The Height of City Life
Brent and Kechia Pickerd’s downtown loft is a mixture of architectural and decorative design elements that provide the perfect pied-a’-terre for the Ooltewah family’s downtown get-away. The loft is located in an early twentieth-century pharmaceutical warehouse which was reconfigured four years ago into seven lofts on two upper levels with retail space on the ground floor. Industrial elements such as red metal trusses, exposed brick walls, and wood-beamed ceilings were salvaged to add a sleek, modern feel to the lofts. Throughout their loft, exposed sheet metal ducts, red sprinkler-system piping, and track lighting hang from the ceiling. Heart of pine plank floors, cheerful paint, and wallpaper add soft, warm textures that are very much at home alongside the mix of building materials. In 2004 when the Pickerd’s purchased the loft, it was finished decoratively and structurally, so all that remained was to move in furniture and add accents pieces.
Above the retail space, the Pickerd’s front door opens to a small entry with an antique desk. The main space of the loft offers a sense of spaciousness, created as the living, dining, and kitchen areas flow one into the other without the separation of walls. The only element that divides the space is a large, free-standing fireplace between the living area and the walkway through to the dining area and kitchen.
The Pickerds combined contemporary furniture and decorative pieces with antique accents to achieve an eclectic look that works well with the industrial-residential character of the loft. Over the large television in the living area hang three colorful chalk drawings done by a Dalton high school student and found by Brent in a frame shop there. A comical and colorful picture by pop artist Todd Graham serves as the accent over the buffet in the dining area. The image is of a night stand with a lamp on top of it; the lettering below reads “One Night Stand.”
The kitchen is perhaps the most contemporary of all the areas in the loft. Painting the cabinets black was the only decorative change the Pickerds made in the loft, and doing so made a bold statement against the stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.
A walk to the master bedroom at the rear of the main level takes you past four doors which have been painted four different colors. The first, a red door, opens to a storage closet. Next, a green door opens to a small laundry area. A blue door opens to a cornflower blue full bath with blue and white tile floor, and lastly, a beige door reveals a guest bedroom. The guest bedroom has a large, metal sleigh bed and an old wooden cable spool that is used as an accent table. The room, however, is dominated by a square, floor to ceiling wooden post, and spiraling up the post is a garland of leaves and glass beads. Beyond the guest bedroom and just before the master bedroom, a built-in workspace provides a desk, drawers, and cabinets.
Bright yellow, double doors at the rear of the main level lead to the spacious master bedroom decorated with red flowered wallpaper. Through two large, rectangular windows on either side of the bed the “Chattanooga Choo Choo” sign above the train terminal is visible, and at night the room is bathed in the soft red glow of
the neon sign. The master bathroom combines its older architectural features such as
brick walls and wainscoting with a modern
tile floor, cherry cabinets, and granite counters.
A lime green stairwell on the main level winds up to a landing featuring a wet bar area. Doors at the rear and side open onto a wrap-around wooden deck that is perfect for celebrating with family, entertaining friends, and taking in downtown sights.
For the Pickerd family, their downtown loft has become a place to gather with friends and family and serves as a place for business associates to stay. Since the Pickerd’s are not able to vacation out of town very often, the loft serves as their vacation home. The convenient location allows them to enjoy downtown events and activities, most of which they can walk to. By investing in downtown Chattanooga, Brent and Kechia also feel like they are “giving back to the city” which they believe has so much to offer.
Choosing Chattanooga - Finding the Perfect Fit
Roger and Wendy Kaiser enjoying their home at Museum Bluffs, overlooking the Tennessee River.
Roger and Wendy Kaiser were meticulous in choosing where to relocate from Buffalo, New York, where they were both practicing physicians. They even accessed Google Earth. They spent five to six months searching for the perfect city, and they believe they have found it in Chattanooga. If not perfect, Chattanooga has the amenities they were looking for such as a warmer climate, scenic setting, tax-friendly location, and a vibrant community. Once they identified Chattanooga as the perfect city, they began searching for the perfect location within it. That’s where Google Earth comes in. They looked at a satellite image of Chattanooga, particularly the downtown area, to get the “lay of the land.” They considered buying a house away from the city, a house closer to the city, or a condo in the city. After doing their homework, they made the decision to buy a condominium in the yet-to-be-constructed Museum Bluffs downtown, one of its selling points for the Kaisers being its proximity to the river.
After two years living in Chattanooga, Roger and Wendy have no regrets about their decision. They enjoy walking to just about anything they want to do – restaurants, movie theatres, entertainment, and shopping. And because Roger is out of town most of the week on business, they like the fact that getting to the airport takes just a matter of minutes and not hours. The only amenity lacking is a grocery or convenience store, but with the number of housing developments under construction in Chattanooga, they feel it is just a matter of time before they will be able to walk to pick up groceries.
