METICULOUSLY INSPIRED DESIGNS - ST. JUDE DREAM HOME

BY ELIZABETH SHANE

PHOTOS BY KATIE NICOLE PHOTO

St.Jude has hosted the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Dream Home Giveaway for the past 11 years. This significant event in Nashville has successfully raised $16.7 million for their research center and hospital during that time. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is a raffle offering participants a chance to win a stunning newly built home in the Middle Tennessee area. Raffle tickets are priced at $100 each; those who purchase early may also qualify to win additional prizes. All donated funds directly contribute to supporting cancer research aimed at finding cures and these services are provided to care for critically ill children and their families entirely free of charge.

Last February, Mare Rote, Liaison Event Planner for Tennessee & Alabama at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® emailed Becky Smith, owner of The Linen Duck in Columbia, Tennessee, and invited her to furnish the dream home situated in the new June Lake neighborhood in Spring Hill. Smith was delighted to accept. The Linen Duck had the pleasure of serving as the furnishing partner for the 11th St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Dream Home Giveaway and was one of more than 50 vendors who helped build the St. Jude Dream Home.

The Linen Duck, since 2019, has annually curated a home for their Design House for the public to visit and gather design inspiration. However, when the email arrived from Rote, Smith did not have a home for the Design House selected making it a very easy decision for Smith to redirect her Design Home resources towards this noble cause. “The Linen Duck was honored to be invited to furnish the St. Jude Dream Home,” said Smith.

St. Jude has collaborated with Signature Homes for seven consecutive years to construct the Dream Home. Signature Homes' in-house designers are responsible for creating both the color palette and interior selections. However, as the interior designer, Smith spearheaded the significant project, completely designing each room inspired by Signature Homes’ selections. Smith expressed her enthusiasm, “When Season Lot, from Signature Homes, shared their detailed selections with me, I was thrilled by their use of bold colors and striking tile choices.” She further elaborated on how people are increasingly embracing more colorful spaces. A sentiment reflected in Signature Homes' palette which featured rich greens, blues, and dark grays, also including yellow and terracotta hues.

Among all the spaces Smith designed within the St. Jude Dream Home, her favorite was undoubtedly revealed when entering through the front door. It's an exquisite welcome into a beautifully crafted environment where Smith added unique architectural finds and antique dining chairs to the existing custom built-in dining bench. She felt these additions added some Southern charm and tradition to an otherwise contemporary space.

In addition to the primary living areas, which include the living room, dining room, and kitchen, the property boasts four bedrooms, a casual game and entertainment room, a music room, and an office. Each of these rooms was also meticulously furnished and decorated by The Linen Duck. "Large homes on smaller lots can present unique floor plan challenges for homeowners," explained Smith. "Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualize a room's potential when it is empty. That’s why we ensure our design properties are fully furnished. Although none of these spaces follow simple square floor plans, with our thoughtful designs tailored to maximize their full potential, clients can see how even complex rooms offer numerous possibilities."

Designing a well-appointed space is indeed a considerable endeavor. "Each room must be purposefully designed, and function efficiently for its intended use, while simultaneously evoking a sense of harmony and beauty that invites the homeowner to live comfortably within it," remarked Smith. When asked about her favorite aspect of the design process, Smith responded, "Without a doubt, it's the installation week and the subsequent reveal.

Dream Home 2024

This year, the Dream Home successfully sold all 22,222 available tickets generating $2.2 million in funds. News Channel 2 held the drawing live and revealed the winner on air June 23, 2024.

For additional information about the Nashville St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway for 2025, please visit dreamhome.org. Signature Homes will once again serve as their building partner for 2025, with construction likely to take place in one of their newly developed subdivisions in Franklin. The Linen Duck is committed to continuing support as a furnishing partner.

To donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, visit stjude.org.

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All furnishings and accessories showcased in this project are available for purchase at The Linen Duck. In support of St. Jude, The Linen Duck will graciously donate 10% of the proceeds from items purchased from the Dream Home collection. Additionally, numerous featured items offer customization options to better suit your preferences. For personalized solutions and extensive design services, we cordially invite you to visit their showroom and design center located at 109 E. 6th Street in downtown Columbia, Tennessee. Visit thelinenduck.com and follow them on social media at @thelinenduck.