NEXT STOP NASHVILLE
- May 5
- 4 min read
How Charlotte-based designer Lisa Sherry designed a Nashville home for longtime clients. Take the home tour now.
May 6, 2026 | Charlotte, NC
There’s a moment in a long client relationship when design becomes less about discovery and more about intuition and trust.
In my 20+ year career, I’ve had the privilege of working with this particular family across three homes — each one marking a distinct chapter. First stop, North Carolina: a tradition-with-a-twist home for a growing family and two busy professionals. Then, Rosemary Beach, Florida, during the disruption of COVID — a shift toward a more intimate way of living, where home became a true refuge.
And now, Nashville.
Over the course of our relationship, I’ve come to understand not just how they live, but how that life has evolved. Our conversations are fluid. There’s an ease to the process, a shared understanding that allows us to move quickly and thoughtfully. Trust is the foundation, and it always opens the door to a beautiful life.
The new Nashville home isn’t about starting over. It is about moving forward — a right-sized, 3,200-square-foot house in a vibrant, creative city, designed for a new rhythm. The children are grown. The pace has shifted. The house meets my clients exactly where they are now.
From the outset, we aligned on what mattered most: a luxurious home that moves with ease. A place to live, relax, and entertain. And most importantly, a home that reflects who this couple is today.
COLOR: IN THE DEEP END
It’s a new day for neutrals in this Nashville home.
People change. Color shifts. Today, my preferred palette sits in a deeper register — taupes, warm browns, inky blues, and greens borrowed from nature. Grounded, a bit moodier, even a touch muddier, but still clean and modern. The vibe is calm and neutral.
In my world — and in this home — color is never a single note. It emerges in layers.
Here you see it in the mix of finishes, especially notable in my furniture and fabric choices — warm wood and metal, matte finishes parry with polished surfaces, like the dining room table, hand-rubbed to a soft lustre. Verellen upholstery, always comfortable and tactile – in boucles and beautifully tailored linens. And underfoot – a mix of new and vintage rugs in muddy hues. This palette doesn’t beg for attention. It holds it. And most importantly, my clients trusted my recommendations — and made it their own.
TRICKY OPEN FLOOR PLANS
Open floor plans look easy. They’re not.
When they’re done well, everything feels seamless — spaces flow into one another, sight lines are clean, and there’s a natural sense of connection. But that ease is hard-won. Individual areas still need to function clearly, even without walls to define the space
That’s the art of it.
In this home, the main living spaces are open and connected, but each moment is thoughtfully resolved — the kitchen, dining, and living areas in quiet conversation with one another.
And then there’s the space just under the floating staircase. A bit of a question mark at first.
I turned it into a moment — a small bar area with cabinetry and a bistro table, positioned just off the dining room.A place to pour a drink, linger for a minute, or join the flow of the room without interrupting it.
That’s what makes an open plan work. It’s space married to intention. The boundaries are simply invisible – the art of design.
BONUS ROOM — THE UNWRITTEN SPACE
“Bonus room” is one of those labels that tells you almost nothing.
On a floor plan, it usually means TBD — a wayward, undesignated space seeking purpose in life. In this project, the bonus-room question mark became an opportunity to give my clients something they didn’t yet know they needed.
I reimagined this upper-level space as a satellite living room. As it happens, it’s one of my favorite spots in this Nashville home – and my clients are drawn to it too. It’s a place to gather casually, watch a game, unwind, and even disconnect. Design followed that intention with uber comfortable seating, including a pair of swivel chairs for tete-a-tetes, and a bar, all elevated with amazing light and views.
Bonus, indeed!
PRIMARY SUITE: THE GREAT GETAWAY
This is a very open, social house. Spaces connect easily. Sight lines are long. There’s a sense of welcome.
But even in a big-embrace home like this, privacy matters. The primary suite is where that shift happens. Tucked away from the main living areas, my clients’ en suite bedroom offers a sense of welcome separation. The mood is quieter, more contained — a continuation of the home’s palette, recast as an inner sanctum.
This primary bedroom is all about curves and soft edges. An upholstered king bed with integrated nightstands anchors the space. To guard against clutter, I specified articulating wall lamps rather than table lamps. Everything is set against a deep blue grasscloth accent wall.
A dramatic looking glass captures and reflects the moment — and quietly expands the room.
ARE THERE EVER ANY PERMANENT ADDRESSES?
Three’s a charm. From North Carolina, Florida, and now Tennessee, I’ve so enjoyed the role of “interior designer of record” for these longtime clients. I wonder, is this their forever home or simply the next chapter?
What I do know is this: design is never static. It evolves — just as we do. My clients change, I change, and the work continues to reflect that.
I’m always ready for what’s next.
PHOTOGRAPHER: STACEY VAN BERKEL