Story by Emily Robertson
After living in Bowling Green in the past, when Kirk and Mary Pierce decided to return to the area, they made the decision to build a custom home in Olde Stone. Now, the couple has a beautiful home to enjoy year-round with family and friends, but the home really shines during the most wonderful time of the year.
The 4,300 square foot house includes four bedrooms, plus a bonus area and three and a half bathrooms, which is perfect for hosting their extended family.
“I love this home because when our grown children come with their families, everyone is comfortable and happy,” Mary says. “They can all have their own bed and that is so nice because they all live out of town, so when they come here, everyone can be together and there’s no need for hotels.”
Mary says that the home’s floor plan really allows for space to host, while also not feeling too large when it is just the couple at home. “I love this floor plan,” Mary says. “When it is just the
two of us here, we don’t feel that the house is too big, and it really has a cozy feel to it.”
Mary also especially enjoys the dining area of the home, a space that she hates to see leaving many new homes’ floor plans. “Everyone seems to be getting rid of their dining rooms,” Mary says. “I love to entertain in small groups, so having that kind of area to eat and get away from the mess of the kitchen is so nice. Everyone says they don’t use their dining room anymore, but I am so glad to have that space and to make it cozy and comfortable for long Cozy Christmas conversations with friends.”
When it comes to decorating for Christmas, Mary typically tries to wait until after Thanksgiving is over, but the last several years she has had to begin before because of a special event the Pierces host every December.
“We usually host Thanksgiving, so we love enjoying that holiday for what it represents about thanking God and being grateful,” Mary says. “We also host a large Christmas party the week after Thanksgiving because my husband is in banking and he has lots of clients and we try to invite them to our home to enjoy the holidays, so the last few years I have started the decorating before Thanksgiving.”
Mary’s favorite room to decorate in the home is the great room with her large tree. Much of the furniture in the great room and living room was new when they moved into this house and Mary used Bowling Green Home Furnishings to find her new pieces. Every year, she enjoys adding her own lights to her Christmas tree to make sure it is twinkling to perfection and that the room shines for the season. Mary also has one holiday decoration that holds a lot of nostalgia and meaning to her, as she has collected it over many years.
My mother-in-law gave me my first piece of the Fontanini nativity scene,” Mary says. “It grew over the years, and it is really one of my favorite things to put out every year. It always helps remind us of what Christmas is truly about.”
Mary ensures that there are touches of holiday décor throughout the home in nearly every space, from the dining room and bar area to the bedrooms and outdoor area, to have a festive
touch no matter what room you are in. The Pierces are grateful to live in a home and a community that offers so much year-round to not only them, but to their extended family.
“We’ve lived in six or seven other homes and have moved between here and Nashville and Glasgow, but we always end up coming back to Bowling Green,” Mary says. “And I feel so blessed to be able to live in this home now. We have good neighbors here. Everyone watches out for each other. The beauty of our view is so lovely. And it is so fun to see our grandkids excited about coming and how much they love this area.”