My Houzz: Renovated 1950s Family Home in Texas
A complete overhaul reinvents a dark midcentury home, leaving a cool color palette, an open layout and a nursery splurge in its wake
Originally a dark, wood-paneled and closed-off space, this home in Dallas was purchased by Ryan and Paulette Bock, who had big plans in mind. The typical 1950s layout wasn't conducive to their lifestyle, so they prepared for a full remodel. "We were determined to turn this midcentury-style home into something unique," Paulette says.
Comfort and ease were vital for this fun-loving and laid-back couple. “I like things that make me feel good, and that is really what drove the design," she says. So with Ryan serving as the general contractor, and with the help of architect and friend Keith Weik, the two created their dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ryan and Paulette Bock, baby daughter Ava, cat Jade and dog Hannah
Location: Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Comfort and ease were vital for this fun-loving and laid-back couple. “I like things that make me feel good, and that is really what drove the design," she says. So with Ryan serving as the general contractor, and with the help of architect and friend Keith Weik, the two created their dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ryan and Paulette Bock, baby daughter Ava, cat Jade and dog Hannah
Location: Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
The kitchen was gutted and remodeled into a bright and open space. "Now it's one of our favorite rooms," Paulette says. "We handpicked everything, and it's the center of the house."
"We're always in here," Ryan adds. "So it was important for us to make it our own."
Paulette made the curtains above the kitchen sink from a Target shower curtain. "I looked for a cool pattern, and since the top of the curtain was already complete, all I had to do is cut it in half and adjust the length," she says.
"We're always in here," Ryan adds. "So it was important for us to make it our own."
Paulette made the curtains above the kitchen sink from a Target shower curtain. "I looked for a cool pattern, and since the top of the curtain was already complete, all I had to do is cut it in half and adjust the length," she says.
Ryan calls the cabinets above the refrigerator "Paulette's graveyard." She says, "I've made mistakes in the past when I tried to step out of my comfort zone with color and pattern, only to quickly retire those items to my graveyard."
All of the kitchen appliances, including a double oven, a wine fridge, a microwave (on the other side of the island) and a commercial refrigerator and freezer, are from Frigidaire.
Pendant lighting: Lowe's
All of the kitchen appliances, including a double oven, a wine fridge, a microwave (on the other side of the island) and a commercial refrigerator and freezer, are from Frigidaire.
Pendant lighting: Lowe's
Glass doors from the great room lead into a new home office space, which had been a formal dining room.
The home office is next on their list of upgrades. Light gray, greens, whites and neutrals are Paulette's favorite colors and are found in this space and throughout the home. "I could roll around in sea-foam green," she says.
Desk, console, storage tower: Crate & Barrel; desk chair: Sam's Club; artwork: World Market; paint: Smoke Infusion, Valspar
Desk, console, storage tower: Crate & Barrel; desk chair: Sam's Club; artwork: World Market; paint: Smoke Infusion, Valspar
One of the couple's biggest challenges was the former mudroom, which they renovated into a powder room. The original floor was a concrete slab that sloped away from the house. They replaced the concrete with a wood-framed subfloor to tie it into the rest of the house.
They also discovered a false ceiling in the existing mudroom, so they added nine courses of brick to the wall to bring it to the new ceiling level.
Sconces, mirror: Home Depot; vanity: Nadeau; sink: Kohler
They also discovered a false ceiling in the existing mudroom, so they added nine courses of brick to the wall to bring it to the new ceiling level.
Sconces, mirror: Home Depot; vanity: Nadeau; sink: Kohler
Originally, the entire living room was had wood paneling.
Sectional: Macy's; ottoman: West Elm; painting: Z Gallerie
Sectional: Macy's; ottoman: West Elm; painting: Z Gallerie
Paulette and Ryan removed all the wood paneling, replaced the millwork (one unit used to serve as a gun rack), painted the mantel and fireplace surround a bright white, and used dark gray as a dramatic accent.
