My Houzz: Global Panache for a Dallas Refuge
Inspiration from travels helps new parents create a worldly, personal home and garden in their own corner of the globe
Hilary Walker
November 16, 2013
Brianne and Trey Denton understand that it takes time for things to grow. The green-thumbed couple behind floral and garden design company Blue Lotus — she creates the florals, he builds the landscapes — saw the potential in their expansive yard and 1940s interior, and were willing to invest the time to make them their own. "Traveling is our true inspiration," says Brianne. "We always feel recharged and full of ideas when we get back from our trips — whether the destination be West Texas or Bali."
Inspired by the landscape as well as the design of the home (designed by Dallas architect Charles Stevens Dilbeck, who is behind hundreds of houses in the area), Brianne and Trey set to work transforming their property with a sort of jungle-meets-desert vibe. They resurfaced and repainted the walls and cabinets, stripped doors to their original wood and removed some unsightly ceiling features. Luscious greenery and water features now adorn the once-barren yard, along with a chicken coop and an outdoor seating area, creating a lush refuge with a global twist.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Brianne and Trey Denton; their month-old daughter, Veda; and dog Diego
Location: Little Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Inspired by the landscape as well as the design of the home (designed by Dallas architect Charles Stevens Dilbeck, who is behind hundreds of houses in the area), Brianne and Trey set to work transforming their property with a sort of jungle-meets-desert vibe. They resurfaced and repainted the walls and cabinets, stripped doors to their original wood and removed some unsightly ceiling features. Luscious greenery and water features now adorn the once-barren yard, along with a chicken coop and an outdoor seating area, creating a lush refuge with a global twist.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Brianne and Trey Denton; their month-old daughter, Veda; and dog Diego
Location: Little Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 1,200 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Decorative wooden sculptures: Big Mango Trading; curtains: Cost Plus World Market; sofa: Togo by Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset; artwork above sofa: Brianne Denton (work in progress)
Leafy potted plants and a variety of cacti are placed throughout each room. Some of the plants are from Brianne's personal collection, while a few are on loan for maintenance from her clients.
Diego, the family dog, lounges in a midcentury armchair given to Brianne by her grandparents. Above it hangs a photograph of a grazing buffalo taken by Sara Kate.
Diego, the family dog, lounges in a midcentury armchair given to Brianne by her grandparents. Above it hangs a photograph of a grazing buffalo taken by Sara Kate.
The Dentons renovated their living room in 2012. "There was a faux fireplace as well as a fur down [soffit] that we took out," says Brianne. "We smoothed the wall texture as well, which was a long process but worth it. We also took out a bookshelf that divided the living and dining rooms. It helped open up the space." The couple then restored the unstained hardwood flooring beneath where the bookshelf once stood.
Brianne and Trey have traveled extensively to Mexico and Southeast Asia, and some of the colors and textures of those regions are reflected in their choice of textiles and natural surfaces — like the embroidered throw pillows and coffee table shown here.
The couple uses copper pipe as an alternative to conventional drapery rods. The white butterfly folding chair in the corner was a recent gift from a friend.
Brianne and Trey have traveled extensively to Mexico and Southeast Asia, and some of the colors and textures of those regions are reflected in their choice of textiles and natural surfaces — like the embroidered throw pillows and coffee table shown here.
The couple uses copper pipe as an alternative to conventional drapery rods. The white butterfly folding chair in the corner was a recent gift from a friend.
A large piece of driftwood with plants nestled in its crevices hangs above an heirloom from Brianne's grandparents: a midcentury console record player. "They have a ton of great pieces in their home," says Brianne.
Make a beautiful and long-lasting driftwood centerpiece
Make a beautiful and long-lasting driftwood centerpiece
Drapes: Chloe Gauze Curtain in Grey, Urban Outfitters; artwork: Fab.com
Copper drapery rods also appear in Veda's nursery, adding a subtle metallic accent. The dresser is vintage.
Trey designed and made the concrete changing table in Veda's nursery. Brianne, shown here with Veda and Diego, uses storage bins underneath to organize diapers and other necessities.
When Trey sanded down the painted finish on the nursery door, he discovered that the natural wood underneath was much more interesting than anything he could create. So he sealed the unpainted wood here and on a few other doors in the house.
