Nashville’s popularity and the resulting — and rapid — growth can be seen almost everywhere. What may not be so obvious is how those changes are fueling development in areas that were once less traveled by local shoppers. This growth is driving businesses to relocate and allowing new areas to flourish. The end game is an ever-changing, always new landscape for our city.
A couple of months ago, we wrote about the Wedgewood Houston (or WeHo) neighborhood, one of Nashville’s newest and most exciting areas of town. Located off of Eighth Avenue by Greer Stadium, Wedgewood Houston is attracting artists, distilleries, event spaces, bakeries and sandwich shops, to name a few. Similarly, the area of town loosely bound by Thompson Lane, Powell Avenue, Sidco Drive (which is an acronym for Southern Industrial Development Company, by the way) and Harding Place is booming and, based on the types of businesses found there, has been dubbed Nashville’s Design District. The borders and businesses, defined by their resources for design and home decor, are growing, and the potential for the area is endless, as Nashville has the creative forces to rival the likes of Atlanta, or any other city for that matter.
While there are so very many design-related businesses in the area — tile stores, lighting warehouses and the like — the below list of area stores and companies is a great place to get started. Stay tuned, though, as we will soon release a complete directory to Nashville’s Design District. Till then, happy exploring!
Hester & Cook
2728 Eugenia Ave., Nashville, TN 37211 • (615) 736-2892
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hester & Cook moved from Broadway’s Midtown area to Eugenia Avenue off of Thompson Lane. Hester & Cook Design Group started their company with KnobStoppers, a novel idea of creating a wine stopper from a vintage doorknob, and realized record sales. Since their inception, they have added Cake Vintage Table & Home and Kitchen Papers to their product lineup. Their retail store is a laboratory of sorts for new ideas, as they are primarily a wholesale operation. Savvy shoppers can find true bargains and unique gift ideas, though. Robbie and Angie Cook, the owners of Hester & Cook, exude an energy and creativity that is hard to match.
Jalan-Jalan
2503 Winford Ave., Nashville, TN 37211 • (615) 780-2600
Hours: By appointment only
Behind the doors of Jalan-Jalan, located on Winford Avenue, one finds unique and beautiful antiques, cultural art, textiles and architectural elements from Indonesia. Owner Caye David visited the island of Bali in 1996, and was inspired by the quality and design of the antiques she found there. As far as value goes, Jalan-Jalan antiques continue to appreciate. To visit, you must make an appointment.
Ironware International
2421 Cruzan St., Nashville, TN 37211 • (615) 726-2500
In 1988, Nashvillian Karin Eaton of Ironware International brought the works of blacksmith Pierre Picard to America. Today, with more than 500 designs of lamps, chandeliers, sconces, fireplace accessories and furniture, Ironware International continues to embody the quality of Old World craftsmanship paired with a 21st-century flair. Pieces are manufactured in a small town in Normandy, with the precision of the masters, Pierre Picard and David Duboscq, and in the Nashville studio by local artisans. In one word, the collections are exquisite. Visit Ironware’s exception website to peruse their selection of designers.
Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium
2728 Eugenia Ave., Nashville, TN 37211 • (615) 244-1001
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Southeastern Salvage, located next door to Hester & Cook, is a treasure trove of rugs, knick-knacks, fabrics, outdoor accessories, mirrors, furniture and more. If at first you don’t discover what you are hunting for, pop by again, as their merchandise changes frequently. What you can always find are great rugs, everything from sea grass to wool, as well as baskets and containers, cabinets, flooring, tile and sinks, among other things. In the spring and summer, check out their selection of trees, plants and other gardening materials.
Merridian Home Furnishings
2909 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 463-0555
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m.
Merridian Home Furnishings moved from the Melrose area of Franklin Road (another booming corridor) to Sidco Drive off of Thompson Lane. If you have never been to this home furniture and accessories store, then you’re in for a treat. The store is huge and filled with quality, affordable furniture, upholstery fabrics and so much more. If you are looking for expertise in custom upholstery, their design center is happy to assist. The manager has seen an increase in new customers due to the traffic on Thompson Lane, and we just hope they don’t all beat us to the bargain room, which is always worth a visit.
