Lush Green Grass as far as the eye can see, dense woodlands, miles and miles of pure blue sky, sparking water, a soft breeze and gentle rolling hills. Sounds like the perfect place for a peaceful retreat. At tennessee National it's the perfect place to call home. Sound too good to be true? Come and see for yourself...
There is a common thread that ties the people living at Tennessee National together. They are all blissfully happy there. In fact, virtually every one I spoke with used the word “perfect,” in one context or another, when speaking about life here. Each one says they were instantly sold after touring the community’s model homes and could easily imagine life here. Tennessee National is located within a 20-minute drive of West Knoxville, and features beautiful landscapes, the deep calm of the water, and a lifestyle, for those who call it home, unsurpassed in quality and convenience. Golf course properties offer views of greens and fairways, while water view home sites occupy a wooded ridge with spectacular vistas of Watts Bar Lake. More secluded sites boast mature hardwoods and an atmosphere of serenity.
Residents enjoy a full service clubhouse where food and drinks are served daily, miles of hiking and biking trails, and the golf course. A swimming pool, wellness center and tennis courts are also underway. It is truly the perfect playground for boating, skiing, fishing, and of course, golfing. The homes here were built by some of the finest craftsmen in our area. From golf villas, cottages, and condominiums to estate homes—there is something here for every life-stage. Most are built in a mountain craftsman-style, complete with stacked stone and stained wood. Wild thistle blows in the breeze on available lots, making it easy to envision lazy afternoons on a shady porch. This, paired with a musical accompaniment of chirping birds and miles of blue sky and sunshine, makes it clear why this community is so loved by those who inhabit it.
Of the model home meant to entice prospective residents, Interior Market Co-Owner/Designer Jim Harness says, “[W]e try to think of how the homeowner will live in a home. We went for a warm and cozy feeling, but also a very open feel, taking full advantage of all the windows.” His company is responsible for decorating all Saddlebrook model homes and he and business partner Rick Kennedy share a similar design philosophy in each. He describes how they use larger pieces that don’t obstruct from gorgeous views, but fill the space. They select furnishings that best suit the architecture, as in the case of the round dining table used in the open foyer of the Tennessee National model home, which also serves as the dining area.
In the office, the cabinets were custom built, with a buttery faux finish to replicate the warm gold tones used throughout the home. “This finish,” says Harness, “is lighter, perhaps more interesting than the typical dark wood stains used in traditional office spaces. We felt that the golfing, resort-like community called for something a bit warmer.”
For the living room and kitchen, they made several architectural tweaks during the building of the home, to get the maximum benefit from a bank of windows leading to the covered porch, and golf course, just beyond. Instead, they opted for sliding doors so the home could be opened-up for entertaining. “The home has great flow for a party, from front to back, and outdoors as well,” says Harness. Another great feature are the retractable screens on the porch, which can, with the push of a button, be raised or lowered.
The master bedroom easily accommodates a king sized bed in addition to a comfortable sitting area. The furnishings they chose, large in scale, showcase how adequate the space is. They used Berber carpeting to contemporize the room and give the room a feeling of seamlessness. Floor to ceiling drapes carry the eye upward, enhancing the height of the ceilings and making the rooms appear larger.
Upstairs, there are two additional bedrooms and the pair kept their clientele in mind; many homes here are owned by empty nesters that enjoy frequent visits from grown children and grandchildren. Every bedroom has its own convenient bath, providing welcome privacy for guests, and is decorated in neutral tones with luxurious bedding.
Because so many residents voice the need for plenty of storage, the media room maximizes all available space by utilizing the area behind the television screen; small closets on either side are easily accessed. The room itself isn’t dark and closed off like so many others; it has windows that let in plenty of light when the room is not in use, and black-out draperies for movie watching.
Tom and Emily Ward, who recently completed a home in the Golfside Villas, took one look at this model home and were in love. Driving from their home in Northern Virginia, en route to visit Toms’ parents in Tullahoma, Tennessee they spotted a billboard for the community. They had often spoken of a desire to own a second home in a golfing community so they decided to take a quick detour and check it out. They toured the model homes and the golf course and then resumed their trip. Once inside their car they compared notes. “Gee, I really loved it. It could be home,” Emily recalls saying. Tom seconded the sentiment, and two weeks later they made a deposit on the house they would build. Tom, Vice President of the Rubbermaid Commercial Division of Newell Rubbermaid, continues to work in Virginia where the couple maintains a residence, but the Tennessee home is a weekend retreat where they plan to someday retire. Fortunately, there is a Rubbermaid plant in Cleveland Tennessee, an easy hour-long commute for Tom, which allows the couple to spend weeks-at-a-time in their new home.
