Southern Living Showcase Home Classic ‘Southern’ style with a local twist

Second in a two-part series
By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page

Balancing timeless elegance with the latest in design trends, the 2011 Southern Living Showcase Home offers everything you would expect to find in the pages of the popular lifestyle magazine.

But make no mistake about it – this home has a style all its own.

The $1.2 million French Country home – open through Nov. 6 in the new Dorset Park neighborhood off Granny White Pike – was built by Castle Homes of Brentwood and features some of the area’s top interior designers.

“We had a very clear vision for this home,” says Alan Looney, president of Castle Homes. “And as a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program, we were given the flexibility to see that vision through with real Nashville flair.

“We knew we wanted to have different designers in each room, but it had to make sense – everything had to flow together in a way that was both beautiful and livable.”

In keeping with the Custom Builder Program, Castle Homes submitted its house plans to Southern Living for approval and utilized a wide range sponsor products – such as LP Building Products and Sherwin-Williams’ UltraCrete exterior finish – in construction of the home.  But unlike a Southern Living Idea House – such as the one the magazine presented in the Governor’s Club neighborhood in 2000 – the 2011 Showcase Home offered Castle Homes complete control in determining the home design and finishes.

Headed by Castle Homes’ in-house designer Heather Looney, the Showcase design team features a virtual Who’s Who of local talent. Some of those involved include Amanda Burdge, of AB Home Interiors Inc.; Dana Goodman, Dana Goodman Interiors; Lee Shacklock, Lee Shacklock Interior Design; Kippie Leland, Leland Interiors LLC; Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Jones Design Inc.; Jerome Farris, Peddler Interiors; Kristen Finney, Finney Interiors; Beth Jones, The Interior Collection; and Treesa Hudson, Bradford’s Interiors. The home also features the work of decorative artisans from Mojo Faux, Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes, Leigh Ann Agee and William Bell.

“Our designers represent all levels of education and experience,” Heather Looney says. “We’re so fortunate to have such a pool of talent right here at our fingertips, and we hand-selected this team based on their creativity and cutting-edge design work. We wanted each of the rooms to have its own personality, but we also needed the designers to work within a specific color palette to make this project an updated, yet classic home that was attainable, realistic and ready for move-in.”

The outdoor living room offers the perfect case in point.

Far from your ordinary screened-in-porch, this refined space features innovative new products such as the accordion-style NanaWall – which readily connects the porch to the home’s elegant living room. It also includes a tongue-and-groove stained spruce ceiling, and a gas log fireplace with limestone mantel and surround. Solid cedar doors were installed using the new Screen Tight door system and mounted on sliding mini-tracks for optimum convenience and flexibility.

“We wanted each of the rooms to have its own personality, but we also needed the designers to work within a specific color palette to make this project an updated, yet classic home that was attainable, realistic and ready for move-in.”HEATHER LOONEY

“One of the things I love about the outdoor living space is that it’s so warm and welcoming,” says Kristen Finney, of Finney Interiors. “It really transitions well from the living room and it’s very conducive to entertaining. That NanaWall is just brilliant and very easy to operate.”

Finney selected all-weather wicker furniture from Graham’s Lighting and Outdoor Living, paired with bright cushions covered in durable Sunbrella fabric for the room’s design. The Skimstone concrete floor also boasts a stenciled Ikat-design rug effect – created by artisan Brooks Tucker, of Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes.

“The Ikat finish has been the talk of the show, and it’s so easy to do,” Finney says. “Don’t ignore your floor and ceiling – these are opportunities to add warmth and sophistication. I love that this is such a beautiful space, and yet it’s very practical and durable – something you could easily achieve in your own home. And I think it really captures what Tennessee living is all about.”

Click here to read part one of the story.