‘Parade’ a great place to borrow design ideas

Strike up the design band

What: Parade of Homes at Annandale, presented by Triton Stone Group. When: Sept. 24- Oct. 9 daily, 11 a.m. -8 p.m. (last tickets sold at 7 p.m.)     Cost: $12 Children 12 and under admitted free. Where: Parade of Homes at Annandale is located on Cloverland Drive off Church Street in Brentwood. FYI: A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

Trends to look for...

Styles and finishes Materials and finishes (mixing old, with new) Dark hardwood floors using reclaimed wood Use of stone, wood, brick, granite and elegant marble for counter tops, flooring and walls Sink bowls with a Bombay chest base in bathrooms Bathroom sink faucets mounted to wall Arches and French doors leading to corridors and living spaces Iron railing lining staircases

Colors Soft gray walls as the new neutral which “compliment any color” Soft green and blue hues in paint and fabric A mixture of warmth (darker, warmer colors) and light airy looks in paint, materials, and décor Outdoor living spaces Functional and comfortable outdoor living spaces, even including flat screen TV’s that recreates the feel of an indoor family room Media rooms Functional media rooms for entertainment with movie screens and comfortable leather movie chairs

‘French eclectic’ blends old with new for fresh appeal
By KERRI BARTLETT
For Brentwood Home Page
If you are looking for remodeling or decorating ideas for your own home, or a future one, a tour of the 2011 Parade of Homes at the Annandale subdivision would be well worth the $12 investment of admission.

 Are you enamored with old-world European and French provencial styles including cobblestones, limestone, exposed brick, wooden beams, French doors, restful colors and dramatic arches? If your answer is “oui!”, you can step into an aesthetic wonderland of interior designs with an undertone French inspiration starting Saturday.

Although the interior design of each of the four featured homes is unique, the mix of styles reflects elegance, comfort and rustic charm with a combination of modern and antique finishes. The term “French eclectic” used by some of the designers describes the stylish interior designs -- mixing old and new with an array of textures, materials and patterns.

“My clients wanted an ‘old, new’ house,” says Julie Couch, interior designer and owner of Julie Couch Interiors. “So we mixed some antique looks with modern finishes including an antique chest in the powder room passed down by their aunt.” Couch added that some of the textures used in the home’s construction give it an aged look.

These features include stone work with a herringbone pattern, arabesque tiles for a backsplash and exposed stained wooden beams and Chicago-style exposed brick.

Couch said that the French eclectic theme is cohesive throughout the home’s interior and exterior. For example, a sweeping roof and exterior lines outside compliment the style and fixtures in the interior such as the sweeping cooktop hood in the kitchen.

“There is continuity in the home and a cohesiveness in which every room makes sense with the rest of the house in design, architecture and color palette.”

Couch described the interior style as country French inspired with a light, airy look complimented by lots of natural light. There are no heavy window treatments.

“Julie does such a fantastic job of combining the perfect mixture of dark and light with such a great sense of style.,” says Couch’s design assistant Kelly Johnson. “You can’t walk into one of her rooms and not feel relaxed and calm.”

A few unique features in Couch’s design home include reclaimed hardwood flooring and an assortment of local art created by Nashville artists including wall paintings and decorative painting on walls and ceilings. Soft metallic grass cloth covers the powder room walls, which feature wall-mounted sink faucets.

Evers goes for elegance, comfort
Across the street, interior designer Kathleen Evers -- previously the in-house designer for Gaylord Entertainment Co. and now owner of K Evers Interiors -- designed her home with an old-world European style that is elegant and comfortable. 

She used honed black and white granite for the dramatic kitchen island and white and black marble for the kitchen countertops with tall ivory painted cabinets.

The outdoor living space resembles an indoor family room with a fireplace and smart outdoor furniture. A grill and a golf putting green with a restful stone fountain are other amenities that provide a well rounded, entertaining outdoor space.

A crystal chandelier and iron chandeliers hang from the dramatic ceilings with an antique, European influence. Archways and French doors are accented throughout the house. Limestone flooring in the outdoor spaces provides a casual feel, while marble flooring with mosaic tiles in the master bathroom provides a feeling of elegant luxury. The home also includes an impressive wine cellar.

Evers described the home’s style as an elegant French chateau with an open floor plan and light feel.

A combination of light, airy restful colors seems to be the predominate style in many of the houses.

Interior designer Jennifer Jones is a Parade of Homes veteran who has designed about 22 show homes. “Because of the state of the economy right now, the world just seems so heavy. I wanted my design to be light and relaxing for the family with clean pristine lines and no clutter-- a place to relax,” the owner of Jennifer Jones Design, Inc. said.