By Tory Irmeger | Photos Courtesy of Brightside | Photos by Daniel Neuhoff/Creative Revolver
After raising their family for 25 years in Charlotte, North Carolina, Julie and Bobby Gettys heard the East Tennessee mountains calling.
Bobby & Julie Gettys
For native Tennessean Julie, the decision to move to Chattanooga was also decision to return home. “For years, I had a desire to move closer to my family,” she says. “We loved the appeal of the mountains, river, nature, and hiking, and Chattanooga provided us with those aspects while also getting us closer to family.” With the Gettys’ two grown children settling nearby, the deal was sealed for Julie and Bobby to begin searching for their new home.
When Julie discovered a newly constructed home in the neighborhood they’d been eyeing, photos of the house hadn’t yet been listed, but Julie had a gut feeling that this place would check a lot of their boxes. As a modern home in a historic setting, this house also offered close-knit community and stunning scenic vistas. The couple knew they had to act fast and closed on the house within 24 hours of it going on the market.
Perched atop a steep drive, the Gettys home promises a bird’s-eye view. Warm-toned double doors contrast the bright white exterior, while a single lantern above the threshold exudes charm. “We feel like we live in a treehouse,” Julie says, “so we wanted to play off the greens and the cool sky colors to make it feel homey but classic at the same time.” Indeed, the stacked picture windows offer a wide scope of Lookout Mountain and give the effect of being high in the canopy. To take full advantage of the scenery, the Gettys added a deck in the back leading up to Bobby’s studio. At the top of the stairs, guests can take in panoramic views of the neighborhood and the mountains beyond.
Upon entering the home, it’s easy to see what drew the Gettys to this space. Vaulted ceilings and an open main-level floor plan create an area perfect for entertaining friends without feeling vacuous. Although they downsized from their family home in Charlotte, the Gettys don’t miss the square footage. “In many ways, this house feels bigger just because of the open space,” says Julie. “That was one thing that really attracted us to the house. We wanted the open concept for hosting and having neighbors over.”
Moving into a recent build, the interior of the home was a blank slate, giving the Gettys plenty of freedom to play with colors and textures. The main living room is as inviting as it is elegant, featuring a plush window seat and blue velvet swivel chairs that bridge the living area to the dining area. A minimalistic chandelier accompanies dark wood end tables to create an overall cozy feel, while cheery pops of color from glasswork and textiles breathe life into the space.
The Gettys’ affinity for simplicity and clean lines comes to a forefront in the dining area. The open floor plan allows for seamless transitions between living, dining, and kitchen areas, so a geometric accent wall alongside the Greek key-style rug serves to define the seating vignette. To balance the lines, round centerpieces upon the circular dining table soften the space. Glasswork is featured throughout the home, contributing to the “treehouse” atmosphere. Some of the pieces were created by none other than Bobby himself, who has been a glass artisan for nearly 10 years.
Just steps away, the kitchen offers a large island and upholstered barstools perfect for accommodating neighborhood potlucks or family meals. A sky-blue subway tile backsplash complements classic white overlay cabinets, with shiplap paneling over the range echoing that of the fireplace wall in the living area. To give the airy space a sense of stability, gold metallic accents throughout the room pop in the cabinetry fixtures as well as the pendant lights over the island.
The blue theme continues in the bathroom off the main-level hall, this time incorporating sleek black fixtures that match the living area furnishings. Bright colors weren’t a common theme in the Gettys’ previous styling, making them ready for a change in the new space. “The house we came from was very neutral, with browns and dark greens,” Julie says. “This is different for us, but I feel like it goes with the open space.” From the watercolor branch wallpaper to the marbled countertop, one almost feels as if they are standing in a tranquil pool.
Rounding out the main level, the master bedroom offers a cozy repose. Neutral bedding and brightly colored pillows blend the Gettys’ familiar earth tones with the current open-air theme. Favorite pieces of artwork are featured throughout the house, but most cherished are the paintings done by Julie’s mother. “My late mother, Helen Arnold, painted the portrait above the bed,” says Julie, “We love how it captures the grandchildren she cherished in her lifetime so dearly.” This warmth carries throughout the room, from the yellow undertones of the fabrics to the gilded bases of the drum-shade table lamps. Boldly accented and comfortably furnished, this spacious home exudes refined charm throughout.
