Are you looking for a free Kitchen Makeover?
Look Away! It’s Hideous!
Ah, the kitchen. It can be the centerpiece of the home — the place where folks congregate while the hostess whips up some savory goodness. And it can also be an eyesore if not revamped from time to time … a coat of paint here, a new appliance there. At last, a contest that can provide a complete overhaul for the most exhausted of kitchens. Behold, the Her Nashville Kitchen Facelift Contest presented by Mission Stone & Tile. To enter, spin your tale … show and tell all about your tired old kitchen. Is it the 70′s tile backsplash that makes you lose your appetite? Or perhaps it’s the faded and tattered linoleum (egads!) that stops you short of inviting guests over. Or could it be the ghastly color scheme that keeps you up at night? Whatever the reason, make the case for your disturbingly dismal kitchen, and you could be the lucky recipient of a kitchen makeover! That’s $4,450 worth of gift cards to use on everything from countertops to cabinet upgrades. To enter, log on to HerNashville.com, upload some pics of your kitchen in its current (hideous) state, and tell us why (aside from the visually obvious) you want and/or need a kitchen overhaul. You have until September 10 to enter; after that we’ll choose three finalists. From there, it’s up to the good folks who (and all the people you tell to) frequent HerNashville.com to vote (only once per day!) for the kitchen most in need. Grab your camera, send in your entry, and hope for the best. It can only get better, right? Enter here, and cast any questions to Christy Bryan over here. Good luck!
12South District – Community Restored & On a Mission
12South – The Neighborhood Mission Helped Build
Mission Stone & Tile’s Mary Elizabeth Hulsey makes her home in the überhip 12South district in Nashville. And when I say “makes” her home, I mean it quite literally. Mary Elizabeth invented the design of her house—outside and in—with her own creativity and respect for the vibrant patchwork quilt that is her neighborhood.
The lot upon which she now makes her home was formerly marked by a tattered eyesore of a house. Mary Elizabeth bought that house simply for the lot and location and summarily had it demolished (to the raucous cheers of her new neighbors). Then she worked with architect Stephen Wells to construct a new house that fits beautifully in the old neighborhood.
And then she set about to make that house a home.
Mary Elizabeth is an interior designer and owner of Mission Stone & Tile. So it’s no surprise she was able to feather her nest with sophisticated style, clean surfaces, artful details and tactile touches. Likewise the home’s exterior is creatively crafted and well-appointed—unassuming yet so inviting.
In 12South, it’s a “birds of a feather” scenario. Many of Mary Elizabeth’s neighbors take similar pride in home “making”. Most of the other homes in the district are original structures that have been given the TLC of meticulous renovations. A very walkable area bustling with eateries, coffee shops and boutiques, there’s always a steady flow of folks on foot, jogging, shopping, pushing strollers and interacting. It’s as if there’s always a neighborhood tour in progress.
From Mary Elizabeth’s investment in making a new home and others’ devoted, careful restorations to the blossoming of commerce and conveniences, 12South is a great example of “community restored.” The people who’re drawn to live here aren’t just buying into home ownership; they’re buying into the community—into the proximity to connectivity, the chance to be a part of something not contained in the square footage of a house.
It’s all about making a house a home and a neighborhood a true community.
If you live in Nashville, participate in the 12South Home Tour. It’s taking place Saturday, April 17th. Details and tickets are at www.12southtour.com.
