Intentional and Beautiful

Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages

Living in a neat and organized home is a gift that keeps on giving – providing extra mental energy, extra space, and extra time. No one knows this better than Chris McKenry, owner of Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages.

Setting up shop in Los Angeles as a professional organizer in 2000, the Knoxville native became a board member and president of the L.A. Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers and received recognition for his layout and design of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Through the years, he received multiple awards for his talents and was featured in Oprah’s “O” magazine, Women’s Day, the L.A. Times, and L.A. Weekly.

While in California, Chris realized that the right environment can enhance organization, and he began designing custom closets. After moving home in 2015, Chris opened Closets by McKenry, and four years later, Designer Garages. Chris now helps his clients lead happier lives by offering custom-designed storage solutions for virtually every room of the house. Local freelance writer Carrie McConkey learned more about Chris’ background and services in an interview for Everything Knoxville magazine.

Carrie: Your family owned and operated McKenry Produce in Knoxville. What is one lesson you learned from the business?

Chris: McKenry Produce was opened by my great grandfather’s brother-in-law in 1897 and was in business for more than 100 years. Starting as a one-room storefront that sold live chickens to customers, in the ’60s the company began supplying poultry to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I started working there after graduating from Carson-Newman University.

In addition to KFC, we served local white tablecloth restaurants like Regas. Focusing on the community was important to my family, and my dad, Joe McKenry, insisted on taking care of every customer’s needs. Often, we would meet a restaurateur after hours so they would not be out of product.

At Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages, we strive for that same dedication. If something out of the norm is requested, we try to source what is needed. We want our clients to know how much we appreciate their business.

Carrie: What sets Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages apart from your peers?

Chris: I believe our continued growth is proof of our desire to serve Knoxville to the fullest. When I first opened Closets by McKenry, I would give clients a tour of my own home to show them different organization ideas. In 2018, I realized a showroom was necessary to better display our products and store a competitively-priced inventory. The following year, I doubled our space and opened the Designer Garages showroom.

To support this expansion, our team has tripled since I started the business. As professionals, and as people, I think they’re just the best. Our designers love what they do and bring experience and creative talent to their work. Our installers are conscientious and courteous. And our showroom manager is always there for our customers while keeping the rest of us on track!

Carrie: You give back in many ways. What is the importance of community to you?

Chris: When I returned to Knoxville after 15 years in L.A., I knew I wanted to be active in our wonderful community. My first year back, we designed the craft room in the Knoxville Symphony League ShowHouse. Two years later, we participated in the first Alzheimer’s Tennessee Home & Garden Tour, for which we received a national award for Best Closet Design.

Currently, we’re the Knoxville collection site for Carson-Newman University’s “Career Closet,” where donated professional garments in good condition will give a needed boost to students. We’re also excited to be opening our showroom for the Interior Design Society’s monthly meeting on August 17th at 5:30 pm. We welcome other community groups if they need a spot to hold events.

Carrie: Do you still offer professional organizing?

Chris: While I no longer provide professional organizing services, we have several local organizers that I confidently refer. Our custom designs will help you map where things should be placed in your new space. 

Carrie: In what other areas of the home can you provide storage? And what type of budgets do you work with?

Chris: We provide beautiful storage – shelves, drawers, cabinets, lighting, countertops, islands, and more – for nearly every area of your home. We have helped clients transform their laundry rooms and linen closets, primary closets and pantries, guest rooms, mud rooms, hobby rooms, and home offices. Some of our newest storage solutions include wall beds and wine storage. And we can outfit your garage from floor to ceiling with Swiss Trax or epoxy floors, slatwall panels, and cabinetry, including a beautiful powder-coated premium line from Carolina Garage.

It may sound trite, but we welcome every size budget and project. We can help you remodel the corner of one room or plan out your entire new construction home – we enjoy working with developers, contractors, and architects. Whether you know what you want or are unsure, we’ll ask what is needed to achieve your goals – from extravagant to purely functional – and we’re now offering financing and 12 months same as cash for those who qualify.

Carrie: How can people find you?


Chris: Closets by McKenry and Designer Garages showrooms in West Knoxville are open six days a week. We can schedule an at-home visit, where we will design your space together, or meet virtually. Call, click, or come in – whatever is easiest for you. We want to make your experience planning a new closet, garage, or other storage system as simple and satisfying as possible.

