the
Vi l l a C o l l i na
Copyright Š 2020 by Villa Collina All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Library of Congress Control Number: 2020904247 ISBN 978-0-578-64022-8 Authors Dr. Eric Barton Dr. Leigh Anne Pentecost Moxley Carmichael Photography Bruce McCamish Photography Waldorf Photographic Art Moxley Carmichael Contributors Cultural Resource Analysts Book Design Moxley Carmichael Editor Moxley Carmichael Print Management Jim Wells Productions
Table of Contents Act I
Act II
Act III
History and Early Residents of Lyons View Pike
The Construction of Villa Collina and Previous Owners
Eric's Legacy at Villa Collina
Page 3
Page 57
Page 19
Early Property Owners of Lyons View Pike. . . . . . 4
The Property on Lyons View Pike. . . . . . . . . . . . 21
New Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
The Evolution of Lyons View Pike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Initial Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Restoring Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Barber and McMurry Houses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Becoming Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Security at Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Previous Residents on Villa Collina Site . . . . . . 11
Construction of a Masterpiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Experiencing Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
The Bakers on Lyons View Pike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Finishing Details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Legacy of Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Yatteau Chateau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The Conleys at Villa Collina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 The Boruffs at Villa Collina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
The Rooms of Villa Collina Page 81 Experience Every Meal
Get Ready in Rich Comfort
Read in the Quietude
Entertain in Style
Savor Every Sip
Page 100
Page 109
Page 112
Grand Foyer Parlor Formal Dining Room Great Room Colonnaded Hallways
Page 92
Page 99
Family Dining Room Kitchen Butler's Kitchen
Necessaries
Tri-level Library Riverside Office Garden-side Office
River View Room O'Club
Wine Tasting Room Wine Pairing Room Cantina Vault
Vacation at Home
Welcome Your Guests
Sleep in Royalty
Relax in Splendor
Escape to a Suite
Dream a Little Dream. . . 168
Page 122
Page 129
Page 137
Page 152
Page 162
Caribbean Room Indoor Pool Spa Fitness Center
Presidential Suite Princess Suite Volunteer Suite Elevator
Master Suite Master Bathroom Master Closet Serenity Room
Outdoor Patio Fountains Exterior Pool
Grotto Suite Circa 33 Butler Suite
Events at the Villa Collina. . . . 170
Enter into Luxury Page 83
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Introduction Villa Collina, Tennessee’s largest home, is a 40,250-square-foot estate on eight acres with picturesque vistas of Fort Loudoun Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains. The luxurious residence, constructed between 1993 and 2000, contains extravagant spacious rooms, including a lavish grand foyer, expansive tri-level library, captivating wine cellar with numerous niches and alcoves, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, spa, sauna, elevator, entertainment center with multiple televisions, and a motor court containing a climate controlled six-car garage that includes adjoining guest suites and staff quarters. The house features numerous architectural relics from Knoxville’s buildings and imported materials such as Turkish Afyon white sugar marble, silk wall coverings from Dubai, and custom doors from Turkey. The house boasts elaborate detailing including gold inlay crown molding, gold Sherle Wagner hardware, and imported velvet furnishings. With 86 rooms, 16 bathrooms, 11 fireplaces, and several secret passageways, the house creates a sense of both grandeur and mystery for guests invited to the villa. Meaning “house on a hill” in Italian, Villa Collina was featured on HGTV’s show Million Dollar Rooms and Wall Street Journal’s House of the Day in 2011. With its movie picture setting, the estate served as a film set for the 2017 motion picture The Last Movie Star, featuring Burt Reynolds
and Ariel Winter of the hit television show, Modern Family. Also in 2017, TLC filmed a documentary called “Princess Diana: Tragedy or Treason,” which featured the Villa Collina’s expansive library, Presidential Suite, and long arched corridors for a dramatic regal setting. Additionally, the house was listed on Alliance Sotheby’s International Realty’s list of top 10 most romantic houses for sale in the country’s most romantic cities in 2011. This book is divided into three parts, or acts, to mark periods of time within the Villa Collina story. Act I provides an overview of the history of the area surrounding Villa Collina along Lyons View Pike. This section also introduces the previous occupants on the Villa Collina property including the Baker and Yatteau families. Act II explores in great detail the unique design and construction process, as well as the techniques and materials used to create Villa Collina. Furthermore, Act II provides brief histories of previous occupants and how they utilized the estate. Lastly, Act III presents the current owners’ ongoing improvements to the house, including a focus on making the house more energy efficient. Act III also reviews the owners’ future vision for Villa Collina and provides an overview of prominent rooms within the villa, including the grand foyer, cantina, and the master suite.
1
2
Act I History and Early Residents of Lyons View Pike
3
Early Property Owners of Lyons View Pike Long before Villa Collina, the land along what is now Lyons View Pike was largely undeveloped. In the early 19th century, the pike was a wagon trail through a largely wooded and undeveloped agricultural area. By the early 20th century, however, it evolved into a key route providing access to country houses for prominent families who sought an escape from the bustling industrial city of Knoxville.
Pike between 1794 and 1848. In 1838, he constructed his home near the present-day intersection of Kingston Pike and Lyons View Pike. Robert Houston Armstrong, another landowner, inherited a large tract on the south side of Lyons View Pike, near the Eugenia Williams estate. A small, 25-acre portion of Armstrong’s land was sold to William Looney in 1849. One of the first African-Americans to own land in the vicinity of Lyons View Pike, Looney sold portions of his land to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in the 1870s for the construction of a church, school, and cemetery. While the original structures have been rebuilt, the church, school, and cemetery are still located on the south side of Lyons View Pike.
By 1791, Knoxville was both a city and the capital of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio, known as the Southwest Territory. The frontier continued to spread as settlers reached westward from Knoxville. By 1795, a wagon road, later known as Kingston Pike, extended west from Knoxville to Campbell’s Station. As the first improved roadway in Knox County, the completed road encouraged Capt. William Lyon was the first to settle west of the Lones and Armstrong additional settlement to the west of Knoxville. properties. After purchasing a large tract of several hundred acres near In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much of the area along present- the present-day East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery and Lakeshore day Lyons View Pike was divided into large tracts owned by a few early Park, Lyon constructed a log house and mill near the intersection of settlers: Jacob Lones, Robert Houston Armstrong, and William Lyon. Lowes Ferry Pike, now Northshore Drive, and Lyons View Pike. Lyon Jacob Lones, one of the early settlers to purchase land near Bearden, and his wife, Mary Clarke, hosted many who traveled between Knoxville purchased more than 1,200 acres along Kingston Pike and Lyons View and Maryville and Nashville, including President Andrew Jackson.
Kingston Pike originally was part of a Native American trail. In 1792, surveyor Charles McClung laid out what was known as the Kingston road. 4
5
6
The Evolution of Lyons View Pike During the second half of the 19th century, the quality of roads greatly improved in Knox County. Turnpike companies constructed early paved roads throughout the county, including within the vicinity of Kingston Pike and Lowes Ferry Pike. These road improvements encouraged travel throughout the county, particularly out of the rapidly growing city. The highest hill on Capt. Lyon’s property, which included a panoramic view of the Tennessee River and Smoky Mountains, soon became known as Lyon’s View.
By the 1910s, Knoxville had grown into a major industrial city with a combination of industrial, manufacturing, and residences in close proximity to each other. After the city hosted the Blue-Gray Reunion of Union and Confederate soldiers in 1890 and the Appalachian Exposition of 1910, national and international investors were exposed to East Tennessee’s culture and its potential for growth in an age of growing industrialism. The Appalachian Exposition and the following exhibitions in 1911 and 1913 also exposed Knoxvillians and East Tennesseans to Families seeking an escape from the city journeyed westward to the the high-style architecture and fashions of the growing American style. Lyons’ property to take in the view. Naturally, the road leading from Armed with new ideas about fashion and design, wealthy residents Kingston Pike to Lyon’s View soon became known as Lyons View Pike. of Knoxville began expanding the city to new residential areas west The first major change to the agricultural landscape of Lyons View Pike came in 1874, when the Lyons’ daughters sold 300 acres for the establishment of the East Tennessee Asylum for the Insane. The state soon began construction of the facility, which opened in 1886. Known to many as “Lyon’s View,” the facility was later named Eastern State Hospital and then Lakeshore Mental Health Institute. The mental health facility closed in 2012, after 126 years of operation. Lakeshore Park, a 185-acre public park, now occupies the land. Other than the facility, the majority of the land along Lyons View Pike featured agricultural fields and farms sparsely dotted with houses and outbuildings throughout the remainder of the 19th century. In 1907, a group of prominent businessmen founded and constructed Cherokee Country Club. Boasting the first 18-hole golf course in Knoxville, Cherokee Country Club soon drew Knoxville’s most prominent citizens to its rural location on Lyons View Pike.
of downtown. In doing so, they followed a national trend of the development of country estates by wealthy businessmen in the 1890s-1920s. The relatively undeveloped agricultural land along Kingston Pike and Lyons View Pike provided an escape from the industrial pollution and overcrowding in the city. Additional residential development by prominent Knoxvillians along these routes increased with the growing popularity of Cherokee Country Club and the extension of a rubber-tired streetcar route in 1913. As the country club grew in popularity, residential construction increased along Lyons View Pike. By 1930, the landscape of Lyons View Pike had changed considerably from its wagon road roots of the 19th century. Undeveloped woods and sprawling farmland no longer flanked the route. Rather, it ran through the heart of thriving and prominent country houses architecturally designed and positioned along the ridge overlooking the river and mountains to take maximum advantage of the magnificent panoramic view.
Knoxville in the early 20th century, circa 1930. 7
Barber and McMurry Houses As the affluent moved westward along Lyons View Pike, they commissioned prominent country houses that reflected period designs and a taste for classicism, situated to take advantage of the breathtaking views. While several established architectural firms— including Baumann & Baumann and Ryno & Brackney, among others— designed these period revival houses, none were as successful at changing the landscape along Lyons View Pike as was Charles I. Barber of Barber & McMurry.
The Weston Fulton residence, constructed in 1928, was by far the most elaborate home along Lyons View Pike. It featured an eclectic blend of Moorish and Italian influences. Barber also designed residences for Bruce Keener, Tom Kesterson, and Clarence Carmichael along Lyons View Pike.
Barber & McMurry also is connected to the present-day location of Villa Collina. The firm built a house for Cecil H. Baker on their property along Lyons View Pike around 1916. Later, Barber & McMurry built a house Barber designed more houses along Lyons View Pike than anywhere else adjacent to Baker’s for his only son, Martin Ross Baker, in 1930. Barber in Knoxville. His works on Lyons View Pike reflected several prominent designed these houses in the Colonial Revival style, framing the views revival styles. Houses designed for William Cary Ross in 1921 and Hal B. of the lake and mountains surrounding the properties. Mebane Jr. in 1931 reflect the Georgian style. Barber designed Colonial Revival residences for C. Powell Smith (1913), H.M. Goforth (1928), and The homes of Cecil Baker, Martin Baker, C. Powell Smith, J. Allen Smith, Fred Austin (1936). Tudor influence is evident in Barber’s design of the Ross and Weston Fulton (known as Westcliff ) all were once located near J.B. Coykendall house (1928) and the N.E. Logan house (1929). Barber the present-day location of Villa Collina. While the firm remains active chose Italian Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival for the homes of in Knoxville as BarberMcMurry, all of these magnificent country homes J. Allen Smith (1915) and E.C. Mahan (remodeled in 1920), respectively. have been demolished.
Lyons View Pike had architecturally designed prominent houses situated on the river by the 1930s.
8
9
10
Previous Residents on Villa Collina Site When Villa Collina and its associated property was formed in the 1990s, the Conleys purchased multiple parcels, combining them into one large parcel. Deed research indicates the large property was divided into smaller parcels in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often, some parcels were part of larger parcels north of Lyons View Pike ascending the hill, including the now demolished Fulton estate (present-day location of Cherokee Westcliff ). Previous owners of the property currently associated with Villa Collina include the VanDeventers, Shepards, Robinsons, Williams, Bakers, Yatteaus, and Fultons.
daughter Virginia, are listed in census records as living on Clinch Avenue during the time of ownership.
In 1927, Williams became a part of a legal battle with a neighbor over trees and vegetation located on his Lyons View Pike property. As noted by the newspaper, his neighbor, Mr. Ely, a lawyer, filed suit against Williams over a row of Lombardy poplar trees. Ely had plans to build a Spanish court on his property with multiple fountains and bird baths. The neighbor claimed the drain pipes for these water features would be impaired by the roots of Williams’ trees. Ely requested that Williams Little is known about the structures located on the properties or the move the poplar trees 100 feet away from his property. The result of the owners’ lives on Lyons View Pike. However, a few references about the lawsuit is unknown as it was not discussed further in the newspaper. residents have been found in historical records and newspapers. The Williams’ property was eventually given to his daughter, Virginia central portion of the Villa Collina property was owned by Col. James Williams Rule, through Lillian Williams’ will. In addition to the inherited Thayer VanDeventer and his wife Letitia. They moved to Knoxville in land, Rule purchased adjoining land from Barbara S. Fulton, Weston 1888 from Iowa, purchasing land south of Lyons View Pike from E.S. Fulton’s wife, of the Fulton estate. In 1989, Virginia Rule sold part of her Shepard and his wife, Lizzie. The colonel was a 33rd Degree Mason, and land to the Fentons, who, in turn, sold it to Kent and Susan Farris a year a major in the federal army in the Civil War. He also served as a member later, in 1990. of the guard of honor over President Lincoln’s body. Several of these families are associated with the Knoxville elite as Lyons In addition to the VanDeventers, Frank J. Williams, manager of a business View Pike held valuable property in the early 1900s. Family members college, his wife, Lillian Wrenn Williams, and their family owned were active participants in the Knoxville community, including The the western part of the Villa Collina property. However, according to Knoxville Garden Club and Cherokee Country Club. They would census records, it appears Frank Williams and his family did not live often entertain and host functions in their homes. This included the permanently at the Lyons View Pike property. The family, including prominent family of Cecil H. Baker and Mary Ross Baker.
Mr. Ely's home is shown in this photo. He filed a lawsuit over a row of poplar trees. 11
The Bakers on Lyons View Pike In 1916, Cecil H. Baker, a native of Virginia, purchased land on Lyons View Pike with his wife, Mary Ross Baker, from Letitia Flournoy VanDeventer, widow of Colonel James Thayer VanDeventer. Prior to purchasing the land, the Bakers first lived on Highland Avenue in the Fort Sanders neighbor with Mary’s mother, Helen Ross, and Mary’s siblings. According to U.S. Census records, the household also included two female black servants. Mary McGowan served as a nurse for the Bakers’ 1-year-old son Martin Ross Baker, and Hattie Grudger served as a cook for the family. After living at the Highland Avenue residence, Cecil and Mary moved to a different house nearby on Laurel Avenue in the same neighborhood. In the 1920 U.S. Census, Mary’s mother, who was 60 years old, continued to live with her son-in-law and daughter. Grudger also continued to serve as a cook. In addition to Grudger, the Bakers had a male black servant named William Robinson who served as a coachman.
residential development of large, grand homes for prominent owners in the area was on the rise. Baker hired the newly formed architecture firm Barber & McMurry to design and build the new house on Lyons View Pike. The house, referred to as the Hurston, was a two-story wood framed Colonial Revival house on a brick wall foundation with a small one-story west addition containing a kitchen. A one-story addition in the rear held a porch and sunroom, perfect to gaze at Fort Loudoun Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains. The house was featured in a 1919 Architecture publication, along with another Barber & McMurry design, the Alexander Bonnyman residence, located on Kingston Pike. As noted by the social column of the local newspaper, the Bakers hosted several parties and gatherings at their home. This included meetings for The Knoxville Garden Club and Cherokee Country Club events and entertaining their many guests. The parties were often described in great detail in the newspapers. For example, Mary Baker held a one o’clock luncheon for her niece, Helen Ross, and other guests. The tables were decorated with a pink-and-green scheme with green crystal bowl centerpieces filled with pink peach blossoms. Other details included green candlesticks holding rose tapers and tiny Japanese parasols as place cards.
Down the street from the Bakers, Lewis Spilman, a lawyer in Knoxville, and his wife, Lillian, lived with their children, including 3-year-old Martha. The Spilmans and Bakers became close friends as the children grew up. Martin became a playmate of Martha’s older brothers, Robert and Sam. Later, Martin Baker and Sam Spilman both attended the In October 1929, an engagement was announced in the local newspaper. A University of Virginia. 31-year-old Martin Ross Baker proposed to his young childhood neighbor While living in the Fort Sanders neighborhood, Cecil Baker purchased on Laurel Avenue, Martha Spilman. The Spilman family called Martha the land on Lyons View Pike (present-day Villa Collina site) in hopes of “Martie” and referred to Martin as “Mart” when they were younger. The building a large house on the property. When he purchased his property, names stuck and they were forever known as “Mart and Martie.”
Cherokee Country Club offered the first 18-hole golf course in Knoxville and drew prominent citizens to Lyons View Pike. The original clubhouse is shown here. 12
13
This was the joining of two prominent Knoxville families. The Bakers were related to prominent families in Knoxville, including William Cary Ross. As a young boy, Martin received his education from Woodberry Forest prep school in Virginia. Later, he became a member of the Men’s Cotillion Club. As she grew up, Martha attended Knoxville High School and Hollins University. In addition, as a member of the Junior League and of the Girls’ Cotillion Club, Martha made her debut in 1927. The Spilman family can trace their ancestry to several prominent families of Knoxville, including the Swepsons and Saunders.
An article in The Knoxville News Sentinel goes into great detail of the nuptials. The church was decorated in a green-and-silver color scheme. The reporter remarked: “Against three medallions of silvered Cibotium and Woodwardia ferns, connected by ropes of smilax. The altar was lighted by five and seven-branch candelabra, burning silvered candles. Pews were marked with white tulle and regal lilies.” The bride was dressed in a cream satin gown with a long petal-shaped train, round neckline and mousquetaire sleeves. Her bouquet was filled with white gardenias and tied with white satin ribbons.
Plans were underway for the Spilman-Baker wedding to follow in January of 1930. Prior to the wedding, on Friday, January 24, 1930, a rehearsal was hosted for the bride and groom. Lawson and Joe Sullivan and Cary Ross decorated the party with the theme of the couple’s future seagoing honeymoon. On their trip, the couple planned to travel to Paris and the Riviera via the SS Bremen from New York City. A large replica model of the SS Bremen “with light twinkling thru the windows and port holes, and with the Lloyd flag flying” (The Knoxville News Sentinel, January 1930) was a centerpiece on the large round table. Lloyd referred to Norddeutscher Lloyd, a German shipping company. The ocean theme continued with sea green table linen and napkins and green candles. During the dinner, the butler delivered humorous postcards with authentic foreign postage to each guest from Mart and Martie on their wonderful honeymoon.
The bride was complemented by her bridesmaids in an assortment of pastel-colored dresses of blue, green, lavender, and maize. Her sisters, Miss Virginia Spilman, the maid of honor, and Mrs. Frank Howard, the matron of honor, were dressed in a peach-color point d’esprit, a weaving pattern, and French blue point d’esprit, respectively. Other bridesmaids included Mrs. Joseph Sullivan, cousin of the bride; Mrs. Robert Spilman, sister-in-law of the bride; Miss Mary Madden; Miss Carolyn Jones; and Miss Margaret Stone. The bridesmaids held floral bouquets that coordinated with each of their dresses. Their beautiful bouquets incorporated sweetheart roses, forget-me-nots, blue delphinium, pink roses, lavender stock and heather, and euphorbia.
