Neoclassical Notes Help Nashville Homeowners Reconcile Styles

What happens when an anti-minimalist devotee of Dorothy Draper—the midcentury doyenne known for her exuberant use of color—marries a proponent of clean lines and monochromatic palettes? For one Nashville couple, the solution was to double down on their respective aesthetics within a design discipline that would bridge the gap between the two. “My style could not be more opposite from my husband’s,” reveals the wife, a global content strategist. Had she been left to her own devices, she confesses, her love of all things bright and cheery might have run the show. Fortunately, interior designer Lauren Bennett Moore knew how to incorporate the neutral counterpoints and nature-inspired flourishes beloved by the husband, a financial advisor who collects fossils and fine art. 

Moore’s clients were aligned in one pivotal aspect: achieving a home that would harmonize modern architecture with their verdant surroundings—while also accommodating the lifestyle needs of a growing family with two daughters. They turned to residential designer Kevin Coffey to lay the groundwork. “We felt a neoclassical approach would allow us to combine their desire for simple, transitional exteriors with a modern, mostly open floor plan,” explains Coffey, who accented the white-brick façade with a pedimented porch and central focal feature distinguished by pilasters and limestone details.

Indoors, formal elements such as an articulated ceiling in the great room and sculptural millwork in the dining room acknowledge the traditional architecture. But these features soon give way to a more casual kitchen where frameless cabinetry fully embraces modernity. “We always knew we were going to create a hybrid house with an open, contemporary feel—though with traditional bits and pieces that yield comfort,” the residential designer explains. Responding to his clients’ request for a strong indoor-outdoor connection, Coffey’s thoughtfully placed fenestration perfectly frames the surrounding trees, while a linear sight line established at the front door leads directly to the pool. “The way it opens up at the back is great for parties and everyday living,” the husband notes. “What Kevin has designed is a classical house that lives for today.”

Moore and her team followed suit with foyer flooring of hand-antiqued marble and bluestone—materials that link the classical architecture with the more contemporary interiors. “It’s a bit different than the polished marble you’d expect in a classic checkerboard pattern,” the designer notes. “I call this version ‘neoclassical with a twist.’ ”

Throughout the project, Moore consistently strived to marry the couple’s distinct tastes while creating pathways for personal expression. Her contributions to the dining room include a whimsical wallpaper depicting cranes in flight. “It’s like having birds flying all around you,” she shares, noting how the transitional moment also nods to the husband’s love of nature. Overhead, a more modern trio of Sputnik-inspired chandeliers reflects the wife’s sparkling personality. 

The whole mood shifts on the home’s second floor—dedicated to sleeping spaces but also areas of fun and discovery for the girls. Both daughters had a hand in designing their own bedrooms; after Moore sent colors and fabrics for them to consider, she was delighted to learn that both were drawn to a more classic style. In the eldest daughter’s suite, a velvet-upholstered bed embraces sophistication. Meanwhile, the younger daughter enjoys hand-blocked wallpaper and a charming, canopied stage reminiscent of a proscenium arch. 

Color ratchets up another notch in the central play space, where linen draperies with bright pink trim and a sectional wearing performance-grade royal blue velvet wink at Hollywood Regency style before leading the way to a bold bunk room enrobed in clover green. 

Keeping the girls in mind, Moore also furnished the pool house and patio with plentiful feminine touches. Here, again, “We used color and pattern to satisfy the wife’s love of Dorothy Draper,” Moore adds. Hints of vintage flair abound—from the wicker pedestals and palm leaf-inspired chandelier in the pool house to cabana-striped umbrellas with winsome rickrack tassel trim—bringing bygone resort vibes to lingering summer days with family and friends. 

“This project was about creating spaces that reflect who our clients are together, even when their preferences seemed to be at odds,” explains Moore, adding that striking the right balance was part of the fun. “Individually, the husband gained a lounge space that’s all about gray, while the wife revels in a powder room bedecked with Christian Lacroix butterflies.” What makes this home so special is witnessing these distinctive spaces—and clients—united under one roof.