R. Higgins Interiors

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Belle Meade

Nashville, TN

Westview

A Ranch Transformed

Blackberry Farm

A Great Smokey Mountain Retreat

Yellowstone

A Montana Retreat

Old Natchez Trace

Historic Leiper’s Fork

Woodlawn

A Nashville Home

Clydelan Court

Belle Meade Estate

1212

Nashville Gulch Condo

Nashville, TN

Overview

A NASHVILLE RESIDENCE

Built: 1951
Size: 7337 SF
Style:  
Scope: Renovation two-year project

 

Located in the heart of Belle Meade in Nashville TN, this is a place to call home. Roger and Ann transformed an outdated single level home to a two-story home perfect for entertaining guests. Keeping only a few existing items like the tile flooring in the den, some appliances and a few exterior walls, Roger put his creative talents to work transforming the floor plan of the home to flow appropriately for he and Ann’s lifestyle. With an emphasis and love for curated antiques, the architectural, contracting team, and vendors all played a special role to create an effortless backdrop for Roger and Ann’s near 30 years of accumulation of found objects, antiques, and upholstery pieces. 

In this home you will find Roger’s unique eye for layering, each room having an abundance of texture and pattern, accessories, and touches making every room have individual flair yet remain cohesive as you walk throughout the entire home. They have enjoyed hosting parties and friends and look forward to doing so as the home continues to evolve over time as every designer’s home does.  

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Insights

A Belle Meade Renovation

Not long after the completion of their previous home near Green Hills in Nashville, Roger and Ann got an offer they couldn’t pass up. A few years later they eagerly settled into their new home after a long renovation.

 As you enter the home you immediately notice the hand painted hardwood floors. Roger and Ann transformed what was formerly a grouping of rooms to a long entry hall separating public and private spaces in the home welcoming guests in an expansive space with lots of visual interest. Added millwork and modified cased openings, the entry immedaitely invites you to explore the rest of the home.

  Roger and Ann pulled hues from the existing tile flooring in the den and carried it’s richness throughout the home’s color palette. From the tile in the den to the mohair pillow in the bedroom, to the small threading in the pillows of the sitting room, each space feels cohesive from one room to the next. Walls in opposing finishes of high gloss lacquer to rough grasscloth and upholstery fabrics make every part of a room feel noticed and thought through.

 Each room feels like an ever-evolving, curated, place to call home.

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

A Ranch Transformed

Overview

Westview Avenue

Built: 1969
Size: 6,800 SF
Style: Heavily Modified Ranch
Scope:

Renovated over a two-year period

Nestled in one of Nashville’s most aspirational neighborhoods, the location and sheer practicality of this Belle Meade home made the decision easy for a young family looking to put down roots. The couple felt an immediate draw to the neighborhood; they just knew it would provide the perfect backdrop for their three sons, two dogs, and easygoing approach to entertaining. But they also felt strongly that the house itself would first require a profound transformation. Roger and his team focused on maximizing the home’s beauty, comfort, and livability. This entailed modifying the floor plan to dramatically increase ceiling heights in the center of the home while adding a porch and additional living space off the back. In each room, a judicious blend of old and new elements creates a dance of texture and pattern to contrast the soft color palette of the walls. Antiques are now juxtaposed with a growing art collection, including an original Andy Warhol. Meanwhile, artwork by their own children personalizes the space while infusing it with vibrant, youthful energy.

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Insights

The Ranch Transformed

Sometimes a particular location – the street, the surrounding neighborhood, the breathtaking views – is close enough to perfection that the house itself almost becomes an afterthought. This Belle Meade charmer is a case in point. By all accounts, the late-60s ranch was rather unremarkable when its current owners first happened upon it. But what the home lacked in finesse, it more than made up for in potential.

Though the owners’ original intent had been to make a few simple renovations, they soon realized they had an opportunity to create something much more personal. And before they knew it, they found themselves happily embracing the idea of an extreme makeover.

“We pretty much ended up gutting this house and starting fresh. Only a couple of the original bathrooms remain.”

Just beyond the entry hall, the height of the living room has more than doubled, with extensive custom wax-finished white oak drawing the eye ever upward. The transformation is dramatic, creating a grand entrance that instantly sets the tone for all that follows. “Yes, I believe in millwork,” laughs Roger.

Moving inward, the expansive family room now boasts a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Its sweeping lines create a pleasing contrast, connecting to a pair of screened porches overlooking an elegant pool and patio. The large back yard affords plenty of room for kids, dogs, and gatherings of nearly any size.

Inside and out, no detail is ever too small to escape Roger’s attention. From handcrafted copper gutters and downspouts to the matching copper porch screens, all elements resonate together to evoke an easygoing sense of peace, joy, and harmony.

And at the end of the day, isn’t that what family is all about?

