A designer's guide to Nashville's best hotspots
After the cold, snowy winter and rainy spring, May promises to be particularly thrilling in Nashville this year. The sun is finally out, the weather is warm and vacation season is quickly approaching! Whether by locals interested in the newest "it" place or tourists planning their vacation, I am constantly asked about the best places to eat, stay and play in Nashville.
As an interior designer, my recommendations are rooted in my passion for intriguing design and innovative experiences. Here are my selections for the top spots to enjoy both.
Where to eat
My pick for the best place to eat — Butchertown Hall — has a great mix of interior spaces and exterior dining for this lovely weather. This restaurant, tucked into a quiet corner in Germantown, quickly won the top spot on my list for informal dining and libations.
The expansive deck is the best outdoor spot in the city to enjoy balmy summer evenings on the patio. The entry offers a great view into the neat, bustling kitchen. Lofty ceilings with large windows in the dining room are complemented by a custom, antiqued mirrored wall that creates the pleasant illusion of an expansive dining space.
Judicious use of hand-hewn wood feels authentic, not gimmicky. And sparkling clean, oversized white subway tiles are balanced with minimal accents of black steel and black velvet fabric. The daylighting is pleasantly bright, but not blinding, since the windows are north and west facing.
Where to stay
There aren't many places in the world like the 404 Hotel. And lucky us, it is positioned neatly in Nashville's swanky hipster neighborhood, the Gulch. This five-room modern boutique hotel is at the epicenter of new Nashville cool and is flanked by the famous Station Inn and the 404 Kitchen, a James Beard Award finalist for best new restaurant.
The "Rent the House" option at the 404 Hotel is perfect for a large group — and is the ultimate choice for the design-savvy bride and her party. The unassuming architecture gives way to a stunning, creative interior. There are no "typical" units here and the custom furnishings are striking.
What to do
I highly recommend a visit to the new home for Nashville's boys of summer. The Nashville Sounds have a full season at their new home stadium in Sulphur Dell, First Tennessee Park, just north of downtown. (Editor's note: This project was designed by Hastings Architecture Associates.) There are an exciting variety of environments from which to view the game and there are truly no bad seats.
The private suites deserve particular attention. Large historical images of players and the old stadium, each unique, cover an entire wall of the suites. Would those players ever have imagined that their likeness would be on a wall in the new stadium 100 years later, staring out at the game? It's a truly moving design feature.
The field level suites actually sit below the level of the field and feature private patios and decks with stadium seats that hug the first base line. The main level concourse connects to Nashville's greenway and features well-designed drink rails that overlook the field. The outdoor viewing experience from the greenway is unparalleled.
Great building design can elevate the mood and quality of any experience, from dinner to work. Tweet me (@heather_mathias) a picture of your favorite building design — inside or out — that you'll be enjoying this spring.
Heather Mathias is Director of Interior Design and Associate Principal at Hastings Architecture Associates, LLC. For the firm's diverse clients, she leads the development of interior spaces that increase productivity, reinforce corporate culture and inspire. Find her on Twitter: @heather_mathias.