Last September when I attended Bella Rustica near Nashville, Tennessee, I had the extreme pleasure of taking in a little Franklin touring with a local friend.
Wikipedia reference of Franklin, Tennessee HERE.
Wikipedia reference of Nashville, Tennessee HERE.
I met Sandy Leeper at Bella when we were both preparing the barns for the show. We struck up a conversation, found out she followed my blog, and asked if I had been to Franklin yet….
Well, I couldn’t let that slide! No I hadn’t, and yes I wanted to go!
Guys, when you are travelling, do tag along with a local. This gal knew where the country singers lived AND used to live. It was an amazing, story filled tour I will never forget! So… let’s cruise through the adorable town of Franklin, Tennessee and surrounding areas.
Warning: Only proceed if you don’t get the travel bug easily… because you will ADORE this area.
Travelling in this area was dream like material. I’ve long wanted to tour the Nashville area, and when this opportunity opened up, there’s no way I could keep my camera tucked away.
This is The Factory, that’s been restored to house a mall indoors. It was gorgeous.
Nashville is known for their fabulous vintage and junk shops. This was one of many. If you come via driving, bring a BIG empty truck.
The town was so beautifully kept up. There wasn’t a thing out of place. Smart awnings, flowers in full bloom, roads spotless. It reminded me of a trip to Disney, vintage style. Quaint, quiet, and delightful with every turn.
I fell for the deep red brick buildings and tall stately lamp posts lining the streets. It truly was like walking back in time.
The old original Franklin Theatre… lovely. If I had stayed longer, I would have loved to take in a film. Just goes to show, these travel experiences should never be rushed to fully appreciate.
I didn’t document any of the names of the stores this round, so my apologies. This was just about eye candy. However, locals will recognize them for certain. When I walked into this one, I gasped.
I wanted to take every single one of these pillows home with me. The page ones are so adorable!
The ceiling height and sunlight brightness to this store was storybook amazing.
And so whimsical. An oversized book with pencil is staged on a delectable coffee table cart. The sofa was covered in a gorgeous linen slipcover.
These creative lights were created out of DISHES. The branch detailing along the ceiling was such a unique touch.
This amazing branch mirror was gasp worthy… I love how the texture plays with the light.
A crate full of vintage bingo cards for only $1 each… you can bet I loaded a few of these into my suitcase.
This little cafe was so adorable. We purchased some freshly ground organic coffee from there, but I couldn’t resist capturing a little of their quaint decor.
And here’s my very favourite store I fell head over heels in love with. I believe this one is back in Franklin. The musical instruments made the room.
Coolest store ever, inviting you to sit for a spell and try out an instrument or three.
And so the locals did. This gent sounded amazing. That’s Nashville for you, music and talent surround you with every step.
I imagine there were lots of reproductions in this store, but trust me when I say, most everything looked authentic.
Welcome to Leiper’s Fork, home of one of the American Pickers. Sandy, I didn’t see their places so I must come back!
Wikipedia reference to Leiper’s Fork
The telltale signs of Tennessee and Kentucky are these landmarked rows of pristine black fencing. I read they were treated that way due to the humidity, but the locals couldn’t verify that. Does anyone know for sure?
Leiper’s Fork is a small, artistic community. There are art galleries and musicians strumming everywhere you look.
There was this amazing library in a heritage home with priceless historical books for sale.
Even the residential areas were just as beautiful.
What a lovely tour! Thanks again Sandy, I had the best time with you!
Cool news: this Franklin photo shoot originally seen at FOLK has gained some attention by the vendors of Franklin, referring their clients to it, as well as Franklin’s FB page. Very cool indeed!
If you would like a similar photoshoot in your given area or lodging retreat for a review or website purposes, please contact me at donna@funkyjunkinteriors.net for more info.
Oh this makes me nostalgic. We use to live about an hour from Nashville and we loved the city so much. These shops are fabulous… gonna have to make a trip here soon. Thanks so much for sharing.
You took beautiful pictures of my area!! Love them. When are you coming back?
Wow, the shops look great. Wish I lived closer!
Donna,
Oh yes…when you visit Franklin for the first time…you get hooked…I know I sure did. I can’t say enough good things about this charming little town…would love to retire there:) That home decor is one of fav’s too.
Blessings,
Linda
It looks like heaven 🙂
I am a little green with envy. What a beautiful place to visit! I would never want to leave.
What wonderful shops. Absolutely gorgeous and nostalgic. We’re definitely going to put Franklin on the list of places to go.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Franklin. Love Leipers Fork. LOVE Tennessee…. thankful it is my home! Thanks for the great post!
P.S. My daughter, Andrea, and I still talk of our yummy barbeque lunch with you at Bella Rustica! It was such a fun bonus! 🙂
~ Dori ~
*Sigh* We used to live in a little town just south of Franklin. We used to take our boys to Franklin a lot and loved living there. These pictures tugged at my heart’s strings and made me miss our old stomping grounds. Thanks for this today.
It made me smile!
Jen @ Noting Grace
Gorgeous photos! Of course I have a pretty big soft spot for TN… 🙂 One of these days, when my girls are a little older, I’d like to explore even more of the fabulous shops in Franklin!
We have a midwest trip planned this summer. Can’t wait to make Franklin part of the trip! Thanks for sharing. Wish I could drive and stick everything in my car!
I would love to go to Franklin and Leiper’s Fork some day. Did you know that Johnny Reid lives in Leiper’s Fork? Love his singing and he’s Scottish/Canadian too. Thanks for sharing your pics.
