Old World Charmer

Peach and Pine bring new life to a historic homestead

Written by Natalie Forehand / Photos by Caroline Sharpnack

When a soon-to-be-married couple discovered this historic property on 200 acres of rolling hills in Watertown, TN, they knew they would need a team of expert designers to help bring their vision to life. They quickly enlisted husband and wife duo Chandler and Jeremy Quarles of Peach and Pine Interiors, who have a deep-rooted passion for historic homes. Chandler, the lead designer for Peach and Pine, knew this was a special project from the start. “It’s common to come across preserved historic homes in a major city, but finding something this old in the country was unique,” she said.

The house, built in 1900 and almost 6,000 square feet, was in poor shape when the homeowners found it, despite having undergone previous renovations. In hopes of bringing back the history of the property, Peach and Pine partnered with Prestige Remodeling to gut the interiors down to the studs and built it from the ground up with the framework of the old structure.

Because only a small portion of the house was salvageable from a materials perspective, and previous owners had made changes that took away from the history, Chandler worked with the clients to envision things that could have been authentic to the home. The team utilized specific colors, hardware, and antiques, including the cabinet in the dining area, which was from around the time of the home's construction.

As true homesteaders, the clients were inspired by European interiors and requested a European Farmhouse that would be functional for their growing family. They were months away from their wedding when they began the project with Chandler. By the time the renovation was complete two years later, they were expecting their first baby. With the primary goal being a gathering spot with an extensive entertainment area, Chandler prioritized the central kitchen and scullery, providing ample room to host.

Adding another unique feature, Chandler worked with the clients to transform the former pantry into a nursery right off the primary bedroom. As young homeowners, the clients were unsure of what the future would hold but knew growing their family was important to them. The nursery would allow a quiet and restful space until the child was older and could move into one of the upstairs bedrooms. The property boasts acres of green grass and blue skies as far as the eye can see. Chandler wanted to stick to this natural color palette by implementing hues of blue and green for the accent color throughout.

In addition, they used natural materials such as white oak wood to further hone in on the desired aesthetic. Regarding furnishings, they selected long-lasting pieces with performance fabrics to stand up to the inevitable wear and tear from children, pets, and guests.

Custom cabinetry by Harpeth River Woodworks and one-of-a-kind custom carpentry pieces by Kyle Levy of Broken Compass Woodworking can be found throughout the home, providing the desired old-world charm. After two years of creative solutions, the project resulted in a historically inspired, comfortable home with muted colors perfect for its young residents. peachandpineinteriors.com / Instagram: @peachandpineinteriors