Nashville Interiors 2023 Vol. 37

Nashville Interiors

A HOME’S BASE

NO DESIGN ELEMENT CHANGES THE LOOK, FEEL AND MOOD OF A SPACE MORE THAN THE FLOOR. THE TEAM AT MYERS FLOORING UNDERSTANDS THAT IMPORTANCE AND GUIDES THEIR CLIENTS IN A WAY THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE SPECIAL — AND EVERYDAY — MOMENTS THAT HAPPEN UNDERNEATH THEIR FEET.

LUXURY CUSTOM HOMES

Nipomo Sink | Charcoal

Mendocino Bathtub | Ash

Scan to make an appointment at our Nashville Showroom

RelyOnPDI.com

Welcome Nashville Interiors

Before I saw the record-breaking Barbie movie with my two teenage sons, I thought the film based on the iconic plastic doll was going to be lighthearted and fun and fluffy and pink. But it unexpectedly was so much more — for all of us — that I have to address it.

My assumption that the film was going to be fun to look at without much substance is indicative of what people expect of women — no matter who we are or how much we’ve learned along the way. And it illustrates that women sometimes fall into that fallacy ourselves!

When you are a woman in business, there’s a balancing act of being capable and competent, but open to criticism and advice. You have to be assertive and direct, but kind and understanding. Firm, but flexible. Decisive, but compromising. Serious, but light. Determined, but cautious.

But women in business are also mothers and friends. Daughters and wives. Sisters and aunts. Fundraisers and cheerleaders. So when you are everything all at once, shifting from PTO to CEO, sometimes you drop the ball. Or cry. Or just plain get it wrong.

In the design community of Nashville, I have found it is okay to let your guard down a little. To let people in on the inner workings. To cry and laugh and vent. To let them know a little bit about how the sausage is made. Because we are all wading through issues, in life and work and family, and we can help each other if we just try. Or we can at least laugh together through tears over a cocktail — and then just keep going.

Thank you, Barbie, for saying it so clearly.

Hollie Deese Owner & Publisher

Pam Harper and Hollie Deese

Visit our new showroom in Franklin

256 Seaboard Lane, Ste. C-103, Franklin, TN 37067

Open Tuesday - Saturday | www.NashvilleLamps.com

Nashville Interiors

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Hollie Deese

SALES DIRECTOR

Pam Harper

EDITORIAL DESIGN

Ginger Katz

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Goode Stevens, GoodeEdits.com

AD DESIGN

Tracey Starck

VIDEO PRODUCER

Denise Simons

VIDEOGRAPHY

Kate Tran

ARTS EDITOR

Robert Jones

CONTRIBUTORS

Sam Calderon

Anthony Romano

Allison Elefante

William DeShazer

Reagen Taylor

Charra Bennett-Hammett

Randi Smith

Nashville Interiors is the premier building and design guide of Middle Tennessee. We feature regional master artisans, designers, architects, builders, artists, collectors and retailers, and we bring you news of the region’s trends in building, design and development. We also showcase the inspiring spaces of our area’s eclectic group of residents.

Nashville Interiors is published by Deese Media LLC. It has continuously been in print since 2000.

All editorial and photographic content is the sole property of Deese Media LLC and is not to be reproduced in part or in whole without the express written permission of the publisher.

Nashville Interiors is available at select locations and events. For information on where to find a copy, visit the website or email hollie@nashvilleinteriors.com.

To receive an advertising rate sheet, email Pam Harper at pam@ nashvilleinteriors.com.

To request content reprints, suggest story ideas or notify us about website or social media issues, email Hollie Deese, hollie@nashvilleinteriors.com.

ON THE COVER

The team behind Myers Flooring knows what it takes to find the perfect flooring for any space, whether it’s a highend restaurant, a custom home or even a movie set. This business has long been a go-to spot for designers and design DIYers thanks to their professionalism, friendly collaboration and astounding collection of options. Stop in soon, say hi to Donna at the front desk and start searching for the perfect surface to have underfoot.

COVER PHOTO BY ALLISON ELEFANTE

Nashville Interiors

CONTRIBUTORS

KATE TRAN | VIDEOGRAPHER

Kate Tran has been freelancing in the Nashville film industry for more than seven years and has recently started her own business — Kate Tran Video Production — helping Nashvillians showcase their businesses through video for their social platforms, websites and YouTube channels. Creating, storytelling and helping others has always been an integral part of who she is and what she loves to do. With a bachelor’s degree in theatre administration, she enjoys working with people to bring out the best of their abilities and true personality, on stage and in front of the camera, to make them feel at ease. She helps create video content for the Nashville Interiors YouTube channel. When she isn’t on set, filming or in the editing room, she enjoys time with her husband and their three children, at home and adventuring together.

REAGEN TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHER

Reagen Taylor is an interior design and architectural photographer who uses a mix of fine art and editorial photography styles. She focuses on creating bespoke images that capture delicate details and document sincere moments. Reagen’s images have been featured in LUXE Magazine, Modern Luxury Interiors, Southern Living, HGTV, Style Me Pretty Living, Tribeza and many more. Reagen is based in Austin and Chicago but is available for travel. For this issue of Nashville Interiors, she shot the Temple Avenue home designed by Jessica Davis.

ROBERT JONES | ARTS EDITOR

Robert Jones is a London-born fine artist who has been based in Nashville since 2010. He is the owner of Overton Arts, a picture framing, installation and arts consultation company in the Germantown neighborhood. An active member of the arts community who is regularly involved in organizing community-focused arts initiatives in the city, Robert serves as an on-site building manager at the 100 Taylor Arts Collective and is on the board of the North Nashville Arts Coalition. He is also the co-owner of Tay.St, an arts-focused sandwich cafe at the 100 Taylor Arts Collective.

WILLIAM DESHAZER | PHOTOGRAPHER

William DeShazer is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Nashville. He spent 12 years working at various newspapers, including Memphis’ Commercial Appeal and the Chicago Tribune. He’s a regular contributor to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His work has appeared in such magazines as National Geographic, Plate, Golfweek, ESPN The Magazine, O – The Oprah Magazine and Runner’s World. His interior photography has been used by Holiday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Whiskey Advocates Magazine and Davis Jewelers.

William has been recognized by Photographer of the Year International and the National Press Photographers Association. For this issue of Nashville Interiors, he shot photos of the team behind Masaya & Co. in their new West Nashville showroom and of artist TC. When not taking pictures, William is enjoying time with his wife and new baby.

Nashville Interiors CONTRIBUTORS

RANDI SMITH | EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Randi Smith is a senior at Belmont University and began working with Nashville Interiors as an intern. She is set to graduate in spring 2024 with a B.A. in publishing and a minor in creative writing. Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, Randi now lives in Nashville and is an intern with United Methodist Publishing House. In her spare time, she often reads, writes or finds herself glued to a screen watching documentaries or HGTV.

