June 10, 2024 • 44 mins
Welcome back to Season 8 of Couture & Construction! We are an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry.
This week, for our 119th episode of the podcast, we are so excited to have on some of our most exciting guests since the beginning of C&C. We are absolutely delighted to have the chance to sit down with 3 social media powerhouses to discuss the Fauver's real estate process & moving to Nashville! Joining us we have Emily & Dylan Fauver, who are joined by their real estate agent & one of our favorite recurring guests, Kelly Ladwig.
Emily, Dylan & Kelly come into the showroom to have an open table discussion covering everything about their upcoming new build project in Nashville. We get some incredible insight into what made them choose Nashville, how they are building their house to meet their needs & the exact moment that Kelly found the perfect lot for them! Tune in to be motivated & help us continue to dive into our 8th season.
Connect with Emily Fauver:
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Connect with Dylan Fauver:
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Connect with Kelly Ladwig:
Instagram
LinkedIn
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
UNKNOWN (00:00):
So
SPEAKER_01 (00:19):
Welcome back to Couture and Construction,
episode 119, From Blueprint toBliss, The Fowler Family Dream
Home Build, Part 1, NashvilleBeckons.
Today's episode is part one ofthe journey of the Fowler family
as they embark on building theirdream home in Nashville.
Joining us today are Emily andDylan Fowler, along with their
talented realtor and Couture andConstruction veteran guest,
(00:40):
Kelly Ladwig of Home on aNashville Hill.
Dylan is a dedicated family manand an active member of the U.S.
Air Force, where he thrills inflying a T-38 in Missouri.
Outside of his exciting career,he's a devoted cheer dad to his
daughter Ella and has justwelcomed a baby boy, Nash, into
the world with his wife, Emily.
On his social media, Dylanshares his love for a for family
(01:03):
fun, men's fashion, and traveladventures.
Emily, a proud military wife andmother to Ella and Nash, juggles
her days between styling Ella'shair, enjoying newborn snuggles,
walking her dogs, and attendingcountry music concerts with
Dylan.
With a passion for helpingothers, she actively raises
money for foster families andshares her fitness journey to
(01:24):
inspire others.
Her online presence is atreasure trove of beauty
tutorials, fashion finds, andfamily fun.
The Fowers connect with withover 1.4 million followers on
Instagram and 5 million onTikTok.
Kelly Ladwig, Nashville luxuryrealtor, is no stranger to the
build process, and she joined usin season one to take us through
(01:45):
her own journey building hercustom dream home.
Kelly is also part of an amazingcommunity on Instagram with over
230,000 followers, and she hasbeen featured in House
Beautiful, HGTV, and the NewYork Times.
Today, we'll explore why theFowers are moving to Nashville,
what went into their decisionprocess, how they found the
perfect lot, and the key factorsthat influenced their choice.
(02:07):
Alongside their realtor, KellyLadwig, Kelly Ladwig will get an
insider's look at the planningand excitement behind this
incredible build.
So whether you're dreaming ofyour own luxury home or simply
fascinated by thebehind-the-scenes process, stay
tuned as we delve into theFowler family's path from
blueprint to bliss.
Welcome, Dylan and Emily andKelly.
Thank you all for being here.
(02:29):
So really exciting.
You guys are joining us fromMissouri, coming to Nashville.
Tell us a why and how and howall that's working and who y'all
are.
SPEAKER_00 (02:39):
Well, we grew up in Oregon and as a military family,
we moved from Oregon to Texas toLouisiana and now in Missouri.
And since we moved around alittle bit, we hadn't been close
to family.
We kind of said, well, where dowe want to go afterward?
And the easy answer is to gohome.
And for us, going back to Oregonwasn't the right answer.
And so we literally took a mapand started pointing at states
(03:03):
and saying, do we want this one?
Started at the top.
Alaska, no.
Washington, no.
Oregon.
And we just kind of wentthrough, chose a couple that we
liked and visited, and justreally Loved everything
Tennessee had to offer.
And she had been a couple timesand then told me how much she
loved it.
So when I finally came to visit,I loved it.
And like, I think this might behome.
(03:23):
We tried out a couple otherplaces and it just didn't feel
like home.
SPEAKER_03 (03:26):
Yeah, we thought for a while we maybe wanted to do
Arizona and then it was too hot.
And then, you know, I had beenhere a few times and I just kept
telling him, like, you have togo to Tennessee.
And it reminds us a little bitof Oregon because of the green
and the, you know, I don't know,the hills.
It gives that feeling of homefor us without being in Oregon.
(03:46):
And we just love the peoplehere.
Everyone's so nice.
And it just feels like where weshould be.
SPEAKER_01 (03:52):
That's awesome.
Well, I welcome you here, and Ithink you'll really enjoy it.
It is a beautiful place.
It has elements of Out West,like you share.
But the people here are reallywhat make it special, and the
fact that there's a creativefabric that just is kind of the
underpinning of the community.
(04:14):
And off of that, a lot radiates,and it's just a great community.
Kids love it.
It's a wonderful place.
Kelly?
Thank you for joining us.
Where are you in life right now?
SPEAKER_04 (04:26):
First of all, thanks for having me back.
Absolutely.
Boy, life has changed a littlebit since I was first on about
three and a half
SPEAKER_02 (04:33):
years
SPEAKER_04 (04:35):
ago.
We've been in our house forcoming up on three years.
Finally finished a backyardproject after about four years,
so we can walk out of the backof the house, so life is good.
But yeah, other than that...
jumped into real estate, havebeen really fortunate to work
with people like Dylan and Emilyand help them create their dream
home.
I enjoyed doing it so much whenI did it that I've been really
(04:57):
fortunate enough to parlay thatinto helping other people do it
as well.
SPEAKER_01 (05:01):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, there's no doubt you haveyour finger on the pulse of
Nashville and especially theluxury build community.
So we're excited to have youback on.
So let's jump into kind of thejourney.
You guys are in Missouri now.
You've been a military family,lots of moving.
How did, like, you foundTennessee, love Nashville.
(05:25):
I love that you're a countrymusic fan as well.
So you'll feel definitely rightat home here.
What was the start of theprocess to say, listen, we're
going to put down roots and wewant to build a really cool
home?
SPEAKER_00 (05:38):
I mean, I love custom.
I just want something that IThank you so much.
(06:12):
And so that kind of led us tohow do we make that happen?
And when we were here visiting,we have a friends, they live
here and they're big on socialmedia and stuff.
And Kelly helped them find ahome.
And she's like, you got to talkto Kelly.
She's, like I said, she's gotthe pulse on the place.
And so I got in touch with herand then she's like, you know,
come out to the Parade of Homes.
And so, well, that's almostthree years ago now, two years.
SPEAKER_01 (06:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (06:36):
So we went to the Parade of Homes and just loved
what we saw there and lovedWe're like, how do we build one
of these?
How can we make this happen?
And Kelly helped us find theperfect lot through all that.
And we're getting ready.
We're getting close to breakground on it.
SPEAKER_01 (06:50):
So at that parade, what was your favorite feature
of any of the homes?
They were all spectacular intheir own right.
You guys were building withlegend.
But what is your favorite?
What would you say was yourfavorite thing there that you
hadn't seen or just somethingthat you really enjoyed?
SPEAKER_00 (07:07):
Yeah, actually, we were mimicking our home.
We got a lot of inspiration fromthe Legend Home there at the
parade.
Kind of that courtyard style,U-shape with the pool in the
middle.
We loved that.
We just, I mean, we stood therejust looking at it thinking like
this could be home.
We love being indoor, outdoor,kind of the same time.
And they just had the perfectspace.
We feel like we could entertain.
We could see our kids playing inthe pool.
You can see them from allangles, you know, so it felt
(07:29):
safe.
It just seemed like the theperfect place.
I don't know, the inspirationthat that home gave us really is
how I started designing thisnext one.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:39):
Well, and I'll share with you, I mean, you're not
alone.
Like, that was an absolutelyspectacular plan.
Jack Kerr, I think, designedthat home.
Correct.
UNKNOWN (07:50):
And
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
Legend has a history of being very innovative in
these parade concepts, and Ithink that was our fourth one
that we had done.
And every time, they're hittingthis incredibly cool new vibe.
And that one, what really stoodout to me was the size of some
of the windows and the amount oflight that came in.
It was just really, really neat.
(08:13):
So...
Tell me about finding a lot.
So you guys were here, we'restanding here.
How do we make this possible?
What is that process like?
SPEAKER_03 (08:24):
For me, it's actually kind of hard because I
have a hard time just likeseeing it.
You know, I just see grass a lotof the times.
And we, I mean, bless Dylan.
He was so patient with mebecause we'd go to so many
different lots.
We'd go to say one over andover.
And I actually feel like it was,we were about to give up.
It was almost on accident.
Not give up, but just be like,okay, we'll come back to this
(08:46):
later because we came to visit.
And was it you, Kelly, thattexted us and was like, you guys
need to go check out this lot?
Well, and I think the reason iswe had gone into a house in
Rosebrook and I went upstairsand went on the deck and I was
like this to the backyard and Iwas like this is the most
beautiful backyard I've everseen like there's nothing behind
(09:07):
it there's just trees again itkind of felt like home back in
Oregon and we were about toleave town I think we were
probably on our way out andKelly's like go buy this it
backs up to the same like areathat Emily fell in love with I
just saw Emily light up when youknow she got on that deck and we
went and I was like this is it Iactually was like I can't
believe this is available Wemade a decision, I think, that
(09:29):
day.
And I was like, who do I call?
Because I know this
SPEAKER_00 (09:31):
is going to be gone.
We didn't want it to be on themarket any longer.
I mean, I came to Nashvilleknowing we were looking for a
property.
And I think I sent Kelly a mapof like 10 places, super
organized, laid out.
I was like, I got to check outall these things.
I want to be in a cul-de-sac.
No one backing up to me.
I had like all these specificthings that I had to have.
So, you know, if I'm going tobuild this home, I've got to
have this.
(09:51):
And this one happened.
Somehow, in a weird way, itdidn't meet the stuff that I
had.
But once we stood there andlooked at it, we're like, well,
this really actually does kindof meet the specs.
But on paper, it doesn't looklike it.
Like Emily said, we kind ofchecked it out.
We're like, well, it does backup to all this common space.
There will be no one behind us.
And if we build that home theway that we want to, we will
(10:13):
have kind of our own littlesecluded area.
And then there's a tree line onone side.
And like I said, it was atotally last-minute thing after
looking at it.
I think it had to be close to adozen different communities to
look for places.
SPEAKER_04 (10:26):
We started big, right?
I believe you had like a verybig shotgun approach and then
you start to narrow down becauseas you're working with people
and Dylan and Emily, Dylanespecially, they're super
organized, right?
And it's really helpful becausethey at least give me a place to
start.
But I'm a big feeler, like howdoes something feel?
Can you see yourself, you know,with the kids playing in the
(10:48):
yard?
And so we went to differentneighborhoods with different
feelings.
You know, and this is they knewthey wanted a little bit of
land.
They knew they wanted, you know,about an acre and they knew they
wanted Williamson County.
And so you just start narrowingthings down and you start
feeling what you want.
And the cul-de-sac thing wasreally big for them.
