STORY BY MEGAN VENABLE AND PHOTOS BY BEN FINCH, FINCH PHOTO
The Maddox Family knows their way around Knoxville. The family of three, Amanda, Josh and daughter Stella Grace, have lived in Fountain City, Sequoyah Hills, the Regas Building in downtown and are currently residents in the Westmoreland Heights neighborhood. And, they claim, they are here forever.
Having purchased the lot in 2015, the Maddoxes had planned to build in 2020, and despite a steep uptick in their costs due to the pandemic, they persevered and continued in spite of this set back. They moved into the Tudor-style home in October of 2021. The home ended up being far larger than they anticipated, ultimately ending at four bedrooms, four and a half baths and 4,180 square feet. Their builder, Chuck Atkins, encouraged the couple to finish out much of the space on the second floor to make an exercise studio and a large bonus room that Stella Grace claims as her own playroom.
“This truly is our dream home on Sherwood Drive,” Josh says. “I can’t think of anywhere else we’d rather live. We loved our house in Sequoyah Hills, but the house was smaller and 100 years old. Here we have the charm of the established neighborhood, but the homes are newer.” The Maddox family finds especially charming their view of the waterwheel out the back of their house.
When asked if they would do anything different in hindsight, Amanda joked that she’d like a bigger closet in the master bedroom. Both Amanda and Josh agreed that their favorite part of the house is the temperature-controlled wine vault, and that Stella Grace would vote for either the custom pool or her playroom as the best part of the house. Everyone loves entertaining in the home with the open layout and easy flow of the house allowing access to do just that. They especially appreciate the clean lines and finishes with natural whites and wood tones warming the house. The natural flow of the house includes an ample backyard for outdoor entertaining as well.
Upcoming plans for projects and changes in the house are currently non-existent. They plan to do nothing but enjoy living in the house for the time being, and are looking forward to celebrating their third holiday season in the house.