Story by Lindsay Hughes
Photography by Ben Finch, Finch Photo
For years, photographer Ben Finch has been the one behind the lens, capturing Knoxville’s most beautiful homes for VIP Knoxville Magazine. But this time, he’s stepping in front of the camera to share his own space: the cozy, coastal-inspired home he shares with his wife Joy and their four children, Brennan (17), Knox (16), Molly (14) and Sawyer (10), along with their faithful Weimaraner, Hank.
Set on 23 acres of rolling countryside, the Finch home feels like a retreat from the rush of everyday life. When Ben and Joy began thinking about their next chapter, they weren’t sure whether they would stay in Ben’s hometown of Athens, Tennessee, or move to one of the bigger cities where he often works. “We found several acres of land and decided to stay and build our home,” Joy says. “The house plan was one we clipped out of a 2004 Southern Living magazine when it won Cottage of the Year.”
What began as a saved page in a magazine became the blueprint for the Finch family’s dream home. “Ben’s work takes him to big cities across the country,” Joy explains, “so it was important that our home feel like a refuge, a place where we could raise our four kids surrounded by nature and family.” The property has since become a family compound of sorts. Shortly after Ben and Joy purchased their land, Ben’s father built a one-story home on the adjoining property. “He likes to say he keeps the four-wheelers, motorcycles and tractors filled up with gas,” Ben laughs. “It’s been such a blessing having him nearby.”
Though hundreds of miles from the Gulf Coast, the Finch home carries the unmistakable spirit of the sea. “Ben and I met in college on the Bay of Mobile, Alabama,” Joy says. “He proposed in Fairhope, and the coast has always been part of our story. We wanted our home to reflect that.” From the soft blue hues and crisp white trim to the breezy porches that frame each side of the house, every detail nods to their love for coastal living. “It’s funny,” Joy adds, “we might be over 400 miles from the beach, but when the windows are open and the sunlight floods in, it feels like we’re right there on the bay.”
The home’s open floor plan encourages togetherness. The great room combines the kitchen, dining and living areas into one inviting space where the family gathers daily. “This is where we spend most of our time,” Joy says. “It’s where I can cook while helping with homework or listen to the kids talk about their day.” Every evening, the family gathers for what they call “Highs and Lows,” a tradition that reflects their faith and closeness. “We circle up and share the best and hardest parts of our day,” Joy explains. “We read a devotion or a Bible study, ask hard questions and pray for one another and the people we love.”
Every space in the Finch home serves a purpose. Joy had three must-haves: “A fireplace, plenty of porches, four in total, and a soaking tub,” she says. Each one has become a beloved feature. The porches, in particular, embody the family’s open-door spirit. “With so many porches and entrances, it always feels like the door is open to guests,” Joy shares. For the kids, each had their own request too. “Sawyer, our youngest, wanted built-in bunk beds,” Ben says. “So my dad, father-in-law and I built them together.” The older boys, Brennan and Knox, claimed the guest cottage, which features a lofted sleeping area and a separate entrance that gives them a bit of independence. Molly, the only girl, chose her room for its enviable closet space. Meanwhile, Ben’s dream was all about light and space. “He wanted a home flooded with natural light,” Joy says. “That’s what makes it so cheerful. You can feel the warmth from the moment you walk in.” One of the most charming spaces in the home isn’t even for the humans. “We reclaimed a tiny space underneath the stairs and made it for our dog, Hank,” Joy laughs. “He doesn’t like storms or loud noises, and that’s his safe place. It was such a smart use of otherwise wasted space.”
When it came to design, the Finches wanted a home that felt as though it had evolved over generations, like an old cottage that had been lovingly expanded over time. “We wanted it to feel like an old home that had been added onto over the years,” Ben says. “We even named it 7C in honor of the cottage I lived in during college. It had a loft, and I loved the character of that space.” Their aesthetic leans more toward meaningful than matchy. “Most of our things are mismatched,” Joy explains. “But they all have deep meaning to our family - grandparents’ tables, heirloom dishes and pieces Ben has brought back from his travels.” The home feels soulful and collected, not curated. “It reminds me of the song A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman,” Joy says. “It’s a world we’ve made with lots of love, sweat, tears and prayers.”
The family recently completed another project that reflects both their creative spirit and their love for hospitality: a beautifully renovated apartment behind Ben’s downtown photography studio, known as “The Studio Suite,” just two miles from their home. The building, once home to an old Sinclair gas station, has been reborn through the Finch family’s creative vision.
“We bought it about nine years ago,” Ben says. “Over the years, it’s been a sign shop, an art and frame store and now it’s my photography studio.” Inside, the space has been carefully transformed to reflect Ben’s artistic eye. The front portion houses his office and meeting area, while the middle serves as a large photography space. In the back, the Finches built the Studio Suite, which will soon be available for short-term rentals.
Ben installed antique French bi-fold doors to separate the office from the studio. “The studio is full of photographs and artwork that inspire me,” he says. “It’s a creative space, but it’s also deeply personal.”
Throughout the design and building process of their home, the Finches had a phrase they repeated often: “Finches building a nest.” As the kids grow older, Ben and Joy see this home continuing to evolve with them. “One day, we hope our children bring their own families here,” Joy says. “That’s the beauty of building a nest, it’s not just for us. It’s for generations to come.”