4 min readfor many designers, a house with “good bones” is the ultimate win. It sets a foundation for the design, and those remaining details often info every design decision to come down the line.
But what happens when a formerly stately old home is now just a shell of what it once was? For designer Lindsay Rhodes, that’s the exact dilemma she encountered during her first walk-through of a client’s circa-1894 home in Nashville, one of two “sister” homes on the street that a father built for his two daughters. The 4,800-square-foot residence still held onto much of its original character, including hardwood floors, intricate moldings, and soaring ceilings, but decades of alterations had left certain spaces disconnected from the grandeur of the historic structure. Most notably out of sync was the kitchen, which had originally lived in a separate building altogether and then was squeezed into a former porch addition, occupying a paltry footprint with no real functionality to speak of.
For Rhodes, the challenge wasn't about simply renovating an old house; it was about helping it regain the respect it deserved. “This house is such a gathering house,” she explains. “Guests are genuinely comfortable throughout, from the front porch and the living room to the den and the kitchen in the back. It has such a feeling of love and history.” Brick floors, carefully matched windows and dormers, and newly added architectural detailing helped the newer spaces feel as though they had always belonged. Elsewhere, that awkward former kitchen became a hardworking mudroom, laundry room, and a moody bar, which is now among the home's most admired spaces.
Yet it's the home's emotional history that gives it its deepest purpose. A beloved dining table that once belonged to the homeowner’s grandmother—and survived the flooding from Hurricane Katrina—sits at the center of the dining room, connecting generations across time and place. The children's rooms are anchored by family heirlooms, gathering spaces are designed for crowds, and every room seems to encourage lingering a little longer. From the welcoming front porch to the light-filled kitchen at the back, it’s no longer a home that has been forgotten at the hands of time but one that’s in its best era yet.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Lindsay Rhodes, Lindsay Rhodes Interiors
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Stylist: Mary Spotswood
The Space: A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home across 4,808 square feet
STUDY
Inky black walls help heirloom-worthy accessories shine.
Meant to be a space for both personal reflection and familial connection, the study plays host to group TV nights and important work meetings alike, thanks to a desk arranged to look out the front windows of the home.
KITCHEN
An expanded footprint and functional layout cater to entertaining.
Rhodes moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it now occupies the footprint of a former living room. Brick floors nod to the homeowner’s childhood home, while a mud palette of neutrals keeps things sophisticated and stylish.
BAR
The dramatic space nods to the old-school glamour of New Orleans.
Accessible from the kitchen through an archway, the moody black bar is now a favorite spot in the home. “They always have a house full of guests—the more the merrier, and everyone knows where the bar is and to make themselves at home,” adds Rhodes.
MUDROOM
The expansive sink area doubles as a spot to prep flowers and pot plants.
The back entrance, which doubles as a mudroom and potting area, featured angular ceilings and quirky nooks, so Rhodes thought it a perfect opportunity to drench the room in a House of Hackney patterned paper. “We wanted to make this a yin-yang with the bar area,” Rhodes explains of this room’s neighboring space. “This is the more feminine scheme.”
DINING ROOM
An heirloom dining table takes center stage in the scheme.
Covered in trees and grasses, the dining room’s Iksel mural was chosen to provide the type of drama this old home needed, according to Rhodes. “It really makes a statement as you transition through the home,” she adds. Citron Roman shades and upholstery add a zesty shot of fun.
LIVING ROOM
A custom sofa offers flexibility and seating aplenty.
The living room’s standout feature is a sprawling custom couch, finished in a plaid by Sandra Jordan. Fit for a crowd, Rhodes also tailored its unique orientation and height—it’s 20 inches at the seat, so you can place a dining table in front of it—to her client’s penchant for entertaining. “We wanted the room to ‘face’ the house and provide seating for as many people as possible, so that both kids and adults can pile into this room,” she adds.
POWDER ROOM
Yellow hues tie back into the nearby dining room.
Petite but impactful, the powder room is swathed in another vibrant House of Hackney wallpaper, with a vessel sink that seems to ground the drama and provide a bit of its own.
OFFICE
A versatile configuration offers work-from-home ease.
Located off the primary suite, this snug but functional space acts as an office for the homeowner, who is a real estate agent. An antique French trestle table holds pride of place, surrounded by more modern additions, like sleek white shelving.
GIRL’S ROOM
A now-defunct fireplace doubles as a charming focal point.
Designed by Rhodes to be “light, airy, and whimsical,” the daughter’s bedroom is a masterclass in traditional southern style, with an heirloom bed (it used to be Mom’s!) and sweet upholstery in Lee Jofa fabrics.
BOY’S ROOM
Twin beds offer flexibility for sibling sleepovers.
Anchored by a pair of twin beds that used to be Dad’s, this little boy's bedroom is whimsical enough for childhood but grown-up enough to transition as he ages.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
A tranquil palette of neutrals creates a calming retreat.
“The ceilings are so tall in the house, so a modern four poster bed feels right at home in here,” explains Rhodes, who chose an Oly Studio piece to bring drama to the restorative escape.
About the Designer
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Lindsay Rhodes has spent the past fifteen years honing her process to yield spaces that uniquely reflect each individual client. Her synergistic-like adaptability is evident in every space she transforms, developing completely customized and yet highly approachable homes.
