A Home Away from Home

A designer brings the Music City alive in a Nashville Airbnb with vintage finds and modern statement pieces.

For this new construction in the burgeoning area of East Nashville, Tennessee, principal designer Scarlett James of The Mix Interiors was brought on to create artsy interiors that reflect the area and catch the eye of tourists seeking a taste of Nashville in their lodgings. “The owners purchased this home to use as an Airbnb rental property,” she says. “Its proximity to downtown makes it a fantastic rental spot.” She mixed vintage finds and modern pieces to create a hip yet curated home that echoes the spirit of Nashville and wins the hearts of all who visit.

A NASHVILLE WELCOME

A warm welcome was especially important for the home, as it’s the first impression for travel-weary guests who are in an unfamiliar city. The porch features potted plants in vessels of varying heights and a rustic bench purchased from a flea market. “We layered in plants to soften the entry and set the bench just beneath the window to create an inviting tableau,” Scarlett says. “The bench provides a nice spot to set a bag or wait for other guests to arrive.” For stressed travelers looking for their accommodations, the home’s hospitable exterior hints at the comforts and beautiful mix of old and new décor that awaits just over the threshold.

A SOUTHERN SETTING

The residence sleeps up to 12 guests and, since it might be rented for anything from a bachelorette party to a Thanksgiving family get-together, a large gathering area was essential. “The downstairs area is an open concept,” Scarlett says. “There is a lot of seating in one spot to accommodate large groups.”Two coordinating poufs and a sectional are both chic and functional—and the chairs from the dining room can easily be pulled into the gathering area for more seating. The kitchen counter stools can also be turned around to face the space. A vibrant rug grounds the living room, while a vintage flag from eBay gives the room the perfect dose of Southern personality: “It is a great way to introduce largescale color and texture and to show our pride in our country. We like to do that in the South,” Scarlett says.

ROCK-CITY DINING

The dining room invokes Nashville’s musical lineage. Scarlett decorated the walls with old record covers as an ode to the Music City. “It’s a cost-effective way to incorporate original art,” she says. She hung the covers in black frames. A large dining room table, selected to “accommodate lots of friends,” was purchased from a local business called Southeastern Salvage and completed with bistro chairs from Restoration Hardware. The wooden table, with the accompanying chairs, gives the room a wonderfully eclectic vibe, one that visitors experience firsthand while out and about in Nashville.

BEDDING DOWN IN THE MUSIC CITY

Scarlett approached the several bedrooms with stylish practicality. To maximize the number of guests the home

can host, each bedroom has two beds. Neutral linens in the rooms are soothing and the perfect restful note for the end of a busy day, but they also make for quick room turnovers. “We kept the bedding basics the same,” Scarlett says. “It really helps with turning the place over quickly, as any duvet will fit any bed.” She found beds, coverlets and sconces from a variety of sources, including Target; Wayfair; overstock.com; and Bed, Bath and Beyond. For the master bedroom, she layered in vintage touches with antique pillows and blankets. “I love the texture and soul they give the space,” she says.

With the attention to detail and the artful mixing of old and new pieces, the residence is a special place that mirrors the surrounding area and brings it alive for visitors. For those coming from far, it’s an inviting introduction to East Nashville and a home away from home.

OLD GLORY. Southern touches, like the vintage flag, imbue the home with a warm feel and tie in with the essence of the historical neighborhood. They also reflect its up-and-coming nature with sophisticated furniture, like the gray sectional.

• PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRET GUM • STYLING BY SCARLETT JAMES GATHERING PLACE. One of the home’s big draws is its backyard, with its large wooden table and benches. “We created a lovely scene for fun dinners and outdoor living,” Scarlett says. “What is it about string lights that instantly feels festive?”

|ABOVE| DOUBLE THE STYLE. The symmetry of this guest bedroom gives a sense of order and serenity for guests needing to recharge after a busy day of sightseeing. |LEFT| VINTAGE MODERN. A bench discovered at a local antiques store gives the entryway a...