A Rustic Tennessee Home That Does White Right
Think a new build—particularly an all-white new build—will lack heart and soul? Think again. Filled with storied antiques, rough-hewn texture, and farmhouse-inspired details, this Tennessee home proves you can lighten up while staying grounded.
Many people dream of building a brand-new house. Not Mandy Reeves. "I've always preferred an older home," she says. "There's a certain magic you can feel the moment you walk in." But after looking at dozens of real estate listings in their desired Franklin, Tennessee, school district, Mandy and husband Randy (who together own the adorable lifestyle and children's art shop Sketch + Co., @sketchandcompany) decided building from the ground up was the best option for their family.
To capture the enchanting, age-old quality she craved, Mandy enlisted Nashville architect Betsy Pogue. First step: ditching the ubiquitous open floor plan. "They're all the rage," says Mandy. "But we wanted to be true to the spirit of an old home with separate cooking, dining, and living spaces." Next up: letting the home's classic architecture shine with a predominantly white palette. (Yes, even with two young children.) "Houses are meant to be enjoyed. Ours may be white, but it's not too precious. We truly live in every inch," says Mandy.
Here's a behind-the-curtain look at how Mandy and Betsy gave a new build heaps of character with neutrals, texture…and a little practical magic.
Entryway
A collection of 20 antique pressed botanicals creates a focal point in the home's expansive entryway. Shiplap on the walls and ceiling bring the open space warmth and texture, along with timeless farmhouse character.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint: White Dove by Benjamin Moore
Living Room
The secret to this inviting space? Top-to-bottom texture, from the scuffed beams (salvaged from an old warehouse) to the tufted velvet armchairs to the layered rugs.
Kitchen
To reinforce the home's lived-in feel, Mandy outfitted the farmhouse-style kitchen with shiplap paneling. "The wood walls keep things from feeling sterile," says Mandy, who also introduced an assortment of honey-hued wooden accents (barstools, cutting boards, and an antique high chair passed down from her father) to warm up the look.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: White Dove by Benjamin Moore
Kitchen Range Wall
Strategic pops of black (globe pendants above the island, silhouette portraits above the range) add graphic interest to the all-white surroundings.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: White Dove by Benjamin Moore
Country Classic: Shiplap
Despite its nautical-sounding name, shiplap originated in the 19th-century as an inexpensive exterior siding for barns and sheds and has also become a popular choice for rustic interiors. Crafted from thin pieces of wood and hung horizontally, the boards have a "rabbet" joint that allows the wood to interlock in the back. The overlap (hence the "lap" in shiplap) creates a narrow channel with an attractive shadow line.
Powder Room
The home's powder room was a practice in patience. "A lot of people say they want a new house with old character, but most aren't willing to wait for just the right piece," says Mandy, who let the bathroom go mirror-free for months before scooping up the room's curvy pistachio-green piece at a local antiques shop. The trio of framed vintage bookplates adds another touch of color to the walls.
Sitting Nook
Pretty and practical slipcovered armchairs provide a welcoming spot to linger. The walls, coated in a custom shade of white, have a flat finish to create a more historic feel. Finishing the look: a rustic drop-leaf table—scored from a fruitful antiquing excursion—provides a visual break from the pristine palette.
Main Bedroom
Mandy turned to her childhood friend and Nashville designer Julie Couch to infuse the master bedroom with a subtle bit of pattern play. Anchoring the look is a shapely block-print upholstered headboard paired with an indigo pillow from John Robshaw and a creamy cable-knit throw. Indigo upholstery tape adds appeal to pinch-pleat linen curtains and draws the eye to the ornate bedside table.
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Wall Paint Color: In the Cloud by Porter Paints
Main Bathroom
Passed down from Mandy's grandmother, an antique mahogany china cabinet makes a striking, unexpected statement—so much so that it almost overshadows the beautiful cast-iron claw-foot tub, found at The Preservation Station, an architectural salvage shop in Nashville. The Turkish rug from Nashville Rug Gallery, also an unconventional choice for a bathroom, goes a long way toward warming up the space, while gauzy cafe curtains filter the abundant natural light.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Montgomery White by Benjamin Moore
Kid's Room
Son Beau's bedroom is nearly a decade in the making. "I bought the poster twin beds [second one not shown] long before I had a son. I knew they'd be perfect for a little boy's room one day," says Mandy, who painted them a handsome shade of gray-green (Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams) that will easily transition from tot to teen. For now, they're right at home alongside a fabric reindeer bust and dapper dog prints (enlarged from Rifle Paper Co.)
Nursery
Tickled pink with the family's new addition, Mandy swathed daughter Lizzie's room in a shade of blush. Still, she didn't technically veer from the home's tried-and-true palette; the paint is referred to as white (Intimate White by Sherwin-Williams, to be precise). A floral painting by South Carolina artist Lulie Wallace hangs above the Jenny Lind crib. The pom-pom trimmed curtains, beaded chandelier, and antique oushak rug from Revival Home. are all items that should follow Lizzie well into teen territory.
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