And we found a lot, except abuilder owned it and there was
no opportunity to do any custom.
(11:10):
And we really just said, OK,maybe we take a breath.
We wait for the next phase, seeif we can snag it.
And I took a walk through theneighborhood just to kind of
clear my brain and kind ofstrategize.
And I found myself walking pasta lot that we had driven past
probably, what, like five times?
And I'm like...
Wait, it doesn't say sold.
(11:30):
I called Legend up.
I'm like, hey, is this stillavailable?
And they're like, yeah.
And I went and shot video.
And I think we were undercontract in like five hours.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I'm a firm believer.
When you know, you know.
Something just feels right.
Emily, you got out there and yougot a little teary when you saw
it.
And then,
SPEAKER_03 (11:47):
you know, I got goosebumps.
I just got chills when you saidthat.
Yeah, I did too.
Because I am a feeler too.
Like, I don't think Dylan is asmuch.
So sometimes I'm like, I don'tknow how to explain it.
It just doesn't feel like home.
Or it does, you know.
And when I walked out there, Iwas like, this is it.
This is what I want to look atevery day.
Because I do spend– I work fromhome.
I'm at home all day, every day.
I love being at home.
So, like, I have to loveeverything about it.
SPEAKER_01 (12:09):
Well, and I would think the actual physical space,
the earth,
SPEAKER_03 (12:14):
I
SPEAKER_01 (12:14):
mean, that's a huge part of it.
You can have the coolest housein the world, but if it's– not
feeling, you know, if you'resuper close to the neighbors or
whatever, there's a millionthings that go into that.
And yeah, I commend yourpatience.
And to your point, it does seemlike it unfolds as it should.
But that's funny that thathappened on a walk.
(12:34):
You were just like, hey, let mefigure this out.
SPEAKER_04 (12:37):
Usually you have, sometimes you try too hard,
right?
And you're squeezing too hardand you just need to open your
hands up and give it all room tohappen.
And one thing that I love aboutit is that I'm a big believer in
let's find a lot that opens upinto HOA common areas so you get
to enjoy it, but you don't haveto take care of it.
And this has it on two sides.
It's
SPEAKER_03 (12:56):
crazy.
Whenever I show people pictures,they're like, oh my gosh, how
much property is that?
And I'm like, that's what'sgreat about it is we don't have
to mow it and we can still useit.
We love that.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Yeah, that's a bonus.
Definite bonus points.
And it can never really bedeveloped.
So it's complete protection.
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_01 (13:16):
That's awesome.
So we talked about kind of howyou found the lot, but you guys
were introduced through a mutualfriend.
And I find what Kelly doesamazing because it feels like
she's very much with you throughthe process of the build.
It would be easy.
Okay, we found a lot.
See you.
(13:36):
Look for my Christmas card.
And that's it.
But what has that been likeworking together with Kelly?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
Unbelievable.
I mean, for me, a realtor issomeone that finds you the lot
or gets you hooked up with abuilder or finds you the house.
And then it's like you said, seeyou later.
Maybe we'll be in touch inanother life.
I mean, we've developed afriendship.
We'll text and chat throughInstagram and all sorts of
stuff.
And having her there every stepof the way to answer any
question, I'm always like, oh, Ididn't want to bother you with
(14:04):
that.
She's like, you're not botheringme.
That's what I love doing.
And especially getting on thedesign calls.
We have a designer on our team.
And she's like, well, I want tobe on those calls.
Those are the fun ones.
And I'm like, well, I don't wantto waste your time.
But she just really wants to beso involved in the process.
And I mean, we'll never forgetit.
She's going to be a huge part ofus being in our dream home,
which is super cool.
SPEAKER_01 (14:25):
Well, it's kind of like having an advocate, like
somebody outside.
One of the things we've talkedabout on Couture and
Construction, like religiously,is the importance of team
throughout this process.
Like it is just the mostcritical part, and especially
for somebody that appears to bevery organized like you, like
having those different aspectsof the team together.
(14:46):
And with you guys living out ofstate, just having somebody that
can give feedback that is is notpart of everything, but, you
know, and has the experience.
I think that's pretty neat.
I've got to back up to onething.
So you work from home.
You have some very specificneeds.
I'd like to understand, like,what were the absolute
must-haves each of you had tohave in the design of this home?
SPEAKER_03 (15:10):
I think for me...
It was lots of windows andbecause we have that in our
current home and it's what Ilove about it the most.
Like I have to have naturallight or else I'm not going to,
you know, I'm going to be sad.
So I love all the windows thatwas necessary, the light colors.
And then like we had said,having the pool was going to be
a huge thing for us because ourdaughter would swim every second
(15:32):
of every day if she could.
And, you know, I would love tojust, I can just picture myself
out there with them, watchingthem swim all day.
And I've never had that.
I didn't have that as a kideither.
So I'm like being able to havethat for them is just the
coolest thing.
So I think those are probablythe things that were like a
non-negotiable, like a greatoutside space.
And then, because I mean, Dylanand Kelly both know I don't like
(15:54):
being outside much.
So I have to find a way to likeit.
And then just...
Well, and I
SPEAKER_04 (16:03):
think we pushed you to think bigger beyond that,
too.
What would make your work lifeeasier?
And, you know, how do we makeyour closet something really
special?
And how do we make that work foryour work and for what you do
with try-ons and products andthings like that?
And then also something like,how do we create a package
receiving room where companiescan deliver, it's covered, it's
(16:23):
taken care of, she can open, shecan, you know, pack things up
and send it out?
Again, little things that, youknow, You may not have now, but
once you have it, it makes yourlife completely different.
Yeah,
SPEAKER_01 (16:35):
yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (16:35):
What about you?
I just wanted a place to be ableto entertain and a place that my
kids can have their own space.
I mean, if you have kids, youkind of end up living for your
kids.
At our current house, we builtit before we had a kid, and we
had an office, which is now aplayroom.
So lesson learned.
I just built the playroom.
Go ahead into this home.
So I definitely wanted it tohave our own area, their own
(16:58):
area, and then we wanted it tobe a place that All the kids
want to come over.
I want her friends at our house.
I want it to be a goodentertainment space.
Bunk rooms, playrooms, all thatsort of stuff was non-negotiable
for me.
I just want them to feel likeit's the fun house to be at.
SPEAKER_04 (17:14):
And what I love is he, I mean, both of them, you
can see how focused they are onboth of their kids.
But it was, you know, let's takea moment and what's going to
bring joy to your life as anadult also, right?
And for Dylan, he loves to golf.
So let's build a golf sim and agym.
Oh, nice.
That's yours.
Oh, I know.
(17:35):
Because he's like, well.
I'd like a rack in the closet.
I'm like, no, we can get youyour own closet.
SPEAKER_00 (17:42):
That's also non-negotiable.
I said, I'm getting my owncloset this time around.
His and hers sides of thebathroom, his and hers closets.
That was 100% non-negotiable.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
But that's the beauty of building custom,
right?
SPEAKER_00 (17:55):
Right.
We couldn't find everything wewanted in a regular home.
So being able to make all thosedecisions has been awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (18:01):
Well, and I think with the inspiration from that
floor plan, you know, I haveyoung kids as well, and I'm with
you.
And I don't want to speak forall males, but I feel like
having, like, own space for–because we like to entertain and
this and that, and it's very,very important.
(18:22):
But the openness of that floorplan where you really do have a
perspective and– it lives biggerthan maybe it even is, just
because of the way it's beendesigned.
So there's plenty of space foreverybody to enjoy, but then
there's some spaces where youcan do work.
(18:44):
And Whether the kids are doingwork or the parents are doing
work, it's just really welldesigned.
SPEAKER_04 (18:51):
And I think what you're going to see, they took
all of their favorite thingsabout that home and then added
all the things that will makethat home perfect for their
family.
So it's not a copy.
Jack designed that house, butthen you're going to see so many
fun things that they added thatare just so uniquely Dylan and
Emily.
SPEAKER_01 (19:08):
One question I have for you is, did you keep the
arches or are there still somearches in the home?
No.
I
SPEAKER_00 (19:15):
don't think we've gotten that far as far as like
the interior design spec partyet.
We're mostly just finished upwith the floor plan and getting
into really the selection phase.
And then we're going to leavethat to Lori to kind of really
create that We just trust hernow to the point where I'm like,
we're just going to let youloose and tell us what looks
good.
(19:35):
So I don't know entirely yet.
SPEAKER_01 (19:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, that's one thing thatalways stood out to me with that
house was the arch.
I think the front door.
Is the front door arched onthat?
Yeah.
The scale.
The scale was really, reallycool in that home.
And again, it felt bigger thanit, I think, actually was.
And obviously a big home.
But just the volume of therooms, everything about it.
(19:59):
The way it flowed, it wasfantastic.
So...
Talk about how you pickedWilliamson County.
I know Tennessee, but what didyou know about this area before?
Because you have a young family.
That was probably the mostimportant consideration in
deciding of where to move.
And you guys are unique becauseyou're getting to choose a place
(20:23):
to go.
And I guess maybe since thepandemic, there's a lot more
people that can work remote andhave made these decisions.
And we've seen people fromreally all over the country kind
of migrate south But what weresome of the considerations that
you took into account becauseyou have young kids?
SPEAKER_03 (20:41):
Good schools, which we were, I feel like that's
almost the first thing everyonesays to us about this area.
Oh, they have the best schools.
So that was a non-negotiable forus.
SPEAKER_00 (20:52):
Yeah, we ultimately, when we were choosing just in
general where to live, I mean,down to like the States was we
wanted to be close to a citythat had everything you could
ever want, all theentertainment.
UNKNOWN (21:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (21:02):
but we didn't want to live in the city.
So we want to live just outsideof it in a nice place that was
close enough.
And a lot of places don't havethat.
Once you start getting out ofthe city, it's just not really
the vibe that we wanted.
But having everything availableto us in Nashville and then
having this beautiful suburbthat's got top schools, great
restaurants, lots ofentertainment.
(21:22):
I mean, anywhere you go out todinner, there's just people
playing live music and stuff.
And so we just were like, thisis perfect.
We're just far enough away froma city and still get all the the
great benefits of it.
And then we had quite a fewfriends that lived in Williamson
County and had nothing but goodthings to say about it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:40):
It's really a nice place.
Have you guys been able toexplore like some of the
Williamson County, like rightdown from you all is an
incredible library.
Have y'all been able to go tothe, so I would encourage you to
check out the library.
Then across from that, they havea sports complex for like
competitive swimming.
It has maybe three like Olympicsize swimming pools that are
(22:03):
open year round.
And it's all within a stone'sthrow from where you are.
But the library, that library inparticular has an amazing
children's section.
It's just an unbelievableresource for people in the
community.
And of course, like you said,you're 20 minutes.
You can be in town in 20 minutesfrom there.
(22:25):
And in between there, there'splaces you would want to go.
And if you want to go furtherout 20 minutes, there's great
places to go, whether it beFranklin or out to Leaper's Fork
or taking a drive on the There'sso much to do in this area that
is very family-friendly and justconducive to enjoying time
(22:50):
together.
Have you all been to Radnor Lakeyet?
Mm-mm.
Okay, you'll enjoy that.
That's a beautiful, urban, andit's, what would you say, 15
minutes from?
