1 of 11
2 of 11
3 of 11
4 of 11
5 of 11
6 of 11
7 of 11
8 of 11
9 of 11
10 of 11
11 of 11
After house hunting for nearly five years, a family of four in Nashville's historic Hillwood area was in a predicament. Their 1950s ranch-style home was in desperate need of repairs, more space for their two young boys, and a floor plan that complemented the flow of their daily lives. However, the home's location provided proximity to school, work, and relatives, and they loved their neighborhood. They had only two options: remodel or move.
'We needed a house that would let us spread out, but also one that functioned well for our family,” explains the owner.
So they decided to work with an architect to design the home of their dreams on their current lot. That meant they had to tear the house down to its foundation and move out for the duration. Studio 8 Design owner and principal architect Matt Taylor gave the family wise counsel going into the comprehensive rebuild.
'Don't think about resale,” he recalls advising them. 'Don't think about designing it for what's on a checklist of ‘I need this kind of crown molding and that kind of appliance.' Do it for the way you live, and that value will be inherent, because you're going to be here a long time.”
In 18 months, their Hillwood rancher was fully transformed, and they had doubled their square footage. The boys now have their own bedroom with a galley bathroom and a large rec room. Downstairs, off the mud hall, an überfunctional workspacecomplete with cubbies, an art table, and plenty of storageprovides a ready setting for homework that's sectioned off but easily accessible to the kitchen. Shoes, backpacks, and any other superfluous items that make their way inside are now confined to this one space, conveniently located for the entire family.
In the end, the massive undertaking proved what the owners knew all along: Their property is a rare gem. And thanks to the ingenuity of a bevy of local vendors, on top of it now sits a contemporary residence this family can call home for years to come. The owner agrees it was worth the expense, the stress, and the inconvenience.
'All the years of planning and then 18 months of building truly paid off because we now have a house we love in the neighborhood we love,” she says. 'We truly live in every room of the house.”
Resources
Architect: Studio 8 Design; 615-250-8150; s8-design.com Builder: Catalyst Builders, Inc.; 615-662-0100 Landscape designer: Sari Barton; 615-430-0680; saribarton.com Interior Designer: Cindy Stanley; cindypstanley@comcast.net Cabinets: Kitchen Tune-Up; 615-824-1800; kitchentuneup.com Tile and counters: Werthan Granite; 615-242-4919; werthangranite.com Metal work (stair railing and balcony): Dustin Edison at Built Custom Works; 615-720-7177 Fireplace wall: Hartert-Russell; 615-386-0020; hartert-russell.com Appliances: AJ Madison; 800-570-3355; ajmadison.com Fixtures: Ferguson; 615-316-1800; ferguson.com Lighting: Hermitage Lighting Gallery; 615-843-3300; hermitagelighting.com Draperies and custom upholstery: David Fleming at Designer's Choice, La Vergne; 615-793-3285 Custom porch swing: J. Garrett Designs; 1hammer70@gmail.com