The quiet neighborhood of Forest Hills in Nashville, Tennessee strikes the perfect balance between quiet and convenience. “In five minutes, you can be in multiple areas of retail and restaurants, but you are tucked away in the southern hills of Nashville where you can’t hear the hustle and bustle,” says architect Megan Glenn.
Glenn describes her clients as “a very sweet family of four—husband, wife, two kiddos—and their super cute dog. The site was previously owned by the wife’s grandparents, who’d originally had a greenhouse and nursery on the property.” Naturally, the home’s design would need to factor in the landscape, connecting to the existing surrounding greenery. “The design of the house was always meant to have an open, airy vibe as you walked in, with the requests of higher ceilings and soft, natural light,” she explains. “These sentiments started to translate into bringing the airy, inviting and relaxed vibes from the floor plan design to the intentional placing of windows, to the stair design, to the exterior material palette, and throughout the final interior selections and design.”
Glenn’s eponymous firm handled the architectural design, while Megan Holt of Megan Holt Interiors stepped in for the interior design, furnishing, staging, and styling. “The client wanted it to feel elevated, but comfortable and cozy for their young family,” Holt explains. “We were intentional about using practical fabrics, while still using pieces that had interesting and unique lines. We kept a serene color palette to create a relaxed environment for a family with a busy life! We let the art ‘pop’ and had fun with wallpaper in a few select areas.”
The house boasts five bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom, plus two half bathrooms. Both architect and designer reimagined these spaces, along with the entry, living and family room, kitchen and pantry, dining room and butler’s pantry, mudroom, laundry room, bonus room, and of course—a Tennessee essential—the screened-in porch.
“The modern focal-point modern stair was a must have,” Glenn explains. “It’s prominent on both the exterior and interior. This was done through a material change to stone at the exterior. At the interior, the stair subtly incorporates a modern riser detail for a clean, modern look but with the warmth of the wood tone. The stairs read as humble-but-grand with the first set of risers extending over to create a stepped display under a portion of the stairs. We also enlarged the mid landing of the stairs so that it was big enough to sit plants in the window.”
“I love how the entry and stairwell have an open, airy volume, creating a welcoming first impression,” Holt adds. “As you move into the kitchen and living room, the lowered ceilings make the spaces feel much cozier. The butler’s pantry offers another fun ceiling transition as you pass from the kitchen into the dining room. The kitchen and living room also maintain a strong visual connection to the backyard, enhancing the sense of openness. The primary bedroom feels perfectly proportioned — not too large, but still distinctly luxurious. Every space feels thoughtfully scaled and appropriately sized.”
The initial planning phase took 10 months, while construction lasted roughly 14 months—and both Glenn and Holt were thrilled to be part of the special project. “The client was thrilled and kept saying that she can’t believe she gets to live here! And with a December move in date: ‘When do I get to put a Christmas tree in there?’”
