fiber rugs are by Merida and the pink botanical rug is by Madeline Weinrib. The door is painted Calke Green by Farrow & Ball (one of my all-time favorite greens!).

I hope you’ve enjoyed this home tour! If you don’t already own Mark’s Beautiful book, I highly recommend it! Stay tuned for more interior design inspiration to come this week!