Семья Макдаксов построила эко-дом в Алабаме для жизни с детьми и животными

There’s no shortage of littles running around Grady and Claire Maddox’s rural Alabama homestead—there are their six children, ranging in age from 3 to 15, along with nearly a dozen chickens, two barn cats, and a golden retriever. Add a pair of horses, Holly and Ivy, as well as a donkey named Smalls, and it’s no wonder that Claire’s respite is her soaker tub at the far end of the house. When the couple set out to build a home on a 10-acre farmstead just outside Birmingham, they worked with architect Bill Moore and interior designer Sandra Lynn to make sure it would accommodate their active family’s frequent entertaining and free-range lifestyle. That lifestyle comes naturally to Grady, who grew up on a 100-acre horse farm in southern Alabama and later worked as a horse wrangler on a ranch in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Days here typically start at dawn, when the kids feed the animals, collect eggs, and help water the vegetable garden. Their emphasis on engaging with nature is reflected in the home’s natural materials. A cedar-shingled roof, moss rock chimneys, and cedar and cypress siding frame a welcoming entrance featuring a V-groove wood front door accented with iron strap hinges. Inside, the comfortable furnishings are mostly a mix of hand-crafted, vintage, and antique pieces in open spaces defined by hefty wood posts and beams and board-and-batten walls painted an earthy green. “We love Western elements like large beams and trusses coupled with the Appalachian styles of the Smoky Mountains,” says Grady. But the home’s specific style is less important than what it is intended for: to invite family and friends to get together (church gatherings and barn-side concerts are regular occurrences) and to last for generations. “It’s really meant to be a home for our kids and our grandkids, even way after Claire and I are gone,” says Grady. “That was a big part of our vision for every detail and every material.” Just a few years in, the family’s new home already feels lovingly broken in, Claire says, with scratches, dents, and scuffs—all “reminders that life is messy but always full of joy and wonder.” Fireside Seating A massive 17-foot-tall moss rock fireplace grounds the family room, where as many as 60 church friends and family members pack in monthly to play music—Grady picks a guitar while his oldest daughter plays violin. Exposed rough-cut white oak beams with sunburst trusses crown the soaring space, along with a handcrafted five-foot-wide, two-tiered iron chandelier. Sentimental pieces fill the remaining space, from the Queen Anne-style drop-leaf table in the bay window (made by a family friend as a wedding gift) to the copper pot on the hearth. “That little bowl was always by my grandmother’s fireplace, so it reminds me of her,” says Claire. Get the Look: Wall paint color: Chatroom by Sherwin-Williams Chandelier: Fourteenth Colony Lighting Pillow Fabric: “Stockholm” by Thibaut RELATED: Rustic Living Room Ideas for a Cozy Family Space Warm & Welcoming Gathering Spaces A roomy square-shaped island summons the children to breakfast every day. “I was so nervous about the wood taking a beating, but the memories that come with any wear make it really special,” says Claire. “There’s a little red paint from where one of the kids did a project, there’s a scratch where another accidentally missed the cutting board….” Claire also has a soft spot for the corner window: “I love when I’m cooking dinner and someone comes riding up on horseback.” Copper accents—sinks, hardware, and bowls—add to the room’s warm, cozy feel. Get the Look: Island paint: Night Owl by Sherwin-Williams Antique stoneware: French Door Antiques Stools: “Alden” by West Elm Copper sinks: Linkasink The nearby banquette offers casual seating that feels connected to the larger kitchen and all the activities happening there—from bread baking to art projects. RELATED: Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas To Give Your Kitchen Charming, Rustic Style Handmade Dining Furniture In the dining room, all eight family members gather around the handcrafted white oak table in black Windsor chairs that the kids got to watch being made during a visit to the woodworker’s studio. Get the Look: Chairs