The Denton Home
With generations upon generations of family that have called Signal Mountain home, Christie and Nathan Denton decided to flip the script. But after years of living in different places throughout the Scenic City, the duo found themselves longing for the mountain life once again.
By Christina Cannon / Photography by Creative Revolver
“After we had our first daughter, we decided to move back to Signal. My entire family is from here, and they have been here since 1840. We actually ended up finding a lot on the same street that I grew up on, so that’s been pretty special,” says Christie.
Several years after purchasing the property, the Dentons set out on a brand-new build in a great location where they could raise a family.
Nathan and Christie Denton with daughters Caroline and Charlotte
“From the moment we started building, I knew I wanted to emphasize the setting. We’re surrounded by such a beautiful forest, and I wanted people to be able to see that.”
– Christie Denton
Approaching the home, white siding gives way to cool natural stone, which appears along the base of the home before rising to encompass the entire right wing of the house. Passing through a charming set of wooden French doors that plays off of the color of four simplistic columns, visitors find themselves in the foyer.
“From the moment we started building, I knew I wanted to emphasize the setting. We’re surrounded by such a beautiful forest, and I wanted people to be able to see that and feel at ease regardless of where they are in our home,” explains Christie.
To help accomplish this, the moment guests step inside they are met with a wide hallway that leads across the home’s main thoroughfare and out to the back porch. From this point in the home, one can easily get a glimpse of the stately trees that frame the residence.
Open to the foyer is a stairwell to the home’s second story. Warm white oak treads provide continuity with the four-inch planks that run throughout the rest of the home, and an eclectic and tasteful painting of a Warnicke roseate spoonbill provides a hint of personality.
A short hallway to the right of the foyer carries visitors to the heart of the Denton home. Here, one large room houses the kitchen, a dining space, and the family’s great room.
“Another thing we wanted was a room that was open where everyone would spend a lot of time,” says Christie. “In our last house, we had a separate space for the dining room, and it never got used. We just liked the idea of incorporating all of the main living spaces together.”
Another must-have for Christie was an oversized kitchen island and windows looking out over the pool. This design allows the Dentons to keep an eye on the happenings of the back patio, all the while whipping up a healthy dinner or tasty snack.
White shaker-style cabinetry provides a clean and elegant aesthetic that is elevated with stunning Turkish marble countertops. The soft gray tones in the countertops are paired with gray subway tiles that comprise the backsplash and three gray barstools neatly tucked under the overhang of the center island.
The home’s kitchen effortlessly blends into the dining space, which houses an oval table and array of mixed colors and materials. Four warm wooden ladder back chairs surround the table, while two cream-colored slipcovered chairs rest at each end. An unfinished wooden chandelier with candle-style lights and beaded detail hangs overhead and works to make the dining area a space all its own while still being open to the kitchen and great room.
A cream fabric sofa comfortably seats three, while four armchairs round out the intimate seating arrangement of the great room. A wood-burning fireplace is enclosed by floor-to-ceiling stone that mirrors the home’s exterior. Wooden beams also run overhead and contribute to the cozy ambiance of this room.
“I would say our style is mixed traditional,” says Christie. “We have a lot of classic features that can just go with anything, but then we’ve woven in elements like the beams, mantel, and metal lighting fixtures that capture a rustic feel as well. Those elements reflect the setting of the house, which was always the goal.”
Traveling back across the house, guests find themselves at the end of a long hallway that leads to the master suite.
“We intentionally planned for our bedroom to sit away from the rest of the house,” explains Christie. “We love it, and it really feels like a sanctuary.”
Photo Courtesy of Miles and Kirk Design/by Dotson Commercial
As the only room that juts out from the home’s stacked floor plan, the Dentons’ bedroom is a relaxing respite far away from the noise-inducing areas of the home. Mimicking the clean and classic ambiance found in other rooms, the master suite incorporates an array of whites and creams with splashes of gray and pale blue. Wooden furniture, a gold mirror above the bed, and details in the area rug add in a touch of warmth.
Photo Courtesy of Miles and Kirk Design/by Dotson Commercial
Narrow double doors provide access to the en suite, which immediately delivers on its tranquil objective. A footless soaking tub rests in front of a shiplap wall that is outfitted with an abstract painting. Vanities are cloaked with the same Turkish marble seen in the kitchen and bookend the room’s entryway.
Just beyond the shiplap wall is a walk-through shower. Here, white subway tiles wrap the shower walls, bench, and ceiling, while a herringbone pattern in the center provides visual interest. A rain shower head offers up a soothing touch, and river rock flooring rounds out the space.
Another premier space for relaxation in the Denton home is the back porch and pool area. A fabric sectional surrounds a stunning wooden slab coffee table that sits in front of a fireplace, which boasts the same stone and wooden mantel as the great room.
A bar with leathered finished countertops is a stylish touch that makes entertaining a breeze. A stunted set of stairs takes visitors down to the pool, complete with a sun ledge, waterslide, and surrounding seating. Encircled by a dense thicket of woods, this space optimizes and draws inspiration from its natural setting.
“When it comes down to it, we just wanted to build a house that we felt could age with the surroundings,” says Christie. “You can change paint colors. You can change décor, but in 50 years, we want the house itself to feel like it’s always been here. It needed to be timeless.” CS
