My Houzz: A Circle of Friends Turns a Dallas House Into a Home
Homeowners enlist help from friends to remodel, build an addition and decorate their home
Sarah Greenman
April 13, 2015
Beth Arnold knows a good house when she sees one. As a real estate agent, she and her business partner, Amy Timmerman, are always looking for diamonds in the rough. “Amy likes to leave ‘love notes’ for owners whose homes are not currently on the market, encouraging them to let her know if they ever want to sell,” says Arnold.
So Arnold and her husband, Jonathan, were pleased when one of Amy’s love notes ended up leading them to their current home. The couple loved the quintessential Southern-style front porch and charming farmhouse vibe. The fact that the home needed a complete renovation didn’t scare them. “We have some really talented friends who we knew would help us create our ‘forever home,’” says Arnold. They turned to Brent Timmerman of Timmerman Development for their remodel and Lynsey Purl of French Hobo Designs for their interiors. “Brent and Lynsey have full credit for making our home look and feel as good as it does,” says Arnold.
So Arnold and her husband, Jonathan, were pleased when one of Amy’s love notes ended up leading them to their current home. The couple loved the quintessential Southern-style front porch and charming farmhouse vibe. The fact that the home needed a complete renovation didn’t scare them. “We have some really talented friends who we knew would help us create our ‘forever home,’” says Arnold. They turned to Brent Timmerman of Timmerman Development for their remodel and Lynsey Purl of French Hobo Designs for their interiors. “Brent and Lynsey have full credit for making our home look and feel as good as it does,” says Arnold.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jonathan and Beth Arnold; their sons, Jacob (age 4) and Hank (10 months); and their golden retriever, Gracie
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 3,100 square feet (288 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 3½ baths
Arnold knew her style — bold and a little rustic — but when it came to decorating an entire home after the birth of her second child, she also knew she needed help. The Arnolds hired neighborhood friend Purl to create a beautiful and functional interior. “She took furniture, art and pieces that were important or family pieces and incorporated them with pieces she chose, beautiful vintage items, new soft linens, pillows and bright shiny accents as well as gold/copper accents to really bring out the ‘pretty’ in my rustic, vintage home,” says Arnold. “My decorating philosophy is to call Lynsey. She has completely made this house into a home.”
The formal sitting room features a distressed white buffet. Arnold says, “Lynsey knew we needed a big piece to offset my old ship-door coffee table and balance out the room.” The coffee table is a family heirloom made from a door of the SS Jonathan Grout, a World War II Liberty ship. The table was previously owned by Arnold’s parents.
Buffet: City View Antique Mall; throw pillows: HomeGoods
Who lives here: Jonathan and Beth Arnold; their sons, Jacob (age 4) and Hank (10 months); and their golden retriever, Gracie
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 3,100 square feet (288 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 3½ baths
Arnold knew her style — bold and a little rustic — but when it came to decorating an entire home after the birth of her second child, she also knew she needed help. The Arnolds hired neighborhood friend Purl to create a beautiful and functional interior. “She took furniture, art and pieces that were important or family pieces and incorporated them with pieces she chose, beautiful vintage items, new soft linens, pillows and bright shiny accents as well as gold/copper accents to really bring out the ‘pretty’ in my rustic, vintage home,” says Arnold. “My decorating philosophy is to call Lynsey. She has completely made this house into a home.”
The formal sitting room features a distressed white buffet. Arnold says, “Lynsey knew we needed a big piece to offset my old ship-door coffee table and balance out the room.” The coffee table is a family heirloom made from a door of the SS Jonathan Grout, a World War II Liberty ship. The table was previously owned by Arnold’s parents.
Buffet: City View Antique Mall; throw pillows: HomeGoods
The two white chairs that have the places of honor in the dining room belonged to Jonathan’s grandmother. The scraped reclaimed-maple hardwood floors were inspired by photos Arnold found on Houzz. They’re made of old basketball gym floors that had black and red lines painted on them.
Table: Weirs Furniture; wall paint: Marshmallow, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
Table: Weirs Furniture; wall paint: Marshmallow, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
A honey-colored piano, purchased from the previous homeowners, rests on the wall opposite the buffet. The painting above is one of many horse-related decorative items found throughout the home. Arnold says, “Lynsey noticed my love of horses and kept an underlying equestrian theme that really takes you from one room to the next and makes it all feel like one whole house instead of a bunch of separate rooms.”