This is Roger and Wendy’s first foray in urban living as they lived in suburban Buffalo. However, if they miss the somewhat slower pace of suburbia, they have only to drive a few miles up to Lookout Mountain where they have built a second home at Canyon Ridge and where they both enjoy entertaining friends and Roger enjoys playing golf.
The Kaisers chose the smaller two-bedroom, two-bath floor plan at Museum Bluffs as they knew they did not need a lot of space. They were able to select floor and wall coverings, kitchen appliances, and kitchen and bath fixtures. They made only one change to the condo’s configuration, making an intended guest bedroom which faced the river at the rear of the condo their office/den space. They wanted to take advantage of the light and the views, knowing they would be spending more time there.
The marble floor entry flows into the living, dining, and kitchen spaces, separated only by a bar/counter area in the kitchen. The soft yellow walls and pickled-finished wood floors add a light, airy feel to the living and dining space. A corner gas fireplace faces both the living room and the dining area.
The kitchen features granite countertops and is equipped with stainless steel appliances. Just off the kitchen is a large laundry/storage area with built-in cabinets and a utility sink. They also have a storage closet in the outside hallway as do all owners.
Roger and Wendy have gotten to know many of their neighbors. They chat with neighbors in the elevator, in the hallway, even across balconies. “It’s almost like living in a dormitory,” laughs Roger.
From the balcony outside the living room is a grand view of the Walnut Street Bridge. Looking towards the North Shore are unobstructed views of Market Street Bridge, Stringer’s Ridge, Coolidge Park, and the carousel, and just below is Riverside Drive. When asked about Riverbend noise, Roger and Wendy say it is actually quieter during Riverbend when the street is closed than with the sound of the traffic. They also laugh about hearing fire engines racing down Forest Avenue on the North Shore, but are quick to point out that all of that is just part of urban living.
Enjoying sunrises and sunsets, the proximity to downtown, and the beautiful views of the river and North Shore more than makes up for the sounds of the city. Wendy points out that one of her favorite sights is the Walnut Street Bridge during the winter months with snowflake lights twinkling as she steps out on the balcony in the darkness of early morning to enjoy a cup of coffee. “We are very pleased with our choice,” she adds. “Of all the places we could have chosen to live, we chose Chattanooga.”
In-Town Elegance
Wow” is the way Chandler Peeples describes the transformation of Chattanooga in the last ten years. He found he was spending more and more time in the city, and so in 2006 he made a decision to move from Catoosa County, Georgia, where his business is located, to Chattanooga. Searching for that special location led Peeples to the townhouses at River Point on Stringer’s Ridge. The townhouses were under construction when Mr. Peeples purchased one which allowed him to configure and decorate to suit his tastes. Haskell Interiors helped transform the tri-level townhouse into an elegantly appointed home that reflects the lifestyle of this active businessman. Details such as pewter hardware, stairwell theatre lights, antique reproduction light fixtures, custom-made kitchen cabinetry, and an elevator, as well as surround sound and flat-screen televisions throughout, combine modern conveniences and comfort with beautiful interior design. With the exception of a large, attic storage area, no space is unfinished in the townhouse. Even the two-car garage has finished walls and a tile floor, and the elevator’s interior has cherry walls.
From the front door, you first enter the music room, dominated by decorative columns and a baby grand piano. The soft, ecru wallpaper was hand painted to look like stone blocks. Peeples chose to make this the music room rather than a dining room as other townhouses at River Point have done. He explains that his entertaining is more casual, so a formal dining space was not needed.
The custom-designed kitchen can be accessed either through the front entry way of the music room or from the far side of the room though a butler’s pantry, featuring built-in, glass-fronted cabinets. Since the kitchen opens into the living area, the custom cherry cabinets were designed to look like furniture rather than kitchen cabinets. With the exception of the gas cook top, all appliances are hidden behind wooden doors. The most spectacular piece in the kitchen is a pediment-crowned cabinet with mirrored doors that houses the refrigerator and freezer. On either side of the refrigerator are doors that open to pantry and storage spaces. A large island with sink is the perfect spot for serving hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and a remote-controlled, drop-down television offers entertainment while cooking, as does the built-in wine cooler.
The living area to the rear of the kitchen is appointed with a comfortable sofa and chairs facing a fireplace or you can retire to the porch off the living area and relax while taking in sweeping views of the city. A telescope stands nearby for closer inspection.
Below the main floor is a two-car garage which was built extra deep and high to accommodate SUVs. A media room houses exercise equipment, a fireplace, flat-screen television, and a wet bar on which sits a collection of knives. Over the couch hangs a large sailfish, replicated from one Peeples caught. He explains that the fish was not killed, but measured to have the reproduction made.
The third story contains the master bedroom, guest room, and baths. The large, airy master bedroom has a sitting area facing a fireplace, also with a flat-screen television. The master bath features a travertine floor and a decorative tile mosaic over the garden tub. Peeples can also enjoy views of downtown Chattanooga from the porch off his bedroom. The guest bedroom is decorated with Civil War memorabilia, including prints of scenes from battles.
