See the historic East Nashville home designed by Ryman Auditorium's architect, now on sale

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The red brick and warm wood-accented walls at the 133-year-old Ambrose House in East Nashville aren't just pretty to look at, they are brimming with stories.

The home's pedigree is unlike any other in the area because it is a rare architectural sister to the Mother Church of country music, designed by Ryman Auditorium architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson in 1890.

The Queen Anne-style abode is on sale for $3.45 million after a six-year transformation from a wedding venue to a family home by sellers Susan and Corey Brady.

"There aren't that many houses left designed by Hugh Cathcart Thompson, and this is so much like the Ryman," Susan Brady said. "It's a special connection. So many people have stories about the house, it's a real part of the fabric of Nashville."

A new period-authentic iron fence keeps out busloads of tourists that routinely stop in front to ogle the whimsical, tower-shaped turret protruding from the roof, the dramatic Freemason-inspired geometric windows and the home's asymmetrical design with a cozy wraparound side porch. It's listed on TripSavvy.com and other travel-information sites as one of Tennessee's must-see historic buildings.

But the Ambrose House's interior tells most of its storied past.

Compass Real Estate affiliate broker Franklin Pargh said he is looking for a buyer who appreciates history.

"There’s not one historic home that’s better taken care of than this home and maybe The Hermitage," Pargh said. "The story now is: Where is the next buyer? It's like a home a previous president lived in, we feel so honored to be picked for this listing. We're getting a lot of social media views."

'A really happy house'

The family that founded Ambrose Printing Co. built the home and owned it until 1971, when it was sold and turned into a boarding house. It's located east of Five Points at 122 S. 12th St.

Its many large original windows have been restored and provide varied views of the city that extend to downtown on the upper floor and rooftop deck. The rooftop's decorative slate mimics the original ceiling. Also newly restored are the dark wood grand staircase, the front porch and back patio, doors, electric wall switches and a 1930s bathroom with a clawfoot tub.

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Modern additions include a heated saltwater pool with a motorized cover, an extension with a rooftop deck, and a new kitchen with granite countertops, subzero refrigerator and Termador stovetop oven.

Art glass chandeliers provide warm lighting throughout the home, which has custom cabinetry, antique hardware and a new library fitted with a floor-to-ceiling wood bookshelf and rolling ladder.

The two-bedroom guest cottage, badly damaged in the 2020 tornadoes, has been rebuilt and restored next to the property's large parking area and perennial garden.

"This is a really happy house," said Susan Brady. "I would love it to go to someone who appreciates the history of Nashville. So many people feel connected to it. I met people who stayed here when it was a boarding house."

Through the 1990s and early 2000s, a series of owners struggled to keep up with the stately home's needs and left it mostly vacant.

All seven of its fireplaces were sold off during these trying times, along with anything else of value, Brady said. She has restored the original coal-burning furnaces — now plumbed for gas — with era-appropriate looks and the kind of close attention she paid to the property's history throughout her redesign.

Scarlet trim in the formal living room harkens to one of its most well-known previous eras as a wedding venue. Unique copper lighting fixtures are found throughout the home, designed by local artist and Tomato Art Fest cofounder Bret MacFadyen.

'Brick, metals, curved glass'

The four-bedroom home has 4.5 bathrooms and a butler's pantry, five chimneys, walk-in closets and a few bonus rooms for offices, crafts, gaming or other uses.

Pargh said he is hosting private showings and searching for the right buyer for the unique property.

"I'm a fifth generation Nashvillian, so I fell in love with it immediately," Pargh said. "The authenticity that this home gives, that’s what really so special — all the brick, metals, curved glass, the way the sun hits the house, the fireworks you can see from the rooftop deck. You can’t find a better location."

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The Bradys have become fast Nashvillians since moving from Chicago in 2016 and buying the Ambrose House for $1.13 million. The former owner, Gordon Gilbreath, restored the dark wood floors and saved much of the original structure before operating it as a wedding venue for eight years.

The family is moving to pursue career opportunities elsewhere but said they are sad to leave the close community and home they've lovingly restored.

"I'm really going to miss sitting on the front porch," Susan Brady said. "It stays cool in the summer under the trees. It's been a privilege to live in the house."

Sandy Mazza can be reached via email at smazza@tennessean.com, by calling 615-726-5962, or on Twitter @SandyMazza.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: East Nashville mansion designed by Ryman architect seeks buyer