SPEAKER_04 (23:00):
15 minutes.
Easy hiking for the kids.
They've been all focused on thehouse, right?
So now they get to start torelax and enjoy.
SPEAKER_00 (23:07):
But everything is so close.
Like you said, 15, 20 minutes isnothing, really.
And
SPEAKER_03 (23:10):
we haven't had this.
I mean, we have been stationedat the smallest towns ever for
the last however many years.
Like, I'm telling just Walmarts.
Really?
And a Chili's or something, ifwe're lucky.
SPEAKER_00 (23:25):
When Starbucks opened, our first duty station,
it was a big deal.
It was like, oh my gosh, there'sa Starbucks here, you know?
SPEAKER_03 (23:30):
It feels so weird to be able to be like, to have
something to do on a Saturday.
That's so fun.
I know.
We don't have that.
I think people especially see uson social media.
They're like, oh, of course.
People actually always think welive in California.
I'm like, oh, I'm glad we getthat impression.
We live next to the cornfield.
But we make the most of it.
SPEAKER_01 (23:49):
Well, Halloween would
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
be
SPEAKER_01 (23:50):
fun.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:52):
We literally drive through
SPEAKER_03 (23:54):
cornfields.
They do that.
Like
SPEAKER_00 (23:56):
you said, then you have Franklin that's just down
the road.
And that does feel like yoursmall hometown feel.
Wait
SPEAKER_01 (24:00):
until you go to the Greek festival down there.
I mean, there is...
There's events 365 days a year.
As a matter of fact, I've beensharing with people, Nashville
is very unique in the sense thatNew Orleans, Las Vegas, Miami,
New York, LA, maybe Chicago,there's only a handful of cities
(24:25):
in the country that have a veryspecific vibe, but that have a
party vibe 365, 24-7.
And that's, to me, a verypositive thing.
I mean, we've had vendors, forexample, come in.
They're like, man, we got to thehotel last night at 2 a.m., and
you wouldn't believe.
(24:46):
This is like on a Sunday night,Monday morning.
Right.
And they're like, you wouldn'tbelieve.
And it's a good time.
That radiates.
It's a happy place.
And that doesn't mean thatpeople here are partying all the
time, and you guys will be likeevery other local and go
downtown a handful of times ayear.
(25:07):
But when you do, and that's anoption, and when you have
friends and family in, it's somuch fun to be able to enjoy.
But the creative energy that isgiven off, the entrepreneurial
spirit, in this city ispalpable.
And I truly believe it is theengine that is making the city
(25:29):
go and so attractive to others.
So it's really fun.
So that new adventure, you'vegot the house on one hand.
That's going to be its ownproject.
But then you have theassimilation to a complete
change in lifestyle.
Like...
(25:49):
What is the plan for that?
Just kind of let it unfold.
You guys are obviously nostranger to moving, but it
sounds like this will be one ofthe more drastic because base
life, right?
SPEAKER_03 (26:01):
It's a little scary.
We actually talk about it.
I'm like, how do you live?
I always make a joke.
I'm like, Dylan, what are yougoing to do?
I've only known you as a pilot.
Are you going to be achiropractor or something?
I can't see him as anything elsebut being in the military.
We're looking forward, I think,to the freedom for sure, just
(26:22):
being able to get up and gowhenever we want and not have to
ask for leave.
I think the next goal for thisis getting our family here.
Would you agree?
We're trying.
Yeah, we're trying to get someof our family to move this way.
They're talking about it.
I
SPEAKER_04 (26:40):
think one of the things that was important, at
least to me, because I alwaysfeel a really big sense of
responsibility when I'm workingwith somebody, especially a
family that is picking up andmoving here and they don't know
anybody.
I mean, these guys have somefriends here, so that helps.
But when we were looking atneighborhoods and choosing
neighborhoods, where could wefind a place where they could be
with people who are in thesituation just like them.
(27:02):
And fortunately, especially inWilliamson County, there are so
many families that have movedhere without families.
So these neighborhoods veryquickly become families, and
everybody becomes very close.
And that was something I knowthat was at the top of my list
for them as we were looking.
You know, where could we getthem where they could very
(27:23):
quickly, you know, the kids havefriends, they have friends, and
then they can at least feel alittle settled.
SPEAKER_00 (27:28):
So there were some communities that only had like
eight homes in it.
Kelly's like, well, you know,it's a beautiful property.
It's great land.
You could do a custom build.
It's on a cul-de-sac.
It checks all those boxes.
But the people that already livein those homes, they don't have
kids.
You're not going to just letyour kid go out and play by
themselves.
There's no one else there.
And so finding the communitythat we did, I think it's just
(27:49):
going to make friends so fastwithin that area.
Because everyone's like, you'removing to Tennessee.
Why didn't you go buy all thisland?
I'm like, that's just notreally...
our vibe.
We just want to be close topeople and build that sense of
community around our home.
SPEAKER_01 (28:04):
I applaud you for that.
Being a transplant here, easy tomake friends.
These neighborhoods have beengreat.
Of course, there's differentseasons.
There may be a time in 10 yearsthat you're like yeah that big
piece of land right that's thenext season right or it may be
(28:25):
hey the condo downtown may bethe next season uh but between
kids school you know church uhevents you there's so many
transplants here it's hard notto make friends right fast uh
and uh Nashville, I feel like,is a very, very friendly place.
(28:46):
It is a unique combination ofSouthern and Midwest.
So you have this just likefolksy type people here.
And it's really an enjoyableplace.
And you're in the middle of acareer transition.
So are you retiring from themilitary or like reserve or
SPEAKER_00 (29:08):
like how does that work?
It depends a little bit.
My active duty servicecommitment is coming to an end,
and so I definitely will beseparating from active duty, but
likely right now I'm in theprocess of finding either like a
guard or reserve job, which is,for people that don't know, it's
kind of like you do yourweekends, you know, and your
drill weeks occasionallythroughout the year, but very
(29:29):
much part-time, um, no matterwhich way you do it.
And I definitely don't want togo back to a full-time thing,
um, just cause our lifestyleright now, we don't need that.
We're doing a lot of stuff onthe side and through social
media.
And then I sort of be aroundmore for the kids to be able to
just kind of, like you said, getup and go.
There's a lot of opportunitiesthat we've had to turn down
because I can't just get up andgo whatever I want.
(29:49):
So it's going to be weird.
Uh, You know, I don't want to belike stay-at-home dad kind of
type.
I will get extremely bored, soI'll find something to keep me
busy.
Yeah, she's like, you need toget out of the house.
I
SPEAKER_01 (29:59):
don't want you to be a stay-at-home dad.
No.
My wife would not like me as astay-at-home dad.
SPEAKER_00 (30:04):
Absolutely not.
SPEAKER_01 (30:04):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:05):
I keep sending Dylan ideas.
SPEAKER_01 (30:07):
Like,
SPEAKER_04 (30:07):
hey, have you thought about this?
SPEAKER_01 (30:09):
Hey.
Yeah, I mean, there's tons ofneat opportunities.
And you work from home prettymuch exclusively.
Yeah.
So, like, yeah, that's a lot of,yeah.
A lot of
SPEAKER_00 (30:21):
togetherness.
Kelly thinks I should work forthe airline that flies your dogs
with you.
Oh, yeah.
She's trying to get me on boardover there.
I think you
SPEAKER_04 (30:29):
need to start your own because they don't service
Nashville.
And I've found, like, probably25 clients for you already.
SPEAKER_01 (30:36):
For those that you're in the Air Force, that's
the branch of furniture.
And I don't know that Nashville.
I know we have an Air NationalGuard.
Right.
But I don't know if that's thesame thing as Air Force.
SPEAKER_00 (30:48):
So that's the guard side of it.
So you can do kind of the parttime there.
So if they're listening, youknow, maybe they'll give me a
call and give me a job over
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
there.
Do that.
So let's talk about social mediaand public sharing.
You guys are going to documentthis entire process and share
with your followers.
What kind of like connectiondoes that create with the people
that you're engaged with?
SPEAKER_03 (31:16):
I mean, I think anytime you can share a really
important aspect of your life,it just makes people feel like
they get the insider informationand that helps them feel more
connected to you.
But I think a lot of ourfollowers have been there
since...
when we lived in Del Rio, Texas,like with nothing on base
(31:38):
housing.
So I think it's really cool forthem to see just how far we've
come.
I mean, I have people message meall the time like, I've been
here since before kids and it'sjust so cool to see where guys'
lives have...
what it's turned into.
So that's what I'm excited aboutis just to share the entire
journey from, like, I willprobably share where we started
when we first got married, youknow, and then this home.
(32:00):
I would have never guessed thisis where we would end up.
But I think people feelconnected to that and maybe a
little bit inspired, I hope, tosee, you know, what's possible.
SPEAKER_01 (32:09):
Do people give you advice?
Like, hey, you know, at Framing,this is going to happen or
whatever.
Oh,
SPEAKER_03 (32:15):
the internet's full of advice.
UNKNOWN (32:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (32:17):
Good to know.
I didn't even think about it.
Yeah.
Tons
SPEAKER_01 (32:20):
of advice.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
SPEAKER_03 (32:24):
It's good because there are things that we don't
think about.
I get stuff all the time like,hey, this is where you should
put an outlet.
Don't forget a light switch inthis spot.
You're like, oh my gosh, I wouldhave never thought of that.
It is nice.
It's appreciated for the mostpart.
There's some that you're
SPEAKER_01 (32:43):
like, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (32:45):
No thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (32:45):
We like it.
And how does that work with youbeing so organized and
everything else?
Like, do you share that and seekadvice or do you just have it,
you know what you want?
SPEAKER_00 (32:58):
Yeah, I mean, I definitely take advice, but when
it comes from strangers on theinternet, I usually just leave
that to the experts.
So we have a good team on boardand I'll just, I'll trust them,
you know, and there are somegreat advice we get online and
everything, but you just don'tknow the source.
So I tend to not listen to thatquite as much.
(33:19):
It sounds bad.
I mean, I love it.
I love that people are veryengaged in stuff and everyone is
good intent to try to help out.
SPEAKER_01 (33:26):
But without being in the exact situation, everything
varies.
SPEAKER_00 (33:30):
It's so unique.
It's hard to know exactly whatwe're looking for.
I think
SPEAKER_03 (33:34):
he's too much of a perfectionist.
He wants the professionalopinion where I'm like...
Did you like, you know, look atthis idea that this random
person sent me on TikTok, youknow, like stuff like that.
I'm open to, but Dylan's more,he wants it.
SPEAKER_00 (33:48):
I need the facts with everything.
Emily will tell me something,and I'm like, well, what was
their name?
She said, why do you know theirname in the story?
Source.
SPEAKER_01 (33:56):
Yeah, that's my favorite thing
SPEAKER_00 (33:58):
on the internet
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
right now.
Source.
I saw it on TikTok, and you'llbe like, oh, my gosh, you can't
believe everything you see onTikTok.
I'm like, there's some goodstuff on there.
SPEAKER_01 (34:04):
There is some good stuff.
Well, I have one request for youto post, and you may already
have done it.
If you can post the house plans.
that were in Excel format.
Oh, my gosh.
I would absolutely love to seethat.
Oh, we should.
Because that is...
