Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Organic Modern Style for Off-Season Relaxing
A designer helps an NFL player and his wife set up an inviting base for Texas-size gatherings
Organic Materials and Subdued Color
In the entry, this sculptural root ball console table paired with modern art and handmade vases foreshadows what’s to come in the rest of the house — organic modern style marked by lots of white with stunning wood and subdued color. The next photo will show how well the painting’s lines work with the metal bars of the existing room divider.
Wall paint (throughout): Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; console: Phillips Collection
In the entry, this sculptural root ball console table paired with modern art and handmade vases foreshadows what’s to come in the rest of the house — organic modern style marked by lots of white with stunning wood and subdued color. The next photo will show how well the painting’s lines work with the metal bars of the existing room divider.
Wall paint (throughout): Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; console: Phillips Collection
A row of metal bars separates the entry from the dining room, which also balances wood and white elements. The chairs passed the designer’s tests to make sure they could handle football players. Like the painting in the entry, the rug adds subtle blue tones and its texture catches the light.
Chandelier: Modern Artifax, Houzz; see more organic modern dining tables
Chandelier: Modern Artifax, Houzz; see more organic modern dining tables
Curtis is a fan of breaking the rules, and she used a slim media cabinet in lieu of a more conventional buffet in here. “Its narrow dimensions worked so much better in here than a traditional buffet’s would have,” she says. The top is blackened wood and the rest is reclaimed wood that plays nicely off the adjacent accent wall. The artwork above it is of the Louvre museum courtyard.
Bringing the Look Into the Kitchen
The wood-and-white kitchen in the new-build home was already well-appointed and worked for the couple. Curtis added a few organic modern touches — new geometric black pendant lights and new weathered leather-and-black-metal counter stools, as well as a few small accessories.
Browse leather counter stools
The wood-and-white kitchen in the new-build home was already well-appointed and worked for the couple. Curtis added a few organic modern touches — new geometric black pendant lights and new weathered leather-and-black-metal counter stools, as well as a few small accessories.
Browse leather counter stools
Family Room Seating to Handle a Crowd
In the family room, a hefty reclaimed-wood coffee table stands up to the two substantial sofas. Custom end tables by Urbanology Designs mix chunky wood tops with black metal platforms. Round poufs and layers of dhurries soften the room.
This space can handle a crowd. Curtis says the living room contains 23 seats, which, besides sofas and chairs, includes poufs, benches and other flexible pieces.
In the family room, a hefty reclaimed-wood coffee table stands up to the two substantial sofas. Custom end tables by Urbanology Designs mix chunky wood tops with black metal platforms. Round poufs and layers of dhurries soften the room.
This space can handle a crowd. Curtis says the living room contains 23 seats, which, besides sofas and chairs, includes poufs, benches and other flexible pieces.
“We got creative with seating that also acts as decor elements,” Curtis says. For example, she added this custom bench extension to the concrete hearth. Not only does it serve as seating, it has room underneath for tucking away a pouf and a custom dog bed on hairpin legs. She designed the bed and gave it to the Joeckels and their pooch as a gift. A lot of the leathers she used throughout the home resemble the warm brown, beat-up leather of vintage footballs.
Note just how substantial the sofa on the right is. Curtis custom-designed it with Luke in mind. “We used solid wood frames on everything and did weight checks, width checks and made sure everything was big and comfy,” she says. It can handle folks perching on the arms, and a leather strap adds a nice detail to the back that plays off other leather pieces around the room.
Details That Add Interest and Character
The large room has smaller moments. For example, wood shelves full of objects with natural textures and an array of silhouettes are hidden away to the side of the fireplace, waiting to be discovered.
The large room has smaller moments. For example, wood shelves full of objects with natural textures and an array of silhouettes are hidden away to the side of the fireplace, waiting to be discovered.
