Over the course of his real estate sales and development career, Gary Crowe developed a specific interest in midcentury-style homes. One home on Colyar Drive caught his attention years ago and when he found the home was up for sale, he could hardly contain his excitement.
“There are 7 homes on this cul-de-sac and about 95% of them are this mid-century style from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s,” shares Gary. “I love all of them, but I’ve always been drawn to this particular house. I knew as soon as it hit the market, and we bought it immediately.”
Purchasing the house was the first step in an almost year-long process that Gary and his wife, real estate agent and interior designer Jennifer Crowe, undertook to breathe life back into the home. They named the home Bossa, a nod to the retro vibe of Bossa Nova music which reflects the feel they wanted to give the home.
“To get inspiration, Jennifer and I took a trip to Palm Springs, California,” says Gary. “We specifically went there for the mid-century design because that area is where you find the heart of mid-century. Frank Sinatra had a home there and we visited the home, did a bunch of tours and driving around, and really got inspired.”
The renovation centered on elevating the period’s distinctive style with custom design elements and updated amenities. “We really tried to take cues from the original design choices to honor its roots but make it more stylistic and intentional,” explains Jennifer. “We wanted to pay homage to the original design yet updating it to today's living standards of what people would currently find attractive.”
Exterior upgrades included adding large windows across the front of the house to open access to the stunning views of Lookout Mountain. The installation of a white pool and spacious outdoor living space in back, as well as custom lighting sourced directly from Palm Springs, add to the midcentury ambiance.
Accentuated by clean lines and pops of bold color, the interior is full of mid-century touches such as terrazzo flooring and shag carpet. The couple also worked with Set in Stone to create several custom metal work pieces including the railing for the cantilevered balcony off the living room and floating stairs with a metal screen wall in the foyer.
“The design of the windows and metal work give off such cool retro vibes and are part of the unique touch that screams 1960s,” says Jennifer. “We tried our best to make this home a jewel and an icon on the street that fits in with the with the rest of the mid-century homes there.”
Gary and Jennifer Crowe share a passion for breathing new life into Chattanooga real estate through building and renovating properties. The couple enjoys working through the creative process, from brainstorming to construction to marketing, together.
In addition to Uptown Firm, a real estate brokerage company, the couple also owns Uptown Development, Uptown Modern Rentals, and Gary is a partner of Curbed Construction, which oversaw the renovation of Bossa on Colyar Drive. For more information and to connect with Gary and Jennifer, visit uptownfirm.com, uptown-development.com, and curbedconstruction.com.