ALLISON ELEFANTE | PHOTOGRAPHER

Allison Elefante is a Nashville-based interior and architectural photographer and has become a mainstay with local designers, builders and artists. She is classically trained in photography and graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Allison developed a passion for interiors over the past several years and is genuinely excited when she walks into the rooms of her clients. Her work is widely published on social media and in local magazines, and she has shot multiple covers for Nashville Interiors, including this issue. When she isn’t behind the camera, she enjoys time at home with her husband and three young children.

DENISE SIMONS | HOST

Denise Simons is an interior designer, public speaker and television producer. Her show LifeStyle with Denise Simons was nominated for an Emmy, and her other TV work includes 18 years featured as design expert on CBS Talk of the Town; Shop at Home Network, Accents for the Home and The Shopping Channel (Ontario, Canada). Her design work has been published in magazines, including Nashville Interiors, Romantic Homes, Nashville House & Home & Garden, and At Home. She loves God, dancing and bringing humor to her clients’ experiences. She hosts videos for the Nashville Interiors YouTube channel.

Photo by Christy Hunter

TRACEY STARCK | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Tracey Starck is a graphic designer who has designed ads and editorial layouts for several local publications, including Nashville Arts magazine, Your Williamson magazine, the Nashville Scene and Nashville Interiors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication arts at the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a graphic designer there for years before moving to Nashville. Tracey has also donated her design skills to animal rescue organizations such as the Austin Humane Society and Austin Greyhound Adoption. She has provided a home to shelter cats, as well as a few retired racing greyhounds.

Creating Beauty for your Home

We create designs that embrace your style while elevating it beyond your dreams. Mary Forsythe is an ASID Award-Winning designer, who is creating beautiful interiors for homes in Tennessee; from kitchen and baths, to primary suites and every room in between.

www.forsythehomestyling.com forsythehomestyling

CONTENTS Nashville Interiors

28 IT’S A BARBIE WORLD

Doll up your dream space with all things pink.

36

A HOME’S BASE

The team at Myers Flooring understands how important flooring is when dictating the look, feel and mood of a space — and their clients love their attention to detail and personal touches.

45 BELLEVUE BOOM

Novel Harpeth Heights, a new multi-family community with nature-filled amenities, opens in the growing neighborhood.

52 COLLABORATIVE EXPRESSION

When builders, designers and architects are all on the same page, a new home can be pure perfection — like this Temple Avenue project from Build Nashville, Elena DeSoto Interior Design, JL Design and August House Co.

62

HOME AND AWAY

A Nashville native turns a Peace Corps trip to Nicaragua into the sustainable and fashionable furniture business MasayaCo.

peacockalley.com

CONTENTS Nashville Interiors

69 COUNTRY CHARM, SUSTAINABLE EXTRAVAGANCE

82 ARTVILLE, INCOMING

Nashville’s inaugural public arts festival launches this fall from the longtime curator of American Artisan Festival.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: TC CARRUTHERS

The Southern Living Idea House in Leiper’s Fork is filled with inspirational takeaways. 77

Originally from Memphis, the artist started school at Tennessee State University in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and soon decided to chart their own course, adding authenticity, perspective and animation to the Music City art scene.

89 WEEKEND GETAWAY

Get to know Memphis again at Big Cypress Lodge this fall.

Living in a Barbie World

DOLL UP YOUR DREAM HOUSE WITH ANY AND ALL SHADES OF PINK

BY HOLLIE DEESE

Graber roller shades in Blushed Paradise with contour valance are the perfect complement for pale pink walls.

While we are all for living in quiet luxury, right now subtlety is taking a backseat to pink, thanks to the record-breaking Barbie movie from cowriter and director Greta Gerwig. In fact, hashtags for Barbiecore have gathered nearly 500 million views on TikTok, proving that people continue to be captivated by the positive, feel-good spirit of bright pink shades.

But really, the trend started months ago when Pantone announced its color of the year: Viva Magenta. Pantone usually picks from among its brand roster of hues, but this year they created an entirely new color — one whose exuberance promotes joyous, optimistic celebration.

Jennifer Porter, senior designer at Neville Johnson, says that when it comes to pink interiors, it’s important to get the most out of the color, no matter your style. “Shades of pinks, which conjure the beauty of playful femininity, are perfect for adding instant personality to your relaxing spaces, and warm gold door handles will perfectly complement the pink hues,” she says.

Graber, a leading brand of custom window treatments, offers a variety of shade options that provide the right pops of pinks and florals while staying chic and balanced overall.

Not ready to go all in on a big redesign? Relocation expert Harrison Gough from Moving Feedback has some tips on how to inject just a touch of Barbie vibe into your space.

“Look for handy and practical pink décor — shelves are a great place to start,” he says. “They are perfect for decluttering spaces, showcasing special items and adding a lived-in feel to any room.” You can also load up the shelves with your favorite pink decorations, books and candles to Barbie-fy any room.

Upcycling old furniture is another way to inject the sense of energy that pink brings, whether that be by reupholstering an old chair with funky new fabric or by turning a worn-out dresser into a bright work-from-home station.

“When looking for items to upcycle, it’s worth hunting Facebook Marketplace for local furniture that people may not want, as well as searching through eBay, scanning thrift stores and hitting up yard sales,” Gough says. “There are often one-of-a-kind pieces at very good prices.”

Art, rugs and accent chairs are other avenues to get in the pink without making wholesale — and permanent — changes. Here are some of our favorite items to doll up our space in a way Barbie would love. NI

Top left, a Neville Johnson bespoke walk-in dressing wardrobe in Coral Rose features brushed gold hardware.

At left, Dina Goldstein, Bedroom Magazines (Ed. 8/20), Pigment on Archival Paper (Framed), $2,500 at Chauvet Arts.

FEATURED FINDS

BARBIE EDITION

The Blushing Palms Pool luxe inflatable pool, $55, was designed in Chicago by Emily Vaca of La Vaca.

The Midi Locker from Mustard Made in Poppy, $369, has maximum storage potential while also looking stylish in any room of the house.

MUSIC CITY CENTER SEPT. 8-10

YOUR PROJECTS. OUR EXPERTS.

3 DAYS ONLY!

Shop, compare and save with 200+ experts in kitchen & bath, windows, flooring and more!

“Bugsy” Drake, the ‘Queen of Theme’ from Bravo’s hit show Below Deck Mediterranean and check out some of her fabulous tablescapes! See her live Friday and Saturday.

Explore one of Providence Tiny Homes custom-built houses and see what the tiny home movement is all about! Landscaped by Drew’s Lawn & Landscape.

Get your hands dirty at the DIY Terrarium Building Station, and create your own beautiful plant terrarium with Desert + Vine Botonical Supply.

Cabinet Designer: Kym Alayne Heaton | Photographer:

A Home’s Base

THE TEAM AT MYERS FLOORING HELPS HOMEOWNERS FIND WHAT WORKS TO BEST FIT THE FEEL AND MOOD OF A SPACE

BY HOLLIE DEESE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLISON ELEFANTE

The Myers Flooring showroom on Sidco Drive isn’t like other showrooms. It’s just as much about history and family as it is design and textiles. It’s about legacy. Relationships.

