A Sneak Peek at Nashville’s FLOWER Magazine Showhouse!
FLOWER Magazine brought its Designer Showhouse to Nashville, enlisting 23 top design firms to transform a Belle Meade estate into an inspiring showcase of artistry. Get a sneak peek here, and make plans to visit the house for yourself — it's only open until Sunday, October 26! Image: Leslee Mitchell
This October, FLOWER Magazine brings its celebrated Designer Showhouse to Nashville for the first time, and it’s one of the city’s most inspiring design events of the year! The publication enlisted 23 acclaimed interior design firms to reimagine the interiors of a grand Belle Meade estate, transforming each room into a reflection of artistry, innovation, and elegance.
Every detail left me in awe, from the thoughtfully layered china and exquisite floral pairings to the sheer artistry woven into every element of the home’s renovation. Take a look around!
The Grounds
Set on six scenic acres, the showhouse has a winding quarter-mile drive that leads to a 20,000-square-foot residence newly renovated by Nashville-based architectural firm Pfeffer Torode and Maker Construction. Originally built in 1999, the six-bedroom, 11-bath estate offered the perfect blank canvas for the participating designers to showcase their visions.
Beyond its interiors, the property’s charm extends outdoors with manicured landscaping by Nashville firm Kaiser Trabue, a two-stall barn, and private riding trails.
The home’s many highlights include a chef’s kitchen with scullery and wood-burning fireplace, dual primary suites, a salon with an adjoining wet bar, a paneled study, and a formal dining room with a butler’s pantry. Outside, a screened-in porch with a stone fireplace overlooks a waterfall pool and cabana — a breathtaking Southern retreat where design and nature converge.
The Creative Team
At the helm of this year’s showhouse are some of the design industry’s most respected names. FLOWER magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Margot Shaw appointed Alexa Hampton as Honorary Chair, Corey Damen Jenkins as Design Chair, and Charlotte Moss and Ray Booth as Showhouse Ambassadors.
True to FLOWER’s botanical DNA, Floral Designer Ariella Chezar joined the team as Floral Chair, collaborating with florists from all over to weave nature-inspired charm throughout the home. “The FLOWER magazine designer showhouse celebrates talent from nearly all corners of the United States,” Margot tells us. “It’s an interactive experience that brings the beauty of our brand to life and provides our audience with interior, entertaining, and floral ideas they can incorporate at home.”
Among the roster of world-class talent, seven designers call Nashville home: Eric Ross, Rachel Halvorson, Amanda Khouri, Blair Parkes & Susan Lamb, Lynde Easterlin, and Alexandra Norwood. Local floral artistry is equally celebrated, with standout work from The Tulip Tree, Ostara Gardens, Lillian’s Floral Studio, Chelsea Robinson Interiors, and Anna Lisa Design.
While certain trends caught our eye, the true magic of the showhouse is in experiencing all 23 rooms firsthand. Each space offers its own distinct story. Keep scrolling for a sneak peek, and get all the details you need to see the showhouse for yourself!
Florals, Florals & More Florals
Statement Wallcoverings
Equally captivating are the textural wallcoverings that adorn many of the spaces. From grasscloth to hand-painted and woven materials, each application brings depth and warmth to the interiors, echoing the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape just beyond the windows.
Look Up!
Throughout the showhouse, your eye will continually be drawn upward, and with good reason — ceilings and upper walls play a defining role in the home’s visual narrative, offering moments of contrast and cohesion, from the salon and bar designed by Mark D. Sikes Interiors to the upstairs sitting area by Mackin Thompson. The result? A masterclass in spatial composition, where ceiling treatments become both a design statement and a unifying element.
Striking Color Palettes & Whimsical Details
This year’s showhouse is all about colorful sophistication. Through vibrant, jewel-toned palettes and imaginative details, designers prove that color is the heart of inspired living. Ellen Kavanaugh’s Palm Beach Cabana dazzles with saturated hues and coastal elegance, while Janie Molster’s eclectic Family Room layers bold stripes and sculptural touches for a modern sensibility.
One of the most delightfully unexpected moments appears in Rebecca Gardner’s scullery and pantry, where fête-ready tones, intricate patterns, and whimsical details (including handmade “silken corn” crafted from pearl kernels) transform the practical into the poetic, reminding us that good design always leaves room for whimsy.
Serene Escapes
Amid the showhouse’s floral-forward rooms, several designers introduced moments of calm. Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters transformed the pool lounge into a serene retreat, balancing ornate wallpaper and statement lighting with muted hues, natural fibers, and artwork inspired by the African-American experience.
Upstairs, Sean Anderson’s library offers contemplative elegance with ceiling-height custom bookcases that blend function and craftsmanship. At the same time, Tara Shaw’s living room marries traditional and contemporary motifs for a new-world-meets-old-world feeling.
See it for yourself!
The showhouse is open from Thursday, October 9, through Sunday, October 26. You can tour the estate on Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (The house is closed Monday through Wednesday).
Tickets are $50, and children 11 and under, strollers, and pets are not permitted. Tickets are non-refundable and valid only for the selected date and time. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefits The Next Door Recovery, a Nashville-based organization that provides life-changing care and treatment to empower women in recovery.
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Anne Marie Hanna
An Ole Miss alum residing in Nashville, Anne Marie is passionate about telling the stories shaping the South. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her on a porch with a coffee and a good book, gardening, listening to music, or enjoying time with friends and family.