Happy Friday Friends! As promised...welcome to the great room of this beautiful barn, where it is not unusual for people to enter, stop in their tracks to exclaim...”OH MY GOSH, HOW OLD IS THIS BARN”?
Beautiful, authentic materials for this majestic structure (meaning “the real thing”) were sourced from several different areas. Reclaimed hand-hewn timber beams and flooring alongside Tennessee fieldstone create a new, modern structure, while holding an unspoken sense of history.
Lighting on a grand scale
Floating above this grand space are two enormous, double tier chandeliers that illuminate the room from above. When I presented our design of these two large pieces to my clients and our architect, I was met with “OH MY! Really? That large? BUT, ARE YOU SURE?” (This was spoken at least ten times with extreme concern.) Which OF COURSE created more than just a tinge of anxiety (truly my inner designer was freaking out). But, I stuck to my guns, trusted my instincts, and they went to production.
With a space this large, it was imperative to GO BIG OR GO HOME! Correct scale and proportion were critical in this space, and I knew they would hang beautifully among the upper clerestory windows. (Design tip...don’t forget that visually filling the upper space in a room is as important as the lower!)
Let the Sun shine in
One of my hands down favorite elements in this home are the fabulous windows. I get giddy over natural light...it is such a luxury, and I am smitten with every single one of these beauties. (The large one on the stone wall is 14 feet tall!)
I also adore the drapery and the juxtaposition of the Belgian linen skipping over the fieldstone walls...almost like understated, couture ball gowns softening the rough and tumble stone.
Again, IT’S THE MIX NOT THE MATCH, and I love the interesting narrative and subtle dialogue contrasting elements provide.
Art by Lynn Sanders
Adding the art
We were THRILLED to find this stunning piece of art by Lynn Sanders (vintage Lynn Sanders, 5 years old) to fill the shiplapped wall by the sectional...and when sweet Lynn offered to come sign her art, it was the icing on the cake! We adore original art, and the soul it brings to our work. (I’ll give you THE LOW DOWN on hanging fixtures and art...scale and proportion, how high, etc. in an upcoming blog.)
Layers of Luxury
One of my favorite sayings is...“LET PEOPLE BE THE COLOR IN A SPACE” and that is the case here! Our family exudes a gracious joy that fills this space with it’s own vibrant color. Textured neutrals show up in smokey leather, golden linen, sumptuous velvet, soft wools, organic hide, and fluffy boucle and fur…and are peppered with metallic finishes and colored glass throughout for a little sparkle and shine.
And as for the other side of this grand space...STAY TUNED. We’re headed that way in a future post! Until then...here’s a peek at the excitement happening outside!
Addition coming soon!
Professional photography: Emily Minton Redfield