1 of 5
PAIGE RUMORE
2 of 5
PAIGE RUMORE
3 of 5
PAIGE RUMORE
4 of 5
PAIGE RUMORE
5 of 5
PAIGE RUMORE
Though this incredible 8,000-square-foot custom luxury home in Franklin exudes effortless elegance, builder Justin Davis says creating the exquisite space was, in fact, a team effort.
“The homeowner was very involved. The architect was very involved. The interior designer was very involved. Of course, my team was as well, so I’m proud of that collaboration,” says Davis, founder and president of Davis Properties. “There wasn’t one detail that wasn’t discussed and thoroughly reviewed, which I think made the home special.”
Interior designer Brad Ramsey agrees that the details throughout the home are what make it stand out—and achieving that level of excellence was no small feat.
“This project was a labor of love over a two-year period of time working very closely with the homeowners on every tiny detail of the house,” he says. “We had weekly meetings for more than a year where we meticulously designed and spec’d every finish that went into the interior and the exterior of the house. We also paid close attention to the function of the home. The homeowners were a joy to work with and very detail oriented and that kept me and my whole team on our toes throughout the process. In the end, it was a winning combination: a smart home that lives well, functions well, and beautifully reflects the modern farmhouse look our clients wanted to achieve.”
The exterior of the home combines gray Tennessee Crab Orchard stone along with limestone headers and white board and batten exterior siding. Metal roofing and high-end asphalt shingles were also used to cover the home’s exterior. Timber porch columns and beams add warmth to the front of the home and throughout. A cozy swing on the porch makes it feel like the kind of home where you want to kick off your shoes and stay for a while. Inside the house, timber beams were utilized throughout the family room, kitchen, and breakfast room to tie in the timbers that were used on the exterior. The family room has what Davis calls “a true masonry fireplace” that will keep the homeowners warm all winter long.
“We moved a portion of their existing furniture from their previous house and reimagined them in the new spaces by surrounding them with new selections to complement,” says Ramsey. “But I would say 90 percent of the house ended up being a blank slate for us to create a new story for this new season of life that our clients have begun.”
The home’s neutral color palette is notable in the fully equipped kitchen. Greige-colored cabinets are adorned with brass hardware that make for an inviting place to cook and gather. A focal point in the space is an iron zinc composite range hood that was custom made by a Chicago-based firm.
Right off the kitchen is a breakfast room where the residents can dine and enjoy breathtaking views of the immaculately manicured property. Nearby is the formal dining room that has a white coffered ceiling and is covered in a soothing blue grasscloth wallpaper. Across the hall from the kitchen is a working pantry, that houses a coffee bar, microwave, stove, sink, and refrigerator. The space is awash with natural light and features floor-to- ceiling cabinets painted in contrasting light and dark shades.
“We went with a charcoal and white classic farmhouse feel in the pantry with subway tiles, floating shelves, and pull-out fruit and vegetable basket storage,” says Ramsey. “With the sliding barn door, the space is quaint and charming. This allowed us to elevate the main kitchen to something softer in color and style.”
When it’s time to end the day, the homeowners can retreat to a primary suite that has soaring ceilings and extra-tall windows. Both the bedroom and bathroom were designed with soft grays and whites, which is a nice contrast to the green landscape it overlooks: The home’s lot backs up to a large, undeveloped city farm that can be seen beyond the backyard.
That backyard is perfectly suited for entertaining. Residents and guests can take a dip in the swimming pool, which has unique design elements like copper scuppers where water flows in and a pair of chaise lounges perched on the sun shelf inside the pool. The outdoor oasis also includes a raised spa that spills over into the pool, an outdoor shower, a firepit area with seating, a covered porch, a dining area, and an amazing kitchen.
“It is one of the most extensive, elaborate outdoor kitchens we’ve built,” Davis says. Among the features of that elaborate outdoor kitchen are a kegerator, beverage center, grill, ice maker, and dry pantry storage. The pool terraces up to the back porch, which is made very cozy with a wood-burning fireplace. The porch also has electronic outdoor screens that can be conveniently lowered or raised depending on the weather. All the hard work and attention to detail certainly paid off, and Davis, for one, is thoroughly pleased with the final outcome of the home.
“Starting with a raw piece of land and creating someone’s dream home is very satisfying.”
For a Q & A with Interior Designer of the home, Brad Ramsey click here.