This console provides a transition from the family room to the back door. It also offers space for another leather pouf, a basket full of soft, chunky throws, a textured lamp and other objects. The antique stone wheel was a Chairish find that lends some old character.
Comfort and Practicality Combine
Beyond the staircase, Curtis transformed an alcove into a private office for Cameron. The spot is cozy, comfortable and conducive to hunkering down for organizing and projects.
Beyond the staircase, Curtis transformed an alcove into a private office for Cameron. The spot is cozy, comfortable and conducive to hunkering down for organizing and projects.
“Cameron said she didn’t want color, but after I got to know her I knew she’d love the deep blue of this wallpaper,” Curtis says. The floating oak shelves and built-in desk look lighter next to the dark color. Curtis also added a wall-mounted light and task lamp. The cabinets conceal electronic equipment like the printer.
The existing stacked copper stone in the powder room and black marble sink worked well with the organic modern style. Curtis added the unconventional light fixture to add interest at a lower-than-usual height. “That light is amazing, it disperses light everywhere,” she says. She also added the artwork and accessories.
Curtis designed this impressive wood door to hang between the yoga room and a hallway. She had to find super-heavy-duty barn door hardware to handle its weight.
A Place for Guests to Relax and Freshen Up
If you look back at the exterior photo, this guest bedroom is over the garage, which made this wonderful vaulted ceiling possible. White walls and pops of indigo keep a cool feeling in the often steamy Lone Star State climate. Curtis describes the style as a little tribal, a little Scandi and modern. The patterns on the rugs, pillow and throw blanket give the room exotic appeal and let their guests feel like they are on a relaxing getaway. A bench provides a good spot for suitcases, and the sconces and picture rail dress up the headboard wall.
A lot of the cool tones and pattern come in via the rug. “We have zero problems putting an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting. We do it all the time,” Curtis says.
Pillows: Urbanology Designs
If you look back at the exterior photo, this guest bedroom is over the garage, which made this wonderful vaulted ceiling possible. White walls and pops of indigo keep a cool feeling in the often steamy Lone Star State climate. Curtis describes the style as a little tribal, a little Scandi and modern. The patterns on the rugs, pillow and throw blanket give the room exotic appeal and let their guests feel like they are on a relaxing getaway. A bench provides a good spot for suitcases, and the sconces and picture rail dress up the headboard wall.
A lot of the cool tones and pattern come in via the rug. “We have zero problems putting an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting. We do it all the time,” Curtis says.
Pillows: Urbanology Designs
And it’s always nice to offer guests somewhere else to sit besides the bed if you have room. In this case there’s a comfy armchair with a reading lamp and side table.
A few smart accents help create an organic modern look in the guest bathroom. The metal-framed mirrors are new, as are the leather stool, light fixtures and shower curtain.
Large mirror: Four Hands; lights: Cedar + Moss; Painterly Stripe shower curtain: Schoolhouse Electric
Large mirror: Four Hands; lights: Cedar + Moss; Painterly Stripe shower curtain: Schoolhouse Electric
Master Bedroom Looks to the Outdoors
“Their bedroom is bright but relaxing and feels like a retreat,” Curtis says of the master bedroom. She did not want to block any of the expansive windows with furniture. The windows have remote-controlled blackout shades.
Cameron wanted a small vanity area in the bedroom, so Curtis tucked one over to the side for her, adding a classic Danish modern chair complete with a faux sheepskin for a Scandinavian look.
Lamps: West Elm
“Their bedroom is bright but relaxing and feels like a retreat,” Curtis says of the master bedroom. She did not want to block any of the expansive windows with furniture. The windows have remote-controlled blackout shades.
Cameron wanted a small vanity area in the bedroom, so Curtis tucked one over to the side for her, adding a classic Danish modern chair complete with a faux sheepskin for a Scandinavian look.
Lamps: West Elm
A tufted winged headboard stands up to the large wall. Wall-mounted sconces are well-placed for reading and help fill out the wall.
