For one evening in September, historic Antrim welcomed guests of the 2026 President James K. Polk Ball for an evening that brought together dinner, dancing, and historic preservation with a twist of design inspiration. Attendees were invited to experience the estate through a new lens as the Ball introduced its first-ever Designer Showhouse.

The idea was rooted in something especially relevant to a community like Maury County that has an abundance of historic homes: old houses do not have to remain frozen in time to be preserved. With thoughtful design, antiques, art, and furnishings, their history can be celebrated while the spaces continue to feel beautiful, livable, and relevant for generations to come.

Antrim provided an extraordinary canvas. Built in 1810 and recognized as the first brick residence constructed south of the Duck River, the home carries more than two centuries of Maury County history. Rather than compete with that history, each participating designer was challenged to work with it, creating spaces that complemented the home’s architecture and character while bringing a distinct point of view to the rooms.

Guests began their tour in the entrance foyer, transformed by Thurman Design Studio. Beautiful rattan-back chairs, layered rugs, collected furnishings, and a dramatic accent wreath gave visitors their first glimpse of what the Showhouse was intended to accomplish. The space felt fresh and thoughtfully designed, while complementing the home’s architectural details.

From there, the tour offered a playful, history-inspired bedroom. A portrait of President Theodore Roosevelt already belonged to the room, providing the inspiration for the room’s refresh. Rather than removing it, the BGR team embraced it, incorporating antique furnishings, richly patterned animal rugs and African mounts as nods to Roosevelt’s well-known passion for hunting and the outdoors.

The den also became one of the evening’s most memorable stops: the Champagne Room. A vintage Moët champagne chiller served as both décor and function as guests were offered a glass of champagne while making their way through the Showhouse. Surrounded by refreshed antiques and artwork, some original to Antrim and others curated from Loblolly Interiors and BGR staging, it was a fitting example of the evening’s balance between history and hospitality.

At the back of the home, Lisa Bennett Interiors transformed Antrim’s expansive sunroom into a layered gathering space inspired in part by the equestrian theme of this year’s Polk Ball. The room’s original brick fireplace, distinctive ceiling, and walls of windows remained part of the story. At the same time, rich blues, warm autumn tones, collected artwork, and comfortable furnishings brought new life to the space.

The adjoining dining area became a celebration of fall entertaining. An autumn tablescape filled the table with amber glassware, layered place settings, and natural textures, while keeping views of Antrim’s grounds and historic outbuildings part of the experience. The tablescape itself ultimately found a new home when one Polk Ball guest purchased it, with proceeds benefiting the President James K. Polk Home and Museum.

Elegant Events and Rentals carried the atmosphere of the Ball into Antrim’s dining room with a thoughtfully set table that complemented the room’s antique furnishings and historic character. Layered place settings, patterned dishes, and carefully selected tabletop details brought color and personality to the space, showing how a beautiful tablescape can make even a centuries-old dining room feel ready for guests.

That same collected approach continued into the den and back foyer, where Loblolly Interiors contributed layered antiques, artwork, and furnishings into the historic hallway. Artwork by artists like Fred Price helped give the rooms the feeling of a home assembled over generations rather than decorated all at once.

Preservation is sometimes interpreted as leaving a historic property untouched. Antrim demonstrated another possibility. Contemporary fabrics could sit alongside antiques. A centuries-old room could accommodate a fresh tablescape. An existing portrait could inspire an entire design concept. Nothing about the home’s history had to disappear for something new to be introduced.

That philosophy felt particularly fitting for the Polk Ball. Proceeds from the biennial event support the President James K. Polk Home and Museum and its work to preserve and share history with future generations. The Designer Showhouse extended that mission beyond museum walls, offering a tangible example of how preservation and continued use can coexist.

Antrim is remarkable without a single addition. Its architecture, landscape, and history have endured for more than 200 years. But for one evening, designers inspired guests to see Maury County’s old homes a little differently: not simply as reminders of what came before, but as places that can continue to evolve, inspire, and be part of the way we live today.

KATIE BAKER is a local REALTOR and the owner of Baker Group, Maury County’s boutique brokerage. Baker Group specializes in Fine Properties, Historic Homes, Vacation Homes, and Commercial Real Estate in Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee River. Call (931) 548-2010 to schedule an appointment, and follow them on social media @bakergrouprealty.