Nashville Flipped- Behind the Scenes on Episodes 6 & 7

I'm excited to share with you the "behind the scenes" of Nashville Flipped episodes 6 & 7. Don't forget to tune in tonight for the last two episodes of the season at 9 p.m. CST on DIY Network. Here we go:

Nashville Flipped Episode 6- Minimal Madison Mansion

In this episode we tackled a really small house in Madison- only 1164 square feet. It was thought to be one of the first "spec" homes in the area since it was built at a time businesses were just starting to open in Madison.

Since we didn't know the history of the family who had originally owned the home we decided to create an All-American cottage style for this home. Because we were short on square footage on the inside we decided to make the outdoor space become another living space. We maximized the backyard and increased the potential for parties and entertaining large groups or families.

Though I'm not one to work from a theme, I think that the subtle nods to the red, white, and blue were just enough to give the little home big personality and charm.

Nashville Flipped Episode 7- Germantown Gem

This home near Germantown was the first home on the entire street to be renovated- and there was a sign in the window that condemned it as "uninhabitable." The crazy marble design on the front of the house was something I've never seen, and multiple walls had been added over time, creating tight and confusing spaces. “Bad features, bad lighting, bad everything.”

Troy always opens up rooms as much as possible to create flow and larger livings spaces- which is invaluable to modern buyers.

I really love the sentimental touches we added like the wallcovering we had reproduced for the parlor. Entering through the heavy wood door into that parlor truly feels like stepping back in time. I added modern white chairs and brass accents to update the look.

Most people love the charm of an old house, but truly want the functionality and amenities of a new home, so I'm happy we kept the charm of these two "makeovers," but gave future homeowners the bright, open, and beautiful spaces they are looking for!

Don’t forget to watch the last two episodes of this season tonight at 9 p.m. CST on DIY Network.

If you’d like to schedule a design consult, I’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below and we will get you on the calendar.[gravityform id="2" title="true" description="true"]

Nashville Flipped Episodes #3 and #4: Weaving Home History Into Design

Every historical house in the city has a story to tell says Nashville Flipped host Troy Dean Shafer; and, if the home in episode four could talk, our ears would be burning! 

Nashville Flipped Episode #3

First, episode three was the renovation of a 1920s Craftsman Style Bungalow in South Nashville near a railroad freight yard. Troy did a brilliant job of adding Craftsman touches to the interior including the built-ins flanking the fireplace that look original.

Two tips you could try in your own home from this episode were the refurbishing of the old clawfoot tub and create a character piece which complements a home’s history. 

I worked with a tub refinisher, Southern Bath Systems, to reglaze the tub and painted it to match the room’s tile.  I may never have another white tub!

As an homage to the railroad history of the home, I worked with my friends Brandon and Katie Eller, Hunter + Gatherer Society, on the custom kitchen island with railroad tiles as the legs - so brilliant! We have become such great friends since we started working together on these special projects. They also make custom furniture and design sets for T.V. shows, commercials, movies and photo shoots. And, they recently got married! 

This piece was created back in August and submitted to @gardenandgun magazine for their "Made In The South" competition. #throwbackthursday Photography provided by @ameliamoorephoto

A photo posted by @huntergatherersociety on Oct 23, 2014 at 8:29am PDT

Honor your home’s history and you can’t go wrong.

Nashville Flipped Episode #4

In episode four, described as a 1926 Minimal Traditional, to me the home was a little hybrid Craftsman Tudor and desperately needed a charming front door to help set the tone for Troy’s incredible remodel. 

One of my go-to sources in Nashville is Preservation Station where we found a round door with great hardware. 

I also stopped by the Nashville Flea Market.  Held the fourth weekend of every month, we needed to find a few character pieces and came away with great fireplace andirons and a garden bench. Don’t be afraid to haggle a bit.  It was key for me in staying on budget!

Whether your home is old or new, take the extra time to find those character pieces which reflect a bit of its journey.  

Tune in Wednesdays to the DIY Network to Nashville Flipped. You’ll find inspiration and tips for your own home renovation project. I’ll also be live Tweeting at @JCouchInteriors so come join the conversation with your questions or comments!

If you'd like more information on booking an interior design consultation, please check out my Interior Design Services page.

Country Living Magazine Cover’s New Old House Project

As a long-time fan of Country Living magazine, earning their February cover featuring a beautiful new home I worked on was so exciting!   We gave this new Franklin TN home a little patina and age to achieve a more rustic, relaxed feel.

To share more of this gorgeous home and and lots of tips on how to create your own dream house, I'll be speaking at the upcoming Country Living Fair THIS WEEKEND! Details and a ticket giveaway are below! 

The February cover story was especially meaningful because the homeowner, Mandy Reeves,  has been a dear friend for almost 30 years. She has impeccable taste and had a very clear vision for her new home, built by Carbine & Associates in the Franklin area. So, how do you create an "Old" new house?  Here are my tips on adding age and interest to new construction.

