Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
Nods to the homeowner’s equestrian roots can be found throughout the home. Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
Dramatic details in the kitchen create unexpected focal points. Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
“We wanted to flip the script on the mainstream notion of what ‘country chic’ is,”–AIMEE WERTEPNY
A blank slate new build home with no architect may sound like a daunting task to some, but the creative minds at PROjECT. Interiors were up for the challenge. Especially when it came to this 8,000-square-foot, 4-bedroom and 6.5-bath modern home in Franklin. Working with previous clients, lead designer Aimee Wertepny set about combining all the elements that would make for a signature space, including fringe, feathers, leather and a nod to the seventies.
THE PRIORITY
“The homeowners are new empty-nesters—a couple with one son who is off at college. Their son is a serious gymnast, so the home also features a home gym with a spring floor for him to practice his routines, rings and more. The wife is an equestrian who used to compete professionally, so her love of horses definitely played into several design moments from featured photography to displayed decor,” says Wertepny. “We had worked with this design-forward family on a previous project, so we already knew their style, their lifestyle needs for a busy family of three, plus their black pug, Salto, of course, and their penchants and passions. We determined that this new construction home built on a hilltop would have to be a Gemini: two personalities with one rocksteady vibe. It would be one part earth goddess (tree stumps and stools, hair-on hides, crystal slabs) and one part rock and roll (lacquered accents, stark contrasts, disco balls and fringe for days).”
THE STRATEGY
“We wanted to flip the script on the mainstream notion of what ‘country chic’ is,” says Wertepny. “Sure, there are nods to horse country that can be found throughout because of the location and the fact that [the client] is an equestrian. For example, a series of Lucite-framed horseshoes that belonged to her horse, Laru, and an English saddle slung over the stair railing just so. But nothing is in-your-face. Instead, the references are tempered time capsules that tell the story of their lives and loves in an artfully sentimental way.”
The stunning views of Franklin and beyond make this country estate feel worlds away from the city Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
a serene bathroom adds to the home’s retreat-style vibe. Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
THE DESIGN
“This project was interesting because there was no architect to work alongside since the homeowners purchased the floorplan directly from the builders. This gave us a lot of freedom with the design, and we already had that established trust from working with the homeowners before,” says Wertepny. “One of my favorite rooms is the sitting room located at the front of the house. Instead of purposing the space as an office or a TV den, which would be the natural train of thought, the homeowners wanted to make it a hangout space for reading and listening to music (aka the Disco Room), so we layered in black leather-wrapped sconces, custom steel-like shelving that looks like it’s dripping over the brackets, linear molding that runs from the walls up across the ceiling, chakra-cleansing crystals and a sisal rug for a groovy-yet-grounded ambiance that’s edgy, inspiring and comfortable. Another fun moment is the story behind the standing bar in the living room just off the kitchen. The homeowners actually installed the TING London leather paneling on the face of the bar themselves! We had it cut to size for them, but they DIY-ed it by gluing the pieces by hand. It was their own fun, little project!”
THE OUTCOME
“Feathers, fur, fringe, shag, equestrian suggestions, rock ‘n’ roll, sex appeal, and some ’70s grooviness: This house is sexy. You don’t walk in and go, ‘This is a sweet country house.’ It’s bold, unapologetic,” says Wertepny. “It can’t be put in a box or labeled with conventional descriptors. This home really embodies the organic-glam mashup that PROjECT. is known for.”
Design Details
Throughout the home, plays on texture create dimension and warmth. Photographed by ARTURO YEPEZ
Type
Single-family home
Location
Franklin, TN
Interior Designer
Aimee Wertepny,
PROjECT. interiors
Styling
Darwin Fitz + Natalie Fitz
Builder
Botsko Builders Inc.
RESOURCES
Ann Sacks Tile
Eros stone slabs for the fireplace,
annsacks.kohler.com
Amanda Morrison at Colorblind Creative Arteriors
Primary bedroom
console, arteriorshome.com
Wall art in breakfast nook
Beth Kamhi
Hanging metal art in the foyer, bethkamhiartist.com
CFC
Bedroom nightstands,
customfurniturela.com
Crate & Barrel Kitchen chairs,
crateandbarrel.com
Four Hands Designs
Leather pillow in primary, patio chairs, leather chaise in disco room, fourhands.com
Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort
Bedroom sconces, picture lights above kitchen shelving, visualcomfort.com
Noir
Table Lamp in primary, yin yang coffee tables in living room, teak wood hand stool on patio, corner chair in disco room, noirla.com
OHM International
Kitchen countertops, ohmintl.com
PROjECT.
Custom pillows in primary, projectinteriors.com
Restoration Hardware
Primary bed, Surya carpet in primary bedroom, couches and low-profile sectional in linen, patio chaise loungers, patio table, restorationhardware.com
Rondo Pools
Pool, built-in outdoor kitchen, a spa hot tub, raised fire pits, water feature, rondopoolstn.com
Textures Nashville
Flooring, texturesnashville.com
Zinc Textiles
Draperies, zinctextile.com