Indigo pillows and blanket: West Elm; pillow with leather triangle: Urbanology Designs
Indigo pillows and blanket: West Elm; pillow with leather triangle: Urbanology Designs
A Frame TV by Samsung is cleverly camouflaged over the dresser. The sturdy custom chaise lounge offers a comfortable spot for reading, pulling on boots or enjoying the view out the large windows. And it’s also one of the dog’s favorite napping spots, so Curtis used a Crypton performance fabric on the upholstery. She designed pillows that bring small leather details into the room, like the strap on the pillow here and the triangle on the one in the center of the bed.
Special Displays for Football Memorabilia
This game room space is Luke’s man cave, and a leather sofa and TV were on his must-have list. By the time they got around to this room, Curtis was looking to make some impactful but inexpensive design moves, as they were nearing the cap on their budget.
One such solution was the wood backboard she designed for the TV. It keeps the TV from looking like a black square floating on a plain white wall, and the designer added special shelves for game balls and a football helmet. She also designed a high custom console behind the sofa “for Luke and his tall buddies.”
This game room space is Luke’s man cave, and a leather sofa and TV were on his must-have list. By the time they got around to this room, Curtis was looking to make some impactful but inexpensive design moves, as they were nearing the cap on their budget.
One such solution was the wood backboard she designed for the TV. It keeps the TV from looking like a black square floating on a plain white wall, and the designer added special shelves for game balls and a football helmet. She also designed a high custom console behind the sofa “for Luke and his tall buddies.”
More custom shelves provide spots for a few more special football helmets. A sturdy chair and side table continue the mix of metal and wood in this reading area.
Takeaways
Takeaways
- Let the space just inside your front door set the design tone for your house — it’s a preview for guests.
- If you have a narrow dining room, look to other types of furniture for serving and storage. Here they used a narrow media console as a buffet.
- If you’re going to have a lot of people over and serve drinks and food in your family room, look for high-performing and wipeable fabrics that can stand up to spills.
- Find hard-working pieces that can serve double duty as extra seating if you entertain large groups. For example, poufs can do double duty as footrests and be tucked under tables and in corners.
- New lighting is a good place to spend your money. It makes a big design impact.
- Think about where your guests can place their suitcases when they are visiting, whether they are going to live out of them or unpack. It can be a bench, or if you’re short on space, a folding luggage rack. It’s also nice to give guests something to sit on besides the bed.
- A few small changes in a bathroom can add style without the high price tag of ripping out tile, fixtures and vanities. In this home’s guest bathroom, mirrors, lighting, a new shower curtain and small accessories gave the room the warm organic modern style seen in the rest of the house.
- The headboard walls in both bedrooms are good studies in how to create pleasing proportions when dealing with a large wall expanse. Curtis used picture rails, artwork, wall-mounted sconces and a high headboard to fill out those walls.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: NFL player Luke Joeckel and his wife, Cameron, and their dog
Location: Lakewood, Texas
Designer: Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
NFL couple Luke and Cameron Joeckel were ready to keep a permanent home in their native Texas for football’s off-season. They come from large extended Texas families that love to get together, so they wanted plenty of comfortable space for big gatherings. After purchasing a new home, this project by Texas interior design firm Urbanology Designs served as inspiration for their new home. They ended up going straight to the source and hired the firm to decorate their new home’s interiors in an organic modern style.
A Tall Challenge for the Designer
As a professional offensive lineman who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall, Luke is larger than the average man. “During our early consultations, Cameron warned me: ‘My husband breaks everything!’” says Urbanology founder Ginger Curtis. “We needed to make everything very sturdy so that he could sit wherever he wanted to without worrying about it. We made sure all of the furniture we chose was up to the task and was a good fit for him.”
The couple also wanted their family and friends to be able to grab a plate and hang out in the family room without worrying about spills, so Curtis used high-performance fabrics and dark upholstery for the seating in those areas.