Texas Houzz: A New Country House With Timeless Style
When a family found the perfect interior designer on Houzz to craft their dreamy country home, the rest was history
Suzanne Ennis
23 April 2022
Houzz Editorial Staff. I write about all aspects of home design and remodeling, but I have soft spots for historic homes, California modernism and lakefront cabins.
Houzz Editorial Staff. I write about all aspects of home design and remodeling, but... More
KK and Ryan McKenzie are Texas natives with strong family connections to the city of Sulphur Springs, which sits an hour and a half east of Dallas in Texas, USA. So it made sense that when it was time to build a home for themselves and their three daughters, they chose to put it on 50 acres of rolling pasture and scattered forest right on the edge of town. First, they found Mark Hoesterey of SHM Architects to design a spacious two-story residence that tips its hat to the old farmhouses dotting the region. Then the ball really got rolling when KK found her aesthetic kindred spirit – interior designer Sommer Tate of Folkway Design & Wares – on Houzz.
Over the year that followed, the fellow antiques collectors worked together to fill the home with well-worn treasures and hardworking surfaces that will develop a beautiful patina with age. Their aim was to cultivate a cosy country-house look and feel, where nothing is too precious or pristine. “It’s just going to wear like an old house would,” says Tate. “It’s going to have those signs of life in it.”
Over the year that followed, the fellow antiques collectors worked together to fill the home with well-worn treasures and hardworking surfaces that will develop a beautiful patina with age. Their aim was to cultivate a cosy country-house look and feel, where nothing is too precious or pristine. “It’s just going to wear like an old house would,” says Tate. “It’s going to have those signs of life in it.”
Photos by Melinda Ortley.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: KK and Ryan McKenzie; their three daughters; and their English bulldog, Greta
Location: Texas, USA
Size: Four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a guest house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Architecture: Mark Hoesterey of SHM Architects
Interior design: Sommer Tate of Folkway Design & Wares
Builder: Jeremy Durrett of Durrett Homes
KK found Tate towards the end of finalising the home plans, so Tate was able to get involved from the ground up. “We worked on Houzz … and pulled a lot of different designs and pictures and made boards to home in on exactly the look that we were going to settle on,” says Tate.
They chose double front doors custom-made from raw cypress, a wood prized for its durability and rustic character. The home’s white siding is smooth fibre cement, and the chimney’s stone is a facsimile of Pennsylvania fieldstone, which wasn’t readily available in north-eastern Texas. A Dallas mason found by builder Jeremy Durrett of Durrett Homes artfully weathered the stone to get the look they wanted.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: KK and Ryan McKenzie; their three daughters; and their English bulldog, Greta
Location: Texas, USA
Size: Four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a guest house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Architecture: Mark Hoesterey of SHM Architects
Interior design: Sommer Tate of Folkway Design & Wares
Builder: Jeremy Durrett of Durrett Homes
KK found Tate towards the end of finalising the home plans, so Tate was able to get involved from the ground up. “We worked on Houzz … and pulled a lot of different designs and pictures and made boards to home in on exactly the look that we were going to settle on,” says Tate.
They chose double front doors custom-made from raw cypress, a wood prized for its durability and rustic character. The home’s white siding is smooth fibre cement, and the chimney’s stone is a facsimile of Pennsylvania fieldstone, which wasn’t readily available in north-eastern Texas. A Dallas mason found by builder Jeremy Durrett of Durrett Homes artfully weathered the stone to get the look they wanted.
A standing-seam metal roof covers an assortment of teak and wicker furniture on the front porch, and a copper gas lantern hangs from the ceiling.
In a matter of months, a new orange-toned teak table and chairs weathered to a handsome silver.
The eclectic yet intentional look of the porch’s furniture mix continues throughout the house. “We really wanted it to have a feeling of being collected,” says Tate. “We wanted it to feel comfortable and welcoming and lived-in.”
Searching for a professional to design your home? Find an interior designer near you who shares your style
The eclectic yet intentional look of the porch’s furniture mix continues throughout the house. “We really wanted it to have a feeling of being collected,” says Tate. “We wanted it to feel comfortable and welcoming and lived-in.”
Searching for a professional to design your home? Find an interior designer near you who shares your style
A screened porch runs along the back of the house, with a TV and casual seating at one end. Sweet as it may look, the porch is a tough match for the elements. “The mosquitoes are horrible here,” says Tate. “It gets hot, so there are fans. And it gets cold, so they have infrared heaters. You really kind of need all of that here to be comfortable.”
The family is very active in the community, so ample entertaining space was a priority. A dining table from the owners’ previous home is ready to welcome all visitors.