It’s about people — customers and employees — working together to create beautiful spaces that are the base of where memories are made. It’s about finding the right carpet where children can play in a soft, safe space. It’s about finding just the right color to work with an heirloom piece of art. It’s about so much more than making a beautiful room. It’s about making a home.

It’s Donna Tucker at the front door greeting you each and every time you walk in. It’s Perry Housman giving you words of encouragement as well as advice. It’s Doug Peeples making sure his employees are given the respect they deserve. It’s about expert salespeople like Wade Walters, Rene Acuna and Phillip Mcgahey combining experience with execution.

It’s Audra Fairchild, the Nashville location’s longesttenured employee, who started out doing the books and is now one of their top salespeople.

“I’ve never worked for anybody who’s been so supportive,” Fairchild says. “We have people who have been working in this company for more than 30 years, because they really care about their employees.”

Fairchild says she didn’t know anything about flooring when she was hired to do bookkeeping in 2001. She was a waitress at the time and says she didn’t know anything about bookkeeping either. “They took a chance on me and trained me to do everything,” she says. “They were patient, and if I messed up, they were forgiving. I just really appreciate that.”

The Beginning of a Legacy

Myers Flooring was founded in 1957 by Gene Myers in Dalton, Georgia, the first carpet retail wholesale business in the town. Myers, who had worked for a company that supplied cutting machines to the carpet industry, and had learned to work the binding and serging machines himself, would travel to carpet mills to buy their poundage and bring it back to the shop to make throw rugs and runners.

Gene was only 53 when he died in the fall of 1981. His sons Rick and Ray stepped in to help their mother, Evelyn, continue what their father had started — shifting from their chosen paths. Rick was well on his way to a successful career in the hospitality industry, having worked at Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta from its opening day, and Ray was studying furniture design at Auburn University.

By 1984, Rick had left Peachtree to come home to Myers, and a year later Ray convinced his mom and brother to let him open a satellite showroom in Atlanta. He soon found that the basic carpets that were popular in Dalton did not sell well in Atlanta, so he took a chance and purchased some high-end wool at $100 a yard.

Workers at Myers Flooring can draw from rolls and rolls of available carpeting to make custom runners and rugs with quick turnaround times.

The risk paid off. A member of the Woodruff family — the Coca-Cola Woodruffs — came into the showroom and ordered the high-end product for her entire house.

“From that day on, anything I could get that was unusual, I did, and that separated us from the Dalton game,” Ray told Nashville Interiors in 2019.

It was a decision that helped pave the way for even more growth for the company, saving them when the recession took out competitors and enabling them to look beyond Georgia.

A Design District Stalwart

The company expanded to Nashville in 1998, choosing Music City over other potential candidates when their research showed Nashville had the second-highest income per capita in the Southeast behind Palm Beach. The vibe of the city was not dissimilar to Atlanta, and they thought their high-end lines would work well in the creative city.

Their first location was on Lafayette Street. In 2001 they bought the old Carpet Barn on Division Street behind the vaunted Frugal MacDoogal liquor store, where they remained for 15 years. In 2016 they sold that three-acre lot when the city announced they were building a bridge

to connect to the other part of town, and real estate values skyrocketed.

On Feb. 1, 2016, Myers Flooring closed on ownership of the assets of Nashville Carpet Center on Fontana Drive from owner Van Gilmore. But they were envious of the space across the street, which was then occupied by RJ Young.

“We felt like that was the spot where we needed to be,” Peeples, Myers Flooring Nashville manager, told the magazine in 2019.

And then one night, in true Nashville fashion, Peeples and the Myers brothers were having dinner at BrickTop’s on West End, just “talking like guys do about little league baseball and business, and I guess we were just close enough to where this guy could hear us. He said ‘Y’all are who?’” Peeples recalls.

That person was friends with the owner of the RJ Young distribution center, and he knew his buddy was almost ready to sell. A few months later, the RJ Young owner went to Myers first, and Rick and Ray shook on a deal.

Ray tapped into his furniture and design education and helped transform the 1950s building into an expanded showroom — new roof, new HVAC, and a sleek glass and

There might be a few sample books hanging around at the Myers Flooring showroom on Sidco Drive. The decades-old company prides itself on an available selection that can satisfy any customer’s needs.

steel design center set up so customers could see every sample and watch the work being done on site by rug makers like Teresa Poole and Sam Ibarra. And just like Gene did back in the day, serging runners in his work room, the showpiece at Myers is their workroom with an air table designed by Ray that is so large you can take any sample in the showroom, any roll of carpet they have, and make hall runners, staircase runners and any size custom rug, right on site.

It’s hard to believe the totally renovated showroom was once an RJ Young distribution center, but an inset scale, a remnant from the past, was preserved in the remodel as a marker of what was once there.

People, Projects and a Personal Touch

One of the newest people on the sales floor is Jolie Neidlinger, who joined the team in April last year. But her family has been in the flooring business her entire life, so she knows the importance of quality and community when it comes to where she works and the products they offer.

Neidlinger works directly with interior designers as well as consumers who walk into the showroom, which feeds her love of design and the joy she finds in helping people create a beautiful home.

“Honestly, it’s about building relationships,” she says. “What’s most important is that we treat everybody the same.”

In 2012, Myers Flooring added Hollywood to their roster of clients after a set designer for Anchorman II came in looking for a ’70s-era orange shag rug and lime green carpet. Myers delivered, and since then they have provided flooring for The Internship, Dumb and Dumber II, Fast and Furious 7 and 8, Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, Black Panther, Stranger Things and Marvel productions.

One commercial project Neidlinger worked on recently was the children’s boutique Magpies in Belle Meade.

“We can do everything, and we make everything right,” she says. “The amount of stock that we have in the back is really easy for people to grab and just go, which I think is a huge thing — most stores don’t have the option to be able to come in and grab an 8x10 rug for a party you’re about to have this weekend.”

Now, between the showrooms in Atlanta and Dalton, Myers Flooring carries nearly every major line of floor covering. And helping her clients find just the right thing among all the options is one of Fairchild’s favorite things about Myers.

Wooden sheep modeling different finishes for rugs and carpets stand around the inset scale that Myers Flooring preserved during the remodel of their Sidco Drive showroom — which used to be an RJ Young distribution center.

“I call it the hunt,” she says. “I just love going around the showroom and pulling stuff and throwing it on the floor. Then the best part is when they say, ‘That’s perfect.’”

Even more than the hunt, Fairchild loves the people she is helping find that perfect piece. Myers has built a community where designers and customers become so much more than a sale, especially after decades of working together.

“Some of them remember me when I was pregnant and have watched my kids grow up. I have watched their kids go off to college, and them become grandparents,” she says. “I consider my designers my friends.” NI

Samples and spools and fringed rugs represent several of the many aspects of the flooring business that Myers Flooring focuses on to make sure their customers get what they need and want.