Closets by McKenry – Designer Garages
201 Center Park Drive, Suite 1070
Knoxville, TN 37922
865.249.6382
www.closetsbymckenry.com
www.designergarages.com

Choosing Fido’s Best Boarding Vacation

Just as you choose a hotel for your personal vacation, you should choose a fun resort for your four-legged kids’ home away from home. These important features should be present:

• Tours available prior to initial stay. If the kennel does not offer tours, cross it off your list!
• Kennels should smell clean with no odor of stale urine. Good ventilation systems should be in place, along with a sanitation system. If the kennel smells sour when you walk in the lobby, walk out!
• Clean food and water bowls.
• Outdoor play yard should be large, allowing dogs to romp and play. It should be free of debris.
• Caring, loving, and detail-oriented staff. 24 hour surveillance with someone living on premises is ideal.

Ms. C’s Bed & Biscuits offers all these basics, plus many additional amenities, including:

• Large suites with plenty of room for dogs to move around and not feel cramped.
• Special handling of elderly dogs.
• Separate play groups based on activity level.
• Nightly “tuck in” with homemade biscuits.
• TGIF all-meat hot dogs every Friday, special treats on holidays such as pumpkin muffins and almond biscottis.
• Surround sound music.
• Certified PetAirapy Air Purification System.
• Free bath after five-night stay.

Call Ms. C’s Bed & Biscuits for your tour and to arrange your dog’s special vacation. Daycare is also available.

Ms. C’s Bed & Biscuits
2145 Beals Chapen Road
Lenoir City, TN 37772
865.986.6325
www.MsCsBedandBiscuits.com

August in the Garden

By Lisa Grugin

We are now officially in the “Dog Days.” Did you ever wonder where that term came from? It doesn’t have anything to do with our pets! In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be “a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat.” I got that from The Farmers Almanac. Now we use the term mostly about the time of summer’s peak temperatures and humidity.

That was a long and meandering way of saying it is pretty miserable outside. It is hard to make yourself go out and water or weed or deadhead when the air is swampy and the mosquitoes are trying to suck out every drop of your blood. I’m sorry, but your plants need help. The rain has been erratic, fungus is everywhere, and insects have arrived en masse. If you don’t help your plants get through this stage, be prepared to replace them this fall.

Here are the things you need to do:

• Monitor your yard. 0Do a walk around at least once a week to see what is going on. It is much easier to treat problems when you catch them early. This is also a great time to evaluate what has happened in your yard this year so far. What has done well? What hasn’t? What needs to be moved, removed, cut back, fertilized, treated, or composted? Do you need to add or subtract? It may be too hot for the actual work, but you can dream!

• Can you plant? Yep. It just requires a little more effort. We still have plenty of beautiful annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. Pull up ugly annuals and replace them with fresh color. Add perennials to sunny or shady locations. Trees and shrubs can also be planted but will take a little more care. That means you will have to water the daylights out of them.

• Since I mentioned water, let’s talk about that. You may believe you are getting plenty of rain, but sometimes it isn’t as much as you think. If you don’t have a rain gauge, you can use plants (like hydrangeas, forsythia, weigela) that droop when they are thirsty to tell you when things are dry. By the time hollies, azaleas, and other evergreens tell you they are dry, it is usually too late. Please remember sprinklers are good for grass and flowers but are NOT adequate for trees and shrubs. Those need a drip system or hand watering.

• Powdery mildew, rust, black spot, and shothole disease are making an appearance everywhere. Your first round of defense is removing infected leaves and making sure they do not remain on the ground. Pruning (carefully) to improve air circulation will help with airborne diseases, and spraying with a fungicide will kill fungal spores. I am also seeing many plants succumbing to root rot. Root diseases are much harder to treat, and it usually involves removing mulch and applying a systemic product. Call us, stop by, email us, or contact us on Facebook if you have questions.

• Check for bugs, but make sure you have bad guys before you start spraying. Overtreatment is causing two serious problems: The “bad” bugs are becoming resistant to the chemicals, and “good” bugs like bees are getting wiped out. Don’t add to the problem.

• Summer is not the time to do major pruning of shrubs and trees. It is simply too stressful. As I mentioned above, you can take off wonky or diseased branches and do some minor shaping, but save the bigger jobs until the plants are dormant. If someone is doing surgery on you, wouldn’t you rather be asleep?