The far end of the porch is Ryan’s domain, according to Tate. He requested the custom barbecue-smoker at the get-go, and Tate designed the outdoor kitchen around it. A second barbecue with a large range hood and a refrigerator (not pictured here) are also included in the alfresco kitchen. The floors are ipe timber and the benchtops are concrete-look.
The front doors open to a living room decorated with an antique hutch found on one of the team’s treasure hunts. Its shelves are filled with old books and family silver.
On the largest windows, off-the-rack curtains hang from iron rods, some off-the-rack and some custom-forged. Here, Tate paired them with a coordinating linen-slipcovered couch and chairs. The walls and ceilings in this room (as well as in the main bedroom and kitchen) are lime-washed, which gives them a romantic, old-world patina.
On the largest windows, off-the-rack curtains hang from iron rods, some off-the-rack and some custom-forged. Here, Tate paired them with a coordinating linen-slipcovered couch and chairs. The walls and ceilings in this room (as well as in the main bedroom and kitchen) are lime-washed, which gives them a romantic, old-world patina.
In addition to displaying heirlooms from KK’s mother and grandmother, Tate and KK scoured antiques stores and markets, including Texas’ famous Round Top Antiques Fair, to find much of the furniture and art throughout the home. Each woman shared photos of her finds so the other could weigh in.
For both, provenance mattered less than charm. “One thing we both love is picking up art,” says Tate. “As long as you’re drawn to it and you love it, it doesn’t really matter if it’s expensive or not.”
For both, provenance mattered less than charm. “One thing we both love is picking up art,” says Tate. “As long as you’re drawn to it and you love it, it doesn’t really matter if it’s expensive or not.”
Beams used throughout the house came from a professional from Fort Worth, Texas, who travels the north-eastern USA and Canada to reclaim wood from old structures. “They’ll be there for another hundred years,” says Tate.
The floors are reclaimed French oak. The custom linen Roman blinds above the window seat were made locally.
The floors are reclaimed French oak. The custom linen Roman blinds above the window seat were made locally.
The fireplace surround is fibre-cement board, the same material as the home’s siding. It’s fire-resistant, so they were able to install it right up to the edge of the fireplace.
On the floor in front of the fireplace is one of several of the home’s antique or vintage Oushak rugs.
On the floor in front of the fireplace is one of several of the home’s antique or vintage Oushak rugs.
The original plans called for an open-plan living room, kitchen and dining room. But KK loved the feel of older homes’ cosy, individual spaces, Tate says, so they added a wall back in between the kitchen and the living room.
KK found the Bianco Carrara marble slab used on the island and benchtops. Above the island are schoolhouse-pendant lights with milk-glass globes and antique-brass down rods, purchased online.
Again, the paint on the walls and ceiling is a lime wash: Coconut Milk from Sydney Harbour Paint Co.
KK found the Bianco Carrara marble slab used on the island and benchtops. Above the island are schoolhouse-pendant lights with milk-glass globes and antique-brass down rods, purchased online.
Again, the paint on the walls and ceiling is a lime wash: Coconut Milk from Sydney Harbour Paint Co.
KK and Tate found the shelves at either end of the bench when they were looking for the ceiling beams. Originally part of a threshing floor, they still show the marks where farmers used to beat wheat against them to separate the grain from the chaff.
Between them, a pull-down tap in distressed weathered bronze pairs with a single-bowl sink with a tall apron. A cafe curtain hung from an iron rod gently filters the sunlight streaming into the kitchen.
Between them, a pull-down tap in distressed weathered bronze pairs with a single-bowl sink with a tall apron. A cafe curtain hung from an iron rod gently filters the sunlight streaming into the kitchen.
The dining or breakfast room table, which is positioned next to the kitchen island, was one of KK’s market finds. At least the bottom part of it was: it’s actually two tables turned into one to create the oval shape they desired. They paired it with several vintage chairs, a new brass chandelier and heaps of throw pillows in a comfy window seat.
A vintage runner dresses up the mudroom, where the kids drop their school bags and coats en route from the carport to the kitchen.
A downstairs powder room features an antique mirror, a vanity made from a found cabinet and a vintage-style floral wallpaper by Swedish wallcovering company Boråstapeter.
Browse more images of powder rooms to inspire your own
Browse more images of powder rooms to inspire your own
Alternately referred to as the den and the music room, this inviting space is where the family gathers to jam on the piano and Ryan’s guitars. Note the beautiful reclaimed planks and beams on the ceiling.
KK, an avid photographer, has a small office hiding behind a pocket door off the den. Tate’s mother is a tailor and whipped up the little curtain that hangs in front of the lower built-in shelving.