and table: Weizwood Furniture Pottery: Civil Stoneware from Still Johnson Chandelier: “Elongated Round Bar” by Lowcountry Originals RELATED: Prettiest Dining Room Paint Colors That Fit Any Style Cozy Retreat The library, lined in stained white oak, is a favorite place for Claire and Grady to end the day with a book and a glass of bourbon. Get the Look: Wing chairs upholstery: “Winthrop Coffee” by Lee Throw: “Abington Hall” by Pendleton RELATED: Best Bookshelving Ideas to Style Your Collections Catnap Quarters For an eight-person family, bedrooms are a hot commodity. To accommodate visitors, a separate (barn cat–approved) guest cottage features a quiet bedroom overlooking the garden. The custom live-edge headboard and grasscloth wallcovering reinforce the home’s prioritization of natural materials. Featuring a folksy print, the bed skirt brings a hint of softness and whimsy. Get the Look: Headboard: Organic Woodworks Wallcovering: WAL-Fab, Inc. Bed skirt fabric: “Flora and Fauna” by Kerry Joyce Lamp: “London” from Currey & Company RELATED: Guest Bedroom Ideas to Create a Cozy and Welcoming Space Playful Kids’ Rooms All four boys share the bunk room, which maximizes space with double built-in bunk beds. “Historic pillow fights have occurred here,” says Claire. On a less rambunctious note, their eldest daughter Olivia’s serene English-inspired room is covered in a painterly wallpaper and accessorized with an antique chandelier. Her window seat on the opposite wall frames an idyllic view of the barn and pasture. Get the Look: Bunk room wall and bunk paint color: Pigeon by Farrow & Ball Bunk room throws: “Four Square” by Pendleton Bunk room bed sheets: “Wild West Cowboy” by Sweet Jojo Designs Girls’ room wallpaper: “Aviary” by Madeaux RELATED: Bunk Room Ideas Kids and Adults Will Love Serene Primary Space Natural light floods the couple’s primary bathroom. “It’s nice to have a space that’s always quiet and where there are no toys scattered around,” says Claire. Get the Look: Chandelier: Lowcountry Originals RELATED: Bathroom Lighting Ideas for All Styles, From Modern to Rustic Color-Drenched Laundry Room The main-level laundry room, drenched in blue, has a view of the front yard and sits next to the garage. Rustic brick floors wear well with life on the farm. “When the kids come in super dirty or muddy, they go straight into the laundry room,” Claire says. RELATED: Laundry Room Ideas That Will Make You Look Forward to Laundry Day Raised Porch Elevated about 10 feet and surrounded by foliage, the dark-gray-green screened porch has an almost tree house–like feel. An outdoor-friendly collection of all-weather wicker furniture is a popular spot to gather when the television comes out on game day. “It’s also a great place to enjoy a mug of cocoa on a chilly autumn night,” says Grady. Get the Look: Wicker furniture: Kingsley Bate Striped pillow: “Wyatt” by Aloriam Pillows Throw: “Four Square” by Pendleton RELATED: Simple Decorating Tricks to Take Your Screened-In Porch from Drab to Dreamy Cat-Friendly Barn The couple built the Western monitor-style barn with a two-story center aisle and a standing seam metal roof. The barn also houses the boys’ batting cage, a basketball goal, and a Ping-Pong table. Right: The family has two barn cats, sisters, named after characters in Anne of Green Gables, Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, but the boys protested. “We have a house divided, so they call them Pumpkin and Carrots,” Claire says. Either way, they are both great mousers, she adds. Ivy, an American Paint horse (seen in both photos above), was a Christmas Eve surprise along with Holly (not shown). Ivy often surveys the action alongside Smalls, the donkey that keeps the chickens safe from coyote and fox intruders. This story first appeared in the October/November 2026 issue of Country Living. Photographs by Becky Luigart-Stayner; styling by Kathleen Varner. Kelly Ryan Kegans is a Minneapolis-based writer, editor, and photo stylist with more than 25 years of experience producing home design content for brands including Country Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and HGTV Magazine. Her own home is populated with more books than shelves, a few too many scrubbed pine tables, and moody photos of gray day landscapes, which are her happy place.