Our Haven team spent the weekend in Nashville last weekend and it was the perfect little getaway. We needed to meet up and just spend some girl time together to celebrate the huge success of Haven 2013 and to get ready for some planning on Haven 2014 and Nashville seemed to be a good meeting spot, so hello girl’s weekend away. Always fun to do that! There are 6 of us on the team and we all got in at different times and started the day in Franklin, a beautiful little Nashville suburb with a sweet little main street, with shops, restaurants and lots of ambiance. Nashville is a great city with lots to offer and we saw as much of Franklin as we could in a couple of days. This was my first time there (to Franklin, not Nashville), but I don’t think it will be my last. There’s nothing like small Southern towns like this on a warm Fall day.
The Haven team, who are all such special women and I’m so glad we are a team: me, Beth, Chris, Sarah, (front) Kristin (our “da bomb” events planner), Traci
Downtown Franklin is so quaint and picturesque, just the kind of small town you fall in love with.
This beautiful Presbyterian church is awe-inspiring for sure.
The little town is just full of ambience and a great small town feel. I think I could live here.
Sort of like Mayberry.
We had lunch twice at this fun spot, 55 South and both times it was delish.
We had lunch al fresco the first day there and this spinach salad with grilled chicken was just perfect.
Next, we hit the sidewalks, strolling and looking and browsing the pretty shops, like this one, Lulu.
They had some fun typography pillows all over the place.
We all hooted at this set. Would you sport these on your bed?
Loved this sign too and all the pretty bedding.
Happily ever after, what we all would love to have, right? This shop was so soothing and serene, we loved it.
Beautiful bedding and lots of pretties to look at.
Next was Anthropologie and you can always count on this trendsetting company to have lots of eye candy.
I’ve been in their stores in several cities and it never disappoints.
Beautiful displays and vintage feel.
They have neat-o clothes and home décor.
All with a rustic and vintage feel that is so on-trend now.
Loved this quilt hanging from the ceiling.
We caught the window-dresser doing his thing and Beth was asking him lots of questions. It’s amazing how creative they get on dressing these windows. It’s like art and these mushrooms were made out of all sorts of things, like glue, wax and paper.
Next we hit The Iron Gate and when we walked in here, we all gasped.
Such pretty things to look at. Old, vintagey, industrial, romantic, all wrapped up in one store.
Beautiful backdrop of brick walls and rustic appeal. Don’t you love this stuff?
Check out this beauty of a bed. Ooo-la-la!
Large wine bottles
And this huge clock on the brick wall. Swoon!
Lots of garden inspired things too.
This planter filled with plans was so pretty.
We loved all the beautiful and unique lighting too.
So much to see and take in.
Beautiful handmade pottery.
Passing through the streets of Franklin, there were many beautiful homes like this. I remember seeing Franklin on House Hunters a few times. Lots of desirable neighborhoods and homes in this quaint town and I can see why it’s a popular spot. Right next to Brentwood, which is home to many country celebrities, the Nashville suburbs is a happening place.
Who knows which celebrity might live at this address? Look at that winding white fence and beautiful green acres. The rolling hills of Tennessee are a beautiful sight to behold, truly a pretty state. We enjoyed our little visit so much and I’m sure I’ll be back there again one day. Nashville is so fun to visit, have you been?
We also hit a few antique stores, so I’ll share those later. And we hit downtown Nashville on a big concert night with Taylor Swift playing in a downtown arena, so it was a bit crazy. We ate some yummy food and listened to some country music and I wore my cowboy boots.
The House Beautiful book giveaway winner has been announced and the winner has been emailed!
I travel to Franklin often on business and agree that it is a special place. Great food too!
Rhoda, you have such a pretty top on. You girls look like you are having so much fun.
Thanks for sharing your trip to Franklin. There are so many beautiful historical homes and churches there – so much history. Love that town, and would move there in a heartbeat if I could. Love the Iron Gate and could do some serious damage to my bank account in there. 😀
Have a great week.
Rhoda – Looks like a fun “work” trip with lots of things to do and see and eat.
Judy
Looks like a wonderful place to shop and see. Thanks for the pics.
