Soirée ON THE SQUARE

By Katie Baker

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOS BY FROZEN EXPOSURE PHOTO & CINEMA

PHOTOS BY FROZEN EXPOSURE PHOTO & CINEMA

On the outside of 14 Public Square the building looks the same as most others downtown. There’s a sign for a law office and a tidy front entrance below six arched windows overlooking the courthouse. The inside foyer is formal with wood paneled walls and a carpeted staircase that leads to what was once the Porter Walker Hardware store showroom. Tractors used to welcome guests to the second floor, but now a dazzling luxury loft called Soirée on the Square resides in its place, along with a cardboard Elvis, but that will be explained in a moment.

Reams and Carey Powers purchased the building in 2016 and walked into a mess of grease covered floors and years of neglect, but they could see the potential. When they closed on the building vertical real estate downtown was mostly used for office space and a few sparse residential options, so they decided to shake things up.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROCK, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROLL, BUT MOVIN' AND A GROOVIN' GONNA SATISFY MY SOUL, LET’S HAVE A PARTY!

— ELVIS PRESLEY

Tim and Amber Leigh and family at Soirée on the Square.

PHOTO BY FROZEN EXPOSURE PHOTO & CINEMA

THE LIVING AND SLEEPING QUARTERS ARE DIVIDED BY A STUNNING BRICK ARCHWAY FRAMED WITH TWO LARGE DOORS FROM PRESERVATION STATION IN NASHVILLE. AND BEYOND THOSE DOORS, A GOLD LAME (CARDBOARD) ELVIS WELCOMES GUESTS INSIDE.

The Powers embarked on a renovation project to transform the entire 3,700 square feet upstairs into a private residence to host parties and weekend visitors to Maury County.

The loft renovation started with a call to their trusted design team, George Number, Architect, and Michelle Krimmel, Interior Designer. The goal became to save what they could of the original materials and improve upon the rest with salvaged items. Most notably the living and sleeping quarters are divided by a stunning brick archway framed with two large doors from Preservation Station in Nashville. And beyond those doors, a gold lame (cardboard) Elvis welcomes guests inside.

When it came to the theme of the venue the Powers pulled from their shared time in Memphis with a homage to the King of Rock and Roll. To really get into the spirit of this interview Reams arrived with blue suede shoes and revealed their first song at their wedding was Elvis’ “Pocket Full of Rainbows.” Blue velvet couches and Elvis figurines accent the dens, and newspaper clippings hang on the walls of the catering kitchen. The most eclectic part of the space is the Elvis themed “throne”. The peacock blue half bath was inspired by the pet peacocks that used to roam Graceland and is further accented with gold tile, black and white Elvis photos, and framed records of his greatest hits.

Soirée on the Square can sleep up to seven guests in its four bedrooms and two and a half baths. The loft space is ideal for small groups that want a weekend getaway in the heart of Columbia. The location alone is one of the reasons the Powers purchased the building, “We enjoy restoring historic buildings and with this one overlooking the square you can hear the courthouse bells and watch the parades go by,” commented Carey. The venue can hold up to sixty guests for larger events like the recent Maury County Living magazine launch party, weddings, bridal and baby showers, holiday parties, and more. Party planners can bring in their own vendors and the Powers offer extra chairs and a few tables as needed. Caterers will love the dual wet bar and gourmet kitchen featuring a hidden walk-in pantry. Beyond the kitchen is an additional prep space in the laundry room with an extra sink and dishwasher.

BLUE VELVET COUCHES AND ELVIS FIGURINES ACCENT THE DEN, AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS HANG ON THE WALLS OF THE CATERING KITCHEN.

Private events have full use of the loft which makes it fun to mix and mingle while admiring the finished space. The Owner’s Suite is a knockout with oversized windows and a glam walk-in shower/ tub. The guest bedrooms are a mix of comfort and awe with a faux floating bed in one of the 3 guest rooms. Sparkling chandeliers hang from the original rafters illuminating the rough-hewn wood floors.

Soirée on the Square was such a rewarding experience that the Powers have since opened a sister space down the street named Soirée on North Main. The second venue is slightly smaller and is a mix of modern and eclectic antiques. The mix of businesses around the square grows every month and having a unique venue with overnight host space has been positive for downtown. With these two venues, and maybe more to come in Maury County, Carey says, “We love downtown Columbia, and Columbia as a whole, so to be a part of the renovations of downtown is something we like being a part of.”

For more information on how to rent Soirée on the Square visit Instagram @soireeonthesquare — A private residence for community gatherings in historic downtown Columbia, Tennessee.

KATIE BAKER is a local Realtor and owner of the Katie Baker Group with RE/MAX Encore in downtown Columbia. Baker and her team of professional agents work to elevate the real estate experience while overseeing every aspect of a purchase or sale. Katie Baker believes the right mix of technology, exceptional service, and an expansive network of relationships are the keys to success in every real estate venture.