Tennessee is one of the most naturally beautiful places to live. It features plenty of enchanting natural landmarks, including waterfalls, caverns, mountain ranges, and deep forests. With no state income tax and a lower-than-average cost of living, it’s also a great place to work and start a family. Job opportunities are plentiful, and you can enjoy the beauty of season changes without having to worry about extremely cold winters. If you’re interested in building a home in this gorgeous Southern state, you can learn what other residents are enjoying in their architecture and home design to get started.
Multifunctional Living Spaces
Tennessee’s location often reflects Southern hospitality values, and this means entertainment spaces. Homeowners here enjoy larger living spaces with seamless connections to the kitchen and foyer, which provide ample entertainment opportunities. Larger, flexible spaces also come in handy with the rise in remote and hybrid work. The ability to transform a living space into an entertainment and working space is beneficial for many types of families. Removable walls and foldable furniture also add to this design. Open concepts are a trend in newer homes. Older homes preferred separate, distinct rooms for living, entertaining, dining, and cooking.
Spacious Outdoor Living
Tennessee is a state known for its gorgeous forests and captivating mountain views. What decent house wouldn’t allow you to admire the natural beauty of the Volunteer State? More homes are being built on extensive acreage to reconnect with nature, especially with properties near the Great Smoky Mountains or other scenic views. Architects are incorporating unique patios and stylish decks right into their home plans. If you want to save money and tack on a deck later, there is no need to worry about finding a deck builder in Tennessee; there are plenty of them! Pool retreats, sports courts, farms, equestrian ranches, and outdoor kitchens are making their way into more Tennessee homes.
Farmhouse Kitchens
The farmhouse kitchen aesthetic is popular everywhere, but it is most prevalent in the South. Tennessee is known for its Southern cuisine, including fried catfish and Memphis barbecue. Homeowners need wide, functional spaces to prepare these fried foods and smoked barbecues. Large, gourmet kitchens with rustic farmhouse touches are very popular in both new and old Tennessee homes. Look out for the farmhouse sink and butcher block countertops. Walk-in pantries are essential in homes that prioritize large family cookouts and holiday baking extravaganzas. Custom-made kitchens for each homeowner’s culinary preferences aren’t rare here. If you’re looking for a kitchen that goes above and beyond, you will find plenty in Tennessee.
Energy Efficient Architecture
Tennessee, as a prominent state of the South, gets a lot of sunlight, especially in the summer months. Running the air conditioning during the summertime can rack up a high energy bill, so architects are combating this with passive energy efficiency. Thermal, triple-glazed windows can help filter out excess heat with insulation built directly into them. Advanced insulation materials keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer without overworking the HVAC. Solar panel roofing and integrated wind turbines are making their way into architects’ blueprints, allowing for a seamless transition to renewable energy without high upfront costs. Home shape and position allow for efficient access to sunlight without absorbing too much. Smart technology helps owners monitor energy usage and adopt more energy-efficient practices.
Biophilic Innovations
Tennessee’s natural beauty draws many people to live there. Modern homes look to bring that natural beauty into their design. Biophilic architecture refers to natural elements directly incorporated into building materials or construction. Vegetative walls or roofs allow plants to grow seamlessly between the building’s materials. Indoor courtyards feature waterfalls and gardens to be enjoyed directly in living spaces, improving air quality and boosting mental health. Living roofs or rooftop gardens can also help keep the roof cooler, which is one of the largest sources of the home’s excess heat in the summer months. Architects are allowing homeowners to reconnect with nature seamlessly while still enjoying an insulated, pest-free home. The biophilic trend isn’t just popular in residential areas, too. Urban centers, commercial buildings, and cities far beyond Tennessee are enjoying natural elements in construction.
Conclusion
Many of these architectural trends are sweeping the entirety of America, not just Tennessee. However, the Southern gourmet kitchen and the natural outdoor features of Tennessee are impossible to replicate anywhere else; they present charm, convenience, and value for all who live here. If you’re thinking of relocating to Tennessee, choose which features are most important to you when you look for a home. You can even custom-make your home to include these features if you’re not finding satisfying options on the market. You can even work with an architect yourself to build the home of your dreams.
