Earl and Cindy Cornette’s many years of extensive travel became the inspiration for their spectacular Mediterranean-style home in The Enclave on the Tennessee River. From the cast stone and stucco exterior to the interior architectural details, furniture and decorative pieces – many purchased during their travels – the home mixes old world elegance with 21st century style. “This was a process and dream of ours for five years,” says Cindy.
The Cornettes called upon seasoned professionals to design, build and decorate their dream home. Jon Greenfield was engaged as architect; Dexter White and David Dalton of Signature Land Company executed the construction. For the interior design and decorative features of the house, Cindy chose Hank Matheny, ASID, of Haskell Interiors Design Collection to design the bathrooms and mosaic murals in the master bath and kitchen; artist Meg Lemon for the hand-painted walls and overlays; Nicole Smith, owner of Interiors by Nicole, for customized bed linens and draperies; and Norcia Fine Cabinetry for the custom cabinetry. Long-time friend Dolores Wolfe worked with the furnishings and assisted Cindy with her choices.
The talented design team did not have to start from scratch because Cindy had, through the years, collected pictures of decorative features that she wanted to incorporate into the home. She also drew inspiration from their travels, particularly from Italy, France, Spain, the Bahamas and the Far East.
Upon entering the home through the massive 12-foot custom iron and glass doors, the spaciousness of the open floor plan, which encompasses the entry, living and dining rooms, is immediately evident. Oriental rugs were used in these areas to help delineate each space, while cream-colored marble floors visually tie the spaces together. A rare Turkish rug with soft gold, platinum and blonde floral motifs graces the entry just inside the front doors.
Above the entry hangs a large bronze and crystal chandelier. The living room’s color scheme is a pastel palette of ice blue, celadon green and cream, which creates a calm and restful feeling, but it is the large French doors and adjoining windows with views of the rear patio and river that reinforce the peacefulness of the room. Other focal points in the living room include an ice-blue coffered ceiling and cast stone Italian Renaissance-style fireplace.
Stone columns extending from arches form a small arcade to separate the dining room from the entry and living areas. The dining area is dominated by a large round pedestal table over which hangs a multi-tiered bronze and crystal chandelier that matches the entry chandelier. A massive claw foot walnut buffet is positioned in front of the one solid wall in the dining area. Above the buffet hangs a painting of the inside of a Medieval cathedral painted in a perspective technique, which gives the viewer a feeling of being drawn into the painting itself. An antique silver serving piece that belonged to Earl’s mother is displayed on top of the buffet.
The ice blue, celadon green and cream color scheme was carried into the master bedroom and used for draperies that frame French doors leading to the rear patio. Coordinating fabric was used for the bed comforter, accent pillows, crystal-trimmed bed skirt and drapery above the headboard, which is gathered to form a fabric “crown” hanging high above the bed. Cream-painted end tables with bronze hardware and gold gilt mirrors above flank the bed. Facing the bed is a French-style dresser over which hangs a flat-screen TV.
From the master bedroom is a cheerful sitting/exercise room that also has views of the river and access to the rear patio. A chaise lounge upholstered in pale peach silk brocade, accented with silk pastel polka dot pillows, makes a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy the view. The silk polka dot fabric was also used for the draperies and to cover a small trunk that doubles as a decorative table.
Off of the sitting room, on either side of the master bath, are two elegant “his and her” walk-in closets. It is obvious which one is Cindy’s closet, with cream carpeting and pistachio green walls accented with gold floral stenciling. One side of the closet houses multi-shelved glass cabinets that display her collection of shoes. Centered between the cabinets is a green-painted chest of drawers with Swarovski crystal knobs, over which hangs a matching mirror topped with a hand-executed overlay rosette and shell swag. The mirror and glass cabinets reflect light from two multi-tiered Swarovski crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. On the wall across from the cabinets and chest of drawers are three separate closets for Cindy’s clothing. Glass cabinets above the clothing rods provide additional storage, as well as the silk embroidered ottomans which rest comfortably throughout the room.
Earl’s closet, with hardwood floors, cherry cabinetry and green antique-finished walls, reflects his enthusiasm for golf. He also has a cabinet with two glass doors, but rather than displaying shoes, he displays his collection of golf hats. His shoe cabinet hides rather than displays his shoes, as Cindy’s does. “Not as pretty as mine,” Cindy teases. And for seating, rather than ottomans, Earl has a settee situated in the middle of his closet. He also has a flat-screen TV over the doorway.
Centered between the couple’s closets is the impressive master bath, with travertine floors and ivory silk colored walls hand-painted with faint striations and a pearlized finish. Reddish-orange Rojo Alicante marble from Spain was used for the two vanity countertops, and hand overlays in a rosette and shell motif decorate the vanity cabinets.
The focal point of the master bath is a 10-foot hand-cut curving marble mosaic situated behind the tub depicting two classical figures holding a large vase. A Murano glass fixture hangs above the tub. Just behind the tub is a walk-in shower with shower heads at either end. The travertine walls of the shower and beige and blue tiled floor follow the same curved lines of the tub mosaic.
Just off the bathroom is Cindy’s “Crown Room.” The room serves as a showcase for Cindy’s mementos as Mrs. Tennessee United States 2008 and finalist in the national pageant for Mrs. United States 2008. It is also a place for Cindy to wind down from her job as Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch.