Following the ceremony, Cecil and Mary held a dinner at the Cherokee Country Club for members of the bridal party, out-of-town guests, and close friends. The bridal party was seated at one large table with smaller tables for other wedding guests. The bride’s table featured the bridal On Saturday, January 25, 1930, Martin Ross Baker and Martha Spilman colors of green and white decorated with lilies of the valley and white exchanged vows at an 8 o’clock evening ceremony at the Second freesias. A large cake was the centerpiece of the table. The smaller tables Presbyterian Church, located on Kingston Pike. The beautiful ceremony were decorated with roses and sweat peas in pastel shades, similar to the bridesmaids’ dresses. was officiated by Rev. Clifford Barbour, pastor of the church.
14
After the wedding celebrations, the Bakers hosted a luncheon at the Andrew Johnson hotel on Sunday for their out-of-town guests. The newlyweds boarded the SS Bremen in New York City the following Friday for their European adventure. Martin’s parents took a six-week motor trip to Florida after the wedding. They made stops in Cleveland, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and other various resorts along the west coast of Florida. After the newlyweds returned from the honeymoon, they occupied Martin’s parents’ house, the Hurston, hoping to eventually buy their own property and build a house. Once they had returned from their annual winter vacation, Cecil and Mary continued to occupy the Hurston and kept their cook, Hattie Grudger. During this time, Cecil was listed as a capitalist in investments and served as a trustee for the East Tennessee National Bank.
& McMurry designed the house to “take advantage of the river view from its back windows.” An entry hall in the house led to a large living room “paneled in wood painted ivory” to the west, and a pine-paneled study to the east. (The Knoxville News Sentinel, Nov. 4, 1932). The dining room, located in the rear of the house, contained windows that framed the river view. A service wing with kitchen, pantry, and garage was located on the left side of the house with maid’s quarters above. The second floor featured three bedrooms and two baths. The Martin Ross Baker house was recognized in multiple contests for beautiful houses around the country, include winning honorable mention in a House Beautiful annual competition for small houses nationwide in 1932. The house also won honorable mention for “Knoxville’s Most Attractive Home” in 1935.
After occupying the Hurston on Lyons View Pike, Martin, a wholesale merchant, and Martha leased the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sullivan at 3117 Kingston Pike during the summer months of 1930. Martha’s parents also had relocated to Kingston Pike from their Fort Sanders neighborhood. Martin and Martha were now neighbors with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Spilman, who owned a house at 3209 Kingston Pike. The homes were located on the north side of Lyons View Pike near the former Alexander Bonnyman residence.
In 1934, Martin and Martha had their first child, a son named Martin Ross Baker Jr. In their new home on Lyons View Pike, the Bakers raised their newborn with the help of nurse Hazel McMurry. During this time, Martin Ross Baker served as vice president and general manager for the Kennedy-Shea-Chandler Company, a wholesale dry goods firm, located near the present-day intersection of State Street and Summit Hill Drive. The firm had formed in 1921, as described in the May 21, 1921, issue of Dry Goods Economist.
Martin and Martha commissioned Barber & McMurry to build their house on land adjacent to Martin’s parents that they had acquired from his parents in 1931. Constructed in 1930, the house built at 4198 Lyons View Pike was a one-and-one-half story Colonial Revival residence constructed of stone with protruding gabled dormers. (Later demolished, the house was located northeast and adjacent to present-day Villa Collina.) Barber
In December of 1937, Martha gave birth to a second child, a daughter named Mary Tod Baker, named after her paternal grandmother. Cecil and Mary were about to travel on their annual Florida trip in January and said they were “not as eager to leave for Florida as they usually are for their winter vacation” (The Knoxville News Sentinel, January 1938) due to the new addition to the family.
15
Adjacent to the Hurston, Cecil and Mary Ross Baker’s son, Martin Ross Baker, and his wife, Martha, built this (now demolished) Colonial Revival home at 4198 Lyons View Pike.
16
Yatteau Chateau
Later that same year, at the age of 71, Cecil H. Baker passed away on November 18, 1938, from pneumonia. In his will, he divided his estate between his wife, Mary, and his son, Martin. According to the local In 1975, more than a decade after the passing of Mary Ross Baker, newspapers, the estate was estimated “in excess of $10,000.” Mr. Baker Dr. Ronald Yatteau, a cardiologist and medical director of the Baptist was buried in Old Gray Cemetery off of Broadway. Hospital Heart Center, and his wife, Ellen Katherine, purchased the During her later years, Mary Ross Baker, now a widow, continued to live property from Mary’s son, Martin, who continued to live next door. at her home on Lyons View Pike. She served as the director of Mount Throughout their time on the property, the Yatteaus attended multiple Rest Home for elderly ladies. In addition, she was a member of Beverly community functions, including fundraisers for Baptist Hospital. As Hills Sanatorium board and an active member of First Baptist Church director of the heart center, Dr. Yatteau held public lectures on heart for more than 50 years. disease and other topics including “Cardiac-Related Problems.” During In May 1963, Mary suffered a fractured hip late at night when she fell the 1980s, Dr. Yatteau hired Keith Edmondson of J. Keith Edmondson in the bathroom of her home. As a result of her fall, Mary was admitted Builders to build a house on the property overlooking the river. The house to the Presbyterian Hospital. Later that same year, at the age of 86, she was a grand two-story house with simple classical details. However, in passed away on September 15, 1963, in the early morning. She was 1985, the Yatteaus divorced, dividing their land into two parcels. A year buried next to her husband at Old Gray Cemetery. The Hurston, Mary later, in 1986, Ronald Yatteau married Anne Vanosdale McDonald, and and Cecil’s residence, located at 4200 Lyons View Pike, was demolished continued to occupy his small mansion in what became known locally or destroyed sometime after Mary’s death. This is the current location as the “Yatteau Chateau.” of Villa Collina and the remains of the Hurston’s wall were found when The site where Villa Collina now stands has been occupied by Knoxville’s building the cantina. No newspaper articles could be found to explain elite since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Throughout the years, its demise. the owners located on this site have entertained guests from across the country and abroad. The local newspapers described the parties on the Lyons View Pike estates in great detail. In addition, the houses were highly recognized for their refined beauty and picturesque setting, such as the Martin Ross Baker residence. As discussed in the next act, Villa Collina continued the tradition of entertainment and recognition once construction was completed.
17
18
Act II The Construction of Villa Collina and Previous Owners
19
20
The Property on Lyons View Pike In the early 1990s, Mike and Deane Conley, owners of Regal Corporation, an international replacement parts company headquartered in Knoxville, purchased about 35 acres of land in the Concord neighborhood of Farragut, just west of Knoxville. With this new property, the Conleys decided to build a large estate and chose a local Farragut architect, Terry Hendrickson, to design the house. Unfortunately, during the early phases of the design, Terry passed away in March of 1993. Following Hendrickson’s death, the Conleys decided to look at other properties in Knoxville and hired a local Realtor. One morning, the Conleys, on their way to the airport to go on one of their many trips to Europe, received a call from the Realtor about a property on Lyons View Pike. At the time, it was not on the market but would soon be for sale. The Conleys briefly stopped to look at the property before going on their way to the airport. After returning from Europe, the Conleys agreed to tour the property to see if the large country house was a contender for their needs. The house, known locally as the “Yatteau Chateau,” was a two-story elegant brick mansion featuring a grand entrance with tall ornamental columns, classical decorative features, Spanish roof tiles, and a three-car garage addition. The property was owned by Dr. Ronald Yatteau and his second wife, Anne. The house
was constructed just a decade earlier when the Yatteaus purchased the property. The prominent mansion, located on a small hill and adjacent to Fort Loudoun Lake, boasted beautiful views of water and mountains. The Conleys immediately fell in love with the location and, inspired by the stunning view, decided to purchase the property. The Conleys intended for the house to serve as a temporary home as they continued their search for the perfect property. After purchasing the home and property in September of 1993, the Conleys decided to remodel their temporary home. Renovations included adding a large east wing to accommodate a large master suite and other family living areas. They also planned to heavily remodel the original house to incorporate higher ceilings. The Conleys intended to utilize the house to entertain international clients when they came to the United States for business related to Regal Corporation. Instead of their guests staying at a hotel, the Conleys wanted a house they could share with clients and also make an impression on them. The interim house on Lyons View Pike seemed like the perfect solution with its grand entrance and picturesque views. Little did they know, by the end of the project, the Conleys would have spent $32 million.
It’s not hard to see why property around Villa Collina has been desired for its vistas and panoramic views. 21
The Initial Design With the design chosen, the interim home on Lyons View Pike would have a large east addition, which includes the present-day tri-level library, the River View Room, O’Club, and large master suite. According to Johnson, adding on to an existing structure had numerous restraints associated with it, including conforming to original floor heights. The “Yatteau Chateau” had very low ceilings, and the architects needed to match the proportions of the original house. This included building shorter columns within the colonnaded hallway. With the drawings finalized for the east wing, a permit for the work dating November of While vacationing in Hilton Head, the Conleys flew Johnson to South 1993 allowed construction to begin at the start of 1994. Carolina to present the proposals for their new home, showing all the possibilities to remodel and redesign the “Yatteau Chateau.” She As the architect, Karengaye initially utilized architectural drawings to explained each scenario in great detail. One proposed design even convey her designs to the Conleys. However, in cases like Villa Collina included demolishing the existing “Yatteau Chateau” and constructing a with grand spaces, large three-dimensional models helped better convey new structure. Instead, the Conleys chose a design which included a large the sense of space to the clients. The large-scaled models composed of east wing addition with a tri-level library. Many of the programmatic foam core, balsa wood, and cardboard sheets represented the amount of components Karengaye originally proposed, such as a bowling alley, detail featured in the house. This included balustrade and ornamentation were not included in the final design but served as a starting point in on the columns and exterior walls. The architect team used a band saw to replicate the curves and shapes associated with Villa Collina’s details. the evolution of Villa Collina. When looking for an architect for the renovation and construction of an addition, the Conleys hired Karengaye Johnson. She was part of the architecture firm, Architect’s International. Initially, the Conleys were not familiar with Johnson’s work. Furthermore, she was not present during the early design discussions with the Conleys and Hendrickson for their Farragut home. Once hired, she was unsure of the Conleys’ preferences and tastes for design and had to listen carefully to understand Mike and Deane’s vision for their home.
An original sketch depicts proposed renovations to “Yatteau Chateau” including a new large east wing. 22
23
The models varied in size to represent the full house or one particular room. According to the architect, models of the full house were constructed at scales of 1/8 inch equals 1 foot or 1/4 inch equals 1 foot. Several rooms and parts of the house were modeled at a larger scale, 1/2 inch equals 1 foot, in order to show greater detail. This included the grand foyer, trilevel library, and the center portico on the front facade. These rooms and elements were some of the most elaborate and unique spaces within the house. The models were transported to the construction site in smaller parts due to the large size.
Three-dimensional models depicted interior and exterior areas of Villa Collina to make it easier to envision the proposed updates. 24
The Conleys established a strong relationship with the architect. Deane was excited to work with a female architect and loved reviewing design proposals. According to Deane, “Karengaye understood me and understood what I wanted … and she could pick up on everything that I loved and wanted.” This cooperative relationship between client and architect helped foster the design of Villa Collina.
LEFT: Deane Conley reviews plans and finishes for the home. RIGHT: Sketch of ceiling relief concept design.
The concept of Villa Collina was not initially realized by the Conleys or Johnson in the beginning. The proposal seemed simple enough, a large addition on the east. At this point, Villa Collina was just a dream, with complex features, rooms, and secret passageways. The dream became a reality as construction progressed over the next seven years.
25
Becoming Villa Collina The Conleys’ love of international travel became the preface for the influence in the design of their new home. Inspired by the location of the property, the Conleys chose “Villa Collina” as the name for their interim home. The phrase “Villa Collina” in Italian means “house on a hill.” As early as 1994, the residence was referred to as Villa Collina by the Conleys in construction paperwork. The design was highly influenced by an Italian villa called Villa d’Este located in Cernobbio, Italy, on Lake Como, which was built in the mid-16th century. The villa was designed by Pellegrino Tibaldi as a summer residence for a cardinal named Tolomeo Gallio. Since its initial construction, the Italian villa had gone through changes, including multiple occupations and renovations. The most significant transformation came when Caroline Brunswick, the Princess of Wales, purchased the villa in 1816. Since 1873, Villa d’Este has served as a luxury hotel for European aristocrats with luxurious amenities such as a large pool on Lake Como and a spa. The Conleys visited Villa d’Este frequently on their travels to Europe, enjoying the view of Lake Como and the Swiss Alps as a backdrop. Likewise, the Knoxville home boasts beautiful views of water and mountains.
Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Italy, a luxurious resort on the banks of Lake Como, served as inspiration for much of Villa Collina. 26
27
As the project progressed, the Conleys decided to make their interim home into a more permanent residence. The Conleys continued to acquire multiple tracts of land from neighboring properties. Purchases included a tract from Kent Farris and his wife, as well as an additional tract from Virginia Williams Rule, both conveyed in April 1995. Two years later, the Conleys acquired the Martin Ross Baker residence, located to the east of Villa Collina, from his elderly widow, Martha Spilman Baker. (In 2000, the Martin Ross Baker house was demolished by the Conleys, after completing Villa Collina. The Conleys then sold the property to Thomas and Anna Ford, who constructed a new house on the property in 2005.) Over the course of construction, several key decisions by the Conleys and Johnson contributed to the present-day form and design of Villa Collina. Several months into construction, the Conleys asked the architect to design a matching west wing to the original “Yatteau Chateau” house. At the time, the Conleys wanted to keep the original house in place and Johnson continued to design based on the proportions of the “Yatteau Chateau.” In 1994, the Conleys decided to demolish the “Yatteau Chateau,” leaving a large blank space in the middle to be occupied by a new design. The architect, tasked with a considerable undertaking, now needed to match the new design of the middle portion to the already-built east and west wings, including floor heights. The Conleys also later required a large motor court and a butler’s apartment for their full-time staff located adjacent to the west wing. In addition, a large marble terrace and curved infinity pool overlooking the lake was installed in the rear of the house. The house evolved through several phases of construction, which altered it to its current layout. This brief overview demonstrates the complex construction progression of several phases over the years. The details of the intricate construction will be further discussed in the following section, “Construction of a Masterpiece.”
TOP & BOTTOM: Construction gets underway for the east wing of Villa Collina from the original “Yatteau Chateau.” 28
Manicured hedges grow in juxtaposition with an adjacent construction zone for the home’s east wing. 29
30
Construction of a Masterpiece With the designs for a new east wing in place, Karengaye Johnson chose Keith Edmondson, owner of a local construction company and builder of the Yatteau Chateau. Karengaye and Keith had partnered on other highend homes, developing a working relationship. As general contractor at Villa Collina, Keith served as superintendent on-site overseeing the work. He also participated in the hands-on daily construction, including laying bricks in the cantina and installing crown molding in the hallways. Karengaye served as both project manager and architect of the evolving designs of Villa Collina.
However, construction workers were in for a big surprise.
In April 1994, the Conleys asked Karengaye to add a matching wing on the west side of the house, and she began designing the plans. The new design required demolishing the original three-car garage of the “Yatteau Chateau.” The west wing included three large bedroom suites, a family kitchen and dining area, butler’s kitchen, elevator, and entertainment room on the lower level, known as the Caribbean Room. With the proposition of a matching west wing, an additional building permit was submitted in May 1994. The building permit stated a twoThe work on the Conleys’ new estate soon began. At the start of story addition, including a basement level, would be constructed to the construction, the architect, clients, and general contractor and his team right side of the building. Additionally, a smaller one-story addition were unaware of the extent of the project that ultimately would unfold was proposed for the front facade of the original house to create the projecting portico, or porte cochere. and the large undertaking ahead of them. By August of 1994, several major tasks were completed. Contractors enclosed the east wing with cladding, and glass windows were incorporated into the large openings on the south elevation. A temporary wood straight-down stair, reminiscent of the marble stairs in the lobby of Villa d’Este, took shape in the foyer within the “Yatteau Chateau.” The stair, however, led directly into the front entrance with little room. Due to the limited space within the existing structure, the design of this stair eventually changed. A more feasible and elegant stair was added in Furthermore, they incorporated wood veneer lumber for floors and its place. By the end of the month, the framing of the first and second trusses and steel I-beams for support within the structure, particularly floors of the west wing was completed to match the east. in the library with its upper cantilevered platforms. A large protruding bay of the library, due to its hexagonal shape, is a distinctive feature. Originally, the Conleys intended to keep the “Yatteau Chateau” in place By mid- to late-March, the roof of the east wing was enclosed and with and build their dream home around it; however, in the summer of 1994, the structure of the east wing completed, contractors thought they the Conleys decided to demolish the “Yatteau Chateau” to erect a new were going to complete the finishing touches of the house and wing. structure. Throughout the construction process, they concluded the With the approval of a building permit in November 1993, Keith commenced work on the new east wing in 1994. A large opening was created in the east facade of the “Yatteau Chateau,” connecting the addition to the original house. In early February of 1994, the concrete foundations were laid for the new wing with installation of framing on the first floor done by the end of the month. By March, workers commenced on the second-floor framing, and the form of the addition took shape.
Moldings and intricate architectural details abound in every room of Villa Collina. 31
When Keith constructed the Yatteaus’ house in the 1980s, he and his team uncovered a brick wall from a former structure on the property. The brick foundation wall most likely dates to the Cecil H. Baker residence, as mentioned in Act I, designed by Barber & McMurry and built in the early 20th century. The “Yatteau Chateau” house did not incorporate a basement, and the wall did not interfere with the foundations. Therefore, at that time, Keith and his team decided to leave the wall in place. However, when they dismantled the “Yatteau Chateau,” Keith and The new design of the middle section included a large master bedroom his team uncovered the brick wall yet again. Keith immediately showed and bath, a river view office, grand central foyer with adjoining living Karengaye and the Conleys the unanticipated discovery. The Conleys rooms and formal dining room, and a large wine cellar in the basement. and Karengaye agreed the brick should stand in place, and the design Karengaye presented the proposal for the wine cellar, also referred to as took into account the existing structure. the cantina. However, the Conleys didn’t take to the design. According to the Conleys, it did not reflect the type of spaces they had experienced The wall later was incorporated into the walls of the cantina, creating a in the cantinas of Italy. The Conleys frequented many cantinas, and small, narrow passage. According to Deane Conley, in addition to finding this part of the house would be very special due to their love of wine. the wall, the workers found a piece of stone with a name on it. Deane In order to show Karengaye the cantinas, the Conleys invited her to asked her neighbor, Martha Spilman Baker, if she knew anything about accompany them on one of their trips to Italy. Once she experienced the stone. Baker said it was from her family since her in-laws owned the spaces firsthand, Karengaye called Keith in Knoxville to update her the property where Villa Collina sits, providing more evidence that the design plans. At the time, he was digging the holes for the foundation brick foundation wall most likely dates back to Cecil H. Baker’s house. of the cantina. Karengaye told him to dig 4 feet deeper than originally In October and November of 1994, the fourth and final phase of planned. With this change, she would be able to perfect the space construction began. This phase included the construction of a butler’s within the cantina. The cantina required a maze-like experience with apartment and additional three-car garage, as well as the creation of changing levels and voids in the brickwork to reveal the complexity and a grand motor court with seven garages. As for the main house, by magnitude of the space. A wishing well with a fountain also became a December 1994, both east and west wings were enclosed but the final new feature of the cantina. piece, the middle section stood vacant. Slowly, with the plans finalized original house with its low ceilings and confining spaces was not a part of their vision. By the end of August of 1994, workers began removing roof tiles and framing on the original house. Within a month, the “Yatteau Chateau” was demolished, leaving Villa Collina disjointed with a large blank void in the middle. As the construction workers dismantled the “Yatteau Chateau” piece by piece, the architect quickly designed plans to replace the original house.
