Traveling is often more than just a vacation – it can provide a life-changing opportunity to learn about yourself, the world, and, in some cases, spark an idea that may transform your life.
In 2017, Jessica Engholm sold her public relations firm in Los Angeles and set out to solo travel around the world. She explored places like Thailand, Asia, Mexico and more, falling in love with the qualities that made each place unique.
“I really fell in love with the distinctive architecture and design, specific to these different countries,” Jessica shares. “How much it varied, how components like materials, such as wood and marble native to a region, could completely transform a home or building.”
While she was traveling, she was also tackling a project redecorating her home. She struggled finding pieces that sparked the same inspiration in the United States, so she set out to curate a collection from around the globe.
“I shipped back a container from Bali full of goods – live edge wood tables, vintage chairs, a lot of artisan-made finds,” Jessica shares. “I happened to host a couple of dinner parties and my guests kept asking, ‘Where did you get this?’ or ‘How did you find that?’”
Jessica then knew she was onto something, and her transition from the world of public relations to the world of design had begun.
“I came to visit a friend in Nashville in 2020, and we took a day trip down to Franklin,” Jessica adds. “I just immediately fell in love. The energy of Tennessee is something truly special. I believe its allure is something you can’t find everywhere. Everything from the fireflies to the warm summer nights makes you feel grounded and at home. It’s a growing city, but still continues to feel like a small town.”
Sentiments we can all agree with, Jessica officially made the move to Franklin in 2021, with plenty of her stunning personal collections making the move with her. Now she operates a retail store and showroom on Main Street in Downtown Franklin.
“We’re no ordinary home retailer,” Jessica shares. “We like to think of it as a showroom first and a design studio second, a space that is also filled with stunning objects that inspire and tell stories."
Cultheir has two primary pillars. The first being an antique and vintage collection that’s on display in the showroom, sourced from places like Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey. The second pillar revolves around custom productions, partnering with artisan groups and small-batch manufacturers around-the-world to produce specialty pieces: petrified wood bathtubs, live-edge tables, calacatta marble and travertine tables, fireplace surrounds, and many other large-scale items.
“The movement we’re really trying to get behind is helping people rethink the word ‘artisan,’” Jessica adds. "For years, people have associated the word artisan with small-scale products including textiles and basket weaving. Yes, but they're also stonemasons, woodworkers and welders. We define their artistry as generational craftsmanship."
For many custom pieces the Cultheir team sources, they’re working with artisans who often learned from their father or grandfather. Over seven years, Jessica has personally built the supply chain, traveling to various countries exploring everywhere from tiny towns to the middle of the jungle to source pieces.
While some artisan groups are more established, others don’t have the infrastructure or means to export goods. The Cultheir team has been able to help put logistics plans in place for them. The support for artisans doesn’t stop there, though, they are constantly finding ways to assist and elevate small creators around the globe.
“In terms of supporting them and building infrastructure, we help with little things like providing a camera so they can record and share the progress of their work. We’ll sponsor certain tools, and any resources they need to do good work,” Jessica says.
If you’re looking to incorporate custom, artisan-made pieces into your own home, a visit to Cultheir is a collaborative experience, offering interior design and styling services, and educating the community on value engineering and custom architectural elements, specializing in wood and stone creations. In addition to the general public, Cultheir also works with trade professionals like designers and architects for large projects or one-off pieces like onyx sinks or hand-carved doors.
The brand has continued to grow since its inception seven years ago, celebrating many wins along the way, many even happening within the past few months here in Franklin.
“Since opening our doors in September, I’ve been really pleased with what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Jessica adds. “We launched our interior design and styling program, shipped in four containers from various countries, established a shipping and warehouse strategy, launched our e-commerce business, grew our following to over 70,000, and we’ve collaborated with two national home brands, Jenni Kayne and Parachute, just to name a few milestones.”
The name “Cultheir” blends the words “culture” and “heirloom,” while the brand aesthetic is rooted in Wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy that revolves around finding beauty in transition.
“A lot of what you find at Cultheir is about the beauty in imperfection,” Jessica adds. “We integrate this philosophy into design by prioritizing organic materials, natural earth and, often, aged elements, and plenty of texture. This really is the foundation of everything Cultheir sources and/or creates.” Cultheir.com