• Cut back perennials and annuals that have gotten leggy. Many will have new growth at the base, so be careful not to cut that off.

• Keep deadheading those annuals! Some of them could use a haircut and a good shot of fertilizer. Many will perk back up as the temperatures cool, so don’t give up. One the other hand, don’t be afraid to compost them and replace them with new plants.

• Did you plant vegetables? How did they do? If you didn’t enjoy the success you had hoped for, come in and talk to us and let’s see if we can figure out what went wrong. Sometimes the solution is very simple, like plant rotation or installing drip irrigation. If you have an overabundance, consider donating some to a food pantry.

• Isn’t it amazing how fast the weeds can take over? Keep pulling and spraying them, and don’t forget to apply a pre-emergent. There are some really nasty plants like Smilax (an awful, thorny vine that can have roots 20 feet long) that are really difficult to eradicate, so don’t give up!

• The fall bird migration will start soon. Keep your bird feeders and birdbaths clean and full so visiting birds can have an Airbnb at your house!

Our fall merchandise has started arriving, so stop in and see what is new!

Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center
9885 Highway 11E
Lenoir City, TN 37772
865.986.7229
www.meadowviewgreenhouse.com

Emory Place: A Rich History of Knoxville’s Early Development

Emory Place is a short, two block long, divided street located near the intersection of N. Central Street and N. Broadway. It was developed in 1888 by The Central Market Company, a syndicate chartered to develop a market house for the citizens of the incorporated town of North Knoxville (Fourth and Gill and Old North Knoxville Historic Districts). Emory Place first appears in the Knoxville City Directory in 1889 and was called Central Market.

The Central Market Company built a one-story market house of frame construction that housed 30 stalls. Land to the north and south of the market house was divided into lots for building development. Soon after the construction of the market house it was sold to the City of Knoxville. At this time, the “City Scales” where placed on the west end of the market house and a fire hall was located on the east end.

The monumental growth of North Knoxville was most likely the catalyst of the early development of Central Market. Situated in the center of a rapidly growing section of the city, it became evident that a market house would be a convenient added benefit to those citizens and businesses. Another reason for the Central Market development most likely came from citizens feeling that the market house (built in 1854) on Market Square in downtown Knoxville had become overcrowded and dilapidated.

The Central Market house opened with about a dozen tenants, but it always had several vacancies and listed fewer merchants each year. The market house was short lived and did not prosper, but commercial development around the market house did. Assorted commercial enterprises included Swan Bakery, The Walla Walla Gum Manufacturing Company, W.F. Green & Company, and the Whittle and Spence Trunk Company. Additional businesses along N. Central Street and N. Broadway opened, including produce and grocery stores, liveries, hardware stores, drug stores, saloons, laundries, and a meat market.

In April 1905, due to the market house not being patronized, it was torn down and the space was turned into a public park. The area was renamed Emory Park, in honor of Reverend Isaac Emory, a well-known religious figure in Knoxville who died in the New Market Train Wreck on September 24, 1904.

Emory Place was an important part of Knoxville’s transportation development. The corner of N. Broadway and Tyson Street was the location of the southern terminus of the Fountain Head Railway Company’s steam powered “Dummy Line.” These small trains closely resembled future streetcars in body style. The 5.25 mile track ran from Central Market to Fountain City and opened for business in May 1890. The steam powered “Dummy Line” ran until 1906 when it was replaced by electric streetcars. Emory Place was a key stop along the popular Broadway Line.

In the early 20th century, residential development around Emory Place started, most notably with the construction of rowhouses along W. Fifth Avenue and N. Central Street. The construction of two apartment buildings, The Sterchi and The Lucerne, solidified the area as not only a desirable commercial hub, but also as an attractive residential area.

Increased popularity in the area led to the construction of Knoxville High School, located on E. Fifth Avenue. Constructed in several phases, the main portion of the building was completed in 1910, with additions in 1914 and 1920.

Throughout the 1930s and into the mid-1940s, the area continued to prosper as a hub of commercial activity. A decline began in 1955 when Emory Park was renamed Emory Place and trees planted in 1905 were cut down to make way for parking. A few businesses remained into the 1960s and 1970s, but many eventually closed or relocated. By the early 1980s, many of the buildings were rundown, with only a handful of individuals investing in the area. The City of Knoxville returned some of the areas at Emory Place to its original park-like space in 1989.

