By Liz Lyons with photography by Jason Cantrell, Cadence Captures
Shannon Yarbrough sat and told us about how she and her husband took a leap and bought a house in Knoxville while living in Austin, Texas. “We fell in love with this home online and bought it sight unseen. At the time, we had never been to Tennessee, much less Knoxville. We were craving a place to retire with a better quality of life, a greater sense of community. Living in Austin since 2001, we’ve seen it grow relentlessly into a city we barely recognize. A younger me craved big cities - Manhattan, Houston and Dallas all served their purpose at the time. As I grow in what I prefer to call wisdom than age, I long for community and deep connection. Something you rarely find in large cities, and cherish when you do. We were lucky in Austin to have found a wonderful community of people. We will miss dearly when we aren’t visiting them, or them us,” said Yarbrough.
She and a friend followed her husband in a moving truck on their way from Texas to Tennessee to see their new home. “I can still remember how magical it was seeing it the first time. I spent the next six weeks renovating and developing her personality. A home is meant to be a place of sanctuary and rejuvenation. I designed it to receive guests with the intention of being able to relax in multiple spaces. The home has a living area with two curved sofas facing each other with a view of the river from each. The open living, dining and kitchen allow guests to be together while cooking, all with stunning views. Dining al fresco is my favorite way to enjoy food and company, so the home features both outdoor and indoor dining for six. On one end of the deck is a relaxation spot for two, with comfortable seating and two swings to balance the patio on the opposite end. Everything outdoors is designed around the views. We sit outside for hours with binoculars and watch eagles and hawks hunt from our trees. There is a giant nest that can
be spotted across the water. You’ll get glimpses of beavers, deer and raccoons on the property.
We see dads fishing with their sons, and groups kayaking or tubing the river. It’s stunning and surreal. We love it.”
“While we have one more year in Austin, we are hosting others in the home as a short term rental. We have been so excited to share her magic with guests. We hope everyone loves her as much as we do. We’ve named her Riverstone, and she lives in our hearts when we aren’t in Knoxville.”