It's all in the details: A downtown home tour

After having lived in their awesome apartment for about 2 years, Crista and Liam have hit the sweet spot--settling into a space that feels uniquely "them" and easy to enjoy. After living in South Knoxville while in grad school, they made the switch to downtown dwelling and haven't looked back. Crista loves the excitement of downtown living where you can walk or ride your bike to endless shops and restaurants, walk or ride the trolley to work, and can always find something to do in close proximity. After a year and a half living in the Firestreet Lofts, they moved to The JFG building which was home to a former coffee roasting business and feel like it's the perfect fit. Initially, it seemed that not having a yard was the only downside to living downtown but Crista and Liam now have a plot in the Old City Gardens where they are part of an awesome community of downtown dwellers and business owners that grow their own produce and herbs just down the street. Crista and Liam have been very intentional and thoughtful about the purchases they have made over the years and have learned that when you live downtown in a smaller space, you have to get serious about what you love and what is just taking up space. "We've found that buying things for the person you want to become,if you are not in the process of becoming that person, just leads to regretted purchases." Purchasing items that you love and that serve a practical purpose in your current space and life will keep you from the spontaneous buys that clutter up your home.

Crista and Liam's home & style philosophy is based on the quote below:

“The details are not the details, they make the design.”

— Charles Eames

In reference to the quote, they add that it's honestly a sentiment you can apply across your whole life. Whether in reference to work, attire, or home decor, in each area the details make up the whole. Paying attention to the small things makes the big picture so much better!

Living Room

Dining area

How would you describe your style of decorating?
I wouldn't necessarily put my style into a category— it's more of an approach. I’ve always been interested in interior decorating. Even as a child I loved looking at decor magazines and always had a file of clippings pulled from various places. I was always dreaming about ideas and re configurations. Functionality of space is really important in decorating— it has to drive how you fill a space. It can be a big challenge living down town with little closet space and small kitchens etc. We are slow to buy things and always take into account the quality of an item. We like to mix and match lots of different styles and era’s of furniture for a more unique look. We want to buy things that are not disposable— things we intend to keep for a long time. One of the things we really pay attention to in order to make sure things stay cohesive is color— we gravitate towards blues and grays with pops of red. We try to buy used or antique furniture and decor except for big investment pieces like our bed. We are always willing to wait longer to save up for items we really love and cherish. A few of Crista and Liams favorite local treasure troves are Mid Mod Collective and Willow Creek Antiques.

Master Bath

You have some really amazing pieces in your home, what is your relationship to your belongings?
Neither of us are super sentimental. The only things that we couldn't part with are family heirlooms. We have tried to do a good job with not attaching too many memories with “stuff”. Everything in our home has a function or a significance and we love it all but we aren’t tied to it in a way that allows it to have control or ownership over us. That being said, we have a few favorite items that would be hard to let go of. When Liam was born he was gifted a set of Silver ware from his grandparents with a really unique "H" monogram. (Liam's last name is Hysjulien) It's a beautiful set that we only use on special occasions. We try and form traditions around the items we love most. Another of our favorite possessions is our marriage certificate. We had everyone in attendance sign it saying that they would support our union and observed our marriage. It's a constant reminder that we have a wonderful community supporting us along the way.

Painting by Earnest Lee

Liam and Crista's marriage certificate

Purchased at Lox at a First Friday Art Sale

Do you have any collections?
Baskets, dishes, and trays. We are very into corralling things to so that our surfaces remain clutter free. We definitely aren't minimialists which can sometimes feel sterile but we've found that clutter can be physically and emotionally overwhelming so we try to keep things simple. We love that our home feels lived in and representative of who we are.

Do you have a favorite piece in your home? Does our cat;Panda count? Favorite Room? Our bedroom. We have these amazing giant windows that make our room feel like an urban tree house.

Panda the cat in the master bedroom

Crista and Liam in front of the avocado tree that they grew from a sprouted pit 11 years ago when they first started dating.

What is your favorite thing about your home/why do you love your home?
 Truely--Who we share it with! Aside from that, It feels like the right space for our needs. The windows and the natural light are pretty incredible as well. We also love the high ceilings and the openness of the floor plan.

Guest Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

What does home mean to you?
We are home bodies so we spend a lot of time here. It has always been important to us that our home feels comfortable and happy to be in.

