My Houzz: Casual Elegance Is Just Their Style
A designer and a builder choose shiplap walls, rustic beams and cozy furnishings for their new home in San Antonio
Family Room
Walls: Jack installed 6-inch pine shiplap panels. “We have used shiplap in every project we have ever done together as a nod to my New England roots and the charm of older homes,” says Dy Lynne. “My husband likes to have a nice shadow gap between each board. We use old reclaimed wood or lap as well.”
Details: Ladders draped with throws, as well as baskets filled with pillows, keep essentials for a cozy evening on the couch within arm’s reach. The rug is vintage.
Paint on shiplap wall: Creamy, Sherwin-Williams; sofa: Square Feathers; coffee table: Joyeux Home Decor
Walls: Jack installed 6-inch pine shiplap panels. “We have used shiplap in every project we have ever done together as a nod to my New England roots and the charm of older homes,” says Dy Lynne. “My husband likes to have a nice shadow gap between each board. We use old reclaimed wood or lap as well.”
Details: Ladders draped with throws, as well as baskets filled with pillows, keep essentials for a cozy evening on the couch within arm’s reach. The rug is vintage.
Paint on shiplap wall: Creamy, Sherwin-Williams; sofa: Square Feathers; coffee table: Joyeux Home Decor
Kitchen
Style: “We have a cozy setup with the kitchen and dining being open to the living area. We can all talk and share time together easily,” Dy Lynne says. She describes her signature style as understated elegance.
The couple have three sons (two are in college), and the open layout accommodates their busy yet laid-back lifestyle. “We tend to have conversations flowing at all times, and the open concept keeps us all connected. The island is the perch for the boys. They hardly ever sit at the table; they like the counter stools and more casual snacking,” she says. “We are all so busy, and the boys are not here full time, so we eat on the run more often than we would like.”
The kitchen is light and bright. “It’s a happy area with lots of views out the French doors,” she adds.
Cabinets and island: They installed cream-colored cabinets by Kent Moore. “Our island is gray, with a chocolate glaze and furniture post legs. We picked a quartz product around the perimeter for easy chopping, heat tolerance and to avoid scratching,” Dy Lynne says. “The island is Calacatta Gold marble, much more precious, and needs to be treated carefully. It’s so beautiful, I just had to splurge on it!”
Backsplash: water jet marble with glass; faucet: Brizo; pendant lights and Johnson counter stools, Joyeux Home Decor
Style: “We have a cozy setup with the kitchen and dining being open to the living area. We can all talk and share time together easily,” Dy Lynne says. She describes her signature style as understated elegance.
The couple have three sons (two are in college), and the open layout accommodates their busy yet laid-back lifestyle. “We tend to have conversations flowing at all times, and the open concept keeps us all connected. The island is the perch for the boys. They hardly ever sit at the table; they like the counter stools and more casual snacking,” she says. “We are all so busy, and the boys are not here full time, so we eat on the run more often than we would like.”
The kitchen is light and bright. “It’s a happy area with lots of views out the French doors,” she adds.
Cabinets and island: They installed cream-colored cabinets by Kent Moore. “Our island is gray, with a chocolate glaze and furniture post legs. We picked a quartz product around the perimeter for easy chopping, heat tolerance and to avoid scratching,” Dy Lynne says. “The island is Calacatta Gold marble, much more precious, and needs to be treated carefully. It’s so beautiful, I just had to splurge on it!”
Backsplash: water jet marble with glass; faucet: Brizo; pendant lights and Johnson counter stools, Joyeux Home Decor
Dining Room
Flooring and pets: The hardwood floors are oak. “We did indeed pick the flooring to hide dog hair. We chose a lighter color to also help hide the dog paw tracks,” Dy Lynne says. The couple’s three dogs are all 10 years old, and because of their age, the couple is determined to stay put in their home for a while. Their cocker spaniel, Nutty Brown, pictured, especially likes to stay close to the couple and is resting in a favorite spot under the dining table.
Paint on walls: Mindful Gray, Sherwin-Williams; pendant light: Joyeux Home Decor; flooring: Old Vines, Summitt Forest Products
Flooring and pets: The hardwood floors are oak. “We did indeed pick the flooring to hide dog hair. We chose a lighter color to also help hide the dog paw tracks,” Dy Lynne says. The couple’s three dogs are all 10 years old, and because of their age, the couple is determined to stay put in their home for a while. Their cocker spaniel, Nutty Brown, pictured, especially likes to stay close to the couple and is resting in a favorite spot under the dining table.
Paint on walls: Mindful Gray, Sherwin-Williams; pendant light: Joyeux Home Decor; flooring: Old Vines, Summitt Forest Products
Details: The reclaimed-wood beams in the family room beyond the dining room are from an 1800s factory in New England. The couple installed as many rustic finishes, soothing neutrals and white spaces as possible to create a calm place to come home to after work. “Our house is my haven, where I recharge my batteries and love on my dogs each evening,” she says.
Home Office
Accent wall: “The reclaimed barn wood in our office was hand-selected by Jack. Each piece he picked and cleaned until he was happy with the results,” Dy Lynne says. “It’s such a statement wall.”
Jack also installed built-in bookshelves (around the corner and out of view) made from reclaimed bus stop seats.
