Mother-daughter duo Carolyn Kalil and Katie Polenzani are the owners of Franklin’s French-inspired home and gift store, Belle Maison. While the pair have always had a love for French antiques and design, they decided to start a business together offering beautiful antique treasures in 2020, while Katie was still in college. A year later, the pair had already collected enough furniture, art, and home goods to fill an entire pop-up shop - just in time for the 2021 Christmas season. Thus, Belle Maison - translating to “beautiful home” - was born. Located in Cool Springs, they now have a 4,000-square-foot store filled with incredible French-inspired products, furniture, and décor.
Over two decades ago when Katie was born, Carolyn had been a single mother – something that Katie believes helped contribute to their already dynamic relationship. While raising her young daughter, Carolyn would play French cartoons and tapes with the hopes that one day, she would embrace the same love for the culture that she had. When Katie was two years old, Carolyn decided to take her to France for the first time - a decision that would change both of their lives forever. After spending a full month in Provence, a tradition was born, and they have been back together every year since.
Referring to France as their “home away from home,” the duo expresses their absolute adoration and passion for the art and design they have encountered while abroad. This past year, they had the opportunity to attend one of Europe’s most anticipated home and fashion shows in Paris – which they plan to attend again later this year – and are ecstatic to bring back containers of antiques, home goods, art, furniture, and more. Carolyn also mentions that when it came time to open their store in Franklin, she and Katie realized French-inspired décor is very similar to the farmhouse style we often see here in Tennessee. When choosing items for their store, the ladies enjoy finding unique antiques that catch their eye, while also keeping their customers in mind and curating items that they know they will love as well.
While speaking on the community Belle Maison has established, Carolyn shares, “We want to do everything we can to make them happy, to give the best service we can, and to offer the very best prices. We like to say they come in to look but leave as friends.” Katie adds that their goal has always been about “creating a space where you feel inspired, welcomed, safe, and accepted, and can get away from the world for a second.”
What truly draws them to French design is the care that is put into the creation of each item as well as the keen attention to detail. Extremely evident in their items, they believe each piece tells a story.
“There’s always new things to discover,” Katie shares. “We want to offer pieces that speak to people,” her mother adds. “Antiques are not just old pieces of furniture, they don’t just have a history, you get to become part of their history.”
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“Antiques are not just old pieces of furniture, they don’t just have a history, you get to become part of their history.” -- Carolyn Kalil