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Somewhere in Tennessee was the country music queen Barbara Mandrell and her family's private hideaway. The house was built for them only, and they have lived there since 1988. It's their home, their harbor, and their Fontanel.
Fontanel means the soft spot on a baby's head, and the mansion was named after it because she wanted the house to be the soft spot for her family members. The interior space covers up to 27,000 square feet, and has 20 rooms, an indoor pool, and many other surprising areas.
The great room was built using larch pine logs. Barbara and her husband ordered these logs from their home state of Montana because they love its dual-tone colors. As an added benefit the logs keep the house warm.
A sense of warmth pervades the Great Room, a wooden room with a 35-foot-high ceiling, that is full of signed guitars and family photos hanging on the wall. The rotating iron staircase brings a sense of theatre.
The dining room is a combination of luxury and simplicity: dark-brown wood cabinets are filled with silver utensils; whereas simply designed tables and chairs are paired with cascading crystal lights. A photo of mother and daughter embodies the atmosphere of family.
The master bedroom is also enveloped with contrasting wooden hues. The classic barossa-colored canopy bed provides a stark contrast to the ivory white modern fireplace. Family photos are everywhere, which illustrates how important family is to Barbara.
The master bathroom is more like a backstage dressing room. Mainly white, the whole room seems huge because of the ubiquitous mirrors. There is also a trademark Hollywood vanity mirror on the dressing table.
Barbara's youngest daughter Jamie's room is full of fun. There were countless dolls in the cupboard next to the entrance. According to Jamie, she got these dolls when she was little, and now they are already more than 40 years old.
Jamie's bathroom is decorated mainly with flowers. Trailing flowers surround the sink and makeup lens, and a handful of fresh peony flowers add a sweet scent to the whole room.
The walls on the third floor hallway are adorned with a collection of gold and platinum records.
The house is filled with musical instruments and tour memorabilia. Even in the small corner at the exit of one room, you can see examples of milestones from Barbara's musical career.
In one corner you can find a quad bike. It was used by Gretchen Wilson in her music video that was filmed at the Fontanel. Visitors can board the quad and take photos with it.
There is also an entertainment room on the third floor. Above the bar is a customized neon sign that says "Fountain Fontanel". Behind the bar are a variety of sodas named after members of the Mandrell family.
To the side of the old cowboy statue, one can see the atrium with its indoor pool. When the pool is sealed, the area is turned into a dance floor.
Entering the courtyard, one can see the statues of three little bears nestled on wooden poles. Pink flowers in the front and small trees in the back bringing the whole scene to life.
The mansion is now run as a B&B inn. Visitors can stay here and enjoy the view of the countryside of Tennessee.
On this small stage are acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and drum sets, making it look as if a concert could be held at any time.
After the Mandrell family left the Fontanel in 2002, it became a popular place for hosting different events. Weddings always take place in the great room.
As a home for a musician, it still hosts some music events. In 2016, Rev' n Rods & Heartland made their tour debut at Fontanel.
Before the Fontanel was finished, the Mandrell family lived in this 100-year-old farmhouse.
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