Accent wall: “The reclaimed barn wood in our office was hand-selected by Jack. Each piece he picked and cleaned until he was happy with the results,” Dy Lynne says. “It’s such a statement wall.”
Jack also installed built-in bookshelves (around the corner and out of view) made from reclaimed bus stop seats.
Master Bedroom
Decor: Displayed in a frame over the couple’s bed are pressed French botanicals that Dy Lynne bought from a collector-turned-friend at the Round Top antiques fair. “I just love botanicals,” Dy Lynne says. The rug is vintage.
Paint on walls: Gray Area, Sherwin-Williams
Decor: Displayed in a frame over the couple’s bed are pressed French botanicals that Dy Lynne bought from a collector-turned-friend at the Round Top antiques fair. “I just love botanicals,” Dy Lynne says. The rug is vintage.
Paint on walls: Gray Area, Sherwin-Williams
Master Bathroom
Vanities: Two matching St. James single extra-wide vanities from Restoration Hardware in an antiqued coffee finish face each other in the couple’s bathroom. The countertops are Calacatta Gold marble. “Since I love Calacatta Gold so much, we purchased a large slab and made our vanity countertops and tub surround with the gorgeous marble. My husband chose the fabricated eased-edge design,” Dy Lynne says. The vanities provide ample storage for everyday necessities, and the finish helps them blend in with the antique pieces in the room.
Flooring: The tiles are a mix of porcelain and glass.
Plumbing fixtures: Dryden collection, Delta
Vanities: Two matching St. James single extra-wide vanities from Restoration Hardware in an antiqued coffee finish face each other in the couple’s bathroom. The countertops are Calacatta Gold marble. “Since I love Calacatta Gold so much, we purchased a large slab and made our vanity countertops and tub surround with the gorgeous marble. My husband chose the fabricated eased-edge design,” Dy Lynne says. The vanities provide ample storage for everyday necessities, and the finish helps them blend in with the antique pieces in the room.
Flooring: The tiles are a mix of porcelain and glass.
Plumbing fixtures: Dryden collection, Delta
Guest Bedroom
Walls: Shiplap painted white hugs the angled walls in this second-story bedroom.
Lighting: The 1920s chandelier and sconces came from a neighboring house the Dabneys almost bought before they built this one. Dy Lynne fell in love with the light fixtures, and Jack bought them for her as a surprise.
Nightstand: Joyeux Home Decor
Walls: Shiplap painted white hugs the angled walls in this second-story bedroom.
Lighting: The 1920s chandelier and sconces came from a neighboring house the Dabneys almost bought before they built this one. Dy Lynne fell in love with the light fixtures, and Jack bought them for her as a surprise.
Nightstand: Joyeux Home Decor
Guest Bathroom
Walls: Shiplap continues the wall treatment seen in the guest bedroom.
Newport single-sink console: Pottery Barn
Walls: Shiplap continues the wall treatment seen in the guest bedroom.
Newport single-sink console: Pottery Barn
Exterior
Finishes: A limestone facade and a wraparound porch and exposed rafter tails help the new house blend in with neighboring ones. The home is in the leafy neighborhood of Alamo Heights, and the area reminds Dy Lynne of growing up in New England.
Established pecan trees and shaded alleyways are just some of the features they love. “We have three heritage pecan trees in our yard,” Dy Lynne says. “They produce heavenly crops every year. We purposely built around the trees so we could enjoy them. They feel as if they are in the house with us; we have such great windows and doors that allow us to admire them. We cut a huge hole in our deck to accommodate the tree right off my dining room.”
The couple built the house in 2012, and recently finished a barn to house her interior design business and retail space. “We knew our office and storefront would be encased in a barn. Our families have generations of barns, both from New England and Texas. We feel we have the perfect blend of the two styles,” Dy Lynne says.
See more photos of this home
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
Finishes: A limestone facade and a wraparound porch and exposed rafter tails help the new house blend in with neighboring ones. The home is in the leafy neighborhood of Alamo Heights, and the area reminds Dy Lynne of growing up in New England.
Established pecan trees and shaded alleyways are just some of the features they love. “We have three heritage pecan trees in our yard,” Dy Lynne says. “They produce heavenly crops every year. We purposely built around the trees so we could enjoy them. They feel as if they are in the house with us; we have such great windows and doors that allow us to admire them. We cut a huge hole in our deck to accommodate the tree right off my dining room.”
The couple built the house in 2012, and recently finished a barn to house her interior design business and retail space. “We knew our office and storefront would be encased in a barn. Our families have generations of barns, both from New England and Texas. We feel we have the perfect blend of the two styles,” Dy Lynne says.
See more photos of this home
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: Jack and Dy Lynne Dabney; their sons; their Australian shepherds, Abby and Cash; and their cocker spaniel, Nutty Brown
Location: Alamo Heights neighborhood of San Antonio
Size: 3,550 square feet (330 square meters); four bedrooms, four bathrooms
“We purchased an older home that we had to tear down because it was too worn and rotted to salvage,” says Dy Lynne Dabney, owner of Dy Lynne Decor and Joyeux Home Decor. Her husband, Jack Dabney, is a homebuilder and owner of Dabney Homes. “After tear down, my husband built the home, and we picked every finish and detail together.”
Marrying a builder was a dream come true for Dy Lynne, pictured in their kitchen. “I didn’t have to explain my passion for homes and architecture; he already shared it,” she says. “We work well together.”