D
Rhoda, One of my dearest friends lives in Franklin. I just visited recently when I went to THE PEARL EVENT. I went in all the stores you shared and I too fell in love! They also have several wonderful children’s shops!! The homes are gorgeous too!! I loved everything about Franklin and can’t wait to go back! Thank you for sharing!
what a nice weekend with such awesome shopping too! an all around win!
You took me back in time. We lived in Franklin while my husband’s sons were in high school. The downtown area didn’t nave the big name stores then, but the look is still the same. I have a picture of Marc (husband’s oldest son) in the back of a convertible WEARING MY GARAGE CURTAINS during Franklin High School’s homecoming parade.
Love Franklin! That is my Thanksgiving destination!
You’re probably tired of me saying this but we plan to move to Franklin next year. We were looking at Nashville as a possible area to move to. Something smaller/less expensive, slower than a Chicago suburb. And good schools for the kids. And good family values. etc etc… Your pics and post make me so excited. I’m glad Franklin is Rhoda approved. 😉 You can come stay with us anytime, but not sure my decorating will be up to snuff. 🙂
I live in the wonderful small town of Franklin and I still enjoy going downtown for a girls’ day. There are so many fun shops and great places to eat – along with a lot of history. I hope you shopped at PD’s in the old train depot while in Franklin. Glad your group enjoyed the trip. 🙂
HI, Janice, someone mentioned that to me on Instagram, but we didn’t have a lot of time to go look it up. Sorry we missed it, next time!
Kristi, you are going to love Franklin! That’s an excellent choice for a small town to move to. It’s great, I think I could totally live in the Nashville area too.
Hey Kristi, I live in Franklin and LOVE it! You are about to be blessed more than you could even imagine.
Nashville is a wonderful place for all the reasons you mentioned but the best reason is the people. Wonderfully kind, generous, loving people!
I’d love to help you find your new home and personally show you around! I work with the #1 Nashville real estate team – the official real estate team of the TN Titans & Nashville Predators.
Send me your email address and I can set you up on an email system that will send you listings that match what you are looking for to keep you up on the market.
I hope to meet you soon!
Rhoda, that is such a gorgeous top your are wearing!!! You always post such delicious food on Instagram but you are so slim!!!!! How do you do it???
Suzyq
Hey, Suzy, that top came from Anthropologie last year on the clearance rack. I work out at the gym & walk quite a lot to stay fit. And I TRY to eat healthy most of the time.
Ooh next shopping trip or big flea marketing trip…I wanna go with y’all! I got lots of flyer miles. 🙂
FUN!!! I love Nashville! I will definitely make a trip to stay in Franklin next time.
Missing you!
Jen
I’d love those pillows…but at my house they’d say: “right as usual dear”! What a neat trip, looks like a great place to visit.
What a perfect trip! Girlfriends, Eye Candy Galore, Inspiration and some time to reenergize your creativity and nurture relationships! Thanks for sharing it from one of your many fans!
My daughter married a man from Franklin, and they lived in Brentwood for a short time, and then moved to Franklin. They later moved to a more rural area near Nashville when they were expecting their first child, because the cost of living in Franklin is high. It is a beautiful old town, though.
This makes me want to make a return trip to Franklin! We stayed in Brentwood last trip. I would love to stay in Franklin, next trip. Sure would be fun to try meandering our way to TN…plus, at the moment, we are in the market for a larger vehicle…more room for take home treasures.:-)
Hey, Pat, come on down to Atlanta next time! Would love to finally meet you.
I do hope you made it to City Farmhouse! Franklin is one of my favorite places to shop. It tends to lean on the expensive side but there are so many beautiful places to visit and things to see. Leiper’s Fork is just down the road, and that’s pretty spectacular too! Last time I was there, the Antique Archaeology van was there. I think Mike has a house there now.
Are you coming back up for the big shindig City Farmhouse is putting on Oct 12?
HI, Cyndia, we did go into City Farmhouse, great place to browse! I have pics I’ll share later. I didn’t know about the shindig, but I doubt I can make it back up there in Oct. I have too many other things going on.
Rhoda, I was so excited the spotlight was on Franklin today. Both my sons and their families live there. When we visit there is so much to do and see. So much history there and in the surrounding area and little shops everywhere. Beautiful homes galore. A very fast growing area! Clearly, the loves of my life are the best part of Franklin. So glad you had a great time.
I absolutely love Franklin Tn. Would love to live there, such a neat town.
Mary L