At Home with Tanya: A Sneak Peek Inside Her Personal Space
When you walk into the home of Tanya Hembree, Principal Designer + Founder of ONYX+ALABASTER, you don’t immediately notice the square footage or the finishes. You notice the feeling.
It’s the kind of space that makes you exhale. A home that tells stories of her travels, faith, and family—all layered together in a way that feels both sophisticated and lived-in.
Tanya and her husband recently entered a transitional season, selling their large country home (fully furnished) and renting a small cottage in Franklin for a few years while they plan their next move. But instead of treating this time as an in-between, Tanya chose to create a space that feels complete and deeply personal.
“You don’t want to pause your living,” she says. “Even if you’re renting, even if it’s temporary—fill the walls, change the lighting, host your people. Life doesn’t stop just because your address might be temporary.”
A Home That Speaks Story
Her living room sets the tone: layered, warm, and quietly refined. An antique Chinese chest anchors one wall, with decorative accessories adding depth and layers to the space.
“I just buy what I love,” Tanya says. “Then I figure out how it fits. The goal is balance and weight, not perfection—color, tone, and texture working together to feel cohesive.”
In her dining room, a gallery of original artwork collected from Paris, Italy, and local antique markets tells the story of her journey. Each piece feels collected, not decorated. Across from the gallery wall sits a European reclaimed-wood dining table, imported through ONYX + ALABASTER’s home market. It’s rustic, tactile, and perfectly imperfect.
A gathering place for family dinners + lingering conversation. “I love that it doesn’t feel precious,” she says. “It’s meant to be used—for meals, homework, wine nights with friends. It’s where life happens.”
Collect, Don’t Decorate
A glance around Tanya’s home reveals an intentional layering of new and old. She blends O+A’s modern selections with storied antiques, creating that signature tension between refined and rustic that defines her style. “I’ve always loved the juxtaposition,” she explains. “There’s something soulful about pairing a sleek sofa with an aged chest that’s been around for a century.”
Her eye for balance even extends to the smallest details, like mismatched but complementary nightstands, framed art at varying scales, and textiles that invite touch. “Design isn’t about being matchy-matchy,” she laughs. “It’s about harmony.”
Meaning Woven Into Every Corner
In the Master bedroom, the Spanish influence that has long inspired Tanya comes through. Her four-poster bed and dark wood accents lend warmth and drama, while above the bed hangs a small original painting of a California mission, a nod to her roots.
“One of my dreams is to visit all the missions along the California coast,” she says. “It ties into my heritage and faith—my maiden name, Perez, is Hispanic—and it just feels meaningful.”
That’s what makes Tanya’s approach to design so magnetic: she infuses meaning into the material. Every object has a reason to be there. From the vintage Gucci frame holding a photo of her praying over the O+A Market before its remodel, to the bowls of lemons and fresh flowers scattered throughout her kitchen.
“Design, for me, is storytelling,” Tanya reflects. “It’s about creating spaces that hold memory, warmth, and life.”
Her home may be temporary, but her vision is anything but. It’s proof that beauty and belonging don’t require permanence, just intention.“These days I only buy what’s meaningful or valuable.”
Ready to make your own space feel as warm, intentional, and beautifully layered as Tanya’s? Our award-winning design team would love to help you create a home that tells your story.