The Hazel house

01 Dec The Hazel house

Once upon a time, this house near downtown Franklin was owned by a lady named Hazel. The home, built in 1892, was described as a coat of many colors. A new room was added every few years as needed. At one time, the owner rented out individual rooms to musicians coming to town to find their fortune and fame, and needed a place to hang their hat or guitar.

You can see how the house grew from front to back. This is how it looked when Alfrey properties got a hold of it to renovate, add on and give the old Queen Anne style house new life. And here she is today!!!

Now a fresh and modern version of her old self but with much more room and style for the way we live today.

Here’s a shot of the living room before the renovations. I love what I read on Mary Margaret’s Instagram account about this house. She said “A lot of people don’t want to see the ugly when it comes to interior design, they would much rather see the pretty. ” But she said the more she thought about why she loved design, it became clear to her that “it’s like the story of redemption, and Jesus’s love for us. He can take something so beautifully broken and withered, and make it shine like a new diamond.”

What a beautiful way to look at it.

Sammy Alfrey hired long time friend David Still to do the construction, and between he and talented young designer Mary Margaret Glass, they produced a sparkling new home that has kept features of the original house, paying homage to its past, like the transom windows, and even an old narrow staircase that leads to a small room upstairs.

The house has its original twelve foot ceilings with ten foot ceilings in the addition. Take a look at this perspective from the original front door, and then the updated view.

I remember those funky old screen doors from way back. The updated photo below shows the transoms, beautiful old front door, handsome floors, and modern lighting.

The dining room stayed in its original location with its vintage crystal chandelier and a rebuilt fireplace.

The original galley kitchen was on the side of the house beyond the dining room. A passageway with a bar was added to lead to the sparkling new kitchen complete with quartz countertops, cabinets painted Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams, latch satin brass hardware and stunning lighting from Visual Comfort at Graham Lighting.

A very wide center hall leads from the front door to the new addition which includes a lovely master suite and two guest suites as well. Designer Mary Margaret Glass, a 2018 Belmont graduate, says her style is a modern fun vibe that she incorporated into the house.

This is the original bathtub that was reglazed. It used to be in the middle of the house, right off the kitchen in the bathroom that was part of the old house!

Just goes to show what creative minds can come up with while still using parts of an historic home, yet making it more functional for today. A beautiful shower was also added to the bathroom in the master suite.

Guest bedrooms are also off the main hall downstairs.

And there’s also what was an old mule shed next to the house that’s been converted to a guest cottage. It’s also on VRBO so it can be rented out if the new home owners choose to use it in this way.

The home is located at 312 Third Avenue South in Franklin, walking distance to great shops in this charming town. It, or should I say, “she” is waiting to welcome a new owner to take up residence here. The Hazel house is now on the market. Her facelift is complete and she’s looking better than ever. I think Hazel would be proud.

I must quote Mary Margaret again as I finish this post. I love what she said before the house was finished, and how she “looks at this house with a whole lot of hope, love and good times to be had. So here’s to the ugly. I think you’re pretty wonderful.” Amen.

For more information on this home, contact Alfrey Properties. 615-495-6004. And designer Mary Margaret Glass can be reached at 615-613-1996. My thanks to Showcase Photography for providing many of the beautiful photos.

Thanks so much for following Stylish Retreats! Hope you’re enjoying this holiday season.

Amy