Bellevue Boom

NOVEL HARPETH HEIGHTS OPENS IN GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD

BY HOLLIE DEESE | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CRESCENT COMMUNITIES

Novel Harpeth Heights, a new multifamily build from Crescent Communities, celebrated its official grand opening in Bellevue on June 22, 2023, solidifying the classic neighborhood’s continued growth and its influx of younger residents.

Constructed in partnership with Pearl Street Partners, the community on Old Hickory Boulevard has four residential buildings, each with a mix of studio, one-, two- and threebedroom residences, with 322 total units.

Inspired by the rejuvenating power of nature and the rich history and architecture of Middle Tennessee, the design embraces the concept of “Tennessee Heritage.” For example, the main clubhouse is reminiscent of a country farmhouse, complete with a front porch and a screened-in back patio, and it is surrounded by herb gardens, fruit tree orchards and beehives.

“Nestled in the hills of Bellevue, Novel Harpeth Heights celebrates the innate spirit of Tennessee, providing a haven for residents who want a connection to nature, convenience and a sense of adventure,” says Ben Collins, executive managing director for Crescent Communities. “With Warner Park and the Harpeth and Cumberland rivers all nearby, residents have endless outdoor adventures at their fingertips. This is really an incredible place to call home.”

In addition to the proximity to outdoor activities, residents have access to plenty of amenities on site, including a library, a business center with micro-offices and multimedia conference room, a demonstration kitchen with bar and dining lounge in the clubhouse, a resort-style pool, a lap pool, a game room, a patio with fire pit, gas grills, swinging chairs and a standalone fitness center and spa with cardio, weight, massage and cool-down rooms. Additionally, there is a gear lounge with equipment for maintaining mountain bikes and washing down outdoor gear, as well as a dog

The Novel Harpeth Heights development in Bellevue offers its residents plenty of indoor and outdoor amenities — pools, patios, game areas, a demonstration cooking kitchen and available office space.

spa and dog park with separate areas for small and large breeds.

On-site programming for residents includes partnerships with local chefs who offer culinary experiences in the demo kitchen, while also encouraging residents to use the communal pizza oven and Big Green Egg in the community’s large outdoor kitchen. Design partners include architecture firms HEDK Architects and 906 Studio; interior designers from SJL Design Group and 505 Design; Edge landscape architects; civil engineer Barge Civil Associates and McShane Construction. “We’ve incorporated all of our best thinking and lessons learned into the planning and programming of Novel Harpeth Heights,” said Khris Pascarella, founder of Pearl Street Partners. “Our goal is to provide a resort experience and five-star service from our management team, while creating a relaxing setting for residents to enjoy.” NI

Blayne Macauley has been a professional artist for more than 20 years, and has participated in more than 30 gallery and museum shows worldwide. Her work has been featured on HGTV, in Southern Living and Domino magazines, and in the homes of numerous celebrity collectors. Her personalized paintings, called Heirloom Paintings, tell a family’s unique story and can be passed down for generations. Her work is available for sale via her website.

www.blayneart.com blayne_art

KTVP is a video production company focused on providing beautifully crafted story branding and social media content for lifestyle artists and local businesses as well as for those special moments in your life. We offer filming & editing services with a quick turn around time to meet your deadlines, while not sacrificing creativity and quality.

Contact us today for more information & to schedule a FREE consultation call.

@katetranvideoproduction on instagram katetranvideoproduction@gmail.com

JL Design collaborated with the homeowner on the furnishings and decor for this Temple Avenue home, beginning at about halfway through the construction process.

Creating Collaboratively

WHEN BUILDER, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNERS ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, A NEW HOME CAN BE PURE PERFECTION

BY HOLLIE DEESE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY REAGEN TAYLOR

Sometimes a home doesn’t have to be a custom build to have a custom feel. And a recent project on Temple Avenue by Build Nashville is a perfect example of that.

The Scandinavian-style home is quintessential Build Nashville — minimal and clean with lots of light wood, light-filled spaces and no clutter.

“We feel like we are on the leading edge of pushing this minimalist Scandinavian style,” Jamie Duncan says. “We like to call it Japandi (Japanese / Scandi). It is about bringing in natural elements and soft, organic textures. Modern doesn’t mean harsh and cold details — we like the warmth to be felt when you enter our homes.”

Build Nashville’s hallmark tends to be attention to detail in their homes, whether spec or custom, and in this case their in-house designer had a custom cabinet maker create gabled built-ins in the kitchen with a scalloped white wood backdrop that reflects the gables on the exterior of the home.

“Build Nashville is very intentional about the design elements that go into our homes, and this home was designed by us and the architect, August House Co., to bring in a lot of natural light and light wood elements to compliment the Scandinavian design,” Duncan says.

More and more, Duncan says, they have been building pools for their luxury homes. They have become very sought-after in Nashville — even though the terrain in Middle Tennessee doesn’t always make it easy.

“The way we elevated the side yard for the pool to be on the same level as the back porch was important to us to create seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces,” Duncan says of the Temple Avenue home. “We included an outdoor kitchen and gas line for a firepit table on the screened porch to top off the outdoor living vibe.”

Outdoor living is another feature that’s crucial right now in Middle Tennessee real estate.

“On this particular build, a client purchased it after it was halfway completed, and he brought in Jessica Davis of JL Design,” Duncan says. “We already had the interior finishes selected by our designer, Elena DeSoto Interior Designs, so it allowed Jessica to focus on the furnishings and styling of the home with the client,” Duncan says. “I know it was helpful to Jessica to have access to construction drawings and be involved along the way so the furnishings could be designed to perfectly fit the space.”

Passing the torch

The buyer, David Adams, made sure Duncan and Davis connected right away. “We got the vision boards at the same time,” Davis says.

Davis had done a lot of work with Duncan before Build Nashville hired an in-house designer, DeSoto, to accommodate and streamline their growing workload.

“We have a great personal and business relationship,” Davis says of Duncan. They both were excited to work together on another project.

When designers pay attention to seemingly minor details, as JL Design did in this Temple Avenue home project, the result can be eye-catching interplay among lines and patterns and shapes.

Covering a set of dining room chairs in different fabrics can be a hard sell, Jessica Davis of JL Design says, but the results are stunningly quirky.

Davis worked closely with Adams to choose the right furniture, art and paint for the space while the build team wrapped up construction. Her earlier working relationship with Duncan made things run more smoothly.

“Basically it was a tag team effort,” Davis says.

“Jessica and I have been friends for years, which made it even more fun to collaborate on this one with her,” Duncan says. “It is always so fun to see how our clients decorate and style their homes, and working with a professional designer makes the process so much easier and allows the homeowner to feel settled a lot quicker.”

Art, furniture and color are all ways to accomplish that settling-in goal.

“I definitely embrace color in a lot of my work,” Davis says. “He wanted me to pull that in in a way that it would still honor the overall Scandinavian design and the texture that had already been introduced in the design.”

She combined new art with photos and pieces Adams already had, like a limited-edition Picasso print. Bringing in homeowners’ collections is important in helping them relax and tap into their happy memories in their new space, she says, especially if they have a high-pressure job.

