My Houzz: Elegant Updates for a Traditional Dallas House

Ross and Megan Brown's World War II-era home in South Dallas possessed great bones and a graceful vibe, but the 1950s-style kitchen and baths were in need of some design love. "It wasn't the cool retro '50s; it was an ugly, dated '50s," says Megan, who was drawn to the old home for its quirks and character. With the help of custom home builder Andria Lai, the Browns renovated the kitchen and two bathrooms in six weeks, filling out the rest of their home with family hand-me-downs and DIY projects using some of the home's original fixtures.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ross and Megan Brown
Size: 2,200 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
Location: Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas

The two sets of double black doors on either side of the hearth were added in the 1950s when the porch was enclosed and converted into what is now the home office.

A white slipcover sofa makes for easy cleaning. "I grew up with brothers, so I was originally hesitant of white," Ross says. "But it looks great."

Paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin Williams; mirror: Sunburst on the Scene, Wisteria; coffee table: French Industrial, Wisteria


The couple recently created a built-in shelving unit at the far end of the home office to organize their shared workspace. This project was separate from their overall renovation. "Before we had the shelves, the clutter was a little out of hand," Megan says.

Area rug: One King's Lane; desk: Ava Wood, Pottery Barn


Megan's aunt gave her the camelback sofa upholstered in lemon-striped fabric. Megan added chevron print throw pillows from One King's Lane for a quick update.

Paint: Graystone, Benjamin Moore; coffee table: Foxed Mirror, West Elm


Megan bought the cowhide rug at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas, as a birthday gift for Ross before they were married. "After I gave it to him, my mom reminded me that if we got married, I'd have to live with the hide in my house," Megan says. "I hadn't thought of that. But I think we found a good spot for it in the office."


A painted black hutch, another lucky Canton Trade Days purchase, oversees the dining space. "It's one of my favorite pieces in the house," says Megan.

Original hardwood floors throughout the house were a huge selling point for the couple. "We were so pleased to see that the wood floors were intact," says Ross. "All we had to do was clean them up and re-stain them."


Megan loves to host dinner parties and entertain at home. She says that the dining room "called out for a round table," so the couple splurged on this elegant set from Restoration Hardware. "I like to keep things simple and clean looking with a calming vibe," she says.

Art: Jennifer Moreman, One King's Lane; chandelier: Lamps Plus; table: French Urn Pedestal, Restoration Hardware; chairs: Vintage French Round, Restoration Hardware


The couple renovated the kitchen from top to bottom. Megan, a health coach and author of Megg Salad, a healthy recipe blog, does a lot of cooking from home. "We put so much work into getting it right, transforming the space and maximizing storage," she says. "We love that when people come over they want to be in the kitchen. The space just feels good."

Countertops: absolute black granite, brushed finish; pendant lights: Clear Glass Cloche, Restoration Hardware


The Browns say that their biggest design dilemma was the back wall of the kitchen. "Working around the existing window was a toughie, and our original plans didn't work out," she says. "Looking back, I'm so glad we weren't afraid to scrap it and start over. The finished piece really completes the kitchen, adds a ton of storage and makes it feel so much bigger."


Megan says she shares a similar aesthetic with her husband, which made choosing materials and furnishings easier. "Sometimes I have to sell him on a piece, but usually we're thinking the same way," she says. "Other times Ross points out a detail I haven't considered yet, like dimensions." The latter came together in this tiny breakfast nook, which is just big enough for two.

Chandelier: Clarissa Glass Drop, Pottery Barn; table, Tripod, West Elm; chairs: Scoop-back, West Elm


The previous homeowners had already renovated the main bathroom in Carrera white marble tile and a free-standing soaking tub, both of which the Browns kept intact. "I'm so glad the master bath was already done because we would never have been able to renovate with such nice features," Megan says.


Two bright guest rooms occupy the top floor and overlook the backyard. In one, a beautiful brass bed — another hand-me-down from Megan's aunt — takes center stage on a bright wool area rug.

"When we first saw the house, we were surprised that the rooms were so big, especially given the era in which the house was built," Ross says. "And the closets are huge, too."

Area rug: One King's Lane


The second guest room has an all-white palette and wood accents.

Bedding: Bed Bath & Beyond


The couple completely renovated the guest bathroom but decided to keep the sconces, which were originally brass. Megan spray painted them silver to accent the bathroom's cool blue palette. "There were so many little decisions to be made," Megan says. "I remember there was one night when I went to three different Lowe's after work to find a mirror for the bathroom. That's when I realized I had completely lost my mind."

Paint: Woodlawn Blue, Benjamin Moore; countertops: Kashmir white granite


Ross built this grill table and fence screen, which hides the home's air conditioning unit. The Big Green Egg grill floats in the center of the table with open work space on either side. The table is ipe decking with a Cedar frame.


Large windows, most of which are original to the home, bring in lots of natural light. Stone pavers create a circular patio space for outdoor dining and entertaining. The couple is slowly landscaping the backyard, but Ross's latest touch is a tree swing.


The Browns' front yard enjoys mature trees and hills (a rarity in Dallas).


The Browns, who will celebrate their third wedding anniversary this fall, stand in front of their custom high-gloss red painted door. Megan had the paint custom matched to a color from a Kate Spade box at Elliott's Hardware.

Paint: Sherwin Williams Color Matching Services; door knocker: Etsy


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