Trent & Bethini Hemphill's Franklin Brownstone

When Bethini and Trent Hemphill sought where to spend their next life-chapter after raising their children in Hermitage, they landed in Historic Downtown Franklin. Since then, they’ve been living the high-life—both indoors and out. With an easy commute for Trent to headquarters for his celebrity coach company, Hemphill Brothers, a lively group of fun-loving neighbors, and a gorgeous custom brownstone, they’ve hit the jackpot on every level. The couple show no signs of slowing down, and their home base is an inspiration for living well at any age.

THE DOWNTOWN DREAM

Choosing to live in a historic and walkable community has turned out to be a perfect choice for the couple. It’s an easy commute for Trent, and Bethini has everything she needs right onsite, including her own private office and her sister (and best friend), Susan Deaton, who lives with her husband, CMA producer, Robert Deaton just a few doors down. Franklin is a special place with shops, restaurants, and community gatherings ranging from art shows to festivals throughout the year, so there is always something to do. Having the convenience of luxury shopping and top tier dining within blocks of the complex makes daily living easy and, most of all, fun. Keeping fit is also a top priority for the Hemphill’s as they have no plans to become couch potatoes in their golden years. Instead, they walk and ride bikes almost everywhere that they need to go on a daily basis. “Some nights, we head over to 1799 or Gray’s to meet friends—or just go solo. We can walk to dinner, grab a gift for a birthday, see a show at the Franklin Theatre and stroll back home under the fairy lights. Every night is date night in downtown Franklin,” Bethini happily reports.

Another bonus of living in the development is the social network built into the fabric of the residential community. Inside the brick walls surrounding the homes and courtyard, owners have a book club and a very private monthly gathering that’s become extremely popular with all of the neighbors. Once a month, when weather permits, they jointly host ‘Fridays by the Fountain’ in the central courtyard where outside guests are discouraged (to keep it intimate). Each household brings an appetizer or two, with the libations being a group effort. It’s wildly popular, with the competition for gourmet fare continually becoming more intense. This group takes their entertaining seriously, creating a beautiful setting along with music in addition to the incredible food display. The Hemphill’s often host a couple or two ‘pre-fountain’ in their kitchen overlooking the fountain space to get things started, and the party tends to last until individuals begin to disperse at their leisure. It’s the ultimate block party. During the holidays, the neighbors organize a progressive Christmas dinner, popping from one place to another to mingle and enjoy a professionally catered affair that everyone attends. With only 25 total custom units, all of the gatherings feel exclusive and inclusive of anyone living on site. Most all of the residents, including famous faces in the entertainment industry and even Kathie Lee Gifford (who chose this as her new home after moving to the South upon retirement from Today), are now great friends.

LIVING IT UP

While the 4-story, 6,300-square-foot design might seem quite unusual for empty nesters in terms of size and layout, Bethini says that they use the entire space. Rather than a home filled with multiple bedrooms eating up the floorplan, a typical configuration in ‘family homes,’ the unit was designed for an independent lifestyle around entertaining and personal space. There are only three bedrooms, with the remainder of the space dedicated to multiple living areas and activity areas. For the Hemphill’s custom design, the basement is a full-service theater (where they binge on Netflix shows!) with a kitchenette for popcorn and snack access. The main floor is all living space—a sprawling area with ample seating and conversation areas that opens up to a real chef’s kitchen with state-of-the-art commercial grade appliances and storage for every type of platter or tray. Bethini also collects various serving pieces to display on the built-in shelves in the adjacent open dining room, a focal point of the room’s décor.

This part of the house is a bit inside/outside, with doors opening up to porches from almost every angle. “In the development, every unit has balconies facing the courtyard, and outdoor living is a big part of brownstone life. We eat dinner on the balcony overlooking the fountain almost every night. Trent is a bit of a master on the grill, so he can head outside while I prep veggies in the kitchen. There’s a working exterior fireplace, so only the coldest weather keeps us inside,” says Bethini. They also make a fire in the living room nightly and open the doors to outside.

The top floor is where the balconies really offer an ideal place to start and end the day. The height gives the advantage of stellar views of both sunrise and sunset with an intimate feel for reading or just catching up for the couple. These are extensions of the master suite, which is actually an entire floor. Closet sizes that feel more like their own apartments are a huge plus—with a perfectly organized system in both his and hers for all-weather storage. The massive bedroom and bath in shades of white and complementary neutrals is a true owner’s haven and quite romantic. Even the expansive spa-like master bath mirrors the design with shimmering white tiles that mirror those from the bedroom’s fireplace. The floor also includes a fully equipped gym and workout space and a work area for Trent.

INTERIOR INSPIRATION

With this much space, most people would hand off the entire thing to a professional without question. Multiple floors and huge rooms are often hard to get right in terms of flow and a consistent style, but this isn’t the case for the Hemphill’s. Bethini explains, “for years, I’ve preferred an all-white look. The brownstone lends itself to a Parisian aesthetic and looks best with some modern touches mixed in with the antiques. I’ve always gravitated towards aged, imperfect pieces and have gathered antiques from my friends, including Gina at Gilchrist and Gilchrist and Kim Leggett at City Farmhouse over the years. Although I’ve never used a designer to decorate my homes, I love supporting my local Franklin stores for furnishings as well. Most of our decor is treasured family heirlooms and vacation photos made into art. For example, the large shell in the living room that looks like it came from a high-end store, I plucked out of the ocean myself during a dive in the Cayman Islands earlier this year! Many of the other accents hold special meaning for the couple, including the upright bass guitar in the foyer. It was once Wanda Jackson’s, the queen of ‘rockabilly’ in the 1950s and ’60s."

Bethini’s late mother painted several pieces of art, and she considers these among her most prized possessions. Their collection spans from experience and finds during travels with some objects having quite the story. “In 1979, Trent sold his car to buy the grand piano, which he taught himself to play. He was actually in a musical group with his family (The Hemphill’s) for years. We’ve hauled that piano around to every place we’ve lived since," she laughs.

When not in Franklin, they frequently escape to their home along the Gulf Coast’s 30A. She and her sister purchased new-construction homes nearby here as well, so they never miss a beat with one another—even on vacation. She claims that it’s a different vibe but that her white interior style continues here as she decorated the second home similarly but more reflective of the environment. “With the beach house, I indulged what I call my shabby chic meets beach cottage side. It’s still mostly all-white, but with a hint of pastel and mostly outfitted with rustic antique pieces flanked by shiplap walls."

The couple may go back and forth to the beach but plans to stay in their Franklin abode long-term, as there’s nothing they want more out of a home. Their love of the area, the living spaces (with the convenience of an elevator for the future), and close relationships with dynamic neighbors are more than enough to provide them with love and laughter for years to come.