1. Incorporate vintage or antique architectural elements during construction.  For example, add old transoms over doors for extra height, shiplap to walls for texture and stained glass pieces for color.

   

2. Display family heirlooms in a fun new way.  Pretty lace doilies mounted on natural linen and framed in lucite shadow boxes are given new life.  For extra impact use four or more and hang in a grid pattern.

   

3. Add Texture! Consider seagrass floor covering, vintage or grasscloth wallpaper and reclaimed wood floors.  Find what you love and you’ll find a place for it.

   

4. Create curb appeal. Add limestone, cast iron, and reclaimed brick to the exterior.  Also, bold additions like large antique planters to flank the front entrance are beautiful and welcoming.
5. Befriend your landscaper.  Get advice on what plants grow quickly, stay green and endure unpredictable weather.  Then, add a pergola and plant wisteria at its base.  Within three years, you’ll have a gorgeous outdoor retreat that feels like it’s been there for ages.

These are just some of the tips we used to achieve that old farmhouse feel for the Reeves’s home. I’ll be talking about some of these elements and steps for creating a happy home at the Country Living Fair this Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. at the James E Ward Agricultural Center, Lebanon, TN. 

Want to win tickets? Join me on Instagram for your chance to win!

Are you interested in scheduling an interior design consult? We've got several different ways we can work together. Check out our Interior Design Services.

Nashville Flipped Premiere- Behind the Scenes

A 1904 Folk Victorian in Springfield, Tennessee couldn’t be that much trouble to renovate, right?!  Well, if you saw the premiere episode last night of the DIY Network's “Nashville Flipped,” you saw how challenging this renovation was even for an expert house flipper and show host Troy Dean Shafer. 

As the official Nashville Flipped interior designer, from reproducing the intricate dentil moulding on the exterior to the game changing, vaulted ceiling, there were so many inspiring details which really got my creative design juices flowing.

The living room’s 1960s style fireplace was a fun challenge.  I went on the search for a great mantle. Simple but beautiful antique pieces can immediately transform a space.  The warmth of the wood tone and the perfect scale of the piece made it feel like it had always been there.  Of course, Troy worked his magic by removing the dated brick and setting the stage for the unique replacement.

The biggest discovery was the original wallpaper.  It presented a timeless color palette which served as the foundation for the home’s color scheme. In this case, simple pastels on a neutral background. This is an important element that I weave into all my projects in some way.  Find that one key element that you LOVE, and build your color story around it for originality and continuity.

A shared love of architecture and preserving these beautiful Nashville historic homes really makes this journey with Troy and Nashville Flipped so much fun.  Watching the first episode it seemed like so long ago, when in reality it has just been a few months. Troy and I, as well as the entire crew of the show developed such wonderful friendships.  Troy has a big heart, and even when we don't agree on design, we always agree on the importance of working together. We both share a passion for these old homes. And we have so much FUN doing it! I hope you loved the first two episodes and watch next week for more inspiration and preservation!

And speaking of fun, Troy and I hosted a premiere party for about 150 of our closest friends at Tackle Box Films HQ in Marathon Village. What a way to kick off this adventure!

I’ll be sharing more great design tips from Nashville Flipped on Friday, April 22 at the Country Living Fair in Lebanon, Tennessee at 3 p.m. on the main stage.  I’d love for you to drop by and visit and I’m going to make it even easier.  Head over to my Instagram on Monday where I’ll be giving away several tickets! And, don’t forget to keep tuning in on Wednesdays for the latest episode of Nashville Flipped and then checking back in here for the scoop on what was happening behind the scenes! 

xo-

Nashville Flipped Airs This Wednesday on DIY Network

I have been dying to share with you all that has happened in the past several months.  In late summer of last year I was asked to join the team of Nashville Flipped, a TV show that will air on the DIY network starting this Wednesday!

The show was created to follow, builder and house flipper, Troy Shafer, as he finds, restores, and ultimately saves old, neglected homes from being torn down.  

The houses we worked on for the first season were in and around Nashville and varied in age and style, but all were in disrepair and needed a lot of love to return to their former glory.  Each 30 minute episode follows our steps as we learn about a home’s history and then work quickly and thoughtfully to renovate it and get it on the market to sell.

Though the months we filmed were hectic, to say the least, I loved my “second job!” To keep my first love, my interior design business on track, my team, Brooke, Amy, and Rachel worked so hard, and I had lots of early morning and late nights playing catch up.  

But the people on the crew were wonderful to work with, and I made great friends while learning all about the entertainment industry.  Of course, I knew absolutely nothing about the process of filming a TV show or being on camera.  But when the opportunity fell into my lap, I was excited to take the leap and learn.  It was so much fun to do what I love on another platform, sharing decorating ideas and tips while working on a tight budget and a tight timeline.

I’ll be writing about my experience on each episode just after it airs to give a behind the scenes look at what we did and how we made it happen.  So stay tuned for more details, and please tune in (or set your DVR!) this Wednesday night, April 13th at 9pm central to watch our first two episodes! 

xo