BLISS MANOR - A SOUTHERN HOME INSPIRED BY LOVE
- Brooke Giannetti
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Ah, the things we do for love.
For some, this great mystery of life leads them to uproot everything and move a world away to be near their beloved. Others forgo something that was once a favorite thing in favor of their new favorite person. The list is as extensive and unique as each couple lucky enough to be caught in the trance of romance.
A few years ago, Steve received a phone call from a man who was in the midst of planning one of these sweet romantic gestures. He had just purchased a plot of land outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and he wanted Steve to help bring his wife’s vision for their dream home to life. He sent over images of a sketch she had made, a large home positioned around an enchanting courtyard, the perfect backdrop for their large family and the events they loved to host. Alongside the drawing came a list of rooms that must be included: children’s bedrooms, studies, and a laundry room. She had thought of every detail. Steve agreed to take on the project (how could he not?), and with her dreams as his guiding light, he began sketches of his own.
The day before the big surprise, Steve and I attended the Antique and Garden Show of Nashville. While browsing the booths, we spotted our client and his wife. She excitedly approached us and pulled her sketch from her purse, showing it to Steve, who had to act as though he hadn’t been walking around inside that very drawing in his imagination for weeks. He complimented the design and promised to assist someday when they were ready to move forward with construction.
The next morning, he set up his easels and secured his plans on the site of their new home, then waited for the surprise to unfold. When they pulled up, the wife saw the easels and realized what her husband had been secretly planning all along. Her dream home, the one she had been envisioning for years, was set to become a reality. And so, a story and a home with the most wonderful beginning began to unfold until, a few years later, with the help of Jim Mullowny of Mullowny General Contractor, it was finally complete.
As with all of Steve’s designs, he drew upon the surrounding landscape and local influences to shape his work. Although the finished home would not closely resemble the famous properties that inspired it, they infused Bliss Manor with the classic Southern style that he and his clients both loved.
A hallmark of this style is the creation of spaces that foster connection, both between people and with nature. Steve aimed to design a home with a warm, familial atmosphere, paying close attention to how the living room, dining room, and kitchen would flow together.
He also sought to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces, using large steel windows to frame stunning views and create a bond between the inhabitants and the natural world around them.
The classical architecture that informs Steve’s work remained a cornerstone of his design, with carefully considered proportions, detailed trim, and molding coming together to create a home that feels timeless.
Once the architectural details were finalized, I began planning the interiors. Alongside our client, I scoured markets and shows for unique antique pieces that would tell the story taking shape in our imaginations. We sought a soft palette and comfortable furnishings to complement the classical nature of the home.
Throughout the spaces, the unique story of our clients’ family is on full display. A hand-painted mural by Maria Trimbell, depicting the surrounding bucolic landscape, adorns the walls of their formal dining room.
Bedrooms and studies were designed with each individual in mind, creating spaces that harmonize with the rest of the home while reflecting each inhabitant’s personality.
Our clients wished for simplicity, a sanctuary where they could create memories with loved ones. They wanted their home to encapsulate a feeling, bliss. That great joy, that perfect happiness and spiritual blessedness we all yearn for, became the namesake of their home, joined with “Manor” as a nod to the wife’s childhood memories in England.
When the final details were complete, when the last pillows were fluffed and the bookshelves stocked, we felt that we had done right by the name they chose. Bliss Manor was a tranquil abode, as beautiful as the love story that brought it to life.
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the story behind one of the projects that made us fall in love with Nashville. If you would like to see more images of Bliss Manor, or learn about the stories behind a few of our other projects, check out our newest book, Patina Home & Gardens.
xx,
Brooke