When their grown children and parents visit, they enjoy dining at the pro shop. “We have been to every single brunch they have offered,” says Emily. They also attended the SEC Women’s Collegiate Golf Tournament and plan to attend other tournaments held at the world-class golf course. They also enjoy shopping at nearby Turkey Creek, purchasing some of their furnishings from Braden’s.
The couple’s favorite features within the home are the high ceilings, beautiful millwork and the stone fireplace on their back porch. “There are so many things we love, it’s truly difficult to name a favorite,” says Emily. “We think it’s perfect in every way,” she adds. Emily also loves to cook, and raves about the top of the line KitchenAid appliances, the quartz countertops and beautiful tile backsplash in the kitchen. With traditional tastes, Emily painted her entire home Blond, by Sherwin-Williams. She says the neutral color highlights the beautiful millwork and complements her furnishings. “Saddlebrook builds an incredible home; the quality is outstanding,” Emily says. She goes on to say how much they enjoyed working with the builders on-site. They are also avid golfers and love the fact that their home sits on the 15th hole. They speak of their neighbors with absolute affection, and enjoy entertaining them whenever possible. But, Emily says she most enjoys the peacefulness and serenity of life here; taking long walks, reading and simply relaxing. When the marina is complete at Tennessee National, they have a slip reserved and look forward to spending time on the water.
Tim, Karen and 9-year old daughter, Emmah Click, share many of the same sentiments. The couple originally joined the golf club and frequently made the trek from Lenoir City to play. They recall taking strolls around the community, looking at houses and thinking, “Wow, wouldn’t it be nice to live here,” says Tim. “It’s away from the rat race; it’s in the country, but complete with every amenity and convenience.” They soon made the decision to buy an available spec home. “We thought it was perfect, it had everything we wanted: the master suite and laundry room on the main floor, the right amount of bedrooms for our growing family (they are expecting a new baby in September), an office, a bonus room—even the colors matched our furnishings.” They were also pleased to find that the kitchen had cherry cabinets, a perfect match to their dining room furniture.
Another major plus is the fully maintained yard. “They mulch, they mow, they weed eat; they do it all and I love it,” says Tim. Another huge bonus is a little girl, exactly Emmah’s age, living right across the street. “We were a little concerned when we first bought here, that there seemed to be so few children on the property. But we felt like maybe we could be trailblazers; once other couple’s saw that there were young families living here, they would follow.” And follow they did; they are now surrounded by other couples with children and feel like the community is a wonderfully safe environment for their daughter to play in. “She can ride her bike on the trails, she loves cruising in the golf cart with me, fishing in the pond behind our house, and she can enjoy a real sense of security,” says Tim.
It’s clear that the gated golfing community of Tennessee National is far more than a get-away for a round of golf. It offers those who live here a real sense of community and serenity. Nestled between the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and the banks of Watts Bar Lake, the property features; gently rolling hills, expansive views of forest and shimmering water, a Greg Norman Designed Signature Golf Course, exceptional homes and friendly people... everything these families were looking for. In short, it is the perfect place to call home.
SIDEBAR:
The private Greg Norman Designed Signature Golf Course at Tennessee National is destined to set new standards for quality, service, and enjoyment of the private club experience.
Designed by golf legend, Greg Norman, the course utilizes a least-disturbance approach to design. The land’s natural framing was unaltered, and the trees, as well as native and fescue grasses, have been preserved. Streams, rock features, vegetation and rolling topography faithful to the former farmland are just a few of the site’s natural features that provide a truly unique golfing experience. The perfectly manicured course is playable at all levels while challenging for more accomplished golfers.
A championship-style practice range allows golfers to warm up before hitting the course, and, after a day on the links, players can unwind over drinks and a gourmet lunch or dinner in the dining room. In addition, the pro shop offers a wide selection of apparel and equipment. Staffed by world-class golf professionals, members can get expert instruction and advice for improving their game.