“For a lot of people, that means you have a spa-like feel at home. We run across that plenty. But for some people, myself included, I like to break that up in various areas of my house.”

Davis helped the homeowner pick out an arcade game for one space and a collection of photographs that reflect his childhood and hobbies (like surfing) for another. And there are plenty of spaces for his dog, Jolene, who goes everywhere with him.

August House Co. architects, Build Nashville construction with Elena DeSoto Interior Designs, and JL Design worked closely together on this Temple Avenue home to make it a place the owner could settle in and feel comfortable immediately.

“He just wanted it to feel like somewhere he could really unplug — where he could entertain and just feel fun and happy overall. I definitely think we achieved that,” Davis says.

Adams does a lot of entertaining — cooking and hosting dinner parties — so a kitchen conducive to entertaining family and friends was important. He kept his favorite bar stools, but Davis shook things up by covering his dining chairs with different fabrics.

“It’s always a hard sell,” she says of having a set of the same chairs in different colors, “but then when they see it, they’re like, ‘This is so awesome.’”

Jessica Davis is founder of JL Design, which the Watkins College of Art graduate started in 2005. From her beginnings in Nashville, Davis’ business has grown to include commissions up and down the East Coast.

The home incorporates a balanced mix of dark elements and light, pattern and texture, neutrals and brights — all working together to add depth and personality. And Davis studies how color can release hormones and chemicals that make you happy.

“I want everything to feel collected and unique,” she says, so she looks for special pieces that can’t be found anywhere else.

Sometimes that means pushing people beyond their comfort zone, which she says is the entire purpose of hiring a designer.

“I tell my clients that if I don’t make you uncomfortable at least one time in this process, then I’m not doing my job,” Davis says. “I want to take your personality, your lifestyle, and I want to create something that is totally unique to you.”

In the end it serves the homeowner to trust the process, and the professionals to work together to achieve a beautiful, unique space. Having the pros all on the same page avoids miscommunication and saves time and money.

“We are the experts in the room,” Davis says. “When they trust us, that’s when we can best do our job.” NI

35 35 35 years years years

From Seed to Seat

MASAYACO EXPANDS IN NASHVILLE AND BEYOND FROM BEGINNINGS AS A REFORESTATION COMPANY

BY HOLLIE DEESE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM DESHAZER

On paper, Nashville native and Hume-Fogg graduate Aram Terry was on track to take a safe and secure path. But after studying business at Boston University, he didn’t want to get the typical post-graduation finance job. So he joined the Peace Corps, with the full support of his parents, who had both applied for the Peace Corps in the 1970s after their undergrad years. But instead of going to Costa Rica, they chose the safe and secure path — Terry’s father went to law school, and his mother got a master’s in special education.

“I guess they wanted to live vicariously through me,” Terry says.

Having already studied abroad in Barcelona, he wanted to travel more — and improve his Spanish. He chose an assignment in Nicaragua doing small business development.

“I’d never been to Latin America, so it seemed like a good idea,” he says.

Stationed in a small fishing village on the coast, he lived in a hut with a palm roof and a sand floor for two years, working with a non-governmental organization (NGO) that ran a microcredit

program in a protected area of the small community. He was paired with Olin Cohan (now his partner on Masaya Homes, a prefab sustainable home business), who was working in environmental education at the time.

“The Peace Corps is pretty open, and you can come up with your own projects,” he says. “So we started a scholarship program for different things helping the NGO that was working there, including reforestation.”

After seeing the negative impact of abusive forestry practices during his Peace Corps assignment in Nicaragua, Aram knew he wanted to create a socially and environmentally sustainable business guided by what he’d learned.

“I was working with people who had tree farms on a development that they were making,” he says. “I would drive by the tree farms every day for years and watch the trees go from seedlings to full grown, talking to them about it and learning about it.”

So, he and his father, Michael Terry, founded Maderas Sostenibles in 2007 to process hurricane-salvaged hardwoods and establish tree farms on deforested land in Nicaragua. After several years of establishing tree farms on cow pastures, Maderas Sostenibles founded a production facility in Managua to fabricate furniture and wood products that continuously capture carbon through furniture.

In 2012, in addition to the lumber business, he was selling real estate in a small beach town, but he didn’t feel like he was adding to the community the way he wanted to. And that is where he met Abril Zepeda, a Nicaraguan designer whose creative hometown of Masaya is known for its makers and textiles.

“We met surfing, through a friend of a friend,” she says.

Zepeda was a bit of an anomaly in Masaya — she was an anthropologist. Her chance meeting with Terry grew into a romance and a business partnership.

“Masaya is very well known as a cradle of folklore,” she says. “There is a lot of handcrafting there — a lot of artisans working with pottery, leather, hammocks, textiles, wooden toys. There are also a lot of festivals. My mom was a cultural promoter, and I was always behind her in all these things.”

When they met, Terry had just started making furniture, creating woven chairs on wood frames, and he was having problems getting the hammock weavers to create the look he wanted. Zepeda, through her connections in Masaya, knew she could help the hammock weavers transition to making chairs.

“And he appeared at my house with five frames,” she says. She turned to her mom, who connected her with multiple artisans, but they all said they were too busy learn a new way and product.

“But then I found this old man, and he told me he didn’t know how to make it,” Zepeda says. “And I said, ‘I’m going to teach you.’ So we both were figuring it out, in my own backyard.”

Aram Terry and Abril Zepeda’s business, MasayaCo, is still making the products it started out with — chairs that are woven on frames made of sustainably sourced wood.

According to its website, MasayaCo has planted more than 1.2 million trees in its effort to promote reforestation in Nicaragua. It uses sustainably sourced wood to produce chairs like the one at right.

Once she understood the technique, her creative side took over and she began coming up with new color patterns.

In 2014, Zepeda and Terry partnered with his brother, artist Justin Terry, and made MasayaCo official. In addition to their design and artisanal craft, they remain dedicated to the forest and to principles of sustainability — the basis of their whole business model of “seed to seat.”

“Justin was living in Brooklyn, and he would sell the chairs on Etsy, and then we’d ship them out,” Terry says.

Booming tourism development in Nicaragua kept their showroom there very busy in the early years. They opened a small showroom in Nashville in 2015, and in 2018 they expanded to Costa Rica. In 2020, just as COVID-19 hit, they opened a larger space at L&L Marketplace on Charlotte Pike.

The pandemic pushed their focus back online, but recently, they have been putting more emphasis on their retail spaces — moving into a bigger space in L&L, as well as opening a new showroom in Berkley, California. From their California showroom, they also operate Masaya Homes, their prefab home business that offers structures ranging from 150 to 1,500 square feet. Eventually, they hope to expand that part of the business to Nashville.

Terry and Zepeda still live in the same beach town where they met and started their business 12 years ago, now as married business partners with two daughters. These days Zepeda handles all things creative, always improving designs to maximize output from their plantations, while he continues to grow the housing side of the business.

