1 of 6
Interiors designed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
2 of 6
3 of 6
Interiors designed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
4 of 6
5 of 6
Interiors designed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
6 of 6
In today's real estate market, more and more baby boomers are looking to downsizewhether due to empty nest syndrome or a desire to purge the clutter. However, smaller spaces shouldn't translate to a loss of quality, and many homeowners still want all those standard luxury amenities they had in their larger homes, but with less upkeep.
Ashlyn Hines Meneguzzi, cofounder and principal of Bristol Development Group, has the solution: the Vandalia Cottages of Franklin. The small planned development tucked between Highway 96 and Boyd Mill Avenue is located in a charming neighborhood designated as a National Register historic district.
'Downtown Franklin is so desirable but priced out of reach for a lot of people who want to be in the vibrant downtown. It's great for baby boomers and small families who want to be in a well-conceived, walkable, high-quality neighborhood,” says Hines, who has designed the residences to pay homage to historic homes, with tall ceilings, beautiful millwork, and neighborhood sidewalks. Every house comes with an antique front door, providing old-home character that's often absent in newer developments.
Though they're smaller than the average Williamson County house, ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 square feet, Vandalia Cottages still hit that desired homeowner luxury mark with marble countertops and retro subway tile. There are also community gardens, a gathering area with fire pit, andfor conveniencea private walkway to downtown Franklin, just a few blocks away.
Cottages start at $375,000; vandaliacottages.com Photos by Brian Meneguzzi, Ryan Long Interiors, Kayla Bates