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Houzz Tour: Family-Friendly With a Home-School Suite
Comfort and function came first, but a designer found on Houzz didn’t sacrifice style for these Texas homeowners
This family’s ranch home in Dallas had a wonderful layout and was bathed in natural light, but the homeowners needed professional help making it function comfortably for their active family of six. They searched Houzz, admired the work of local design firm Urbanology Designs and contacted the company for assistance. “They wanted things to be functional and comfortable for their family,” interior designer Ginger Curtis says. “They didn’t want fussy formality and they liked farmhouse and rustic elements. We found ways to incorporate these things in a fresh and modern way.”
This photo shows more of the foyer and the dining room beyond. The foyer space is large, which made it challenging, as foyers are usually kept relatively clear of furnishings. “It was a big, awkward, empty space,” Curtis says. She brought it down to size with a soft rag rug, a tall plant, a ladder and a round table with a pendant over it (not seen in this photo).
The foyer opens directly to the dining room and living room. Note the way the black on the bottom of the ladder in the foyer relates to the black millwork on the dining room wall. This creates a pleasing visual connection from room to room.
Wall color (for all rooms): Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
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The foyer opens directly to the dining room and living room. Note the way the black on the bottom of the ladder in the foyer relates to the black millwork on the dining room wall. This creates a pleasing visual connection from room to room.
Wall color (for all rooms): Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Browse pots and planters
“My clients did not want fluffy, fancy or formal in the dining room or anywhere else in the house,” Curtis says. “They wanted to use these spaces often and they wanted them to feel unfussy and laid-back.” Choosing a simple metal light fixture rather than an elaborate chandelier set a more casual tone.
Architecturally, the designer needed to address a curved wall at the far end of the dining room. The curve was lovely but made it difficult to place furniture there. Instead, she installed wainscoting topped with a picture rail that follows the curve. Painting the millwork black added contrast and anchored the artwork on top of it.
The table is hefty and chunky, which suits the clients’ penchant for rustic style. But its light wood and pleasing proportions make it sophisticated as well. A mix of light wood wishbone and black Windsor chairs are also stylish yet casual.
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Architecturally, the designer needed to address a curved wall at the far end of the dining room. The curve was lovely but made it difficult to place furniture there. Instead, she installed wainscoting topped with a picture rail that follows the curve. Painting the millwork black added contrast and anchored the artwork on top of it.
The table is hefty and chunky, which suits the clients’ penchant for rustic style. But its light wood and pleasing proportions make it sophisticated as well. A mix of light wood wishbone and black Windsor chairs are also stylish yet casual.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
The foyer’s round table and large pendant light can be seen at left behind this room. Though designed as a formal living room when the house was built, the busy family was looking for something more casual. Curtis designated this space “the first family room.” (There’s a more den-like space that serves as the second family room.) The room had high ceilings, lots of natural light and was spacious. It also had a badly proportioned fireplace, with a low brick surround, drywall and a TV mounted over the mantel. “They aren’t really a TV family,” Curtis says, so there was no need for one in this room.
The designers came up with a few fireplace makeover plans for the couple to pick from, and this version was the winner the moment they laid eyes on it. The lower surround is white with a plaster finish that adds subtle movement and texture. The mantel is white oak, a material Curtis repeated throughout the home. And they added millwork with shallow coffers painted black from mantel to ceiling. The contrast draws the eye to the fireplace, now a beautiful focal point.
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The designers came up with a few fireplace makeover plans for the couple to pick from, and this version was the winner the moment they laid eyes on it. The lower surround is white with a plaster finish that adds subtle movement and texture. The mantel is white oak, a material Curtis repeated throughout the home. And they added millwork with shallow coffers painted black from mantel to ceiling. The contrast draws the eye to the fireplace, now a beautiful focal point.
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Though light-colored upholstery might not be the first thing that comes to mind as kid-friendly, Curtis made sure to designate spill-proof fabrics that can be cleaned with ease. She custom designed the two sofas, which are cushy and comfortable. The armchairs add more lovely wood to the room with their midcentury-modern-inspired frames.