The Conleys, shown here in Italy, invited architect Karengaye Johnson to Italy to experience firsthand some of the architectural spaces they loved and wanted to emulate in Villa Collina. 32
33
34
and a building permit submitted, the concrete block masonry walls of January 1996, “Door Knobs, Hardware, Shower Doors, etc., Installed” in the middle section began to ascend in January of 1995. Finally, the last August 1996. Although the house was finished much later than proposed in the schedule, the timeline provides the progression of construction. piece of the puzzle brought the house together. Once the middle section of the house was complete, the grand staircase was redesigned to fit the confines of the new space. Abandoning the Villa d’Este replica, Karengaye designed a new curvilinear and cantilevered marble stair for the grand foyer. The stair, with its low risers, allowed visitors to gracefully walk up the stairs with little effort. The stair, constructed by Southeastern Stair & Millwork Company from Cleveland, Tennessee, was transported in one large piece and installed on-site. With the bones of the house now complete, work began on refining the exterior walls and soon-to-be elegant interiors. Classical elements such as shell motifs, quoins, and elaborate exterior window trim were constructed of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and produced by a company called Treadway Industries, based out of Florida. Other projects within the company’s portfolio include the playful WonderWorks building located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Additionally, balustrades of Turkish Afyon sugar marble were incorporated into the upper terraces. The porte cochere, a covered entrance for vehicles, is centered on the front facade. It features the most elaborate detail. The elegant interior spaces also began to take form. A proposed building schedule, dated April 1995, established the final steps to finish construction with a proposed completion date of September 1996. Items on the list included: “Foyer Stairs Mockup” in May 1995; “Trip to Turkey” in August 1995; “Crown Molding Begins” in
According to Keith, during this part of the construction process, the work environment reached high stress levels with multiple pieces and parts coming together. The materials came in from all parts of the country and abroad: the roof tiles, Afyon sugar marble, and custom interior doors were imported from Turkey and the beautiful millwork from Louisville Lumber & Millwork in Kentucky. Keith and Karengaye corresponded with each company coordinating project deadlines and updating the progress of the project. The architect produced drawings indicating the dimensions for each piece. These drawings were sent to each manufacturer in the United States. With many pieces manufactured abroad, coordination of shipping was important to stay on schedule. The marble company in Turkey, which provided the majority of the marble for Villa Collina, was called Dragon Marbles and Fireplaces. Based on the receipts, all the balconies, marble columns, steps, and tiles were produced and shipped from Turkey. In comparison to other prominent houses in the area, the interiors of Villa Collina required refined, untraditional construction practices with vaulted ceilings and unique finishes. Unlike sheetrock typically used in modern homes, the builders utilized hard-cut plaster to form the vaulted and curved ceilings in the grand foyer, hallways, colonnades, and kitchen. The material allows for the elimination of imperfections
The center of the home, the original “Yatteau Chateau,” had to be demolished to create a grand central hub to tie together the east and west wings. 35
in any of the walls or ceilings, which Keith said is “a step above normal the opening. During the construction process, several intricate steps construction.” The trim surrounding the columns came in flat pieces, so successfully created the skylight. each individual piece needed to be installed on all sides of the columns. One of the last requests for construction by the Conleys was for an exterior The arched interior doors were custom designed and imported from pool with a large terrace. In particular, the Conleys wanted a curved, Turkey. The pair of arched wood doors marking the front entrance infinity pool, a unique design for a pool in the late 1990s. Karengaye came also were custom made in Turkey. A pair of arched security doors of up with a proposal and explained that the pool would appear to flow into decorative wrought iron scrollwork and bulletproof glass with lead glass the Tennessee River as a person sat on the deck. The design was finalized and completed as a part of the project, which also included a hot tub with headings were installed on the exterior of the home. a shelter, replicating classical detailing. According to the architect, the One of the unique components integrated into Villa Collina is the secret roof situated above the columns was not incorporated into the original passageways. As Karengaye said, “You can’t look that up in a book … design of the hot tub. However, the Conleys desired more shade near the Nobody publishes anything about secret passages because they are pool, and the architect incorporated a domed roof. Once constructed, the secret, and nobody wants to tell you how to build them because it’s their copper roof was painted with buttermilk to appear weathered and give it secret.” The Conleys loved little niches and secret passages and wanted the patina color associated with age-old structures. to incorporate them into the house. According to Keith, many decisions for the secret passageways got determined on-site. One solution the When the architect designed the plans, she included several large architect and builder came up with was to drop the floors three-quarters mechanical rooms to hold heating, ventilation and air conditioning of an inch to hide the trim located on the door, allowing it to blend into (HVAC) units to heat and cool the house. Due to square footage of the the wall. A motorized door located in the cantina became a difficult task house, 23 units needed to be installed to efficiently heat or cool the for Keith and his team to undertake. The door uses a garage mechanism spaces. John H. Coleman Co., a local heating and cooling company, installed the high-end units in these spaces. James Roby, who serves as to open and close by a button on each side of the door. a service technician for John H. Coleman Co., continued to help with Another complicated aspect during construction was creating a the repairs and upgrades at Villa Collina. In addition to the geothermal skylight in the west wing staircase leading to the private bedroom HVAC system, John H. Coleman Co. installed a Dectron dehumidification suites. The skylight utilizes indirect sunlight through a series of system for the indoor pool. The company continues to service the house mirrors to reflect the light downwards from the skylights adjacent to for the current owners.
Plaster was used to construct the vaulted and curved ceilings to eliminate any imperfections. 36
37
38
The Conleys also wanted to incorporate the latest technology into the house, including a Lutron© lighting control system. This allowed them to easily turn lights on and off within large spaces of the house. Mark Midyett, a junior technician for DFASolutions who became president of the company, ran most of the wiring within the house during its construction. Once completed, Villa Collina had the largest Lutron© lighting control system in a private residence in the world. This title remained until Bill Gates finished his home approximately eight years later. This system is still in use today, although updated with new technological advances. As clients, the Conleys played an active role in the design and construction process, reviewing drawings by Karengaye’s team at Architect’s International and visiting the construction site often. In addition, over the course of construction, the design of the house constantly changed to accommodate the Conleys' needs and wants. According to Keith, he ensured everyone was on the same page before moving forward with a major change, such as removing the “Yatteau Chateau.” The project accrued additional costs due to the evolving phases of construction and the changing vision of the home.
Scaffolding geometrically surrounds the construction site for the three-story octagonal library.
TOP LEFT: High-end technological components for the house fit in specially designed spaces to hide it from view. TOP RIGHT: A view of construction on the lower west end at the back of Villa Collina. BOTTOM: The east wing is framed before the middle of the home was demolished and rebuilt.
Once construction was completed, builder Keith Edmondson said he put his heart and soul into the house and that he is very proud of the finished product. Three generations of his family helped in the building of Villa Collina, including his father and his son. Edmondson’s son would help out while he was attending law school, and he “knows every nook and cranny, too.” According to Keith, he shows his grandchildren a large portfolio of the house to display his work. After the completion of Villa Collina, Keith continued to serve as a general contractor for other high-end homes in the Knoxville area with his company, J. Keith Edmondson Builders. When asked how she would approach the project differently, Karengaye said she would have wanted to demolish the original house at the beginning, allowing her to design to the neoclassical height of 12 feet in the grand foyer and hallways. The design work consumed a lot of time figuring out the height of the columns to fit the original house—and the original house ended up being torn down in the end. However, the progression of the project allowed the Conleys to see their vision for the house realized, and Karengaye says Villa Collina “surpassed their thought, their hope, their dream.” 39
40
The Finishing Details During the final stages of construction, Deane oversaw the finishing touches of the home, traveling across the United States and abroad to purchase furnishings and artwork. Similar to the construction of the house, the Conleys spared no expense on the interior and purchased high-end appliances, cabinetry, artwork, and furniture to fill their home. Each year, the Conleys would make several trips to Italy, Turkey, and the Caribbean, and even owned real estate in both Italy and Turkey. With their many travels, the Conleys wanted to bring back pieces of places they love. Therefore, the house became a collection of the Conleys’ beloved destinations. Their travels are reflected in the architectural design of the home, as well as the furnishings, artwork, and refined details. If the Conleys could not ship some pieces to the United States, they would take photographs of ideas that inspired them. Karengaye and Keith would try to recreate the objects within Villa Collina. This included the indoor pool and spa area, which is based on a spa in a resort near Salzburg, Austria. The late Kristopher Kendrick, a friend of Deane Conley’s and local preservationist in Knoxville, understood the importance of retaining Knoxville’s heritage and saved architectural relics from prominent buildings in Knoxville facing the wrecking ball. This included the Alexander Bonnyman residence on Kingston Pike. In a local newspaper article, Kendrick expressed: “I just love to preserve Knoxville’s history.”
The hallway leading to the cantina features upholstered benches and large reliefs behind glass overlays.
Chandeliers at the Villa Collina, such as this one in the left front parlor, were custom-made in Austria with crystals handpicked by Deane Conley. 41
In 1996, the Teen Board building, formerly the Alexander Bonnyman residence, was demolished to make way for the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. The home of Alexander Bonnyman, an Italian Renaissance Revivalist style residence, has been designed by Barber & McMurry and constructed in 1916. Bonnyman, a native of Edinburg, Scotland, moved to the United States in 1912, settling into the western neighborhood of Knoxville’s elite and making his fortune as the owner of the Blue Diamond Coal Company. The doors, windows and other significant features of demolished buildings in Knoxville were showing up in all of Kendrick’s projects, as well as those of his friends during the late 1990s. The painted beams found in the wine pairing room and the large stone fireplace found in the library were part of the Bonnyman’s living room and are now at Villa Collina. With his collection of architectural relics, Kendrick made large contributions to the interior features of the house. Kendrick became well known for his work developing parts of historic downtown Knoxville, including the Old City. As described by the builder, Keith and Kristopher would collect architectural relics from structures all over Knoxville: wood beams from an old warehouse on Baxter Avenue; a brass bank vault gate and check writing desk from Hamilton National Bank downtown (present-day Holston building); a local church gate, chairs and cherub sconces from The Orangery, an upscale restaurant founded by Kendrick in 1971; and a stained glass window from the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) railroad station downtown. These architectural relics were incorporated into multiple rooms of the house, particularly within the cantina, to create an aged and historic feel.
42
During their travels to the Caribbean island of Eleuthera, the Conleys found an old wooden door with iron bars across the front and were able to retrieve the door and ship it to Knoxville. The door is now located in the cellar hallway, giving the appearance of another entrance to the cellar. However, the door is false and does not open to another space, supporting the mystique around Villa Collina. Another relic, a stone plaque from the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the world, was incorporated into the wine cellar. The Conleys had a residence in Bologna and brought back a piece of it to their home in the United States. According to the architect, Karengaye Johnson, the Conleys wanted the house, particularly the cantina, to feel as if it had stood the test of time, similar to the buildings they found in Europe. The cantina is a small dining room with an Italian landscape mural on its wall; red poppy fields and rolling hills instantly transport a viewer to old world Italy. The artist was not identified in construction records. Before work crews placed the bricks for the cantina, Deane suggested making the bricks look rougher, so they appeared older. Keith’s father built the wine racks. After the racks were constructed, Keith and his father put them in the sun for a weathered texture. With the architectural relics contributed by Kristopher, the cantina became a small piece of Italy within the Knoxville home. The house showcases many lavish materials and finishes. For instance, the library features Honduras mahogany with ebony-hued posts and gold accents. The stairs in the grand foyer feature wrought iron banisters with a gold leaf dogwood pattern. A Canadian company called DecoForm, based in Toronto, produced all the decorative ceiling trim and medallions for Villa Collina.
In the wine cellar, this old door with a rusty lock from the Caribbean Island of Eleuthera adds vintage character – but it’s just for looks.
Painted beams in the Wine Pairing Room were salvaged from the Alexander Bonnyman residence. 43
TOP LEFT: Villa Collina features many fixtures from Sherle Wagner, a New York-based hardware and bath accessories company. ABOVE: This Sherle Wagner Egyptian-themed sink is in the present day O’Club.
Bamboo flooring adorns the dance floor in the Caribbean Room.
44
The house features several different types of floor coverings, including carpet, marble, and wood. The most elaborate rugs are located in the public areas of the villa. The wool Aubusson maroon and gold carpets were handwoven by women in North Carolina and feature the Villa Collina logo. In other rooms, such as the bedrooms, the carpet was embroidered to imitate the intricate details found on the ceilings. The carpet featured in the library contains a red and gold pattern. Carpet expert and Knoxvillian Randy Vaden and his team installed all of the intricate carpets for each room. While fashioning the home, Deane chose distinct light fixtures, including Austrian Swarovski crystal chandeliers in the formal dining room, Venetian chandeliers in multiple rooms, and a copy of a Versailles chandelier in the Gold Suite, now the Presidential Suite. An intricate Venetian glass custom grape chandelier was chosen for the cantina dining room. The grape chandelier is now located along a wine cellar passage. Fixtures found throughout the house reflect ornate gold-plated designs of Sherle Wagner, an American hardware company. The fixtures were hand-picked by Deane to match the theme of each of the rooms. An Egyptian-themed Sherle Wagner sink with painted hieroglyphics can be found in the bar of the lower Riverview room, now known as the O’Club. This piece highly impressed one of their guests, Ambassador Ahmed Maher El Sayed of Egypt. The 16 bathrooms located within the villa also are affixed with gold Sherle Wagner fixtures, china bowls, gold-plated fittings and hardware.
Marble toilets and bidets also were added. In addition, the luxurious master bathroom suite features a sculpted bathtub located on a platform. The seating and curtains located throughout the house were made with the finest silks and fabrics from various places abroad. In the lakeview living room, the present-day Great Room, Deane placed Holland and French seating pieces around the fireplace. The chairs were upholstered in gold silk or a patterned maroon and gold fabric similar to the patterns of the carpet. The furniture was accentuated by French silk curtains. Deane selected furniture for the home, including a large table for the wine tasting room, which was from Holland and Company, an antique furnishing store in Atlanta. Other pieces in Deane’s home also came from the Holland and Company collection. Kristopher contributed old pieces of furniture from his collection including the dining room table in the cantina. Additionally, Deane brought many pieces of furniture from abroad, including the custom-made Italian “cantina chairs.” Many of the ornate mirrors found within the home were imported from Venice. The original design of the interior integrated art into the walls of the house. During travels to Italy, the Conleys purchased several tiled mosaics from local artisans in Ravenna, Italy. The Conleys visited the mosaic studio, then called Cooperativa Mosaicisti, multiple times during the construction of Villa Collina. The studio is still located on Via Benedetto Fiandrini in Ravenna and is now called Gruppo Mosaicisti di Marco Santi. Deane chose patterns and images for use throughout the home, including the first-floor hallways, cantina, and indoor pool. According to Deane, the mosaics were rolled and shipped to Knoxville
45
from Ravenna. When the mosaics arrived, a local artist was hired to reassemble the mosaics and place them within the wall. For the largest mosaic in the indoor pool and spa area, the Greek god Poseidon, the Conleys had the original mosaic artist from Ravenna visit and stay with them, so he could reassemble the pieces himself. Deane also wanted to incorporate painted murals by local artists. The Conleys commissioned a Knoxville native named John Woodrow Kelley to paint the ceiling of the grand foyer. The painting depicts cherubs in the clouds and a blue sky. Each of the ceiling panels were painted in Kelley’s studio in Brooklyn, New York, shipped to Knoxville, and then installed. Deane had an artist paint a trompe l’oeil on a wall of the cantina. The mural depicts a scene of a beautiful landscape featuring poppies through a large cutout window in the brick. The artist, who was not identified in house records, also painted the murals located in the Caribbean Room. While working on the project, she stayed at the villa.
Large screens depicting angels and cherubs were installed as artwork in the Super Bowl Room, present-day River View room, and master bedroom, which Deane selected from a shop in Atlanta. Deane also purchased several plaster reliefs and placed them around the home. These plaster reliefs can be found near the “his” and “her” necessaries, or bathrooms, on the main level and throughout the cantina, including two large reliefs bolted behind thick Plexiglas. In the realm of using the latest technology into the villa, the Conleys installed 32 built-in Mitsubishi televisions for entertainment, including four located in the Super Bowl Room. At the foot of the bed in the master suite, a television was installed in a fabric covered console, which rose electronically to reveal the screen.
High-end cabinets located in the main kitchen are from a German commercial cabinet company, SieMatic. Throughout the years, SieMatic has released collections based on the styles and tastes of that particular In addition, other local artists painted the oval ceiling in the family year. The company released the “SieMatic Painter’s Collection in 1995,” dining room and the domed ceiling in Deane’s daughter’s suite with which replicated an antique feeling and refined master craftsmanship. bright clouds and blue sky. The children’s room adjacent to the Garden This suited Mike and Deane’s tastes and the design was chosen for the Room Suite, present-day Volunteer Suite, had painted Disney murals. family kitchen. A colorful back-lighted circular stained glass window is According to Deane, the room was painted to be a princess theme. The fitted into the curved plaster of the kitchen ceiling. Created in Istanbul, room is now painted in a sports theme and decked out in bright orange the glass was shipped in pie-shaped wedges and then installed on-site. Another stained glass piece from Turkey can be found above the counter and white University of Tennessee colors. in the Caribbean Room downstairs.
46
Mosaics are found throughout Villa Collina made by artisans in Ravenna, Italy. One of the largest and most impressive is of the Greek god, Poseidon, top right, who keeps watch over the Roman Bath House.
47
48
The closet in the master suite was designed with the Conleys’ needs in mind. The man’s closet incorporated a set of built-in closets and shelves, inspired by an Italian design. While the Conleys spent time abroad, Mike bought silk ties from tie shops in Como, Italy. The builtins are based on the shelving in those shops that allows ties to be rolled up into each individual compartment. The woman’s closet incorporated multiple storage areas for jewelry, makeup, and accessories, including hats and purses. According to the architect, storage for 200 pairs of shoes is located in glass cabinets of the woman’s closet. In addition, three industrial motorized revolving clothes racks are included in the closet, with one dedicated to hold numerous gowns. Shelves for collections of beautiful perfume bottles align the dressing room. During construction, an elevator servicing all three floors was installed in the west wing. The brass commercial elevator features mahogany panels on the interior, giving it a refined appearance. The elevator was produced by a custom company, Bagby Elevator Company, Inc., based in Birmingham, Alabama. Deane, who is from Birmingham, was familiar with the family who owned the company. When contractors demolished the “Yatteau Chateau,” they were able to salvage materials from the existing home, including the kitchen cabinets, which were sanded and repainted to fit within the Villa Collina hallway
leading to the wine cellar. The cabinets provided additional storage and now are used in the catering kitchen for food service in the bar and wine pairing room. The embellishments of the home were not restricted to the interior. Several imported fountains highlight the entrance, motor court, and terraces near the pool. Additionally, two Venetian marble lions were installed on either side of the entrance and below the porte cochere, which still stands today. The lions are now painted in layers of gold and black, covering the pink color of the Venetian marble. Deane refers to Villa Collina as elegant and believes the house reflects a lot of her personality. She put a lot of love and care into decorating each room, referred to as her “projects.” Deane noted she did not have a favorite room since she had worked on the details of each room. These refined features were completed during the final years of construction in the late 1990s. According to the architect, the lavish estate was completed in March of 2000. Previously, the Conleys had opened Villa Collina to guests in late 1998. However, the house continued to be refined over the next year or so. With the finishing touches in place, the Conleys could now open the home to family, friends, and guests to entertain and amaze them.