“The whole idea is to grow trees on the cow pastures, capture carbon and turn the carbon into lifetime products. That’s the business model,” Terry says. “We learned furniture doesn’t use very much wood, so the homes are basically a way of using everything that we’re growing.” NI

MasayaCo produces armchairs, dining chairs, accent chairs and rocking chairs in dozens of patterns, all on frames of sustainably sourced wood. Their catalog is available at masayacompany.com.

Miriam Speyer, left, and Amber Nicolas, center, work in MasayaCo’s Nashville showroom, which expanded in L&L Marketplace through efforts by Aram Terry and Abril Zapeda.

THE PARANJAPE PROJECT, NASHVILLE, TN | MRS. PARANJAPE DESIGN + INTERIORS

her personal home,

Experience DUCHATEAU's hardwood flooring at the 2023 Southern Living Idea House - now open. We are honored to partner with Hatcliff Construction, Jeffco Flooring and Supply, and Laura Hodges Studio, who selected our Signature Riverstone Sava hardwood flooring for its warm, rich golden brown-tones. To learn more about DUCHATEAU’s product lines, see the Southern Living Idea House or visit duchateau.com.

For

Lori Paranjape selected Chaparral hardwood flooring from our Signature Terra Collection. This color complements Nashville and the surrounding landscape aesthetic with a look that appears raw, natural, and aged in place, created by the elements of sun, wind, and time. The matching herringbone creates a special moment in the front entryway.

Country Charm, Sustainable Extravagance

THE SOUTHERN LIVING IDEA HOUSE IN LEIPER’S FORK IS FILLED WITH INSPIRATIONAL TAKEAWAYS

BY HOLLIE DEESE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY GLENN | STYLING BY ZOE GOWEN

Southern Living magazine has been sponsoring Idea Homes for more than 20 years to bring some of the best work from the region’s builders, designers, architects and more to life in either renovations or ground-up construction projects across the South.

here’s just something about Tennessee that has people moving to the area from all over the country. Maybe it’s the idyllic rolling hills and misty mornings. Or perhaps it’s the explosive modernity in our cities. Certainly some of it is our musical heritage and history. And on 22 acres in Leiper’s Fork there is a home that epitomizes all of that — and so much more.

The Southern Living Idea House, featured in the September 2023 issue of Southern Living, is a reimagined contemporary farmhouse that is open for tours through Dec. 17. Built by Mary and Patrick Hatcliff of Hatcliff Construction, the home showcases the kind of harmonious blend of modernity, sustainability and unmistakable charm that has people coming to Tennessee in droves.

“It’s actually on our personal farm,” Mary Hatcliff says. “The editor of Southern Living and about eight others came to look at the property and decided this is where they wanted to do it.”

Boasting 5,600 square feet on 22 acres of land that the Hatcliffs sold with the property (the tract is already under contract for $6.3 million), the completely custom home was designed by Laura Hodges of Laura Hodges Studio and includes three bedrooms, a spacious home gym, a garden folly filled with Mary Hatcliff’s personal plants and an outdoor entertaining area bookended by a pool and a party barn.

“The design really takes advantage of the natural views and surroundings,” Hodges says. “There’s a ton of natural light that comes in through floor-toceiling windows, so we really tried to bring in colors that were reflective of the environment. It really feels like a home that has been there awhile. It’s the type of place that anybody could really relate to and feel comfortable in.”

The color palette is tailored to emphasize the natural scenery that surrounds the home, while inside, a mix of styles and materials infuses the new build’s modern touches with the warmth and character of a classic Tennessee farmhouse.

“We wanted this house to reflect the beauty of its surroundings and the traditions of rural Tennessee architecture, but it’s also very forward-looking, with countless ideas for thoughtful, sustainable design,” says Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living “Every square inch of this house is inspiring.”

This year’s Southern Living Idea Home is a renovated farmhouse in Leiper’s Fork. Tours will be available through mid-December 2023.

Local Culture and Resources

Embracing the area’s musical heritage, Hodges imagined a blues musician with a country star spouse living on the property when she included a recording studio in the design.

“I imagined they would have an appreciation for a wide range of music, a wide range of artwork,” Hodges says. “We borrowed a ton of vintage guitars and musical instruments from Fanny’s House of Music, and then we could also support their new nonprofit school of music that they’re developing. We just wanted to make sure that there was a throughline of music and art that was reflective of the environment and of the local culture.” When it came to finding art for the home, Hodges commissioned some pieces from artists she had worked with in the past, as well as working with the Nashville Artist Collective.

“They were very generous and brought over a ton of artwork, from sculpture to drawings and paintings,” Hodges says.

Many of the materials and finishes were also locally made, including the custom cabinetry from Henry’s Cabinets in Shelbyville, while vintage furniture and rugs can be found throughout the home.

“There was a lot of thought and attention that went into making it feel very approachable and welcoming,” Hodges says. “There’s not much that feels too ostentatious or over the top. I think when most people come in, they feel like they could live there — and that was the goal.”

Camille Oubre of Jeffco Flooring & Supply in Nashville worked with the designer on choosing and installing several thousand square feet of wideplank engineered wood floors from Duchateau.

“She was open to anything,” Oubre says of working with Hodges. “And it’s so different from the trend right now, which is a little more light and blond in our area. This is more of a throwback — it’s a dark, coffee brown that just brings some warmth back into the home.”

Take Home Ideas

Since it is an Idea House, it features plenty of ideas people can incorporate into their own homes, including cork behind upholstered walls so people can push-pin artwork and personal pictures to the wall without leaving holes.

Another idea is the retractable vinyl screens from Phantom Screens.

a button, the vinyl goes down, and it encloses your porch so you don’t have to worry about pollen in the spring getting all over everything,” Hatcliff says. “You don’t have to worry about leaves in the fall. And in the cooler months, you’re comfortable on the porch.”

Outside in the garden folly, Hatcliff had full reign.

“The architects (Bill Holloway and Luke Sippel of Lake and Land Studio) designed this house with us in mind — Patrick and me and our farm,” Hatcliff says.

“So they designed the party barn for Patrick and the garden folly for me and all my plants. I went in and did the entire interior — I picked the sink, and I added a drain in the middle, put tile on the floor, added beautiful shelves all around and all my plants.”

In fact, when her personal home was struck by lightning and burned, many of her plants were saved because they were at “Mary’s Folly” at the Idea House. Landscape designer Butch Hamby of Southern Creations Landscaping created the rest of the outdoor space.

“It’s a completely different way to build, but it was a great team,” Hatcliff says. “Everybody had the same common goal — we wanted it to be the best Southern Living Idea House ever. I think we met that goal.” NI Other collaborators on the Southern Living Idea Home in Leiper’s Fork are Bill Holloway and Luke Sippel of Lake and Land Studio in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Laura Hodges of Laura Hodges Studio in Catonsville, Maryland; and Butch Hamby of Southern Creations Landscaping in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The house plan for this year’s Southern Living Idea House from Hatcliff Construction is available for purchase, and tours of the home are open to the public through Dec. 17. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Hands On Nashville, Harpeth Conservancy and MakeA-Wish Middle Tennessee. The home features products and designs from dozens of national and local sponsors, including Alabama Stone Co., Clopay, Command Brand, Duchateau Flooring, James Hardie, Kerrygold, Marvin, Monogram Appliances, Pedigree, Phantom Screens, Regina Andrew Design, SherwinWilliams, Summer Classics and Zuri Premium Decking. For a full list of sponsors and vendors, visit southernliving.com.