At the end of the hallway leading to the downstairs main-bedroom suite is a large folk-art piece that KK found in a local antiques store. The painting was a little wide, so the contractor cut it down and rebuilt the frame so it fits just so.
The artwork over the slipcovered bed, purchased online and in the main bedroom, is one of the few prints in the house. It captures just the right light and airy feel for the serene space.
Speaking of airy and serene, here’s the view of the backyard from the bed, through another set of cypress French doors. The pool is surrounded by synthetic turf and a landscaping border, with open pasture beyond it.
This is the view from the pool looking back at those cypress bedroom doors. An espaliered apple tree adds to the country flavour.
Ryan and the builder were skeptical about using wood panelling on the front of the bathtub and on the floors in the bathroom, Tate says, but the custom-coloured marine-grade paint assuaged their worries. The bathtub is topped in Taj Mahal marble, and layered rugs add texture and softness underfoot.
In the laundry, old French terracotta floor tiles have a whimsical detail. “There’s actually an animal [paw] print in one of them because they used to make them and then dry them outside,” says Tate.
The bridge-style laundry tap’s unlacquered, raw brass is an example of a ‘living finish’: with age and use, it will develop a dark patina. The butcher’s block benchtop, too, will evolve over time.
Upstairs, you can spy one of the two younger girls’ bedrooms past the quartz vanity top of their adjoining bathroom. You can just make out the bedroom’s painted V-groove ceiling panelling and half-wall, which serves as a headboard. (The teen daughter’s bedroom and bath, not pictured, are downstairs.)
To make the upstairs floors look like they’d been there forever, Tate asked the builder to space the boards irregularly by placing different sizes of coins between them during installation. Then they painted the boards to create a casual feel.
To make the upstairs floors look like they’d been there forever, Tate asked the builder to space the boards irregularly by placing different sizes of coins between them during installation. Then they painted the boards to create a casual feel.
The second upstairs bedroom has lime-washed walls, a slipcovered headboard and quilted bedding. KK’s father lives next door, and both girls’ front-facing bedroom windows offer a view of his horses.
Reclaimed beams in the upstairs hallway break up the long, narrow space. Its windows are at the back of the house, with views towards the pool and pasture.
Beside the pool sits a guest house with two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. It was originally supposed to have fibre-cement siding to match the main house, but to give it a more rustic look, Tate opted for cedar siding treated by the builder with a special stain sealer that immediately ages and seals the wood.
A nearby fire pit invites après-swim relaxation.
A wide view of the property offers a better sense of the buildings’ layout and idyllic pastoral setting.
Your turn
Which features of this country house do you love? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this beautiful Melbourne Houzz: A Skinny Terrace Makes the Most of Every Inch
Your turn
Which features of this country house do you love? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this beautiful Melbourne Houzz: A Skinny Terrace Makes the Most of Every Inch
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
France Houzz: A New Island Home With an Old Soul
Check out this young family's welcoming and characterful French island home on Île d’Yeu, which embraces local style
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: A Small Cabin Transformed Into a Forest Retreat
In this secluded area in the Taunus mountains of Germany, a family enjoys their weekends in 29 square metres of space
Full Story
Houzz TV
London Houzz: Tour a Contemporary Loft in an Old Victorian School
Watch and read how a design firm updated this light and airy apartment in an old block with sleek style and warm touches
Full Story
Garden Design
Spain Garden Tour: A Mediterranean Makeover With Colour & Texture
Once neglected, this naturalistic garden is now a series of outdoor rooms with idyllic spots to swim, dine and relax
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Berlin Houzz: A Touch of Japanese Forest Bathing in a German Home
Beloved memories of Japan come to life with the renovation of this 120-square-metre apartment in Berlin, Germany
Full Story
Houzz Tours
London Houzz: Daring Colour & Texture Transform a Victorian Home
By Kate Burt
The busy owners of this terrace sought help to design outside their decor comfort zone – the result is a cool classic
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Germany Houzz: Creating Summer & Winter Homes in a Converted Barn
One barn, two homes – see how architects designed separate zones for summer and winter living in an old country barn
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Finding the Perfect Pink in a Barcelona Kitchen
Barely-there pink acts as a warm neutral in a new open-plan Spanish kitchen, replacing dark cabinets and drab finishes
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Before & After: Colour Blocking & Pattern Nod to Nature in Rome
Move and upsize or stay and renovate? This young family chose the latter in their small Italian apartment – here's why
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Barcelona Houzz: Style, Sustainability and Pattern in a Tiny Flat
Part-renovation, part-restoration, the owners of this Spanish apartment balanced historical style with forward thinking
Full Story
Beautiful…
What is there not to like about this home??
Love it.
Gorgeous!!!