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

A Great Smokey Mountain Retreat

Overview
Built: 2015
Size: Approx. 6,000 SF
Style: Mountain vacation home
Scope: New construction, 4 years from concept to completion

Here, Roger and Ann were able to design the entire house in concert with the Blackberry Farm building team. Roger wanted the home to provide a soft backdrop both for the stunning natural vistas outside, along with the sophisticated contemporary art collection inside.

The house is unique for a mountain home, with its mix of clean-lined upholstery and dramatic artwork juxtaposed against tones and materials more typical of its East Tennessee location. Every room features custom millwork, and texture was emphasized over color throughout. The client was based in Hong Kong throughout the process, and the antiques filling the home were sourced from across the globe.

While the home is beautiful year-round, it shines especially brightly during the holidays. It truly has become one of their favorite places. 

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Insights

Great Smoky Getaway

Nestled into one of East Tennessee’s most breathtaking landscapes, this newly constructed getaway expresses modern sensibilities using a range of natural tones and materials. Four years in the making, the final result surpassed the clients’ highest expectations.

“There are homes out here that are stunningly beautiful, but more of a lodge feel. This client wouldn’t have gone for that in a million years.”

“The setting implies a mountain/rustic feel, but that’s not their style,” says Roger. “They have a serious contemporary art collection and prefer things with a higher level of finish. The goal was to meld those things together.”

During design and construction, the home’s owners were residing in Hong Kong. Roger traveled to begin the dialogue in person, then stayed connected via weekly phone calls.

“You can see their personality throughout,” says Ann. “They gravitate toward very fancy. Shiny, lacquered, gold. But still, you’re in the mountains. Somehow you have to marry where you are with what you have, and never compete with the view. Oh, and make it all look as if achieving this was no trouble,” she laughs.

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Sketches

This house is quite unique for a mountain home. Its mix of clean-lined upholstery and dramatic artwork balances beautifully with tones and materials more typical of its East Tennessee location.

Roger Higgins Design Sketch Blackberry Farm Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Roger Higgins Design Sketch Blackberry Farm Screened Porch
Screened Porch
Roger Higgins Design Sketch Blackberry Farm Living Room
Living Room

 

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

A Montana Retreat

Overview

Yellowstone Club Montana

Built: 2019
Size: 8,900 SF
Style: Contemporary Mountain House
Scope:

New Construction two-year build

Located minutes from the Yellowstone National Park, this vacation home is the perfect mountain retreat for families of all sizes. With 6 bedrooms and an open concept entertaining floor plan, there was a space designated for everyone to relax and retreat, or be social with guest or family members. This young family lives a very active lifestyle so we wanted the space to feel slightly more contemporary than their Nashville home, but textural and rustic enough to fit into the Montana landscape. Roger and the team focused heavily on earthy palettes, textures shown in wallcoverings and the venetian plaster applications throughout the home, contemporary lighting and just enough antique finds to make the place feel like more than a second home.

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Insights

A Montana Retreat

The Yellowstone Club is an exclusive resident only property located in the rolling mountains of Big Sky Montana. The community offers golf, skiing, and is geared towards family-friendly designed lifestyles, so this easily became the perfect location for our clients vacation residence. With an unobstructed view of one of the main ski slopes, and nestled next to a creek you can hear while lounging in the master suite, it was without question this was the home they were searching for.

As you enter the home you immediately see the 30’ stairwell where we customized lighting to hang from the upper level to lower. You see through to the dining room, the suede dining chairs placed throughout, and the open concept expansive living dining and kitchen areas all working in contrast with one another to deliniate different social areas of the main level. As you peruse through the great room there is a patio that runs the length of the residence where you can see the perfect view of the slopes and large expanse of the Montana landscape.

“We furnished the home from top to bottom, including pizza makers and utensils in all the drawers, in a 5 month period! We may never be able to say that again! This was a great accomplishment for our team and such an exciting project to work on out of state, with gracious and very trusting clients that made it all possible.”

The palette of this project was earth toned, textural and extracted from the landscape in both summer and winter months. The summers in Yellowstone can be pretty vibrant in hue, so we pulled rich greens and slate blues for several areas in the home, like the office and boys’ bunk rooms. The pillows in the living room combine both texture and pattern with all of the colors used throughout, being the most central room of the home.

Some really special items that stand out in the project were the mid-century pieces the client allowed Roger to hunt for at antique auctions and dealers in the Southeast. We found a set of 6 vintage leather chairs at the Nashville Antique and Garden show, and contrasted them in the lower level game room with a parchment wrapped table found at an auction. The construction of the property was immaculate. Every corner and detail of the home was executed by the Yellowstone Development team and it made the install of our furnishings elevate the space easily.

