My Houzz: Charming Converted Barn Loft Outside Nashville
A one-bedroom apartment in a former Tennessee horse stable sports chic equestrian style
Jordana Nicholson
May 16, 2016
Houzz Contributor. I'm a digital content creator and stylist living in Nashville, Tennessee, with handsome graphic designer husband. You can find me in the kitchen, always cooking up something yummy, rearranging furniture, thrifting/antiquing at my favorite shops and exploring beautiful Tennessee on the weekends. I'm a sucker for good home design and can't wait to go all out on our own place someday. For now, we love life in our little 2-bedroom, 1-bath bungalow rental.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a digital content creator and stylist living in Nashville,... More
This old horse barn in eastern Tennessee received a major face-lift that incorporated a beautiful loft apartment. The barn is at Bloomsbury Farm, which is owned by the Palmer family, and the inhabitants of the loft are Teresa and Myron Palmer, who are living here while their forever home is being built down the road. “We added on the loft to the existing barn to create a living space that could later be used by others,” Teresa says. The barn used to be a working horse stable where the couple’s daughter, Lauren Palmer, learned to ride and boarded her horse. As such, it has great sentimental value to the Palmers, who were overjoyed to be able to make the interior warm and inviting with bits and pieces of country-equestrian charm sprinkled throughout.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Teresa and Myron Palmer
Location: Bloomsbury Farm, Smyrna, Tennessee
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Plenty of seating and beautiful accessories make the open living area feel cozy and inviting. Lofts can be tricky to decorate and often feel sparse, but the couple filled the space with meaningful treasures using a palette of mostly natural materials and neutral tones. “The furniture and accessories came from our lifetime of collecting antiques and natural products,” Teresa says.
The reclaimed-wood floors are incredibly durable and tie the design together.
Sofa: Restoration Hardware; black leather armchair and stool, antique butcher-block table and coffee table: Peter Nappi; hutch: Found Home
Who lives here: Teresa and Myron Palmer
Location: Bloomsbury Farm, Smyrna, Tennessee
Size: 600 square feet (55.7 square meters); one bedroom, one bathroom
Plenty of seating and beautiful accessories make the open living area feel cozy and inviting. Lofts can be tricky to decorate and often feel sparse, but the couple filled the space with meaningful treasures using a palette of mostly natural materials and neutral tones. “The furniture and accessories came from our lifetime of collecting antiques and natural products,” Teresa says.
The reclaimed-wood floors are incredibly durable and tie the design together.
Sofa: Restoration Hardware; black leather armchair and stool, antique butcher-block table and coffee table: Peter Nappi; hutch: Found Home
A small table nestles between the seating, offering a handy spot to set a book or glass.
Leather armchair: Peter Nappi; side table lamp and indigo pillows: Found Home
Leather armchair: Peter Nappi; side table lamp and indigo pillows: Found Home
The living space opens directly to the kitchen. “There was no loft space; we removed the roof and built up the square footage to create what we have now,” Teresa says. The renovation was a family affair, and everything was done without outside help.
Charming vintage finds, weathered pendant lights and rustic knickknacks make themselves right at home in this corner of the kitchen.
High ceilings and big windows bring in natural light and keep the loft feeling open and airy. The kitchen design was kept simple with just one main countertop. “The appliances and soapstone countertops were definitely splurges,” Teresa says. She loves how easy they are to look after and that they make such a statement in the bright white kitchen.
Countertops: Werthan; pendant lights: Serenite Maison
Countertops: Werthan; pendant lights: Serenite Maison
Behind a reclaimed-wood door lies a laundry room that is right off the master bedroom, making that chore a bit easier. The couple made the door using wood found on Bloomsbury Farm. “We love the efficiency of this loft space,” Teresa says. “Cleaning is a breeze with only 600 square feet.”
The bathroom boasts a beautiful blend of rustic and natural materials. One of Teresa’s favorite features is the custom limestone sink. The vanity is a vintage cabinet that the couple repurposed.
Sink: Natchez Stone; vanity: Serenite Maison
Sink: Natchez Stone; vanity: Serenite Maison
The beautiful wooden mirror is a find from Found Home.
The couple’s favorite room in the loft is the bedroom. “Essentially it’s one big space with a closet and barn-door laundry room, but when you sleep in the bedroom space, you feel like you are in a treehouse surrounded by the stars at night,” Teresa says. The floor-to-ceiling windows bring in plenty of natural light and provide a view over acres of east Tennessee farmland.”
Leather headboard: Peter Nappi; bedding: Pom Pom at Home; leather armchair: Mother’s Antique; sconces: Circa Lighting; small side table: Serenite Maison; bedside table: Peter Nappi
Leather headboard: Peter Nappi; bedding: Pom Pom at Home; leather armchair: Mother’s Antique; sconces: Circa Lighting; small side table: Serenite Maison; bedside table: Peter Nappi
The couple really wanted the loft design to reflect the equestrian theme that the barn had always had. Teresa achieved the look by incorporating rustic country touches throughout, especially in the bedroom. The headboard was once an old leather mat. Teresa loves how this one design feature helps characterize the space.
Mirror: Mother’s Antique; dresser: Peter Nappi
Mirror: Mother’s Antique; dresser: Peter Nappi
Several paintings by artist and family friend David Arms adorn the interiors of buildings on Bloomsbury Farm. For the loft, Teresa chose to keep most of the walls clean and simple, but the entryway deserved something special. The jolt of black in Arms’ painting against the stark white shiplap makes a statement in this open space.
Iron chandelier: Jason Bell
Iron chandelier: Jason Bell
A rustic farm door frames the loft foyer. Metal pegs that were original to the barn’s wash stalls were repurposed as a clever way to hang hats and jackets.
Barn door: Jason Bell
Barn door: Jason Bell
The stalls in the lower level of the barn are still in good shape. “We plan use the space as a B&B someday. Guests will be able to bring their own horses as well,” Teresa says.
Outside the barn, a rustic seat offers views of the farm and surrounding area.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Love the article! The reclaimed wood floor is really neat! Love everything about the transformed barn! Great job!
That is a great article! Love it when people do that to older barns to make it livable and keep the animals invited. Do like the flooring there also. Nice job and hope your B&B works out for you!
Ken