Houzz Tours
A Chic New Home That’s Ready for Its Close-Up
A designer helps a Dallas influencer pull off a stylish family home that’s modern and bright
Dallas style influencer Ashley Robertson and her husband, Austin, were early in the process of building a new house for their growing family when they realized they needed design assistance. “She has great style and knew what she wanted, but they needed help pulling it all together,” designer Ginger Curtis says. The home needed to be child-friendly while serving as a stylish backdrop for Ashley’s daily photo shoots. After talking and sharing inspiration boards, Curtis had the couple’s style down: light, bright and modern with bits of well-edited flair inspired by chic Parisian apartments.
Home Office
Because Ashley is a style influencer, she had some specific needs: Spaces throughout the house had to serve as chic backdrops for her website and posts. “Every day is photo shoot day, so we created vignettes all over the house,” Curtis says. “Whether she’s shooting her shoes against the floor, standing in her kitchen or posing in front of her bookshelves, it all needs to match her style.”
Find a local door dealer on Houzz
Because Ashley is a style influencer, she had some specific needs: Spaces throughout the house had to serve as chic backdrops for her website and posts. “Every day is photo shoot day, so we created vignettes all over the house,” Curtis says. “Whether she’s shooting her shoes against the floor, standing in her kitchen or posing in front of her bookshelves, it all needs to match her style.”
Find a local door dealer on Houzz
Through the black-steel-and-glass French doors off the foyer is Ashley’s office, where she spends time creating content. The doors give her privacy and quiet when she needs it, while the glass maintains the views and open feel.
Two light pink velvet barrel chairs add a hint of soft color to the neutral palette. They also bring in a touch of that chic Paris apartment look she likes so much. A deep charcoal grasscloth wallcovering adds texture behind the contrasting white shelves. And a contemporary chandelier adds an artful touch. “They were totally up for going funky and bold with the lighting,” Curtis says.
Two light pink velvet barrel chairs add a hint of soft color to the neutral palette. They also bring in a touch of that chic Paris apartment look she likes so much. A deep charcoal grasscloth wallcovering adds texture behind the contrasting white shelves. And a contemporary chandelier adds an artful touch. “They were totally up for going funky and bold with the lighting,” Curtis says.
Nubby fabric on the desk chair and wood grain on the desk add more texture to the room. The graceful curves of the desk and chairs also add more Parisian apartment flair. In addition to the view from her desk out to the neighborhood, Ashley can look across the foyer into the dining room.
A small office within the office — a sort of office version of a butler’s pantry — keeps clutter at bay. It conceals items like computer equipment, paperwork and the many products Ashley is sent for testing.
A small office within the office — a sort of office version of a butler’s pantry — keeps clutter at bay. It conceals items like computer equipment, paperwork and the many products Ashley is sent for testing.
Dining Room
This is the view of the dining room Ashley enjoys from her desk. Streamlined wainscoting and a sculptural modern chandelier combine with a more traditional table and Danish modern Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs.
The funky and bold attitude toward lighting continues in here. “We nicknamed this one ‘the praying mantis.’ You can move the lights around into different configurations,” Curtis says. The designer added artful lighting, tables with interesting legs and strong contrast throughout the home for continuity. And she warmed it all up with her signature organic touches — in here the woven seats of the chairs and the fiddlehead fig in the basket bring in natural textures.
Curtis also helped her clients commission art for the home. The piece seen here is by local artist Kendra Wiggins.
Shop for a modern chandelier
This is the view of the dining room Ashley enjoys from her desk. Streamlined wainscoting and a sculptural modern chandelier combine with a more traditional table and Danish modern Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs.
The funky and bold attitude toward lighting continues in here. “We nicknamed this one ‘the praying mantis.’ You can move the lights around into different configurations,” Curtis says. The designer added artful lighting, tables with interesting legs and strong contrast throughout the home for continuity. And she warmed it all up with her signature organic touches — in here the woven seats of the chairs and the fiddlehead fig in the basket bring in natural textures.
Curtis also helped her clients commission art for the home. The piece seen here is by local artist Kendra Wiggins.
Shop for a modern chandelier
Kitchen
Strong contrast between light and dark continues in the kitchen, where a stunning marble with dark veining and conical pendant lights command attention. “The stone on the countertop is a showstopper — the veining is very dramatic,” Curtis says. She had it bookmatched, meaning the veining is continuous from the top down the sides.
When it came to the vent hood, Curtis toned down the drama to keep the island in focus. “We went very simple with the vent hood — it’s clean and modern,” she says. It’s symmetrically flanked by windows, then open shelving, then cabinets.
Pendant: Kelly Wearstler Cleo in antiqued burnished brass, Visual Comfort
Strong contrast between light and dark continues in the kitchen, where a stunning marble with dark veining and conical pendant lights command attention. “The stone on the countertop is a showstopper — the veining is very dramatic,” Curtis says. She had it bookmatched, meaning the veining is continuous from the top down the sides.
When it came to the vent hood, Curtis toned down the drama to keep the island in focus. “We went very simple with the vent hood — it’s clean and modern,” she says. It’s symmetrically flanked by windows, then open shelving, then cabinets.
Pendant: Kelly Wearstler Cleo in antiqued burnished brass, Visual Comfort
The open shelves provide space for the things the family uses every day and give Ashley places to arrange items for photo shoot backdrops. The tumbled elongated subway tile backsplash catches the light.
