By Hollie Deese
Photography by Chris Little

Interior designer Rozanne Jackson and her shop The Iron Gate have been in downtown Franklin since 1996, but she opened a second location in the Design District in June 2018 out of a need to be closer to the designers she works with and their client base.

“And the way Nashville is growing, we just wanted to be a part of this,” project manager Mike Nastri says.

So far it has been a great move, with new clients finding them just because of their location — some never having even heard of the original Franklin storefront. And the extra space has been a much-needed bonus for displaying and storing their fabric and tile samples.

“We had just truly outgrown it as our business grew over the years,” Jackson says. “We work with interior designers here in town through our trade program, and so many designers were in this area. We just felt that was a real positive, planting ourselves where all the designers are, dealing with Kenny & Company or Myers Flooring. We just felt like to be in the heart of it, we’d benefit.”

As a designer out and about in the field, life has been easier for Jackson, too, with many of the vendors she sources from literally within blocks. It’s a win-win for her and her clients.

“Everybody’s time is valuable, so if they can make several stops to mark items off their checklist, that’s better,” she says.

Visitors to the showroom who are familiar with the Franklin location will see the second store has stuck to its roots with candles, linens and accessories. But the new space is definitely a designer-friendly furnishings showroom.

“There’s a lot of furniture, and we want people to feel like they can come in and shop for the home here,” Nastri says. “We also want designers to feel like they can bring their clients in to sit on furnishings, try things out, pick out fabrics and use this as a resource. So we have a little bit of everything.”

Though there are antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces, there are also more modern pieces and design-forward finds that were selected during trips to High Point and Market in Atlanta.

“We really stay on the cutting edge of what’s happening trend-wise in the design world,” Nastri says. “We want people to feel like when they come in here they can definitely find something unique that not everybody has.”

They even stock their own designs — like light fixtures they have made — as a way to give designers and clients options they won’t find elsewhere in the marketplace. It’s an extra level of service to keep them top of mind when designers and homeowners are looking for inspiration.

“Something I’ve always told my staff, and really try to practice myself, is customer service,” Jackson says. “We know people have a lot of options, and we appreciate the business. To offer the hands-on service that I try to do, and I know my staff does, is a big thing that helps us against the giants in our industry.”

The Iron Gate and Rozanne Jackson Interiors
2934 Sidco Drive, Suite 120, Nashville
615-791-7511 Ext. 1

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