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Now in its 25th year, the Antiques & Garden Show is one of the area's preeminent events for picking up inspiring ideas, gleaning a few pro tips, and ogling dozens of showstopping vignettesall while supporting Cheekwood and The Economic Club of Nashville. This year, Blackberry Farm cofounder Kreis Beall will speak alongside her friend and colleague, Atlanta interior designer Suzanne Kasler. We caught up with Beall to learn more about the new interiors division at the celebrated luxury resort, her relationship with Kasler, and the one thing she'll never do when decorating.
Most people know you as one of the co-founders of Blackberry Farm. What are you up to these days?
Currently, I am the director of design at Blackberry Farm [BF]. For the past three years, we've been working on a number of projects for private homeowners [under the new division] Blackberry Farm Design. When we started selling lots at BF, our clients asked if we would do the interior design of those houses. Now, BF Design has a staff of ten, and we stay happily busy making homes for all of our clients. Blackberry Farm Design is turnkey; much like the BF experience, when the time comes to move in, turnkey means the candles and fire are lit, the music is playing, the food is in the refrigerator. It's just like being a BF guestthat is the level of service we're after.
Define the Blackberry Farm aesthetic.
I have heard it said many times that the BF interiors are English country. But it is also eclectic, American continental, and both old and new. I like to think of it as classic updated. It is traditional but updated, fresh … and always homey.
Does BF Design work with homes that aren't on your property in the Smoky Mountains?
We do. Our expansion has been organic in the last three years. So when we have a client who is happy with their BF home, usually they take us to their 'home” home. What I love about BF Design is that it is much like Blackberry itself, which is that it's all about relationshipsthat enjoyment you get out of working with each other. After you do one house, by the time you do the second one, you know their friends, their family. It's fun.
Tell us about your relationship with Suzanne Kasler.
I met her in 1996, but we became great friends when she did my first house in 2000. We had a totally unfurnished home that was remodeled, and an addition had been added. There were five bedrooms and multiple public roomsa front porch, living room, den. She did that house 100 percent. It was a fabulous job. We were friends before that, but we were great friends afterward. […] And there is not a home that I do that I don't ask her opinion on. I've done a lot of houses and now I enjoy the companionship of other designers a lot. I always learn something from them. I've done 44 houses. I need new ideas.
What is one thing you'll never do when designing?
I never order anything that's back-ordered. Ever. I never wait on anything because there's always something else out there. The most important thing in a home is living in it, and there's no reason to wait. It's the same thing when we say turnkeyat BF, every time we've built [on the property] over the last 39 years, the room is sold for a certain date and there is no exception. That room will be finished.
Kreis Beall and Suzanne Kasler will speak on January 31 at 11 a.m. at the Antiques & Garden Show. Tickets to the lecture are $50. Music City Center, 201 5th Ave. S.; antiquesandgardenshow.com.