During the beginning of the 21st century, the area saw an influx of popularity that grew from individuals wanting to move back into the surrounding historic neighborhoods. This influenced a desire to bring back commercial businesses to the corridor and improve existing buildings. In 2007, the City of Knoxville adopted the Broadway-Central-Emory Place Small Area Plan. This plan provided guidance for redevelopment and included a number of recommendations. Some recommendations included creating a more pedestrian friendly street, encouraging mixed-used development, enhancing stability in the surrounding neighborhood, and improving the aesthetic character of the corridor with façade improvement grants and incentives for redevelopment.

The Emory Place Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Knox Heritage is currently working on a nomination to expand the district to include buildings along N. Central Street and N. Broadway.

Knox Heritage preserves structures and places of historic or cultural significance for our community. Established in 1974 as a non-profit educational corporation, our organization works to protect and raise awareness of what is beautiful and irreplaceable in East Tennessee.

It’s YOUR Time to GLOW!

Experience skin that looks and feels luminous, well-nourished, and rejuvenated with DiamondGlow – a next level skin resurfacing technology that does more than skim your skin’s surface.

What is DiamondGlow?
DiamondGlow facial treatment is Allergan’s one-of-a-kind skin resurfacing treatment that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts, and infuses the skin with SkinMedica serums to deliver professional-grade results. The DiamondGlow is non-invasive with absolutely no downtime and is able to treat all skin types on the face, neck, and body. 

How Does DiamondGlow Work?
Different diamond tips allow for treatment customization based on the patient’s skin care needs. Each diamond tip evenly abrades the skin at a controlled level for maximum efficacy. Built with the innovative 3X1 technology, the signature wand simultaneously exfoliates, extracts debris, and infuses the skin with professional grade SkinMedica Pro-Infusion Serums while pores are open and ready. These serums treat hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, irregular skin texture, oily skin, acne prone skin, dehydrated and dry skin, and sun damage. 

How Will My Skin Look After Treatment?
After a DiamondGlow treatment, the skin appears brighter, fresher, healthier, smoother, clearer, and more even in skin tone. Beyond the procedure, you’ll find an improved appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, roughness and dryness, dark spots and discoloration, and dull, congested skin.

According to a clinical study* conducted by SkinMedica, 89% of patients experienced immediate improvement in overall dryness, 90% experienced improvement in skin radiance, and 95% reported that their skin felt more plump. Patients can return to work and resume regular activities immediately.

What Areas Can Be Treated?
Because DiamondGlow is completely customizable, it can work for all skin types and textures. DiamondGlow treats the face, around the eye area, lips, and body.  Just one 30 minute DiamondGlow session enhances clarity and luminosity.  But, what’s even better, you will see continued improvement with each treatment. 

Experience skin that feels and looks luminous, nourished, and renewed. This next-level skin resurfacing technology does more than just skim the surface. Call 865-474-8800 to schedule your DiamondGlow treatment today.

Southeastern Dermatology
1930 Pinnacle Pointe Way
Knoxville, TN 37922
865.474.8800
www.DrDoppelt.com

*Data on file at SkinMedica

By Andy Barton

I recently finished my annual binge of the Band of Brothers miniseries based on the book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose. What strikes me each time I watch Band of Brothers is the esprit de corps shared by the men of Easy Company. These men built a special bond fostered out of shared experiences during training at Camp Toccoa, through the Battle of the Bulge, to the end of the war, and through the rest of their lives. They came from different backgrounds and belief systems, but no matter. In no way am I comparing the esprit de corps of Easy Company or that of any of our servicemen or women past, present, or future to that which we have in our businesses or communities. Our experiences are just too different. However, I firmly believe the principles of pride, fellowship, and common purpose that make up esprit de corps applies to us all. 

Have you ever worked in a toxic culture? Was there common sense of purpose? Could fundamental disagreements be worked out for the common good of the team? Compare that experience to the camaraderie of a workplace with a common sense of purpose. Where the team can disagree and still reach a solution that advances the team’s goals. Where the culture is one of accountability and recognition. How about your neighborhood? Do you know your neighbors, and do they help each other when needed? Is there a true sense of community? Or does everyone bicker or keep to themselves such that it becomes no more than a group of houses without a common sense of what’s best for the community? 

So, as I reflect every year on the underlying message of the Easy Company story, I am forced to challenge myself. What am I doing in my professional life to build the esprit de corps of my team? I have opportunities every day to positively affect someone else and strengthen our team and must be aware of and take advantage of those opportunities. Am I a positive influence in my community or even just in my neighborhood? I must ask myself if I am doing enough to uplift others and just maybe bring my community that much closer to success and harmony. 

Ultimately, each of us can impact the esprit de corps in each of the groups, big and small, that make up our lives. What if, a little bit at a time, we all worked to come together instead of looking for ways to stay apart? Find a way to find common ground through differing beliefs and opinions. Look for an opportunity to impact someone positively. How can you make it a little better today than yesterday?

Our guest columnist this month is Andy Barton, Director of Residential Operations at CertoPro Painters. Andy is native and resident of Maryville who enjoys fly fishing and spending time in our beautiful mountains with his family.

Surface Doc is Growing!


Now Available in Oak Ridge and Clinton

By Leif Kolach, Surface Doc Area Manager

One day, my wonderful, loving wife and I decided that we needed to make a move. A move away from the place we both grew up but now found unsuitable to raise our children. Through prayer and guidance, we made the trek from California to our new home in Tennessee!

What we found here was more than we expected. I opened a small cleaning business, Servant’s Heart, and we enrolled our kids in a great school. We found a wonderful church and found peace knowing we could be certain in a bright future for our children.

My wife, Jessica, who makes friends with everyone she meets, struck up a conversation with a woman at the store one day. Her name was Christina, and her husband was in the same profession! Fast forward a year, and I gave up Servant’s Heart to open a new service area for Surface Doc. I wasn’t too proud to say that Surface Doc had developed better processes for doing the same job. As I thoroughly enjoy what I do, having the best equipment and knowledge for each cleaning task makes every day on the job an absolute treat.

Our small family is thriving here, and we are incredibly blessed and grateful. Jessica is busy at home taking care of her dad and the kids. She is active in her prayer group, enjoys home improvement shows, and is absolutely my best friend. Our daughter, Bella, is an avid cook who also excels at baking, enjoys reading, and is an honor roll student. She loves serving in the church nursery. Our son, Silas, is a champion speller, who also loves to read, has a skill for drawing, and is a straight A student. Both children have a love for the Lord and continue to make their parents proud.

When I do take time off, I enjoy spending it with my family, always finding new, fun experiences to make lasting memories. I also find joy in facilitating a men’s group called “Maximized Manhood.”

Seeing surfaces restored to their original luster is what makes me happy during the week, and seeing my smiling wife and kids is what I look forward to every evening. I can’t wait to meet you and be of service!

Surface Doc
865.567.1986
www.SurfaceDoc.com

The Easy Way to Buy and Sell Your Items

By Aaron Hunt, Co-Owner of Premiere Consignment

For years, individuals wishing to sell unused furniture items either placed an ad in a local newspaper or had a yard sale, but not anymore. In more recent times, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, OfferUp, and similar sites have been used. Concerns about personal safety have resulted in many Americans turning away from trying to sell household items by themselves. In fact, those selling items on Craigslist are being encouraged by law enforcement agencies across the nation to complete their sales transactions in the parking lots of their local police stations.

Selling furniture by yourself is akin to selling your home by yourself. Sure, it can be done, but is it really worth all the time and effort? Do you really want to invite strangers to your home? Are they there for legitimate reasons or other purposes? Do you take their personal check? What about scheduling appointments and then the annoying no-shows?

We launched Premiere Consignment nine years ago with the goal of helping our neighbors sell their gently used, name-brand furniture, art pieces, home décor items, and Oriental rugs without all of the hassle associated with attempting to sell their unused household items themselves. We offer our consigners a complete turnkey experience, which greatly enhances their potential to sell their items at the best possible prices for both the buyer and seller. Our retail showroom location and convenient hours, in addition to our print and online advertising, ensures that your items will be seen by even more qualified buyers.

Premiere Consignment handles the entire transaction from beginning to end! No sitting at home waiting for strangers to arrive or wondering if their check is good. We also offer you the opportunity to market many of your personal items online using our very own and very successful eBay store.

So forget the ad in the local paper or on Craigslist, put away the yard sale signs, and discover the safe, easy, and most convenient way to sell your gently used furniture, décor, art, and Oriental rugs – the no-hassle, Premiere Consignment way. Just call 865-458-9721!

Premiere Consignment
320 Lakeside Plaza
Loudon, TN 37774
865.458.9721
www.premiereconsignment.com

Making Knoxville More Beautiful, One Kitchen at a Time

Cabry Design & Cabinetry has been designing and remodeling kitchens in the Knoxville area for more than 15 years. They are excited to showcase their expanded design center and announce new cabinetry partnerships – all to better serve their clients!

We spoke with founder Todd Thomas recently to learn about their trusted approach in helping clients realize their dream kitchens.

EK: You didn’t start out in the remodeling business. How did that change come about?

Todd: I have a sales and marketing background but have always loved being creative. Many years ago, our church purchased a building that needed to be totally remodeled. I volunteered to help and found that I had both the passion for the transformation and the attention to detail required for that process. That project led me to cabinetry, so I combined those passions to form a Design-Build firm here in Knoxville. At Cabry Design, we are passionate about what we do. I love the endless possibilities and that with every new project comes new ideas. There is a lot of satisfaction seeing the clients’ reactions as we transform their space.

EK: Explain how your Design-Build process works.

Todd: Design-Build is a method of project delivery in which one entity – the Cabry team – works with the homeowner to provide complete design and construction services. This allows us to be by our clients’ side from start to finish of the entire remodel. We provide comprehensive plans that act as a “roadmap” for our construction and install teams to ensure that your dream kitchen becomes a reality. By offering all of these services in one place, it takes the stress off of the homeowner from having to find their own capable designer, source cabinetry, employ a contractor, and making the (literally) hundreds of selections and decisions that are involved in a kitchen renovation. Furthermore, it minimizes the surprises and miscommunication throughout the course of the project because we, as a team, are solely focused on that one client and that one project as a whole.

EK: Will you describe your unique approach your projects?

Todd: First and foremost, we listen. Although it sounds simple, we want to truly redefine your space to be visually stunning, as well as functional and organized to enhance your everyday life. We do this by listening to your wants, needs, favorite appliances, storage preferences, and so on. After that we are able to create a design concept followed with 3D design options. These will help you to envision and choose the best option with which to transform your home. With each project, we bring our design perspective, experience, ideas, and knowledge, but we are careful not impose a “style.” We create individual answers every time that are custom tailored to each client while respecting the budget and personal preferences. Our Design Team will then work closely with our Construction Team to evaluate construction costs and coordinate everything from tile and lighting to install and hardware.

EK: There are so many options when planning a kitchen remodel. How is Cabry Design & Cabinetry able to best help clients make the right choices?

Todd: Shopping for beautiful materials, products, and colors for your remodel or new build can be both exciting and overwhelming. At Cabry Design & Cabinetry, we make it a priority to stay up to date with design trends, appliances, and organizational hacks. We’ll recommend quality materials that best fit your space, style, and budget, always keeping in mind that your new space should complement the architectural style of your home. Our Design Team will assist you with your material, product, and color choices to ensure a cohesive, finished look. This phase can be overwhelming with all of the decisions involved, but our Design Team strives to make it enjoyable, organized, and stress-free. Depending on your availability and location, we’ll shop with you in-person or virtually. We also gladly work with local designers to collaborate on your project.

EK: What about design trends and new cabinetry options?

Todd: As I stated, our purpose is not to impose our “style” but to bring out yours. Our designers are always aware – and excited – about new color trends and available materials that make every kitchen unique and functional while being the room you love to come into!

In addition to our tried-and-true, beautiful Amish cabinetry, we are excited to introduce a new partnership with Plato Woodwork, Inc. They are the second oldest cabinet maker in the world, proudly made here in the USA. We are also proud to partner with Signature, Kith, Europa, and many more. As you can see from our photos, we are not “cookie cutter.” We offer distinctive designer level cabinetry at an excellent value. We have made sure to carry lines that will work with anyone’s budget. Our designs are what make the difference to create a show-stopping space that you will want to share with all of your friends and family.

EK: Anything else you would like our readers to know about Cabry Design & Cabinetry?

Todd: We feel that what sets Cabry Design apart is not only the level of design, but the attention to ALL of the details necessary to ensure your dream kitchen comes true. Closely behind the designers is a dedicated, well-honed team who is personally involved in the management and execution of each project. Each member of the Cabry Design team – from the designers to the installers – knows that their role is essential, and they take that responsibility seriously for each and every client. We strive to be the best at what we do and are here to make your dream kitchen a reality.

Cabry Design & Cabinetry
8705 Unicorn Drive, Suite 114
Knoxville, TN 37923
865.556.9419
www.CabryDesign.com
#WeAreCabryDesign

Island Home: A Neighborhood Rich in Knoxville History

The iconic South Knoxville neighborhood of Island Home is named after the model farm and the country home of prominent Knoxville resident Perez Dickinson (1813-1901). Dickinson was a Massachusetts-born merchant, banker, farmer, educator, and cousin of poet Emily Dickinson. Perez Dickinson had moved to Knoxville in 1829, where his brother-in-law, Joseph Estabrook, was serving as the principal of the Knoxville Female Academy and later as the president of East Tennessee College (today, the University of Tennessee). After a brief stint as an educator, Dickinson cofounded the mercantile wholesale firm, Cowan and Dickinson, in 1831 and helped established another wholesale firm, Cowan, McClung and Company, in 1858.

In 1869, he purchased more than 600 acres on the south side of the Tennessee River and an island of about 200 acres. He then established a model stock farm (primarily used for research) and agricultural experimental station and called it “Island Home.” A grand Italianate home was built in the early 1870s for his wife, who died before the home was completed. Dickinson was reported to have spent just one night at the house, preferring to sleep at his primary home on Main Street in downtown Knoxville. The Island Home house featured a long, sweeping drive and was surrounded by formal gardens. Dickinson is said to have been gracious in sharing this home with the community. He entertained locals and visiting dignitaries and encouraged various civic groups, organizations, and churches to hold meetings and events at Island Home.

The citizens of Knoxville became even more interested in Island Home after the Gay Street Bridge was constructed in 1898. Before the bridge was completed, a streetcar company was granted an easement to install tracks across the bridge. Prior to streetcar access, South Knoxville had always been fairly isolated from the developing city on the north side of the river.

After Perez Dickinson’s death in 1901, property ownership passed to his family members. In 1905, real estate developer Harry H. Galbraith purchased 300 acres of the farm for $40,000. In April 1911, Island Home Park Company purchased 120 acres from Galbraith, directly west of the original farm gates, for a new residential subdivision. The subdivision featured a convenient streetcar line running down the median of Island Home Boulevard. Large stone entry gateposts, city water, paved streets, concrete sidewalks, electric streetlights, and a public park along the river were other popular selling points. Existing trees were preserved, and additional trees were planted along the boulevard. The neighborhood lies on land that formed the front approach to the Dickinson farm, and Island Home Boulevard follows the path established by the original drive to the home. Initial development growth was concentrated on Island Home Boulevard and Spence Place. The neighborhood residents were middle and upper class business, medical, real estate, and political professionals. Residents included a former Mayor of Knoxville and actor/comedian Archie Campbell.

The craftsman style is the most popular house design represented in the Island Home neighborhood. Typical architectural details include large porches, casement windows, low-pitch gable roofs, tapered columns, dormers, and decorative elements like brackets, lintels, and exposed rafters. The neighborhood also has lovely examples of Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and American Foursquare architectural styles.

In 1924, the Tennessee School for the Deaf moved to its present campus located at the eastern boundary of the neighborhood after selling their original 1848 downtown Knoxville building to the City of Knoxville for a new City Hall. Perez Dickinson’s Island Home house, although extensively modified from its original design, still exists and serves as the school superintendent’s residence.

Island Home is rich in Knoxville history and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The historic district consists of 91 contributing houses along Island Home Boulevard, Spence Place, Fisher Place, and Maplewood Drive. Homes have been well-maintained and continue to represent the pride of ownership that was part of Perez Dickinson’s original vision for his “Island Home.”

Knox Heritage preserves structures and places of historic or cultural significance for our community. Established in 1974 as a non-profit educational corporation, our organization works to protect and raise awareness of what is beautiful and irreplaceable in East Tennessee.