Artist Spotlight TC CARRUTHERS

BY ROBERT JONES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM DESHAZER

The COVID-19 pandemic stretched on endlessly, until it seemed to stop suddenly and all at once. So much has transpired within the Nashville arts community since 2020, but if I had to pick the local artist who experienced the biggest postpandemic “glow up,” it would be difficult to look past TC Carruthers.

TC first came to my attention shortly after they arrived in Nashville, when their bold collage art appeared at Germantown’s The PSV Store. I was drawn to the balance of authenticity and playfulness in their depictions of inner-city neighborhoods.

“I got a full ride to TSU and moved here from Memphis in September of 2020,” TC says. “That transition was really hard ‘cause I was already sad I didn’t get to go to prom or graduation, and then I instantly didn’t like college: It was automatically a no for me. But I was already starting to get opportunities with my art, so I just went my own way.”

Less than three years later, TC has emerged from the pandemic in a position of strength, at the forefront of a new generation of artists in Nashville. Coming off the successful launch of their fashion brand (which can be found at @g00dkid.apparel on Instagram), they are now working on site at the Frist Art Museum to install two large collage pieces for the upcoming show Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage.

“When I was 16, I had this art teacher called Mr. Weddle who introduced me to collage,” TC says. “He just gave me like a bunch of magazines and told me to make some art with it. I was instantly good at it, and he pushed me to keep going.”

The clothing design came a little later.

Artist TC Carruthers came from Memphis to start school at TSU in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They soon decided to chart their own course and have added authenticity, perspective and animation to the Music City art scene.

“I really just like creating everything that I didn’t have the resources to create when I was little; I started to get into fashion ’cause I didn’t really feel like my clothes fit me properly. So I learned how to sew, and that’s how I ended up here [studying] studio arts and fashion design.”

TC Carruthers credits a high-school art teacher with introducing them to collage. They never looked back, and now they will be exhibiting collage pieces at the Frist Art Museum.

TC, who grew up in Memphis, forged their newfound success on the back of an incredible creative streak. There is a contagious nature in the energy of their work that makes challenging messages palatable to a wider audience.

“Memphis can be a pretty rough place to live at. I got into art because all I had around me was trouble. So I feel like my art is really about healing my childhood trauma,” they say. “I feel like a lot of people have experienced the same kind of things that I went through, but as an adult you just sweep it under the rug.”

They feel like the animated aspect of their art helps carry joy despite life’s challenges — the audience’s challenges and their own.

“I’m Black, so I already have issues going against me. And then to be queer on top of that is hard. I really like that my art is kind of animated, because I think it’s easier to take the messages when they’re more cartoonish,” TC says.

In addition to their visual art, TC Carruthers also has a line of apparel. They started sewing when they could never find clothes that fit right, and that was what started them on the path toward studying studio arts and fashion design.

Photo at left by Emily April Allen

“I feel like it’s important to keep a part of people’s childhood alive. I want people to be reminded of that joy. But I also want them to heal from a lot of trauma that happened then. We don’t really have a lot of ways to convey that pain and release it. So I feel like a good way to do it is through art.”

This animated element is going to form the focus of TC’s first solo show at the Julia Martin Gallery on Oct. 7. And it may be the springboard for yet another creative endeavor, TC says.

“I’ve been wanting to create a kids’ book, but I’ve been trying to figure out, like, how to make it come alive,” they say. “So that’s kinda what the show at Julia Martin Gallery is going to be about. I can’t share too much yet — but it’s gonna be really cool, and it’s gonna be really different.” NI Instagram: @tc.ragewrld

Scissors are a key tool in creation of all manner of art for TC Carruthers, who has an apparel brand as well as collage art headed for the Frist Art Museum.

Artville

NASHVILLE’S INAUGURAL PUBLIC ARTS FESTIVAL LAUNCHES THIS FALL

The inaugural Artville festival — a free, three-day celebration of visual art — launches Sept. 29–Oct. 1 in the WedgewoodHouston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods. The first-of-itskind event will feature 20 large public art installations and murals, a reimagined American Artisan Festival and special “after dark” programming.

Renowned visual artists will create temporary, site-specific works that will only be on view that weekend.

“It will enrich our city, bring local artists to the forefront, draw in national artists and tourists alike, and show art collectors that contemporary art and Nashville’s unique spirit go hand-in-hand,” festival co-founder Samantha Saturn said in a release.

Local participating artists, who have received Artville cash awards, include Andrés Bustamante, Lindsy Davis, Troy Duff, Rachel Hayes, Brett Douglas Hunter, Alex Lockwood, Bryce McCloud, Beth Reitmeyer, Kit Reuther, Camilla Spadafino, Vadis Turner, Yanira Vissepo and Herb Williams. Artville Walls, the companion mural project, will feature works by Jeremiah Britton, Joe Geis, Violet Hill, Meg “Pie” Pollard, Xavier “XPayne” Payne, Maggie Sanger and Brian Wooden.

BY HOLLIE DEESE PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED

The American Artisan Festival, which has been held for decades at Nashville’s Centennial Park on West End Avenue, is moving this year to the Wedgewood-Houston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods. It still will feature more than 100 participating artists, but more activities and art installations are planned for its reinvigoration as Artville at the end of September.

Festival co-founders Saturn and Jack Davis envision Artville growing into an annual citywide event spotlighting the Nashville creative community. Saturn, the longtime curator of the American Artisan Festival, and Davis, founder of Good Neighbor Festivals, want the festival to highlight Nashville’s creative culture through public art installations, immersive experiences and opportunities for art collecting. Their goal is to provide a large-scale opportunity to showcase and invest in local artists’ projects and programming, ultimately boosting visual arts–related tourism add tourism to Music City’s galleries, museums and cultural institutions.

Several programs will happen throughout the weekend, including a reimagined American Artisan Festival, a curated selection of exhibits by Nashville’s contemporary art galleries and dealers, and an After Dark series of interactive art experiences — plus music, entertainment, artisanal food, beer and wine, as well as kids’ art programming.

Above: Troy Duff is a graffiti and fine artist based in East Nashville. A 1987 graduate of Harding Academy and a Nossi College of Art & Design alum, his passion is spontaneous and public art.

Left: Nashville-born Vadis Turner is known for her mixedmedia works. She has been affiliated with Vanderbilt University as artist in residence and has works in galleries and exhibits across the country.

