My Houzz: Collected Style in a Nashville Bungalow

Nashville natives Caroline and Clark Brewer are both naturals at composing creative vignettes. She's a visual merchandiser for Anthropologie and a freelance stylist, and he's a photographer. So it's no surprise that stylish displays embellish the couple's two-story bungalow.

Using paint and a mix of vintage accessories with modern furnishings, each room showcases an array of repurposed, budget-friendly furniture and splashes of bold hues to create the couple's own gallery of collected creative ideas. "I am eclectic and I like to collect things from all over — from the flea market to West Elm and everywhere in between," Caroline says.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Clark and Caroline Brewer
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 1,521 square feet; 2 bedrooms,1 bath and a second-level studio

In the dining room, a long distressed farm table joins a weathered secondhand bench and some modern finds from West Elm. Clark and Caroline found the chalkboard for $5 at a garage sale and Caroline envisioned a modern family crest-type drawing to be added to it. They asked Chelsea Petaja, a local artist and friend, to design the crest.

Wall color: Alaskan Husky, Benjamin Moore; trim: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; chairs: Scoop-Back, West Elm; rug: West Elm; console: Dumont, West Elm; farm table: Paul Michaels, Monroe, Louisiana


A wide array of family photos, artwork and keepsakes decorate the breakfast room, abiding by Caroline's decorating philosophy to personalize where possible, as each item can help trigger a fond memory. The big floral painting is from a flea market in Aix-en-Provence, France. "Clark shot a wedding in France last year and we were lucky enough to get to travel around the country. It is one of my favorite pieces in my home," Caroline says.

Wall color: Sleigh Bells, Benjamin Moore; trim: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; table: Odyssey, CB2


A clear acrylic console displays some favorite home design books and a set of miniature vintage bowling pins, showcasing a simple styling tip shared by Caroline. "Start with your basics and then slowly layer in furniture and accessories," she says.

The metal chair is vintage.

Wall color: Horizon, Benjamin Moore; console: Peekaboo, CB2; lamp: TJ Maxx


The front door opens right into the living room where built-in bookshelves flank a painted brick fireplace. Clark and Caroline painted the brick fireplace as well as the inside of the cabinets when they first moved in. Mounted deer antlers hang above the mantel with a photo of Caroline’s grandmother. The fresh flowers are from a nearby farmer’s market.

More: How to paint print like a pro

Chairs: 8th Avenue Antiques, Nashville; wall color: Horizon, Benjamin Moore; trim: White Dove, Benjamin Moore


These built-in cabinets enclosed in the breakfast room are original to the home and are used to store serving dishes.

A vintage ironing board doubles as a chic wet bar. Colorful bowls and bar essentials are gathered on the wood while the libations are stored in a rustic wire basket below.


The couple left the kitchen as is with its black countertops paired with glossy subway tile and stainless steel appliances.


The vintage 1950s General Electric refrigerator in the laundry room was purchased for $40 at an estate sale and stores the couple’s extra food and beverages.

Light: Knappa, Ikea


The previous homeowners included the main bed frame along with a few other home accessories for only $200. Caroline uses a dress form mannequin to organize a few accessories.

Linens and pillows: Bella Notte and West Elm; curtains: West Elm


A weathered dresser and little sitting nook are opposite the bed. An antique card table hangs as artwork.


"I love our hallway. I am the visionary and Clark is the executor, the patient one," Caroline says. "We painted the hallway white to make it brighter and then Clark stenciled a graphic print on the walls in white metallic paint." The project took two weekends.

The vintage world map was found at an antique store in Mississippi.


The second level of the home is the couple's home office and guest room, all accessed by a narrow, 2½-foot-wide staircase.

On the same desk where Clark did his homework as a child, he now edits his photography projects.

Chair: Wrap Chair, West Elm


In Caroline's workspace, she used neon washi tape to frame vintage artwork above her vintage metal desk.

"Because the staircase is so narrow we had to cut the couch in half to get it up the stairs," Caroline says. "Luckily we were able to reassemble it."

Yellow armchair: estate sale; curtains: West Elm; desk chair: Ross


The couple picked up the vintage bookshelf from an antique store in Mississippi.


The second-floor studio is outfitted with a vintage iron twin bed frame dressed with mismatched colorful linens for visiting guests.


Planted out front are geraniums, hydrangeas and some blue fescue grasses to frame their welcoming open porch.


Caroline relaxes with Clark on their porch swing. "I think the key to loving your home is decorating it with things that speak to you and not worrying about how it will all fit together," Caroline says.

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