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A contemporary Nashville home full of art, antiques, and memories

Get a peak inside Karen and Kent Cochran's cool contemporary home in Sugartree, Nashville's original gated community.
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As Mona Lisa pulled up to the home of Karen and Kent Cochran, she couldn't help but feel excited. She had always heard that Karen was as beautiful as Grace Kelly and as graceful as Jackie Onassis. As she rang the doorbell, she took a deep breath and prepared herself for an amazing experience.

She couldn't wait to see what this person's home was like.

As soon as Mona Lisa met her, she could see that the rumors were true. The woman was truly amazing. Karen even asked her about her own life in the spotlight and what it was like to be one of the most famous women in the world. Mona Lisa couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such an interesting conversation with someone who seemed so down-to-earth.

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Where style, history and a new friend meet

Karen was my sister-in-law and now we just call each other sisters. The admiration I’ve had for her started when I was a mere 23-years-old and a recent college graduate. I remember Andy, her brother, inviting me to her home for the first time either around Thanksgiving or Christmas in 1988. It was literally one of the most impressive homes I’d ever seen. 

Karen had always loved old homes, and at the time was living in an antebellum home she had recently restored called Jasmine Grove circa 1856.

That special home means so much to me because it was there that I had my engagement party in 1992. Andy and I loved every minute of that perfect evening, thanks largely to Karen's hosting skills and her beautiful home!

Jasmine Grove in Franklin, Tennessee

Sugartree, Nashville’s original gated community

If you live in Nashville, I’m sure you’ve driven by this development thousands of times. It’s between Estes and West End Ave./Harding Rd. on Woodmont Boulevard in Nashville, Tennessee.

Each home seems more adorable than the last. I think this subdivision is full of character and charm! As it turns out my in-laws had lived here before moving to Florida full time. I remember spending many enjoyable dinners at their home. Karen and her husband, Kent, would later purchase a home here as well.

From a 1974 brochure I found on the Sugartree website.

Sugartree is a residential community with distinctive character. It was built on 60 acres that was once the Woodmont Country Club and has roughly 225 homes.

The design of Sugartree is based on cluster planning, which in reality is an old concept, an adaptation of early American villages created by our forefathers. Residences are clustered around parks; so you live in the friendly and social proximity to neighbors, yet still enjoy the privacy and beauty of the land. It was heavily influenced by Savannah and Charleston.

Architecture and design inspirations

Karen's home in Sugartree is her first contemporary home. Her antiques are seamlessly integrated with the more contemporary elements, giving this place its own personality!

Her home was designed and built by Nashville architect Jim Hastings of Hastings Architecture who has designed places such as Geodis Park and the Virgin Hotel.

Karen’s love for interior design was greatly inspired by her parent’s best friend and Nashville’s go-to decorator, Dan Burton. In addition to decorating many of her parent’s homes and her own, Dan decorated many notable Nashvillian’s homes as well including the Minnie Pearl mansion.

Her mother was also a huge influence who collected art and loved to decorate. Karen said she had a talent for rearranging furniture.

“I walked into my parent’s house and half the time I didn’t even know where I was!”

The table was purchased around 1900 by Kent’s grandfather from the estate of Ninian Edwards whose wife was Mary Todd Lincoln’s sister. It's amazing to think that this very table saw the first meeting of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd in 1839, as well as their wedding feast in 1842.

Karen, my sister, my friend

Karen is a tour de force of kindness, beauty and warmth. She has this way about her that gives you strength when times are tough — I know she has been there for me in so many ways. 

Kent and Karen Cochran

She was incredibly kind to my parents; she lifted my dad’s spirits after his heart surgery; she came to the hospital when my dad was dying; she drove all the way from Nashville to Martin, Tennessee to go to his funeral; and she was a comfort to me at my younger brother’s funeral a few years ago. 

And on a happier note... My son adores her. My sister thinks she’s incredible and it was my Brazilian family at my wedding who said she had the beauty of Grace Kelly combined with the grace of Jackie Onassis — an unbeatable combo! 

Kinda sounds like a sister to me. Right?

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Five noteworthy things you should know about Karen:

  1. Karen sold her Cool Springs Farm to the now Cool Springs Galleria Mall in Franklin, Tennessee. The house, circa 1832, was the largest log cabin in Middle Tennessee and is on the National Register of Historic Homes. It was deed-restricted during the sale and moved to Crockett Park in Brentwood, Tennessee. I can't wait to share the story of this house with you at a later date.

  2. Karen is a proud owner of the Five Points building in downtown Franklin, Tennessee. Built as an art deco structure, circa 1923, and nominated best restored building by architect Emanuel Zeitlen. It was also put on the historic register in the mid 80s. Karen is most proud of her work with preservation.

  3. Karen lovingly restored Jasmine Grove, circa 1856, and hosted events for the Heritage Foundation. As one of the nation’s most respected historic preservation societies, the Heritage Foundation works tirelessly to save the architectural and cultural resources that make Franklin and Williamson County so unique.

  4. Karen is not only turning her Sugartree backyard into a beautiful garden, but also one that sequesters carbon and promotes pollinators with the help of an organization called Homegrown National Parks. “In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water.”

  5. Karen is an environmentalist at heart, constantly searching for ways to preserve our planet. She's the most passionate about climate change and its effects on her 11 grandchildren. Her two sons also have been very involved with green businesses. The Five Points building is the first to install solar panels in downtown historic Franklin, Tennessee.

On May 3, 2020, a 350-400 year old tree fell on Prospect Hill during an extreme wind event known as a Derecho. It took two years to renovate and Karen and Kent were able to move back in spring 2022.
Kent’s office has been fully renovated. The wood used here is native to Tennessee and the craftsmanship is amazing.
I had to include Karen and Kent’s beautiful home in Montana as well. My jaw dropped to the floor when I first saw this. What an exquisite home and a view that is quite spectacular!

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Lisa Dunn