English Cotswold Style Meets Modern Living in Nashville

Those references continue seamlessly and impeccably in the interiors as well. “The clients are great supporters of the arts in all respects, including craftsmanship, so we engaged James Dunn of Vintage Millwork to bring authenticity to the millwork on the main floor and stairway hall,” says Kendall. “The white oak is stained in a light finish to keep the spaces from veering into any heaviness but to still bring warmth and needed character.”

The designer leaned into the clients’ preference for traditional décor but kept it from feeling stuck in time with an abundance of lively wallpapers, including a bold blue botanical print for the built-in bar, a hand-painted Zuber scenic wallcovering for the music room, and an Iksel turquoise-hued floral for the primary bedroom. Kendall was also focused on moderating the scale of the main living room by breaking it up into separate spaces with back-to-back sofas as delineating anchor pieces in the center.

The walls and panelling were softened with window panels that Kendall employed to great effect and that belie their hardworking nature. “The window treatments’ beauty as well as function were very important to the clients, as they wanted the option to layer with motorized shades that create either a very dark room or a layer for light filtering,” she says. And while there are plenty of antiques, which Alcott Interiors imports, the size and number of rooms required new pieces as well.

In keeping with the Cotswold ambiance, Kendall looked to bespoke British firms for many selections—Soane Britain furnishings, lighting from Vaughn Designs and Hector Finch, Lewis & Wood wallpaper, and Colefax and Fowler fabrics, among others. The same thinking extended to the floor coverings throughout the home. “While we placed a blend of antique Oriental rugs, for the main living room, the scale required a substantial size, so we had one cut to fit around the fireplace and elsewhere; it’s new but inspired by antique rugs,” she explains.

This home could easily have read formal and serious, but the playfulness Farris alludes to with the architecture extends to choices Kendall made as well. Kitchen cabinets show off gothic arches, while the bar repeats the motif, but the built-in cabinetry is wrapped in a dynamic high-gloss blue for a compelling jolt of happy color. Eyelash and tassel trims grace the leading edge of drapery panels, and painted bathroom vanities help keep stuffiness in check. Sassy print valances bring a lighthearted attitude to the kitchen and primary bath.

The architecture and interior design, along with the landscape artistry of Clay Trabue of Kaiser Trabue, all play their part to realize an outstanding Cotswold manor with a firm respect of the past but decidedly grounded in the here and now; one that’s sure to create a lasting impression for generations to come.