Two painted Venetian marble lions welcome guests to the main entrance of Villa Collina.
49
The Conleys at Villa Collina With the house completed and adorned with the finishing touches, the Conleys celebrated the opening of their home and 25th wedding anniversary in August 1998 with an intimate party for 75 friends. The party was described as “a perfect background for a movie” in the local newspaper, The Knoxville News Sentinel. The guest list included local politicians, including the Tennessee governor and first lady, and international friends from Turkey and Italy. A newspaper article, dated August 28, 1998, recounted the festivities in great detail. The tables located on the outside terrace were fashioned with white cloths with orchid and tropical flower centerpieces. Candlelit buffet tables featured a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and seafood with a “smorgasbord of desserts.” The guests were dressed in fine clothing, ladies in formal summer gowns and men in tuxedos. Deane, the hostess, wore “a short gown with diagonal stripes of pink and cream with one shoulder bared and a side bow with streamers cascading from the waist to the floor.” With the vibrant sunset over the Great Smoky Mountains and Fort Loudoun Lake, Villa Collina served as the perfect setting for the party to mark the opening of the house.
Villa Collina, staying in the Gold Suite, now the Presidential Suite. During her visit, Betty noted: “I got my exercise this morning. I walked from one end of Deane’s house to the other.” The Gold Suite forever became known as the Betty White Room during the rest of their time at Villa Collina.
The Conleys moved into their new home and began to enjoy the luxurious amenities. Several prominent guests visited Villa Collina while the Conleys owned it, including actors Jack Palance, David Keith, opera singer Mary Costa, known for her role as Princess Aurora in Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, and country music singer Marianne Rogers, now known as Marianne Gordon. Ambassador Ahmed Maher El Sayed of Egypt also stayed with the Conleys when he attended the Knoxville Opera. His visit required the Conleys to use their private plane to travel to Washington, D.C., to retrieve the ambassador. Well-known actress Betty White was a guest at
Deane continued to host large charity events and banquets in her house. When asked what she enjoyed most about Villa Collina, Deane remarked, “I loved entertaining. … I loved having and doing charities, using it for the Symphony, for political functions, fundraisers. … Sometimes we would have as many as 400 people here, inside and out.” Deane’s lavish parties were described in great detail in the Knoxville newspapers. One guest referred to the social activities at Villa Collina as “always glittering.”
50
The Conleys kept a guest book for visitors to sign as they entered the cantina through the bank gate doors, located on a vintage glass check desk. Many famous signatures can be found in the book, including actress Betty White, former Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist and Ambassador Ahmed Maher El Sayed. The guest book remains a tradition as the current owner keeps the book in place near the entrance of the cantina. While living in the house, Deane Conley filed for divorce from Mike. However, Deane continued to live in the villa, enjoying the serenity of the sunrise. She said her favorite thing to do in the home was to write, and she wrote in a large office on the first floor overlooking the river. The beautiful atmosphere surrounding Deane provided inspiration.
In 2002, Deane played host to one of the Knoxville Symphony League’s fundraisers called the “Elegant Dining Series.” On October 1, 2004, Deane hosted a “Victory Gallop Party” for the causes supported by the Baptist Health System Foundation. This particular event honored the memory of Jesse Paige Hazelwood, an avid horse rider, after she passed away in a car accident. The event helped raise funds to establish a scholarship in her name. In combination with another event “Gallop in the Glen,” the Baptist Health System Foundation was able to raise $250,000. In addition to charity events, Deane hosted fundraisers for local politicians to help their campaigns, including City Judge John Rosson. She also hosted local events, honoring the best dressed in Knoxville. Each year, Deane auctioned a dinner for various organizations and charity events for six people to dine in the cantina. The dinners were very popular among the guests of the auction, with large sums of money donated to receive the dinner. One year, the dinner was so popular, Deane auctioned an additional one. Deane said it was often the same couple each year who would win. In addition to her charity events, Deane held large parties for family and friends. On December 31, 1999, Deane hosted 65 guests to welcome the new year and new millennium. The party featured Tyrone Smith Revue of Nashville, a band Deane had booked a year in advance. Ringing in 2000, guests danced to music and enjoyed delicious food from a catered buffet. The night concluded with a “dazzling display of fireworks on Fort Loudoun Lake.” In addition to New Year Eve’s parties, Deane celebrated many Christmases at Villa Collina. She filled the house with “Christmas decorations of white, lime green, and red.” Six large trees were placed throughout the house, including the grand foyer, Super Bowl Room, library, and master bedroom suite. Deane decorated the tree based on the room’s color palette, accentuating each room. The vision and interior design concepts of original homeowner Deane Conley can still be seen throughout Villa Collina. 51
For example, the master bedroom tree was decorated with light blue In return for the kindness she received from the Garrands as a child, and gold ornaments and bows with white lights to complement the Deane wanted to treat children to an unforgettable Christmas celebration walls and columns. while living at the palatial Villa Collina. During the parties, the children sang Christmas carols and made ornaments. A feast, prepared by Villa Some years, Deane would have themes associated with her Christmas Collina staff, was served at the large dining room table, and the children parties. In 2007, she hosted a “Winter Wonderland” party. The party enjoyed homemade ice cream for dessert. was in honor of her friend, Antonio Camali, an Italian jewelry designer. Antonio and Deane met in Venice in 1997. He also owned multiple In the Super Bowl Room, Deane gathered the children to read jewelry boutiques in Italy and visited Villa Collina every December while picture books she had written about a fallen angel named Angellino. Deane lived there. The decorations were elaborate with “snow-clad” In addition, she read the Christmas classic, “The Night Before trees “trimmed with lime-green bows, stylized lime-green pinecones Christmas.” The children then returned to the grand hall with Santa and white snowballs.” The guest list included 175 guests who enjoyed a Claus on the second-floor balcony with large bags of gifts for each buffet of beef tenderloin and chicken in mango sauce, an assortment of child. Deane personally gift-wrapped each present with beautiful cheeses and fruits, and numerous sweets. paper and large bows. One year, she remarked, “It was a wonderful party. The children were so pleased with everything, I had tears in my Known for her elaborate and stunning gowns, The Knoxville News Sentinel often noted the host’s ensemble. For this particular party, Deane was eyes throughout the evening.” outfitted in one of her own designs, a black and white gown “fashioned Other unique activities during the Conley era included the home’s use with a sleeveless black silk chiffon top and straight back silk skirt with as a film set for a small movie. In January 2003, David Keith, an actor and a balloon-style overskirt of white silk taffeta split at the center front.” director, utilized Villa Collina for the filming of Waterville. The project During the Christmas season, Deane hosted a party for approximately was filmed with student actors from the University of Tennessee’s 20 children each year from the Childhelp USA organization, which theater program. helps children who have been abused. According to a newspaper article, Deane’s father passed away when she was a child, and her mother and siblings lived off welfare for much of her childhood. Deane refers to herself as a “rich little poor girl,” saying her family was rich in affection and love, but poor when it came to money. One Christmas during her childhood, Peggy and Henry Garrand, a middle class, childless couple, asked for the name of a fatherless girl at the welfare office. They wanted to treat a child to a special Christmas shopping spree. The name picked was Deane Wright. The Garrands bought Deane a new wardrobe of dresses, coats, skirts, blouses, and shoes. Deane said “she felt like a little princess for that one enchanted day.” An ambitious young girl, Deane grew up to be a successful interior designer in Alabama.
52
While the Conleys owned the property, several times the house was rumored to be for sale, the first being in 1999 when it was completed. In the newspapers, Kristopher Kendrick, a close confidante of Deane, confirmed the rumors were untrue. He said, “That’s the most ridiculous, absurd thing. The house is not on the market – period! It is Mrs. Conley’s residence, and it’s not for sale.” However, Deane soon realized the house was too much for one person to maintain. She commented, “It’s a lot of space and a lot of maintenance.” About a decade after the house was completed, Deane listed the house on the market for $21 million, with the assistance of Debbie ElliottSexton of Alliance Sotheby’s International Realty. A year after the
initial listing, the price dropped to $12.5 million. Eventually, Deane decided to sell the house at a luxury auction and described the move as “a calculated business decision.” She further explained, “The property is much more than I need at this point and I’m ready to move on to the next chapter in my life. I put a lot of work into the home’s custom design and development, and I hope the new owners will enjoy it as much as I have.” Buyers, including professional athletes, musicians, and singers, were rumored to be interested in the luxury real estate, including rap star Sean Combs. Villa Collina, described as a “fun house” by architect Karengaye Johnson, was a valuable piece of property with its panoramic water and mountain views. The house, boasting more than 40,000 square feet, is a unique piece of real estate in Knoxville and Tennessee. While the house was listed for sale, Karengaye explained in a newspaper article, “It is a house like few others in Tennessee, laced with secret passageways, hidden doors, climate-controlled library, gold-leaf faucets, handpainted lavatory bowls, and other features. … We had columns with hidden places that could hide cash or valuables.” At the time, the house also was ideal for celebrities due to its secure location. Prior to the auction, Scott Boruff, then CEO of Miller Energy, a local Knoxville oil company, purchased the house for $9.5 million in the summer of 2011 after negotiating a real estate deal with Deane. Scott, recently widowed, recalled Villa Collina as a new start for him and his family since the passing of his wife from brain cancer two years prior. He remembered passing the house during its construction with his late wife. Deane said, “It’s not even going to be bittersweet. … It’s going to be sweet for me and, I think sweet for Scott, too.” The taxes for Villa Collina at the time of purchase were $59,883.78 for city and $57,449 for county, a hefty price for a single house.
The Boruffs at Villa Collina After Scott Boruff purchased the property, he moved into the house with his three children: Chase, Alec, and Raquel. Scott commented that the children felt a sense of security within the bounds of the property due to a large security fence along Lyons View Pike. After moving into the home, Scott said he performed basic maintenance on the house, which included repairing 10 of the 23 HVAC units. In addition, workers drained the outdoor pool to put in a new gunite, pool deck and added umbrellas, improving the aesthetics. While living at Villa Collina, Scott dated Julie Kentwood, a resident of Philadelphia and mother of four children. Scott showed Julie the lavish house after she flew in from Philadelphia on one trip. As far as her first impression of Villa Collina, Julie described the scenery as gorgeous and beautiful. The interior of the house, she remarked, was stunning. Scott and Julie soon became engaged and joined their families in a wedding weekend celebration at Villa Collina. On the night of Friday, September 27, 2013, the couple exchanged vows in a private, intimate ceremony in their own backyard with close family and friends. On the following night, the newlywed Boruffs hosted a large reception for 450 guests. Guests were greeted by the couple and their children in the grand foyer. Guests came from across the country, including Pennsylvania, New York, and California. It was an exciting moment for the family as both sides of the family met for the first time. Tables filled with food and drinks were set up on the veranda. Children enjoyed a photo booth and ice cream bar on the lawn. A fireworks show set at the end of the evening surprised the guests. As Julie described it, the wedding reception was a “fairytale.” With their families combined, the Boruffs had seven children—four girls and three boys—ranging in age from 11 to 23. Julie and her children moved in with Scott and his children. Many modifications were made to the bedrooms to accommodate the children’s tastes, including paint. According to the Realtor, the master bedroom also changed when Scott 53
initially moved in, giving it a more masculine feeling with darker browns. Scott and Julie reminisced about their favorite times at Villa Collina with their family. Scott recalled spending a lot of time in the Super Bowl Room at the end of the hall, watching movies on Friday night and football on weekends. The Boruffs’ children played games of all kinds with their friends of all ages. The younger children would play hide-and-seek in the wine cellar or capture the flag on the expansive lawn. Older children would play ping pong and arcade games and enjoy swimming in the indoor and outdoor pools. One of their sons, who was training for and playing Minor League Baseball, utilized the indoor pool for morning workouts. The Boruffs hosted birthday and slumber parties for their children. During the twins’ 12th birthday party, Julie created a scavenger hunt for their guests. Clues included: Find the moving room. Where are the angels hiding behind the clouds? How many refrigerators and TVs are located in the house? These occasions were fun for both adults and children with plenty of spaces to entertain.
returning to the landmarks of his youth and featured Burt Reynolds and Ariel Winter. Shot in multiple locations in Knoxville, including Market Square downtown, along the Tennessee River and at Villa Collina, the filming was a unique experience. The Boruffs recalled about 100 film crew members occupying the house for a short period of time. Scott commented, “We got to see a lot and see how our house could transform and look on the big screen. That was exciting.” The film utilized the beautiful master suite and bathroom for a few scenes. One scene shows Winter in the bathtub of the master bathroom sipping wine. Scott noted that the young actress was actually drinking juice since she was underage at the time.
Although the Boruffs had unique experiences at Villa Collina, it was still a large home and regular upkeep was required. The biggest challenge for the Boruffs was maintaining a house this large. According to Scott, you have “indoor cleaning, outdoor cleaning, outdoor mulching, outdoor pool cleaning.” To ease the load, the Boruffs hired Doug Crowe, a former U.S. Marine, to oversee maintenance while they lived at Villa Collina. On Julie said what she misses most at Villa Collina is Christmastime with the a day-to-day basis, with multiple bathrooms, pools, lights, heating and children. She described the house as decorated with 10 large Christmas cooling units, Doug, who continues to work at the villa, said, “Anything trees. With a large dining room table for the entire family, the Boruffs can happen here.” enjoyed Christmas dinner with all of their children and remember the After living in the house for five and a half years, the Boruffs decided to holiday season as a joyous time in the villa. sell it in 2016, marking the end of another era of Villa Collina’s history. While the Boruffs lived in the home, a film called The Last Movie Star was Looking back, Scott reflected on his time spent in the house and noted filmed in June 2016. The movie followed the story of an aging movie star “there were good times, bad times, just like any household” but believed
54
the experience was wonderful overall. With the assistance of Debbie Elliott-Sexton, Scott Boruff ’s original Realtor in the purchase of this home, the couple put the house in a luxury auction. Debbie explained that this type of auction differs from a typical auction. It was not a “holler for a dollar” auction or a distress sale. Debbie had a buyer in mind, one of her own clients who was looking for a home. She coerced the potential buyer, Eric Barton, to attend the auction in October 2016. While touring it, Eric fell in love with the property and later bought it that evening from the Boruffs. Although Eric’s identity was not immediately revealed, Brad Pruitt, the COO of Signature Luxury Auctions, stated after the auction, “What I can tell you is that we have a happy seller and a happy buyer.”
Scott Boruff and wife Julie became the second owners of Villa Collina. 55
56
Act III Eric's Legacy at Villa Collina
57
New Beginnings After a successful bid in the luxury auction, Dr. Eric W. Barton became the third and current owner of Villa Collina. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Eric is the founder, president and CEO of Vanquish Worldwide, LLC, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2011, the company won a $985 million contract with National Afghan Trucking. In addition to Vanquish Worldwide, LLC, Eric owns 28 entities across the country and world, operating in five countries and four continents. This includes businesses such as Vanquish Worldwide, Barton Media and Lexlin Gypsy Ranch. After attending Columbia Theological Seminary, Eric became an ordained minister. As a successful entrepreneur, Eric has received numerous awards and participated in many philanthropic causes. Eric wants Villa Collina to enhance his vision for community outreach. After purchasing the house in October 2016, Eric began inspecting Villa Collina and noticed several concerns. Once Eric realized the major renovations needed to revitalize the house, he decided to make Villa Collina his permanent residence to oversee the changes on a daily basis. On November 26, 2016, after the Thanksgiving holiday, Eric and Leigh Anne Pentecost moved into Villa Collina. Eric immediately started bringing in contractors to complete urgent work. According to Eric, there were sometimes more than 70 contractors on-site in one day working on projects in different parts of the house. The workers replaced large portions of the roof and repaired and repainted exterior walls. Additionally, the marble found throughout the exterior of the house needed repair or replacement. According to Eric, much of the marble’s edging had been damaged or had fallen off. These initial exterior
renovations prevented potentially larger, more extensive problems in the future. In addition to regular maintenance of the house, Eric made it his mission to ensure the energy efficiency of Villa Collina. Within a year of purchasing the home, he installed new Geothermal HVAC and Lutron© systems, reducing his utility bill by thousands of dollars. These updates will be further discussed in greater detail in the following section. Once the major energy-efficiency updates were completed, Eric focused on the interior. Based upon initial impressions, the interior of the house was in good condition upon purchase; however, like each new owner of a home, Eric wanted the house to reflect his tastes and preferences. Eric updated the interior aesthetics with new paint, wallpaper, carpet and additional bookshelves. Additionally, he reupholstered much of the furniture that remained in the house at its purchase, such as the Holland and French seating chairs, couches and all dining room seating in excess of 30 chairs. Several months into ownership and renovations, Eric hired the late Mickey Mallonee as the estate manager in April 2017. Previously, she had been employed as the director of events for Knox Heritage at Historic Westwood and, additionally, worked for the City of Knoxville and two governors. Mickey also owned her own event business, making her a perfect candidate to manage Villa Collina’s numerous events. Her office, referred to as the Garden-Side Office, was located on the main level, across the hall from Eric’s Riverside Office.
TOP: Eric Barton restored several areas of Villa Collina including the indoor pool. MIDDLE: Extensive marble work reshaped the look inside and outside. BOTTOM: Carpets in the library were replaced and custom-cut Persian rugs became stair runners. FAR RIGHT: Special 3M window film installed on all windows helped to prevent sun damage. 58
59
60
and spas to ensure everything is working properly and efficiently. Each day, Doug arrives at Villa Collina before 7 a.m. Each morning, he checks the temperature and walks through the wine cellar before checking the indoor pool and spa downstairs. He also walks through each of the maintenance rooms and through the house to make sure everything is working properly. This walk-through sometimes determines the tasks Mickey knew there would be unique challenges associated with for the day if Doug sees something unusual. He then completes tasks managing a house of such large size. The primary challenge associated such as taking out the garbage and picking up litter by the driveway with Villa Collina, she said, was “just keeping track of everything and gates and security wall. almost knowing daily that there is going to be something you need to fix. Because of its size, there are so many opportunities for things to Doug also watches Eric and Leigh Anne’s two dogs while they are at go wrong, and you do, you truly have to stay on top of it to keep it all work, a Doberman pinscher named Sinatra and a French bulldog named Ava Gardner. Doug says this is his favorite and most rewarding job that working at one time.” he has at the home. Doug contributes to the success of Villa Collina as Doug Crowe, the current maintenance manager and Marine Corps a prominent home and assists in its preservation and maintenance for veteran, is a valuable member of the Villa Collina team. Doug initially future generations. came to the estate during the Boruffs’ ownership; however, he continues his role for the current owner. His duties include overseeing the landscaping, fixing plumbing and electrical issues as they arise, and handling daily maintenance on the indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, Prior to working at the house, Mickey attended a Christmas event at the villa during the 2000s when Deane Conley owned Villa Collina. During that visit, Mickey remembered thinking “elegance” as her first impression of the villa. Mickey remained impressed by the house but walking in every day, she knew she had a job to accomplish.