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

Historic Leiper’s Fork

Overview
Built: 1821
Size: Approx. 7,500 SF
Style: Federal, with a later addition
Scope: Ongoing project
  • Modernized historic home
  • Updated finishes
  • New upholstery and lighting
  • Dining room (formerly a more recent kitchen) paneled with walnut, antique mirror and chandeliers
  • Kitchen remodel
  • Furnishing of interior rooms

A historic property in Williamson County filled with a young family and a desire to entertain, Roger and Ann transformed the main living spaces of this home into a colorful representation of this family’s personality.

The 1821 home’s original kitchen is now an extension of the screened porch that was added to connect the two existing structures. An addition was added to the left hand side of the property to mirror the right, to hold the new kitchen that was large enough for this family and their guests.

This client had a bountiful amount of great antiques, and you can see them used in each room of the home. Timeless patterns, antiques, and southern style make this a timeless property. 

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Insights

History Renewed

Several chapters in the story of this timeworn 1850s farmhouse had already been written when Roger was called in to provide an extreme makeover. The most recent renovation had occurred during the 1970s; to say there was plenty of unrealized potential would be an understatement. The property also included an original log cabin, which was to be part of the project.

“An old house is never a job you really finish – you just work on it one piece at a time.”

When Roger and team arrived, the original kitchen was still standing, but it sat apart from the main house. The clients already had numerous traditional furniture pieces, most of which they wanted to retain. Many were family heirlooms with clear sentimental ties. Having them recovered breathed new life into old treasures, helping them fit comfortably among the pieces Roger brought in to achieve a homier feel.

Another challenge? The wallpaper. “The entry hall had this amazing hand-painted wallpaper,” Roger remembers. “It was definitely too good to take down. But still, it was just shockingly yellow. Our solution was to have it glazed, which toned it down just enough to make it softer and more subtle.” The final result now graces the front cover of Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup.

The extensive renovation included a large new kitchen addition, which predictably has become a center of the family’s home life. “The kitchen is a really big room. But they entertain all the time. Now they can put out a giant buffet on the kitchen island, entertain 150 guests, no problem,” says Ann.

The third-floor attic now enjoys new life as a bunk room and playroom for the couple’s three children. The log cabin serves as a music room, occasionally accommodating overnight guests as well. A spacious screened porch was added to connect the house proper to the original kitchen, now used as a fitness room.

A home as old as this one may never truly be done. But for now, it provides everything this active family could ask for.

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Sketches

This historic Williamson County property already had loads of timeless southern charm. The client owns a large collection of great antiques; Roger was able to integrate them seamlessly into each room’s design.

Roger Higgins Design Sketch Natchez Trace Living Room
Living Room
Roger Higgins Design Sketch Natchez Trace Boys Bedroom
Boys Room

 

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

A Nashville Home

Overview
Built: 1971
Size: 4,700 SF
Style: American Colonial
Scope: Over a 7-year period:
  • Kitchen remodel
  • All baths remodeled
  • Refinished floors
  • Upholstered over existing paneling
  • Complete decoration and furnishing

Roger describes their previous home as simply classic architecture on a beautiful wooded lot.

His favorite part of the home were the walls in the entry that he on a whim decided to hand paint one evening to look like wallpaper he had seen. He loved the unexpected chartreuse green draperies in the dining room, and he was able to incorporate antiques and his findings throughout the house over the duration of their time in this home

They couldn’t completely renovate it all at once, so they started with refinishing the floors, remodeling the kitchen, and one by one redoing all of the bathrooms. One room in particular had horrible existing paneling, so they upholstered the walls over top of it and it became one of the coziest rooms in the house.

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Insights

When taking in the work of any designer whose taste you appreciate, it’s only natural to imagine how that designer’s own home might look and feel. These photographs offer a glimpse into the private world of Roger Higgins and Ann Shipp, long-time partners both in business and in life. Located in one of Nashville’s most beloved older neighborhoods, this property on Woodlawn Avenue was the couple’s personal residence until they moved to their current home.

“Honestly, it was a very traditional house that we just put all of our stuff in. Just a collection of things that happen during your life.”

Here, every piece seems to have a story: a sofa purchased for the Governor’s Club opening showhouse. The acrylic coffee table Roger stumbled across at a yard sale while still in college. An ornate four-panel screen the couple purchased while vacationing in Florida.

Even today, Roger and Ann are in perpetual shopping mode, ready for the unexpected treasure that may be lurking around the next corner. “Roger always can tell you the story behind each piece, in crazy detail,” Ann marvels. “If it was something you could just order out of a catalog, he wouldn’t remember it at all. But if it has some sort of life to it, he remembers it.”

But of course there was more to it than simply finding new ways to arrange a lifetime’s worth of accumulation – much more, as it turned out. “The den had some really hideous cheap paneling,” Roger recalls. “Rather than pull it out and drywall, we used fabric and upholstered over padding. So it absorbs sound, and makes the room feel way more cozy than paneling ever could.”

