What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Perusing historic interiors and incredible gardens in a downtown neighborhood. Thank you to the homeowners who welcomed countless curious and appreciative strangers (and neighbors) into their homes. If you’re like me, admiringly nosy and interested in how folks arrange, decorate, and live in their homes and yards - this was a dream come true.

Open doors, inviting homeowners with stories to share, and thoughtful gardens in bloom. Isn’t it fun and inspiring to see how others live! I regretfully did not get to see each home and garden, but here’s a peek at what I did enjoy.

A few highlights & things I noticed during the home tour:

the way a home smelled, what scents i noticed (fresh florals and cozy candles)
where all the natural light was coming from (so MANY windows in these older homes)
an upstairs loft area converted into a primary suite (gotta be creative with converted attic space!)
the books on the shelf and the art on the walls (so much local art and amazing collections of books)
fresh flowers brightening up any space (from single stems to robust arrangements)
the original and intricate trim work (dark wood, painted trim, crown molding, staircase spindles and more)
lots of mantles and fireplaces (functional or not, they are visual statements)
creative storage in older homes (free standing shelves and hanging racks)
shadow boxes holding cherished child art (keep it neat, but keep it fun)
plants arranged with such intention (rows of flowers, healthy hostas, happy herbs, and more)
the crisp look of a fresh exterior paint job (clean lines and well chosen colors)

Want to see more?

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Inside of Knoxville’s blog post recapping the event. Thank you Knoxville Urban Guy for the lovely posts!