If there’s one question I get asked at nearly every new construction consultation—and as I help buyers determine value and pricing for offers based on finishes and future renovations here in Franklin and Nashville—it’s some version of: “Should I go trendy here, or timeless?”
My answer is always the same: it depends on where you are in the house.
After years of walking through some of the most beautiful—and most expensive to fix—homes in Williamson and Davidson counties, I’ve landed on a simple framework I share with every client, whether they’re prepping a listing or building their forever home: your foundations should be timeless. Your accessories can be trendy.
Let’s break that down.
Think of Your Home in Two Layers: Anchors and Accents
Every great space has anchor elements—the big, expensive, hard-to-change bones of a room—and accent elements, the easy-to-swap layer on top. Getting this hierarchy right is, in my experience, the single biggest factor in whether a home feels current five years from now or feels like it’s stuck in a past trend cycle.
Anchor spaces = timeless. | Accessories = room to play.
Timeless Elements That Actually Hold Value
If you’ve ever traveled through Europe, you know exactly what I mean when I talk about staying power. Marble that’s been polished by a hundred years of foot traffic. Ornate millwork that still looks intentional a century later. Rich wood cabinetry and furniture that only gets better with age. And yes—even color drenching, which somehow still makes design purists gasp, has been a hallmark of Old World interiors for generations.
That’s the standard I hold big-ticket decisions to. On the major investments—flooring, cabinetry, countertops—I almost always steer my clients toward materials and finishes that age gracefully rather than whatever’s trending on Instagram this month:
Natural stone (marble, limestone, quartzite)
Solid hardwood flooring
Custom millwork and cabinetry
Soft, neutral color palettes as a base
Classic architectural details—think proportion over novelty
What ties all of these together is that they’re grounded in proportion, craftsmanship, and genuinely good materials—not a passing moment. And the beauty of a timeless foundation is that it’s flexible: you can take those same elements in a traditional, transitional, cottagecore, or Old World direction depending on your personal style. The bones support all of it.
My rule of thumb for sellers and buyers alike: on the big-ticket items, resist the urge to chase the trend. Choose what will still feel intentional—and appraise well—in ten years, not just this season.
Where Trends Can (and Should) Live
Now for the fun part. Once your foundation is timeless, you’ve earned the freedom to have fun with the layer on top:
Tile backsplashes
Home accessories and decor
Furnishings
Wallpaper
Paint colors
These are the pieces that are relatively inexpensive and easy to swap out—which means they’re exactly where a trend belongs. A bold wallpaper moment or a statement backsplash can feel completely fresh today and be updated in a weekend a few years from now, without ever touching the value of the home.
That’s the real secret: when your foundation is solid and timeless, you can swap almost everything else without the home ever feeling dated. The bones carry it. The accents just get to have fun.
The Bottom Line for Nashville & Franklin Homeowners
Whether you’re preparing a luxury listing in Franklin, renovating in Belle Meade, or building new construction in Williamson County, the same principle applies: invest in what’s permanent, and play with what’s not. It’s how the most enduring homes—here and abroad—hold both their beauty and their value over time.
Thinking through a renovation before you list, or want a design-forward second opinion on your next Nashville-area home? Let’s talk.