As is often the case, the kitchen ended up becoming one of the largest challenges. The design was so hopelessly dated, with everything rendered in shades avocado, that the decision to start over from scratch wasn’t even an issue for discussion. The result? An inviting, light-filled space that feels elegantly up-to-date while resonating perfectly with the home’s traditional essence.

Which leads straight back to Roger and Ann’s cardinal rule: of course do what’s right for the client, but also do what’s right for the house.

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

Belle Meade Estate

Overview
Built: 1981
Size: 4,800 SF
Style: Cape Cod
Scope: Over a 10-year period:
  • New furniture
  • construction of an addition
  • updated paint and finishes throughout


Located near Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, this stately Nashville residence contained a lifetime’s worth of accumulation. Our client had a combination of treasures collected from travels, family heirlooms and gifts from her children. The collection of photographs and artwork was also extensive. From photographs and artwork to furniture, nearly every item held strong sentimental value. But the sheer volume of it all was becoming a challenge. Roger was called in to edit, rearrange and repurpose everything to make the home feel comfortable but not overwhelming. After adding millwork details and a new sunporch, we updated paint and finishes throughout the home. The refreshed space provided a wonderful environment for a fresh take on the sprawling collection. Old favorites have taken on new life, creating the perfect space for hosting gatherings of friends and family.

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Insights

A Breath of Fresh Air

For many of Roger’s clients, the decision to engage him represents something of a family legacy. The owner of this home worked with Roger on a previous house, as have her parents and multiple siblings. The goal this time around was to edit down a large collection, adding in whatever was required to bring a focused vision to the newly-acquired space. 

“There’s a definite personality here now. It looks like someone really lives here.”

Even though she does have some formal pieces, the homeowner’s lifestyle is decidedly casual. So to cultivate a more relaxed environment, Roger suggested recovering numerous pieces in simple, down-to-earth canvas. “It wasn’t expensive,” Roger remembers. “But it didn’t need to be. We just bought it and made a bunch of white slipcovers to calm everything down a bit.”

He also reframed artwork to achieve a more refined sense of scale and proportion, creating new groupings as he went. Unique hand-rubbed finishes on walls – and even on some ceilings – tie everything together, though each individual room clearly speaks with its own voice. 

One of the biggest challenges on this project? An impossibly long and narrow living room. Ultimately, the solution for taming this unwieldy space proved deceptively simple – one strategically-placed dining table to create two well-defined seating groups. The long expanse now feels natural and balanced, and actually gained versatility in the bargain.

Proving, once again, that the best inspirations are often those that feel so natural as to never be noticed.

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

Nashville Gulch Condo

Overview
Built: 2014
Size: 1,973 SF
Style: Condominium penthouse
Scope: Comprehensive design, approx. 6 months

This project was done for the son of an existing client. He essentially arrived in Nashville with nothing but his suitcase and a vision. He wanted the space to feel comfortable and inviting, yet still masculine. Roger accomplished this through skillful use of contrast – by incorporating new pieces alongside old ones, the sensibility of patina and age help us appreciate items which are polished and new.

Upholstered walls, architectural fragments, updated lighting and a mix of new upholstery quickly elevated this space far beyond the typical glassy high-rise.

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Insights

On Top of the World

Often, a family’s connection with Roger spans more than a single generation. If you’re fortunate enough to have spent a childhood comfortably ensconced in a Roger Higgins design, it’s understandable that you want to carry the tradition forward when establishing your own home. This penthouse suite, high atop Nashville’s stylish Twelve Twelve tower, provides a perfect case in point.

“I’d already done his mother and father’s house. Predictably, he was an absolute joy to work with.”

“I met with this client just three times,” Roger notes. “Once when he hired me, again to give him a sense of what I was seeing, and a third time as he moved in. At that point, we had everything completely ready for him to just walk in and live.” 

No detail is too small, none too insignificant, to escape his keen eye. By the time this penthouse’s owner stepped into his new home, Roger’s team had made certain that every pillow, towel, plate and fork was perfectly in place.

A completed project such as this one may look deceptively simple. But there is magic in the approach to texture, achieved through artful, intentional layering that is more easily felt than seen. Just try moving a few pieces around, or taking an element or two out of the tableau, and the inherent perfection of Roger’s vision quickly becomes obvious.

The right thing finds its way to the right place – always.

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Sketches

This condominium penthouse boasts one of downtown Nashville’s most breathtaking views. Upholstered walls, architectural fragments, updated lighting and upholstery quickly elevated this space far beyond the typical glassy high-rise.

Roger Higgins Design Sketch Twelve Twelve Kitchen Island View
Kitchen Island

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros

© R.Higgins Interiors | Website by MojoMediaPros