Unconventional Serenity

Written by Patrícia Ramos

The modernity of this house, set in a quiet suburb of Highland Park, Dallas (United States), meets the requirements of a young family, made up of a finance professional, a yoga teacher and their four children, all below the age of five. Despite its youthful feel, the trends most associated with a minimal project, typically involving a whiter and glossier environment, have been avoided in the vision established for this home.

The interior designer, Joshua Rice, has succeeded in balancing natural light with a more unconventional colour dynamic, i.e. tones that are darker and more sombre. The sobriety of the space is sublimated by a highly refined selection of materials. Grey limestone, wood panels with thermally modified grooves, a technique that increases their durability, and stucco, are combined with vast glass doors and windows of Portuguese origin.

Every surface in the house reflects a personalized and carefully thought-out approach, from the stone-lined cupboards, the bathtub and the solid stone sinks in the main bathroom to unique elements in the guest toilet. The existing palette of tones generates a calm and sophisticated atmosphere, rendering the two-storey, five-bedroom home into a cosy and inviting space, ‘without being overwhelmed by the immense amount of light pouring in during the day’, Rice describes.

On the decorative front, the designer was aware that ‘the clients are big fans of modern design, but they wanted something more unique and unusual than your typical design classics.’ So, while the pieces of furniture are iconic, dating back to the mid-20th century, they are combined with other rare or limited edition elements that reflect the owners' aesthetics to perfection, adding an element of the unexpected to each room. The large bronze sculpture by American sculptor Bill Barrett close to the dining area is one of these paradigms.

The project, which began in 2020 and evolved until 2023, has accompanied the family's own growth and is the outcome of a 520 m2 plan signed by the SmithArc architectural firm. On the ground floor we find the covered outdoor living area, the kitchen and pantry, the living and dining room, the master suite, the guest toilet, a small support room and an office, a yoga studio, a bathroom and the laundry room. Meanwhile, on the second floor, there is a living room, a second laundry room and four bedrooms, each with their own complete bathroom. The unique character of this home can be summed up as a representation of the contemporary, with a certain vibrancy expressed in the rich, earthy and dark personality that imparts an inimitable serenity.

Photography: Lacey Land, Pages: 158-165