By Marcy Anderson Sanford
Photography by Ben Finch, Finch Photo and Jason Messing, Juicebeats Photography
A Knoxville native and graduate of Central High School and the University of Tennessee, Carin Elle Mead moved to Florida in 2020 to run the Scripps Research PhD program. There she met her husband, Justin, a Florida native, and settled into coastal living until Tennessee started calling her back. “We wanted to have a home in Knoxville because our family, my sons, daughters-in-laws, grandchildren and niece are all here. We wanted a place where everyone could gather for special occasions or just to hang out together. My good friend Pam Potet is a realtor, and she has helped me with real-estate transactions in the past. We wanted a house that was on the lake or had a great view and had been looking for months when I found this home online. Pam went to visit and immediately called me and said, ‘This house is absolutely meant for you and Justin, you have to see it.’ She gave us a virtual tour, and we fell in love with the character of the house, the craftsmanship of the woodwork throughout and the detail the original homeowners and architect had placed throughout. We put in an offer and bought the house sight unseen. The homeowners before us were the original owners and they did a great job designing the home. Donna the previous owner was a very talented seamstress and left gorgeous upholstery and bedding pieces she had crafted by hand.”
Carin and Justin split their time between Stuart, Florida, and Tennessee, so it was important to them to have a home that immediately felt welcoming. “This house was perfect,” said Carin. “It had so many features we needed and wanted. The biggest thing for us was we wanted it to feel like coming home, not a vacation spot. For me, home is a place where you feel comfortable and safe. In addition, I believe your home should tell your story, beautifully and authentically. I wanted our home to look luxurious but be comfortable. I didn’t want family to come in and feel like they could not touch things or kick their shoes off. I want our grandkids to feel like this is their second home.”
Carin’s blend of luxury, comfort and traditional design gave her the opportunity to showcase many of her family’s heirloom antique pieces throughout her home including a cedar chest that her grandaddy bought for her grandmother for $5 at a store on Gay Street in 1946. “There is so much joy in this house. I have pieces from my mother, grandmother and great grandmother and through these pieces, I’m able to share our family history with my grandchildren.” Another way Carin brought her unique design to her Tennessee home was by installing awe-inspiring lighting throughout the house. “I really love bold, unusual, dramatic artisan lighting, especially chandeliers. One of the first things I talk about with any client is what kind of statement they can make in their home by layering beautiful lighting. A bespoke piece of lighting is a great way to make a statement in a home.”
With a background as a buyer, in academia and interior design and a master’s degree in psychology, Carin was not sure what her final chapter would look like. Her first granddaughter was her inspiration to pursue her passion for interior design full-time. “Scarlet June is two and a half years old. She has so much energy and is such a delight. When she was born, I thought, ‘What is my legacy for her and my other grandchildren going to be?’ I knew I wanted to get back to doing what I loved and show them what it means to be a successful, strong woman who keeps faith as her foundation, never gives up on her dreams and lives authentically and unapologetically.”
Carin started C. Elle Design Studio as a full-service interior design studio serving homeowners in Florida and Tennessee. She offers turnkey design, new construction and remodeling, interior design, custom furnishings, material selection and art and final styling. She likes to partner with architects and contractors to streamline the process for clients and make sure the experience goes smoothly and stress-free. Carin is also excited about her recently launched upscale e-commerce boutique, C. Elle Home, featuring luxury linens, furniture and home accessories - everything you could need for your home. “The items on C. Elle Home will fit nicely into the Knoxville landscape for clients and designers alike,” said Carin. “You will be able to find décor, lighting and furnishings that you can’t find anywhere else. I also offer complimentary design consultations for custom pieces. Additionally, we will be opening our flagship design studio and boutique in Downtown Stuart, Florida, on Labor Day weekend 2026. I’m very honored to bring C. Elle Design Studio and C. Elle Home to Knoxville and look forward to opening our second location in the spring of 2027 here in my hometown. Until then, clients in East Tennessee can schedule consultations, and I will meet with them at their convenience and of course they can shop C. Elle Home.”