Breezy Southern Cottage Interiors & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee

My husband and I love visiting historic Franklin, Tennessee and are even toying with the idea of retiring there in a few years. So when last we found ourselves in the historic town, we explored several neighborhoods where we imagined we might feel at home. This gorgeous cottage (built in 2018) made me say STOP THE CAR so I could admire its charms. Would you even suspect it is a new build!?! Breezy Southern Cottage Interiors & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee shares glimpses of this straight-out-of-a-fairy-tale home which lives large even while retaining its sweetness through and through.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.

Listing: 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN Square Footage: 3,499 s.f.

Breezy Southern Cottage Interiors & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee

How much will it set you back to score a charming brand new home like this with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, an open floor plan, custom finishes, and quality construction in downtown Franklin? More than a million in today’s crazy market.

1. Shingle Siding

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee is waiting for you!
Breezy Southern Cottage Interiors & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee
Inspirational quote about growing in the dark on Hello Lovely Studio via positivelypresent. #growingquotes #strugglequotes #encouragementquotes

2. Charming Arches

This ultra-simple board and batten entry reminded me how just a little attention to detail can break up a wall yet still continue the breezy factor.

Arched wood front door and board an batten wall in entry of a charming Franklin, TN cottage. #entry #interiordesign

And it truly doesn’t get more fairy tale like than when the front door has a smiley welcoming arch.

3. Casual and Unfussy Furnishings

Were you maybe expecting the interiors of this cottage to be more vintage/traditional than modern rustic, organic, and coastal?

Rustic elegant cottage style in a breezy den with arched windows and laid back furnishings in Franklin, TN.

Because you certainly need not be on the water or even near it to embrace a seaside mood.

Country French farmhouse dining area with rustic farm table and cane back Louis style chairs in a Tennessee cottage in Franklin.

These dining chairs have my name written all over them, and the farm table is perfection, oui?

Breezy laid back barefoot elegant style in a cottage living room with rustic fireplace. #livingroom #cottagestyle

I rarely see a coffee table I admire more than the one in our home, but this one packs so much interest and charm in this Tennessee cottage. I would not mind my husband and kids plopping take-out pizza on it one bit.

Wicker pendant and white sofa in a netural Southern cottage den with rustic fireplace and raw wood coffee table.

And I can’t stop staring at the nubby textures of the pillow and chunky knit throw.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

If a rattan pendant is calling to you, here’s my favorite source for woven lighting.

Live life as if...Rumi's gorgeous honey-like words to soothe the soul on Hello Lovely Studio. #inspirationalquote #Rumi #poetry

4. Hardwood Flooring

The flooring in a new build is so important to setting a tone and establishing a feeling of lived-in charm.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee is waiting for you!
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor)…certainly a fairy tale cottage indeed! 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas as well as Interior Design Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee.

In this home, all of the variation in tone creates warmth, movement, and a laid back welcoming mood. Just imagine if the hardwood selected was a formal, dark-stained cherry wood with a high gloss finish…

Feminist quote about how it's not your responsibility to be appealing - Hello Lovely. #feministquotes #empowermentquotes

5. Natural Textures Like Rattan

So many folks who love modern farmhouse and modern country style choose gallery-white and bright paint for the walls, and things can feel stuffy without plenty of natural organic accents.

Comfy white sofa with gold pillows, cableknit chunky throw, and rattan lighting accents in a rustic cottage den in Tennessee.

Read this if you need help choosing the right white.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

Rugged rock on the masculine fireplace also juxtaposes nicely with the more pristine white of the walls.

6. Open & Casual Dining

I love how cozy this dining area feels even though it is smack dab in the middle of an open plan.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

I know that plenty of folks are turning away from open floorplans after so much time sheltering/working at home and feeling the limits of privacy, but it’s still largely a personal matter.

Breezy southern beachy charm in a white kitchen and breakfast area with plenty of natural finishes and hardwoods in a Tennessee cottage.

I mean, if we have learned anything in the last couple of years, it is that trends come and go quickly so what’s best for resale today could easily change tomorrow.

Be a lamp, or a lifeboat...Rumi's gorgeous honey-like words to soothe the soul on Hello Lovely Studio. #inspirationalquote #Rumi #poetry

Is a Tiny White Cottage More Your Style?

7. Shiplap & Paneled Walls

What say ye? Tired of all the shiplap yet?

Casual cottage den with shiplap walls, fireplace, and natural organic accents in a Tennsee cottage.

Because it’s one of those things that has historical significance behind it which accounts for its enduring charm.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee is waiting for you!
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

8. White Shaker Kitchen

I seriously need to do a comprehensive post on Shaker style kitchens since there are so many ways to customize them to keep bland factor at bay.

