12 South invites Nashville inside

House of Worship

2515 12th Ave. S.

Sunnyside Mansion at Sevier Park

(Metro Historical Commission)

Apart from the beautiful homes, the area is known for its growing commercial district and trendy street ambience.

Last year's tour was made possible by a grant from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods. After the success of their initial tour, the community was excited to establish a way to show off their community, as well as to develop a fund-raiser to help with neighborhood beautification and clean-ups.

"Everyone in the community has come together to put this on," Frantz said. "It's truly been a community effort. We're supporting the community district, but we're also giving people an opportunity to see the new, upcoming businesses on 12th Avenue."

The tour will consist of eight homes, plus Sunnyside Mansion and an Islamic house of worship. The diverse collection of homes will showcase renovations, preservations, and even new constructions in the neighborhood.

Mark and Luanne Howard's 1870s Eastlake home at 1103 Caruthers Ave. is the oldest home on the tour. Inspired by English furniture designer Charles Locke Eastlake's work, the home features turned posts and open work portiere friezes on the balcony canopies, turned balusters, spindle brackets with bracket drops, and scrolled gable brackets. Painted poplar lap siding and multi-colored gable shingles highlight the exterior.

Like many fine old homes in Nashville, the 1911 four-square at 1007 Paris Ave. had been partitioned into apartment units and was badly in need of repair when the present owners, Cliff andAdrienne Lippard, began a total renovation in 1997.

It combines neo-Classic and Gree

This home was built in 1911 in the American Four-Square Cottage style. Neo-classic, Victorian, Italianate and even Oriental elements including fluted columns on the porch, a steep, curved roof and a Palladian window in the dormer. Original design elements still to be seen inside such are the four coal-burning fireplaces, pocket doors, 11-foot ceilings and pine flooring.

The Lippards' home will feature an upstairs interior design transformation by Kelly Coty, owner of Prix de Solde, owner of Prix de Solde, a local home staging company.

"They had this fantastic collection of old suitcases," said, "so we kind of played off of them to create this great upstairs guest suite." Visitors will be able to see before and after pictures of Coty's impressive work.

Most of the owners of the homes in the 12 South Neighborhood Tour will be available to answer questions about their homes.

Returning this year to the tour is the Islamic Center.

"Last year we got a huge response from it," Frantz said. "They had people there to answer questions and they were so welcoming. We're really glad they agreed to be a part of this again."

Those interested in entering the Islamic Center should expect to be asked to remove their shoes before entering; additionally, women are asked to dress moderately.

Representatives from the Historical Commission will also be on hand to answer any question Sunnyside's history during the tour.

Tickets for the tour will be $5, available at Prix de Solde, 2601 12th Avenue South, for. Brochures will be provided with information, including architectural styles, historical dates, and renovation information, on all of the sites involved. There will be a suggested 10-12 block walking route, but adequate parking is also available. For more information, visit www.12south.net.