A Celebration of Southern Elegance

Leaving most of their furnishings behind to make space for a new design that fit their family’s current phase of life, the Caldwells sought to refresh the home’s original interior and make it their own.

Old-world charm sweeps over the living room, whose walls and furnishings are saturated by soft, warm greens and blues, while a plush sofa and matching armchairs form a convenient seating arrangement. Front and center, a white fireplace with fluted paneling makes the space a cozy shelter for the Caldwells. “I feel like our living room captures the essence of our home,” says Margaret. “Everything in the room stemmed from the fabric of the draperies. It’s timeless. I love how it mixes modern with traditional.”

Continuing the series of picturesque rooms is a standout kitchen and breakfast area, a space that serves the Caldwells well when entertaining guests. “We were always visiting from California during the holidays,” Winston shares. “Once we moved to Tennessee, it was our turn to host. It has been so fun to gather everyone for Christmas Eve dinner and then a more casual Christmas day and evening. Our parents were thrilled to pass the hosting torch!”

Sage and coral anchor the elegant breakfast area, which flaunts a tasteful brick fireplace, delightful floral draperies, and quaint round back rattan chairs. The adjoining kitchen, while more neutral in color, displays an intriguing contrast of textures and materials, from a dark backsplash in varying tones to crisp white cabinetry with intricate molding.

A moody dining room featuring espresso brown walls and drapes, a dark wood table, and olive-green velvet dining chairs gives additional accommodation for more formal occasions.

“Even though the house has more than double the space of our Malibu home, we had plans to utilize every room,” Winston explains. That vision translated into a series of auxiliary areas that quickly became the heart of the redesign. “With guidance from our designer, we created an array of complementary spaces spanning three floors that range from living and work areas to leisure and activity areas where our teen son and daughter spend the majority of their time,” he continues. “We made the downstairs hangout space especially bright and fun for the kids to enjoy with their friends. It’s designed for watching movies, playing pool or ping pong, and going out to the swimming pool.”

The family also incorporated a snug downstairs guest suite with out-of-town friends and loved ones in mind.

Rooted in family and functionality, the transition signaled the beautiful beginning of a new era for the Caldwells. “Tennessee has always been ‘home’ to us,” says Margaret.

“This house is special to us because it is our first home in Tennessee since we have been married. It has been our welcoming mat. We’ve navigated all sorts of ‘news’ in this house: a new life, new schools, and new friends. We arrived looking for a temporary landing spot, but found the ideal place to call home.”

Suppliers:

Custom painting: Newman & Sons Painting, LLC

Fixtures and trim: Homeworks Chattanooga

Interior design: Miles and Kirk Design LLC