My Houzz: Beachy Bliss in a Dallas Rambler

Beth Gillespie spent her childhood visiting family on Florida's breathtaking Emerald Coast. Inspired by the clear water, the brilliant aqua hues, the white sand and the feeling of calm, she now infuses her home decor with these same fundamental elements. And while the beaches of South Walton and Destin are a far cry from Dallas, where she lives with her husband, Joe, and their four children, Beth says, "My home in Dallas is like a little slice of that beach."

The Gillespie home transformation began with a kitchen remodel that involved removing a wall and expanding the adjoining family room. Working with Jeff Van Buskirk of Heritage Remodeling and Construction, the Gillespies added new wood floors and windows, made the layout more open and made countless kitchen upgrades, giving the place a light and airy beach house vibe.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Joe and Beth Gillespie; sons Andrew, John and Grant; daughter Mae (arriving soon); a dog and 2 cats
Size: 1,900 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas

The new family room now has more square footage; it sits on what was once the back porch and laundry room. Windows overlooking the backyard flank a brick fireplace surround, creating symmetry and a flood of natural light.

Beth painted the beach-inspired art over the fireplace. "There is something about turquoise that I just can't get enough of," she says. "It always makes me happy."

Wall paint: Polar Bear, Sherwin-Williams; sofa: Weir's Furniture


A wall was removed between the new family room and the kitchen to create one large multiuse area. Beth says her favorite part of the renovation is the island. "I love having casual dinners, helping with homework and just chatting around it," she says.

The pair of cane-back chairs in the family room were handed down from Joe's parents. "We have lots of secondhand or heirloom pieces in the house, and I much prefer that to buying new," says Beth.



A new kitchen island allows bar-stool seating for five and includes a small bookcase, drawers and a spot for the microwave. The butcher block counter is made from Lyptus wood. "We wanted mahogany, but it was way out of our price range," says Beth. "We opted for Lyptus, which is a renewable wood source and far less expensive."

Trim and cabinet paint: Greek Villa, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lights: Rejuvenation; bar stools: Chair King


The kitchen also has a dining area adjacent to the island. Glass-front cabinets feature Beth's aqua-colored dishes, and rattan Roman shades match the natural beachy vibe. Children's artwork is displayed on a gallery wall beyond the dining area.

Beth found her dining table on Craigslist and covered the dark wood with turquoise paint. "If I were going to do it again," she confesses, "I would prime it before painting. I'm just too impatient."


When Beth (pictured here with the family dog, Lucky) began planning her home's decor, she always saved pictures of beach houses. "For some reason, though, I felt like I couldn't make my house look that way, because I lived in the middle of Texas," she says. "But once I just went for it, I was so happy, and it gave me a sense of direction."


A small gallery wall marries Beth's love of the sea with her home state of Texas. Her mother created the black and white collage of Austin, and the photo is from one of the family's many trips to the coast. Beth anchored a wire to an empty frame and uses clothespins to display interchangeable art and quotes.

When it comes to decorating, Beth is inspired by the light and airy designs of Sarah Richardson and also enjoys browsing the blog House of Turquoise.


The formal dining room was painted in watery hues of blue and green and furnished with a table Beth found at an antiques store in Reeves, Texas. The built-in cabinets and trim are original to the home.

Beth jokes that her favorite thing to do at home is think about new projects. "In my mind I am always moving a wall, adding a second floor or rearranging the layout," she says. "Joe worries when I start a sentence with, 'I have an idea for the house ... '"

Side-wall paint: Celery; end-wall paint: Waterscape, both by Sherwin-Williams


Beth and Joe chose a sunny golden hue for the master bedroom. White linens and window treatments provide a nice contrast to the bold wall color. Joe's grandmother made the quilt, and the couple picked out the cream-colored furniture set as newlyweds.

"Why do all couples go out and buy a matching bedroom set when they first get married?" muses Beth. "I wish someone would have told me to wait and buy individual pieces. Oh, well; live and learn."

Wall paint: Tropical Mango, Glidden; bed: Lillesand, Ikea; furniture set: Havertys


For Beth home is a place where she can relax and completely be herself. As a busy mom of four, she also needs a little space for herself, even if it's just a quiet corner in her bedroom. She found this charming vanity and stool at Sell It Again Sam, a consignment store in Dallas, and painted the vanity her beloved aqua.


Beth is a jewelry enthusiast and says, "I like to display my pieces on my dresser, so that they're easy to see and wear every day." Many of her pieces come from her work with Noonday Collection, a jewelry company that empowers impoverished communities all over the globe. The family will welcome an adopted daughter from China this year, and Beth's work with Noonday has been a big part of that process.


Raising three active boys in a three-bedroom house is a tall order. The boys stay organized in their well-appointed room with thoughtful storage systems. Beth has designated a place for everything. The youngsters have been sharing a room since December 2012, in preparation for the arrival of their sister, who's been assigned the third bedroom.

Wall paint: Wild Honey, Behr


Beth maximized the boys' bedroom with bunk beds, allowing for as much playspace as possible. She also painted the colorful beach-inspired artwork.

Beth cites space constraints as the family's biggest design dilemma, and says, "We really love our home and neighborhood. However, with four kids, three bedrooms and two baths, we are not sure how much longer we can make it work."


The couple took the doors off the boys' closet for easy access. Labeled canvas bins line the shelves, and stacking trays to the left of the closet keep small toys in check.


The couple created a beautiful and bright nursery to welcome their daughter home from China. Beth painted all of the art in the nursery, and her most recent DIY project was Mae's play kitchen. "It was supposed to be a DIY project that would be cheaper than buying one," says Beth. "But I'm not sure I saved much over the Ikea kitchen. I do love the end result."

Wall paint: Wild Honey, Behr


A sweet rocking chair shares space with a white dresser. The beach theme continues with a wooden pelican, a sailboat and an anchor pillow. Beth created the pillow herself using a pattern from Printable Monograms. Then she stenciled the pillow with freezer paper after seeing an online tutorial.


The family enjoys a sunny afternoon playing on tree swings in the front yard. "Lake Highlands was our first choice of neighborhoods," says Beth. "It really feels like a small town inside of a large city, and everywhere you go, you see friendly faces."

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