My Houzz: A Texas Home Goes Big for the Kids

Greg and Holly Homer had a vision for their family home. "Since we both work from home and homeschool our three children part time, we needed a house that would allow for play, work, friends, family and meet all our daily needs," Holly says. That included a home theater, a fire pole for the kids and a Lego playroom with a slide.

After buying a heavily wooded 2-acre lot near the Dallas airport, the Homers tapped architect Bill Brown and Noble Classic Homes to make their dream home a reality. They tested prospective contractors by sharing their design ideas with them; if the contractors balked, the couple moved on to another company. "We have no design background, but we knew what we wanted," Holly says. "I'm so glad we stuck to our guns and didn't let anyone talk us out of it. We love it here."

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Greg and Holly Homer and their children, Ryan (age 12), Reid (10) and Rhett (7)
Location: Flower Mound, Texas
Size: 7,200 square feet; 5 bedrooms; 7 bathrooms

A large living room exudes warmth with exposed wood beams, a central stone hearth and pumpkin-hued walls. "Orange and red are neutrals for me," says Holly.

An elevated computer station at the far end of the living room is a workspace where Holly cranks out copy for her two blogs, Kids Activities Blog and Business 2 Blogger. "I know the house is big, but we use every corner of it every day," she says.

Slipper chairs: Sam's Club


A stair featuring colorful Mexican tile on the risers greets visitors when they first enter the home. Holly loves the look of repeating square patterns, a motif found throughout the house.


The architect created a courtyard in the foyer by using materials usually reserved for exteriors, including concrete, brick, outdoor lighting fixtures and shutters that frame a stained glass window. "We really wanted the foyer to have the feeling of still being outside," Holly says.

The entry gives way to a formal dining room that Holly designed to feel like an outdoor gazebo. A circular space, vaulted ceilings and oversize windows surround the 7-foot table, specially ordered from IBB Designs.



A spiral staircase leads to an upstairs bar in the family room. Two stained glass windows showcase more colored square patterns.


Bold red cabinetry and butter-yellow trim wrap the kitchen. Holly wanted a large multiuse kitchen to accommodate family meals, art projects and a host of other home activities. "We are very casual, so most of our living and entertaining happen in the kitchen," she says.


The kitchen opens to a dining area with ample seating. Black frames display black and white family photos. The painted turquoise bench is all that is left of a family piano Holly played when she was young.


Greg is the chef in the family and enjoys creating family meals at this industrial double stove. An oversize checkerboard tile hood hovers above a beveled subway tile backsplash. "I am notoriously bad in the kitchen," Holly says. "Greg does most of the cooking. He got the stove, and I got a bathtub."

Subway tile: Ann Sacks


A butler's pantry acts as a hallway to the formal dining room and provides quick access for serving meals and entertaining.

When the Homers designed their house, a wine rack and glass cabinets for dish storage were must-haves. "I really wanted to be able to keep the horizontal surfaces clear throughout the house by having a place for everything," says Holly.


A multiuse pantry lies just off the kitchen and also serves as the laundry room, a second prep kitchen and storage for homeschooling materials. "Since we entertain in the kitchen, I wanted a second place to stash things and have extra prep space," Holly says. "When the party is going, we can shut the mess away."

Holly's children each have a designated shelf in the pantry, where they store everything they need for school — they go to a private academy two days a week and are homeschooled the other days. "It makes packing backpacks or preparing for a homeschool day something they can tackle independently," she says.

Washer, dryer: Samsung


Ceilings soar in the main bedroom. Large French doors open to the backyard. Holly's favorite feature is a set of stained glass doors she bought at auction in Sanger, Texas. They came out of an old church and are now installed between the bedroom and an antechamber. The small room used to serve as a nursery to the couple's youngest child but now houses personal exercise equipment.

Stained glass doors: Carraway Auction House; bedding: The Company Store; pillows: Saks Fifth Avenue





An infinity tub is the main bathroom's centerpiece. Water falls from a fixture in the ceiling into the basin. "Our plumber had never been asked to make water come out of the ceiling, but he did it," Holly says.

Sage walls, rattan Roman shades and dark wood cabinetry lend a tropical vibe. "I take a bath in this tub every night," she says. "It's such a treat."

Bathtub: Kohler; fixtures: Moore Supply


The home's upper level is devoted to children's play and family life. A pool table, handed down from Greg's parents, and an adjacent poker table command the spacious game room. Greg's Monopoly board collection is framed and mounted on blocks painted in primary colors.

"I love having the kids up here, where there is enough space for a serious game of team laser tag or a battle with Nerf swords," says Holly.


The game room leads to a bar designed to look like an old-fashioned soda fountain. It has a functional mini kitchen for food prep and entertaining.

"My husband and I love to play, and our idea for the upstairs was something we had thought about before we even had kids," says Holly.





The soda fountain is the beginning of an upstairs hallway Holly designed to look like a street scene. Outdoor trappings like shingled walls and brick flooring create the effect.

Each doorway has a themed entrance. The town library is the playroom, the nautical shop is a bedroom, the Laundromat is a laundry room, the automotive shop is a bedroom, and the movie theater at the end of the hall is a media room.


The Homers designed a faux theater marquee at the entrance of the media room, which is outfitted with leather recliners, red velvet curtains and a popcorn machine.

"When I ordered the flooring for this room, I told the guy I wanted the gaudiest casino-like carpet he could find. It's perfect movie theater carpet," Holly says.


The boys' Lego playroom was inspired by their favorite illustrated children's literature. Holly hired art students from the University of North Texas to paint the murals. "Alice in Wonderland has always been in the back of my mind with the playroom," Holly says.

At the top of the slide is a small playhouse, which Holly designed. It leads to kid-size tunnels that make up a small third floor; they lead back to the boys' bedrooms on the second floor.

Slide: Home Depot


The first bedroom has a wooden yacht bed with real canvas sails attached to the wall. "I love designing spaces for children, because it is completely acceptable to be exuberant," Holly says. "As a mom, I try and make the space for kids practical and durable."

Sails: eBay


Holly designed the second bedroom using industrial materials and fixtures usually reserved for garages and storage units. Steel bunk beds, galvanized buckets for storage and locker room–style flooring make this boys' room practically indestructible.

"They shouldn't be afraid to play in their own space. It should be the area in the home where kids can be messy as long as there is a place for everything to go when cleanup time begins," says Holly.


A play structure built right into the wall connects through a series of passageways to the third floor and eventually lets out in the playroom with the blue slide. The boys can either climb down from the play structure or take a shortcut using the fire pole.


The second bedroom has a full bath outfitted with garage-style fixtures. Holly used a Craftsman tool drawer as the base for the vanity, black tile in the shower and locker room–style flooring.

Vanity: Craftsman


Holly sits on a sunny window ledge.

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URL: My Houzz: A Texas Home Goes Big for the Kids http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21462.html