LEFT: The late Mickey Mallonee, former special events coordinator for the City of Knoxville, served as estate manager for Eric Barton. RIGHT: Doug Crowe serves as maintenance manager at Villa Collina and is an integral part of keeping the systems and structures in the home working properly.
61
Restoring Villa Collina Eric has made several improvements to the house in order to increase the efficiency and security. Components associated with renewed efficiency of the home include sun protection, heating and cooling, and energy consumption.
renovations and vision. This included experts such as Buddy Cruze, owner, and James Roby, service technician, for John H. Coleman Co.; Mark Midyett, of DFASolutions and @home Audio Video Technology; Randy Vaden, who installed and hand-shaved the original carpets; and Doug, the maintenance manager during the Boruff family ownership. Upon his first inspections, Eric noticed the original carpets, furnishings, This has allowed Eric to form a trusted team with experience working and curtains had deteriorated from sun damage. Eric hired Paul with the house and its components to conduct the renovations. Shamiyeh of Energy Control Consultants, Inc. to add a protective layer of film on all of the south-facing windows in the rear of the house. The Coinciding with the window film project, Eric called in Buddy and James south elevation receives the greatest amount of sunlight during the day, to evaluate the current HVAC system. Buddy was part of the team who installed the original HVAC system and became a vital asset in installing causing the most damage. the new system. During the Conleys’ ownership, James served as an The protective layer used, 3M – Prestige Series 50 film, is designed to apprentice to one of the senior technicians, who had Villa Collina as reject around 53 percent of heat into the interior of the house and up one of his projects. After his supervisor retired, James inherited the to 99.9 percent of harmful UV rays. The film comes on large rolls and Villa Collina contract due to his knowledge of the complex layout of the is custom cut to the size and shape of each window in Villa Collina. house and the location of the units. The thin layer is applied with a soap-and-water solution allowing the adhesive to adhere to the glass. With the new film, the effect of heat and According to James, the original HVAC equipment in the house was about UV rays from the sun that cause the fading of materials and furnishings 15 years old and had started to rust. Therefore, the systems were no longer working efficiently. Over the course of the two previous ownerships, is reduced. many of the systems had broken down and needed expensive repairs During the renovation process, Eric said, “We have tried to find original to keep the units running efficiently. With the deteriorated equipment vendors that know the home and know the space.” This included in place, the cooling costs of Villa Collina were relatively high. Since vendors from the initial construction or during different ownership some systems were broken, the other working units ran continuously eras. Many were excited to return to Villa Collina and assist with Eric’s to make up for the non-functioning units.
This floor plan of the lower level of Villa Collina shows several of the mechanical and storage rooms used for equipment that powers systems in the home.
62
63
64
According to James, the HVAC equipment is held within five of seven major equipment rooms. Each room within the house contains a list of equipment for that particular room, allowing new technicians unfamiliar with the house to locate the equipment in an efficient way. The current owners have an ongoing maintenance contract with J.H. Coleman to The new TETCO units are high efficiency with a great energy rating. The perform monthly, semiannual and annual visits to Villa Collina to check units use water-sourced heat pumps with a closed loop, often referred on several different components. to as geothermal. Glycol-based antifreeze runs through the closed loop system, which acts as the airflow in a typical air conditioning unit. The Each month, James comes to Villa Collina for service visits to collect current HVAC units are high-end and expensive and use two-stage data from the cooling tower, clean the strainer and walk through the cooling, which reduces the capacity of the outside cooling tower. equipment rooms, looking for odd vibrations or spillages. He also Based on the original estimate, Eric believed he needed to replace only half of the units, which totaled to 12 units. However, upon further consideration, the knowledgeable team from J.H. Coleman replaced all 23 units at a cost of more than $450,000.
conducts semiannual and annual appointments to check additional components of the HVAC system. The semiannual visits involve checking units associated with the upcoming season. During the springtime, James and other technicians complete an extensive examination of the cooling tower, ensuring all spray jets are working properly. During the fall, the staff from J.H. Coleman perform a boiler test to ensure the tank is working properly for wintertime. The annual appointment includes collecting a water sample for testing to check on corrosion and antifreeze levels. If a breakdown occurs, the technicians from J.H. Coleman will Installing a new system posed several challenges, including a size make additional service visits to resolve the problems. difference between the new rectangular units and the existing cubic units. In some cases, particularly for those units located in the attic, the After installation, J.H. Coleman collaborated with DFASolutions to units had to be disassembled and reassembled to fit within the confines incorporate the HVAC system and corresponding thermostats into the of the space. In other cases, new locations were found to store the air- LutronŠ control system. With the LutronŠ system, Eric and the Villa Collina handling units. staff have full control over the heating and cooling within the house. According to James, these HVAC units are typically used for commercial or office buildings due to the room constraints for outdoor units. This allows the equipment to be contained within the infrastructure of the house and not on the exterior, reducing noise and keeping the aesthetic on the terraces and patios in the rear. James noted it would be difficult to place 23 condensing units on the exterior of the house and conceal them from guests. The units, which made the house much more energy efficient, also have a 10-year guarantee on parts and labor.
Eric Barton replaced all 23 HVAC units with TETCO energyefficient geothermal units housed inside the home, so as to not disrupt the external aesthetic of Villa Collina. 65
The electrical staff collaborated with staff from J.H. Coleman to incorporate the HVAC systems into the Lutron© system. The thermostats are located within closets or discreet areas of the house, such as the Butler’s Pantry. This reduces what Mark refers to as “wall acne,” large control panels with many buttons, and keeps the walls clean and fresh. Additionally, Mark and his team updated the security system and During the early 2000s, Villa Collina had the largest Lutron© system installed an improved multilayered surveillance system. within a private home, one of the new technologies at the time. Eric wanted to update the old system to present-day technologies, so Mark The electrical and HVAC systems can be controlled by a series of apps on and his team replaced all the Lutron© processors with upgraded units an iPhone, iPad, iPad mini or Android phone. The Lutron© app controls and replaced all the switches with new lighting themes and controls. the lighting, heating and cooling, and the window treatments. An additional app controls the multi-room audio and audiovisual systems, Mark and his team created a state-of-the-art system for Villa Collina where the owner can choose a song playlist to listen to or cable channels that included installing new 4K televisions, a unified control interface, to watch. In addition, another app controls the surveillance and security multi-room audio, and commercial Wi-Fi throughout the house and system, looking at multiple cameras installed through the house. With outside. In many cases, several TVs are within one space, allowing a touch of a button, the owner can control all fireplaces, 23 HVAC units, multiple viewings of sports coverage and other programming. Because of lighting and blinds, TVs and audio, door access, and both outdoor and internet demand during social and community events, the technicians indoor security from anywhere in the world. installed a system to handle Wi-Fi for more than 200 users at a time. That is atypical for a private residence but allows all guests to engage in The technologies used in the house are common in today’s tech-savvy social media and the internet while visiting and promoting their events world. According to Mark, with such a large house, it becomes a unique and fundraisers. but sometimes challenging project. One of the challenges for installing and updating the system is the scope of the structure, engineered to In order to reduce energy consumption and heat from the sun, automatic maximum capacity. blinds are used throughout the house. As the sun rises in the east each morning, the blinds close to reduce heat gain. During the day, as the The systems currently installed in the home use the most up-to-date sun’s position changes, blinds will slowly open to allow sunlight into technologies. However, Mark noted that technology is always going to the rooms. change. For the most part, access to the electrical systems is easy but some confined areas within the home may be more difficult. Mark Midyett, the audio and lighting specialist, wired the house when it was first constructed. He returned during the renovation process to incorporate new technology, including an improved system. In addition to the Lutron© system, he updated the lighting, audio and video systems to current standards.
Mechanical rooms contain racks for servers and other equipment that manage systems in the home such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, raising/lowering window treatments and more.
66
67
68
The Lutron© system has multiple ways to control one area with each button labeled with the corresponding function. For example, in the grand foyer, the Lutron© keypad controls lighting in the Grand Foyer, Formal Dining Room, Parlor, Great Room, outside lights, portico lights, fountains, and breezeways. In addition to the buttons listed, one button controls all the lights and it is marked as “house off.” This allows Eric to shut off all the lights with one press of a button as he is leaving. The Lutron© systems allows owners to add complementary music and sound to every event hosted at the villa from soothing music for intimate romantic evenings or pumped-up bass for loud, energetic pool parties. The system enhances the ambience and establishes the mood for each gathering.
the lights and fountains all function as normal, whether or not the home is occupied. Eric also replaced all the incandescent lightbulbs in the house with new, efficient LED lightbulbs. Local electric companies, Edison Electric and McGaha Electric, recommended the switch to reduce energy consumption. One of Mickey Mallonee’s first tasks as estate manager was ordering $64,000 worth of lightbulbs. With the purchase of 7,600 lightbulbs, technicians replaced all the lightbulbs, including those in the chandeliers, outdoor lighting and lighting above columns.
The fixtures in the home, including the chandeliers, recessed lights, accent lights and outdoor lights, also had to be upgraded to accommodate LED bulbs. Second, all of the switches, dimmers and controls were upgraded © Doug, the maintenance manager, said the upgraded Lutron HomeWorks with the Lutron© HomeWorks QS technology and incorporated into the QS System has made his job simpler. It has increased the tasks associated home’s master control system. with the house but allows problems within the systems to be identified According to Eric, these energy-saving solutions “have resulted in our quickly, minimizing damage and cost. KUB (Knoxville Utilities Board) monthly utility bill being reduced by © Lutron controls several systems, including lights, window treatments, several thousand dollars.” Although the upgrades were expensive, heating, cooling and fountains, and takes a 60-day average of normal the savings over time is much greater. These new systems add to the everyday use. The smart system will implement the same schedules efficiency of the home and allow Eric to manage the estate’s energy while residents are away by utilizing the “vacation mode” feature. So, consumption from anywhere in the world.
FAR LEFT: All lightbulbs in Villa Collina have been upgraded to energy-efficient LED lighting, including these custom fixtures over the dance floor in the Caribbean Room. LEFT: Even the chandelier in the Grand Foyer now boasts LED bulbs.
69
Villa Collina features a state-of-the-art landscape audio system featuring Sonance Landscape Series speakers broken into three independent zones, each featuring discrete speakers and subwoofers that provide even coverage at any volume level and blend into the environment. The main pool zone is the largest of the landscape zones and features 20 landscape speakers, four powerful in-ground subwoofers, and 3,000 watts of dedicated power! The system can create a club-like atmosphere outside at loud volumes with no distortion, but also can provide nice background music that covers the space evenly and thoroughly. The Motion sensors installed in many rooms will turn on the lights and then amplifier features a custom DSP (digital signal processing) profile off after five minutes of inactivity. This is especially helpful in restrooms to optimize the speakers and subwoofers for the space, maximizing and common areas when guests are in the house and may be unsure performance. where to find the switch. A space as large as Villa Collina presents challenges. One of those The pool area had no electricity for lighting, so Eric installed electricity challenges is communicating with everyone throughout the property for new lights. Fountain and water areas were upgraded with new lights at one time when a large event is happening. Eric tasked Magnolia that can produce any combination of colors with a touch of a button in with integrating a PA system into his existing whole-home speaker the WiFi-104 app. Custom color themes for holidays or special events system. Magnolia installed a Savant intercom server, integrated it with are simple. The Lutron© app also sets timers for the light features. the audio matrix, and created custom programming within the Savant Villa Collina is a “smart house” and the operating system for the home Pro apps to use the iPad’s built-in microphones to make house-wide is Savant, updated by Magnolia AV. Villa Collina features the first Savant announcements. When making an announcement, the music is muted, “Super Pro Host” installed in the state of Tennessee, featuring enough and the announcement will play through the speakers. Then, the music processing power to handle the thousands of simultaneous commands will resume at the previously set volume level. If the speakers were not that it sometimes receives with ease, while providing room to grow and on previously, they will be turned on to play the announcement, and expand the system for years to come. Savant unites control of all the then turned back off. The paging system can be used throughout the audio and video throughout Villa Collina with handheld remote controls home, or certain targeted groups of rooms can be selected based on the for televisions throughout the home and wall-mounted iPads with the event and application of the paging system. The processors and switches were replaced, and power interfaces and panels upgraded to accommodate new lighting themes and controls. Utilizing radio frequency (RF) technology, the wireless series does not require special or additional wiring to install, making it ideal for existing homes or to expand a system. HomeWorks learns the homeowner’s habits, making it easier to manage day-to-day operations of the lights. Even large areas or zones of the home and grounds can be set and turned on or off, such as the back terrace or the Grand Foyer.
Savant app in strategic places throughout the home, as well as control of the Lutron© HomeWorks lighting system.
Every fountain at Villa Collina has been restored and features updated technology, including timers, pressure and stream controls and custom LED lights – all controlled by apps on the homeowner’s phone. 70
71
72
Security at Villa Collina Eric values safety and security and has updated the entire security profile at Villa Collina. The gates, alarm, surveillance, doors and windows are monitored by incognito systems, and extra measures were taken to ensure it’s a warm and inviting home. Award-winning commercial grade door locking system, PDK Security—installed by The Flying Locksmiths—keep all doors locked and through an app, one or all doors can be easily opened. An access card or designated code can be assigned to guests or contractors, so they have access to certain doors at certain times of the day. The access-control system is customizable and cloudbased and received the 2018 “Security Today New Product of the Year Award” for Best New Access Control Software/Controllers. The owner can lock or unlock doors and manage the system with his smartphone from anywhere in the world and receive real-time customizable alerts via text or email for activity out of the ordinary and reports about who accessed the home and when. Working in aggregation with PDK, the surveillance system includes 16 cameras strategically placed around the property with wide-angle views of ingress/egress points. As with the other systems, the owner can bring up a live video from any of these cameras from a smartphone. It’s capable of recording all movements and can be reviewed or send notifications if something is out of the ordinary. Over time, the PDK system will learn the movement of people through certain doors at specific times and when the owners are home or not. So, when something out of the ordinary occurs, the phone app will text and email that an anomaly
in the system has been observed. This comprehensive system is the epitome of peace of mind. The earlier discussed window protection, the 3M – Prestige Series 50 film, also has the extra benefit of adding a layer of security. The film is tear-resistant to protect people and deter property crimes. Additionally, every room is equipped with a glass break monitor, which sends an alert if any windows are broken. The KEYper® system, pronounced keeper, is another added feature to Villa Collina security. Mounted on the west wall of the garage, the KEYper® Elite Series is an electronic key management system and ideal for keys and assets that require the highest level of security and accountability. It’s capable of reporting as well to provide real-time data that can be automatically generated and sent to multiple users by email or text. Only authorized users are able to access the electronic key management system. For example, to access the Aston Martin’s car key, a person has to use a badge or assigned pin number and tell it which key is wanted. The system takes a photo of the person seeking access and opens the door. The key will light up and that’s the only key that can be removed. The same process happens when returning the key. If a person who is not authorized tries to gain access, it will take a photo, alert the owner via text or email, and sound an alarm. Eric said, “It’s a state-of-the-art system that’s convenient, reliable, and you know who has which keys, which is priceless when you have five children.”
Villa Collina is a high-tech fortress with security that isn’t obvious but surveils and secures the entire property. 73
Experiencing Villa Collina Villa Collina is a well-known landmark in the Knoxville community with its massive yet iconic gates facing Lyons View Pike. What lies beyond the gates is a large home with a fluid floorplan, exquisite entertainment spaces and magnificent views of Fort Loudoun Lake. When Eric purchased Villa Collina, he was presented with a challenging question: What can you do with a 40,250-square-foot home? Eric wanted to attain the maximum use for the property and at the same time help the many great causes within the Knoxville community and East Tennessee. According to Eric, “There are so many wonderful things we can do both from a nonprofit and fundraising standpoint.” Throughout the years, this property has entertained the Knoxville elite and continues to do so today under the current ownership. With the countless improvements now completed, Eric wants to open Villa Collina to others, allowing both large organizations and small groups to host special occasions, events and fundraisers. Great entertaining options include the large Grand Foyer area, the Caribbean Room, the O’Club and the multiple dining areas within the wine cellar.
During Eric’s ownership, Villa Collina has served as host for multiple high-profile Knoxville events. One of the first large events hosted by Eric was the Knoxville Opera Guild fundraiser in the summer of 2017. “Under the Tuscan Moon” featured an exclusive wine-pairing dinner with the Italian villa as the perfect venue with its beautiful setting on the lake. The Knoxville Opera Guild fundraiser brochure exclaimed: “Let us transport you to Tuscany (during a full moon!) with delicious Italian food by Chef Holly Hambright, musical entertainment and opportunities to win Italian-themed packages.” The event included guided tours of Villa Collina and the opportunity to view extraordinary Italian sports cars on display in the motor court. The Knoxville Opera Guild has hosted martini parties at private homes since 1998. Michael Torano, who was the director of marketing and public relations for the Knoxville Opera, said that the event had to be moved to larger public venues due to increased attendance. However, with Eric opening his large home for such events, the fundraiser was able to return once again to a private home. “Under the Tuscan Moon,” attended by 224 guests, was the most-successful fundraiser in the guild’s history, far exceeding expectations. Torano called Villa Collina “an incredible venue.” The following year in 2018, the Guild’s theme was “A Venetian Masquerade,” and the event was held on the sprawling patios on a warm June evening with guests in festive cocktail attire and, of course, masks.
Villa Collina’s unique size and decadent interior make it suitable for a variety of events. Large open spaces are the perfect setting for speaking engagements, live entertainment, galas, holiday parties, weddings and other special occasions. The villa’s smaller, more intimate spaces offer an elegant setting for board meetings, corporate retreats and other special community events. The more than 80 separate spaces within Villa Collina offer limitless possibilities with individualized ambience Eric, an entrepreneur, loves to share his home and expertise with organizations he is passionate about in the community. In 2017, Eric and amenities.
The terraces at Villa Collina overlooking the river and mountains provide the perfect spot to entertain and host large events.
74
75
76
was appointed to a leadership position with the Tennessee Veterans Business Association (TVBA). As part of introducing new members to the organization, Eric hosted a successful network event at the villa for prospective and current members. Other events held at Villa Collina in the past include the U.S. Marine Corps Ball, an extravagant event to honor the founding of the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775. The occasion included a formal ceremony, delicious dinner and dessert, and live entertainment.
nearby Lakeshore Park, and local churches have graciously allowed parking on their sites for large events held at Villa Collina. This has greatly decreased the number of cars parking at the villa, where parking surface is limited.
Villa Collina also is ideal for small, intimate events. Eric has hosted several dinners for close families and friends within the wine cellar. Often, a local catering company will prepare a meal served on the family’s fine china, along with a wine tasting in the Pairing Room. According to Villa Collina started hosting the University of Tennessee’s School of Eric, these dining experiences are unique and filled with great food and Music annual “Holiday Musicale” in 2017, welcoming 200 guests and great company, impressing all who attended. In the future, Eric hopes 25 or so musicians from the school in a beautiful evening of music to offer this one-of-a-kind experience to small groups of six to eight and camaraderie. In January of 2019, Lee Greenwood performed in the people, such as couples, for special occasions. Leigh Anne, in particular, Grand Foyer for about 100 guests of TVBA. Many veterans and their enjoys the smaller events because she can interact with the attendees families attended, and Greenwood sang for about an hour, ending with and then provide a personal guided tour of the home. She looks forward to hosting small events and large corporate functions at Villa Collina in an inspiring performance of “God Bless the USA.” the near future. A darling of country music, Sara Evans, performed at Villa Collina benefiting Maryville College scholarships; Suzy Booker, event organizer Villa Collina features a walking tour, allowing visitors to learn about the for the college said it was “a fun night and a great success.” In addition, architectural features and Eric’s varied collections within many of the multiple themed parties have been held at Villa Collina, including rooms when personal tours are not practical, particularly at large events. several pool parties and a Gatsby-themed company Christmas party. A list of rooms and their prominent features can be found near the end of this book, allowing readers to pick the best space for your event. Villa Collina provides the perfect location for events. Eric has wisely made connections with his neighbors for a solution to parking for large numbers of guests. His neighbors, Tom and Anna Ford,
FAR LEFT: Annie Pentecost and Eric Barton enjoy the fireworks display during "Bee’s Knees NYE: A 2020 Affair," a fundraiser benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. TOP: The U.S. Marine Corps Ball celebrated the 1775 founding of the U.S. Marines. MIDDLE: The University of Tennessee’s School of Music performers delight attendees. BOTTOM: The home is especially festive during the holidays.
