Take a Look Inside a Light & Airy Home in White, Wood & Black

Watch and read how a designer created a new home for a couple using wide-open spaces with casual but refined style

Mitchell Parker 22 January 2022

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

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After their previous home was destroyed in a tornado, these homeowners wanted a fresh start. They reached out to Dallas designer Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs to help them create a new-build home in a relaxing California casual style. Curtis responded with interiors full of light oak and white walls punctuated by dramatic elements in black.

Here, Curtis shares details about several spaces in the Dallas home, including a ‘great’ room with a stunning black-and-white kitchen and a family-friendly living room that doesn’t sacrifice style. Curtis also talks about how Houzz helped her design firm flourish and why she’s now in the process of switching to Houzz Pro software to manage all aspects of her business.

The showpiece kitchen draws attention at one end of the great room. Curtis employed several design strategies to make it stand out in the large layout.

Black cabinetry, a large black range hood and other black details bring heavy doses of contrast and drama to the white walls and upper cabinets. “The [range] hood was a moment to add some black to really just command attention on that wall,” says Curtis.

Light-oak flooring and wood beams add warmth and balance. And the lighting acts as jewellery. “The beautiful lights really give the space a lot of personality,” says Curtis.

Long, rectangular white tiles in a stacked pattern and with a tumbled texture form the splashback. “When you’ve got that much expanse of wall space, you can’t choose something overly complicated or overly simple — it could disappear or it could be too much,” says Curtis.

Watch now: Go inside this light and bright Dallas home on Houzz TV

Urbanology Designs

Here’s a closer look at the splashback tile. “Even though the tile’s all one colour, it appears to have a little bit of movement in it because of the way the light bounces off,” says Curtis.

Urbanology Designs

Curtis’ goal in the adjacent living room was to bring elevated style with family-friendly function. All the upholstery is stain-resistant performance fabric. The tables and chairs are sturdy pieces that can’t be knocked over by rambunctious kids. “There are a lot of ways to incorporate function and not sacrifice beauty,” says Curtis.

She was also mindful of scale in the spacious room. “You can either make or break a design plan based on scale,” she says. “One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is lighting that’s too small. In Texas, the homes here are just large. And the living rooms are large. So it’s really critical that you don’t put a tiny sofa in one of these great big living rooms, because it’s going to feel like dollhouse furniture.”

Urbanology Designs

Timber beams and punches of black visually connect the living room and kitchen. “We really wanted those spaces to speak to one another in a very intentional way,” says Curtis.

Urbanology Designs

In the dining room, large corner windows flood the space with light and views.

Curtis and the homeowners chose not to go with a traditional ceiling-mounted light fixture in this space and instead chose several arched wall sconces set at various heights. “It feels dramatic because it’s unexpected,” she says.

Urbanology Designs

In the main bedroom, it was all about creating drama with minimal but impactful lines. The curved metal canopy bed illustrates the point beautifully. A vintage rug gives a “worn-in, cozy feel”, says Curtis.

Watch now: Tour more of this white, wood and black Dallas home

Urbanology Designs

Kids’ spaces were really important to the family. This creative space includes a custom rock-climbing wall with handmade wooden foot and hand holds.

Built-ins on the back wall feature a dress-up station with costumes to try on in front of a mirror.

“You get special little moments and opportunities when you’re working in kid spaces, so we took full advantage,” says Curtis. “Every single wall, every elevation, had something unique to the space.”

Urbanology Designs

Nearby, a built-in homework and craft station sits against a triangle of colour on the wall. “Paint was one of the ways we could continue customisation but in a really affordable way,” Curtis says.

Mitchell Parker

A black built-in at the top of the stairs holds books and surrounds a piano one of the homeowners has had since childhood.

Urbanology Designs

Nearby, two windows feature desks, while one in the centre holds a window seat. Jet-black paint coordinates with the built-in bookcase and other black elements throughout the home.

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The large arched front door opens into this light-filled entry hall, which leads through an archway on the right to the living area and kitchen.

Watch now: Step inside this relaxed modern home on Houzz TV