Trey designed and made the concrete changing table in Veda's nursery. Brianne, shown here with Veda and Diego, uses storage bins underneath to organize diapers and other necessities.
When Trey sanded down the painted finish on the nursery door, he discovered that the natural wood underneath was much more interesting than anything he could create. So he sealed the unpainted wood here and on a few other doors in the house.
The inspiration for Veda's nursery came from one of Brianne's paintings. "I was inspired by a beach trip we just took together to Tulum," she says.
Trey selected and gave the crib to Brianne for her birthday. "I couldn't find one that I loved, so he went on the hunt for a cool crib for Veda's room. He did a good job!" she says.
Crib: Ola! by Casa Kids (no longer available)
Trey selected and gave the crib to Brianne for her birthday. "I couldn't find one that I loved, so he went on the hunt for a cool crib for Veda's room. He did a good job!" she says.
Crib: Ola! by Casa Kids (no longer available)
Trey and Brianne painted the kitchen's upper cabinets a soft yellow and replaced the lower cabinets with new ones from Ikea. Trey intends to add concrete countertops.
The couple originally planned on polished concrete floors but ended up installing large floor tiles with a similar look.
The couple originally planned on polished concrete floors but ended up installing large floor tiles with a similar look.
Trey and Brianne removed the chair railing in the dining room and smoothed out the walls. The table and chairs were handed down from Trey's grandparents. The midcentury hutch is vintage. Hanging above the table is a light fixture that the couple designed together. They purchased the driftwood from an acquaintance, then Trey hung it from the ceiling, stringing Edison light bulbs along it as an experiment. Brianne and Trey liked how it looked and ended up keeping it that way.
The couple found the canoe wine rack at Big Mango Trading, but it originally hails from Bali, one of the pair's favorite destinations.
The couple found the canoe wine rack at Big Mango Trading, but it originally hails from Bali, one of the pair's favorite destinations.
Trey designed and built the wooden slat headboard anchoring the master bedroom. A vintage turquoise cart serves as a nightstand and displays travel mementos.
The corner chair is vintage, while decorative pieces from Bali and Fab.com decorate the walls and vintage dresser.
Curtains: Cost Plus World Market
Curtains: Cost Plus World Market
Trey readies newborn Veda for her portrait on the custom-built wooden slat bed.
Diego prepares for his moment of fame as well. The door behind him was sanded and stripped, leaving behind a soft, natural patina that helps balance the dark, rustic wood of the headboard.
This vintage orange Acapulco Chair came from a secondhand shop in Garland, Texas. A tree stump is repurposed as a side table, while more pieces from the couple's travels accent the front seating area.
Woven chairs: Ikea
Woven chairs: Ikea
The outdoor living areas celebrate the couple's landscaping prowess. The Dentons covered a patch of grass with crushed limestone, creating a compact, low-maintenance patio. Green and yellow chairs from Ikea and a blue bench designed and built by Trey encircle an outdoor rug.
Green chairs: PS Vågö Easy Chair, Ikea; yellow chairs: Roxö, Ikea
Green chairs: PS Vågö Easy Chair, Ikea; yellow chairs: Roxö, Ikea
Brianne and Trey enlisted a graffiti artist known as Beware of Sparks to paint a corrugated metal wall behind their freestanding fireplace. They found the fireplace at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton.
Trey built this chicken coop using salvaged wood from a friend's home. Five chickens dwell behind the rustic blue flea market door.
See 4 chicken coops in urban backyards
See 4 chicken coops in urban backyards
The couple's chickens roam freely around the yard. "They help with bug control and ground fertilization," Trey says.
A covered dining area is tucked away in a corner of the backyard. The area was inspired by some of Trey's outdoor dining experiences in his travels to the tropics.
Lush, drought-tolerant plants, like broad-leaved agaves, envelop two of Trey's water fountain installations.
Trey and Brianne stand at the front gate with Veda. Sprawling vines climb a custom fence that Trey designed and built from metal and stones.
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I love that they do almost all of the work themselves and it's so creative and represents who they are.
They will sure;y be asked to be on our "Best Of" tour coming up in a year or so.
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