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text by SHANI SILVER photography by ALYSSA ROSENHECK

LOCATION/NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE HOME:
Brentwood. Just south of Nashville, TN

Just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, in a town called Brentwood, there is family home that isn’t afraid of color, brimming with of-the-moment trends and design. Styled by designer Lori Paranjape, the space makes use of textures, wall coverings, artwork, and built-ins with a level mastery that makes it look easy. Of course, as with any large design project, there’s quite a bit to the process. We asked Lori if she wouldn’t mind sharing a few secrets…

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS DESIGN AESTHETIC IN THREE WORDS?

timeless, sophisticated, edgy

HOW DID THIS PROJECT COME ABOUT?

I designed another house for this family just two years ago. They wanted to build again in a different neighborhood, so I had the unique opportunity to use the best of the first home combined with tremendous upgrades in size, materials, and decor.

DID THE CLIENT HAVE GOALS IN MIND FOR THIS SPACE OR DID THEY LEAVE EVERYTHING TO YOU?

My lovely clients asked for a timeless house that feels very current and livable. I designed the house itself to be a classic… I don’t believe it will ever go out of style. And the furnishings are beautiful, but they are not just a pretty face: they are durable, cleanable materials that can stand up to two little kiddos and an active lifestyle.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF THIS DESIGN PROCESS?

The biggest joy of designing this home was the creative freedom my clients gave me to make it as beautiful as it could possibly be… I feel like this house reached it’s potential because of a strong relationship between myself and the homeowners. I love that they love it!

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

My greatest challenge was taking such a spacious home and bringing it in to make it feel comfortable and warm… We worked hard to make purposeful, cozy spaces. In many rooms, there is more than one gathering area. The arrangements create relaxed, intimate moments even in grand-scale rooms.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST SPLURGE IN THIS HOME?

The floors!! They are French Oak and just spectacular. We all fell in love but it was a difficult decision for the homeowners. Ultimately, they decided to invest and fortunately they will last forever!

WHAT IS THE BEST STEAL?

The rugs are the secret weapon in this home. A few were investments, but most of them we imported directly from a Turkish store, KayaKilims.com. Reasonably priced and vintage!

WE LOVE THE USE OF

kilim rugs

IN THE BATHROOM, WHAT OTHER CURRENT TRENDS DID YOU EMPLOY HERE?

Most of the accent decor is very latest in home design… but that will soon change and will need to be replaced. As a design team, our approach is “A black Target dress with Jimmy Choo shoes,” and that’s how I handled the accessories. I encouraged my clients to invest in lasting items like floors, light fixtures, appliances, and marble, but allow for the layer of accessories to evolve as styles and trends inevitably change. The current feel of the house is due in large part to the accents and decor, and that is the easiest (and most affordable) to change.

WHAT DESIGN ELEMENTS DID YOU USE IN THIS SPACE THAT OUR READERS SHOULD TRY FOR THEMSELVES?

The chevron floor pattern in the foyer and upstairs hallway are a favorite trick of mine. This particular flooring we selected was available in chevron, but if not, I take the existing flooring material, and ask for the installers to lay them in either a chevron or herringbone pattern with a frame around the edge. The foyer and hallway flooring feels special because of the pattern change. It’s a small installation upgrade with an impressive result.

SEE MORE FROM LORI!
@mrsparanjape
www.redoyourhouse.com