TROY DUFF BY REEVES SMITH

VADIS TURNER BY JULIA STEELE

To kick off the weekend, Artville will host a conversation with Derrick Adams, a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is centered around themes of Black culture in America. This free event will be moderated by Frist Art Museum Senior Curator Katie Delmez in connection with the upcoming exhibition Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage, which features Adams’ work. The exhibit also has two collage pieces by TC Carruthers, who you can read about on page 77. The Multiplicity exhibit will be open at the Frist from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31. NI

Artville

Friday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Special Events

Preview Party at Nashville Warehouse Co.

Thursday, Sept. 28, 6–9 p.m.

Artville Talks with Derrick Adams

Friday, Sept. 29, 6–7 p.m.

After Dark Events *ticketed

Friday, Sept. 29, 5–7 p.m.

After Dark Events *ticketed

Saturday, Sept. 30, 5–7 p.m.

Maggie Sanger, whose work is shown on this page, is a Nashville-based multidisciplinary artist whose work includes visual art and design, custom accent walls and art objects, surface design and installation art. She will be participating in the Artville Walls exhibit.

MAGGIE SANGER: SUBMITTED

DESIGN FOR OUR CITY, DESIGN FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DESIGN FOR ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, DESIGN FOR A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE, DESIGN FOR NON-DESIGNERS, DESIGN FOR ALL FIVE SENSES, DESIGN FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, DESIGN LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR, DESIGN FOR DEEPER CONNECTIONS, DESIGN FOR WHAT’S NEXT, DESIGN FOR EQUITY, DESIGN FOR NEW INTELLIGENCE, DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY, DESIGN FOR MY OWN BACKYARD, DESIGN FOR EMPHASIS, DESIGN FOR A CHANGING SKYLINE, DESIGN FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DESIGN FOR ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, DESIGN FOR A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE, DESIGN FOR NON-DESIGNERS, DESIGN FOR ALL FIVE SENSES, DESIGN FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, DESIGN LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR, DESIGN FOR DEEPER CONNECTIONS, DESIGN FOR WHAT’S NEXT, DESIGN FOR EQUITY, DESIGN FOR NEW INTELLIGENCE, DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY, DESIGN FOR MY OWN BACKYARD, DESIGN FOR EMPHASIS, DESIGN FOR A CHANGING SKYLINE, DESIGN FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DESIGN FOR ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, DESIGN FOR A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE, DESIGN FOR NON-DESIGNERS, DESIGN FOR ALL FIVE SENSES, DESIGN FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, DESIGN LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR, DESIGN FOR DEEPER CONNECTIONS, DESIGN FOR WHAT’S NEXT, DESIGN FOR EQUITY, DESIGN FOR NEW INTELLIGENCE, DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY, DESIGN FOR MY OWN BACKYARD, DESIGN FOR EMPHASIS, DESIGN FOR ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY, DESIGN FOR OUR CITY.

NASHVILLE DESIGN WEEK 2023 OCT 30 – NOV O3 MORE ON THE WEEK AT → NASHVILLEDESIGNWEEK.ORG

34TH ANNUAL Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville

A celebration of fine antiques, landscaped gardens and horticultural events. Benefiting Cheekwood and ECON Charities. 2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Ina Garten, Cookbook Author & Television Host

Weekend Getaway F

SPEND FALL GETTING TO KNOW MEMPHIS AGAIN AT BIG CYPRESS LODGE

BY HOLLIE DEESE

or families looking to please people with a wide range of ages and interests, Big Cypress Lodge inside the city’s signature 32-story Pyramid checks off a lot of boxes. And it’s only a few hours from Nashville.

The Memphis Pyramid has become an iconic landmark for the city, and guests in the hotel can take in the skyline with the scenic backdrop of the Mississippi River whenever they want — simply by hopping onto the country’s tallest freestanding elevator and heading to the top. There, they can hang out on the observation deck or have a cocktail at the bar that surrounds a huge aquarium.

The lodge itself is sprawled across the second and third floors of the 535,000-square-foot Pyramid. Its rooms’ balconies look out over the Bass Pro Shops retail floor, which solidly fulfills any desire anyone has ever had to get locked in at the mall all night. Even more impressive, rooms also look out over the Cypress Swamp, which features man-made

Big Cypress Lodge in the landmark Memphis Pyramid features lounge and bar areas that manage to scream rustic cabin, underwater adventure and bird’s-eye view — all in the same building.

rivers teeming with fish, ducks and alligators — also inside Bass Pro Shops. All that, and the glowing elevator, are just a little surreal.

The hotel lobby, which you enter through the same doors as you do Bass Pro Shop, resembles a grand hunting lodge, and the guest rooms evoke an elevated rustic style by emulating vintage log cabins or treehouses. Artwork all over the hotel is sourced from the Tennessee archives. Additional amenities on site include a spa, an underwater-themed bowling alley, an archery range and two sky-high culinary outlets at the top of the pyramid that offer panoramic views of the Memphis skyline.

When you’ve gotten your fill of underwaterthemed bowling at the Big Cypress Lodge in Memphis’ Pyramid, you can retire to rooms that are reminiscent of hunting cabins.

Big Cypress Lodge is considered one of 20 Best Family Resorts by the 2023 USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. (The other one in Tennessee is Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in Pigeon Forge.) The Readers’ Choice winner will be revealed on Friday, Aug. 18. NI

Hit the Highlights

Fall is one of the most festive seasons in Memphis, too, with some of the best live music, sports, foodie fests and cultural events in the country.

Mempho Music Fest | Sept. 29–Oct. 1, 2023

Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden plays host to the annual multi-day Mempho Music Festival, featuring some of music’s biggest names as well as a variety of local Memphis favorites. Past lineups have included Post Malone, Wu Tang Clan, Widespread Panic, The Raconteurs and blues legend Bobby Rush, all performing amid the natural beauty of the lush Memphis Botanic Garden. Single-day tickets start at $90; three-day passes start at $170.

Outlaw Music Festival | Oct. 14.

Willie Nelson’s iconic tour is back at BankPlus Amphitheater with an incredible lineup of artists, including Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Elizabeth Cook, and Particle Kid. Tickets start at $25.

Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival | Oct. 6

Hosted by the Memphis Flyers, at FedEx Event Center, expect a plethora of creative bacon-inspired dishes of all kinds from some great Memphis restaurants, plus a vast array of distilled spirits. Tickets are $49.

Memphis Tequila Festival | Oct. 13

Each ticket purchaser to the FedEx Event Center festival can choose 15 tequilas to sample, with a cash bar for beer, wine and mixed drinks to support Volunteer Memphis. Tickets are $44-$55.

more thrills

more delight

Delight in a breezy stroll through an aweinspiring atrium. Enjoy a meaningful smile shared over a gourmet meal. Discover the bliss of a much-desired spa day. Relish the sounds of children laughing as they fly down towering waterslides. Find all of these memorable moments and more during the vacation of your dreams at Gaylord Opryland.

GaylordOpryland.com

more discovery

available at:

outdoor furnishings

Celebra ting 20 Years

The Oscar Collection

photo credit: Laurey Glenn/Southern Living