Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Modern Simplicity in Dallas
Industrial details, Zen-like spaces and an airy design are part of a new home built with green living in mind
Frank and Kathy Zerangue were ready for a big change when they moved out of their longtime family home in 2013. The retired couple wanted something simple and modern. They were also committed to making ecologically sound design choices. “Our tastes and needs had changed over the years, and this was our opportunity for a fresh start,” Frank says.
The Zerangues decided on a new build in Dallas’ Urban Reserve, an intentional community built with green living in mind. Diane Cheatham, chief executive of Urban Edge Developers, developed the 50-home enclave with the goal of creating a development that brings together modern design, access to nature, respect for the environment and a beautiful location close to downtown Dallas.
The Zerangues decided on a new build in Dallas’ Urban Reserve, an intentional community built with green living in mind. Diane Cheatham, chief executive of Urban Edge Developers, developed the 50-home enclave with the goal of creating a development that brings together modern design, access to nature, respect for the environment and a beautiful location close to downtown Dallas.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the entire first floor with natural light, which means that the couple rarely turns on lights during the day. The window covers are all connected to a remote system so that they can better control the home’s temperature. Continuous concrete floors unite the rooms.
The house is set on a very narrow lot that backs up to a lush creek. A massive glass wall separates the home from a manicured lawn that runs the entire length of the house.
The couple enjoy having their family over for meals, so a large, good-quality custom dining table was the natural first furniture purchase. The couple is currently working with interior design consultant Tathienne Thiele to select wall color, furniture and artwork as they more fully inhabit the new space.
Chairs: Bernhard, Ikea
Chairs: Bernhard, Ikea
Nimmo wanted to highlight the form and function of the home by exposing structural elements as aesthetic design choices. As an example, steel foundation supports can be seen at equally spaced intervals across the concrete floor.
The front door opens to a small foyer where a modern wood console table is paired with calming abstract art. “I love walking in my front door and being able to see straight to the back of the house,” Frank says.
An airy staircase tucked near the entrance to the home connects the two floors. Frank is a retired electrical engineer and was very involved in the design process for his new home. In fact, the prospect of creating high-design green homes has attracted other local architects to the Urban Reserve. Developer Diane Cheatham says, “We have seven architects on this street that have bought lots and built their own houses.”
All three bedrooms are on the top floor. They can either be open to each other or separated by sliding doors that are attached to tracks on the ceiling. Kathy has a small desk situated at top of the staircase landing, where she enjoys a beautiful view of the treetop-lined creek.
The Zerangues hung on to a few furniture pieces from their old house, such as their bedroom set. “We’ll update it if we need to, but for now we like how the old is mixing with the new,” Frank says. All of the upstairs bedrooms enjoy warm hardwood floors and receive beautiful natural light.
The narrow master bathroom vanity is situated between a walk-in shower and the couple’s walk-in closet.
Vanities: Ikea
Vanities: Ikea
The home is equipped with a water catchment system. Water conservation is a cornerstone of the concept for the Urban Reserve community. The landscape is designed to operate as an environmental filter. There is only one downspout on the house. Water from the roof collects at this single rain chain.
Water that is captured via the rain chain, as well as runoff from the purposely graded landscape, is directed into rain gardens that line the street edge. The rain gardens filter the water and are designed to move it along into holding ponds. Wetland plants in these ponds further improve water quality. This water is then distributed throughout the communitywide landscaping via subsurface irrigation.
Water that is captured via the rain chain, as well as runoff from the purposely graded landscape, is directed into rain gardens that line the street edge. The rain gardens filter the water and are designed to move it along into holding ponds. Wetland plants in these ponds further improve water quality. This water is then distributed throughout the communitywide landscaping via subsurface irrigation.
A modern fence and planters containing low-water agave line the back patio. The wooded ravine and creek behind the couple’s house is also a throughway for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Public transportation is readily accessible to this neighborhood. Every 10 minutes or so, a yellow train quietly whizzes by the property.
The exterior walls of the house boast a wonderful mishmash of textures and materials. Glass, steel, stone and sheet metal are juxtaposed with blue skies, green grass and the constant motion of trees in the ravine below, giving this modern home its own industrial-Zen vibe.
Kathy and Frank, pictured, are excited for this new chapter in life. “Simplifying our home has allowed us to simplify our life,” Frank says. “And that makes us happy.”
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.
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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: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Frank and Kathy Zerangue
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 2,100 square feet (195 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
The house was designed by architect Joshua Nimmo. The main floor features a completely open floor plan with the kitchen, dining and living spaces flowing seamlessly from one space to another. The kitchen is small, but well-appointed and makes maximum use of the space.
Kitchen cabinetry: Ikea