Innovative Tuscany

Tuscany in Nashville... a new construction with Old World charm & romance

Nestled within the wooded lot of this new home in Nashville, is a fused combination of 1930's American factory & elegant seventeenth-century Italian pavilion styling! When one thinks of factory & elegant romance there is hardly an attachment with both descriptions. However the Maxwell family of Nashville Tennessee has nothing but invention on their minds.

It is apparent the moment you begin entering the covered porch that Old World style & the combination of light colors and style of romantic sun soaked Tuscan villa's is emerging throughout the home. Designers Ray Booth & Architect Bobby Mcalpine have created a sort of-"hybrid" home. One consisting of elegant 17th century Italian & 1930's factory inspired details. The juxtaposition of the two very different styles is exactly what brings the look together. This romantic aerie in the Mazwells entry adornes columns, iron and a brick seating recessed into the area from the covered roof line. The home is inspired by "Thunder House', a gardener's feruge from the storm, also adding a comfortable niche for alfresco dining. The Loggia, is in full Italian style bloom. The garden chair & stone chair are from Michael Taylor.

In the salon, the French iron chandelier, early 20th c. Steel grid windows with the factory touch. Custom sofas, which face one another, in Glant fabric. Lee Jofa linen / velvet Saladino sofa. J.Robert Scott fabric on the 20th- c. reclaimer. Rogers & Goffigon linen on the porteries lined in silk Jagtar. Lots of light infused with the light airy linen sofa's, moss covered bowls and hand stenciled walls in an Italian cornice / freeze architectural mural.

Side table from Wisteria in 3 leg configuration with potted orchid in clear pot. The three legged coffee table by Saladino. Custom sofas with nail head trim, on either side with barley twisted dark onyx & gilded Italian lamps from a Paris flea market. The garden stool in a antique styled drum, as an alternative side table. The colors of soft taupe, cream, and hand forged iron.

Italian 19th c iron stools. Early 19th c Italian tall back chairs in Joseph Noble Mohair.Dressing chair, 18th c. Unique coffee table in iron with tasseled cushions in linen. Notice the top of the softly draped linen panels topped with a band in the natural linen jute color.

The draped in the home were used as portieres that divide rooms to create space and give a heightened room scale and grandness. The drapery panels were in fact used everywhere but the windows! The wonderful views of the vista's were not covered an inch.It was the unobtrusive views that dictated the color palette. An extraordinary pencil drawing continues throughout the home. The colors are very subtle and tie the classical Italian architecture with a raw sketching found within a factory. The technique of almost tattooing graphite onto the walls and a layering of greenish -gray hues brings the vistas inside. The neutral palette is monochromatic but carefully done as to highlight certain shades of color. The end result is a harmonious blend of complementing shades and hues of harmony. The long, hand scraped Italian table is lit from above the long cool steel candelabra and filled with the sweet scented from the lighted candles.Large fireplace and continued cream palette.

In the master bath Cypress paneling is set off by an Italian steel mirror above cast stone vanity by Ray Booth. A touch of modern in the sleek lamp and the exposed plumbing beneath the vanity.

The elegant and almost modern chandelier is steel and glass from Sirmos. Roger & Goffigon linen at windows. Paul Ferrante stool wears hide by Edelman Leather.Waterworks hardware & tub by Kohler.

The colors in the guest room were coordinated from nature. The colors from beyond the arched doorway and occulas dictate the reigning scheme. The tailback chairs in a soft platinum colored velvet, rough distressed Spanish leather trunk studded with nail trim at the foot of the bed, and large aster flowers in a clear tall vase.Note the Empire ebony and gold gilded full length mirror across from the bed.

Majorcan walnut bed, 17th-c wears on the bed from Roger & Goffigon with long pillow in Larsen fabric. The duo of large chairs are upholstered in custom screens bearing antique sconces. Ottaman by Baker Furniture wears Rogers & Goffigon textured linen. Lee Jofa linen/velvet on the 19th c high - back chairs. Zimmer + Rohde fabric for sheers at the windows. Antique oak flooring.

Love the view from the window overlooking the pool. The area across the reflecting pool lined with trees on either side of the pool.A close up of the twisted post of the Majorcan walnut bed, 17th c.

The view from the guesthouse across the reflecting pool from the loggia. Bevalo outdoor lantern. I love the look of using outdoor lantern's even within the inside of the home..... very innovative and a feel of opulent rustic flavor. Aerial hedges with perennials as ground cover.Boxwood twist topiaries flank steel grid window. Antique Italian barrel tiles on roof. The florals throughout the home were by Richard Norris.

Almost every room throughout the home has a complimentary outdoor space / view that affects the decor. In the guest bedroom pale blue hues compliment the reflecting pool, the scents of rosemary and lavender linger in the air, the effect....pure romance!

The homeowners feel as though they are living in the vista's in Tuscany - not the foothills in Tennessee.

Photos and wears, Veranda.