A bright entryway is flanked on either side by the sitting room (right) and family room (left). The foyer, living room and sunroom all feature original brick floors, which the Arnolds made sure to keep. The foyer also has a small half bath to the right and stairs leading to the bedrooms.
Mirrored cabinet: Tuesday Morning
Mirrored cabinet: Tuesday Morning
The Arnolds purchased the home in March 2014, and the remodel began at the beginning of April. They were unable to move into the house until the five-month-long remodel was finished, in October. Arnold says that remodels are always tough, but when she thinks of how much has been accomplished here, she is “totally blown away.”
The accent chairs on either side of the console were purchased for $10 via a resale page on Facebook. Purl re-covered the seats in a blue ikat-patterned fabric.
The accent chairs on either side of the console were purchased for $10 via a resale page on Facebook. Purl re-covered the seats in a blue ikat-patterned fabric.
The family room boasts a large fireplace, original brick floors and a farm-style door to the backyard. Arnold chose a slate blue tile for the fireplace face, and Timmerman created the brass crossbar fire screen.
Accent chairs like the one in the corner are placed around the house since, in Arnold’s words, she wanted “comfortable places to perch.”
Clock: HomeGoods; hearth tiles: SenecaBrick tile in Select Bermuda, French-Brown
Accent chairs like the one in the corner are placed around the house since, in Arnold’s words, she wanted “comfortable places to perch.”
Clock: HomeGoods; hearth tiles: SenecaBrick tile in Select Bermuda, French-Brown
A framed American flag and wooden eagle, both handed down by Arnold’s grandmother, Joyce Williams, hang in a central place in the family room. Arnold says, “In my grandmother’s later years, she lived with her sister, Maxine. They loved that eagle and had it hanging above their mantel. When happy-hour time hit, they would sit with their cocktails and raise their glasses to the eagle and say, ‘The eagle has landed’ in their most darling Southern accents.”
Leather sectional: Galaxy, Haverty’s
Leather sectional: Galaxy, Haverty’s
Vintage pieces with rustic elements are sprinkled all over the house. A wooden shelf unit from White Elephant Antiques Warehouse, in Dallas’ Design District, houses photos and mementos. Purl found the antique church pew, which is from England, via the Park Cities Online Yard Sale Facebook page.
“Everything good happens in the kitchen,” says Arnold. The couple’s wish list for the kitchen included bright white cabinetry, scraped maple floors and an airy feel.
Arnold purchased the pendant light through a vendor on Houzz. She says, “I originally purchased it for over the kitchen table. When it arrived I decided it was too small for that but I couldn’t live without it, so it found its home over the sink.”
Pendant light: Goshen Hanging Lamp
Arnold purchased the pendant light through a vendor on Houzz. She says, “I originally purchased it for over the kitchen table. When it arrived I decided it was too small for that but I couldn’t live without it, so it found its home over the sink.”
Pendant light: Goshen Hanging Lamp
The white cabinets are paired with arabesque-shaped tile on the backsplash. Arnold’s favorite at-home thing to do is cook, so the kitchen not only had to be functional and easy to clean but also beautiful and relaxing.
Backsplash tile: Barossa Valley Crystal Glass in Smoke, Maniscalco
Backsplash tile: Barossa Valley Crystal Glass in Smoke, Maniscalco
The kitchen also has an eat-in area with a serving bar that contains a wine fridge. A mix of vintage and new plates hangs above the table as a nod to traditional farmhouse style.
Arnold got the kitchen table for free from a friend and sanded it down, then painted it in a deep chocolate brown, topped by a couple of coats of white paint. She then created a rustic look by roughing the table up with her sander to give it a vintage patina.
Chairs: Pier 1 Imports
Arnold got the kitchen table for free from a friend and sanded it down, then painted it in a deep chocolate brown, topped by a couple of coats of white paint. She then created a rustic look by roughing the table up with her sander to give it a vintage patina.
Chairs: Pier 1 Imports
Timmerman Development remodeled the interior and exterior of the house and added about 400 square feet for the master bedroom, bathroom and closet. “I truly adore our master bedroom and bathroom,” says Arnold. “It’s a sanctuary, so peaceful and light. It’s a really relaxing and quiet place in our home.”
Arnold found the side tables at an antiques shop in Rockwall, Texas, and via a local Facebook resale page. She says, “I love that they don’t match but that painting them both the same color makes it work.”
