G ro w in g u p in s o u th e r n T e n n e s s e e , rid in g
a r o u n d w ith h e r c o u n tr y d o c to r d a d , E m ily
K e n n e d y a lw a y s a d m ir e d th e tr e e - lin e d fa rm
s h e p a s s e d o n r u r a l R o b in L a n e . “I t w a s th e
m o s t b e a u tif u l s e ttin g ,” s h e re c a lls . “ I s ta r te d
p la n n in g m y d r e a m h o m e b a c k th e n .”
W h e n s h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d , K e rry , h a d
th e o p p o r tu n ity to b u y th e p r o p e r ty a fe w
y e a rs ag o , th e y c o u ld n ’t b e lie v e th e i r lu c k .
T h e o ld fa rm s te a d h a d b e e n to r n d o w n in
1992 a n d r e p la c e d w ith a n 1 ,8 0 0 -s q u a re -fo o t,
lV i-s to ry h o m e b u ilt in t h e f a rm h o u s e sty le .
T h e K e n n e d y s lik e d t h e h o m e ’s g e n e r o u s
p o rc h e s , a n d E m ily c o u ld b r in g h e r v is io n
o f a w e lc o m in g c o u n tr y k itc h e n to life.
D ra w in g o n m e m o rie s o f b o th h e r
g r a n d m o th e r s ’ k itc h e n s , E m ily p u n c h e d
a tr io o f d o u b le - h u n g w in d o w s in to th e s in k
w a ll to b rin g t h e d a rk k itc h e n in to th e lig h t.
A lth o u g h s h e w o u ld h a v e p r e f e r r e d a 1 0 -fo o t
c e ilin g , E m ily g a v e th e 8 -fo o t o n e s h e h a d
m o re p r o m in e n c e w ith c o ffe re d b e a d e d
b o a rd . H ig h w a in s c o tin g , c a p p e d b y 1 -in ch
m o ld in g , a lso g iv e s th e k itc h e n a n illu s io n o f
h e ig h t. M o re a r c h ite c tu r a l d r a m a c o m e s fro m
a r c h e d d o o rw a y s a n d a n a r c h e d a lc o v e th a t
n e a tly h o u s e s th e re f r ig e r a to r a n d fre e z e r.
“T h e s ta in le s s - s te e l a p p lia n c e s h a v e a
c o n te m p o r a r y e d g e ,” sa y s E m ily, “b u t I th in k
th e o v e ra ll e ffe c t is tim e le s s . T h e k itc h e n
fe e ls v e ry cozy, w a rm , a n d in v itin g to m e .”
The 264-square-foot remodeled kitchen holds an
informal dining area,
opposite,
and a freestanding
vintage hutch. But life for Emily and Kerry Kennedy,
top,
their three daughters—Claire, Catherine, and
Annelise—and five dogs mostly revolves around the
home’s porches. Conveniently located between
the kitchen and dining room, the large butler’s
pantry,
right,
keeps heirloom china and crystal
ready f or e ntertai ni ng.
