When Cameron and Whitt Steineker moved from New York to Birmingham as newlyweds, they bought a house just off Cherokee Road—with not much furniture of their own, but plenty of hope. Over the next eleven years, they raised two children, grew deep roots, and built a life that made it hard to imagine leaving.
Their home sat right beside the one belonging to Ms. Joyce Helzberg, a gracious woman in her early nineties, and her daughter Emily. One afternoon a few years ago, Ms. Helzberg called with a neighborly offer: “We’ve got some extra chicken fingers—would your family like them?” A meaningful friendship began, with Cameron walking through the back gate to check in, share garden tomatoes, and sit for visits. “She’d tell me stories about the house, which she and her husband built in 1969, and how much thought and care went into every detail,” Cameron says. “Everything had meaning.”
Ms. Helzberg often sat by the window, watching Cameron’s son Harrison shoot baskets in the driveway. “She loved the kids,” Cameron says. “It was a really sweet situation.”
When Ms. Helzberg passed away, her daughter hoped to find a buyer who would appreciate not only the house, but the life it had held. She needed to look no further than the Steinekers. “The decision to move seemed so right,” Cameron explains.
They moved one door over, carrying plenty of memories with them. “We have cardinals everywhere. They make me feel like Ms. Helzberg is still here, and that’s a happy feeling.”
When it came time to make the home their own, Cameron was surprised by her bold style choices. “When we first moved in, I didn’t really know what my style was. I thought it was going to be more neutral,” Cameron says. “I thought we would paint everything white and go with a really clean look… but it slowly became something I never expected—and now, I absolutely love it.”
The new vision began to unfold when Cameron enlisted the husband-and-wife team behind Dopamine Design Co., who had helped her and her father redecorate their family beach house a few years earlier. Lindsey and Eddie Harrington captured her dad’s eclectic modern taste so well that working with them again felt like the right next step. “They knew my dad, and they got his taste and style,” she says. “It’s made it special to bring some of that into this house, even though he’s no longer with us.”
The 16-month process of redesigning the main floor could have been daunting, but Lindsey and Eddie made it a joy. “They are so great to work with. They both amaze me,” Cameron says. “They’re so good about showing me a few great options and explaining why something works, without it ever feeling overwhelming.”
Lindsey and Eddie both attended the University of Alabama, but their paths didn’t cross until later. She grew up in the South, and he was from New York. Eventually, they met in Birmingham and bonded over Alabama football long before interior design became a part of the picture. She’s a speech pathologist by training with a lifelong creative streak; he’s an attorney who also worked in real estate and later as a designer at West Elm. “Design kind of found us,” Lindsey says. What started as side projects for friends turned into full-scale renovations for clients who connected with their thoughtful, layered style. “We take on select projects that feel like the right fit.”
They say working with Cameron was natural from the start. “She’s open and trusting in the best way,” Lindsey says. “She wanted to be pushed a little and liked being surprised by what she loved. That’s when the magic really happens.”
From the outset, Cameron and Whitt were determined to preserve the home. It had far too much soul to be torn down. “Ms. Helzberg loved to entertain,” Lindsey says. “We honored that spirit throughout—with layered textures, bold art, open nooks for gathering, and the thoughtful preservation of original features.”
The transformation began in the living room, which had good bones but felt flat. Painted white and missing a mantel, it lacked warmth and dimension. Lindsey and Eddie brought in a moody blue-gray that gave the room structure and presence, then added a fireplace that made it feel anchored and finished. The decision to paint both the walls and the ceiling made all the difference. “It made the room come together and feel a lot cozier,” Eddie says.
“The blue walls and the glossy ceiling felt like big risks,” Cameron shares. “But now, when the lamps are on and we’re sitting in there in the evening together, it’s perfect.”
Down the hall, the dining room makes a glamorous statement. They originally tried to design around some family pieces, but as Lindsey puts it, “sometimes the square peg just doesn’t fit.” So, they shifted course. What came together is a room with bold black-and-white wallpaper that’s equal parts drama and elegance, a marble console that mirrors its pattern without competing, and a purple carpet—found unexpectedly at United Textiles—that ties it all together. “It was one of those finds where you see it, and you just know,” Lindsey says.
The powder room became a little moment of magic. Covered floor-to-ceiling in marbleized Beata Heuman wallpaper, it feels like stepping into a piece of art. “It was kind of a design crush situation,” Lindsey laughs. “It turned out so inviting that we joke we should put a bed in there.”
There are elements throughout the house that make Cameron smile every time she looks at them, such as the gallery wall tucked just off the kitchen, which features a mix of contemporary pieces and framed artwork by her kids. Each child’s bedroom captures their personality. Pearson, age nine, is a dancer, just like her mom once was, and a wall of dancers by Cameron’s friend, Mitchell Walters, hangs above her bed. Another striking black and white ballerina by Walters brings a touch of grace to the dining room. “It’s one of my favorite pieces in the house,” Cameron says. “I think I need another one.”
The primary bedroom is a retreat, soft and serene. “It’s sort of a palette cleanser for the rest of the house,” Lindsey says. “It’s calm—a place for rest and relaxation.” A velvet bed and a subtly patterned rug from CB2 anchored the space early on, adding just enough movement without overwhelming the room. It’s the kind of room that lets you exhale.
Though the main floor is complete, the home’s style is still unfolding. The basement and exterior redesigns are next, with plenty of surprises still to come. “We’re figuring it out as we go,” Cameron says. “But with Lindsey and Eddie, it always turns out being something even better than I imagined.”
“They were committed to honoring the charm that already existed,” Lindsey explains. “Even the old record player and speaker system are still there—cleverly hidden behind glossy new cabinetry. The whole project feels like a love letter to its past life.”
Now, a young couple lives in the Steinekers’ old house next door. And when their baby girl toddles through the gate that once led Cameron to Ms. Helzberg’s kitchen, it feels like the beginning of something beautiful all over again.
Design by Dopamine Design Co. | @dopamine_design_co
Designers’ Notebook
Lindsey and Eddie Harrington of Dopamine Design Co. share their go-to local resources for adding personality, polish, and a little dopamine hit to any space.
Furnishings & Decor:
Stash – Home goods, furniture, and accessories with style and patina.
Urban Suburban – A favorite for eclectic, mid-century modern finds.
ALKMY – Trendy, well-edited pieces for entertaining and décor accents.
Textiles & Art:
United Textiles – Budget-friendly fabrics and rugs; a little digging leads to great things.
Mitchell Fine Art – A trusted local source for original art.
Rebecca Jack – Atlanta-based artist, with work available at ALKMY.
Nilipour Oriental Rugs – Exceptional rugs and a joy to work with.
Greenery & Stone:
Shoppe Birmingham + Leaf & Petal – For houseplants, planters, and greenery with style.
Triton Stone Group – Reliable and stylish countertop sourcing.
People We Trust:
Scott Melown – Their go-to for wallpaper.
Silverio Jimenez / Jimenez Electric – Trusted electrical work.
Antonio with AP Remodeling LLC – Finish work and remodeling they rely on often.
“They were committed to honoring the charm that already existed. Even the old record player and speaker system are still there—cleverly hidden behind glossy new cabinetry. The whole project feels like a love letter to its past life.”