Where we started and now...
That is...
And that just...
you have a special skill inExcel because you know how to
(34:24):
work that.
You can do some pivot tables andwhatnot.
SPEAKER_00 (34:27):
That wasn't this house.
That was the one we're currentlyin.
I did it on Excel.
SPEAKER_01 (34:30):
I don't care if it was a dog house.
Drawing plans in through Excel,that's...
SPEAKER_03 (34:35):
Didn't you start it with this and then someone
called you out and someone waslike,
SPEAKER_00 (34:39):
don't waste your time.
When we were in the hospital,because Emily was basically on
bed rest for a month before wehad our son Nash, and I was
like, what am I going to do tostay busy?
I was teleworking a bit in thehospital and And I went to the
store, and I bought a graphpaper book.
And I was drawing out how I didon Excel.
It was essentially Excel inpaper form.
And I was like, this is how Iwant this, and this is the size.
And it was kind of funny.
(35:00):
And Kelly's like, oh, man.
SPEAKER_04 (35:04):
Because I have been guilty of doing the same.
And it's just, this is great.
We can share this.
Keep an open mind.
I think what I'm excited for youguys with all of the people
following you is just what it'sgoing to open you up to a whole
different group of people alsoAnd people love the building
process.
And there's so much design stuffout there that there just isn't
(35:27):
as much about the actual nutsand bolts of building.
And people are hungry for that.
SPEAKER_00 (35:32):
But I think a lot of people think that they can't do
it too.
And that's a lot of social.
Like what Emily said is she'sinspiring some people that...
you know, we started here andnow we're here sort of thing.
And, you know, building a dreamcustom home, people don't think
it's possible.
And like, I don't have theskills to do it.
And that's why you build thatteam around you that can.
So I think it'll be fun for themto watch that process happen for
(35:52):
people that have been interestedin it.
And even if they're not, it's,there's just something about,
and I mean, that's why Kelly'spage is so awesome.
There's something about justlooking at homes and it's just
inspiration, you know, just likeone day, like, how could I do
that?
And it makes people dreambigger.
And, you know, hopefully itinspires them to go do something
else to live out that dream.
SPEAKER_01 (36:09):
Yeah, that's awesome.
That's awesome.
Okay, well, I think that aboutcovers how you guys got here.
We're just all anxiouslyawaiting the groundbreaking,
right?
And do we have any idea on whenthat's going to be?
Sooner
SPEAKER_00 (36:25):
the better, but I think we're slightly delayed
right now.
And
SPEAKER_01 (36:30):
it
SPEAKER_04 (36:30):
starts
SPEAKER_01 (36:31):
soon.
Which is the number one thing inbuilding a custom home.
That is a common refrain.
We're slightly delayed.
I
SPEAKER_00 (36:37):
guess I couldn't even use the word delayed
because it's nobody's fault.
And it's delayed in my mind justbecause I said I wanted to be
here before Ella, our daughter,started first grade.
So it's not delayed.
I never got a timeline that saidI would be.
So we're not delayed.
It's just taking longer than youwould like.
It's perfectionism.
I mean, it's entirely, you know,on us.
We're making sure that the houseis designed exactly how we want.
(37:00):
And, you know, we're doing allthat work out front so there's
no changes later.
And it's just going to taketime.
And, you know, a couple monthsis nothing in the scope of how
long we're going to be in thereto get the right product.
SPEAKER_04 (37:08):
We're looking at probably breaking ground end of
September.
SPEAKER_00 (37:11):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (37:12):
You know, and then probably about 12 months.
They may be living at my housefor about a month and a half,
which is fine.
I'll do it.
Perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (37:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:22):
I like you.
SPEAKER_01 (37:24):
Yeah.
That would work just fine.
It'll
SPEAKER_04 (37:27):
go really
SPEAKER_03 (37:28):
fast.
Hey, it's kind of like how westarted, though, because when we
got married, we were supposed tomove with the military right
away.
We got married in July.
We were supposed to move inSeptember.
And your orders got delayed howmany months?
So we lived with his parents.
SPEAKER_00 (37:40):
Freshly married, lived with my parents.
With
SPEAKER_03 (37:41):
a new puppy.
SPEAKER_00 (37:42):
Well, and then with our current house, it was
supposed to be done.
And then we lived in a tempapartment on an air mattress
while she was nine monthspregnant and then had the baby.
Our first
SPEAKER_03 (37:52):
coffee table was cardboard.
I mean, we have a lot ofstories, but yeah, this seems
like the theme.
SPEAKER_01 (37:57):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
The best of times.
We're very used to it.
But it all ends up being
SPEAKER_03 (38:00):
really
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
working out.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Well, you guys have been great.
I'm excited to follow along.
Our listeners will be superexcited to follow along.
And congratulations.
It is wonderful.
And one thing I always like toadd, and...
Home building is really anengine that gives so many people
(38:21):
jobs.
There's a stat, and it's an oldstat, but we live in the
healthcare capital of the world.
And this is no knock on thosefolks because they build homes.
But for every$100 spent inhealthcare, it puts a dollar
down.
into the economy.
For every$1 spent in building,it puts$100 into the economy.
(38:45):
So it is really like you providea lot of jobs through building.
It's a really neat process.
And yeah, hang in there becauseit's not for the faint of heart.
And you've got an incredibleteam, but still not for the
faint of heart.
Okay, let's move into rapidfire.
(39:07):
And Kelly, why don't I startwith you?
And we've got three questions.
So if each of y'all would take acrack at this.
Favorite current design trend?
SPEAKER_04 (39:18):
I'm making this design trend up, and it's called
right-sizing.
And downsizing gets such a badrap.
And sometimes in life, you wantless space.
Sometimes in life, like Dylanand Emily, you need more space.
It's designing and living whereyou live for where you are in
your life.
SPEAKER_01 (39:34):
Love that.
Love that.
Dylan, favorite design trend?
SPEAKER_00 (39:38):
Whatever my wife wants, man.
Happy life, happy life.
I'm a floor plan guy.
Design is all on her.
SPEAKER_03 (39:44):
I don't even know if this is a design trend, but I
love the double island in thekitchen.
I love that.
That's a good
SPEAKER_01 (39:52):
one.
I love that.
And that kind of falls right inwith right sizing because, like,
it's perfect for young families.
Okay, if you could visit anycountry tomorrow, where would
you go?
SPEAKER_04 (40:02):
Maldives.
SPEAKER_01 (40:03):
Maldives.
You've been there.
SPEAKER_04 (40:04):
I've been there three times, and I'm going
again.
Oh,
SPEAKER_01 (40:07):
geez, tomorrow.
SPEAKER_04 (40:08):
January.
SPEAKER_01 (40:11):
Dylan?
SPEAKER_00 (40:13):
I would say Africa.
Oh, my
SPEAKER_03 (40:14):
gosh.
That's what I was going to say.
SPEAKER_00 (40:16):
Let's go.
So cool.
So different.
SPEAKER_03 (40:18):
Let's
SPEAKER_00 (40:18):
go.
SPEAKER_03 (40:19):
I want to go on a safari.
SPEAKER_00 (40:20):
All right.
Let's do it.
There you go.
That's literally what I wasgoing to say.
SPEAKER_04 (40:23):
Next year, August, right?
You can just be there whileyou're finishing up the house.
SPEAKER_00 (40:28):
It would have been Australia, but we just said
Australia.
I was
SPEAKER_03 (40:30):
literally going to say that.
That was my other, yeah.
We just did Australia.
That was awesome.
Oh, how was it?
It was
SPEAKER_00 (40:35):
great.
It was so cool.
It was hot.
SPEAKER_03 (40:37):
Very, very cool.
It was
SPEAKER_00 (40:38):
very hot.
We were there in our winter,their summer.
Christmas.
We were there during Christmas,and it was hot.
SPEAKER_01 (40:41):
Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_00 (40:42):
It's really
SPEAKER_01 (40:42):
weird.
How did you do with the flight?
I know you're a pilot, so youwere probably
SPEAKER_03 (40:47):
fine.
I snuggled my littlesix-week-old the whole time, so
we just slept.
SPEAKER_01 (40:52):
You are adventurous.
A six-week-old on that flight?
SPEAKER_03 (40:56):
Yep, our little baby.
SPEAKER_01 (40:57):
That's impressive.
SPEAKER_03 (40:58):
He was great.
We kept saying he was easierthan our five-year-old.
SPEAKER_01 (41:03):
That is great.
Impressive.
Good for you.
Good for you.
That's awesome.
Okay, what is one skill you wishyou had?
SPEAKER_04 (41:11):
I wish I could sing.
That
SPEAKER_01 (41:13):
would be good.
SPEAKER_04 (41:14):
I don't know if that's a skill, but it's a
talent.
I think it
SPEAKER_01 (41:17):
is, yeah.
Skill and
SPEAKER_00 (41:18):
talent, yeah.
That's tough.
SPEAKER_04 (41:19):
Don't say
SPEAKER_00 (41:19):
mine again.
Don't say yours again?
Oh, man.
Well, I do wish I could golf.
SPEAKER_02 (41:27):
We were
SPEAKER_00 (41:29):
talking about golf earlier.
Man, I could use some workthere.
That
SPEAKER_03 (41:34):
took a second for him because he's good at
everything.
I wish I could dance.
UNKNOWN (41:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (41:39):
Yeah.
Me too.
SPEAKER_01 (41:40):
Me
SPEAKER_03 (41:40):
too.
SPEAKER_01 (41:41):
Me too.
I wish I could do that.
Sing, dance, and golf better,right?
You're living a good life.
You're living a good life.
They just
SPEAKER_03 (41:49):
impress me.
I'm like, I watch someone dance.
I'm like, that is, it's such anart.
SPEAKER_01 (41:52):
It is.
Like, when you see these, I wasactually showing, so I have
nine-year-old girls, and mygirls have no idea who Michael
Jackson was, but they recentlyheard of the moonwalk.
So I was showing them, like,just the dancing, and I'm
like...
Their mind is blown, and mymind's blown still by the moves.
I wish I had that skill, but I'ma big boy.
(42:14):
I can't move like
SPEAKER_00 (42:15):
that.
I got some good dance movesthere.
You can find them on yourTikTok.
SPEAKER_04 (42:19):
I've seen them, Dylan.
You can't unsee
SPEAKER_02 (42:22):
them.
SPEAKER_00 (42:23):
You can't
SPEAKER_04 (42:23):
unsee what
SPEAKER_02 (42:25):
you see.
I'll have to check those
SPEAKER_01 (42:26):
out.
They come out after a fewcocktails.
That's good, though.
That's good.
Well, Emily, Dylan, and Kelly,thank you for joining us in part
one of your journey in buildingyour dream home and sharing more
with us on why you choseNashville.
We're excited to hear more aboutthe interior design and the
build process as you continue.
Listeners, stay tuned.
(42:46):
We'll be back with Fowers astheir build progresses.
In the meantime, we'll includelinks to follow everyone in our
show notes.
But thank you all so much.
It was an absolute pleasure tohave you on and to get to spend
some time with you.
I know you all have a busyschedule.
To our listeners, thank you forjoining us for another episode
of Couture and Construction.
Stay tuned for more captivatingepisodes.