Breezy white Shaker kitchen with natural organic woven pendants and counter stools in a Tennessee cottage. #beachykitchen #shakerkitchen

Let this kitchen inspire you to add texture with woven materials rather than the expected iron lanterns. And in lieu of floating modern farmhouse-y shelves, look at the cubbies flanking the range above.

Beautiful Shaker kitchen with pro range and textured white ceramic backsplash. #whitekitchens #kitchendesign

I might use that spot for spices, using THESE SMART CONTAINERS for them.

Clear spice containers with lids
tap image for buying info
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas & Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee is waiting for you!
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

Additionally, it is smart to create little pockets of privacy when you have an open floorplan. This butler pantry off the kitchen is one such example which could lend itself to any number of functions.

9. Cozy Pantry With Office Space

Beautiful and efficient butler pantry with office space, storage, and work space. #pantries #butlerpantry

I have a pair of these exact same stools (above) which I have found endless uses for since they work for seating, tables, and short people helpers.

10. Architectural Interest Inside & Out

What a boon when a newly constructed home isn’t just a series of boxes…

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
Bedroom with interesting architecture – 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor)…certainly a fairy tale cottage indeed! 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas as well as Interior Design Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee.
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
Master Bathroom – 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
Cottage design inspiration from a newly constructed home: 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

3,499 SF Cottage Floorplan Inspiration

In case you want to build something in the same spirit…

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
Floorplan First Floor: 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
Second Floor Floorplan: 107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).

11. Lattice Privacy for Porch

Sometimes the view isn’t ideal and you’re after a little cocoon-like space for fresh air and dreaming.

A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor).
A charming cottage in historic downtown Franklin inspires with its vintage style and is surprisingly brand new construction from Garden Gate Homes. Dramatic arches! Come see the home tour on Hello Lovely Studio.
107 Gist St., Franklin, TN – Garden Gate Homes (Lisa Culp Taylor)…certainly a fairy tale cottage indeed! 11 Charming Cottage Style Design Ideas as well as Interior Design Inspiration From Franklin, Tennessee.

More Inspiration from a Pretty Franklin Home

Don’t you love the front porch!?!

Come tour this amazing Southern coastal cottage with inspiring, spare, white interiors HERE, and also see a French Gustavian style cottage HERE or a Cotswolds cottage HERE.

Decor Finds for a Breezy Southern Cottage

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
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French Stripe Basket Set
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Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
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Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
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Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
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Gustavian Cabinet
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Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
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Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
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Tray Side Table
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Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing
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6 Comments

  1. September 8, 2019 / 10:47 am

    I’ve never hear of Franklin, Tennessee. What brought you there? Beyond having cute houses is there some attraction? Just curious. I believe you said you rented a cute house there too. You’ll have to share that place. Love the open kitchen/dining area in this cottage. Happy Sunday!

    • Michele
      Author
      September 8, 2019 / 7:35 pm

      Hi Celia. I discovered the charm of Franklin about 20 years ago on a business trip – it’s not too far from Nashville. A lot of celebrities and musicians have homes in Franklin (Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow…), and it is the sort of place where they will never be bothered or hounded. Things are simple and the pace is slow. The Giannettis nearly moved to Leipers Fork which is right next to Franklin so they were charmed too! 🙂

  2. Amy
    September 20, 2021 / 9:30 am

    Love me some Franklin, TN & these lovely cottage interiors! You could NOT go wrong retiring to TN, one of the prettiest states there is. You’d only be 2 hrs from our mtn top home in north AL(which is called the TN Valley!)…we really could meet for coffee!🤗 Love open floor plans like this…which we get to enjoy…lends itself to much togetherness & feels so spacious when everyone’s home(we have 5 kids+significant others) or when entertaining friends. Love the warmth/coziness of THAT coffee table too! Organic/unfussy furnishings of rattan, wood, stone, leathered marble, stripped back floors which we chose w your help… help create a lived-in, welcoming mood we love. A covered porch as an extra outdoor room, if possible, to enjoy fresh air & God’s creation even if it’s raining is the cherry 🍒 on top! I didn’t realize the Gianetti’s considered Leiper’s Fork. I know I’m biased being from the South, but there is no better place to live for so MANY reasons. So I hope y’all will join us one day! You would fit in perfectly down here!!❤️

    • Michele
      Author
      September 20, 2021 / 3:28 pm

      You’re making a strong case, and we were slated to be in TN when Ida had other plans! So we’ll be road tripping there sometime soon, and I would love to meet, girlfriend. Love all these design features you’ve highlighted and amen about the rain! xox

  3. Lisa B.
    September 20, 2021 / 3:27 pm

    I’ve been to Franklin many times and love it. But if I had the choice, I’d find a place in Leiper’s Fork. I prefer the simple and slow lifestyle there, whereas Franklin can be kind of “busy.”

    • Michele
      Author
      September 20, 2021 / 8:10 pm

      Thank you so much – we loved Leiper’s Fork. 🙂

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Let’s SHOP!

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing