Nashville At Home: Christie Bazemore, Owner of Dandelion Salon
Christie Bazemore (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
I LOVE SEEING HOW PEOPLE LIVE SO I’M LAUNCHING A NEW BLOG SERIES FEATURING MANY OF NASHVILLE’S MOST NOTABLE AND INTERESTING TASTEMAKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS AT HOME. I WANT TO SEE HOW THEY DEFINE AND DESIGN THEIR DOMAINS. THE FIRST IN THIS SERIES IS CHRISTIE BAZEMORE, OWNER AND FOUNDER OF DANDELION SALON IN EAST NASHVILLE. I’M NOT ONLY A CLIENT BUT A BIG FAN OF CHRISTIE AND HER KILLER SENSE OF STYLE. I ASKED HER TO DEBUT MY NEW SERIES AND SHE GRACIOUSLY AGREED. HOPE YOU ENJOY TOURING HER HOME AS MUCH AS I DID!
Dandelion Salon (photo by Chad Pelton)
Stepping inside Christie's house, which she shares with her husband, Chad, is like being transported to an airy and bright cottage on the California coast. Beamed ceilings, curated and collected treasures and art, white walls and thoughtful furnishings are part of what gives Christie's home a carefree, come as you are, vibe.
Master Bedroom (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
Where did you get your fabulous sense of style?
CHRISTIE: Thank you for that! My mom is a huge inspiration. We have extremely different tastes but when I was growing up, she always knew how to pull our home together. She’s probably a maximalist, which I'm not, but she has a great eye. Even before it became fashionable she was juxtaposing old and new, high and low, and layering different textures. She was ahead of her time.
Master Bathroom (photo bottom left is of Christie’s Grandmother and was taken by her Grandfather)
i love the look and feel of dandelion. it’s beautiful but not intimidating. TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU FOUND YOUR SHOP.
We don’t want anyone to feel they’re not cool enough to come here. We want you to feel like you’re in an extension of your home. When I moved to East Nashville 9 years ago, I knew I wanted a space that was alluring, that had character and charm. I looked all over the city for about 8 months and then the minute I walked into our building, I knew this was it. I love the ceiling tile and the big windows where I can just watch the world go by.
Dining Room (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
Was it hard launching a business in a brand new town?
I had no clientele when I moved here. I had two friends here who I’d visit on the weekends and they'd always tell me there was nowhere to get their haircut on the east side so that kind of led me here. Once I was set up in our space, I went to every bar, restaurant and store in town with my card and offered free haircuts to bartenders, waitresses, retailers, anybody. It paid off %100. People in East Nashville seemed really happy they no longer had to drive across town to get their hair done. I'm lucky that I get to do a job I love and meet new people all the time. I met my husband through a client who set us up on a blind date.
Christie and Chad on their honeymoon in Tuscany, 2019
Kitchen (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
let’s talk about how you live when you’re not at dandelion. how do you decompress at the end of the day?
Usually, most definitely, with a cocktail! Chad's a great cook and usually gets dinner started then afterwards we take a long stroll through the neighborhood with our dog. That's our segue into the evening and it's one of my favorite times of the day.
Johnny Paycheck (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
What DOES A DAY OFF LOOK LIKE?
Our animals (we have a dog and Johnny Paycheck) refuse to let us sleep in! In the morning, I spend a lot longer drinking my coffee when I’m not working. My husband's a graphic designer and an artist so I love looking through his art books. I do a lot of pinteresting, too. I love looking at beautiful and interesting things and that's where I get a lot of inspiration. I don't read news or emails when I'm off. Chad and I love to hike and canoe and just be outside as much as possible.
Living Room (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
The black and white photo was taken by Chad on their honeymoon in Tuscany
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE?
Simple, cozy, comfortable. There’s nothing fussy about it. I was renting this house before I bought it. The master bathroom is my sanctuary. It was a joyous day when that tub arrived! That room was originally the laundry and utility room. When I bought this house, I had just gone through a big break up and so I wanted a place of my own, a place I could make mine and be really proud of. (Christie bought the house before she met Chad.) I love old homes with charm, character, and interesting details but this house had none of those things! I had to create it. After Chad moved in, we added these rough hewn beams in the living room that are really just 2x4s. We stayed in a 200 year old farmhouse on our honeymoon in Tuscany and so the beams remind us of that space.
Master Bath (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)
how did you merge styles when chad moved in?
We both got rid of our furniture and then we bought new furniture together. He brought his vinyl collection with him and that's what makes our living room special. When I bought the house, the floor in the living room was uneven, kind of wavy. We strengthened the floor joists to support the weight of the records and it completely straightened out the floor. There is always music playing in this house. Chad's a collector and I'm more of a minimalist. I think the house is a perfect blend of the two of us.
Chad’s Home Office (photo by Julie Lee Simpson)