77
78
The Legacy of Villa Collina Throughout its eras of ownership, Villa Collina has served as an ornate are held at Villa Collina. She hopes Eric and future owners continue to space for hosting guests and events. The players in Villa Collina’s story— open the house to the public for all to appreciate. those involved in its design, construction, and ownership—are certain Scott Boruff, the second owner of Villa Collina, said he opened the the home will have an important legacy in the Knoxville community. house to his family and friends for all sorts of occasions such as Reflecting on her time at the villa, Deane, one of the original owners, birthday parties, weddings, children’s events, and junior and senior hopes the house will remain on Lyons View Pike and receive the proper prom pictures. He added that “to be able to use this house as a tool to care it needs to continue to stand on the edge of the lake for years to come. give back to the community would be a blessing.” When asked his advice According to Karengaye, the architect and project manager, Villa Collina for future owners, Scott said, “Due to Villa Collina’s notoriety within was never meant to “detract from the neighborhood but rather to elevate Knoxville and East Tennessee, any future owners will definitely be in it.” She said, “We wanted to put a piece of architecture that would be the public spotlight.” timeless and would not have a date to it.” In this sense, the Italian villa The late Mickey Mallonee, a longtime resident of Knoxville and truly appears to have been transported from Lake Como in Italy and estate manager, believed Villa Collina was a one-of-a-kind facility for strategically placed on the banks of the Tennessee River. entertaining, describing it as a “showplace” and having it in Knoxville Keith Edmondson, the contractor, takes a lot of pride in the work he was “just one more feather in our cap.” conducted on the house, especially since both his father and son also Eric, the current owner, hopes future owners of Villa Collina will worked on the project. He hopes “the city of Knoxville will always continue to update the technology of the house and further his new cherish it.” He adds that the house is “more of a showplace or an area of legacy for the home. This includes opening the home to the Knoxville function for the community” rather than a home. community and East Tennessee. As the largest estate in Tennessee, he Debbie Elliott-Sexton, the Realtor involved in previous sales of Villa wants the community to have a sense of pride and connection with Collina, knows the house raises mystery and curiosity as people drive Villa Collina. Eric sums up his involvement and legacy of Villa Collina as by and peek through the gates. However, with Eric’s plans for the home, an owner in that he hopes “the home is better suited for entertaining, the mysteriousness of the house will be revealed as more public events for fundraising, and for use in the community than we found it.”
Villa Collina is the perfect blend of classic elements with technological advances and remains a jewel in the community. 79
80
The Rooms of
VILLA COLLINA
81
The magnificent Grand Foyer is the hub of Villa Collina with soaring ceilings and a show-stopping grand staircase.
82
Enter into luxury Grand Foyer Parlor Formal Dining Room Great Room Colonnaded Hallways
T
The Grand Foyer offers views from the front to back of Villa Collina and features a Weber grand piano from the 1890s.
he Grand Foyer is a two-story magnificent space with a graceful curved marble stair leading to the private family quarters and bedroom suites. The treads of the stair are low in height to allow individuals to elegantly ascend or descend. The balustrade of the grand stair features wrought iron banisters with a gold leaf dogwood pattern. A dazzling Swarovski crystal chandelier glistens above the Turkish marble floors. The vaulted ceiling is painted with cherubs playing in the clouds of a bright blue sky. John Woodrow Kelley painted the ceiling for the original owners of Villa Collina during the initial construction of the house. The painted ceiling is accentuated by gold detailing on the frieze and capitals of the pilasters on the second floor. The Grand Foyer serves as the epicenter of Villa Collina, connecting to the other sections of the house. The large room opens into smaller, intimate areas such as the Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Great Room, and the colonnaded hallways. These rooms
83
are set apart from each other by intricately detailed white columns or a change in floor height. Furthermore, lights above the column capitals illuminate and draw attention to the space. The bronze eagle standing close to the grand staircase, created by the artist Jules Moigniez, a French sculptor, is an addition from Eric’s collection. A similar bronze eagle statute stood in the Riverside Office during the Conleys’ ownership. Adjacent to the bronze eagle, the original 1890s Weber elegant grand piano remains beneath the stair, as it has throughout all three periods of ownership.
Within this collection, there are 500 antique clocks of various sizes and styles, from small ornate mantel clocks to large elaborate grandfather clocks. They can be found throughout the rooms of the house, including within the main Grand Foyer area and colonnaded halls. Wool Aubusson carpets of maroon and gold featuring the Villa Collina insignia and handwoven by women in North Carolina cover the floors of the Parlor.
The Formal Dining Room is located to the west of the Grand Foyer and is delineated by a series of columns. A long mahogany table, which can comfortably seat 18 people, allows a large family to dine together during The Parlor, referred to previously as the Garden View Living Room, is celebrations and holidays. The dining area contains three Austrian adjacent to the east side of the Grand Foyer. It features a large marble crystal chandeliers that shimmer above the dining table. Arched-panel fireplace, imported from Italy. Most of the furnishings located in these mirrors line the wall, providing an illusion that seems to expand the grand rooms are part of the Barton family antique furniture collection. size of the room through their reflection. English Wedgwood dishware
The Parlor houses part of the homeowner’s clock collection, including the grandfather clock (far right in corner) from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Silver Jubilee. 84
85
86
In the Formal Dining Room, the mahogany table is surrounded by Holland and French chairs upholstered in Italian velvet.
French sculptor Jules Moigniez created the powerful bronze eagle statue in the Grand Foyer. 87
The sunken Great Room affords visitors beautiful views of Villa Collina’s indoor and outdoor areas. 88
from Eric’s collection is on display in the dining area. Moving from the Grand Foyer toward the river is a sunken living area. In the past, the previous owners have referred to it as the Lakeview Living Area. Now known as the Great Room, it features large panes of glass to showcase views of the expansive marble terraces and outdoor pool area. A majestic lion is centered within the window opening, standing guard of Villa Collina. While it was alive, the lion was originally held at a Wisconsin zoo. Unfortunately, the lion passed away at the zoo and was preserved through taxidermy. Eric received the stately lion from a previous owner who obtained it from the zoo, and it is now a striking piece within his collection at Villa Collina.
The Lion King is a preserved 10-year-old lion who passed away from natural causes at a Wisconsin zoo.
The colonnaded hallways with vaulted ceilings and illuminated columns extend to the west and east wings of the first level. Fifty-seven-foot wool Aubusson maroon and gold carpet runners replicate the same pattern and material as the carpets found in the Parlor and Great Room. Small niches in the hallways hold other objects within Eric’s collections. The East Colonnade contains one of the original mosaic tiled murals from Ravenna, Italy, depicting a colorful peacock spreading its feathers.
89
Symmetry and architectural details abound throughout Villa Collina.
90
The East and West Colonnade Hallways are mirror images with illuminated columns and arched ceilings. 91
Experience every meal Family Dining Room Kitchen Butler’s Kitchen
I
nitially, the design for the Family Dining Room was based on the iris, Tennessee’s state flower. While many of the original iris details remain, including the ornate chandelier, the current owners made renovations in 2017, including new paint and carpeting. The carpet reflects the shape of the decorative trim on the ceiling, like many of the rooms within the house. In this dining area, the marble fireplace was ordered from Italy during the first owners’ many trips.
The house features artifacts representing music and instruments throughout the ages from a classic piano to a jukebox to this hand-cranked music player.
92
The Family Dining Room pays homage to the iris, Tennessee’s state flower. An iris-themed Venetian glass chandelier is the most expensive chandelier in Villa Collina.
93
German SieMatic cabinets provide a clean white backdrop to the home’s main kitchen. 94
An extraordinary stained-glass light fixture crowns the kitchen. It takes a team to change the lightbulbs!
Many family members or guests can comfortably fit in the kitchen while meals are being prepared. 95
The Kitchen features the original SieMatic cabinets from Germany with antique detailing and a clean white finish. Eric and his family enjoy the espresso machine each morning. The family bar area is perfect for family to come together and enjoy the scenery outside while a meal is being prepared. A beautiful multi-colored circular stained glass ceiling, constructed by artisans and shipped from Turkey, is mounted within the molded plastered ceiling.
TOP LEFT: Glass doors within the Butler’s Kitchen cabinetry make it easy to find tableware for events. ABOVE: An arched stained glass window brings light and beauty to the Butler’s Kitchen.
The Butler’s Kitchen is located across the hall from the Kitchen, near the Formal Dining Room. The door is hidden within the paneling of the wall, concealing it from guests. With a large island, this kitchen is perfect for storing food for large meals and for catering purposes. This kitchen features a large island for food preparation and access to the Formal Dining Room through a swinging door. A large stained glass piece hangs in the window. A cleaning closet is concealed within the pantry for villa staff ’s use. In the Butler’s Kitchen, preparations by caterers can be out of view in a space dedicated to their needs while preparing food for events at Villa Collina. 96
97
The main floor His Necessary features wall fabric from Dubai and Venetian glass mirrors. 98
The main floor Hers Necessary and all others in Villa Collina feature motion lights so guests do not have to find the switch in an unfamiliar space.
Get ready in rich comfort Necessaries
T
he Bird Necessary is just one of 16 necessaries, or bathrooms, found within the home. Each one often follows the theme of adjacent rooms. The necessaries feature Sherle Wagner marble bidets and toilets with gold-plated lids, and Sherle Wagner basins and fittings. The Sherle Wagner faucets are unique in style with many different types. Founded in 1945, Sherle Wagner, a New York-based company, has provided premier hardware and bath accessories to create luxury bathrooms for famous clientele such as U.S. presidents and well-known movie actors and actresses. Many of the necessaries feature highly decorated wallpaper and expensive fabric wall coverings from Dubai, including the Bird Necessary and the His and Hers Necessaries, all of which are located on the first floor. The His necessary features black granite flooring, toilet and sink with gold fabric wall coverings, while the Hers necessary has light pink marble flooring, toilet and sink. The necessaries often contain large, ornate mirrors imported from Venice, Italy.
Sherle Wagner high-end bath hardware in the home exceeds $900,000, and some of the fixtures are so fancy, instructions are posted for guests. 99
Read in the quietude Tri-Level Library Riverside Office Garden-side Office
T
hree stories in height, the library is one of the most remarkable spaces within the private residence. The library contains custom-built shelves and recessed paneling of rich-colored wood, built by Louisville Lumber & Millwork of Kentucky. The pieces were shipped from Kentucky to Villa Collina, where the general contractor and his team installed the sections into place. The library can hold 10,000 books, and many of the current holdings are first editions and a part of Eric’s antique book collection. In addition to the books, 100 antique clocks line the bookshelves. The library is adorned with small marble columns with gold ionic capitals. Eric installed new burgundy carpet of New Zealand wool in the library due to sun damage on the original carpets from the large south-facing windows.
The remarkable three-story library has hosted events such as a murder mystery dinner and a documentary team filming a story about Princess Diana. 100
101
102
The middle level of the library features an impressive stone fireplace that was salvaged from a large house on Kingston Pike, called the Alexander Bonnyman residence. Designed by Barber & McMurry, the house was demolished in the 1990s, while Villa Collina was under construction. Kristopher Kendrick, the local preservationist and designer, tried to save architectural pieces from buildings in Knoxville on the wrecking ball list. Many of these pieces can be seen throughout Villa Collina. The second level of the library features a cantilevered walkway, which can be accessed by a custombuilt spiral stair, constructed by Southeastern Stair & Millwork Company of Cleveland, Tennessee. The lower level of the library features a pool table that the Conleys found at a pool hall in Cleveland, Ohio. The pool table contains a heavy one-and-a-half-inch-thick piece of slate, allowing the table to be a flat surface for playing pool and billiards. The lower level of the library features a corner for playing chess, a pool table and treasured family photos.
In one of the octagonal walls on the top floor of the library, a hidden door leads to a meditation room off the master bedroom. 103
The Riverside Office is currently Eric’s office. The open windows allow him to look toward the river as he is working at his desk. There is great appeal in having such a large home office with beautiful views and plenty of storage. This office features similar wood custom cabinetry and shelving found in the library. Here, within the bookshelves and cabinets, Eric holds some of his favorite memorabilia.
104
The Riverside Office is Eric Barton’s home office. Many personal items are on display within the rich mahogany woodwork and beautiful carved fireplace.
105
106
The Garden-Side Office is on ground level in the front of Villa Collina and used by guests or staff.
The Garden-Side Office, located across from the Riverside Office on the first floor, can be occupied by the estate manager. The job entails overseeing the management of events and work completed at Villa Collina. Positioned along the colonnaded hallway and adjacent to the Grand Foyer, the Garden-Side office is the perfect spot to oversee planning and coordinate specialists involved in renovation efforts. The office contains a beautiful Sherle Wagner gold sink.
A Sherle Wagner gold sink adorns the Garden-Side Office.
107
The comfortable River View Room is home to rare and unusual colors of Wedgwood china that can be found throughout Villa Collina. 108
Entertain in style River View Room O’Club
T
he River View Room is the ultimate entertaining room with four large 4K TVs, allowing multiple games and channels to be viewed at one time. With its large two-story windows, the River View Room is named after the space’s beautiful views of the Tennessee River, known as Fort Loudoun Lake as it wends through Knox County. Once referred to as the Super Bowl Room, this room was host to Super Bowl game parties in the winter within the present-day River View Room and O’Club. While the Boruffs lived in the house, they had multiple young children who hosted movie nights and slumber parties for their friends. Some of the furniture contained within this room is original to the house. However, original pieces have been reupholstered by the current owner. A large folding screen with a depiction of angels is mounted on the wall above the stairs. The original owner, Deane Conley, brought several of these folding screens to use as decoration at Villa Collina, including the master bedroom.
Unique alcoves are found throughout the home and feature pieces from Eric Barton’s vast antique, clock and art collections. 109
Downstairs, the O’Club, short for Officer’s Club, is a great room for entertaining with a full bar and access to the large pool table in the lower level of the library. The curving staircase, leading from the River View entertainment room to the O’Club, features an ornate wrought iron balustrade with intricate, swirling curvilinear designs. The bar features a Sherle Wagner Egyptian-styled basin with painted hieroglyphics and gold fixtures. A stained glass window behind the bar originally came from the old Louisville and Nashville train station downtown, now occupied by L&N STEM Academy. The glass curio cabinets along the walls contain Eric’s assortment of steins and other collectibles. The ceiling of the O’Club features a hexagonal tray, adding more depth to the room. A door to the right of the bar leads to the catering kitchen, which services both the O’Club and dining rooms within the wine cellar.
The O’Club is an ode to military officers and the homeowner’s military past. Busts of Napoleon and Alexander the Great, swords and replica ships are among the items on display. 110
111
Savor every sip Wine Tasting Room Wine Pairing Room Cantina Vault
A
s guests enter into the old wooden doors of the wine cellar on the lower level, they are transported into an Italian cantina with brick walls and exposed wood trusses. Along the long hallway, a wine tree and glass enclosures line the wall holding labels and wine corks, mementos of previous owners and current owners. Down the hall, a wine pairing room is located to the right, through a doorway framed with faux columns. With its rich wood paneling, beautiful wood carved table and chairs, the wine pairing room is an intimate dining room with plenty of ambience. Marble reliefs depicting the four seasons are located in the alcoves with a marble carved trough centered within the wall, all imported from Italy. The antique table is from Holland and Company in Atlanta, and the chairs are from the old Orangery Restaurant on Kingston Pike. Exposed painted wood beams within this room were salvaged from the Alexander Bonnyman residence. Along with the ornate stone fireplace found in the library, the painted wood beams were located in the living room of the grand house. Historic photographs show the fireplace and wood beams in its original context of the Bonnyman residence. Barber & McMurry designed the house, and it is believed that the painted decorations on the beams and other parts of the former Bonnyman house were completed by Hugh Tyler, an artist who worked for the firm. Rare architectural relics can be found throughout the house, but especially in the cantina.
112
Villa Collina’s expansive Wine Cellar and Cantina can hold up to 100,000 bottles and is based on a 16th century Italian villa called Villa d’Este on Lake Como.
113
114
The Wine Pairing Room has rich paneled wood and a roundtable to seat eight. Salvaged painted beams adorn the ceiling.
No detail was left untouched in the cellar, including custom-made wine holders in the ceiling trusses.
As guests descend a small ramp, to the right from the Wine Pairing Room, they will find large marble reliefs behind Plexiglas, replicas imported from Italy, adding to the atmosphere and timelessness of the cantina. Further down the hall is a wood door with iron bars, which was from a deteriorating building on the Caribbean Island of Eleuthera that was imported by the original owners. The door is placed to appear as a secret entrance but it is a false door, making guests believe the wine cellar is larger than it seems. Beyond the faux door, bronze gates with bold ionic columns mark the entrance for the maze-like, captivating cantina. Within the gates, a vintage glass top check writing desk holds a guest book for guests to write their names. The gates and check writing desk came to Villa Collina from the former Hamilton National Bank in downtown Knoxville. The building is now known as The Holston and houses luxury condominiums for downtown residents. Stained glass windows from a local Knoxville artist are installed near the entrance, enhancing the space.
115
Within the 2,600-square-foot wine cellar, designed to hold 7,600 bottles, wine racks are seen in alcoves as guests walk along the curving path. The wine racks were custom-built by the contractor’s father and weathered to look worn and old. Stairs, niches and openings within the brickwork encourage the labyrinthlike paths of the cantina. Throughout the cantina, villa guests discover many surprises. Within the maze, guests find a small, intimate wine pairing room with a small table surrounded by multiple wine racks. Old exposed wood beams on the ceiling are from an old warehouse located on Baxter Avenue that has since been demolished. A stone plaque from Bologna University in Italy is embedded within the brick wall. A custom-designed grape chandelier from Venice, moved from the cantina dining room, illuminates the pathway of the cantina. One of the alcoves guarded by repurposed church gates holds the private wine collection, which is stored for special guests and occasions.
The Cantina Dining Room is an intimate and beautiful place where small parties are entertained. Italian tradition dictates that only the most esteemed guests dine in the cantina. 116
117
A bank check writing desk now serves as a guest registry for the cantina. 118
Watch out! Just when you think you’re at the end, the wine racks mysteriously move to reveal a secret passage.
Further within the wine cellar, guests discover a long brick hallway leading to the end of the cantina. The wall on the right integrates the old brick foundation of a previous house on the site, likely the Barber & McMurry-designed Cecil H. Baker residence. When the foundation wall was found by the builder, the owners and architect eagerly incorporated it into the cantina design. The remaining wall can be seen on the bottom with the new bricks laid on top. Further down the hall, to the left, is a bright cantina dining room with a large table for guests to enjoy a meal. A trompe-l’oeil painting within a faux window depicts a landscape scenery filled with poppies. As guests exit the Dining Room and follow the path down the hall, the cellar appears to dead-end but they are in for a surprise. Guests delight at the sight of a secret door, a moving brick wall motorized with garage mechanisms. With its collections of architectural relics from Knoxville’s past, the cantina has a sense of timelessness and antiquity unlike any other space in Knoxville.
119
Wine in the cantina is sorted, tagged and inventoried by a professional sommelier. 120
Intricate architectural details, including Italian mosaics of cherub angels harvesting grapes, are found even in unexpected places in the cantina.
Exposed brick, wood and iron are perfect materials to surround the thousands of wine bottles, premium spirits and craft beer. 121
Vacation at home Caribbean Room Indoor Pool Spa Fitness Center
T
he Caribbean Room is a wonderful entertaining room with a kitchen and bar, plenty of seating, a dance floor, and access to both the indoor and outdoor pools. This room was based off the original owners’ love for travel in the Caribbean Islands. The architect said she enjoyed designing this room because she is originally from Jamaica. Light wood paneling contrasts the dark wood found in the library and the office, creating a new and refreshed space. Brightly colored stained glass brightens the ceiling above the kitchen area. Murals completed by a local Knoxville artist depict turtles and other sea life along the walls of the Caribbean Room. In addition to the original design and furnishings, Eric has put his personal touches to the room including large colored glass sculptures and pottery. Furthermore, he has refinished the floors and installed new lighting on the dance floor.
The home’s Caribbean Room has a full bar, plenty of seating, a dance floor and colorful artwork, including an almost life-sized replica of Frida Kahlo. 122
123
The Roman Bath House features an indoor pool based on one in Austria, a large Jacuzzi and sauna. 124
A three-tier fountain spills into the indoor pool.
Adjacent to the Caribbean Room, Villa Collina features an indoor pool and spa for relaxation and tranquility. According to Mike Conley, the pool is based off an indoor pool of a hotel the Conleys stayed at while in Austria. In the past, the indoor pool was referred to as the Romanesque lap pool. It features a vaulted ceiling and square columns decorated with gold and blue bases and capitals. A three-tiered fountain is centered on the far wall within the pool. Artwork, including tiled mosaics from Ravenna, Italy, features figures and animals on the walls. The hot tub and sauna allow the owners and guests to relax. The fitness center at the end of the indoor pool is perfect for fitness fanatics with plenty of room for large equipment and serene views toward the river.
125
FAR LEFT: The jacuzzi is in an elevated corner of the Bath House. ABOVE: Columns and arches surround the pool, which is lined with blue and gold tiles. LEFT: The mosaic of Poseidon, god of the sea, on the back wall of the shower was created along with many other smaller pieces in Ravenna, Italy. 126
The Fitness Center sits at the far end of the pool and features beautiful vistas of the lake for inspiration. 127
VIP guests may stay in the Presidential Suite, the most prestigious guest suite in Villa Collina, boasting a balcony and artwork featuring several U.S. presidents. 128
Welcome your guests Presidential Suite Princess Suite Volunteer Suite Elevator
T
With an en suite bathroom, carved carpet, fireplace, seating area and entertainment area, the Presidential Suite is an oasis of luxury.
he Presidential Suite, located on the far west side of the upper floor, features a large bedroom and bathroom suite with a sitting area. This suite has its own marble balcony facing Fort Loudoun Lake. The carpet patterns reflect the intricate ceiling trim detail and form. Many of the bedroom suites have changed colors since the original owners constructed the house. Scott, Julie and their children changed the paint colors to their tastes and preferences. The original color scheme in the Presidential Suite was gold with red accents, referred to as the Gold Suite during the Conleys’ ownership. When Deane Conley lived in the house, Betty White stayed in this bedroom suite during her visit to the villa. Deane often referred to this room as the “Betty White Room.”
129
Pink rules supreme in the Princess Suite. The domed ceiling over the bed features twinkling starlights to ensure sweet dreams.
The Princess Suite features a tray and domed ceiling with a painted night sky that illuminates a constellation at the push of a button. The suite features a beautiful view to Fort Loudoun Lake and the mountains beyond framed through arched windows. Custom built-in cabinetry in between the windows and on the walls provide plenty of storage. The original color scheme was lavender with floral curtains, often referred to as the Blue/Lavender Suite, or Daughter’s Suite, during the Conleys’ ownership. It had handpainted flowers decorating the ceilings. The painted sky within the domed ceiling is the only paint scheme original to the room. This is a perfect room for a child or child at heart.
130
131
132
The Volunteer Suite is decked out in orange and white in support of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and has an adjacent bunkroom for guests with children.
The Volunteer Suite is decorated in the official University of Tennessee colors: orange and white. The room has drastically changed from its original design. Originally, this room was called the Garden Suite and had green carpeting and walls with beautiful gold accents. With its new orange-and-white checkerboard carpet, the Volunteer Suite has turned into the dream room for any avid UT sports fan. Murals of the football stadium and fans are painted on the walls. The necessary features UT orange-and-white checkered basins and Smokey Grey walls. A small room sits adjacent to the bathroom. Once painted with princesses and Disney characters, it was used as a children’s playroom. The room is still utilized as a playroom, perfect for movies, video games, and sleepovers. Currently, the room is painted to appear like a club box in Neyland Stadium with two large 4K TVs, video game consoles, bunkbeds and stadium seating.
133
Not many people have a commercial elevator in a private home but with three levels and more than 40,000 square feet, it seemed necessary to the original owners. The elevator was produced by Bagby, a family company based in Birmingham, Alabama. Deane Conley, one of the original homeowners, was from Birmingham and knew the family company. She thought it would be wonderful to incorporate local businesses she knew from her hometown as well as local artisans and workers from East Tennessee. The elevator is located in the west wing and features wood paneling and a painted ceiling.
The elevator is handy for moving heavy objects between floors or for guests who are unable to climb stairs. 134
Two large, colorful totems by local Knoxville glass artist Richard Jolley adorn alcoves in the home.
135
136
Sleep in royalty Master Suite Master Bathroom Master Closet Serenity Room
T
he Master Suite occupies the upper level of the east wing with a large master bedroom and sitting area, bathroom suite, multiple closets for his and her needs, and a craft room. The large Master Bedroom, once painted a light blue with gold accents on the elaborate columns, has beautiful custom silk curtains on the windows. The colors are now darker and also lighter browns for the gold accents of the columns. A motorized 4K TV hangs from the ceiling above the bed and can be stored within the ceiling. This bedroom features a large balcony overlooking the property, the river and the mountains. Owners often commented on watching the early sunrise and closing sunset from the bedroom as one of their favorite memories at the villa.
The Master Suite occupies the entire upper level of the east wing of Villa Collina. Carved carpet mimics the architectural details of the ceiling above. 137
The elegant handcrafted furniture featured in the Master Suite is made by Mariner, a luxury furniture company in Valencia, Spain. 138
TOP LEFT: The Master Suite has a seating area, fireplace, chandeliers, expansive closets and hidden shelving. BOTTOM LEFT: Custom-made curtains adorn the windows overlooking the terrace and river. ABOVE: A dynamic eagle sculpture adorns the Master Suite. 139
140
A secret room is behind a hidden passage from the master bedroom and offers a place for seclusion and relaxation.
141
The Bathroom Suite contains a large tub on a platform with a view to the river as well as a steam shower, heated marble floors and heated towel racks. When the film The Last Movie Star utilized the villa, Modern Family’s Ariel Winter was filmed in the master bathroom suite for one of the scenes. The bathroom features marble commodes with gold-plated lids, similar to the ones found in the other necessaries, and plenty of built-in storage. This grand necessary is the epitome of luxurious bathing.
The Master Bathroom is the epitome of luxury with steam showers, heated floors and towel racks. 142
The homeowner left recognizable knickknacks around the bathtub that were featured in The Last Movie Star, which had scenes shot in the Master Bathroom.
143
The Hers Closet features a large powder room with many small drawers for accessories and jewelry that can be locked all at once with the pull of a hidden lever.
144
The room-sized closets are customized for all types of clothing, accessories, shoes and bags. The His Closet features the dark wood paneling from Louisville Lumber found in the Library and the Riverside Office. Compartments within the custom shelving hold shirts, shirts, pants, ties and shoes. The original owner enjoyed buying unique silk ties in Como, Italy, and many of the small compartments are designed for rolled up ties. The Her Closet is painted white with a large powder room with seating and cabinetry for plenty of accessories. The outlets for hair dryers and straighteners are hidden within the counters to keep the walls clean of plugs and for everything to have its own place. The next room contains glass cabinets for more than 200 pairs of shoes, the ultimate closet for a shoe lover. Within the next section is a 360-degree mirror, allowing a sneak peek view of outfits. Three large rooms contain automated industrial revolving racks for his, her and formal clothes. Further down the hall, additional glass cabinets provide storage for handbags and hats.
The massive shoe closet neatly protects and displays shoes, and the mirrors provide a 360-degree view. 145
The His Closet features dark wood paneling and shelving. 146
The small cubbies for ties and dress shoes were designed to look like high-end men’s clothing stores found in Como, Italy.
147
148
The Serenity Room is a secluded refuge decorated in cool gray tones with metallic gold accents and fixtures. 149
Beyond the closets, is the Serenity Room, a place to relax, unwind and enjoy the soaring view of the river. Recently renovated, this room features blue and gray tones to mimic calming, flowing water. Antiqued gold reflective wallpaper on the ceiling mirrors the lighting perfectly for curling up on the couch to read a good book. This room was originally created by Deane as a craft room and place to wrap gifts, craft, paint and draw. It originally had a large L-shaped island in the center, and each cabinet contained drawers to hold charcoals, paintbrushes, paint, and specific arts and crafts supplies. Updated with a built-in desk and new quartz countertops, there is still a place to wrap gifts and write letters. The room has a completely new purpose and has been transformed to a quiet retreat that Eric and Leigh Anne love.
The meditation room is accessed from a false wall in the library and connects to the Master Suite. It’s a small room with salvaged stained glass and an amazing porthole window. 150
151
Relax in splendor Outdoor Patio Fountains Exterior Pool
T
he expansive outdoor terraces give Villa Collina a great advantage for hosting large parties and fundraisers, allowing guests to enjoy the views. Eric and his family spend most of their time outside on the outdoor patio and marble terraces. He has a large grill to cook out with their family and friends and have hot dogs and hamburgers. Reflecting on the view from the terraces, Leigh Anne said, “It’s just beautiful and it’s covered so you know rain or shine, it’s always a good place to be.” Eric has hosted many events at the home since he purchased it in 2016. With many large fundraisers and events utilizing the outdoor terraces, Eric said, “The home is perfectly set up for outdoor dining.” The terraces are adorned with fountains, manicured gardens and a sprawling lawn to the river.
This large covered patio sits right off the kitchen, and the residents can host guests here, rain or shine, and use the grill. 152
153
154
New and original fountains on the property feature customizable water and light settings that can be set to match a theme and conserve water.
There are seven fountains on the property that have been restored in order to keep the artistic beauty while elevating the surrounding area and technology to create a soothing, energy-efficient environment. These fountains have new pedestals for the statues, new marble bases and ledges, where before it was trump l’oeil painted on concrete, and new gunite. There are two fountains on each east and west end of the portico featuring a Romanesque lion with water pouring from its mouth. Two fountains on the upper balcony on the east and west side feature a bronze child holding a fish with water splashing the boy. The Blue fountain near the deep end of the outdoor swimming pool has a similar bronze child and water splashing on him. At the base of the outdoor grand staircase is the impressive koi pond, with scores of beautiful koi fish of all colors and sizes. The bronze sculpture atop is a boy reading a book and under him are blooming pink water lilies and vibrant purple blooms surrounding the pond.
155
The wishing well fountain in the wine cellar was a mysterious shell of a structure when Eric purchased Villa Collina but through interviews with the original homeowner, he learned it was intended to be a fountain to add humidity to the cellar. As part of the fountain restoration projects, the inside was painted a rusty orange color, and a lion head fountain, pumps, lights and speakers were added to restore and complete this wonderful addition to the cellar.
Carpe Diem welcomed celebrities and dignitaries from all over the world from a perch high above the city. When the hotel closed and its contents were auctioned, Eric jumped at the opportunity to purchase the statue since he has such an affinity for the name and meaning of Carpe Diem— seize the day!
With an 11-foot, 9-inch clearance of the front portico, Carpe Diem was placed in the fountain so that he could be completely seen from inside In the front of the home is Carpe Diem, a bronze statue that holds court the home. The 5-foot statue weighs 250 pounds of solid brass with a in the Grand Fountain. This fountain wasn’t restored; Eric brought it scale that is perfect for sightlines in the front of the property. to life as a new structure. From April through October of 2018, crews The nuts and bolts of the restoration is interesting—as is the artwork painstakingly removed the driveway pavers to make way for utilities, adorning many of the fountains—but most will be struck by the including water and electricity, and constructed the fountain from technology within the fountains. Every fountain is wired with timers, the ground up. Its look was to be grand and big, but not too ornate—a pressure and stream controls, and LED lights—all controlled by apps on classical Italian fountain to complement the style of the home. the homeowner’s phone. Any combination of colors can be created with Commissioned by Sylvia Schlie, a harpist and grand-niece of German a touch of a button in the WiFi-104 app, creating themes for holidays composer, theater director and conductor Richard Wagner, Carpe or special events. The Lutron© app sets timers for the water and light Diem pays homage to her famous uncle’s music by the harp he holds. features to turn on and off. Adorning the front of the luxury Carol Parc Hotel in Bucharest, Romania,
Carpe Diem, a bronze statue that holds court in the new Grand Fountain, welcomes Villa Collina guests. 156
157
The koi pond is a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy more sculptures and several fish. 158
The outdoor hot tub is covered by a tall, domed shelter; a clear silicone cover helps insulate and keep out debris, while not detracting from the aesthetics when not in use. 159
160
The exterior pool is a curved infinity pool, holding 30,000 gallons of saltwater. According to the architect, the design of the exterior pool was unique for the mid- to late-1990s. The architect based the design so that when anyone sat on the terraces, looking at the horizon, the water of the pool would appear as if it were falling into the Tennessee River. The domed structure was built for shade by the pool. The dome itself is copper and was painted with buttermilk to give an old and aged appearance. The columns and domed structure above the Jacuzzi add to Villa Collina’s Italian design, offering a hint of ancient structures left behind.
Through careful attention to equipment, energyefficiency and materials, the pools and spas at Villa Collina all have been restored. 161
Escape to a suite Grotto Suite Circa 33 Butler Suite
T
hree adjoining suites are connected to the house, including the Grotto Suite, Circa 33 and the Butler Suite. The Grotto Suite is attached to the east wing of the Villa Collina and is named after the grotto located outside the suite, believed to have been associated with one of the previous houses located on the site. It has an open air, loft feel and is accommodated with a large bedroom/living room, rustic gray stone and tile shower and bathroom, and full kitchen. It also has a private entrance and large patio overlooking the river.
Villa Collina boasts three apartments that were originally designed for full-time estate staff. Today, these well-appointed suites provide a convenient and comfortable place for long-term guests. 162
163
One of the three apartments was transformed to the Circa 33 poker lounge, which has its own balcony to entertain guests indoors and out. 164
The chairs around the large poker table feature designs from the four playing card suits: spades, clubs, diamonds and hearts.
Circa 33, located on the west wing and adjacent to the motor court, features a balcony overlooking the picturesque infinity pool and river. Once a mother-in-law suite, Eric has transformed this space into a poker lounge, aptly named Circa 33, which signifies the year that ended the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. This suite is well appointed with a large, oblong, leather-embossed poker table and eight accompanying chairs with spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs on the back. It has a full bathroom, large 4K television, serving table, lounge style chairs and a hidden refrigerator in the large coat closet. The balcony has a fire pit, iron dining tables and ample seating for smoking a cigar or an outdoor meal with friends.
165
The Butler’s Suite is located below Circa 33 and provided quarters for full-time staff to live and work at the villa, hence the name. The quarters include a full kitchen with updated appliances and living area, as well as a large bedroom, full bathroom and laundry room. The entire apartment underwent renovation in November 2018. Gray, bamboo flooring was placed throughout the apartment with new subway tile backsplash added to the kitchen. A warm gray paint color was used in all the rooms as well as water and electrical services added to give life to a much-needed laundry room. This became a favorite area for guests, as they have their own private entrance and patio area overlooking the river. This suite is a charming home away from home. These three additional suites offer private quarters or a fun night of poker and cigars.
The Butler’s Suite is a comfortable place for long-term guests and Eric Barton’s adult children who enjoy having an external entrance. 166
The large kitchen and living areas in the Butler’s Suite are renovated and offer sweeping views of the back of the property.
167
Dream a little dream At the time of publication of this book, the renovation and restoration of Villa Collina cost $4 million, a necessary undertaking to protect the iconic Knoxville house valued at $32 million. Although it was built to be a home, Eric sees this property as a community entity and enjoys hosting nonprofits, fundraisers, concerts and parties of all kinds. When Eric walked through the Villa Collina for the first time, he saw its potential and envisioned a home that could be shared with a community. With hard work and the right people, those dreams came true. Envision yourself touring the wine cellar with friends, learning about and tasting wines chosen especially for you by our sommelier or an intimate wine dinner in our Pairing Room. Board meetings are easily accommodated at our 18-seat table. Get inspired to take your company or organization to the next level while surrounded by the beauty and success that is Villa Collina. A company holiday party and scavenger hunt could be the highlight of office banter for years to come. Dream of a fundraiser that far surpasses your fundraising goals, plus a night to remember. A private concert or poker night would be the ultimate bachelor party. Pamper your bridesmaids with a relaxing spa day in the Caribbean Room complete with hot tub, sauna, manicures and massages. Imagine your wedding, overlooking the Smoky Mountains and Tennessee River, the terrace filled with family and friends, truly a once-in-a lifetime experience. Villa Collina started as a dream. Make yours come to life.
Villa Collina is a unique, beautiful and welcoming place and a jewel in the community. 168
169
Events at the Villa Collina It is important to Eric to open Villa Collina to the community—especially for events and fundraisers—for large organizations and small groups alike. The home has so many wonderful entertainment zones, including the Grand Foyer area, the Caribbean Room, the O’Club, the Cantina and the expansive terraces, offering more than 80 spaces that can be tailored to any event.
Tennessee Veterans Business Association (TVBA) VIP reception In January of 2019, Lee Greenwood performed in the Grand Foyer for about 100 guests during the Tennessee Veterans Business Association (TVBA) VIP reception. Greenwood sang for about an hour, ending with an inspiring performance of “God Bless the USA.”
Lee Greenwood performs at the Tennessee Veterans Business Association VIP reception. 170
171
172
University of Tennessee Musicale Villa Collina hosted the University of Tennessee’s School of Music annual “Holiday Musicale” for the first time in 2017. This annual event is a benefit concert that generates funding for scholarships for students in the School of Music. Students perform various musical acts, heavy hors d’oeuvres are served, and attendees are encouraged to wear festive holiday attire. Eric generously supports the School of Music in other ways as well, including a donation in 2018 of $3.14 million to the school to fund several initiatives.
173
174
175
Sara Evans Country music singer and songwriter Sara Evans performed at Villa Collina for an event benefiting Maryville College. Funds raised at the event were slated for student scholarships, and it was attended by Maryville College board members, supporters and faculty. The concert was outside on the terrace on the main floor level.
176
177
178
179
180
Kentucky Derby In May of 2019, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital hosted “Talk Derby to Me,” a fundraiser for its palliative care program. Proceeds from the event allowed patients to receive pain and palliative care services not covered by insurance. This Kentucky Derby Party included musical entertainment, a silent auction, Kentucky-themed hors d’oeuvres and, of course, mint juleps. Attendees were encouraged to wear their best derby attire.
181
182
183
184
Eric Barton and four of his five children Lindie, Jon, Lexi, Cody and daughter-in-law Alex.
Bee's Knees New Years Eve On the last day of the decade in 2019, a new event was introduced to Villa Collina: Bee’s Knees NYE. Eric wants this to become an annual event, offering a spectacular evening of entertainment, food and drink. Proceeds from the event benefited Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, resulting in a $10,000 donation that provided 30,000 meals to people in East Tennessee. Guests welcomed 2020 in Roaring Twenties style at the immersive, all-inclusive event. Music abounded with acts from classical piano to jazz and a 1980s cover band to a DJ. Performers and dancers—including fire dancers—dazzled guests throughout the evening as did a soaring fireworks show to usher in the New Year.
185
186
187
INDEX
Baptist Health System Foundation, 51
Boruff, Alec, 53
Baptist Hospital Heart Center, 17
Boruff, Chase, 53
Barber, Charles I., 8
Boruff, Julie (Kentwood), 53–55
Alexander the Great, 110
Barber & McMurry (now BarberMcMurry), 8, 12, 15, 32, 42, 103, 112, 119
Boruff, Raquel, 53
Alliance Sotheby’s International Realty, 1, 52
Barbour, Clifford, 14
Andrew Johnson Hotel (Knoxville), 15
Barton, Eric W., 55, 58, 62–77, 79, 150, 184
Appalachian Exposition (Knoxville; 1910s), 7
collections of, 77, 84, 89, 100, 109, 110, 156
C
family of, 184
Camali, Antonio, 52
office of, 104–5
Carmichael, Clarence, 8
supporting UT School of Music, 173
Carol Parc Hotel (Bucharest), 156
vision of, for Villa Collina, 168, 170
Carpe Diem, 156, 157
Numbers in italics indicate images
A
Architect’s International, 22, 39 architectural relics, 1, 41–42, 103, 112, 119 Architecture, 12 Armstrong, Robert Houston, 4 @home Audio Video Technology, 62
Boruff, Scott, 53–55, 79 Boruff family, 53–55, 109, 129 Brunswick, Caroline (Princess of Wales), 26
Barton family, 84, 152, 166
Cherokee Country Club, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14
Barton Media, 58
Cherokee Westcliff, 11
Baumann & Baumann (Knoxville), 8
Childhelp USA, 52 Combs, Sean, 53
Baker, Cecil H., 8, 11, 12, 14–15, 17, 32
“Bee’s Knees NYE: A 2020 Affair” (Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee), 76, 184, 185, 186–87
Baker, Martha Spilman, 16, 28, 32
Beverly Hills Sanatorium (Knoxville), 17
Baker, Martin Ross (Mart), 8, 12–17
Blue Diamond Coal Company, 42
Conley, Deane (Wright), 21, 32, 41, 42, 45, 46, 51, 79, 84, 129, 130
Baker, Martin Ross, Jr., 15, 17
Blue-Gray Reunion (Knoxville; 1890), 7
Baker, Mary Ross, 11, 12, 14–15, 17 Baker, Mary Tod, 15
Austin, Fred, 8
B Bagby Elevator Company (Birmingham, AL), 49, 134
Baker family, 1, 11–15 Baker (Martin Ross) house, 15, 16, 28, 119 188
Como (Italy), 49, 145, 147
designing Villa Collina, 22, 25, 26, 39, 49–53, 61, 103, 109, 134, 150
Bonnyman, Alexander, 42
furnishing Villa Collina, 41, 42, 45–46
Bonnyman (Alexander) residence, 12, 15, 41, 43, 103, 112
purchasing Villa Collina, 11, 28
renovating Villa Collina, 21–22, 28, 31–39
Booker, Suzy, 77
Conley, Mike, 21, 32, 46, 50, 84, 125, 130, 145
designing Villa Collina, 22, 25, 26, 39, 49–50, 103
furnishing Villa Collina, 41, 42, 45–46
purchasing Villa Collina, 11, 28
renovating Villa Collina, 21–22, 28, 31–39
Cooperativa Mosaicisti (Ravenna, Italy), 45 Costa, Mary, 50 Coykendall, J.B., 8 Crowe, Doug, 54, 60, 61, 62 Cruze, Buddy, 62
D DecoForm, 42 DFASolutions, 39, 62, 65 Dragon Marbles and Fireplaces (Turkey), 35
Eleuthera, 42, 43, 115
Garrand, Henry, 52
Elliott-Sexton, Debbie, 52, 55, 79
Garrand, Peggy, 52
Ely (Mr.), home of, 10, 11
Gates, Bill, 39
Energy Control Consultants, 62
Girl’s Cotillion Club (Knoxville), 14
Evans, Sara, 77, 174, 175, 177
Goforth, H.M., 8
expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, 35
Gordon, Marianne (Rogers), 50
F
Greenwood, Lee, 77, 170, 171
Farris, Kent, 11, 28
Grudger, Hattie, 12, 15
Farris, Susan, 11, 28
Gruppo Mosaicisti di Marco Santi (Ravenna, Italy), 45
Fentons, 11 First Baptist Church (Knoxville), 17 Flying Locksmiths, The, 73 Ford, Anna, 28, 77 Ford, Thomas, 28, 77
H Hambright, Holly, 74 Hamilton National Bank (Knoxville), 42, 115 Hazelwood, Jesse Paige, 51 Hendrickson, Terry, 21, 22
E
Fulton, Barbara S., 11
Eastern State Hospital (Knoxville), 7
Fulton, Ross, 8
East Tennessee Asylum for the Insane (Knoxville), 7
Fulton, Weston, 8, 11
“Holiday Musicale” (University of Tennessee School of Music), 77, 172, 173, 174–75
Fulton estate, 11
Holland and Company (Atlanta), 45, 112
East Tennessee National Bank, 15
Fulton family, 11
Holston, the (Knoxville), 42, 115
East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 4
Fulton residence, 8
House Beautiful, 15
Edison Electric, 69
G
House of the Day (The Wall Street Journal), 1
Edmondson family 42, 79
Gallio, Tolomeo, 26
Howard, (Mrs.) Frank, 14
Edmondson, Keith, 17, 31, 32, 35–36, 41, 42
“Gallop in the Glen” (Baptist Health System Foundation), 51
Hurston, the (Lyons View Pike), 12, 15, 17
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, 181
Elegant Dining Series (Knoxville Symphony League), 51
Historic Westwood, 58
189
J
early years of, 4
Lutron© systems, 39, 58, 65–70, 156
Jackson, Andrew, 4
Old City, development of, 42
Lyon, Mary Clarke, 4
J. Keith Edmondson Builders, 17, 39. See also Edmondson family
residential expansion of, 7
Lyon, William, 4, 7
John H. Coleman Co. (J.H. Coleman Co.), 36, 62, 65, 66 Johnson, Karengaye, 22, 24, 25, 28, 31–39, 41, 42, 53, 79, 122 Jolley, Richard, 135 Jones, Carolyn, 14 Junior League (Knoxville), 14
K Kahlo, Frida, 122 Keener, Bruce, 8 Keith, David, 50, 52 Kelley, John Woodrow, 46, 83 Kendrick, Kristopher, 41, 42, 45, 52, 103 Kennedy-Shea-Chandler Company, 15 Kesterson, Tom, 8 KEYper® Elite Series system, 73 Kingston Pike, 4, 5, 7, 15, 41 Knox Country, roads in, 7 Knox Heritage, 58
Knoxville Garden Club, the, 11, 12
Lyon’s View, 7
Knoxville News Sentinel, the, 14, 15, 50, 52
Lyons View Pike, 1, 4, 9
Knoxville Opera Guild, 74
development of, 7–8, 12
Knoxville Symphony League, 50–51
previous residents of, 11
L
M
Lake Como (Italy), 26, 79, 112
Madden, Mary, 14
Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, 7
Magnolia AV, 70
Lakeshore Park, 4, 7, 77
Mahan, E.C., 8
Last Movie Star, The (dir. Rifkin), 1, 54, 142, 143
Maher El Sayed, Ahmed, 45, 50
Lexlin Gypsy Ranch, 58 Lincoln, Abraham, 11 Lion King, 89 L&N STEM Academy, 110 Logan, N.E., 8 Lones, Jacob, 4 Looney, William, 4 Louisville Lumber & Millwork (KY), 35, 100, 143
Mallonee, Mickey, 58–61, 69, 79 Mariner (Spanish furniture company), 138 Maryville College, 77, 176 McClung, Charles, 4 McDonald, Anne Vanosdale, 17, 21 McGaha Electric, 69 McGowan, Mary, 12 McMurry, Hazel, 15 Mebane, Hal B., Jr., 8 Men’s Cotillion Club (Knoxville), 14
Knoxville, 6, 41, 42
Louisville and Nashville (L&N) railroad station (Knoxville), 42, 110
Lowes Ferry Pike (Northshore Drive), 4, 7
Miller Energy, 53
190
early 20th century in, 7, 11, 12
Midyett, Mark, 39, 62, 66–67
Million Dollar Rooms (HGTV), 1
Roby, James, 36, 62, 65
Sonance Landscape Series, 70
Moigniez, Jules, 84, 87
Ross, Cary, 14
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (Knoxville), 4
Ross, Helen, 12
Southeastern Stair & Millwork Company (Cleveland, TN), 35, 103
Mount Rest Home (Knoxville), 17
Ross, William Cary, 8, 14
N
Rosson, John, 51
Napoleon, 110
Rule, Virginia Williams, 11, 28
National Afghan Trucking, 58
Ryno & Brackney (Knoxville), 8
O
S
Old Gray Cemetery (Knoxville), 17
Saunders family, 14
Orangery Restaurant, the (Knoxville), 42, 112
Savant, 70
P
Schlie, Sylvia, 156
Spilman, Lewis, 12, 15 Spilman, Lillian, 12 Spilman, Martha (Martie), 12–15 Spilman, (Mrs.) Robert, 14 Spilman, Robert, 12 Spilman, Sam, 12 Spilman, Virginia, 14 Spilman family, 12–14 St. Louis World’s Fair Silver Jubilee (1904), 84
Palance, Jack, 50
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, 77, 185
Stone, Margaret, 14
PDK Security, 73
Second Presbyterian Church (Knoxville), 14
Sullivan, Joe, 14, 15
Pentecost, Leigh Anne (Annie), 58, 76, 77, 150, 152
Serenity Room, 148–49, 150
Sullivan, Lawson, 14
Shamiyeh, Paul, 62
Sullivan, (Mrs.) Joseph, 14
Shepard, E.S., 11
Sundquist, Don, 50
Shepard, Lizzie, 11
Swepson family, 14
Shepard family, 11
T
R
Sherle Wagner (New York), 44, 45, 99, 107, 110
“Talk Derby to Me” (East Tennessee Children’s Hospital), 180, 181, 182–83
Regal Corporation (Knoxville), 21
SieMatic cabinets (Germany), 46, 94, 96
Reynolds, Burt, 1, 54
Signature Luxury Auctions, 55
Teen Board building (Bonnyman residence), 42
Robinson, William, 12
Smith, C. Powell, 8
Robinson family, 11
Smith, J. Allen, 8
Poseidon, 46, 47, 126 Presbyterian Hospital (Knoxville), 17 Princess Diana: Tragedy or Treason (TLC), 1, 100 Pruitt, Brad, 55
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 42
191
“Venetian Masquerade, A” (Knoxville Opera Guild), 74
cantina (wine cellar) in, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 51, 74, 110, 112–21
“Victory Gallop Party” (Baptist Health System Foundation), 51
Cantina Dining Room, 116–17, 119
Caribbean Room, 31, 44, 46, 68, 74, 122–25
carved carpet in, 129, 138, 139
ceiling relief concept design, 25
chandeliers in, 41, 45, 68, 69, 82, 83, 84, 92, 93, 116, 141
artwork in, 45–46, 137. See also Barton, Eric W.: collections of; Villa Collina: fountains at; lighting systems at; mosaics at; reliefs at; stained glass at
charity events at, 50–51, 66, 74, 75, 170–87
Circa 33 poker lounge, 164, 165, 166
classical elements in, 35
audiovisual systems at, 66, 69–70
U
closets in, 49, 144, 145, 146–47
Barton’s restoration of, 62–73, 122
“Under the Tuscan Moon” (Knoxville Opera Guild), 74
bathrooms of, 45. See also Villa Collina: necessaries
community outreach and, 58. See also Barton, Eric W.: vision of
Conley’s sale of, 53
University of Bologna, 42, 116
Bathroom Suite, 142
construction of, 36, 37, 38, 39
University of Tennessee School of Music, 76, 77, 172, 173, 174–75
Betty White Room, 50, 129
construction practices for, 35–36
Bird Necessary, 99
covered patio of, 152, 153
Blue/Lavender Suite, 130
Daughter’s Suite, 130
Boruffs’ sale of, 55
decorative trim in, 42
building schedule for, 35
East Colonnade, 89, 91
Butler’s Kitchen, 96, 97
east wing’s construction, 31, 38
Butler’s Pantry, 66
elevator in, 49, 134
Butler’s Suite, 28, 32,166, 167
energy efficiency of, 58, 62–70
cabinets in, 46
entertainment options at, 46, 74, 170
Tennessee Veterans Business Association, 77, 170, 171 TETCO geothermal units, 64, 65 3M – Prestige Series 50 film, 62, 73 Tibaldi, Pellegrino, 26 Torano, Michael, 74 Treadway Industries (Florida), 35 Turkey, 1, 35, 36, 41, 46, 96 TVBA. See Tennessee Veterans Business Association
Villa Collina, 169, 178
arched doors in, 36
architect of. See Johnson, Karengaye
architectural relics in, 112, 115. See also architectural relics
Tyler, Hugh, 112 Tyrone Smith Revue, 51
U.S. Marine Corps Ball, 76, 77
V Vaden, Randy, 45, 62 VanDeventer, James Thayer, 11, 12 VanDeventer, Letitia Flournoy, 11, 12 VanDeventer family, 11 Vanquish Worldwide, 58 192
entrance to, 48, 49
Grand Fountain at, 156
Library at, 22, 39, 42, 51, 59, 100–103, 145
estate manager for, 107. See also Mallonee, Mickey
Grand Foyer of, 46, 51, 68, 74, 82, 83–84, 87, 169
lightbulbs at, 68, 69
lighting systems at, 39, 66, 68, 69–70, 71
events at, 74, 75, 170–87
grand staircase, 35
Living Room, 83
exterior design of, 49
Great Room, 45, 83, 88, 89
lower-level floor plan for, 63
exterior pool at, 160–61
Grotto Suite, 162, 163
main entrance, 48
fabrics in, 45
guest registry at, 50, 118
maintenance at, 54, 58, 59, 61
Family Dining Room, 92, 93
Hers Closet, 144, 145
Master Bathroom, 142, 143
as film set, 52. See also Last Movie Star, The
Hers Necessary, 98, 99
Master Bedroom, 137
fireplaces at, 42, 45, 66, 84, 92, 103, 105, 112, 129, 139
His Closet, 145, 146–47
His Necessary, 98, 99
Master Suite, 22, 45, 46, 49, 51, 53–54, 103, 136, 137–51
holiday events at, 51–52, 54, 61, 76, 184, 185, 186–87
materials and finishes, 35, 42
mechanical rooms at, 36, 63, 64, 65, 67
meditation room, 103, 150, 151 middle section’s design, 32–35
Fitness Center at, 125, 127
fixtures in, 44, 45
floor coverings at, 44, 45, 59, 84, 92, 100
hot tub at, 36
Formal Dining Room, 83–89, 96
HVAC systems at, 36, 58, 62, 64, 65, 66
formation of, 11
indoor pool and spa, 36, 46, 59
mirrors in, 45, 145
fountains at, 71, 154, 155–56, 157
infinity pool at, 28, 36, 159-60, 160
Garden Room Suite, 46
initial designs for, 22
moldings and architectural details in, 30, 90
Garden-Side Office, 58, 106, 107
internet capacity at, 66
mosaics at, 45–46, 47, 89, 120, 125, 126
Garden Suite, 133
kitchens at, 94, 95, 96, 110
motor court, 28, 32
Garden View Living Room, 84
as Knoxville landmark, 74
murals at, 46, 89, 122
general contractor at. See Edmondson, Keith
koi pond at, 153, 156
naming of, 26
Lakeview Living Area, 89. See also Villa Collina: Great Room
necessaries (restrooms) at, 98, 99
O’Club, 22, 44, 45, 74, 109, 110, 111
geothermal HVAC at, 36, 58, 64, 65
Gold Suite, 50, 129. See also Villa Collina: Presidential Suite
landscape audio system at, 70
opening of, 49–50, 79
legacy of, 79
operating system for, as smart house, 70 193
outdoor hot tub, 159
stained glass at, 46, 95, 96, 110, 115, 122
Williams, Eugenia, estate of, 4
overview of, 1
suites connected to, 162–67
Williams, Frank J., 11
parking at, 77
Williams, Lillian Wrenn, 11
Parlor, 84, 85, 89
Super Bowl Room, 46, 51, 52, 54. See also Villa Collina: River View Room
surveillance at, 66, 73
technological updates at, 66–69
pools at, 28, 36, 46, 59, 122, 124, 125, 126, 160–61
porte cochere for, 31, 35, 49
terraces at, 28, 75, 78, 152
Presidential Suite, 128, 129
three-dimensional models for, 22, 24
Princess Suite, 130, 131
views from, 20, 75, 78
project manager for. See Johnson, Karengaye
Volunteer Suite, 46, 132, 133
walking tour of, 77
West Colonnade, 91
west wing’s construction, 31
window film used at, 59, 62, 73
wine cellar (cantina), 32, 36, 116. See also Villa Collina: cantina
Wine Pairing Room, 42, 43, 49, 77, 112, 114, 115 wine tasting room, 45
public address system at, 70
reliefs at, 46, 112, 115
renovation and restoration costs at, 168
River View Room, 22, 46, 108, 109, 110. See also Villa Collina: Super Bowl Room
Riverside Office, 58, 84, 104–5, 145
Roman Bath House, 47, 124, 126
secret passages in, 1, 25, 36, 53, 119
security at, 62, 66, 72, 73
Villa d’Este (Cernobbio, Italy), 26, 27, 31, 112
Serenity Room, 147–49, 150
W
shoe closet at, 145
Wagner, Richard, 156
site for, 4–17, 20
Waterville (dir. Keith), 52
skylights in, 36
Westcliff, 8
spa at, 36, 46, 59, 125
White, Betty, 50, 129
194
Williams family, 11 Winter, Ariel, 1, 54, 142 WonderWorks building (Pigeon Forge, TN), 35
Y Yatteau, Ellen Katherine, 17 Yatteau, Ronald, 17, 21 Yatteau Chateau, 29
building of, 17
demolition of, 28, 31–32, 34, 39, 49
remodeling of, 21, 22, 23, 31
Yatteau family, 1, 11
5 6 2 8 Lyo n s Vi e w P i k e K n ox v i l l e , T e n n. w w w . t h e v i l l ac o l l i na .o rg