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Houzz Tour: An Airy 1920s House is Cosied Up With Soft Textiles
A designer brings contemporary comfort to a light, bright, traditional-style home
For Ginger, determining her clients’ style meant sharing lots of photos and comments about them through Houzz ideabooks. “Having our clients leave comments is an important part of the process, because we need to know what they like about a particular photo,” she says.
From the ideabooks, Ginger learned that the homeowners love the colour blue and gravitate towards funky contemporary light fixtures and an elegant but laid-back style. “We were able to accomplish this look by choosing comfortable pieces that had a tailored look,” she says.
On a small front patio beneath the living room’s lovely arched window, Ginger used an outdoor sofa, rug and coffee table to create a spot for the couple to relax after their frequent walks with their new baby and the dog.
From the ideabooks, Ginger learned that the homeowners love the colour blue and gravitate towards funky contemporary light fixtures and an elegant but laid-back style. “We were able to accomplish this look by choosing comfortable pieces that had a tailored look,” she says.
On a small front patio beneath the living room’s lovely arched window, Ginger used an outdoor sofa, rug and coffee table to create a spot for the couple to relax after their frequent walks with their new baby and the dog.
The chandelier in the living room, which is off the hallway, is also very telling. “We wanted to find something that felt like a combination of classic and modern that would elevate the style,” Ginger says. She felt the light had the funkiness her clients liked and a touch of Art Deco style appropriate for the age and style of the home.
Ginger painted the fireplace black to make it stand out against the newly painted white walls. She emphasised the architectural windows by hanging heavyweight white linen curtains that blend in with the wall.
Ginger painted the fireplace black to make it stand out against the newly painted white walls. She emphasised the architectural windows by hanging heavyweight white linen curtains that blend in with the wall.
Layers of leather, wood and upholstered furniture create an easygoing, elegant material palette. The bench beneath the round mirror features a simple wood base that feels contemporary, while the plush velvet cushions in the homeowner’s favourite colour give it a timeless look. “An elegant yet simple mix,” Ginger says.
The homeowners wanted to go a bit more formal in the dining room, but still give it a relaxed feel. Ginger responded with upholstered chairs and a soft rug for comfort.
Sophisticated silhouettes, beautiful wood and brass finishes on the oversized chandelier, wall-mounted bar shelves, curtain poles and chair bases elevate the look.
Sophisticated silhouettes, beautiful wood and brass finishes on the oversized chandelier, wall-mounted bar shelves, curtain poles and chair bases elevate the look.
A major renovation is planned for the kitchen, but in the meantime, Ginger gave the cabinets a fresh coat of paint and set up this cosy breakfast nook. “The painting was my clients’, and it inspired this space,” she says. “We pulled the rust tones out of it for the banquette cushions – it’s an unexpected colour in here that works well with blues.”
Meanwhile, the beautiful wood-grain tabletop and handblown glass chandelier layer in more textures.
Meanwhile, the beautiful wood-grain tabletop and handblown glass chandelier layer in more textures.
The homeowners splurged on covering a wall in velvet in their master bedroom. “It makes a huge impact and captures the light,” Ginger says. Mottling in the fabric provides depth behind the custom upholstered headboard. “There’s a lot of drama in here, but it’s still elegant,” she adds.
Pendant lights dangle from the ceiling over bespoke bedside tables. “These add another really interesting layer we wouldn’t have had with traditional table lamps in here,” Ginger says.
The wood bench at the foot of the bed features an overstuffed cushion secured by leather straps.
Pendant lights dangle from the ceiling over bespoke bedside tables. “These add another really interesting layer we wouldn’t have had with traditional table lamps in here,” Ginger says.
The wood bench at the foot of the bed features an overstuffed cushion secured by leather straps.
A campaign-style desk creates a secondary spot for morning routines. “It was important to the female owner to have an area outside of the bathroom where she could get ready in a hurry in the morning,” Ginger says. “This was the perfect little spot, and it gets great natural light.”
Takeaways
Which ideas would you take from this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
Takeaways
- Add personal style with light fixtures.
- Choose tailored upholstered pieces for a sophisticated yet comfortable look.
- Highlight architectural features by adding emphasis, such as a dramatic colour on a fireplace surround or window treatments that don’t detract from the windows themselves.
- Consider hanging reading lights from the ceiling if using bedside table lamps is awkward.
Which ideas would you take from this home? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A young couple with a new baby and a dog
Location Dallas, Texas, USA
Size Four bedrooms and two bathrooms; 3,400 sq ft (316 sq m)
Designer Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
Photos by J Turnbow Photography
This young couple love contemporary style, but while house-hunting during their move from New Jersey to Dallas, they fell in love with the architectural charms of a 1920s ‘Tudor’-style home (characteried by a steep roof, prominent chimney and embellished entrance).
After moving in, they hired interior designer Ginger Curtis to help highlight the architectural features while incorporating a more comfortable, contemporary look. And because they were moving from a significantly smaller house, they brought few pieces of furniture with them. This meant Ginger had to basically start from scratch to fill the spacious home.
This first phase of the project addressed the first floor and included new paint, lighting and furnishings for all the rooms. Phase two will involve renovating the kitchen and decorating the two bedrooms and the bathroom on the second floor.
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