To warm up the black-and-white palette, Curtis used wood for the stools and open shelves, as well as brass faucets and hardware.
The lower cabinets are painted Off-Black by Farrow & Ball.
A butler’s pantry complete with wine storage connects the dining room to the kitchen.
Family Room
“Ashley and Austin love to entertain, so they wanted the family room and kitchen to be one big, open space,” Curtis says. The light-colored upholstery is durable thanks to performance fabrics.
“Ashley and Austin love to entertain, so they wanted the family room and kitchen to be one big, open space,” Curtis says. The light-colored upholstery is durable thanks to performance fabrics.
Curtis added contrast with key pieces such as the coffee table, artwork and this console. “We didn’t want the back of the sofa to be front and center when viewing the family room from the kitchen,” she says. The wood on the doors adds a warm organic touch.
Curtis commissioned the artwork on the wall at left from Justyn Chapman.
Curtis commissioned the artwork on the wall at left from Justyn Chapman.
A round coffee table adds big curves to the space. “The table is chic and baby-friendly — no sharp edges,” Curtis says. The soft wool area rug is also child-friendly. “It has a slight sheen that reflects the light. The rug adds elegance but is also very durable,” she says.
Browse gray area rugs in the Houzz Shop
Browse gray area rugs in the Houzz Shop
An olive tree in a metallic planter, brass hardware on the built-ins and brown leather chairs provide the warmth.
When it came to the built-ins, the couple wanted practicality along with an uncluttered look. The cabinet doors conceal books, toys, games and seasonal items. Up top, the shelves are carefully edited to maintain an open, tidy feel that provides a good backdrop for photo shoots.
When it came to the built-ins, the couple wanted practicality along with an uncluttered look. The cabinet doors conceal books, toys, games and seasonal items. Up top, the shelves are carefully edited to maintain an open, tidy feel that provides a good backdrop for photo shoots.
Master Bedroom
“Ashley told me they wanted to walk into their master bedroom and feel like they were in a hotel,” Curtis says. Black accents like the funky table lamps, patterned accent pillow and throw add spots of contrast to the mostly white room.
Tip: Balance high ceilings with tall elements. Curtis extended the drapes above the tops of the windows, placed a tall olive tree, chose a chandelier that hangs low and used a canopy bed to create pleasing proportional relationships.
Table lamp: Kelly Wearstler Linden in black porcelain, Visual Comfort
“Ashley told me they wanted to walk into their master bedroom and feel like they were in a hotel,” Curtis says. Black accents like the funky table lamps, patterned accent pillow and throw add spots of contrast to the mostly white room.
Tip: Balance high ceilings with tall elements. Curtis extended the drapes above the tops of the windows, placed a tall olive tree, chose a chandelier that hangs low and used a canopy bed to create pleasing proportional relationships.
Table lamp: Kelly Wearstler Linden in black porcelain, Visual Comfort
With its vaulted ceilings and windows that let the light stream in, the bedroom is a place where the couple can catch some relaxing moments during the day. A geometric stone table adds a modern touch, while long linen pinch-pleated drapes add softness around the windows. The olive tree breathes life into the corner.
Master Bathroom
In the master bathroom, Curtis added another Paris apartment touch with herringbone floors. They’re white oak that has undergone a special waterproofing process. The freestanding tub makes a bold, minimalist modern statement. Curtis kept things from skewing too stark by bringing in natural textures through the flooring, the fig tree, the Turkish towels and the bamboo shade.
Flooring: Mafi
More on Houzz
See more home tours
Find local home design and construction professionals
Shop for your home
In the master bathroom, Curtis added another Paris apartment touch with herringbone floors. They’re white oak that has undergone a special waterproofing process. The freestanding tub makes a bold, minimalist modern statement. Curtis kept things from skewing too stark by bringing in natural textures through the flooring, the fig tree, the Turkish towels and the bamboo shade.
Flooring: Mafi
More on Houzz
See more home tours
Find local home design and construction professionals
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Ashley and Austin Robertson and their baby son, George
Location: North Dallas
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); four bedrooms, four bathrooms
Designer: Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
As many people building a new home discover, the process is time-consuming and stressful, and the number of decisions the Robertsons had to make was becoming overwhelming and exhausting. By the time the foundation was poured, the couple had enlisted the help of the interior design team at Urbanology to help choose the finishes, built-ins, lighting and materials, and then furnish and accessorize the home.
“The process of building a new home can wear people out, and people who are tired can make decisions they wind up regretting,” Curtis says. “But a designer is fresh and excited to tackle the project. We were able to take a lot of the stress off them, provide efficient communication with the builder, reassure them we’d find a solution when issues arose and make sure they wouldn’t have any regrets when it was all done.”
Style and Functionality
During the building process, the Robertsons welcomed their first baby, so the light, bright and airy space needed to be safe and durable for a toddler. Curtis selected performance fabrics and wall paint with a scrubbable finish to stand up to spills and sticky fingers.
The foyer sets the tone for the home — the gilded mirror and bust are traditional while the sconce and metal table lean more modern. The white oak floors add warmth throughout the house. All of the walls are painted All White by Farrow & Ball.
Hire a local interior designer