Finding a Forever Home

Having searched for a larger property in the Soddy-Daisy area for years, they finally decided to build nearby and continue the search at a more leisurely pace. Four months after moving into their completed new construction, they stumbled across their dream land for sale. “It was everything we were looking for, and the timing was crazy, but we knew we had to do it,” Katie explains. After purchasing the land, Taylor spent the next three years clearing the property and preparing it for their dream home.

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Walking into the home, farmhouse features such as shiplap walls, wide plank wooden floors, and traditional wainscoting greet guests. “Our style is more relaxed. It definitely incorporates traditional farmhouse styling, but with subtle modern accents. We also incorporated stained wood columns and beams and natural stone to show hints of rustic and craftsman styling as well,” Katie shares. The combination of preferences is evident in the dining room.

This crisp white board-and-batten farmhouse is set apart by unique details. Custom gable brackets were designed to have a more craftsman, linear appearance, while the natural Tennessee stone wrapping the foundation and front porch are personalized selections for Taylor and Katie. “A lot of these homes do the brick accents, which looks good with this style, but we just loved the stone and its slightly more rustic, mountain look,” Katie explains.

The dining room features a stunning, naturally finished wooden table. Its extra long stature easily seats 12 people. Ladder back chairs with subtle French curves are covered in a cream linen, creating a relaxed elegance. Custom paneled wainscoting works with the room’s arrangement to emphasize the traditional styles. To one side, the Massingills’ wedding china is displayed in a beautiful, primitive glass hutch. But these traditional elements are updated with sleek lines and a darker shade of gray on the walls. The wide window trim touches on craftsman elements, while rustic beams and raw wood round out the design. The catty-corner arrangement of the dining room allows diners to easily view the adjacent living room, a bit further into the home.

“The living room is my absolute favorite room in the house,” Taylor says. In here, large stacked Tennessee mountain stone composes a real wood-burning fireplace as a centerpiece. “That was the main thing that Taylor wanted,” Katie shares. “He had always wanted a wood-burning fireplace in his home.” Overhead, beams run across the ceiling, and the same shiplap wall planks cover the walls in this room. A spacious sectional offers places to relax and play. “We like these areas being open to each other, and the boys’ playroom is just off to the side. It makes it easy to have everyone in one place,” Katie says.

Custom built-ins on either side of the fireplace carry a blue-gray shade, which is also echoed in this room’s accents, like the rug and some throw pillows. Complementary shades of blue work with wood tones to create a cozy and relaxing environment.

Behind the living room is the U-shaped kitchen. With a natural workflow around the island, there is ample white cabinetry for storage.

The island is painted in the same gray shade as the built-ins around the fireplace, creating a sense of cohesion between the two spaces.

The shaker-style cabinetry and brass lantern pendant lights contribute to a blend of craftsman and farmhouse styles. Cane and wood stools add seating at the island in a rustic style, and the spacious granite countertops keep the space fresh and modern.

Nearby, the dining nook is wrapped in the home’s signature shiplap wall planks and features a round table. With room for at least six more people, the kitchen island and dining nook provide plenty of room for entertaining. “Nearly every weekend we spend time here with family and friends grilling out, enjoying a bonfire, and shooting sporting clays in the back field,” Taylor says. Overhead, an elk antler chandelier is a treasured piece that has traveled with the Massingills from home to home. And from this room, there are views of the sprawling back field and access to the outdoor living areas.

Subtle touches of blue, burnt orange, and green ground the room in nature’s shades. Complete with a fireplace, this is the ultimate escape.

Behind the living room is where the master suite is located. A large bedroom with a tray ceiling, the master has the same white wall planks, but all the other colors are neutrals and carry a warm undertone. A beautiful bed in a natural wood finish with a bit of lime waxing to create a weathered look features a linen tufted headboard and a comforter in the same earthy oatmeal color. The quatrefoil rug matches perfectly, and pale pine planks on the ceiling above also complement the style of the room. Subtle touches of blue, burnt orange, and green ground the room in nature’s shades. Complete with a fireplace, this is the ultimate escape.

Connected to the master bedroom is the master suite. Another very spacious area, the master bath features dual vanities with marble countertops. A free-standing soaking bathtub is centered in front of the stunning walk-through shower. White subway tile from floor to ceiling is a luxurious statement, as is all of the room’s gold-toned accents. Honey-colored cabinets and a quatrefoil-shaped pendant light elevate the room’s ambiance.

Having searched high and low for the perfect place to call home, the Massingills finally found where they wanted to raise their boys. Here, among the woods and wilderness, the boys love to roam the property with Taylor. They watch deer and turkey, which are plentiful on the 52 acres. They love to run around the front yard and play with their trucks in the driveway. Every day, Katie and Taylor are reminded of why they chose this setting. As Taylor says, “We love it here. It’s a lot of upkeep, and it’s not for everyone, but we love it!” CS