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For country singer-songwriter Johnny Reid and his wife, Jennifer, their newest home—10,000 square feet of sophistication-meets-comfort in Brentwood—is a far cry from their first tiny apartment in Nashville.
Still, it is infused with a singular vibe that has remained constant throughout their lives together: hominess.
“Regardless of the size of any house that we’ve lived in, or the location, and whatever our budget was to decorate it, we learned early on how to make it a home with what we had,” Jennifer explains. “We’ve always tried to keep that with us as we’ve grown as a family.”
Johnny and Jennifer moved to Nashville 17 years ago—long before he was doing sold-out arena tours, and creating bestselling albums and multi-platinum DVDs. Back then, theylived in a two-bedroom apartment in the West End with their first child, a six-week-old baby who slept in their bed, which was rented, as was the rest of their furniture.
Times have changed and the couple has moved six times—and this time, it’s a keeper. Crafted by architect Jack Herr, it features six bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a finished basement, and a swimming pool the family lovingly calls “the water park.”
Along for the ride are four children, three dogs, and one cat, so the house has been fashioned intoa sophisticated, yet functional abode under the guidance of Nashville interior designer Lori Paranjape. Her eponymous firm, Mrs. Paranjape, specializes in luxury residential projects.
Paranjape helped the Reids create a stylish home that showcases elegant finishes and accessories alongside practical furnishings, all from the store, Redo Home + Design. “Comfort” and “sophistication” were the two mandates given by the Reids at the project’s outset.
“I still wanted to be able to decorate how I wanted, but have it be family-friendly, because things do get spilled and we have three dogs,” Jennifer says. “Lori knew that, so we picked textures and fabrics that were sturdy. It got to the point where she would present a fabric and say, ‘Yes, you can spill red wine on this and it will be okay.’ That kind of became the mantra for decorating.”
Paranjape introduced sophistication through elements such as light fixtures, flooring, and wall coverings.
These were items that didn’t bring with them “the worry about kids breaking them or spilling on them, or dog’s muddy paws,” Jennifer says. “They can give such character to a room, versus a sofa that’s going to take such a beating.”
Graphic ceramic tiles decorate the floors and walls of the bathrooms. A basket-style chandelier hangs in the master bath, creating a twinkling glow, and brass lantern light fixtures adorn the kitchen. Two cascading chandeliers bring willow-like silhouettes to the dining room.
“The dining room itself is fairly formal and has clean lines, crisp moldings, and high ceilings, and the chandeliers were an opportunity to add some whimsy and softness to the space to not let it get too serious or formal,” Paranjape says.
Adjacent to the dining room is the pièce de résistance: The entryway, whose walls are covered in black grass cloth—the peak of chic.
The living room is a study in serenity with its mélange of textures in natural tones—there are also some guitars and an upright Steinway piano within reach.
“I write songs for a living, I’m a singer,” Johnny says. “I never know when I’m going to feel somewhat inspired, so I just want to be able to put my hands on an instrument in close proximity. If the kids want to bang around on the piano, or if Jen wants to sit down and play the piano, they can. Or if we have friends or family over for dinner, it always tends to move to the piano at some point. I love having music in the house; it’s a necessity.”
And with an interior design so lyrical, this home certainly sings, as well.