Houzz Tour: Not-Too-Tudor Style for New Parents in Texas
A designer brings contemporary comfort to a traditional 1920s house
This young couple love contemporary style, but while house hunting during their move from New York to Dallas, they fell in love with the architectural charms of a 1920s Tudor-style home.
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 that Curtis had to basically start from scratch to fill the spacious home.
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 that Curtis had to basically start from scratch to fill the spacious home.
For Curtis, 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, Curtis learned that her clients love the color blue and gravitate toward 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, Curtis 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 their dog.
Browse outdoor sofas in the Houzz Shop
From the ideabooks, Curtis learned that her clients love the color blue and gravitate toward 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, Curtis 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 their dog.
Browse outdoor sofas in the Houzz Shop
Entry Landing Zone
Inside the front door, Curtis designed a custom console table as a landing zone with drawers for keys and mail.
Conical black sconces signal that this is not your typical Tudor. “Light fixtures can tell you a lot about the style of a home,” she says.
Paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Inside the front door, Curtis designed a custom console table as a landing zone with drawers for keys and mail.
Conical black sconces signal that this is not your typical Tudor. “Light fixtures can tell you a lot about the style of a home,” she says.
Paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Classic-Modern Mix in the Living Room
The chandelier in the living room off the entryway is also very telling. “We wanted to find something that felt like a combination of classic and modern that would elevate the style,” Curtis says. She felt that the light had the funkiness her clients liked and a touch of Art Deco style appropriate for the age and style of the home.
Curtis painted the fireplace black to make it pop against the newly painted white walls. She emphasized the architectural windows by hanging heavyweight white linen drapes that blend in with the wall.
Design Through the Decades: 1920 to 1930
The chandelier in the living room off the entryway is also very telling. “We wanted to find something that felt like a combination of classic and modern that would elevate the style,” Curtis says. She felt that the light had the funkiness her clients liked and a touch of Art Deco style appropriate for the age and style of the home.
Curtis painted the fireplace black to make it pop against the newly painted white walls. She emphasized the architectural windows by hanging heavyweight white linen drapes that blend in with the wall.
Design Through the Decades: 1920 to 1930
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 favorite color give it a timeless look. “An elegant yet simple mix,” Curtis says.
Comfy With Hints of Brass in the Dining Room
The homeowners wanted to go a bit more formal in the dining room but still give it a relaxed feel. Curtis responded with upholstered chairs and a soft rug to bring the comfort. Sophisticated silhouettes, beautiful wood and brass finishes on the oversize chandelier, wall-mounted bar shelves, drapery rods and chair bases elevate the look.
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The homeowners wanted to go a bit more formal in the dining room but still give it a relaxed feel. Curtis responded with upholstered chairs and a soft rug to bring the comfort. Sophisticated silhouettes, beautiful wood and brass finishes on the oversize chandelier, wall-mounted bar shelves, drapery rods and chair bases elevate the look.
Shop for dining room chairs
Refreshed Kitchen
A major renovation is planned for the kitchen, but for now Curtis gave the cabinets a fresh coat of paint and set up this cozy 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 color in here that works well with blues.”
Meanwhile, the beautiful wood-grain tabletop and handblown glass chandelier layer in more textures.
A major renovation is planned for the kitchen, but for now Curtis gave the cabinets a fresh coat of paint and set up this cozy 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 color in here that works well with blues.”
Meanwhile, the beautiful wood-grain tabletop and handblown glass chandelier layer in more textures.
Chic Master Bedroom
The homeowners splurged on covering a wall in velvet in their master bedroom. “It makes a huge impact and captures the light,” Curtis 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 says.
Pendant lights dangle from the ceiling over custom nightstands. “These add another really interesting layer we would not have had with traditional table lamps in here,” she says.
The wood bench at the foot of the bed features an overstuffed cushion secured by leather straps.
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The homeowners splurged on covering a wall in velvet in their master bedroom. “It makes a huge impact and captures the light,” Curtis 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 says.
Pendant lights dangle from the ceiling over custom nightstands. “These add another really interesting layer we would not have had with traditional table lamps in here,” she says.
The wood bench at the foot of the bed features an overstuffed cushion secured by leather straps.
Find a local wallcovering professional
A campaign-style desk creates a secondary spot for morning routines. “It was important to her to have an area outside of the bathroom where she could get ready in a hurry in the morning,” Curtis says. “This was the perfect little spot, and it gets great natural light.”
Takeaways
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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 color on a fireplace surround or window treatments that don’t detract from the windows themselves.
- Consider hanging reading lights from the ceiling if windows make using nightstand table lamps awkward.
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Get home design ideas
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with a new baby and a dog
Location: Dallas
Size: 3,400 square feet (316 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
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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