It only took Chan Cornett 20 minutes to decide to buy the home at 161 Banta Street in Franklin. However, his wife, Marci, needed more convincing. Closing her jaw after it had dropped when Chan said, “This is the one,” she listened as he promised her a beautiful home if she would trust him.
Chan and Marci were introduced to Franklin by a friend, and liked the vibe of the small town. So in 2010 they moved their business to Franklin, where Cornett Roofing manufactures roofing products on Amy Lane, off of Arvin Road. Soon after Chan and Marci became empty nesters, they began a house search. They were already invested in the community, so why not live in Franklin too? They loved the walkability of the downtown area and knew it was going to become a place they dreamed of living in – one that included knowing your neighbors, where contributing to the community was appreciated.
In 2016 they looked at several houses, before Chan noticed the house at 161 Banta. His realtor tried talking him out of going to see the 1928 Craftsman-style brick house, because the realtor knew the house as the “hex house.” The house was in shabby condition on the outside, but once inside, it got worse. Chan knew it would be a complete gut job. However, because he is a general contractor, he had vision to see beyond the current condition and he resolved to make it into something special.
Chan began the year-long process of turning the house from hexed to homey. When they made an offer on the house, they gave the owner three months to vacate. It took that three months, plus two 40-yard dumpsters, to hold the collection of belongings inside. Chan took advantage of that time and began building an oversized garage that would house his hobbies and park their cars in. Solar panels from Cornett Roofing were installed to supply energy to the garage. One thousand solar panels also power his manufacturing facility.
One of the reasons Chan and Marci wanted to look at this particular house was because of the size of the lot it was on. Most of the houses in the downtown area don’t have garages or much property to build one on. The lot size was perfect because they could build a garage on it. Chan could also see the living possibilities for them inside of the house.
With Chan acting as his own general contractor, they began taking the house down to the studs and pulling out the floors. They enlisted family members for the demolition process and professional subcontractors for some of the other work. They had hopes of saving some of the original features of the house, but much of it was damaged because of animals living inside. They were able to save a fireplace surround and mantle, French doors, windows, exterior doors, and a chandelier.
The big changes on the downstairs level in the house were in the dining room and kitchen. A wall was removed between them to share a single space, separated by a counter. Bigger changes happened upstairs, where the ceiling and walls were reconfigured to make a luxury suite. A vaulted ceiling graces the lounging area, the main bathroom with claw-foot tub, the main bedroom, ample closets, and a dressing room for Marci, with the original dining-room chandelier hanging on high ceilings.
The exterior red brick was whitewashed to give it a new life. Chan used one of his company’s roofing products to give the house an impressive clay tile look. The product is made from metal, but one would likely never know it. It’s a top seller among his roofing products, especially in some of the historic restoration projects his company gets involved with.
The landscape also matches the home’s fresh look. Hardscapes were created for ease of entrance from the street. In the space between the home and the garage is an outdoor lounge area. Colorful sun sails provide shade. The softscape is in keeping with the structure of the home and complements its architecture. The idyllic home is one to be proud, of with old-house charm and new-house features.
The Cornetts love living in Franklin. They made the commitment to Franklin in 2010, to help stimulate the economy by providing jobs and paying taxes. They are now committed to being a leader in their industry, being responsible in reducing environmental impact, and supporting the local community with charitable contributions.
Chan and Marci agree that Franklin is becoming the town they wanted it to be when they chose to live here. They enjoy walking to concerts at the amphitheater, playing pickleball at Youngs Creek Park, and dinner at their favorite spots. They applaud the efforts the town leaders have made to preserve and grow the values that continue to make Franklin an enjoyable place to live, do business and play.
They love Franklin so much that they continue to invest in what makes Franklin a destination by owning a downtown business. The Upstairs Basement on Jefferson Street is operated by Chan’s sister, Laney Cornett. Their desire is to be contributors, thereby stimulating the heartbeat of small-town life.
Chan and Marci’s story is country boy meets city girl. Just like old house meets modern living, they’re great at making it work. As a blended family, they share seven grown children. Grandchildren are being added, filling their regular Sunday dinners with joy.
As the fifth owner of the home built by a doctor nearly 100 years ago, Marci and Chan agreed to show their newly renovated home during the Franklin Historic Home Tour in 2018. That was the last home tour event hosted by Franklin Heritage, Inc. But if you went inside their home, you would agree that Chan held to his promise to Marci. He created a beautiful home in the heart of downtown Franklin.
