Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Casual, Personal Update in Texas
These Plano, Texas, empty nesters have refreshed their formerly traditional family home to fit their new lifestyle
After 10 years of living in their home, by which time the kids had flown the coop, Jeff and Cindy von Hagel's tastes had changed. They loved their custom-built place in Plano, Texas, but their interior was long overdue for an update.
To update their home from traditional French country to be more contemporary, they refreshed their furniture with new upholstery, removed wall-to-wall cream carpeting and replaced all the light fixtures. After repainting every wall and reassessing their tchotchkes, Cindy and Jeff were able to focus on design elements that matter to them most: art by their two daughters and pieces collected from their travels.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cindy and Jeff von Hagel
Location: Plano, Texas
Size: 3,100 square feet; four bedrooms; three and a half baths
That's interesting: The homeowners did all the painting, tiling, trimwork and demolition.
To update their home from traditional French country to be more contemporary, they refreshed their furniture with new upholstery, removed wall-to-wall cream carpeting and replaced all the light fixtures. After repainting every wall and reassessing their tchotchkes, Cindy and Jeff were able to focus on design elements that matter to them most: art by their two daughters and pieces collected from their travels.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cindy and Jeff von Hagel
Location: Plano, Texas
Size: 3,100 square feet; four bedrooms; three and a half baths
That's interesting: The homeowners did all the painting, tiling, trimwork and demolition.
After demolishing the intrusive brick hearth and fireplace surround, Cindy and Jeff opted for the clean look of a metallic-finish ceramic tile.
Custom shelves put an awkward corner nook to good use. Large gears form the shelf brackets and are repeated in the side table, adding industrial accents to the room.
Artwork: purchased at art auction on a cruise ship; side table: My Habit; leather recliner: La-Z-Boy; red vase: Cantoni
Custom shelves put an awkward corner nook to good use. Large gears form the shelf brackets and are repeated in the side table, adding industrial accents to the room.
Artwork: purchased at art auction on a cruise ship; side table: My Habit; leather recliner: La-Z-Boy; red vase: Cantoni
Although painting the rooms in various shades of warm gray helped to modernize the couple's traditional house, the biggest impact came from replacing the wall-to-wall carpet with rich hand-scraped wood floors. "I will never buy carpet again!" says Cindy. The pair also installed simple stained wooden baseboards to replace the traditional white beveled style original to the house.
Flooring: Home Depot; shag rug: Macy's
Flooring: Home Depot; shag rug: Macy's
The von Hagels reupholstered select pieces of furniture. This classic wing chair got an update with a modern blanket and pillow and a contemporary floor lamp. The space remains soft and personal with a collection of objects from consignment stores.
Blanket: Z Gallerie; floor lamp: Lamps Plus; curtains: JCPenney
Blanket: Z Gallerie; floor lamp: Lamps Plus; curtains: JCPenney
The dark, traditional sofa was reupholstered in an unexpected snakeskin- print velvet, kicking off a new vibe in the formal living area.
Cindy keeps collections of beach books and shells as reminders of her coastal upbringing in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Pillows: My Habit
Cindy keeps collections of beach books and shells as reminders of her coastal upbringing in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Pillows: My Habit
Cindy fell in love with an octopus triptych at a design show. Realizing that the price of the original was beyond what she was willing to spend, she asked her daughter to create a similar series in pastels. It is displayed proudly in her entryway above a contemporary console table and updated light fixture.
Red accents in the kitchen stand out against the soft tones of the ceramic floor tiles and the glass and stone mosaic backsplash. Cindy added touches of red to her bubble glass-front cabinets via handkerchiefs.
Red leather bar stool: Crate and Barrel; fruit bowl: Z Gallerie; light fixture: Lamps Plus
Red leather bar stool: Crate and Barrel; fruit bowl: Z Gallerie; light fixture: Lamps Plus
The red accents from the kitchen carry over to the breakfast and study area, outfitted with a red leather desk chair. Cindy mounted graphic curtains at ceiling height to draw the eye up. An old birdcage displays her cactus and succulent collection.
Red leather desk chair: Crate and Barrel; breakfast room table: Macy's; curtains: JCPenney
Red leather desk chair: Crate and Barrel; breakfast room table: Macy's; curtains: JCPenney
Although their tastes have evolved beyond this 1970s bamboo dining set, Cindy and Jeff weren't willing to part with it, as it was the first big purchase they made after getting married more than 38 years ago. Instead, Cindy reupholstered the seat cushions and added a new area rug. She also traded out the heavy velvet draperies for these tailored window treatments.
Curtains: JCPenney; area rug: Lowes
Curtains: JCPenney; area rug: Lowes
A family friend created this 7-foot-tall metal sculpture hanging in front of Cindy and Jeff's staircase. They use magnets to display and rotate photographs of their two daughters.
The sunny yellow guest bedroom "just makes me happy," Cindy says. True to her Southern roots, she often sits in this room with a good book and a glass of sweet ices tea.
The couple's daughter painted the flower mural and made the curtains.
The couple's daughter painted the flower mural and made the curtains.
In the game room, a handcrafted pool table sits below classic Tiffany bar lights. Cindy and Jeff display framed collages of the dozens of Broadway plays they have attended over the years. Glass floater frames linked together with chain and S-hooks showcase their daughters' artwork, beautifully backlit by the windows.
Advice from Cindy and Jeff: Don't stress too much over decorating, and just find things that make you happy. Most of all, don't make purchases just to finish a project. It is better to leave a hole in the decorating for a bit while searching for that perfect piece instead of wasting money on a placeholder.
Houzz call: Do you have a creative home? Share it with us!
Houzz call: Do you have a creative home? Share it with us!
Cindy also added wall-mounted votive holders, which she uses to showcase her betta fish. "It's one of those things that every visitor comments on," she says.
Vase: Glashaus in Wertheim, Germany; coffee table: Cantoni; shag rug: West Elm; pyramid table: custom from copper artist