Jordana and Trent Nicholson were instantly charmed by the original black and white vinyl kitchen flooring and beautiful hardwood floors of their 1940s duplex rental in Nashville, Tennessee. Trent, an app user experience and interface designer, and Jordana, a digital content creator and stylist for small businesses (and Houzz contributor), felt as though, in her words, “we really hit the jackpot with this little home.”
Jordana Nicholson
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Trent and Jordana Nicholson
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
Year built: 1940s
In the living room, a gallery wall that includes a vintage painting, a cherished portrait of Jordana’s grandparents and other secondhand art is the backdrop for a buttery leather tufted sofa.
“We love that living in a small space has forced us to simplify. We got rid of so much unnecessary stuff that had been accumulating over the years,” Jordana says. “Living in a bright, clean and clutter-free home just feels so good to us.”
Even though they’re in a rental, one of the first things they did was paint over what Jordana describes as “a terrible brownish tan color,” choosing a bright white to make the 800-square-foot interior feel light and airy. “All of our friends comment on how cozy our home feels, and that makes us really happy,” she says. “It’s comfortable and inviting and we love coming home and relaxing here at the end of the day.”
Sofa: Article; brass tray: Schoolhouse; lamp: Ikea; pillows: Clover; wooden ladder: vintage
Jordana Nicholson
“Bright, airy, clean and comfortable is how we describe our living space,” Jordana says. “We love neutrals but crave pops of color throughout our home — this is where heaps of greenery and colorful textiles come into play. We adore our thrifted velvet ottoman and antique art pieces that we’ve thrifted and collected over the years.” Jordana thanks her mother for passing on a love of antiques.
Rug: RugsUSA
Jordana Nicholson
The couple try their best to keep their style and interior decor simple and clutter-free. “I think there’s so much joy in living minimally,” Jordan says. “For us, it’s not holding on to stuff we don’t need. Accumulating ‘stuff’ drives me a little crazy. Why own things that are going to sit around and never get used or appreciated?”
That approach means taking a proactive approach to clutter. “Every couple of months we do a cleanup,” Jordana says. They spend time cleaning out each room and filling bags with things to donate. “It feels so good to tidy up spaces and part with things that have been collecting dust. In doing so, we avoid clutter, and being in such a tiny house, this is key. Joy for us equals living in a home that’s filled with meaningful things.”
The chalkboard and peg rack are both vintage. The couple use the chalkboard to leave each other messages or to plan out their menus.
Jordana Nicholson
The couple created a mini mudroom feel in this corner. “It’s where our coat closet is, so we added a bench that we found at our local flea market, a basket for shoes and peg rack for hanging up bags, hats and jackets,” Jordana says.
“If there’s one quirky thing to this home, it’s that our washer and dryer is smack in the hallway,” she adds. “We just have to laugh. It’s really random and funny to us, but it works and we’re thankful to have one in our home so we don’t have to use a laundromat.”
Peg rack: Container Store
Jordana Nicholson
The dining room is right off the living space. “The farm table is a really special piece to us,” Jordana says. “We found it at our local flea market the first year we were married and it wasn’t even for sale. It was being used to display old apothecary bottles and we asked the booth owner if he’d be willing to sell it.”
The couple paid $200 for the table, which turned out to be from Italy. “It’s a bit narrow, but we just adore it and love the story it comes with,” Jordana says.
Jordana Nicholson
The vintage bentwood chairs are Craigslist finds. “We love entertaining in our dining room. Almost everything happens around that old table. It’s where intimate dinners with friends, game nights, meaningful chats and morning coffee happens,” Jordana says. The couple made the shelf using stained walnut plywood from Home Depot and Ikea brackets. “We use it to hold a bunch of things, from vases and glass bottles to small plants, framed art and linen napkins,” Jordana says.
Cowhide: Dwell Studio; pendant: Schoolhouse;
The Writer Oak letter board: Letterfolk; linen curtains: T.J.MaxxJordana Nicholson
“While we adore our kitchen, I will have to say that it’s been our most challenging space,” Jordana says. The 8-by-8-foot room feels cramped, and when the couple entertain guests they can only have two to three people in it at a time.
“Thankfully, the charm makes up for the lack of space. There are only three sets of cabinets that hide our glassware and some knickknacks, and the other one is pretty much our pantry. There is some open shelving that’s allowed us to neatly display our favorite dishes and dry goods,” Jordana says.
To save space, the couple keep the dry goods organized in glass jars. This frees up more space in the pantry and makes for a pretty display shelf.
Jordana Nicholson
While the kitchen can feel tight at times, Jordana says, “we were kind of sold on this home when we saw the kitchen. I had to laugh at how tiny it was, but you just can’t beat original checkered flooring, tall cabinets and open shelving. I really love the old window in front of the sink and penny-tiled countertops — charm always wins.”
Jordana went for a farmhouse feel with natural wood accessories and amber-colored glass accents. “I’ve learned that keeping things simple is what it’s all about,” she says. “Lots of greenery in the window, dried flowers hanging and vintage thrifted pieces trickled throughout is what makes our house feel like a home.”
Jordana Nicholson
The open cabinets are used to store pantry items and cookbooks.
Dish rack: Ikea
Jordana Nicholson
Though the rental unit has only one small bathroom, Jordana says “it’s perfectly functional for the two of us. We don’t even mind sharing the sink … some days!”
Plant hanger: Sugarhouse Supply Co.
Jordana Nicholson
Jordana Nicholson
A midcentury dresser adds storage to the bedroom. “The dresser was a $4 thrifted piece that I literally grabbed, paid and ran out the door with when I found it. We painted the exterior white,” Jordana says.
The mirror above it is also vintage.
Woods poster: Debbie Carlos and Framebridge; Linen Stripe Duvet Cover Set: Parachute Home; striped quilt: Serena & Lily; white linen sheet set: Lamb & Stine; wooden side table: West Elm; brass lamp: Target; rug:RugsUSA
Jordana Nicholson
The couple’s bedroom receives the most natural light and the palette was kept neutral and muted. “Our bedroom is a little smaller than we’d like, but we’ve managed to really use the space well, keeping it open and uncluttered,” Jordana says.
“Trent really adores clean and minimal design, while I love the rustic farmhouse European-cottage feel,” she adds. “I think we did a great job at incorporating both of our styles into this rental space. It’s tough being in a home that’s not really yours, but in the end, we’re proud of the space and feel that we’ve created.”
Photo by Crystal K. Martel
“We feel really blessed to live in this place and to have found a home in an area that we love. It may be small, but it’s been perfect for us and this season of life that we’re in,” says Jordana, pictured here with Trent. The couple met through Jordana’s sister and have been married for four years.
“When we’re not cooking in our kitchen or sitting out on the back porch listening to old jazz, we love to travel, try new restaurants and explore our ever-growing city. Nashville is the place to be right now — it’s exploding with new places and things to check out almost weekly.”
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