Peacock Alley
2907 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 627-0035
Located right next to Merridian Furniture, you will find Peacock Alley, named after a famous corridor in the prestigious Waldorf Astoria where the wealthy would gather at the turn of the 20th century. The company started in 1973, when owner Mary Ella Gabler sold 250 patchwork pillows to Neiman Marcus. Now, Peacock Alley sources luxurious fabrics from around the world, most notably from Portugal, and has them sewn by local artisans in their Dallas workshop. The quality of the products is exceptional and well worth the investment. Good sheets matter! (Learn more about Peacock Alley’s manager, Teresa Ofman, who was a FACE of Nashville.)
English & Company
118 Powell Place, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 315-5589
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What is great about this consignment shop located on Powell Avenue next to GasLamp Antiques Too is its size — no clutter, promise! The English & Company team does a lovely job of accepting only quality furniture and accessories and offers a noteworthy — and large — selection of draperies and pillows. The quality of the fabric is such that you can justify having them repurposed for your home. English & Company is a favorite for the set designers of ABC-TV’s show Nashville, and it’s worth following them on Facebook to see what’s coming in new.
GasLamp Antiques
100 Powell Place, Ste. 200, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 297-2224
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.
With the loss of Nashville’s beloved Whiteway Antique Mall, GasLamp Antiques fills a much-needed space for those of us who love antiquing. GasLamp is located on Powell with two locations, GasLamp Antiques and GasLamp Too. The original location is a huge space, and is considered one of the largest antique malls in Tennessee. It’s so large that they give you a map to navigate the vast corridors. Inside, you will find estate jewelry, furniture, paintings, silver and books. Right down the road is GasLamp Too, a smaller version of the original store. Some consider it easier to navigate, but if you are a serious antique seeker, you’ll want to see it all.
CenWood Appliances
4015 Armory Oaks Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 256-8686
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What CenWood, a family-owned and -operated company started in Memphis, has over its competitors is service. Once you walk through the doors, you are in for a real treat as you wander through showroom after showroom of gorgeous appliances. CenWood continues to have all the new trends when it comes to kitchens and outdoor patio appliances, and your assigned salesperson helps review your options to aid you in selecting what’s best for your needs. On a recent trip, I discussed the pros and cons of dishwashers and decided to select the more durable components. Yes, it was more expensive, but exactly what I wanted. If you are tired of the look of stainless, you will find that CenWood continues to stock the newest look of charcoal grays and black.
Central Woodwork
717 Melrose Ave., Nashville, TN 37211 • (615) 244-0086
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
With the incredible amount of building and renovation going on in Nashville, Central Woodwork is a contractor’s go-to place. Established in 1945, Central Woodwork is a third-generation, family-owned company that is known for quality products and a huge inventory of residential doors. After a recent visit, I was wowed by their custom work and new designer showroom.
The Fabric House
4308 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 837-0000
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located on Sidco Drive, The Fabric House is where you go if you need any fabric from Sunbrella to pillows, hardware and more. They will assist you in designing custom draperies, bedding and pillows that can be made in their workroom. They have been serving design needs since 1966, with a huge inventory of decorator fabrics and trims, and with the closing of Calico Corners in Green Hills, The Fabric House is one of the only places to find quality drapery and upholstery fabric in Nashville.
Textile Fabrics
471 Craighead St., Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 297-5346
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
While Textile Fabrics doesn’t sell upholstery and drapery fabrics, it is the best place for fabrics for dressmakers, except if you happen to be with Ms. Cheap (I was) and hit their 50 percent off sale (at 5 a.m.) for gingham curtains. They lost their lease on Franklin Road about a year ago and have relocated to Craighead. Nashville is so lucky to have a fabric store the caliber of Textile Fabrics, especially when you need to pull together a Bo Peep or Little Red Riding Hood costume.
During our recent trip, we learned that the Nashville Design District domain name has been secured (hooray!), and the area’s businesses are working to join forces to create a true collaboration among those that call this area home. It is exciting to see what is there now and, more importantly, what is to come.
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