Implementing marketing and media relations for premiere home tours, there is one common question I get from reporters and friends alike. Isn’t it depressing working on perfectly gorgeous new homes? And actually, the answer is I grab inspiration and apply it to my own home. Finding it at the area’s only Southern Living Showcase Home, open through November 6 in Dorset Park, has been an easy job!
When you pack the incredible ideas of over a dozen of the Middle Tennessee’s top designers and artisans into one French Country home, you’re going find something perfect for your own home. Here are just a few of my favorite design ideas I wanted to share.
Mosaic Tile Backsplash – Currently living in a backsplash-less world, my patience is being rewarded with the inspiration I found in the fresh take seen in the showcase home’s kitchen and laundry room. The kitchen sports a sinuous mosaic tile design with Calcutta Gold marble reflecting the huge honed marble island. The laundry room has what I would describe as hint-o-sea glass in a subway tile-ish design.
Sinuous mosaic tile backsplash is an artful addition to the kitchen.
Original Art – I love using a creamy wall palette and allowing the art to reflect my mood, family life journeys and whimsy. Too many to name, the art in this home makes me SO very happy and it is really reasonably priced. So, if you haven’t taken the plunge and acquired your first piece of original art, here’s a good chance. The After Sale is Monday, November 7 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on-site. But, I’d recommend you go ahead and reserve something. Check out a lot of the art at www.facebook.com/ronyorkart.
Marabeth Quin's lovely paintings are in the Southern glam Guest Room by designer Amanda Burdge.
Although sold on Sunday, artist Beth Affolter's Nashville city scape piece has companion pieces available.
Modello Rug Design – Artisan extraordinaire Brooks Tucker has already converted my drab screen-porch deck with a harlequin rug pattern. If you have a concrete screen porch or patio, take a look at this incredible Modello Rug finish created by the Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes team. A five-day, multi-step process has resulted in an all-weather rug for this incredible outdoor living room by designer Kristen Finney. More info, visit www.bella-tucker.com.
Warmth and charm wrap the floors of the outdoor living room with a well-sealed Modello Rug finish created by Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes.
Cabinet Flush Refrigerator/Freezer Towers – A refrigerator jutting out in a kitchen is not particularly eye-pleasing. Castle Home’s in-house designers Caroline Weigel and Heather Looney have taken the Sub-Zero units and cleverly cabinet-flushed them flanking the units with pretty wire-mesh cabinets. Love this!
The 27" wide Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer units have two drawers each.
World-Travels Woven Into Room Tapestry – Designers Kippie Leland and Dana Goodman have really encouraged me to think strategically when traveling to find elements which can be woven into my home design. From Leland’s African masks wall-mounted on wrought iron holders and an Avignon, France light fixture to Goodman’s layered Brazilian natural rug hide, Indonesian teak root pedestal and Waterford chandelier, my next out of country trip will definitely involve some well-worth-it shipping costs.
Designer Kippie Leland in her Gentlemen's Study with African tribal masks cleverly wall-mounted.
Sumptuous Viscose Rug – Peddler Interior’s designer Jerome Farris always does something to inspire me. He first introduced me to the incredible art of Murat during the 2005 Legends Ridge Parade of Homes which inspired me to acquired a great Sienna, Italy scene-scape. This year, I’m pining for the viscose rug he has used in the showcase home’s living room. Creating tone-on-tone elegance in this magical room, Farris says this rug is an affordable substitute for the very expensive blended silk and New Zealand wool rug. Don’t miss the small Murat nude along side the fireplace wall. Murat, who sadly died last year, was a Russian-born, Brentwood artist whose work continues to gain in value. More info, www.peddlerinteriors.com.
Although the oversize, dramatic crown moulding draws your eye upward, walk barefoot on this viscose rug and you'll be hooked.
Bedroom Vestibule – Finally, something I can’t retro-fit my home with but worth sharing – the abbreviated bedroom vestibule. Seen in the doorway of upstairs bedrooms, designer Amanda Burdge, www.abhomeinteriors.com, had hers faux striped in a shade of vintage pink and Oyster White to reflect the southern glam of her Guest Bedroom. This building element is the clever idea of showcase home builder Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes. He also uses arches throughout the showcase home design – an architectural element which has such a pleasing feel to the eye.
You'll have to come inside this French Country wonder and find your own inspiration select days through November 6.
These are just a few of my favorite things. So grab your comfortable shoes and camera and head to the Southern Living Showcase Home open in Brentwood’s Dorset Park Thursdays through Sundays until November 6. Be sure and post your favs on Nashville Southern Living Showcase Home’s Facebook page. If you can’t travel, there are a ton of other great blog entries via www.castlehomes.com.
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