When people come into your home, what do you hope they feel?
I hope they feel how we feel— relaxed, cozy, and calm. We want the space to be used and enjoyed; comfortable. We love that our space is easy to rearrange and make conducive for all kinds of events.

Entryway

How is your home an extension of yourself or of your family?
Our home is definitely a collaborative outcome. We’ve thought about everything that occupies space here and both have really enjoyed the process of curating an apartment that feels true to us. A lot of our belongings are representative of specific trips and memories. It’s a space that we genuinely feel satisfied with.

Floor plan: 1100sq ft (2bd/2bth) Source

Interested in where certain items are from? See the purchase list below. A big thank you to Crista and Liam for opening up their home and sharing their journey!

Master Bedroom

• Bed: Room and Board

• Duvet Cover: School House Supply & Electric Co

• Sconces: Urban Outfitters (similar here)

• Painting: Katie Zickefoose

• Wooden Side Table: Antique Outlet Mall in Townsend

• Kantha Quilt: Indio in Durham, NC

• Large wardrobe: Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville, NC

• Mirrored Dresser: Antique Hand-Me-Down

Master Bathroom

• Chicken Art by Ernest Lee, folk artist in Columbia, SC

Spare Bedroom/Bike Room

Iron Bed: Goodwill (modified for structural support at Ironwood Studios)

• Lamps: Rivermill Antique Mall in Townsend (rewired and shades from Calloway’s)

• Square Table: Also from Rivermill Antique Mall

• Martha Washington Sewing Cabinet: Blair House Antiques

• Blue Pillow: Citizen Supply in Atlanta, GA

• Wooden Shelf: Salvaged, as in literally picked up from the side of the road

• Black and White Photo: Kudzu Antiques in Decatur, GA

• Dolly Parton Print: Haypeep (was part of the SGC International printmaking conference held in Knoxville in 2015)

Entryway

• Metal Cabinet: Salvaged

• Yellow Dresser: IKEA

• Bookshelves: IKEA

• Rug: Antique Hand-Me-Down

• Chicken Art by Ernest Lee, folk artist in Columbia, SC

Living Room/Kitchen

• Couch: Room and Board

• Record Holder: Mid Mod Collective

• Rug: IKEA (similar here)

• Coffee Table: Abode (used to be on Market Square)

• Side Table and Long-Armed Lamp: Design By Conran Line at JC Penney

• Lamp with Beige Shade: Etsy

• Red Book Shelf: Antique

• Bar Cart: Friends Antiques

• Cat house: Amazon

• Table and Chairs: West Elm

• Beige Chair: West Elm (similar here)

• Basket: Max Studio

• Navy Floral Chair: Retrospective Vintage Store

• Black and White Print: UT Print Sale, Allegedly by Jack Neely

• Bergen Print: Antique

• Hutch: Antique Hand-Me-Down

• Kitchen Side Shelf: West Elm

• Kitchen Island: Coldstream Market

• Tablecloth: Etsy

• Semi-Circle Wooden Cabinet: Uptown Market Antiques, Wilmington, NC

"Mi Casa Es Su Casa" : Home Tour with Becky Hancock

This month Help You Dwell sat down with Becky Hancock to get her two cents about creating a home and the process of bringing old things back to life.

Steve and Becky bought their historic home in June of 2004 and have taken on several projects and renovations to make it their own.

One of their favorite projects to date is their kitchen. Using vintage 1950's metal cabinets rescued from a tear down of another building, a kitchen table that belonged to Becky's grandmother, and a light fixture that Becky found at The Salvage Shop, as the style reference, they were able to formulate a plan for a retro kitchen design. In a record breaking 7 weeks, (with front end loading) they totally redid their kitchen and ended up with an absolute gem.

Upon walking into the house you feel a mixed sense of walking back in time (or down memory lane) and feeling totally at home. No doubt, the items chosen in the Hancock home evoke a sense of nostalgia to everyone who comes by. Becky's decorating and home making philosophy stems from the fact that she is drawn to things that represent a happy memory; things that remind her of people, old times, or things that tell stories. Because of this, she is naturally drawn to vintage items. Every item I asked about during the tour had a story behind it and naturally served as a conversation starter. Along with nostalgic items, it's clear that both Steve and Becky are musicians and long time music lovers by the instruments and music paraphernalia that also adorn the home.