Proudly displayed in a glass-fronted cabinet, are memorabilia from Cindy’s year as Mrs. Tennessee, including a collection of embellished and crystal purses and crowns from her previous titles. Below, is another cabinet that serves as a mini kitchen with a refrigerator and copper and enamel sink. The walls of the room are a “beach glass” color, executed from a seven-layer antiquing process.
To the left of the Crown Room is a handsome study with maple wood flooring and grass cloth wall coverings. A custom double-sided burl cherry desk is positioned at a ninety-degree angle from built-in wall cabinets topped with a bracketed pediment and with fluted columns on either side of bookshelves. Bird-shaped cabinet pulls are made of tortoise shell and mother of pearl. Other pieces of furniture in the study include a wood-framed leather sofa, a leather Empire-style arm chair and round side table. An Oriental, brass-trimmed apothecary chest from Guam and a bronze and alabaster chandelier from Spain add an eclectic touch to the otherwise traditional décor.
A butler’s pantry/wet bar area leads from the dining room to the kitchen and den and is outfitted with cherry cabinetry with fish-shaped silver handles, marble countertops, and an earth tone rectangular tile floor. The walls are of three-dimensional blue celeste pyramidal-shaped marble with mother of pearl centers. There is a humidor, wine refrigerator and a bar sink made of hammered silver, which incorporates the fish design of the cabinetry handles.
The kitchen, eating area and den were designed as an open floor plan for casual entertaining and to take advantage of expansive views of the river. With the exception of the gas stove, all appliances in the kitchen are hidden behind green cabinetry doors with no visible mechanisms. One wall of the kitchen contains a pantry and hidden refrigerator/freezer. An antique blue painted center island has a Brazilian cherry countertop and contains a bar sink, as well as a small refrigerator and freezer, accessed by a pullout drawer.
A rare and now extinct blue Brazilian marble was used for the remaining countertops. The blue color, known as “Long Island Blue,” was the inspiration for the color scheme throughout the house. Pebbled glass-fronted cabinets display colorful glass vases, bowls and pitchers, some of which are family antiques while some were purchased while traveling. The Italian-style bracketed hooded stove has pull-out columns on either side that store spice jars. A marble-tiled mosaic depicting a peacock in a fruit tree, located behind the stove, is a focal point of the kitchen.
The comfortable den has a sectional sofa facing a flat-screen TV over a black-trimmed distressed walnut buffet. Near the rear windows is a French country dining table and chairs with green, cream and blue checked fabric, which provides an informal and picturesque spot to dine.
A bedroom off the kitchen and den area was designed with Cindy’s parents and Earl’s mother in mind and is furnished with an old French-style armoire, carved mahogany bed and end tables, and a tufted silk settee. The full guest bath has silk faux-painted walls, a walnut cabinet with swan-shaped pulls, and a travertine floor that has the same peach, blue and green color scheme as the bedroom.
Located near the kitchen is the “nerve center,” which provides 21st century technology for the house. Smarthomes Chattanooga installed the system that provides room-by-room computerized heating and cooling, and music and lighting that can be accessed from touch screen wall pads throughout the house.
From the hallway behind the kitchen is Earl’s “Man Room,” where the former Hixson High School golf coach proudly displays a framed picture of his state champion team. Among the other golf memorabilia is a framed collage of photographs of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods after winning the Masters Tournament. The photos are grouped around a yellow Masters flag that was signed by all three winners.
Located at the far end of the room is a golf simulator that Earl uses to sharpen his golf game – rain or shine. He demonstrates how the simulator allows him to shoot from a driving range, practice or play a golf course. The computerized screen also displays statistics such as total yardage, miles per hour, elevation, length from hole, and where the shot tracks.
The second story of the home is accessed from a stairway that has Italian hand carved posts. At the top of the stairway is a sitting area with maple floor and a built-in wet bar. A glass cupola above provides extra light for the area. From the sitting area, steps lead up to a pool room that has access to an outside balcony. On the other side of the sitting area is a guest bedroom and bath, music room and work/play room, which will eventually have a computer station and additional sleeping space.
The rear of the house, which fronts the river, has areas for relaxing, dining or entertaining. An open patio with colorful chaise lounges and travertine floors accented with Bahia blue granite squares can be accessed from the living room and master bedroom. Steps from the patio lead to a covered arcaded patio with a sitting and dining area and built-in gas grill. The arcaded patio has glass panels between the arches that allow for unobstructed views of the river.
Steps from the lower patio lead down to an infinity pool with a hot tub, fountain and fire bowls. Artistic Pools of Atlanta installed the pool, which has a remote control for the fountain, lighting, fire bowls and heat for the hot tub. Just off the pool deck is a bathroom and separate changing room. Below the pool, on the lawn that gently slopes toward the river, is an additional patio with sitting area and fire pit. If lounging by the pool or in one of the chaise lounges is too sedate, there is a small putting green on which to practice.
As Cindy noted, their home had been a dream for many years. When their dream became a reality, they named their home “Soñador,” which is Spanish for “dreamer.” Their dream has manifested into a repository for treasured pieces from around the world, interspersed with personal memorabilia – all incorporated into a home that reflects their personal taste and lifestyle in an elegant and welcoming setting.