Frock-coated
It was precisely that sense of Southern grace that Sauer and Davis wanted to capture when they broke ground for their new home three years ago. “We looked for an old house that didn’t need a lot of repair and found several in the Highlands, but they didn’t have any acreage and we wanted to have horses,” recalls
After acquiring the land, she purchased the book Creating a New Old House by Russell Versaci (Taunton Press, 2005); gathered photos of National Register properties she had admired on a trip to
Some of the details that imbue the home with an authentic feel include historically correct (and energy efficient) Marvin simulated divided-lite windows; eight-inch baseboards with decorative caps and rounded shoe molding at the bottom; flat ceilings accented with deep but simple crown mold; eight-foot-tall solid interior doors with pediments above; five-inch oak plank flooring; porch floors made with brick salvaged from the old paddock at Churchill Downs; and decorative balustrades on the second-floor porch and breezeway to the garage. Mike Blacketer of the Blacketer Co., which built the home, notes that the balustrade was fabricated to resemble wood by a company based in The porch floors are salvaged brick from Churchill Downs; an extra-tall doorway in the foyer. 
In keeping with the couple’s
In the walnut-paneled library, an original hunting-dog painting by Tim Hutt hangs over the fireplace. The couple purchased the painting because the subject bears a striking resemblance to Whiskey, one of two dogs the couple currently owns and namesake of their farm,
Sitting astride a hand-carved hunt table in the library is a cast-iron flying horse — a flea market find from
Horse racing is also the theme in one of the two upstairs guestrooms.
In the rest of the home, Davis, one of three co-owners of Tassels and Tassels Too, describes the decor as “vintage casual with a formal touch” — a look she feels is epitomized by the dining room chandelier, which combines weathered brown iron and elegant crystal teardrops. Other good examples of this casual/formal juxtaposition: the rubbed-through finish on the carved dining room mantel and the linen panel drapes trimmed with Egyptian tassels and hung from wooden rings on the dining room window.
Lending country warmth to the dining room are upholstered chairs in a bold red-and-white gingham print by Kravet, a round walnut table and a nine-foot-tall 18th-century British reproduction serving cupboard, which provides storage for linens, serving pieces and china, as well as a spot for displaying a whimsical pig.
“Vintage casual with a formal touch” (clockwise from left): the hearth room with its wheat sconces and Soumak rug; a pair of horse racing lithographs and an Italian hand-rubbed sideboard in the library; and a chocolate-and-cream color scheme in one of the guest rooms.
The butler’s pantry, leading from the dining room to the kitchen, is equipped with both a dishwasher and an icemaker and papered in a classic Stroheim & Romann block print. Black granite countertops provide a nice contrast to the glazed white cabinetry. A cornice and valance above the window add color, but preserve the view. “I want to be able to see outside,” 
A Derby-ready kitchen island with Curry & Co. chandelier.
Dominating the kitchen is a huge island where “everyone hangs out,” 
A leather pillow with sewn-on jockey print in the library.
For
While most of the walls throughout the home are painted in soft neutrals — a decorating trick that draws attention to the furnishings and accessories —
This spring, the couple intends to purchase their first horses — the finishing touch to their gentleman’s farm. A new horse barn stands ready and waiting.
