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Country music dad finds his second calling in home decorating

FRANKLIN — Brooks Tucker isn't like most singers hoping to break into the country music business.

He's rather modest and doesn't take as much time promoting himself to agents or labels as he probably should. And although he performs most weekends at local clubs in the greater Nashville area with his twin brother and their band, Tucker, he's not out knocking on producers' doors or peddling his tunes.

Brooks has a good reason. Actually, two reasons, as he and his wife, Dana, have 3 1/2-year-old twins: their son, Zane, and daughter, Zoey.

While Dana works full time selling advertising for MIX 92.9 and Oldies 96.3, the couple agreed Brooks would stay home with the twins so he could focus on his music. But two years ago Zane was diagnosed with autism and Zoey with development delays that include her speech and comprehension. At this point, Zane, though always sweet and loving, doesn't speak at all.

Without hesitation, Brooks, now 33, let his music writing take a back seat, he said. His focus was, and still is, getting his children the best medical help and education the couple could find.

That included moving to Williamson County for the public school system. They found a ''builder beige'' house in a Franklin neighborhood.

During the past several years, between changing diapers, driving the twins to preschool, scheduling doctors' and therapists' appointments, cleaning the house, cooking, shopping and laundry, Brooks has also decorated their entire home,including the twins' themed bedrooms.

The motivating factor was cost. After paying for custom window treatments in two rooms of their home, they realized it would take "years," Dana said, to finish decorating.

And the perk of doing it themselves?

Definitely, decorating has become one of Brooks' creative outlets.

Zane's corral

When the twins were born, Brooks created a circus-themed nursery that he duplicated in their Williamson County home. But when it came time to give the twins their own space, while they were at preschool, Brooks created the ultimate cowboy- and fairy tale–theme bedrooms.

"I always wanted a unique room when I was growing up. But we were a military family, so we moved a lot, " Brooks explained. "I knew how to use a jigsaw before I started, but I picked up tips and ideas along the way."

Dana added, "We watched a lot of Trading Spaces and HGTV. We got into the crackle finish and spent hours at Home Depot talking to the people in the paint department."

A saddle and weathered cowboy hat that belonged to Brooks' grandfather were the inspiration for Zane's room. But instead of repainting the twins' old nursery's circus-themed, brightly striped walls, Brooks chose to sponge over them to create a mottled, softer look.

A trey ceiling was designed using pressed wallpaper that looks like tin. Using a simple antiquing kit, Brooks aged the paper to appear tarnished.

Same goes for the unfinished dresser that he transformed from bright circus colors to a more rustic look. Brushed silver–painted knobs accent the pressed wallpaper that was applied to the side panels and aged.

Dana found some old shutters at a junk shop that was going out of business. Antiqued and mounted on each side of the window with an extra wood scroll attached on top, they give the look of saloon doors.

For the space over the window, he cut and built a cornice box out of plywood, which he wrapped in burlap. Then Brooks used a hot glue gun to attach roping, plastic sheriff badges and inexpensive cowboy guns from Wal-Mart that he antiqued to look old. He even painted Zane his own branding symbol.

With twin toddlers, scouring local decorating stores was not an option. So the couple searched the Internet for great deals. They found the Tom Mix movie posters online, as well as the chenille comforters Dana fell in love with.

Zoey's castle

Zoey's bedroom theme grew out of a heart crown that Dana and Brooks bought online at www.DisneyStore.com. Draped with simple white sheers, it set the bright pink and purple color palette. They found the butterfly and heart bedding at www.roomstogo.com.

To add height above the full-size bed, Brooks took the leftover lattice that was used around their backyard deck. Painted to match the bed frame, it also adds drama.

Zoey's art started with Dana asking Brooks to frame a yellow painted papersilhouette of Zoey made at preschool. Two weeks later, Dana recalled, Brooks finished the artwork with Zoey's silhouette as the focal point on top of a grand gold crown.

On the ceiling, Brooks used simple trim, paint, artificial ivy and twinkle dragonfly lights to create a trey effect for little cost. The added benefit is, the decorating's out of Zoey's reach.

The right timing

With their home completely decorated, the twins settled into their preschool and under the care of some of the best doctors in the Southeast, Brooks is turning his attention back to his music.

"I have so much faith in his talent and charisma," Dana said. "I believe in Brooks. It's just a matter of the right person seeing him at the right time … I truly feel that God has a plan out there for us. I don't know what it is and I can't put a time on it, but I feel like the wheels are finally in motion."

By MARILEE SPANJIAN
For Williamson A.M.