06 Oct City Farmhouse Cool
I’ve wanted to feature a farmhouse look since I started blogging several months ago. Little did I know there were experts just down the road a few miles. City Farmhouse is not only a retail store in the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee, but a lifestyle brand.
Photo by Alissa Saylor
Kim and David Leggett travel the country, looking for those special vintage and antique pieces that have a story. Their talent lies in picking the best accessories or furniture or artifacts, and then sharing the history of those pieces with their customers. City Farmhouse has struck a chord, attracting thousands and thousands of customers and followers with their beloved pop up sales they produce three times a year. And they’ve gotten the attention of many publications, including Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and Romantic Country. Celebrities who’ve purchased pieces from them include Ralph Lauren, Sheryl Crow and Carrie Underwood.
Photo by Alissa Saylor
During my visit with Kim this week, she told me when she started sharing her “picking” adventures with Facebook friends, the City Farmhouse brand really took off. She now has 155,000 followers. Clearly, this style is being embraced by people all over the country. Which is why she’s writing a book that will come out next fall. More on that in a minute.
Photo by Alissa Saylor
Kim was raised by her grandmother who used primitive pieces with upholstered furniture, and even made her own paint so it’s easy to see where Kim got her eye for the farmhouse style. But in her shop, she doesn’t paint furniture. She leaves things in their original state.
Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck
Here’s a space she designed for the bridal suite at Homestead Manor in Thompson Station near Nashville. It’s an example of blending primitive pieces with more modern furniture and white painted walls.
Photo by Alyssa Rosenheck
And this is the groom’s quarters she designed at Homestead Manor. Antlers and linen upholstered chairs with checked pillows make for a space that has character and interest.
These are some of the tips she’ll share along with resources in her new book which they will be selling in vintage style! Kim and David will be doing her book tour from an airstream bus they’ll convert into a farmhouse look. Wish I had pictures of that to share!
What else is in the future for City Farmhouse? They are converting their retail space in the factory to an event space that looks like an old New York City hotel lobby next year. After many requests, they’ve decided to use it for parties, meetings, luncheons and other gatherings to accomodate up to one hundred people. But loyal shoppers, don’t despair. There will still be occasional sales. And you’ll still be able to buy their fabulous finds on line.
Photo by Edmund Barr
Photo by Edmund Barr
And speaking of sales, the next pop up fair will be October 14 and 15 at the Factory in Franklin. Kim says there’s no better way to get the best vendors from around the country together, giving shoppers the opportunity to buy from dealers who have been highly vetted. For more information, just go to their website, cityfarmhousefranklin.com.
Photo by Alissa Saylor
And as if she’s not busy enough, Kim plans to hold workshops to help other people find ways to improve their businesses, like doing pop-up stores within their own retail spaces. She always wanted to be a teacher and through her design, store, fairs and now a new book, I’d say she’s educating us all on bringing a little farmhouse into any retreat. Thanks Kim. And good luck with all your new adventures!
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