A CHERISHED HOMESTEAD

Learn how to curate your collections from a talented Tennessee homeowner who fashions interiors with an engaging blend of showcase friendly furniture, historic colors, timeworn materials and natural elements.

Restyling the home they’ve shared for several decades is top of mind for a Tennessee couple, as they build additions and tackle renovations focused on their love of antiques and family comfort.

High school sweethearts JoAnn and Trony Brooks marked their 10th wedding anniversary by building a home on 8 acres in Old Fort, Tennessee. Considering

styles that would best suit their family and reflect their love for country homes, the couple favored a Cape Cod–style house with a Dutch gambrel roof. When they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few years ago, they realized their early vision had quietly evolved into a cherished homestead that their extended family now enjoys.

Because the Brookses have lived in the home for several decades, they’ve updated various elements through the years to keep things fresh. “When we built our home, we were young and made mistakes,” JoAnn recalls. Their first resolve was to replace carpeting with character-rich hardwood floors and slate tiles. To create a seamless connection between rooms, they painted walls cream and millwork Colonial blue, burgundy and brown. “I love blue, red and cream colors because they blend well with antiques,” JoAnn says.

A few larger-scale renovations and room additions were also on the couple’s agenda. For example, the kitchen was dark, and adding white granite counters was the perfect solution. Natural light now reflects off the surface and brightens the space. The sunroom, a well-planned addition, overlooks the property and functions as a casual dining area. A new two-story building serves as a veritable warehouse for JoAnn’s impressive collection of antique furniture, pottery, baskets and farm wagons.

JoAnn, who has admired antiques since she was a child, became a serious collector 25 years ago. She has a strategy for finding treasures. “When I go to flea markets, I always go to the very end and work my way backwards through the buildings and booths,” she shares, explaining that short-term vendors with exciting pieces often have the less desirable locations at the back.

Grouping collections ranks supreme in the Brooks home, so JoAnn carefully plans her showcases by hunting for furniture with old-world craftsmanship and shelves. “Corner cabinets can be used to display many different collections in any room,” she says. “If your rooms are small, corner cabinets are great because they don’t take up too much space. I have seven corner cabinets. I would have more, but I ran out of corners.”

During the fall, JoAnn freshens vignettes with pops of color and woodsy textures. “I love decorating with gourds, pumpkins, dried sunflowers and other natural things from our property. I never know what I will find when I go for a walk,” she notes.

Going for a stroll outdoors is an extended-family affair, with her grandchildren and a great-grandchild often accompanying her. The children’s laughter reminds JoAnn of her deep Tennessee roots as she finds herself ruminating on house projects like adding a pantry, remodeling the bathrooms, or maybe painting a ceiling. After all, she decorates her home so she can share her home.

A glass-fronted hutch and corner cabinet in the sunroom work in tandem to house JoAnn’s blue stoneware collection. The beadboard ceiling is painted a soothing shade of light brown that complements the pottery glazes. JoAnn paired the old wood dining table with a new set of black Windsor chairs. “Reproductions are often sturdier, particularly chairs,” she notes.

JoAnn and Trony look to nature for fall styling cues and decorate their indoor and outdoor living spaces with thoughtful blends of harvesttime flowers, plants and collectibles.

To evoke the look of an early American home, JoAnn furnished the living room with matching wing chairs set near the fireplace. For more country charm, she added a spinning wheel, stacked boxes, footstools and a child’s wagon. A pair of pumpkin-head characters bring a dose of whimsy to the scene.

Thanks to their old-school charm, JoAnn’s schoolmaster’s desk and Shaker stool happily coexist with the seating area in her living room. The furnishings’ tall proportions expose the wall and floor and prevent the space between her windows from appearing overcrowded. Stacked boxes in a rainbow of colors and a little dog figurine are a nod to nostalgia.