Empty nesters Don and Linda Ware seized the moment, sold their Belle Rive home in Brentwood and decided to make the move to the big city a few miles north on I-65. The plan was to leave their suburban family home and begin making new memories in an urban, contemporary high-rise condominium. The place they now call home lies somewhere in between.
Constructed on Love Circle by Paul Luehrsen in 2006, views of Nashville’s skyline are readily available in this four-story home. Upon entering the home, visitors will find the entryway, garage and wine cellar on the first floor; the second floor is home to the master bedroom and two additional bedrooms; the main living area, kitchen and dining room are situated on the third floor; and the fourth floor offers a bonus room and exercise room, as well as the home’s crown jewel: a roof-top deck. It fit the bill for the couple’s needs and wants.
Before Providence Interiors was brought in, however, the space was lacking the modernity the couple craved. The first step in redesigning the home was painting the exterior a warm white with grey trim. Then, these natural hues were carried inside the house. “We wanted to create a space with clean lines and well-appointed furnishings — resembling a California contemporary style — while keeping it warm and inviting,” Amber Thomas, co-owner of Providence Interiors and the project’s designer, shares. A soft color palette is employed to allow the art, furnishings and accessories to direct the design. Linda and Amber worked side-by-side in selecting which of the couple’s items would be incorporated into the design plan. Paired with new furnishings, these pieces allow their new space to feel like home while offering an enduring modernity.
The house was originally red brick with a blue/gray trim. The lighter coloring gives it contemporary curb appeal.
The entryway creates a whimsical, inviting feeling that is carried throughout the entirety of the home. Linda has a collection of art that does not fit into one specific genre. To tie the pieces together, Amber selected frames from Bennett Galleries and created a gallery wall in the entryway.
On the home’s second level, the master bedroom offers a serene escape. The traditional iron bed was a piece the couple already owned and Amber was able incorporate it into the space. Additionally, she used blues and grays (colors you will see in other rooms in the home) and framed the windows with soft draperies.
The living room anchors the third floor as a spot for entertaining and relaxing. An otherwise cool space — with walnut-stained floors and crisp, white walls — the living room yearned for texture and warmth. Amber’s favorite feature of the home is the sheer linen draperies in the living room, which shape the space. “They add a soft touch and create a dramatic feel in the room,” she says. The draperies add interest to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer stunning views of the city and create a dramatic entrance into the dining room.
Colors found in the living room are carried into the dining room with a custom piece of art by Carol Benson-Cobb and, while this space offers a variation in color and texture, it doesn’t steer too far from the home’s overall design and color palette. The contemporary lines of the home are again softened with modern furnishings, such as the buffet, dining chairs and lighting.
The sectional anchors the living room’s design and functionality. “Because of the contemporary nature of the house, we wanted to do a sectional. We chose the piece and worked around it,” Amber shares. The antique Oushak rug, from Nashville Fine Rugs, pulls everything together.
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“At Providence Interiors, we like to mix modern, contemporary furnishings with traditional pieces. This grounds a space and makes it feel collected,” Amber says.
“The room needed a bit of color and warmth, so we brought in the chair — it is the conversational piece we wanted for the room,” Amber tells us.
The owners’ art collection grew during the design process. We adore this piece that now hangs in the living room!
The Ware’s family and friends seem to be drawn to the dining room, which opens into the living space. With texture, contemporary lines and an eye-catching piece by Carol Benson-Cobb (carried at Providence Interiors), this room is easy on the eyes.
When styling tabletops, Amber suggests working in odd numbers (she typically aims for threes and fives) and varying heights. Take a minimalistic approach to incorporating smaller décor pieces and let the ones you love gain the attention they deserve.
Facing north, the outdoor living space offers views of Nashville’s downtown skyline; and this is where Linda and Don choose to spend the majority of their time. With wine in hand, the couple relaxes on the comfortable sofas and soak in the evening’s warm temperatures. Amber enhanced the space with an outdoor rug, coffee table and side tables, which are functional and stylish. Here, the Wares decidedly call their new space home.
The homeowners spend plenty of time enjoying their rooftop patio!
Thanks to Alyssa Rosenheck Photography for today’s beautiful photography, and thank you to Amber and Providence Interiors for walking us through the space!
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