(43:08):
And if you loved today'sepisode, please share with your
friends or write a review onyour preferred podcast platform.
Couture and Construction isproudly presented by Textures
Nashville, where creativity andcraftsmanship converge.
Produced by Davis Osborne andChelsea Rand.
Recorded live at the TexturesNashville showroom within the
Nashville Design Collective.
Until next time, keepcultivating creativity.
UNKNOWN (43:34):
Bye.
So
SPEAKER_01 (00:19):
Welcome back to Couture and Construction,
episode 119, From Blueprint toBliss, The Fowler Family Dream
Home Build, Part 1, NashvilleBeckons.
Today's episode is part one ofthe journey of the Fowler family
as they embark on building theirdream home in Nashville.
Joining us today are Emily andDylan Fowler, along with their
talented realtor and Couture andConstruction veteran guest,
(00:40):
Kelly Ladwig of Home on aNashville Hill.
Dylan is a dedicated family manand an active member of the U.S.
Air Force, where he thrills inflying a T-38 in Missouri.
Outside of his exciting career,he's a devoted cheer dad to his
daughter Ella and has justwelcomed a baby boy, Nash, into
the world with his wife, Emily.
On his social media, Dylanshares his love for a for family
(01:03):
fun, men's fashion, and traveladventures.
Emily, a proud military wife andmother to Ella and Nash, juggles
her days between styling Ella'shair, enjoying newborn snuggles,
walking her dogs, and attendingcountry music concerts with
Dylan.
With a passion for helpingothers, she actively raises
money for foster families andshares her fitness journey to
(01:24):
inspire others.
Her online presence is atreasure trove of beauty
tutorials, fashion finds, andfamily fun.
The Fowers connect with withover 1.4 million followers on
Instagram and 5 million onTikTok.
Kelly Ladwig, Nashville luxuryrealtor, is no stranger to the
build process, and she joined usin season one to take us through
(01:45):
her own journey building hercustom dream home.
Kelly is also part of an amazingcommunity on Instagram with over
230,000 followers, and she hasbeen featured in House
Beautiful, HGTV, and the NewYork Times.
Today, we'll explore why theFowers are moving to Nashville,
what went into their decisionprocess, how they found the
perfect lot, and the key factorsthat influenced their choice.
(02:07):
Alongside their realtor, KellyLadwig, Kelly Ladwig will get an
insider's look at the planningand excitement behind this
incredible build.
So whether you're dreaming ofyour own luxury home or simply
fascinated by thebehind-the-scenes process, stay
tuned as we delve into theFowler family's path from
blueprint to bliss.
Welcome, Dylan and Emily andKelly.
Thank you all for being here.
(02:29):
So really exciting.
You guys are joining us fromMissouri, coming to Nashville.
Tell us a why and how and howall that's working and who y'all
are.
SPEAKER_00 (02:39):
Well, we grew up in Oregon and as a military family,
we moved from Oregon to Texas toLouisiana and now in Missouri.
And since we moved around alittle bit, we hadn't been close
to family.
We kind of said, well, where dowe want to go afterward?
And the easy answer is to gohome.
And for us, going back to Oregonwasn't the right answer.
And so we literally took a mapand started pointing at states
(03:03):
and saying, do we want this one?
Started at the top.
Alaska, no.
Washington, no.
Oregon.
And we just kind of wentthrough, chose a couple that we
liked and visited, and justreally Loved everything
Tennessee had to offer.
And she had been a couple timesand then told me how much she
loved it.
So when I finally came to visit,I loved it.
And like, I think this might behome.
(03:23):
We tried out a couple otherplaces and it just didn't feel
like home.
SPEAKER_03 (03:26):
Yeah, we thought for a while we maybe wanted to do
Arizona and then it was too hot.
And then, you know, I had beenhere a few times and I just kept
telling him, like, you have togo to Tennessee.
And it reminds us a little bitof Oregon because of the green
and the, you know, I don't know,the hills.
It gives that feeling of homefor us without being in Oregon.
(03:46):
And we just love the peoplehere.
Everyone's so nice.
And it just feels like where weshould be.
SPEAKER_01 (03:52):
That's awesome.
Well, I welcome you here, and Ithink you'll really enjoy it.
It is a beautiful place.
It has elements of Out West,like you share.
But the people here are reallywhat make it special, and the
fact that there's a creativefabric that just is kind of the
underpinning of the community.
(04:14):
And off of that, a lot radiates,and it's just a great community.
Kids love it.
It's a wonderful place.
Kelly?
Thank you for joining us.
Where are you in life right now?
SPEAKER_04 (04:26):
First of all, thanks for having me back.
Absolutely.
Boy, life has changed a littlebit since I was first on about
three and a half
SPEAKER_02 (04:33):
years
SPEAKER_04 (04:35):
ago.
We've been in our house forcoming up on three years.
Finally finished a backyardproject after about four years,
so we can walk out of the backof the house, so life is good.
But yeah, other than that...
jumped into real estate, havebeen really fortunate to work
with people like Dylan and Emilyand help them create their dream
home.
I enjoyed doing it so much whenI did it that I've been really
(04:57):
fortunate enough to parlay thatinto helping other people do it
as well.
SPEAKER_01 (05:01):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, there's no doubt you haveyour finger on the pulse of
Nashville and especially theluxury build community.
So we're excited to have youback on.
So let's jump into kind of thejourney.
You guys are in Missouri now.
You've been a military family,lots of moving.
How did, like, you foundTennessee, love Nashville.
(05:25):
I love that you're a countrymusic fan as well.
So you'll feel definitely rightat home here.
What was the start of theprocess to say, listen, we're
going to put down roots and wewant to build a really cool
home?
SPEAKER_00 (05:38):
I mean, I love custom.
I just want something that IThank you so much.
(06:12):
And so that kind of led us tohow do we make that happen?
And when we were here visiting,we have a friends, they live
here and they're big on socialmedia and stuff.
And Kelly helped them find ahome.
And she's like, you got to talkto Kelly.
She's, like I said, she's gotthe pulse on the place.
And so I got in touch with herand then she's like, you know,
come out to the Parade of Homes.
And so, well, that's almostthree years ago now, two years.
SPEAKER_01 (06:35):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (06:36):
So we went to the Parade of Homes and just loved
what we saw there and lovedWe're like, how do we build one
of these?
How can we make this happen?
And Kelly helped us find theperfect lot through all that.
And we're getting ready.
We're getting close to breakground on it.
SPEAKER_01 (06:50):
So at that parade, what was your favorite feature
of any of the homes?
They were all spectacular intheir own right.
You guys were building withlegend.
But what is your favorite?
What would you say was yourfavorite thing there that you
hadn't seen or just somethingthat you really enjoyed?
SPEAKER_00 (07:07):
Yeah, actually, we were mimicking our home.
We got a lot of inspiration fromthe Legend Home there at the
parade.
Kind of that courtyard style,U-shape with the pool in the
middle.
We loved that.
We just, I mean, we stood therejust looking at it thinking like
this could be home.
We love being indoor, outdoor,kind of the same time.
And they just had the perfectspace.
We feel like we could entertain.
We could see our kids playing inthe pool.
You can see them from allangles, you know, so it felt
(07:29):
safe.
It just seemed like the theperfect place.
I don't know, the inspirationthat that home gave us really is
how I started designing thisnext one.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:39):
Well, and I'll share with you, I mean, you're not
alone.
Like, that was an absolutelyspectacular plan.
Jack Kerr, I think, designedthat home.
Correct.
UNKNOWN (07:50):
And
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
Legend has a history of being very innovative in
these parade concepts, and Ithink that was our fourth one
that we had done.
And every time, they're hittingthis incredibly cool new vibe.
And that one, what really stoodout to me was the size of some
of the windows and the amount oflight that came in.
It was just really, really neat.
(08:13):
So...
Tell me about finding a lot.
So you guys were here, we'restanding here.
How do we make this possible?
What is that process like?
SPEAKER_03 (08:24):
For me, it's actually kind of hard because I
have a hard time just likeseeing it.
You know, I just see grass a lotof the times.
And we, I mean, bless Dylan.
He was so patient with mebecause we'd go to so many
different lots.
We'd go to say one over andover.
And I actually feel like it was,we were about to give up.
It was almost on accident.
Not give up, but just be like,okay, we'll come back to this
(08:46):
later because we came to visit.
And was it you, Kelly, thattexted us and was like, you guys
need to go check out this lot?
Well, and I think the reason iswe had gone into a house in
Rosebrook and I went upstairsand went on the deck and I was
like this to the backyard and Iwas like this is the most
beautiful backyard I've everseen like there's nothing behind
(09:07):
it there's just trees again itkind of felt like home back in
Oregon and we were about toleave town I think we were
probably on our way out andKelly's like go buy this it
backs up to the same like areathat Emily fell in love with I
just saw Emily light up when youknow she got on that deck and we
went and I was like this is it Iactually was like I can't
believe this is available Wemade a decision, I think, that
(09:29):
day.
And I was like, who do I call?
Because I know this
SPEAKER_00 (09:31):
is going to be gone.
We didn't want it to be on themarket any longer.
I mean, I came to Nashvilleknowing we were looking for a
property.
And I think I sent Kelly a mapof like 10 places, super
organized, laid out.
I was like, I got to check outall these things.
I want to be in a cul-de-sac.
No one backing up to me.
I had like all these specificthings that I had to have.
So, you know, if I'm going tobuild this home, I've got to
have this.
(09:51):
And this one happened.
Somehow, in a weird way, itdidn't meet the stuff that I
had.
But once we stood there andlooked at it, we're like, well,
this really actually does kindof meet the specs.
But on paper, it doesn't looklike it.
Like Emily said, we kind ofchecked it out.
We're like, well, it does backup to all this common space.
There will be no one behind us.
And if we build that home theway that we want to, we will
(10:13):
have kind of our own littlesecluded area.
And then there's a tree line onone side.
And like I said, it was atotally last-minute thing after
looking at it.
I think it had to be close to adozen different communities to
look for places.
SPEAKER_04 (10:26):
We started big, right?
I believe you had like a verybig shotgun approach and then
you start to narrow down becauseas you're working with people
and Dylan and Emily, Dylanespecially, they're super
organized, right?
And it's really helpful becausethey at least give me a place to
start.
But I'm a big feeler, like howdoes something feel?
Can you see yourself, you know,with the kids playing in the
(10:48):
yard?
And so we went to differentneighborhoods with different
feelings.
You know, and this is they knewthey wanted a little bit of
land.
They knew they wanted, you know,about an acre and they knew they
wanted Williamson County.
And so you just start narrowingthings down and you start
feeling what you want.
And the cul-de-sac thing wasreally big for them.
And we found a lot, except abuilder owned it and there was
no opportunity to do any custom.
(11:10):
And we really just said, OK,maybe we take a breath.
We wait for the next phase, seeif we can snag it.
And I took a walk through theneighborhood just to kind of
clear my brain and kind ofstrategize.
And I found myself walking pasta lot that we had driven past
probably, what, like five times?
And I'm like...
Wait, it doesn't say sold.
(11:30):
I called Legend up.
I'm like, hey, is this stillavailable?
And they're like, yeah.
And I went and shot video.
And I think we were undercontract in like five hours.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I'm a firm believer.
When you know, you know.