Beautiful pictures! I’m off to ebay to look for some vintage bingo cards! And I love those pillows!
I’ve been just about everywhere in your photos…looks wonderful…Johnny Depp ….I heard…just purchased a home here….so good-bye…I gotta go find it…lol….happy junkin’…..Mel’s Designs ‘n Harmony…oh…1 more thing…I now have a shop in Shelbyville’s Bargain Depot….further south of Franklin….stop in when you’re back in town….still enjoying your blog..Donna…thanks again…
I love Franklin! My best friend lives down there so every chance I can get I go. She’s shown me around and I love down town. She’s seen a lot of country stars in Franklin because the paparazzi isn’t there. Love it and would love to retire there someday!
Love the south
You are so lucky to have visited there!Beautiful photos!
xx
Anne
WOW beautiful photos.
I would be broke all the time if I lived there..
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
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Just as you gasped when you walked into the store, I gasped at just about every photo. Love to visit quaint towns such as this one. I’ve been to Tennessee but now you’ve given me a reason to go again.
Your photos are very nice! So many things caught my eye!
We used to live in a community close to Franklin and I loved to visit all the cute shops. When I visit my daughter, my one request – we have to visit Franklin!
Now I know where you got all your bingo cards!! I’ve been to Franklin and your right it’s awesome. I live an hour away and work in Nashville. Yes, I know I blog and make junk and paint furniture but I also have a real job where I make real money!!! If you come to the Nashville area again I would love to meet you.
We were in Nashville for a wedding last Fall and had hoped to make it to Franklin but we ran out of time. Next time for sure! Great photos…I enjoyed your post today!!
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Thanks for the tour! Beautiful photos of an absolutely lovely area of our country…you just can’t beat the south for lush green spaces and the best places to go “junkin”! We have been talking about taking a trip this fall to the south…Nashville is on the list and I’ll be sure not to miss Franklin! Hope my SUV will hold all my “finds”! Love your blog, Donna!
June G.
Thanks for the tour! Beautiful photos of an absolutely lovely area of our country…you just can’t beat the south for lush green spaces and the best places to go “junkin”! We have been talking about taking a trip this fall to the south…Nashville is on the list and I’ll be sure not to miss Franklin! Hope my SUV will hold all my “finds”! Love your blog, Donna!
June G.
Did you stop in for a bite to eat at Pucketts? The best food! Not too far from there is a Amish community. The West ladies live there. They have made several DVDS from Franklin Springs media located in Franklin. I think you can purchase them online from their site. The series is called “Homestead Blessings”, each one on a different thing like gardening,bread making and so forth. The amish community is the place to go in the summertime. They have beautiful gardens. They sell their produce at the end of their driveways,sell canned jams and jellies and make the best fried pies for sale. Can’t wait to go back someday!
Beautiful! What an amazing area. makes me want to go on down there and see it for myself. Thasnks for sharing your great pics and your trip! Have a great day and happy valentines day!
Fantastic! I’ll have to stop there on my way to visiting my son’s in Savannah, GA. I LOVED the mannequin display…I want that in my house!
All I can say is WOW! Btw, I wonder if they painted those fences black to keep the horses from chewing on em!
Oh and btw,…. Happy valentines Day to you and yours:)
You won’t believe this, but I was just looking at real estate listings in Franklin yesterday! Country Living Magazine did a story awhile back about the revitalization of Leipers Fork (too long of a story why that interested me) but I had a little obsession with looking up videos and information about that area going for awhile 🙂
I was born and raised in Southern California, been in Colorado for almost 20 years and feel drawn to Tennessee. Go figure! I’m gettin’ there to see it one day….
Thanks for sharing this awesome photo tour!
Jeanette
So beautiful, thank you for sharing x
Wow!! You tell such a beautiful story about Franklin through all your images. I’ve never been there, but my son’s in school in KY, so maybe?? I just can’t decide what I like best, every bit of it is awesome!! Great inspiration, thank you.
I was there over Chrustmas break and I told my husband I could move there and be perfectly happy. I t is an awesome lace! and I agree it is so well kept. a perfect”little town”
I was there over Chrustmas break and I told my husband I could move there and be perfectly happy. I t is an awesome lace! and I agree it is so well kept. a perfect”little town”
I love Franklin too! I lived there for 3 years, my husband drug me away kickin’ and screamin’…I’d move back in a second 🙂
Debbie
Donna you sure captured the essence of Franklin. I live about 30 miles away and we hope to maybe retire there one day. lin
*Sigh* My husband and I lived in Franklin, about 5 minutes drive from the quaint downtown, for about 2 years. Such a great community. We would move back in a heartbeat! We loved everything about that fabulous town and surrounding area. Your pictures take me back to many happy memories in TN!
I know you gave a warning that we should not read on if we were prone to getting the “travel bug”, but I just had to look because I rarely get to travel, so I love taking virtual trips like this. Still, it got me. Now I feel I have to go. Thanks for taking all the great shots and sharing them with us!
Liz @ Quirky Vistas
IN LOVE WITH THIS SITE!!!!!!!! If I had the time I would redesign my entire house just from this one post.
INSPIRATION STATION!!!!!!!
Alas, I am off to a castle in… till next time xx
such a lovely tour thank you….we are heading to Nashville in the fall…
hello! My girlfriend and I are taking a trip in march to TN. I am definitly making a stop here! Do you have any other suggestions as far as nashville and gatlinburg? Thanks!