aterford
A historic estate for a modern family Written by Rex Lyons Photography by Eric Williams Elizabeth and John Lenihan have a modern active family, a family and life that includes: themselves; their three daughters, Lillian, Adelaide, and Elle; a very frisky new puppy; charities; schools; business; and all of the events and activities that go along with that modern life style. Fitting all of that into Waterford, one of Glenview’s most spacious and impressive estates, is both a blessing and a challenge, a challenge in that fitting a modern lifestyle into a residence designed for an earlier age and style of living took a lot of effort and imagination. Elizabeth credits John with that sort of vision. “He can look at something and see possibilities where nobody else can. I’m married to a man with a vision.” Helping with that visualization has been Elizabeth’s down-to-earth quest to make certain that the house not only reflects its grand past but her family and their day-to-day life. She has worked to ensure that the family does not get lost in a grand museum. Assisting both John and Elizabeth with their vision has been noted Nashville designer and antique expert Mary Spalding.
Opposite page, the most recent improvements to the house include a new wing containing a baronial family room, a new kitchen and a large conservatory with an English style glass ceiling that opens for ventilation.
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