Something just feels right.
Emily, you got out there and yougot a little teary when you saw
it.
And then,
SPEAKER_03 (11:47):
you know, I got goosebumps.
I just got chills when you saidthat.
Yeah, I did too.
Because I am a feeler too.
Like, I don't think Dylan is asmuch.
So sometimes I'm like, I don'tknow how to explain it.
It just doesn't feel like home.
Or it does, you know.
And when I walked out there, Iwas like, this is it.
This is what I want to look atevery day.
Because I do spend– I work fromhome.
I'm at home all day, every day.
I love being at home.
So, like, I have to loveeverything about it.
SPEAKER_01 (12:09):
Well, and I would think the actual physical space,
the earth,
SPEAKER_03 (12:14):
I
SPEAKER_01 (12:14):
mean, that's a huge part of it.
You can have the coolest housein the world, but if it's– not
feeling, you know, if you'resuper close to the neighbors or
whatever, there's a millionthings that go into that.
And yeah, I commend yourpatience.
And to your point, it does seemlike it unfolds as it should.
But that's funny that thathappened on a walk.
(12:34):
You were just like, hey, let mefigure this out.
SPEAKER_04 (12:37):
Usually you have, sometimes you try too hard,
right?
And you're squeezing too hardand you just need to open your
hands up and give it all room tohappen.
And one thing that I love aboutit is that I'm a big believer in
let's find a lot that opens upinto HOA common areas so you get
to enjoy it, but you don't haveto take care of it.
And this has it on two sides.
It's
SPEAKER_03 (12:56):
crazy.
Whenever I show people pictures,they're like, oh my gosh, how
much property is that?
And I'm like, that's what'sgreat about it is we don't have
to mow it and we can still useit.
We love that.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Yeah, that's a bonus.
Definite bonus points.
And it can never really bedeveloped.
So it's complete protection.
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_01 (13:16):
That's awesome.
So we talked about kind of howyou found the lot, but you guys
were introduced through a mutualfriend.
And I find what Kelly doesamazing because it feels like
she's very much with you throughthe process of the build.
It would be easy.
Okay, we found a lot.
See you.
(13:36):
Look for my Christmas card.
And that's it.
But what has that been likeworking together with Kelly?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
Unbelievable.
I mean, for me, a realtor issomeone that finds you the lot
or gets you hooked up with abuilder or finds you the house.
And then it's like you said, seeyou later.
Maybe we'll be in touch inanother life.
I mean, we've developed afriendship.
We'll text and chat throughInstagram and all sorts of
stuff.
And having her there every stepof the way to answer any
question, I'm always like, oh, Ididn't want to bother you with
(14:04):
that.
She's like, you're not botheringme.
That's what I love doing.
And especially getting on thedesign calls.
We have a designer on our team.
And she's like, well, I want tobe on those calls.
Those are the fun ones.
And I'm like, well, I don't wantto waste your time.
But she just really wants to beso involved in the process.
And I mean, we'll never forgetit.
She's going to be a huge part ofus being in our dream home,
which is super cool.
SPEAKER_01 (14:25):
Well, it's kind of like having an advocate, like
somebody outside.
One of the things we've talkedabout on Couture and
Construction, like religiously,is the importance of team
throughout this process.
Like it is just the mostcritical part, and especially
for somebody that appears to bevery organized like you, like
having those different aspectsof the team together.
(14:46):
And with you guys living out ofstate, just having somebody that
can give feedback that is is notpart of everything, but, you
know, and has the experience.
I think that's pretty neat.
I've got to back up to onething.
So you work from home.
You have some very specificneeds.
I'd like to understand, like,what were the absolute
must-haves each of you had tohave in the design of this home?
SPEAKER_03 (15:10):
I think for me...
It was lots of windows andbecause we have that in our
current home and it's what Ilove about it the most.
Like I have to have naturallight or else I'm not going to,
you know, I'm going to be sad.
So I love all the windows thatwas necessary, the light colors.
And then like we had said,having the pool was going to be
a huge thing for us because ourdaughter would swim every second
(15:32):
of every day if she could.
And, you know, I would love tojust, I can just picture myself
out there with them, watchingthem swim all day.
And I've never had that.
I didn't have that as a kideither.
So I'm like being able to havethat for them is just the
coolest thing.
So I think those are probablythe things that were like a
non-negotiable, like a greatoutside space.
And then, because I mean, Dylanand Kelly both know I don't like
(15:54):
being outside much.
So I have to find a way to likeit.
And then just...
Well, and I
SPEAKER_04 (16:03):
think we pushed you to think bigger beyond that,
too.
What would make your work lifeeasier?
And, you know, how do we makeyour closet something really
special?
And how do we make that work foryour work and for what you do
with try-ons and products andthings like that?
And then also something like,how do we create a package
receiving room where companiescan deliver, it's covered, it's
(16:23):
taken care of, she can open, shecan, you know, pack things up
and send it out?
Again, little things that, youknow, You may not have now, but
once you have it, it makes yourlife completely different.
Yeah,
SPEAKER_01 (16:35):
yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (16:35):
What about you?
I just wanted a place to be ableto entertain and a place that my
kids can have their own space.
I mean, if you have kids, youkind of end up living for your
kids.
At our current house, we builtit before we had a kid, and we
had an office, which is now aplayroom.
So lesson learned.
I just built the playroom.
Go ahead into this home.
So I definitely wanted it tohave our own area, their own
(16:58):
area, and then we wanted it tobe a place that All the kids
want to come over.
I want her friends at our house.
I want it to be a goodentertainment space.
Bunk rooms, playrooms, all thatsort of stuff was non-negotiable
for me.
I just want them to feel likeit's the fun house to be at.
SPEAKER_04 (17:14):
And what I love is he, I mean, both of them, you
can see how focused they are onboth of their kids.
But it was, you know, let's takea moment and what's going to
bring joy to your life as anadult also, right?
And for Dylan, he loves to golf.
So let's build a golf sim and agym.
Oh, nice.
That's yours.
Oh, I know.
(17:35):
Because he's like, well.
I'd like a rack in the closet.
I'm like, no, we can get youyour own closet.
SPEAKER_00 (17:42):
That's also non-negotiable.
I said, I'm getting my owncloset this time around.
His and hers sides of thebathroom, his and hers closets.
That was 100% non-negotiable.
SPEAKER_01 (17:52):
But that's the beauty of building custom,
right?
SPEAKER_00 (17:55):
Right.
We couldn't find everything wewanted in a regular home.
So being able to make all thosedecisions has been awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (18:01):
Well, and I think with the inspiration from that
floor plan, you know, I haveyoung kids as well, and I'm with
you.
And I don't want to speak forall males, but I feel like
having, like, own space for–because we like to entertain and
this and that, and it's very,very important.
(18:22):
But the openness of that floorplan where you really do have a
perspective and– it lives biggerthan maybe it even is, just
because of the way it's beendesigned.
So there's plenty of space foreverybody to enjoy, but then
there's some spaces where youcan do work.
(18:44):
And Whether the kids are doingwork or the parents are doing
work, it's just really welldesigned.
SPEAKER_04 (18:51):
And I think what you're going to see, they took
all of their favorite thingsabout that home and then added
all the things that will makethat home perfect for their
family.
So it's not a copy.
Jack designed that house, butthen you're going to see so many
fun things that they added thatare just so uniquely Dylan and
Emily.
SPEAKER_01 (19:08):
One question I have for you is, did you keep the
arches or are there still somearches in the home?
No.
I
SPEAKER_00 (19:15):
don't think we've gotten that far as far as like
the interior design spec partyet.
We're mostly just finished upwith the floor plan and getting
into really the selection phase.
And then we're going to leavethat to Lori to kind of really
create that We just trust hernow to the point where I'm like,
we're just going to let youloose and tell us what looks
good.
(19:35):
So I don't know entirely yet.
SPEAKER_01 (19:36):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, that's one thing thatalways stood out to me with that
house was the arch.
I think the front door.
Is the front door arched onthat?
Yeah.
The scale.
The scale was really, reallycool in that home.
And again, it felt bigger thanit, I think, actually was.
And obviously a big home.
But just the volume of therooms, everything about it.
(19:59):
The way it flowed, it wasfantastic.
So...
Talk about how you pickedWilliamson County.
I know Tennessee, but what didyou know about this area before?
Because you have a young family.
That was probably the mostimportant consideration in
deciding of where to move.
And you guys are unique becauseyou're getting to choose a place
(20:23):
to go.
And I guess maybe since thepandemic, there's a lot more
people that can work remote andhave made these decisions.
And we've seen people fromreally all over the country kind
of migrate south But what weresome of the considerations that
you took into account becauseyou have young kids?
SPEAKER_03 (20:41):
Good schools, which we were, I feel like that's
almost the first thing everyonesays to us about this area.
Oh, they have the best schools.
So that was a non-negotiable forus.
SPEAKER_00 (20:52):
Yeah, we ultimately, when we were choosing just in
general where to live, I mean,down to like the States was we
wanted to be close to a citythat had everything you could
ever want, all theentertainment.
UNKNOWN (21:02):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (21:02):
but we didn't want to live in the city.
So we want to live just outsideof it in a nice place that was
close enough.
And a lot of places don't havethat.
Once you start getting out ofthe city, it's just not really
the vibe that we wanted.
But having everything availableto us in Nashville and then
having this beautiful suburbthat's got top schools, great
restaurants, lots ofentertainment.
(21:22):
I mean, anywhere you go out todinner, there's just people
playing live music and stuff.
And so we just were like, thisis perfect.
We're just far enough away froma city and still get all the the
great benefits of it.
And then we had quite a fewfriends that lived in Williamson
County and had nothing but goodthings to say about it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:40):
It's really a nice place.
Have you guys been able toexplore like some of the
Williamson County, like rightdown from you all is an
incredible library.
Have y'all been able to go tothe, so I would encourage you to
check out the library.
Then across from that, they havea sports complex for like
competitive swimming.
It has maybe three like Olympicsize swimming pools that are
(22:03):
open year round.
And it's all within a stone'sthrow from where you are.
But the library, that library inparticular has an amazing
children's section.
It's just an unbelievableresource for people in the
community.
And of course, like you said,you're 20 minutes.
You can be in town in 20 minutesfrom there.
(22:25):
And in between there, there'splaces you would want to go.
And if you want to go furtherout 20 minutes, there's great
places to go, whether it beFranklin or out to Leaper's Fork
or taking a drive on the There'sso much to do in this area that
is very family-friendly and justconducive to enjoying time
(22:50):
together.
Have you all been to Radnor Lakeyet?
Mm-mm.
Okay, you'll enjoy that.
That's a beautiful, urban, andit's, what would you say, 15
minutes from?
SPEAKER_04 (23:00):
15 minutes.
Easy hiking for the kids.
They've been all focused on thehouse, right?
So now they get to start torelax and enjoy.
SPEAKER_00 (23:07):
But everything is so close.
Like you said, 15, 20 minutes isnothing, really.
And
SPEAKER_03 (23:10):
we haven't had this.
I mean, we have been stationedat the smallest towns ever for
the last however many years.
Like, I'm telling just Walmarts.
Really?
And a Chili's or something, ifwe're lucky.
