When Danny and Liz King of Sevierville set out on the journey of creating their dream house, they had a clear vision of what they hoped to achieve. Liz loved the look of Southern plantation homes and knew that she wanted a classic setting from the beginning.“I wanted a traditional home that I could still update,” she remembers. With plans for their new home in mind, the couple spent a considerable amount of time searching for further inspiration through travel around the region, much of which they did by air since Danny is a recreational pilot. As they explored in Georgia and South Carolina, they found that the style of many of the older homes was most appealing to them. In April of 1991, construction began on their Georgian, traditional-style home built on 132 acres in Sevier County. The couple selected Jerry Pierce of Pierce Construction to oversee the project, which ultimately took three and a half years to complete. In total, the buildings on their property now amount to about 21,000 square feet.

“I love design and can see the finished product in my mind as I plan,” says Liz. Her flair for the creative has certainly been an important influence in the interior of the home. In some areas of the house, Liz has undertaken the design work herself. For instance, in the kitchen she had a definite idea of what she wanted. She worked with Patty Danzig at Design Galleria in Atlanta on the cabinet design. In the master bedroom, Liz picked out the furniture and fabrics herself and made some of the wallpaper selections as well. She says that she finds a lot of inspiration for her home through magazines and online resources.

Many designers, artists and architects have been involved on projects for the house over the years, but the most recent renovations and updates have been at the hand of Knoxville designer Sarah Bohleber. Even the rooms that had been decorated previously were spruced up by Sarah with new artwork and glassware. “Sarah was very helpful through the entire process. We just clicked,” Liz says.
One of the things the Kings love most about the house is the way it reflects their most cherished values: faith and family. In the study, a beautiful wormy chestnut cabinet houses treasured items of special significance which showcase accomplishments and milestones of the two King children and other members of the family. The cabinet itself was bought before the house was built and each section is dedicated to a specific family member or group. There is a spot for each of the children’s awards as well as a special area for keepsakes from Danny’s family. The “wall of accomplishments” is very special to Danny and Liz. “This wall tells the children’s stories of growing up,” Liz says. Another treasured object in the home is a tall antique vase that has been placed in the back stairway area of the home. It once belonged to Danny’s parents and has special sentimental importance to the couple. The home is also full of many beloved family photographs. The painting in the family room, in particular, is especially meaningful to them. “This painting is of the children at the age they were when we moved into the house,” Liz remembers.

A love of antiques is longtime passion of Liz’s which has manifested itself in the interior of the home. Over the years she has accumulated quite a collection of unique pieces which mix beautifully with the new furnishings that have been added recently. The house boasts many other distinctive features as well. The dining room ceiling, for instance, is home to an original painting of the heavens opening up. Additionally, the kitchen floor is made of limestone that the couple had imported from Jerusalem.

See more in the December issue of At Home Tennessee magazine