A large metal chandelier suits the husband’s love of more traditional rustic pieces, and a rattan-and-wood console adds texture. Everything in the room makes it comfy, right down to the rug. And the layout ensures an easy flow from space to space, essential with four young children in the house.
A large metal chandelier suits the husband’s love of more traditional rustic pieces, and a rattan-and-wood console adds texture. Everything in the room makes it comfy, right down to the rug. And the layout ensures an easy flow from space to space, essential with four young children in the house.
Between the first family room and the kitchen was another light-filled space, with large windows looking out to the yard and skylights in the vaulted ceiling. Curtis dubbed this “the atrium,” and gave her clients several functional options for it. They chose the sun-filled reading nook scheme.
The designer came up with one-of-a-kind shelving composed of white oak with a black accent. Its stepped composition nods to Japanese tansu cabinets.
The designer came up with one-of-a-kind shelving composed of white oak with a black accent. Its stepped composition nods to Japanese tansu cabinets.
The atrium is open to the eat-in area of the kitchen. The kitchen was in good shape and didn’t require a down-to-the-studs remodel. “This is one of the biggest kitchens I’ve ever seen and it had too many cabinets — the number of them was overwhelming,” Curtis says. “It’s rare to take out storage space, but in this unique situation it was necessary. We needed to edit and add a few new finishes to freshen it up.”
The scope of the kitchen refresh included removing some of the upper cabinets to create negative space, painting the remaining cabinets black, replacing an oversize, elaborate range hood with a simpler one, swapping in new quartz countertops and replacing the lighting.
The back wall seen here used to be a solid line of upper cabinets. The team replaced them with a countertop cabinet that meets the corner of the room, as well as open shelving. The new countertop quartz extends up the wall as a high backsplash that meets the bottom of the long shelf. And new V-groove paneling adds character to the wall from the shelf up to the ceiling.
The scope of the kitchen refresh included removing some of the upper cabinets to create negative space, painting the remaining cabinets black, replacing an oversize, elaborate range hood with a simpler one, swapping in new quartz countertops and replacing the lighting.
The back wall seen here used to be a solid line of upper cabinets. The team replaced them with a countertop cabinet that meets the corner of the room, as well as open shelving. The new countertop quartz extends up the wall as a high backsplash that meets the bottom of the long shelf. And new V-groove paneling adds character to the wall from the shelf up to the ceiling.
“My clients really like farmhouse style, but they trusted us to do it in a way that wouldn’t be too trendy,” Curtis says. “We wanted it to be more curated, warm and full of character.”
For example, instead of a rustic reclaimed-wood range hood seen in many of today’s modern farmhouse kitchens, she talked the couple into one with a lovely plaster finish. “This range hood is pretty but recedes to let other elements shine. It’s beautiful in its simplicity,” Curtis says. A new glass upper cabinet on the left keeps this wall light and brings in a few white oak details. “We gained some much-needed negative space on this wall,” Curtis says.
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For example, instead of a rustic reclaimed-wood range hood seen in many of today’s modern farmhouse kitchens, she talked the couple into one with a lovely plaster finish. “This range hood is pretty but recedes to let other elements shine. It’s beautiful in its simplicity,” Curtis says. A new glass upper cabinet on the left keeps this wall light and brings in a few white oak details. “We gained some much-needed negative space on this wall,” Curtis says.
Browse white pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
The existing three-sided kitchen island received a coat of black paint, a new quartz countertop and six new leather-and-metal counter stools — one for each member of the family. The paint color is Sherwin-Williams’ Greenblack, a black with a subtle green undertone.
Curtis was careful to keep the lighting cohesive without being too matchy-matchy. “The key is to keep them from being too similar,” she says. “They need to complement and contrast with one another. For example, you don’t want to use all cone or all globe shapes.” The island pendant shades are white papier-mâché, the eat-in fixture is metal and white glass and the wall sconces over the open shelves have black metal shades.
Curtis was careful to keep the lighting cohesive without being too matchy-matchy. “The key is to keep them from being too similar,” she says. “They need to complement and contrast with one another. For example, you don’t want to use all cone or all globe shapes.” The island pendant shades are white papier-mâché, the eat-in fixture is metal and white glass and the wall sconces over the open shelves have black metal shades.
