My Houzz: Neutral and Natural Elegance in Texas

Interior stylist Dana Pugh spends her days knee-deep in vibrant paint samples, bold patterns and flashy home accessories. But after a long day at work, she returns home to a neutral color scheme in a home where she can decompress, enjoy her family and “cleanse her palate,” as Pugh says. “I deal with color and pattern all day, so when I come home, I need calm.”

When she first moved into the house 14 years ago with her husband, Nat, and their three sons, the place was in terrible shape. The couple removed purple wall-to-wall carpeting, painted over the Pepto Bismol–pink walls, scraped popcorn ceilings and removed the heavy odor of cigarettes.

Pugh has now realized her vision for a serene home. “I love giving things a second chance,” she says.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nat and Dana Pugh; the youngest of their 3 sons, Gavin (age 18); and their boxer, Penny
Size: 2,200 square feet (204 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths
Location: Coppell, Texas

Pugh procured this vintage British bus roll from designer DeWayne Lumpkin, the creative force behind British Route Sign Designs. It hangs above a brick fireplace, which has been painted a creamy hue. Built-in bookcases frame the hearth and provide space for Pugh’s vintage curios and books.

Sofa: Flax, Restoration Hardware


The great room features vaulted ceilings and has plenty of natural light. Pugh invested in natural textiles: flax linen on the sofa, cotton on the chair and a sisal area rug.

“For me our home is a safe haven, and every spot is to be lived in, enjoyed and used — meaning it’s not precious,” says Pugh.

Wall paint: Advance Satin Paint in White, Benjamin Moore; chair: Quatrine; Color-Bound Natural Sisal Rug: Pottery Barn


A piece of vintage stained glass, purchased at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, hangs in the window. Billowy cream-colored curtains frame the floor-to-ceiling window and draw the eye up.

“I don’t like shopping at department stores, because it’s so overwhelming and everything looks like random stuff,” says Pugh. “But vintage resale feels like I’m investing in what’s already here.”


When the couple moved into the house, this room was used as a family room. Given its proximity to the kitchen, Pugh transformed it into a dining room with a large farm table, French Tolix chairs and a rustic wood shelving unit on casters. “There is no need to use the rooms as intended,” says Pugh. “I say, do what works for your family.”

Dining table: Pacifica, Crate & Barrel Outlet; shelves: Wisteria Outlet; chandelier: Pottery Barn Outlet


Pugh is a passionate collector of vintage home goods, but she is also a keen editor. French linens, mismatched silverware, a cake stand and a blue porcelain house placard make for a pleasing vignette in the dining room.


Pugh scored this vibrant blue metal writing desk on Craigslist. It’s paired with a photo of cobalt-colored boats in Venice taken by one of her sons. A vintage bulb on the wall provides light to read and write by. “The writing desk was a complete mess when I brought it home, but everything looks better after a thorough cleaning,” says Pugh.


A target framed in black hangs in the dining room opposite the table. Two symmetrical doors lead back into the great room, and a sliding door leads to the kitchen.


Pugh created an enormous magnet board by covering a hallway wall with sheet metal. “This is where I hang all of my favorite photos and notes,” she says. “It’s constantly changing.”


The Pughs wanted to create a partition between the kitchen and dining room. After considering a pocket door, which would set them back $1,000, they decided to fashion a sliding barn door. They purchased the fittings at Elliott’s Hardware, and bought the salvaged schoolroom door at Lots of Furniture for only $45.


A black and white kitchen sits at the center of the house. Instead of replacing the original cabinetry, the homeowners painted it black. The pantry door received a coat of chalkboard paint. “The kitchen is pretty dark,” Pugh says, “so I decided to just go with it.”


A cottage-like breakfast room is located opposite the kitchen and enjoys views of the backyard. Pugh’s DIY mirror collage hangs next to a pair of embroidered tea towels. Pugh removed the doors from the top of the built-in hutch to showcase her collection of white dishes.

Table: Round Top Antiques Fair


The foyer features an enormous salvaged tin bear that was previously part of a hotel sign. Two large metal bins act as catchalls for shoes, umbrellas and walking sticks. “I love seeing him [the bear] when I walk in the door,” says Pugh. “He’s just perfect.”


The sitting room, which used to be the dining room, is filled with rustic pieces, which Pugh salvaged and cleaned up for a new purpose. She achieved an elegant yet playful mix with a schoolroom map, a collapsible laundry basket, a vintage gum ball machine, a cargo cart and an antique metal press.

Wall paint: Slate, Restoration Hardware; sofa: Quatrine; Sisal Rug: Williams-Sonoma


A leather club chair in the corner is paired with angular contemporary seating. The theme of reclaimed vintage pieces continues with an arched mirror and an oversize pocket watch on the wall. “It always bothers me to see perfectly good items on the trash heap,” Pugh says. “I’m always scouring thrift shops and junkyards for things that need some love.”


The garage has been converted into Pugh’s workspace and home studio. Industrial furniture provides ample storage and a sturdy work surface. “I’ve been interested in design since childhood,” says Pugh. “I painted my bedroom when I was 8 or 9. I was always shoving furniture around trying to make my room look pretty.” Hanging from a galvanized pipe is a collection of metal stencils.


The studio has a second, more streamlined desk found at a thrift store, where Pugh can spread out her design work and also create content for her blog, Tattered Style. A tall vintage baker’s rack in the corner provides ample storage and display space. Pugh says, “I miss having my grown boys at home, but I also love that this converted garage is now all mine.”

Floor lamp: Ikea


Natural materials, like a wood accent wall, and a few well-chosen design elements, like a vintage metal sign hanging on the wall, make for a serene guest space. The Pughs installed the pine paneling themselves. The couple’s older sons — Corbin, 23, and Reagan, 28 — stay here when they’re home for a visit.


Pugh refinished this dresser, a family heirloom, and updated it with stenciled numbers. Medical teaching scrolls are tacked to the hallway walls just outside the bedroom.


The Pughs remodeled their bathroom to include a large frameless glass shower and double sinks. The room enjoys natural light from a privacy window.


The master bedroom is filled with wonderful DIY details and purposeful pieces. Pugh hung an ornate screen door horizontally to form a headboard. “Since it’s metal, I can attach family photos to it with little magnets,” she says.

Chandelier: White Elephant Antiques Warehouse; carpet: Berber, ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings


Pugh has a special place in her heart for France, and she framed a black and white photo of the Eiffel Tower. An antique type tray has been turned into a bedside table; simple rope tiebacks complete the look.

“I like what Nate Berkus has to say about design: Tell your story through your house,” says Pugh.


A low bench, upholstered in recycled cargo covers, sits next to an old IV tower, which has been turned into a clothes rack. This is where Pugh displays beloved textiles like her husband’s christening gown.

“I so enjoy using old things in contemporary settings,” Pugh says, “and I’m really happy when I can also create a sense of order.”


Pugh kneels to give Penny a little pat on the head. The glass door here in the master suite leads to a courtyard patio.

Vintage chair, bust: Dallas Market Center

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