Luxury CAN thrive even amidst the pitter-patter of little feet and playful paws. Travis Hill Bennet of THB Design knows this firsthand, as he helped the Levet family create beautiful, yet functional spaces for a home with a toddler, a newborn and two lab dogs.
THB Design is a full-service interior design studio that was founded by Travis Hill Bennett in late 2022. His passion for design took flight during his college years, but its roots were deeply planted in his upbringing, nurtured by his late grandmother who instilled in him a shared love of art, architecture, and design. His journey into design began in college, where he initially explored theater set design, and obtained an Associate's degree in theater set design from Motlow State Community College in Lynchburg, Tennessee. His studies took him abroad to the UK, and it was here he realized that the small town life was not for him. He enriched his craft with a transformative year studying in London, immersing himself in diverse artistic influences and exploring his creative vision. He received his design degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Travis went on to work for a high-end design firm for eight years where he got to travel the world, work with amazing people curating relationships, and absorbed the trade. Armed with his experience, he set off on his own.
Just a few months after launching THB Design, Travis' first multi-space project was designing a functional aesthetic home for the busy Levet family. THB Design played a pivotal role in helping the family decide to enhance their existing home rather than move to a larger space.
“When we walked in afterwards, I felt like I was walking into this brand new home that truly embodied my husband and I, and how we wanted it. It felt very warm and inviting and it felt like I was in one of those design shows walking in,” says Catherine Levet.
The heart of the project centered around the living, dining, and entertaining room area spaces. Catherine and her husband have different decorating styles and THB Design worked to blend those together.
Travis focused on durability and versatility, choosing materials and furnishings that could withstand the demands of daily family life. From performance fabrics to adaptable furniture pieces, every detail was carefully selected to ensure both luxury and functionality now and in the future. The design of the home was crafted with multiple aspects that integrated function and allowed for future growth. Travis sourced indoor/outdoor performance fabrics ensuring they could be cleaned and easily scrubbed with children and pets in the home. “I went with the idea of purchasing pieces that they can take to another location in the future, so I sought out versatile pieces that you can grow with,” says Travis.
Catherine adds, “I really enjoyed working with Travis. He was able to put what I wanted into a vision, which is something I had a hard time doing.”
Travis emphasizes the importance of scale and lighting in interior design, ensuring each element contributes to a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. The “"elevated eye" design highlights the ability to create high-end aesthetics without compromising on functionality—a principle that resonated deeply with the Levet family.
"There is a balance to high-end and function for a home. To have something high-end does not necessarily mean you need to have the best of the best or the most expensive. It is more of having an eye,” explains Travis. "It is also important to have proper scale in homes because that is the biggest thing that can be used incorrectly. To create a space on a cohesive scale is extremely important."
THB wants to empower families to embrace their lifestyles within their homes, so luxury and comfort can come together as one. THBDesign.com