The last stairway from the third floor leads to the piece de resistance, a rooftop deck overlooking all of downtown Chattanooga. From this vantage point are views of the North Shore, Coolidge Park, all four downtown bridges, the Tennessee River and downtown, Bluff View, the Aquarium and Lookout Mountain. It’s the perfect spot for enjoying Riverbend and the Fourth of July fireworks. However, no matter the season, the night view “will take your breath away,” says Peeples.
Chandler Peeples has thoroughly enjoyed his townhouse and its rooms with a view, as well as the convenience to downtown Chattanooga and its restaurants. He likes it so much that he is going to move, but not far away. Currently his home is being marketed by Jill Kisling of Keller Williams Downtown. A new condominium development is under construction on Stringer’s Ridge just down from River Point, and Peeples intends to purchase a penthouse. There, Peeples will still be able to take in the magnificent views of Chattanooga, knowing that in just a matter of minutes he can be anywhere in the city -- just two of the reasons he knew that Chattanooga was where he wanted to
live.
Reclaiming a Southern Treasure
The home of Richard and Holley Beeland, located in an M.L. King neighborhood, is as eclectic and diverse as the neighborhood itself, and the downtown location is representative of the values that determine their lifestyle. Since the young professional couple came from small Mississippi towns, they enjoy the close-knit community feel within the context of a larger city. They appreciate the architectural, cultural, and demographic mixture which adds to the charm of the neighborhood. It is also important for their children, Harper, age 10; and Ruth, age 6; to experience those differences. A convenient aspect of downtown living important to Richard and Holley is that they can walk or, in Richard’s case, bike to work. They proudly assert that they are now a one-car family, since Richard sold his car.
The Beeland’s home faces a street enveloped in a tunnel of trees, which Richard says are “beautiful in spring.” Neighborhood residents include families with children, professional couples, singles, and retired people. Some residents have lived on the street long enough to have seen the metamorphosis from abandoned, run-down houses to new and reclaimed dwellings.
The Beeland’s home was built in the 1920s as a duplex and was still a duplex when the family discovered it in 2005, boarded up, abandoned with not much salvageable. According to Richard, the house was in “rough shape, all but gone.” The couple debated whether to demolish the house or renovate. They had previously lived in a house in the same neighborhood and knew they wanted to stay in the area, and with a growing family, they needed more room. The decision was made to renovate which eventually took place over a nine to ten month period. Only two architectural elements were able to be saved, the brick, coal-burning fireplaces that are in almost every room and one staircase of the original two. Richard and Holley like the fact that their newly renovated house has uneven, creaky floors. If it were perfect, they offer, they would think they were in a new house.
The two-story, single family house now has dining, living, kitchen, and guest rooms plus a bath on the main level. Children’s bedrooms and bath, master bedroom and bath, and a laundry room are upstairs. Located at the back of the house is a large, covered wooden porch with steps leading to the backyard where a homemade brick fireplace stands next to the children’s playhouse.
A menagerie of antiques, collectibles, and salvaged items add a whimsical quality not unlike an outdoor folk art garden. On the porch sits a salvaged wooden church pew. In front of the pew is an old, wooden chicken coop from Holley’s grandfather’s store in Mississippi. Facing these pieces is a row of wooden school desks from the former Mississippi State College for Women campus which Richard purchased for five dollars. Richard was interested to learn there was a Mississippi-Chattanooga connection to the desks. R. H. Hurt, the architect of the building on the MSCW campus, was also the architect of the Chattanooga City Hall and the old Hamilton County Courthouse, a connection that was a bit of serendipity for Richard as he is Media Relations Director for the City of Chattanooga.
The home’s interior is furnished with treasured family pieces, interspersed with both salvaged and purchased antiques and collectables. In the dining room, family quilts sit on top of a hutch that was made by Richard’s great grandfather, as was another hutch in the upstairs master bedroom. Another wooden pew in the dining room came from a church in Mississippi, as did an ice chest from an antique store. In the kitchen novelty items such as an old bubble gum dispenser and a Tom’s Peanut display case can be found. The huge pot rack over the kitchen island is straight out of a high school in Newton, Mississippi.
Upstairs, Holley’s grandfather’s couch sits at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom, and a rocking chair from her grandfather’s store sits nearby. In the master bath is a scale from the family store that tells not only your weight, but also your fortune. “Still works for a penny,” says Richard. Throughout the house old, leather suitcases are used as accent pieces, like the stack which serves as a nightstand next to the bed in the master bedroom. The home’s artwork is as eclectic as the furnishings, ranging from family-created pieces by Holley and Harper and old concert posters to a huge red metal, bullet-ridden “King Edward Cigars” sign that hangs between the kitchen and living room.
If it is true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, the Beeland home juxtaposes both in such a way as to mirror their neighborhood, reflecting old and new and the diversity they have come to appreciate living downtown.