Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Dallas Cottage Expands Into a Live-Work Home
A renovation and an addition transform an investment project into a home and office for 3 business partners
Real estate developer Mitch Lee never intended to live in what was initially a flip project, nor did he think it would become a live-work space. But then his business partner Ross Boorhem moved into the house. And after the real estate crash in 2009, Lee and his longtime partner, Randall Oxford, moved in as well, to survive the crunch.
The three found themselves looking at the home in a new light. “We thought, ‘Well, we’re all business partners — we own our business and houses together, so why not make this house bigger and save?’” Lee says. They created a live-work space in two phases and dramatically transformed the two-bedroom cottage into a spacious four-bedroom house with two master suites.
The three found themselves looking at the home in a new light. “We thought, ‘Well, we’re all business partners — we own our business and houses together, so why not make this house bigger and save?’” Lee says. They created a live-work space in two phases and dramatically transformed the two-bedroom cottage into a spacious four-bedroom house with two master suites.
AFTER: The house, now with two stories and four bedrooms and baths, has 3,400 square feet of space for living and working.
Lee loves midcentury modern style but wanted the facade to blend into the neighborhood. The new traditional-style exterior fits in well with neighboring homes, especially since they used the same brick on the second-floor facade. During the first phase in 2009, they remodeled the original house, replacing the wiring, plumbing, HVAC and roof, and adding a master bedroom and bathroom.
The second phase, undertaken in 2015, was the second-story addition, which doubled the square footage. “The second phase took a year to complete because our clients came first,” Lee says. “I think our neighbors really like what we did. It’s big, but it’s not like an obtrusive mansion.”
Lee loves midcentury modern style but wanted the facade to blend into the neighborhood. The new traditional-style exterior fits in well with neighboring homes, especially since they used the same brick on the second-floor facade. During the first phase in 2009, they remodeled the original house, replacing the wiring, plumbing, HVAC and roof, and adding a master bedroom and bathroom.
The second phase, undertaken in 2015, was the second-story addition, which doubled the square footage. “The second phase took a year to complete because our clients came first,” Lee says. “I think our neighbors really like what we did. It’s big, but it’s not like an obtrusive mansion.”
Lee had the Elan 8 smart house system installed. It controls many of the home’s elements, including the indoor and outdoor lighting. “From my tablet or phone, I can turn on any television in the house and even control the shades,” he says.
The updated home includes wood floors throughout.
Coffee table and teak cubes: Big Mango Trading Co.
The updated home includes wood floors throughout.
Coffee table and teak cubes: Big Mango Trading Co.
The home is filled with art, including paintings, sculpture, pottery and African masks. “We have an eclectic art collection,” Lee says. “We’ve been gathering for about 30 years.”
A large Arthur Blanchard painting accents the staircase leading upstairs.
The second level includes two bedrooms, a media room and a home office.
A collection of vintage 1950s Roseville pottery is backlit on the bookshelves next to the hall to the office. The owners used indirect LED lighting, which minimizes glare.
The compact kitchen even houses a 48-inch commercial range, which was a requirement for the three owners.
The owners ended up reducing the size of the original kitchen but reworked the layout, leaving it open to the living area.
Helen, one of the owners’ three dogs, rests in one of the master suites. The neutral color tones of the bedrooms help highlight the colorful art above the beds.
Eames lounge chair and ottoman: Herman Miller; art: Clementine Hunter
Eames lounge chair and ottoman: Herman Miller; art: Clementine Hunter
The custom beds were designed by the owners and made by Kisabeth Furniture.
Two custom LED mirrors accent the floating vanity. The tile floor is heated.
Barcelona free-standing tub: Victoria + Albert
Barcelona free-standing tub: Victoria + Albert
The owners were able to creatively maximize their space even on a 50-by-150-foot lot. “Instead of building within the original footprint of the house,” Lee says, “we cantilevered out for the bedrooms and office, which created three outdoor living areas.”
The home office overhang forms a covered grilling area, perfect for entertaining guests.
A seating area with a large fireplace sits in front of a heated pool.
Rasmussen fire balls: Woodland Direct
Rasmussen fire balls: Woodland Direct
A rainwater collection system to water flower beds and pots sits to the side of the house. Instead of hiding the 2,500-gallon cistern, the metal surface against the wood adds to the rustic-industrial charm of the new exterior.
“I got my obsession for gardening from my grandmother,” Lee says. “Back in the 1960s, she caught rainwater in garbage cans from her gutters to water all of her pots.”
“I got my obsession for gardening from my grandmother,” Lee says. “Back in the 1960s, she caught rainwater in garbage cans from her gutters to water all of her pots.”
As both owners and builders, Lee, pictured here, and his business partners were able to create a home reflecting their personal styles while meeting their functional needs.
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
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: Mitch Lee, Randall Oxford and Ross Boorhem of ArTex Development and three dogs: Helen, a Lab-terrier mix; Maggie, a teacup Yorkie; and Betty, a schnoodle
Location: Dallas
Size: 3,400 square feet (316 square meters); four bedrooms, four bathrooms
BEFORE: The one-story brick home, built in 1953, was 1,000 square feet, with two bedrooms and one bathroom.