Be Still, Our Country Hearts: This Mississippi Barn Is the Stuff of Dreams
Designed for hosting friends and family (up to 30 at a time!), this rustic-meets-refined Mississippi retreat proves rough-hewn doesn't have to mean roughing it.
Jessica Carnell loves throwing big parties; her husband, Kevin, lives to hunt—two activities that are difficult to pull off from their one-bedroom digs in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.
So the couple began dreaming up plans for a weekend escape that would provide plenty of outdoor space to both hunt and gather. "Our original idea was to buy a few hundred acres and build a small container home," says Jessica.
But in January 2013, when friends decided to sell 170 acres of their 500- acre property located an hour from Memphis, it was an offer the Carnells couldn't resist. "We loved the idea of being so close to our friends, and buying this land meant we could build the kind of house we truly wanted—something we could open up to guests," says Jessica.
First, though, they had to focus on design, and for that they looked to Doug Enoch, the Memphis architect behind (serendipitously named) ACRE restaurant. Well, they looked to Doug and to Mother Nature. "It was important to us that the home fit in with the surroundings," says Jessica.
Exterior
When all of the elements and drawings came together, the Carnells began construction on a 3,000-square-foot barn-inspired home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open floor plan fit for hosting a crowd. "This gambrel style of barn has been around forever," says Jessica. "And that's how we wanted the home to feel—like it's been here all along."
Living Room
Inside, the Carnells continued to embrace the all-natural approach with reclaimed and locally sourced materials that bring the feeling of the great outdoors in. The window-lined living room boasts a soaring fireplace clad in Arkansas fieldstone, and reclaimed wood walls (much of which was sourced from a local military depot) make a statement without competing with the view. Says Jessica, "We lived by one rule: We only brought in materials that looked like they could've been picked up around the property." And in some cases, the materials were actually found on the property. "One day we arrived at the front gate and discovered an old warped signpost sticking out of the ground, and a light bulb immediately went off. We knew we could repurpose that post into our fireplace mantel."
A stunning two-tier, 54- bulb chandelier, designed by Kevin (with the help of a local blacksmith), dresses up the room, which boasts 20-foot-high ceilings.
Get the look:
Chandelier: Camino 2-Tier Chandelier; restorationhardware.com
Kitchen
Rough-hewn doesn't necessarily mean roughing it, however, and the couple mixed in plenty of modern amenities and refined touches. In the kitchen, family and friends often gather around the custom-built island topped with a cool-toned honed marble, which is situated beneath a trio of pendant lights. Along the room's back wall, gray-blue cabinets add subtle softness, while a dark soapstone countertop is a safe-but-sophisticated spot for hot pans to land. "We loved the look of the marble but knew we needed something that could take more wear and tear, so we thought, 'Why not do both?' " says Jessica.
Butler's Pantry
On either side of the kitchen, custom-built sliding barn doors (roguevalleydoor.com) conceal a small office on the right—in their "real lives," Kevin owns a ball bearing business and Jessica flips houses—and a large butler's pantry on the left. The latter has come in especially handy to the couple because of all the weekend visitors. "It's nice to be able to shut the door on dirty dishes while we're entertaining," she says.
Dining Room
A 12-seater farmhouse table, wood dining chairs, and a distressed curio cabinet serve up a comfortable place to break bread. Concrete floors (stained in a custom tortoiseshell shade by Allen Concrete Stains) in a low-gloss finish stand up to foot traffic. Stately slipcovered chairs dress up the space for more formal gatherings, and sleek sconces (magnolialighting.com) provide ambient lighting.
Guest Bedroom
An iron bed and raw-wood chest provide timeless on-the-farm charm. An old (nonworking) fan adds a little more patina. Linen upholstery on the headboard and footboard of a classic country silhouette adds an unexpected touch of softness, as do floral draperies.
Get the look:
Rug: Rug (from $219; potterybarn.com)
Bunk Room
Social gatherings include weekly Sunday brunches, a preholiday "Friendsgiving," and the Carnells' annual autumn hog roast that brings guests from all over the country—sometimes up to 30 at a time! "We had a bunch of friends come from Pennsylvania, California, Arkansas, and Michigan," says Jessica. "We all cooked—meat is taken very seriously here—enjoyed Pimm's Cups, and stayed up late playing outdoor Jenga." But when guests do finally tire out, there are plenty of places to rest their weary heads, like the compact bunk room, which sleeps four.
Gear Room
Even Kevin's practically minded "gear room" features stylish herringbone-patterned rough wood paneling alongside hunting accessories.
Porch
The screened-in porch, complete with a fireplace where they roast hotdogs and a large bed swing, is Jessica's favorite room in the house.
Mudroom
The beautiful mudroom sink (Allen Concrete Stains; 901-734-6926) looks like it's made out of natural stone, but it's simply poured concrete with unfinished edges.
More Barn-Style Inspiration
Looking to build a barn-like home. Get design inspiration from these other new-build "barn" homes.
*Take a peek inside the Stunning Tennessee Barn Home of country music superstar Ronnie Dunn.
*Step aside, she-sheds. This Delaware "party barn" is the ultimate in recreational retreats.
Laurren Welch is a freelance editor, writer, and creative who covers lifestyle, interiors, entertaining, fashion, and more. When she’s not under deadline, you can find her styling blooms over at Garden Party L.A., scouring thrift and antique stores for hidden gems, and reminding her boxer pup, Monster, that he’s a very good boy.
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