SPEAKER_00 (23:25):
When Starbucks opened, our first duty station,
it was a big deal.
It was like, oh my gosh, there'sa Starbucks here, you know?
SPEAKER_03 (23:30):
It feels so weird to be able to be like, to have
something to do on a Saturday.
That's so fun.
I know.
We don't have that.
I think people especially see uson social media.
They're like, oh, of course.
People actually always think welive in California.
I'm like, oh, I'm glad we getthat impression.
We live next to the cornfield.
But we make the most of it.
SPEAKER_01 (23:49):
Well, Halloween would
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
be
SPEAKER_01 (23:50):
fun.
SPEAKER_03 (23:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:52):
We literally drive through
SPEAKER_03 (23:54):
cornfields.
They do that.
Like
SPEAKER_00 (23:56):
you said, then you have Franklin that's just down
the road.
And that does feel like yoursmall hometown feel.
Wait
SPEAKER_01 (24:00):
until you go to the Greek festival down there.
I mean, there is...
There's events 365 days a year.
As a matter of fact, I've beensharing with people, Nashville
is very unique in the sense thatNew Orleans, Las Vegas, Miami,
New York, LA, maybe Chicago,there's only a handful of cities
(24:25):
in the country that have a veryspecific vibe, but that have a
party vibe 365, 24-7.
And that's, to me, a verypositive thing.
I mean, we've had vendors, forexample, come in.
They're like, man, we got to thehotel last night at 2 a.m., and
you wouldn't believe.
(24:46):
This is like on a Sunday night,Monday morning.
Right.
And they're like, you wouldn'tbelieve.
And it's a good time.
That radiates.
It's a happy place.
And that doesn't mean thatpeople here are partying all the
time, and you guys will be likeevery other local and go
downtown a handful of times ayear.
(25:07):
But when you do, and that's anoption, and when you have
friends and family in, it's somuch fun to be able to enjoy.
But the creative energy that isgiven off, the entrepreneurial
spirit, in this city ispalpable.
And I truly believe it is theengine that is making the city
(25:29):
go and so attractive to others.
So it's really fun.
So that new adventure, you'vegot the house on one hand.
That's going to be its ownproject.
But then you have theassimilation to a complete
change in lifestyle.
Like...
(25:49):
What is the plan for that?
Just kind of let it unfold.
You guys are obviously nostranger to moving, but it
sounds like this will be one ofthe more drastic because base
life, right?
SPEAKER_03 (26:01):
It's a little scary.
We actually talk about it.
I'm like, how do you live?
I always make a joke.
I'm like, Dylan, what are yougoing to do?
I've only known you as a pilot.
Are you going to be achiropractor or something?
I can't see him as anything elsebut being in the military.
We're looking forward, I think,to the freedom for sure, just
(26:22):
being able to get up and gowhenever we want and not have to
ask for leave.
I think the next goal for thisis getting our family here.
Would you agree?
We're trying.
Yeah, we're trying to get someof our family to move this way.
They're talking about it.
I
SPEAKER_04 (26:40):
think one of the things that was important, at
least to me, because I alwaysfeel a really big sense of
responsibility when I'm workingwith somebody, especially a
family that is picking up andmoving here and they don't know
anybody.
I mean, these guys have somefriends here, so that helps.
But when we were looking atneighborhoods and choosing
neighborhoods, where could wefind a place where they could be
with people who are in thesituation just like them.
(27:02):
And fortunately, especially inWilliamson County, there are so
many families that have movedhere without families.
So these neighborhoods veryquickly become families, and
everybody becomes very close.
And that was something I knowthat was at the top of my list
for them as we were looking.
You know, where could we getthem where they could very
(27:23):
quickly, you know, the kids havefriends, they have friends, and
then they can at least feel alittle settled.
SPEAKER_00 (27:28):
So there were some communities that only had like
eight homes in it.
Kelly's like, well, you know,it's a beautiful property.
It's great land.
You could do a custom build.
It's on a cul-de-sac.
It checks all those boxes.
But the people that already livein those homes, they don't have
kids.
You're not going to just letyour kid go out and play by
themselves.
There's no one else there.
And so finding the communitythat we did, I think it's just
(27:49):
going to make friends so fastwithin that area.
Because everyone's like, you'removing to Tennessee.
Why didn't you go buy all thisland?
I'm like, that's just notreally...
our vibe.
We just want to be close topeople and build that sense of
community around our home.
SPEAKER_01 (28:04):
I applaud you for that.
Being a transplant here, easy tomake friends.
These neighborhoods have beengreat.
Of course, there's differentseasons.
There may be a time in 10 yearsthat you're like yeah that big
piece of land right that's thenext season right or it may be
(28:25):
hey the condo downtown may bethe next season uh but between
kids school you know church uhevents you there's so many
transplants here it's hard notto make friends right fast uh
and uh Nashville, I feel like,is a very, very friendly place.
(28:46):
It is a unique combination ofSouthern and Midwest.
So you have this just likefolksy type people here.
And it's really an enjoyableplace.
And you're in the middle of acareer transition.
So are you retiring from themilitary or like reserve or
SPEAKER_00 (29:08):
like how does that work?
It depends a little bit.
My active duty servicecommitment is coming to an end,
and so I definitely will beseparating from active duty, but
likely right now I'm in theprocess of finding either like a
guard or reserve job, which is,for people that don't know, it's
kind of like you do yourweekends, you know, and your
drill weeks occasionallythroughout the year, but very
(29:29):
much part-time, um, no matterwhich way you do it.
And I definitely don't want togo back to a full-time thing,
um, just cause our lifestyleright now, we don't need that.
We're doing a lot of stuff onthe side and through social
media.
And then I sort of be aroundmore for the kids to be able to
just kind of, like you said, getup and go.
There's a lot of opportunitiesthat we've had to turn down
because I can't just get up andgo whatever I want.
(29:49):
So it's going to be weird.
Uh, You know, I don't want to belike stay-at-home dad kind of
type.
I will get extremely bored, soI'll find something to keep me
busy.
Yeah, she's like, you need toget out of the house.
I
SPEAKER_01 (29:59):
don't want you to be a stay-at-home dad.
No.
My wife would not like me as astay-at-home dad.
SPEAKER_00 (30:04):
Absolutely not.
SPEAKER_01 (30:04):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:05):
I keep sending Dylan ideas.
SPEAKER_01 (30:07):
Like,
SPEAKER_04 (30:07):
hey, have you thought about this?
SPEAKER_01 (30:09):
Hey.
Yeah, I mean, there's tons ofneat opportunities.
And you work from home prettymuch exclusively.
Yeah.
So, like, yeah, that's a lot of,yeah.
A lot of
SPEAKER_00 (30:21):
togetherness.
Kelly thinks I should work forthe airline that flies your dogs
with you.
Oh, yeah.
She's trying to get me on boardover there.
I think you
SPEAKER_04 (30:29):
need to start your own because they don't service
Nashville.
And I've found, like, probably25 clients for you already.
SPEAKER_01 (30:36):
For those that you're in the Air Force, that's
the branch of furniture.
And I don't know that Nashville.
I know we have an Air NationalGuard.
Right.
But I don't know if that's thesame thing as Air Force.
SPEAKER_00 (30:48):
So that's the guard side of it.
So you can do kind of the parttime there.
So if they're listening, youknow, maybe they'll give me a
call and give me a job over
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
there.
Do that.
So let's talk about social mediaand public sharing.
You guys are going to documentthis entire process and share
with your followers.
What kind of like connectiondoes that create with the people
that you're engaged with?
SPEAKER_03 (31:16):
I mean, I think anytime you can share a really
important aspect of your life,it just makes people feel like
they get the insider informationand that helps them feel more
connected to you.
But I think a lot of ourfollowers have been there
since...
when we lived in Del Rio, Texas,like with nothing on base
(31:38):
housing.
So I think it's really cool forthem to see just how far we've
come.
I mean, I have people message meall the time like, I've been
here since before kids and it'sjust so cool to see where guys'
lives have...
what it's turned into.
So that's what I'm excited aboutis just to share the entire
journey from, like, I willprobably share where we started
when we first got married, youknow, and then this home.
(32:00):
I would have never guessed thisis where we would end up.
But I think people feelconnected to that and maybe a
little bit inspired, I hope, tosee, you know, what's possible.
SPEAKER_01 (32:09):
Do people give you advice?
Like, hey, you know, at Framing,this is going to happen or
whatever.
Oh,
SPEAKER_03 (32:15):
the internet's full of advice.
UNKNOWN (32:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (32:17):
Good to know.
I didn't even think about it.
Yeah.
Tons
SPEAKER_01 (32:20):
of advice.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
SPEAKER_03 (32:24):
It's good because there are things that we don't
think about.
I get stuff all the time like,hey, this is where you should
put an outlet.
Don't forget a light switch inthis spot.
You're like, oh my gosh, I wouldhave never thought of that.
It is nice.
It's appreciated for the mostpart.
There's some that you're
SPEAKER_01 (32:43):
like, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (32:45):
No thanks.
SPEAKER_01 (32:45):
We like it.
And how does that work with youbeing so organized and
everything else?
Like, do you share that and seekadvice or do you just have it,
you know what you want?
SPEAKER_00 (32:58):
Yeah, I mean, I definitely take advice, but when
it comes from strangers on theinternet, I usually just leave
that to the experts.
So we have a good team on boardand I'll just, I'll trust them,
you know, and there are somegreat advice we get online and
everything, but you just don'tknow the source.
So I tend to not listen to thatquite as much.
(33:19):
It sounds bad.
I mean, I love it.
I love that people are veryengaged in stuff and everyone is
good intent to try to help out.
SPEAKER_01 (33:26):
But without being in the exact situation, everything
varies.
SPEAKER_00 (33:30):
It's so unique.
It's hard to know exactly whatwe're looking for.
I think
SPEAKER_03 (33:34):
he's too much of a perfectionist.
He wants the professionalopinion where I'm like...
Did you like, you know, look atthis idea that this random
person sent me on TikTok, youknow, like stuff like that.
I'm open to, but Dylan's more,he wants it.
SPEAKER_00 (33:48):
I need the facts with everything.
Emily will tell me something,and I'm like, well, what was
their name?
She said, why do you know theirname in the story?
Source.
SPEAKER_01 (33:56):
Yeah, that's my favorite thing
SPEAKER_00 (33:58):
on the internet
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
right now.
Source.
I saw it on TikTok, and you'llbe like, oh, my gosh, you can't
believe everything you see onTikTok.
I'm like, there's some goodstuff on there.
SPEAKER_01 (34:04):
There is some good stuff.
Well, I have one request for youto post, and you may already
have done it.
If you can post the house plans.
that were in Excel format.
Oh, my gosh.
I would absolutely love to seethat.
Oh, we should.
Because that is...
Where we started and now...
That is...
And that just...
you have a special skill inExcel because you know how to
(34:24):
work that.
You can do some pivot tables andwhatnot.
SPEAKER_00 (34:27):
That wasn't this house.
That was the one we're currentlyin.
I did it on Excel.
SPEAKER_01 (34:30):
I don't care if it was a dog house.
Drawing plans in through Excel,that's...
SPEAKER_03 (34:35):
Didn't you start it with this and then someone
called you out and someone waslike,
SPEAKER_00 (34:39):
don't waste your time.
