The evolution of a legacy usually begins with a hard worker and an idea, and that is no different than the beginnings of Huskey Building Supply in Franklin, now run by its third generation of brothers.
Huskey’s growth began in 1945 when the company was founded by builder Clay Huskey. He circumvented the lack of local lumberyards by buying wood to use in his own projects directly from sawmills in Alabama. When he was done, he would sell the excess materials from a small lot in Southeast Nashville.
He soon realized the value in what he was doing — so he stopped building houses and focused solely on the lumber business. He brought in his brother, Cecil, to help, and Huskey was officially a family business.
After a few years Clay left the company, but Cecil continued on, bringing in his sons, Jim and Arnold, to carry on the burgeoning legacy. Jim threw himself into Huskey and, with the support of his wife, Marla, modeled for his own sons the care and conscientiousness that helped the business thrive for years.
Today those boys, Austin and Taylor, are taking what their grandfather and his brother started, and what their dad and uncle grew, and they are developing it into something that honors the work that made it possible for them to achieve this next phase. They’re set up for continued success thanks to their commitment to progress, to their people and to the pride they have in their work and in personal accountability — all things they learned from their father.
“My dad did a good job teaching us the business from the bottom up,” Taylor says. “We started out picking up around the lumber yard before we could drive a forklift. And he didn’t let us move on to the next thing until everybody around said, ‘Nope, Taylor’s got it.’ Then he could move on to the next thing. And I am so grateful for those guys who worked with us to make this thing grow.”
Now overseeing a premier building supply house with multiple locations and 300 employees, the brothers have the future in mind, always. After all, their kids are going to need a place to work someday soon, especially after hearing about it at the kitchen table at home — just like their dads did.
“The business was always a conversation at home,” Austin says. “It’s just what we did. We were always talking about work around the dinner table, that was just life. And as trying as relationships can be, there’s a lot of mutual respect between the three of us.”
THE TEAM
Through pairing the energy of youth with the centuries of experience on the sales team, there isn’t much they haven’t experienced in their 80-year history.
“There’s almost nothing out there in the building world that we haven’t seen before,” says Thom Coghlan, who works in sales and business development with Huskey. “We have so much depth and history and experience on the team, but we are also dynamically young.”
Anthony Nigretto has been with Huskey for nearly 10 years. He started out working at the front counter, moved his way up to dispatch, and finally shifted to sales about eight years ago.
“That’s a common trend with Huskey, truly promoting from within instead of just saying they do,” he says.
Nigretto works with custom builders like Sipple and Stonegate Homes, and with high-end designers like Julie Davis, to source all the materials they need on projects.
“We’re not just selling these builders products. We’re almost assistant project managers,” he says. “So if they are going to buy from me, I am now an integrated part of your team. I’m looking for solutions to make their lives easier. I’m value-engineering their builds. It’s truly like I am on the team as opposed to just an order taker.”
Nigretto says people are seeing the value in what Huskey does, and that they have had more customers sign up in the past two years than in their entire history. “We are all trained, and we all have a desire to be product experts,” he says. “It’s all of us in the field, boots on the ground, getting feedback, finding out what builders want and bringing in the best quality.”
He also feels a loyalty to Austin and Taylor, and to their father, Jim.
“They’re very humble, hardworking people who value their people and the dollar they’re working for,” he says. “It’s a lot of pressure that I think most people, myself included, probably can’t relate to. Because they’re taking care of their little circle. Their legacy. They probably wake up every day and think about the hardships their dads and grandparents went through, and they’ll do anything not to fail.”
THE PROJECTS
From design to finish, Huskey has positioned itself over the years to become the premier building supply house for custom home builders in Middle Tennessee and beyond, including Kentucky and Alabama.
“Huskey is nimble,” Coghlan says. “We will literally build the team and experience around what you need. Our goal is to build the business how you need it.”
Andrew Moreton is the founder and owner of luxury homebuilder Carlton Wise and has worked with Huskey since his previous job at Vintage South. So when he went out on his own in October 2024, he knew the benefits of working with Huskey.
“The nice thing about Huskey is they look at the entire house. When you send them plans, they are already thinking about windows and interior trim — things that not every lumber yard does. You’ve got one point of contact for the whole thing.”
By taking a holistic approach, Huskey cuts down the number of vendors a builder has to work with, and if the relationship is good, everything is easier.
“I just like working with people who I enjoy working with, first and foremost, and with people who are responsive and get back to you in a timely manner,” Moreton says. “And Huskey always does that.”
Huskey is the exclusive Marvin Windows and Doors dealer for the area, and the work they do is reflective of who they are becoming — a true production builder powerhouse.
“We actually have the highest payroll of designers and carry more overhead in that regard because we found it’s the best service by having someone on staff, in house, do your design,” Coghlan says.
NEW SHOWROOM COMES TO LIFE
The perfect way to showcase the evolution of Huskey Building Supply from a small lumberyard to luxury home materials supplier was a total Franklin showroom renovation, so the Huskeys hired Katie Vance and her team at the design and architecture firm Powell Nashville to lead the way.
“The Huskey team engaged us to reimagine their showroom experience into something more elevated and tailored,” says Abbey Stewart, interior designer and material resource manager for Powell. “Their vision was to create a high-end environment where guests would feel welcomed and cared for, surrounded by thoughtful details and amenities.”
For example, upon entering the Lewisburg Pike showroom’s lobby, visitors are greeted by a concierge desk, a well-appointed amenity bar and a soft custom sofa in a seating area anchored by a fireplace. It immediately sets the tone for a luxurious and comfortable experience.
“Because the showroom program mirrors that of a residential space, with a living room, dining room, kitchen and library, we drew inspiration from high-end residential projects that balance sophistication with a sense of warmth and hospitality,” Stewart says.
The result is a showroom that feels less like a retail space and more like a thoughtfully designed home.
“Throughout the design process, especially when developing millwork details and selecting finishes, we kept asking ourselves, ‘How can this feel more bespoke, more luxe, more one-of-a-kind?’” Stewart says.
One standout example is the materials selection area, a dedicated space where staff can share samples and finishes with clients. “But we wanted to elevate the experience,” Stewart says. The result is a custom-designed island with sample storage on both sides, a circular banquette with a large round table for presenting materials, and bar seating along the back—turning a functional area into an inviting, design-forward destination.
“It elevates the entire experience for custom customers,” Coghlan says. “We want people to come here to experience home building in a way they haven’t before.”
The finish palette played a key role in bringing the project vision to life.
“We layered in materials, colors and textures one could find in today’s most elevated homes,” Stewart says. Think bouclé, velvet and linen textiles; a balanced mix of ebonized and white oak wood tones; Calacatta Viola; limewashed walls and brass accents.
“Each selection was made to enhance the tactile quality of the space and reinforce a sense of cozy luxury,” she says, which includes local vendors like the custom conference room tables from Holler Design and the tile base detail at the concierge desk from Red Rock Tileworks.
Even as they were wrapping up construction, the team at Powell loved seeing the Huskey team already enjoying the space and making it their own. “Collaborating with them was a true pleasure, and we’re proud to have helped bring their vision of a refined, elevated showroom experience to life.”
