Nick and Rebecca Cazana. Nick, who was strutting around like a proud father, is the proprietor of The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel & Residences. But he prefers to call himself simply “the innkeeper.” (The blue footies, provided on-site, are required for all who take the tour.)
Every year, the Knoxville Symphony League typically selects a brand new 5,500-square-foot home, usually on the water, and invites an assortment of interior designers to decorate its various rooms. Called the Symphony Designer ShowHouse, tours of the home are one of the League’s largest fundraisers of the year.
Folks love to go through the tricked-out home looking for good ideas and shopping in the creative gift shop, which usually is set up in the home’s three-car garage.
But, this year, the ShowHouse has moved in from the suburbs. It is set up in three residences located on the sixth floor of the stunning Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel & Residences , which is at the corner of Henley Street and Clinch Avenue across the street from the Knoxville Convention Center and the Sunsphere.
You’ve got to see it. Designers from Laws Interiors, Bennett Galleries, Bill Cox Furniture, Westwood Antique & Design Market, Ethan Allen and Gail Gamble Reed Trends and Traditions have outdone themselves making each residence unique and doing everything possible to showcase the fantastic views afforded of World’s Fair Park, the downtown skyline, the mountains and the University of Tennessee.
A few gift shop offerings.
A fourth residence is set up as the Symphony League’s events room and gift shop where a series of fun activities, including musical performances, lectures, classes and even wine glass painting, are available. Click here for a schedule.
So, long story short, you’ve got to get downtown for this fabulous experience. Grab lunch at one of the many downtown eateries before or after your visit or settle in to the tasty nibbles and sips at The Drawing Room, located on the second floor of The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel.
The ShowHouse is open every weekend in April. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is just $20.
These photos were taken last week at a preview party the evening before the ShowHouse opened. (Disclosure: I am on the board of the Knoxville Symphony and The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel & Residences is a Moxley Carmichael client.)
The great room in Residence 605 designed by Bill Cox Furniture’s Jeffrey Hansen.
Alan Carmichael, left, with Terry and Rachel Ford, the executive director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Jane and Doug McCarty, president of McCarty Holsaple McCarty, the architects who transformed the former state office building into the beautiful Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel & Residences.
Doug and Vicky Kennedy. Doug is CEO of Johnson & Galyon, the construction firm on The Tennessean.
Sharon Cottrell, left, with Linda Royston.
The dining and great room of Residence 600 designed by Ginger Dockery, Will Grubbs, Paul Law and Bryon Valentine of Laws Interiors.
Paul Law at the bar in the kitchen of Residence 600.
Is this the coolest backsplash ever?
The second bedroom in Residence 600 was transformed into a warm study by Laws Interiors.
From left, Marga McBride, Constantine and Morena Constantinou, and Jay McBride.
Mark and Cathy Mamantov, left, with Susan and Mike Bacon.
Christy and Jeff Lee.
This chandelier by glass artist Richard Jolley was a showstopper in Residence 604 designed by Bennett Galleries.
Here’s a closer view of the cherub riding a dove.
From left, Cathy Hill, Richard Jolley, Jay McBride, Tommie Rush and Mark Hill.
From left, Scott Bird and Maria McHale, both of Moxley Carmichael, with attorney John Winemiller, our friend and client.
Also in Residence 604 is this piece by artist Andy Saftel called “Water and Stars.” It’s priced at $10,000.
Robert Shipley of Bennett Galleries and Bebe Vogel.
Meanwhile, at the party …
A Knoxville Symphony quartet performed in the fading sunlight. From left, Sean Claire, Zofia Glashauser, Stacy Nickell and Eunsoon Lee-Corliss.
Caprese shots.
Stuffed mushrooms.
Frank and Jane Venable with Pat Jobe, at right.
Nancy Weigel, left, with Gail Jarvis.
From left, Pat Jobe, Gina Buffum and Elizabeth Koester, Designer ShowHouse chairman.
Julia Bentley, left, and Pamela Chips.
Lisa Lowe, left, and Holly Watkins.
From left, Debbie Emery, Erma Prather and Lewis Brewer.
From left, Cathy Briscoe, Amber Mullins and Mary Sue Greiner.
Bette and Richard Bryan, left, with Sharon and Bill Laing.
Atie and Bill Rotmeyer.
You can pick up a beautiful Patricia Nash handbag at the gift shop.
Or, some lavender.
Or a myriad of other treats.
Lin and Steve Oglesby were staffing the gift shop when we visited.
Don’t miss this!
The residences are simply stunning. I hope lots of people go see them this month.
It was so exciting to see “urban” living and how the designers used the spaces. It truly had an energy and a very cosmopolitan feel with the amazing vistas and a blending of classic and contemporary styles— and these are much roomier than a lot of residences we’ve visited in “New York City”. Even the hallways have beautiful art pieces of different genres. Don’t miss this opportunity to see lovely in-town living! Bravo to the designers!
Gay and Bette: Great seeing you both there. It was so much fun, wasn’t it? I think I just have to go back, have a drink and nibble in the Drawing Room, and then tour the whole thing again!
I went Tuesday night. It was fabulous. I would be happy to live there.
Cynthia, thank you for this lovely write up! I think everyone agrees this year’s ShowHouse is stunning and not to be missed!
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