"We redesigned the bookshelves to have an inset cabinet door, much like our kitchen," Ryan says.
Lounge chairs: Crate & Barrel; lamp, wire side table, fireplace accessories: Dulce Consignment; brick paint: Stone Mason Gray, Valspar
"We redesigned the bookshelves to have an inset cabinet door, much like our kitchen," Ryan says.
Lounge chairs: Crate & Barrel; lamp, wire side table, fireplace accessories: Dulce Consignment; brick paint: Stone Mason Gray, Valspar
Paulette designed Ava's nursery and considers it one of their latest splurges. "I started off wanting her entire nursery to include shades of white and cream, since I wanted it to mimic a spa," she says. She layered in colorful accents while still making the space feel serene, relaxing and girly.
Ava loves to wear tutus, which add color to the little fashionista's closet.
Chandelier: Lamps Plus; crib: Burlington Coat Factory; rocker: Pottery Barn Kids; paper lanterns, crib bedding: Etsy
Ava loves to wear tutus, which add color to the little fashionista's closet.
Chandelier: Lamps Plus; crib: Burlington Coat Factory; rocker: Pottery Barn Kids; paper lanterns, crib bedding: Etsy
"I believe her room turned out perfect for our perfect baby girl," Paulette says.
She swapped out the existing hardware on a Hemnes Ikea dresser with pretty pink ones found at Target. The "Ava" wall decal was custom ordered from Etsy, one of Paulette's favorite sites to shop for the nursery.
Paint: Sweet Leaf, Valspar
She swapped out the existing hardware on a Hemnes Ikea dresser with pretty pink ones found at Target. The "Ava" wall decal was custom ordered from Etsy, one of Paulette's favorite sites to shop for the nursery.
Paint: Sweet Leaf, Valspar
Ava's bathroom was ready way before she even arrived, including the cotton-candy-pink tile. The couple decided not to renovate this original bathroom.
Paint: Seashell Gray, Valspar
Paint: Seashell Gray, Valspar
Paulette has her eyes on replacing their current bedding with the Soho collection from Natori. "It's glamorous, chic, relaxing, serene and textural, and I don't think I'll ever get tired or bored with the pattern," she says.
The master bedroom is one of their dog's favorite rooms. She enjoys sleeping almost every night on a bench from Dallas consignment shop Dulce.
Bed, nightstands, tall dresser: Bassett Furniture; lamps: Target; paint: Pewter Tray, Behr
The master bedroom is one of their dog's favorite rooms. She enjoys sleeping almost every night on a bench from Dallas consignment shop Dulce.
Bed, nightstands, tall dresser: Bassett Furniture; lamps: Target; paint: Pewter Tray, Behr
The master bathroom was gutted so the couple could start their design with a blank slate. They chose an all-white palette, adding new cabinets and an Arabescato marble countertop. Remnant pieces from the Arabescato marble slab were used in the window sills flanking the mirror and as a transition strip on the threshold of the bathroom entrance.
Accessories: Target, Pier 1 Imports; sconces: Lightology;
paint: Wave's Crest, Valspar
Accessories: Target, Pier 1 Imports; sconces: Lightology;
paint: Wave's Crest, Valspar
Paulette's solution to Jade's unsightly litter box was to keep it out of sight with a door installed in a utility closet. "Unfortunately, it backfired on us because she is a 14-year-old ninny who loves the warmth and now spends all of her day hanging out in that warm room," Paulette says. "Now she only comes out in the evenings and when it's time to go to bed, with Mom and Dad of course!"
Here, you can see Jade exiting her room through a cat door in the pantry.
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
Here, you can see Jade exiting her room through a cat door in the pantry.
Houzz call: Do you have a creative, modern home? Share it with us!
The dining table is one of Paulette's biggest scores, given to her by a friend.
Chandelier: West Elm; dining chairs: Overstock.com; paint: Polar Star,Valspar