13 Apr East Nashville eclectic
One of the things I miss most about my former life as a television news reporter is getting out in the community and meeting fascinating people with great stories to share. And this week, I had that opportunity when I met a French woman who calls Nashville home. Dody Jenkins, an artist and decorator, brings her sense of style to a late 1800’s Queen Anne style home she shares with her husband, Rodney and daughter Eden in East Nashville. It welcomes you with a large center hall and twelve foot ceilings and has that “Wow” factor when you walk in with so much natural light and a view all the way to the back of the home.
You’ll notice that most of the colors she uses are various shades of gray, black, and white or cream. Her walls are full of french art. Many of the paintings are family members. Her mother was a designer in Paris and still lives in France where Dody visits as often as possible.
You’ll also notice that most of her furniture is painted. When she works with clients, Dody says she feels like the walls are talking to her. She understands when she enters someone’s home who they are and how to style their space. Her own home definitely reflects who she is with many artful touches on the walls and ceilings. This is a home with what she prefers as a “lived in look,” with the family using all the space, even their daughter playing in the front hall.
Dody says her view of french decor is that it’s often simplistic, with a softness and a sense of calmness that will stay in style for decades. She believes Americans are more willing to take chances, using bolder colors and changing their decor often, while the french choose furnishings they can live with and not change for many years. But she also notes that in France, the public doesn’t have as many choices as Americans do when it comes to lower price point furnishings like you’ll find at Home Goods and other places, making it easier to switch out furniture.
Dody doesn’t mind telling you she’s a bargain shopper, looking for high quality at a good price. She loves nothing more than finding a chest or table at a yard sale or flea market and giving it new life by refurbishing and revamping it. She also uses alot of plants and large mirrors that add light and life to their retreat.
Dody’s husband, Rodney is a contractor, so it’s often a team effort, with him helping her repurpose furniture she finds, adding wheels or even cutting legs off of old tables to change the look. They recently remodeled their light filled kitchen with paint changes and she even made the plaster tile backsplash.
So here is where Dody’s story gets very interesting. She grew up going to her grandmother’s manor home in Normandy which was always bustling with many family members and guests. Dody says her grandmother, who was from an aristocratic background, was like a farmer by day but a grand lady at night, entertaining friends and strangers because she always felt everyone had a story to share and it made life interesting. That influenced Dody who decided to open her home for guests through Airbnb.
This is one of three guest rooms the Jenkins offer to guests who want to experience a unique house in East Nashville while they visit our fine city. It’s the “Paris” room. Again, more of the grays and whites but also black walls which add drama to the lovely space.
Another room is the “Loire” suite. She purchased the bed for a song on Craig’s List but of course painted it and voila!
Dody also painted the piece next to the bed, and wait til you see the ceiling!!!
I love the large frame around the smaller mirror. And there’s another lovely hand painted dresser by Dody. Then you have to see the third guest room on the lower floor that is strikingly different from the others.
This “Art” bedroom is truly a mini art gallery featuring her brother’s famous work done on plexiglass and aluminum. Cyrille Margarit is his name and he works mostly in St. Barts and Saint-Tropez with very high end clients. In fact, he’ll be in Cannes during the film festival with his unique paintings. He’s had many celebrity clients.
The home is truly a treasure trove of art and well loved pieces that Dody has collected and put her touch to in one way or another. She most definitely captures the french expression, “Joie de vivre!”
I appreciate Dody and Rodney welcoming me into their East Nashville retreat! Merci beaucoup. Oh, and as always, a shout out to the family pet, Jazzy, who made an appearance during my visit.
If you’re interested in the Jenkin’s Airbnb, it’s listed under the 37206 zip code, and called French Flair. Dody can be reached for design work at 615-429-6660, dodyjenkins@gmail.com, or Inspiration by Dody on Facebook.
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