STORY BY ANGELA REEVES
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREN HARRIS | HARRIS VISUAL MEDIA
Trish and Bob Steelman have lived in Bowling Green since 1987, raising four children here and loving to call Bowling Green home. Overtime, as the kids moved out and away, their need for their 5600 ft2 home in Bent Tree became less and in 2019, they chose to downsize.
Loving the area of town they lived in, they searched for something nearby, with their realtor finding a 2800 ft2 home on Coventry Court. The location was perfect, being in the middle of the city but on a secluded street, giving off the feel of quaint, country living. The home was a new build the homeowners had recently finished and had only lived in it a few months.
The Steelmans moved in their new house Christmas of 2019 and the only furniture they brought with them was their master bedroom furniture and a chaise lounge for the living room. They gave their other furniture to their kids and wanted to start new with a light and airy look to match the style of the home. Trish learned about Embellish, a locally owned store and design team, and partnered with them on furnishing their new four bedroom, three and a half bath home.
Trish worked with Natalie and Lisa from Embellish throughout 2020 on the home, starting with the family room and master bedroom first, to make the home quickly livable. “We were going for a transitional look. Since they came from a very traditional house and furnishings, and moved into a modern home, we wanted it to feel comfortable but also match the style of the home,” said Natalie. They started by picking a few pieces Trish fell in love with, like the two spindle chairs and rug in the living room and the media console upstairs and added on from there. Once they had a few pieces to start with they were able to design around them.
“A clean slate with white walls makes it easy to add pops of color and make whatever you put in just shine,” said Natalie. Trish loves color so they had fun decorating with sea glass colors of blues and greens, mixed with tans and greys for a spa-like atmosphere. The result being timeless, comfortable and beautiful.
Downstairs is a very open concept, with the entry way, dining room, living room, and kitchen, all blended. The entry way has a large eclectic grouping of lamps hanging on the wall which Trish had previously, adding some modern flair to the home, placed over an entry table she fell in love with at Embellish because it reminded her of a table she grew up with from the 50’s. Also downstairs are two bedrooms for the grandkids, one for the boys and one for their granddaughter Kylie, with a Jack and Jill bathroom between. In the hallway there is a very small but visual space Embellish decorated with a black table and leather picture frames, creating one of Trish’s favorite design pieces. “There is a lot in a little space, but it looks very planned and unique,” said Natalie.
The first couch purchased for the living room was a sectional but overcrowded the room, so they replaced it with a standard couch and two chairs, moving the sectional upstairs. “Space planning was critical. We needed walkways on all sides and for it to not look crowded but provide as much seating as possible,” said Natalie. The combination of the linen-blend Robin Bruce tan sofa and the white coffee table with a subtle herringbone pattern over the ice blue rug, makes for Trish’s favorite room. The accents chosen, such as the one-of-a-kind wooden bowl on the coffee table and the acrylic rod in the dining room, provide unique textures and are just the rights touches to make a statement yet blend in at the same time.
The master bedroom downstairs was accessorized with brown and navy bedding and accents. The master bathroom has a doorless walk-in shower, one of Trish’s favorite touches from the builder as well as a bathtub. The separate vanities have very spacious counter tops with a blend of gold and chrome accents on light wood, making for a unique combination. The walk-in closet is very spacious with built in shelving and cabinets and even a hidden ironing board drawer.
Upstairs in the home, is a living room area and additional bedroom and bath. The living room was decorated around a media console which Trish loves. “I’m such a 50’s person. I tend to like older looks with a modern twist - something I grew up with and remembering seeing from my Mom’s house,” she said. The living area has a sectional and two chairs, one of which is a must-have recliner for Bob. Trish had a desk added for her to do her work, as a part-time marketing teacher at Western, where she has a nice view out the window. “It’s cozy up here. It’s a nice place to come get away,” she said. Behind the couch is a spacious area for their eight grandkids to pull their toys out and play.
The Steelmans love their new home and are currently adding a pool off the covered back porch for the kids and grandkids to enjoy with them and are continuing to work with Embellish to put on the finishing touches in each room. Their home would not have been possible without the help and work of these great Bowling Green professionals:
Interior Design – Embellish Home
embellish.com | 270.779.2565
Furniture and Accessories: Embellish Home
Shutters and Blinds – BG Blinds
Lighting – Winlectric
Plumbing Fixtures – Winnelson