When we were in the hospital,because Emily was basically on
bed rest for a month before wehad our son Nash, and I was
like, what am I going to do tostay busy?
I was teleworking a bit in thehospital and And I went to the
store, and I bought a graphpaper book.
And I was drawing out how I didon Excel.
It was essentially Excel inpaper form.
And I was like, this is how Iwant this, and this is the size.
And it was kind of funny.
(35:00):
And Kelly's like, oh, man.
SPEAKER_04 (35:04):
Because I have been guilty of doing the same.
And it's just, this is great.
We can share this.
Keep an open mind.
I think what I'm excited for youguys with all of the people
following you is just what it'sgoing to open you up to a whole
different group of people alsoAnd people love the building
process.
And there's so much design stuffout there that there just isn't
(35:27):
as much about the actual nutsand bolts of building.
And people are hungry for that.
SPEAKER_00 (35:32):
But I think a lot of people think that they can't do
it too.
And that's a lot of social.
Like what Emily said is she'sinspiring some people that...
you know, we started here andnow we're here sort of thing.
And, you know, building a dreamcustom home, people don't think
it's possible.
And like, I don't have theskills to do it.
And that's why you build thatteam around you that can.
So I think it'll be fun for themto watch that process happen for
(35:52):
people that have been interestedin it.
And even if they're not, it's,there's just something about,
and I mean, that's why Kelly'spage is so awesome.
There's something about justlooking at homes and it's just
inspiration, you know, just likeone day, like, how could I do
that?
And it makes people dreambigger.
And, you know, hopefully itinspires them to go do something
else to live out that dream.
SPEAKER_01 (36:09):
Yeah, that's awesome.
That's awesome.
Okay, well, I think that aboutcovers how you guys got here.
We're just all anxiouslyawaiting the groundbreaking,
right?
And do we have any idea on whenthat's going to be?
Sooner
SPEAKER_00 (36:25):
the better, but I think we're slightly delayed
right now.
And
SPEAKER_01 (36:30):
it
SPEAKER_04 (36:30):
starts
SPEAKER_01 (36:31):
soon.
Which is the number one thing inbuilding a custom home.
That is a common refrain.
We're slightly delayed.
I
SPEAKER_00 (36:37):
guess I couldn't even use the word delayed
because it's nobody's fault.
And it's delayed in my mind justbecause I said I wanted to be
here before Ella, our daughter,started first grade.
So it's not delayed.
I never got a timeline that saidI would be.
So we're not delayed.
It's just taking longer than youwould like.
It's perfectionism.
I mean, it's entirely, you know,on us.
We're making sure that the houseis designed exactly how we want.
(37:00):
And, you know, we're doing allthat work out front so there's
no changes later.
And it's just going to taketime.
And, you know, a couple monthsis nothing in the scope of how
long we're going to be in thereto get the right product.
SPEAKER_04 (37:08):
We're looking at probably breaking ground end of
September.
SPEAKER_00 (37:11):
Okay.
SPEAKER_04 (37:12):
You know, and then probably about 12 months.
They may be living at my housefor about a month and a half,
which is fine.
I'll do it.
Perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (37:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (37:22):
I like you.
SPEAKER_01 (37:24):
Yeah.
That would work just fine.
It'll
SPEAKER_04 (37:27):
go really
SPEAKER_03 (37:28):
fast.
Hey, it's kind of like how westarted, though, because when we
got married, we were supposed tomove with the military right
away.
We got married in July.
We were supposed to move inSeptember.
And your orders got delayed howmany months?
So we lived with his parents.
SPEAKER_00 (37:40):
Freshly married, lived with my parents.
With
SPEAKER_03 (37:41):
a new puppy.
SPEAKER_00 (37:42):
Well, and then with our current house, it was
supposed to be done.
And then we lived in a tempapartment on an air mattress
while she was nine monthspregnant and then had the baby.
Our first
SPEAKER_03 (37:52):
coffee table was cardboard.
I mean, we have a lot ofstories, but yeah, this seems
like the theme.
SPEAKER_01 (37:57):
Oh my gosh, yeah.
The best of times.
We're very used to it.
But it all ends up being
SPEAKER_03 (38:00):
really
SPEAKER_01 (38:01):
working out.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Well, you guys have been great.
I'm excited to follow along.
Our listeners will be superexcited to follow along.
And congratulations.
It is wonderful.
And one thing I always like toadd, and...
Home building is really anengine that gives so many people
(38:21):
jobs.
There's a stat, and it's an oldstat, but we live in the
healthcare capital of the world.
And this is no knock on thosefolks because they build homes.
But for every$100 spent inhealthcare, it puts a dollar
down.
into the economy.
For every$1 spent in building,it puts$100 into the economy.
(38:45):
So it is really like you providea lot of jobs through building.
It's a really neat process.
And yeah, hang in there becauseit's not for the faint of heart.
And you've got an incredibleteam, but still not for the
faint of heart.
Okay, let's move into rapidfire.
(39:07):
And Kelly, why don't I startwith you?
And we've got three questions.
So if each of y'all would take acrack at this.
Favorite current design trend?
SPEAKER_04 (39:18):
I'm making this design trend up, and it's called
right-sizing.
And downsizing gets such a badrap.
And sometimes in life, you wantless space.
Sometimes in life, like Dylanand Emily, you need more space.
It's designing and living whereyou live for where you are in
your life.
SPEAKER_01 (39:34):
Love that.
Love that.
Dylan, favorite design trend?
SPEAKER_00 (39:38):
Whatever my wife wants, man.
Happy life, happy life.
I'm a floor plan guy.
Design is all on her.
SPEAKER_03 (39:44):
I don't even know if this is a design trend, but I
love the double island in thekitchen.
I love that.
That's a good
SPEAKER_01 (39:52):
one.
I love that.
And that kind of falls right inwith right sizing because, like,
it's perfect for young families.
Okay, if you could visit anycountry tomorrow, where would
you go?
SPEAKER_04 (40:02):
Maldives.
SPEAKER_01 (40:03):
Maldives.
You've been there.
SPEAKER_04 (40:04):
I've been there three times, and I'm going
again.
Oh,
SPEAKER_01 (40:07):
geez, tomorrow.
SPEAKER_04 (40:08):
January.
SPEAKER_01 (40:11):
Dylan?
SPEAKER_00 (40:13):
I would say Africa.
Oh, my
SPEAKER_03 (40:14):
gosh.
That's what I was going to say.
SPEAKER_00 (40:16):
Let's go.
So cool.
So different.
SPEAKER_03 (40:18):
Let's
SPEAKER_00 (40:18):
go.
SPEAKER_03 (40:19):
I want to go on a safari.
SPEAKER_00 (40:20):
All right.
Let's do it.
There you go.
That's literally what I wasgoing to say.
SPEAKER_04 (40:23):
Next year, August, right?
You can just be there whileyou're finishing up the house.
SPEAKER_00 (40:28):
It would have been Australia, but we just said
Australia.
I was
SPEAKER_03 (40:30):
literally going to say that.
That was my other, yeah.
We just did Australia.
That was awesome.
Oh, how was it?
It was
SPEAKER_00 (40:35):
great.
It was so cool.
It was hot.
SPEAKER_03 (40:37):
Very, very cool.
It was
SPEAKER_00 (40:38):
very hot.
We were there in our winter,their summer.
Christmas.
We were there during Christmas,and it was hot.
SPEAKER_01 (40:41):
Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_00 (40:42):
It's really
SPEAKER_01 (40:42):
weird.
How did you do with the flight?
I know you're a pilot, so youwere probably
SPEAKER_03 (40:47):
fine.
I snuggled my littlesix-week-old the whole time, so
we just slept.
SPEAKER_01 (40:52):
You are adventurous.
A six-week-old on that flight?
SPEAKER_03 (40:56):
Yep, our little baby.
SPEAKER_01 (40:57):
That's impressive.
SPEAKER_03 (40:58):
He was great.
We kept saying he was easierthan our five-year-old.
SPEAKER_01 (41:03):
That is great.
Impressive.
Good for you.
Good for you.
That's awesome.
Okay, what is one skill you wishyou had?
SPEAKER_04 (41:11):
I wish I could sing.
That
SPEAKER_01 (41:13):
would be good.
SPEAKER_04 (41:14):
I don't know if that's a skill, but it's a
talent.
I think it
SPEAKER_01 (41:17):
is, yeah.
Skill and
SPEAKER_00 (41:18):
talent, yeah.
That's tough.
SPEAKER_04 (41:19):
Don't say
SPEAKER_00 (41:19):
mine again.
Don't say yours again?
Oh, man.
Well, I do wish I could golf.
SPEAKER_02 (41:27):
We were
SPEAKER_00 (41:29):
talking about golf earlier.
Man, I could use some workthere.
That
SPEAKER_03 (41:34):
took a second for him because he's good at
everything.
I wish I could dance.
UNKNOWN (41:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (41:39):
Yeah.
Me too.
SPEAKER_01 (41:40):
Me
SPEAKER_03 (41:40):
too.
SPEAKER_01 (41:41):
Me too.
I wish I could do that.
Sing, dance, and golf better,right?
You're living a good life.
You're living a good life.
They just
SPEAKER_03 (41:49):
impress me.
I'm like, I watch someone dance.
I'm like, that is, it's such anart.
SPEAKER_01 (41:52):
It is.
Like, when you see these, I wasactually showing, so I have
nine-year-old girls, and mygirls have no idea who Michael
Jackson was, but they recentlyheard of the moonwalk.
So I was showing them, like,just the dancing, and I'm
like...
Their mind is blown, and mymind's blown still by the moves.
I wish I had that skill, but I'ma big boy.
(42:14):
I can't move like
SPEAKER_00 (42:15):
that.
I got some good dance movesthere.
You can find them on yourTikTok.
SPEAKER_04 (42:19):
I've seen them, Dylan.
You can't unsee
SPEAKER_02 (42:22):
them.
SPEAKER_00 (42:23):
You can't
SPEAKER_04 (42:23):
unsee what
SPEAKER_02 (42:25):
you see.
I'll have to check those
SPEAKER_01 (42:26):
out.
They come out after a fewcocktails.
That's good, though.
That's good.
Well, Emily, Dylan, and Kelly,thank you for joining us in part
one of your journey in buildingyour dream home and sharing more
with us on why you choseNashville.
We're excited to hear more aboutthe interior design and the
build process as you continue.
Listeners, stay tuned.
(42:46):
We'll be back with Fowers astheir build progresses.
In the meantime, we'll includelinks to follow everyone in our
show notes.
But thank you all so much.
It was an absolute pleasure tohave you on and to get to spend
some time with you.
I know you all have a busyschedule.
To our listeners, thank you forjoining us for another episode
of Couture and Construction.
Stay tuned for more captivatingepisodes.
(43:08):
And if you loved today'sepisode, please share with your
friends or write a review onyour preferred podcast platform.
Couture and Construction isproudly presented by Textures
Nashville, where creativity andcraftsmanship converge.
Produced by Davis Osborne andChelsea Rand.
Recorded live at the TexturesNashville showroom within the
Nashville Design Collective.
Until next time, keepcultivating creativity.
UNKNOWN (43:34):
Bye.
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