My Houzz: 1930s Outside, Midcentury Modern Inside

Interior decorator Jessica Hasten always thought she'd end up buying a midcentury home to fill with her collection of classic pieces from Saarinen and Noguchi. But when she fell in love with Dallas' Hollywood/Santa Monica neighborhood and its traditional 1930s Tudor-style homes, Hasten had a dilemma on her hands. "I wondered if it would be odd to incorporate my modern furnishings into this home," she says. "But I decided to not let the exterior of the home dictate the interior style."

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jessica Hasten and her terrier, Frito Pie
Location: Hollywood/Santa Monica neighborhood of Dallas
Size: 1,280 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1936

The exterior features some decorative brickwork, steeply pitched gables and a covered porch. A white wooden swing adds to the storybook charm.


Inside, though, is much different. Walking through the front door is like stepping through a time portal into the 1960s. "When I bought the house, I knew I wanted a softer, more organic style," Hasten says. "I wanted to incorporate woods, glass, lots of texture, keep the furnishings neutral and let the art and accessories be the pop of color."

Leather chair: Wassily, Design Within Reach; sofa: Loft, Timothy Oulton


This metallic longhorn head played a large role in the overall concept of the living room, and acted as a jumping-off point for the mix of wood, leather and metal.

Coffee table: Noguchi, Design Within Reach; longhorn head: Z Gallerie; silver porcelain art forms: Gold Leaf Design Group


Hasten updated the built-in bookcases by painting the insides her favorite color: peacock blue.


Before moving in she mapped out each room to decide which furniture pieces from her midcentury collection she would use. In the home office, she designed around her Saarinen Womb Chair. "I purchased good-quality furnishings but spent less on the extras," she says. Decorating around one or two main pieces also helped her create a list of all the remaining pieces needed to fill the spaces.


The office area acts as the entryway into the home, so Hasten chose carpet tiles in lieu of an area rug. "They're very easy to keep clean," she says. "If a tile gets damaged, you only have to remove that one and replace it."

Carpet tiles: Remembrance, Teal, Flor; paint: Silver Sage, Restoration Hardware


"I'd never had draperies before, because I was always pretty modern," Hasten says. She added them in the dining room for warmth. She hung them a bit higher than the window to accommodate the standard size of the drape panels; that way she could save money by not going custom.

Draperies: Martha and Ash


Hasten spotted this delicate sea spray sculpture at local secondhand shop, Lula B's, and instantly fell in love with the color and Lucite base. "I enjoy hunting for one-of-a-kind treasures and antiques that make my space my own," she says. This piece was the inspiration for the rest of the dining room. She then chose hammered shell-like gold leaf sconces from Mothology to complement the wall art and pink coral.

Artwork on wall: Josh Armijo; credenza: Sussex, Design Within Reach


She refinished and repainted the existing cabinetry in the kitchen. The total cost to paint the cabinets was $800.


Table: Silver Bar Table, I.O. Metro; vase: Turquoise Ceramic Mermaid, Bellacor; teal leaf art: Timothy Oulton


For the guest bedroom decor, Hasten worked off the bedding and artwork. "Then I added the punch of yellow," she says. The two art pieces are tributes to her cats.


Hasten splurged on all new furnishings in the main bedroom and added color through pillows and draperies. "I felt if I'm making a wrong decision on the color, then it's not a wallet breaker," she says. "I wanted the room to be modern but inviting, relaxed and unique. I think I've achieved it."

Bed: Ligne Roset; dresser: Wood Tiled 6-Drawer, West Elm; nightstands: Wood Tiled, West Elm; table lamps: Hess


A collection of religious artifacts adorns a bedroom wall. "I want my home to be timeless but current and exciting," Hasten says. "I really enjoy artwork from all religions. I just find it interesting and beautiful."

Chair: Eames Molded Plywood Lounge LCW, Design Within Reach


The artwork in the sunroom was a collaborative effort between Hasten and artist Josh Armijo.

Chairs: Crate & Barrel


A built-in bench on the back patio creates plenty of seating when Hasten entertains.

Table, chairs: Home Depot; throw pillows: Amazon


Hasten snuggles with her dog, Frito Pie. Since moving in, she's found herself at home a lot more. "Before I would spend a lot of time outside of the house," she says. "Now I truly enjoy coming home. This is the first time that my home truly represents my aesthetic."

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