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams; headboard: Tuesday Morning; bedding: Steinmart
Arnold found the side tables at an antiques shop in Rockwall, Texas, and via a local Facebook resale page. She says, “I love that they don’t match but that painting them both the same color makes it work.”
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams; headboard: Tuesday Morning; bedding: Steinmart
For the master bath, the couple splurged on Carrara marble for the surfaces, which Timmerman laid in a herringbone pattern.
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams; tub, fixtures: Signature Hardware
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams; tub, fixtures: Signature Hardware
Equestrian-themed accents include this blue watercolor in the master bath. “Growing up, my mom rode horses. She also took my brother and I to a horse riding camp for several summers, and I grew to have a love of horses,” Arnold says. “Someday I hope to own land and have at least three of them. They’re beautiful, majestic and calming.”
Mirrored table: HomeGoods
Mirrored table: HomeGoods
Four-year-old Jacob’s room is kept simple and functional with a wooden bunk bed that Arnold bought via a local resale Facebook page. The traditional hook rug is from Pottery Barn.
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
A long hallway leads to 10-month-old Hank’s nursery and a guest bedroom and bath. The long runner was purchased on eBay specifically for the space. Hank’s Jenny Lind–style crib was free from a friend.
Nursery wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Nursery wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Arnold can’t help but gush over her new home and neighborhood. “I love everything about Lake Highlands,” she says. “We have made such wonderful family friends since moving to this home. It’s exactly what we hoped for. I can’t imagine raising our boys anywhere else in Dallas.”
Exterior paint: Wool Skein, Sherwin-Williams; shutter paint: Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball
Exterior paint: Wool Skein, Sherwin-Williams; shutter paint: Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball
Arnold and Gracie curl up in the family room for a quick photo before the kids come home. “I’m so grateful to have had the support of neighbors and friends in making this home a reality,” she says. “Now it’s time to start making some memories.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
T. Walton Carr, Architects is a full-service Architecture firm based in Ohio. The firm specializes in customized... Read More
What are you working on?
Related Products
Related Stories
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Boston Pied-à-Terre Designed for Evenings
By Becky Harris
A designer found on Houzz infuses a condo with a sultry vibe inspired by supper clubs and luxe boutique hotels
Full Story
Guesthouses
Houzz Tour: Light-Filled 704-Square-Foot Modern Cottage
By Becky Harris
An architect and a designer create a light and airy feel, cozied up by layers of textures
Full Story
Outbuildings
Family Gatherings in Argentina Inspire a Pavilion and Guesthouse
By Becky Harris
A new yard adds room for hosting, swimming and bringing part of one homeowner’s culture to her family’s Seattle home
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Houzz Tour: Organic Style on an Avocado Ranch
By Becky Harris
A designer uses a soft neutral palette, handmade tile and reclaimed wood to update a 1980s contemporary home
Full Story
Transitional Homes
Houzz Tour: Elegant, Earthy Ranch House for an Empty-Nest Couple
Design styles, warm neutral colors and special details blend in a Minnesota ranch-style house with a finished basement
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Colorado Forever Home Is a Family Affair
By Becky Harris
The mountain home was designed for gatherings and to make the most of views of Pikes Peak and surroundings
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Open and Inviting Mountain Home Near Lake Tahoe
By Becky Harris
A designer creates a warmly minimalist California getaway that can stand up to snow and mud
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Period Home Gains Color and Character
By Kate Burt
Before-and-after photos show how a bold palette and restored features bring warmth and personality to this English house
Full Story
Modern Homes
Houzz Tour: New Home Gets a Midcentury Modern Makeover
By Julie Sheer
A designer in Boston reworks the kitchen and primary suite and adds style with furnishings, lighting and more
Full Story
Barn Homes
Houzz Tour: Old Barns Become an Airy, Modern-Rustic Home
A barn home in Devon, England, sits lightly on the land and offers simple, relaxing spaces for an extended family
Full Story
lovely home ideas, cant wait...
Just want to agree with the "if you don't have something nice to say" comment and add... It is so rude, ignorant, narrow-minded, and mean to criticize someone else's space, particularly when they have been kind enough, and proud enough of it, to be sharing it for all to see. It's not an item for sale or a recipe where honest ratings warn someone not to buy or try. It's not a contest where you are voting for your favorite. The negative comments serve no purpose other than to insult and make someone feel bad. Besides that, it would be a dull world if every house was built and decorated to your taste, wouldn't it? This house is lovely and lovingly decorated to the owner's taste, and that is something to be appreciated whether you love it for yourself or not.