Rooted

REFRESH
A classic-style farmhouse in Tennessee is
infused with the character of its owner
in the form of both sentimental antique
pieces and contemporary accents that
reflect her bright personality.

I
n need of a change after her husband passed
away, Lucia Hillenmeyer found an ideal
community in The Grove, a neighborhood
just outside of Franklin, Tennessee, where she could
live comfortably with her two Aussies, foster her
avid golf hobby, and build the farmhouse filled
with antique treasures that she’d always dreamed
of—with the help of her go-to designer Connie
Vernich of Nashville-based Vernich Interiors.
“We have worked together over the last
20 years on three different homes,” Connie says.
“This new build is a classic Colonial-farmhouse
style. We seldom see a [true] farmhouse style
anymore. Everyone wants the modern-style farm
home, but this home exudes charm and character
from a bygone era. Over the years, Lucia has
collected some very beautiful antiques and has
a few pieces that her father built. Many of her
antiques are simple and primitive, so the interior
and exterior of this home meld perfectly.”
Lucia had a distinctive vision in mind for her
farmhouse, which began at the foundational level
with architectural features like exposed wood
beams, wallpaper and wainscoting pairings, and
eye-catching built-ins. “I’ve always wanted a
farmhouse without the rustic appearance,” she says.
“I would say my home is more of a farmhouse

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with an updated traditional look. I wanted to

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incorporate some family heirlooms and still have

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it feeling fresh.”

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 This diverse mix of furnishings and décor blends
elements of old and new and finds harmony across a
spectrum of blue and white warmed with rich wood
tones and brass details. “Lucia loves the color blue, but
because of her personality, I knew it had to be a bright
and cheerful blue,” Connie says.
According to Connie, the key to such a committed
color scheme is breaking it up with pattern, and they
incorporated many—florals, stripes, plaids, paisleys,
checks, and more. “Mixing these patterns was fun and
worked nicely because they are all in the same color
This is immediately evident in the entryway, where
an old wooden table built by Lucia’s father and a
skirted royal blue ottoman make a welcoming dynamic
duo. The dining room upholds the traditional tone
with a few fun inclusions like a floral wallpaper above
board-and-batten, a geometric-print rug that grounds
a neoclassical table setup, and a navy lacquer console
topped with an ornate heirloom mirror. “My favorite
piece in the room is the antique corner cupboard filled
with a collection of pewter and silver,” Connie says
of the fixture that was crafted from wood harvested

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family,” Connie explains. “The antiques in Lucia’s from Lucia’s family farm in Kentucky to create an

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home have beautiful walnut and natural cherry woods, exact replica of a cupboard her great-great-great-uncle

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and bright blue is the perfect contrast.” originally built.

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 Contrastingly, the library boasts the most daring
design in the home. Cloaked in a dramatic blue-gray
hue pulled from the room’s antique rug, an accent
wall is bordered with unique built-ins that house
books from Lucia’s childhood, passed-down family
pieces, and eclectic accessories ranging from her
father’s ukulele to contemporary knickknacks.
“The one room with strong color that stands out
from the rest of the home is the library,” Connie
says. “We added lots of texture and pattern to give
it a very warm and cozy feel. I love to add edgy
touches to a traditional room by bringing in art or
objects that are fun and modern.”

“Every room needs a little

surprise and something that
draws your eye from the subtle
touches. My work is usually
based on classical, tailored
ideas, but I don’t think you can
achieve a balance unless you
add something that stands out
and catches your eye.”
—CONNIE VERNICH

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 A light and airy ambience waits in
the living room, which leads directly
to the kitchen and breakfast room, and
with the open, easy flow between them,
several design elements echo across the
sprawling space. A few shades lighter
than the library, blue built-in bookshelves
in the living room mirror the tint of
the kitchen island, and sheer draperies
with an abstract cobalt print imbue a
softening sense of whimsy throughout.
The classic white kitchen is clean-lined
and functional, but meaningful artwork,
like an oil painting of Lucia’s family
farm, and vintage brass accents instill
warmth.

A plush velvet ottoman grounds the living

room with the beautiful French blue shade
that appears throughout the space and in
the adjacent breakfast room and kitchen.
A large chandelier made of raffia imbues a
contemporary touch above the breakfast
table. “We wanted something that was
fun and casual, and you can get away with
an oversize light fixture when you have a
round table,” Connie says. They opted for
a more traditional aesthetic in the kitchen
with a few special inclusions. “One of my
favorite pieces is the antique oil painting

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over the hood,” Connie says of the work

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they displayed with Lucia’s collection of

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brass candlesticks, which bring warm

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notes to crisp white cabinetry and quartz

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countertops.

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 “We continued the blue in this room, but
grayed it down quite a bit to give the room
a softer and more quiet feel,” Connie says
of the peaceful primary bedroom. A mix
of textures and materials adds interest to
the muted scheme, from small details like
velvet banding on the draperies to distinctive
fixtures like the carved marble lamps that
belonged to Lucia’s mother.

The bedrooms resume the blue-and-white

motif but with a more tranquil approach using gray
undertones. “Blues can be very intense or very quiet,
and in this case, we were leaning toward the quieter,
calming color palette,” Connie says. Bed frames
spanning walnut and iron lend depth, while Oriental
rugs pull in restrained yet enriched background color.
Through every thoughtful space, Connie worked
to keep her client at the heart of the design, and
the result is a home perfectly tailored to its owner.
“[What] stands out about this home [is] Lucia and
her vibrant personality and collections from family that
make this home uniquely hers and uniquely Lucia,”
Connie says. “I want people to walk in and say, ‘I
knew your house would look like this. It’s so you!’”

TEXT BY ELIZABETH CZAPSKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAIGE RUMORE

(Top right) Connie says they took a chance on a bold

Thibaut pattern on the walls of this small powder room,
and it paid off. “The wallpaper’s larger print gave the
room a more expansive feel. Its narrow mirror accentuates

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the brass fixtures,” Connie says of the contrasts in scale

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they used to achieve a memorable look. (Left) The guest

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bedroom is brimming with charm that makes it the perfect

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retreat for grandchildren. “This is one of the sweetest

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rooms we have done,” Connie says.

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