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My Houzz: Reinvented Ranch-Style Home in Dallas
An architect transforms a traditional rambler in Texas, paying homage to her Southern roots and giving the landscape some love
Home tour contributor for Houzz, freelance writer, photographer and former PR agency executive with a penchant for creative arts.
Home tour contributor for Houzz, freelance writer, photographer and former... More »
"The trees lured me in initially," says Dallas architect Christy Blumenfeld. "They reminded me of growing up in Alabama, and the property just felt Southern." While Blumenfeld and her husband, Adam, adored their 1948 ranch-style house, it was in need of extensive renovations. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were outdated, and the couple needed more space for their family. "I chose to use the base of the original home in lieu of tearing down," Blumenfeld says. "More is recycled that way, and I also like to enhance the integrity of an existing home. When you strip away all the layers, you're left with the essence and honesty of the space and materials."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Christy and Adam Blumenfeld and their two children, Alexandra and Ben
Location: Dallas
Size: 6,500 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
That's interesting: The kitchen and family room feature brick flooring original to the home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Christy and Adam Blumenfeld and their two children, Alexandra and Ben
Location: Dallas
Size: 6,500 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
That's interesting: The kitchen and family room feature brick flooring original to the home.
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| Blumenfeld added a second level to the home, visually proportional to the exterior. She also introduced a Southern vernacular with slurried brick, expanded windows and operable shutters. The tree-lined circular driveway creates an inviting first impression. |
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| Blumenfeld designed her kitchen with convenience in mind. Two separate sinks and two faucets are flanked by appliances. The countertops are Calacatta gold marble, but the island is concrete. "Concrete is so easy to keep," says Blumenfeld. "I used it on the entire island and lowered part of it for seating for my kids." |
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After adding a new bay window, Blumenfeld says her kitchen eating area is now her favorite place in the home. The area features a round table for six and Oly chairs sandwiched between an antique French chandelier and original brick floors.
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| The family's formal dining room features an antique table, custom chairs and an antique armoire. Hanging between the expanded windows is a painting by the architect's mother, Jackie Good Briscoe of Decatur, Alabama. Other paintings by Briscoe are found throughout the home. Above the dining table hangs a white feather "chandelier" that Blumenfeld put up for a party. She says, "I thought it was fun, so why not keep it for a while?" |
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| The former living room was converted into this study and sitting area. The original fireplace mantel was painted to match the interior doors and is flanked by custom wrought iron shelving units. Four leather chairs atop an antique Oushak rug anchor the space. Wall paint: Ashley Gray, Benjamin Moore; chairs: Restoration Hardware; painting: Andrea Rosenberg |
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| The 2-inch herringbone plank floors throughout the home are original. In the foyer, a vintage church pew provides seating, and above it hangs a framed antique architectural drawing. The drawing was previously brown with age, and Blumenfeld bleached, restored and mounted it for display. Grass-cloth wall covering: Ralph Lauren Home |
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The rear entry opens up to the new porch addition. A leaded glass door, side lights and an arched transom mirror the front entry and are original to the home.
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| Inside the rear screened-in porch is a grill and bar area with concrete counters, refrigerator drawers, a gas grill and a single burner. |
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| Slated to be an "all-year entertaining space," the new screened-in porch has an arched brick fireplace with a TV above, Bevolo gas lanterns and Pennsylvania bluestone flooring along with brick. "We slurried the brick to conceal where the old house stopped and the new house begins," Blumenfeld says. |
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| Daughter Alexandra practices piano in the main living area/family room, which adjoins the kitchen and dining areas. The window on the right looks out onto the new porch addition. The sitting area features two chairs Blumenfeld bought at a flea market in Paris. "My couch cover is a lifesaver," she points out. "It's machine washable." Wall paint: London Fog, Benjamin Moore; ottoman cover: Le Gracieux; couch cover: Quatrine |
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| Ben, Blumenfeld's son, sleeps on a king-size bed composed of two twin frames woodworked together. The original twins were used in Adam's childhood bedroom. Wall paint: Arctic Blue, Benjamin Moore; map: National Geographic; sconces and bedding: Pottery Barn |
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| In this guest suite, previously the master bedroom, Blumenfeld created a greater sense of scale and opened up the views by expanding and lowering the original bay windows. Wall paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware; artwork: Jackie Goode Briscoe; furniture: antique |
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In the newly added master bedroom, a custom chandelier hangs from 16-foot vaulted ceilings, and symmetrical entries into a his-and-hers bathroom help balance the space. Blumenfeld designed the bedframe as a gift for Adam.
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| The ceiling slightly lowers in the master bedroom sitting area, which has an oversize ottoman with Aubusson tapestry and another painting by Jackie Goode Briscoe, that hangs above a custom camelback sofa. The couple enjoys views of the rear porch and garden, as well as of a swimming pool and joint basketball/tennis court, from this sitting area. |
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In the entryway to her husband's wardrobe area from the master bathroom, Blumenfeld installed stunning antique French walnut doors and a transom, all with hand-forged wrought iron details.
"I discovered these while studying in New Orleans and got them for a steal," she says. "I held on to them over the years, knowing one day I'd use them for a client. That client ended up being me."
"I discovered these while studying in New Orleans and got them for a steal," she says. "I held on to them over the years, knowing one day I'd use them for a client. That client ended up being me."
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| The original single-level home had two bathrooms. For the newly added second floor, Blumenfeld created a bathing alcove overlooking a freestanding tub surrounded by 1-inch blue mosaic glass tiles. |
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| Blumenfeld's latest splurge was updating her three carport doors to create a carriage house feel. She also extended the garage to accomodate a new home office. |
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| Blumenfeld is an avid gardener and planted 25 dogwoods around the property when her family first moved in. She considers her landscape to be in constant evolution, like her home, and says her next project will be planting a new vegetable garden. "I consider gardening a daily ritual," she says with a determined smile. |
Ideabook published on April 20, 2012.
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I am agree with Susan Quatrini.( a home that looks like a family lives there.)