Filled with eclectic and industrial elements galore, the historic Werthan Lofts in Germantown offer a community where artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals meet the century-old narrative of classic Nashville architecture. Once a cotton mill, the majestic complex is now home to condominiums that juxtapose the original character with modern amenities and decor. One such condo, impeccably designed by interior designer Beth Haley and renovated in collaboration with contractor Tim Gwaltney, is both a tribute to the past and a celebration of the present.
Elements such as the original flooring mix with modern industrial-style features like these fixtures from Tech Lighting.
Boasting the original flooring, ductwork, and exposed brickwork, the roughly 1200-square-foot, one-level space is unique — it exists on the building’s ground floor. The two-bedroom, two-bath investment property is owned by one of Beth’s previous clients, whose personal residence happens to be right next door. “This condo was the second one that we did for [my clients], and it’s meant to be for their guests,” she tells us. “They have people coming back and forth for work because they have two company locations — Nashville and Houston. They needed a place for people to stay when they come into town for work, which has a lot to do with why we made certain design choices.”
A love for architecture and design drew these clients to the Werthan Lofts in the first place, so retaining the building’s historical character was of the utmost importance. Despite a significant remodel that included expanding the kitchen, renovating both bathrooms, adding a hallway, and moving a wall to create privacy for one of the bedrooms, Beth worked within the existing structure to maintain its integrity.
“Because I’ve worked with these clients before, and because this wasn’t their personal residence, they let me have free rein to do whatever I wanted stylistically. They didn’t give me a whole lot of parameters except that they wanted to have two private bedrooms and to improve the bathrooms — to elevate them and make them functional.” To create additional storage, Beth also redid the closets.
“We needed lots of storage,” says Beth. “That’s the reason the living room has so much of it — there’s a coat closet, a bar, and an entertainment piece that [doubles] as artwork because the ceilings are so high. The design for the living room was multipurpose. It created storage and architectural interest for the space.”
Soaring ceilings that are roughly 19 feet high offer an open, industrial ambiance.
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A mirror at the living room bar functions as a way for guests to glance at themselves before heading out the door. As a side benefit, the piece also adds lighting to the room through its reflection.
“Because it wasn’t going to be a personal residence, but rather more of a getaway, I wanted to have some drama,” explains Beth of the condo’s interior design aesthetic. “The kitchen was where I first started to get inspiration.” Once a dark, simple space, the kitchen is now functional with an emphasis on lighting. “One way to solve the challenges of not having a lot of light was to add a lot of light as part of the decor,” says Beth.
With that in mind, lighting fixtures and kitchen tile were two of the first items on Beth’s design agenda, as she worked to make thoughtful selections to spotlight the existing brick. “We wanted something that would highlight the brick and also contrast it at the same time,” she says. “We chose something dark and dramatic to give that pop and more of a graphic feel.” Using different colors for the cabinetry and installing quartz countertops also added to the artistry of the space.
Cabinetry and shelving break up the kitchen, while dark tile from Artistic Tile contrasts the light coming in from nearby courtyard-facing windows.
“The tile is a graphic punch that feels like an artist’s palette,” says Beth, “especially in the kitchen. It was fun to pull all of the finishes together.”
Gas utilities are unavailable at Werthan, so all of the condominiums boast either electric or induction ranges.
After nearly four months of renovation, the upgraded Werthan Loft is a beautifully transformed space. And while it was certainly no easy feat to work around exposed HVAC and architectural beams, it’s clear Beth’s prior experience in the building was helpful. “The contractor and I have both worked in this building on a couple of projects, so we know how to work [within the parameters],” she says. “And the fact that this is on the first floor means it has access to the basement, which made the renovation a lot easier.” From dramatic lighting to custom cabinetry, what a beautiful way to continue the Werthan Lofts legacy!
The master bathroom maximizes spaces with storage beneath the his-and-hers sinks, as well as built-in shelving over the bathtub.
A custom pattern in the guest bath offers a focal point to make the room feel more spacious.
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Beth collected items for a series of open-shelf vignettes in the hallway, including work by local artist Yuri Figueroa and a wooden bowl from the American Artisan Festival at Centennial Park. “There’s a little cubby that I think was originally a coat closet,” says Beth. “It was too small [to store anything], so we opened it up and made open shelving for visual interest.”
“The curved door was existing, and it goes into the guest closet,” says Beth of this elegant doorframe. “We had the doors custom made through Tim’s company.”
Special thanks to Caroline Sharpnack for the beautiful photography.
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