This wall behind the island had also been filled with upper cabinets. The designer replaced them with white oak open shelves. The new hardware has wood handles. This area can be used as a buffet or drink station that serves the eat-in area.
A workstation sink turned this end of the island into an efficient prep station. Another detail worth noting is the white oak that wraps the top of the countertop cabinet.
The home-school suite is above the garage. “It has a private staircase, and when I walked up here I filled with excitement,” Curtis says. “It was bathed in light and had three alcoves where we could work in different functions.” The space also has a bathroom.
The homeowner had specific needs for the space. One was a large table for lessons and projects. Another was a large dry-erase board with drawers for storing markers and erasers. There were also specific storage needs for books, notebooks, craft supplies and more.
A long table dominates the room with space for Mom to join the kids for lessons and projects. Curtis designed a custom dry-erase board on wheels with three large drawers across the bottom. She added a vintage map to the front that rolls up with ease. The homeowner can roll the board around as needed. Curtis also designed the white oak shelving unit on the right, incorporating open and closed storage, bins and cubbies specified by the homeowner.
Even though the family isn’t big on TV, the couple wanted to incorporate a screen for watching documentaries and other educational programs, as well as digital presentations and lessons. The large black doors conceal it when it’s not in use.
Thomas O’Brien Goodman pendant lights: Visual Comfort
The homeowner had specific needs for the space. One was a large table for lessons and projects. Another was a large dry-erase board with drawers for storing markers and erasers. There were also specific storage needs for books, notebooks, craft supplies and more.
A long table dominates the room with space for Mom to join the kids for lessons and projects. Curtis designed a custom dry-erase board on wheels with three large drawers across the bottom. She added a vintage map to the front that rolls up with ease. The homeowner can roll the board around as needed. Curtis also designed the white oak shelving unit on the right, incorporating open and closed storage, bins and cubbies specified by the homeowner.
Even though the family isn’t big on TV, the couple wanted to incorporate a screen for watching documentaries and other educational programs, as well as digital presentations and lessons. The large black doors conceal it when it’s not in use.
Thomas O’Brien Goodman pendant lights: Visual Comfort
The homeowner also wanted a desk of her own close to the table, where she could keep organized, work on lesson plans and review work. It’s seen here on the right side of the room, with a glass calendar overhead. The white oak desk is part of the adjacent storage built-ins. This makes it easy for Mom to stash everything she needs while at her desk.
Curtis designated this alcove as a quiet reading area. The built-ins include a cozy bench with a light overhead.
The adjacent alcove is the technology station. The use of screens (such as laptops and tablets) is limited to this area, and headphones are required so as not to distract others. A third alcove (not photographed) serves as a telescope area.
Tour designer Ginger Curtis’ home on Houzz TV Live
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Tour designer Ginger Curtis’ home on Houzz TV Live
More on Houzz
Read more home tours
Find local home design and remodeling professionals
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their four children
Location: Dallas
Interior design: Urbanology Designs
The project involved makeovers of the public spaces, including a space over the garage that Curtis transformed into a home-school area. “Having clients read our reviews on Houzz is really powerful for us,” Curtis says. “These clients had a lot of trust in us from the start because they had read our reviews. Because we had that trust, after we assessed their needs and what they liked, they gave us the freedom to really go for it.”
As for those needs, having four children elementary school age or younger meant the family needed a practical, functional, comfortable and indestructible design. The couple wanted beautiful pieces but prioritized function over style. The design team helped them achieve both.
The house had great bones, a spacious and flexible floor plan and white oak floors that were in such good shape they didn’t need refinishing. The aim of the project was to furnish the home comfortably; add functional, stylish built-ins and other architectural details; and make the spaces suit both the family’s lifestyle and personal style.
A great example of function and form working together is this vignette near the front door. One set of grandparents lives directly across the street, so Curtis knew that, unlike most of her clients, the family would be using its front door as much as mudroom or garage entries. She knew it would need a bench for family members to put on and take off shoes. The bench is sturdy and rugged yet has a sculptural, geometric silhouette. A gallery wall and three modern sconces give the entry a fresh, modern look.
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