Dining Room built-in

Master bathroom extension

Dining room

Old family photos throughout the house create a kind of "walking photo album" cataloging multiple generations.

When asked about living in a downtown neighborhood, Becky explained that her time living in New York created in her an appreciation for living near people of all different nationalities and walks of life. The downtown neighborhoods in Knoxville provide a diversity that much of the city doesn't offer.  Becky talked fondly about getting to know many of her neighbors and the value in building community with all kinds of people. Aside from being able to walk downtown and being close to work, Becky loves old homes and loves being able to be a part of restoring the home she and Steve own.

Becky and Steve Hancock

Becky and Steve are hospitality driven and have opened their home multiple times to friends and family who need a place to call home for various seasons of life. In the spirit of hospitality, Becky says her philosophy of home is "Mi casa es su casa. I want people to feel at home when they are here, that our house is always open; a safe, welcoming, authentic space when you need it."

Thanks Becky and Steve for showing us around your beautiful home!

Downtown Knoxville's "Elvis Artist" Dwelling : Home Tour with Mark Burns

If you have ever taken a walk down Gay Street in Knoxville, Tennessee, you have probably noticed the larger than life mural of Elvis. We had the opportunity to sit down with the artist, Mark Burns, and his wife Lorraine to talk with them about downtown dwelling and what home means to them.

Mark and Lorraine always told themselves that once the kids grew up and the dog moved along, they would make the move to downtown living. Three years ago they jumped on the opportunity and haven’t looked back. Lorraine says they have never regretted the move.
When we walked into the Burns home we immediately felt at ease. No doubt a combination of easy going personalities and a tasteful yet casual atmosphere create that feeling.

We began our conversation wondering what their decorating process looks like. We so appreciated Lorraine’s practicality when she started off talking about making wise purchases and not jumping on the trends. Lorraine describes their style as more traditional. With Mark’s art thrown into the mix, the space takes on a personality of it’s own. The Burns’ loft has tons of beautiful exposed brick with large windows giving them a great eastern view. Lorraine pointed out several pieces in their home that have been passed down from multiple generations of family. “Changing up your accessories and rearranging furniture makes it easier to feel like you have freshened up your space without going out and spending tons of money on new things.”

One of the things the Burns love most about downtown living is the community they have found. They love being able to walk out the door and run into friends. The Burns specifically love the diverse group of people that live in their building: The Phoenix. Mark and Lorraine spoke of spontaneous “porch parties” where residents congregate on the patio right outside the lobby on Gay Street. Mark describes downtown living as a different kind of social opportunity. “Lorraine and I will take a few drinks down to the patio and before you know it, 8 more people have joined us.”

The original Elvis Eyes

“My art has always been about “speaking community. There has always been debate about the purpose of art. Many people think art is about making a statement but to me, I just love hearing the conversation that art sparks. I don’t care about making a statement, I just paint what I like and watch how it impacts people differently.”

— Mark Burns

Mark uses the patio space as more than a social gathering spot, he frequently sets up shop to paint or sketch on the patio in the open air. In late high school, Mark was offered both a football and an art scholarship to the University of Tennessee. Mark accepted the football scholarship and majored in art. After an illustrating job in Atlanta and some freelance work, Mark found that he preferred the freedom of making art on his own time and picking his own subjects. He has made art for his own enjoyment rather than as his full time job for the past several years. Mark has gravitated towards pop art for as long as he can remember. He commented that he started out airbrushing t shirts the night before the Worlds Fair opened in Knoxville and over the next several weeks and months became quite accomplished. After putting art away for many years, he has, in more recent years been enjoying creating art for the public. “The Elvis mural really seemed to connect with people. I love seeing people stop to take pictures with the mural. Outside art is communal, it brings people together. My art has always been about “speaking community”. There has always been a debate about the purpose of art. Many people think art is about making a statement but to me, I just love hearing the conversation that art sparks. I don’t care about making a statement, I just paint what I like and watch how it impacts people differently.”

Mark painting out on the patio in front of the original Elvis mural

In the same way that Mark creates art, we love the idea of creating a home that you like,  and not being concerned with making some kind of statement. If you love the space you live in every day, you’ve created a home that is rightfully a work of art.