Text: Jeanne de Lathouder
Photography: Andy Carretto
A beacon of grandeur within the venerable Riverview neighborhood of Chattanooga, this Cape Cod–style custom home sits on an enviable lot amid the rolling hills of the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club. The elaborate property overlooking the golf course and the Tennessee River also offers spectacular views of the city lights, Lookout Mountain, and the glorious evening sunsets. To achieve a well-curated aesthetic that would reflect their passion for art, travel, and entertaining, the homeowners enlisted interior designer Kathy Patton to help them cultivate a design scheme to mirror their impeccable tastes and lifestyle.
“While good architecture makes for a beautiful home, the interior choices make a house come to life,” says Patton, owner of Kathy Patton Designs. “This open design plan needed to be filled judiciously with just the right pieces.”
Upon entering the grand foyer, an expansive great room opens onto a dining room, kitchen, and breakfast room. The scenic views of the golf course and Tennessee River draw the eye outward, but the color and comfort of the interiors beckon guests to sit and enjoy the beauty within. Patton’s strategy began by layering period antiques with modern works of art. “This juxtaposition of timeless antiques with contemporary pieces elevates the design and is complemented by comfortable furnishings that invite relaxation and enjoyment of the natural beauty outdoors,” she notes.
Inspired by the rich, neutral tones of the sumptuous draperies in the main rooms, the homeowners chose this color palette as the foundation for their design plan. Neutral upholstery fabrics accented with colorful accessories and original artwork pulled the look together. “My goal was to unite the interiors through color without emphasizing any one hue,” says Patton. “We began by anchoring the rooms with good pieces.”
The foyer graces the entry with a Parisian commode, trumeau mirror, Italian sconces, and a 19th-century French Empire rosewood library table backing up to the great room. These dignified pieces ground the design and establish a regal aesthetic. “But the real star is the Calacatta marble cocktail table with unlacquered brass fittings,” says Patton. “This architectural and artistic detail is functional while presenting the perfect contemporary foil to these exquisite antiques. The husband particularly liked this table, which was a plus because my goal is always to please everyone.”
Nestled between the great room and the kitchen, the dining room revolves around a custom 72-inch round table with chairs in birch leather paired with a beautiful coral-themed fabric on the chairbacks. The rug echoes the coral and yellow tones, while the Italian buffet and custom mirror anchor the room and reflect the views outdoors. The homeowners love to entertain friends and family with dinner parties around the gracious round dining table and scavenger hunts for their grandsons. “While we enjoy traveling, this is a home for all seasons,” says the homeowner. “I loved experiencing the design process with Kathy. We worked closely together, traveling to design showrooms, antiques shops, and artist studios—no place for inspiration was off-limits.”
A cheery breakfast nook provides another cozy gathering spot for family and guests with comfortable leather and woven rush armchairs complemented by a traditional round table and a brilliant gold statement chandelier. The kitchen’s contemporary appeal includes a generous marble-clad island punctuated with matching pagoda twig lanterns and a classic silhouette of acrylic counter stools. “I love to pair acrylic furniture with antiques,” says Patton. “The juxtaposition of the two enhances one another—your eye sees the antiques better when everything is not wood or metal. Both elements are hallmarks of my style.”
In the primary bedroom, Patton worked with the existing carpet and draperies, bringing in various shades of green and coral to marry the interiors with the lush outdoor colors of the garden. A custom Louis XVI gilt bed commands the space and is accompanied by custom bedside commodes with serpentine lines, a green patina finish, and a walnut top. A drapery treatment over the soaking tub in the primary bathroom steals the show with its gorgeous green and embroidered stripes.
“Function, beauty, and views were my mantras for this project,” says Patton. “I resonate with Brunschwig & Fils’s credo, ‘Good Design Is Forever,’ and I strive to create beautiful and timeless spaces while accurately reflecting my clients. If I meet their needs and exceed their expectations, I have done my job.”
“I like Kathy’s spontaneity, which is a trait we share when we see something we love,” says the homeowner. “When Nashville artist Ed Nash delivered our commissioned pieces, I decided on a whim to check out the contents of his delivery van. I immediately fell in love with a work he dubbed ‘Let’s Get This Party Started.’ It now resides prominently on the wall of our upstairs den.”
