Driving into Thompson’s Station, I’m struck by its serenity. It’s Nashville-adjacent but lacks the hurriedness of city life. There are no cranes or skyscrapers or pedal taverns in sight. It’s one of those suburban gems that makes an indelible impression — rolling hills, horse farms, and winding, tree-lined roads.
And now, it has even more magic to offer: The Shed at Patina Meadow, a recently opened gathering space for everything from farm experiences and foraging to classes and harvest dinners. If you have lofty dreams of a farmstead with goats and gardens and the works, you’ll love this place. Take a look around!
The Shed has been a longstanding dream for Velvet & Linen’s influential design maven, Brooke Giannetti — but that’s not to say it didn’t take a village. She moved to Nashville in October 2022 with her husband (architect Steve Giannetti) and their daughter Leila, a support system of friends devoted to maintaining the integrity of their future dream property, and a menagerie of animals, including cows, goats, pigs, and donkeys.
It has been a collaborative effort, to say the least.
On a visit to the family’s farm, Patina Meadow, you’re likely to meet a number of its inhabitants. You might score a chat with Leila about her biodynamically grown herbs and vegetables, gain some design inspiration from Brooke, or discuss pottery-making with Kerri Meeks (who is also the incredible on-site chef!). It’s a warm, welcoming community of like-minded nature enthusiasts and preservationists.
“The Shed is located on Patina Meadow, our family farm, surrounded by our flower and produce garden,” says Brooke. “You’ll also catch a glimpse of our sweet farm animals grazing in the pastures beyond our log house. Although we are in the country, we are also conveniently located just 10 minutes south of Historic Leipers Fork and less than 25 minutes south of Franklin.”
A walk along the path to The Shed takes you through the Bloomerie, Leila’s labor of love — a lush and perfectly landscaped space brimming with sun-ripened fruits, hearty vegetables, delicate herbs, and interspersed with colorful flowers. There’s even a stone table where you can sit and soak up the peaceful vibes as you watch butterflies flutter by.
The Giannetti’s first Nashville-area venture was Patina Home & Garden in Leipers Fork — a charming storefront dedicated to rustic home goods, European antiques, French artisan pottery, and even a farm shop offering produce and goods from local vendors. While they didn’t move to Nashville from California with a retail shop on their agenda, it was the perfect way to begin cultivating community.
From there, they expanded — renovating an old log cabin into their family home, then adding greenhouses and The Shed venue once they settled in. It’s an impressive undertaking, but at the end of the day, it’s about embracing a more straightforward way of life, an appreciation for nature, and community. “We all want to reconnect with a simpler and slower lifestyle,” Brooke told guests during her welcome speech on The Shed’s opening night.
So, what can you do at The Shed? If the grand opening event was any indication of what’s to come, there’s no shortage of exciting, nature-driven programming on the way.
The inaugural evening featured a canning class from Chelsea J. O’Leary, founder of Wiley Canning Company, along with a beekeeping demonstration from Steven Abernathy and Claire Papavies of Greenwood Honey Co. (One thing is for sure: I’ll think twice before ever buying another plastic honey bear from the grocery store!)
You can expect plenty of upcoming classes from these educators as The Shed releases its schedule for the remainder of the year.
Future programming includes food preservation, lessons on medicinal herbs, and everything in between. There’s even a fully equipped pottery studio with seven pottery wheels and a firing kiln. “We expect our farm experiences to evolve as we spend more time together,” Brooke tells us. “We know that forest walks, natural farm animal care, and various homesteading skills are subjects we want to explore with our community.”
The Shed is the culmination of a lot of dreaming and planning. “Our goal to create a gathering space was actually one of our main motivations for moving,” says Brooke. “After we started giving tours of our farm in California, we wanted to expand our community outreach to include classes and other interactive elements to strengthen our connection. However, we soon discovered that was not possible in our neighborhood. Around this same time, we really started considering a move to Tennessee … and soon discovered our dream would be possible here. We are so excited to finally open the doors to this space that has been so many years in the making.”
Looking to plan a visit? Visit patinahomeandgarden.com for more information on upcoming classes and events.
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