My Houzz: A Texas Home Dances to Its Own Beat

Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart and her husband, James Hart, share a North Dallas home filled with family heirlooms, colorful art and a variety of Danish modern furniture. “If it’s going to be in the house, I prefer that it be both beautiful and functional,” Kristina says.

James is a teacher, and Kristina is a dance teacher and choreographer. Her grandmother, Jorunn Kirkenær, was a professional dancer with an international career who founded the Kirkenær Ballet School in Oslo, Norway. Her grandmother’s dance legacy inhabits every corner of the home, which the couple shares with their daughter, Dottie, and their dog, Luna.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: James Hart, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, their daughter Dottie (age 7), and Luna, a Portuguese Water Dog
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square meters); 5 bedroom, 4 bathrooms
Location: North Dallas, Texas

The dining room is an eclectic mix of Danish antiques and modern accents. The farm table is a family hand-me-down from Kristina’s grandmother. “Everything is to be used, loved and respected,” she says. “We wanted an inspiring space.”

The colorful vintage dance posters were taken off the walls of the Kirkenær Ballet School in Oslo when her grandmother gave up ownership. The lighting fixture is a reproduction spotted on the cover of a magazine. “It was a must-have,” Kristina says.

Curtains: Anthropologie


The house, which was built in the late 1970s, originally featured lots of dated exposed-wood details. The couple unified the look of the interior with a coat of white paint.

The living room is filled with secondhand and vintage furniture. The striped love seat is from grandmother Kirkenær. The white walls create an ideal background for mixing eclectic pieces.


A white console in the living room is paired with vintage pieces and original art. The driftwood sculpture filled with notes was a collaborative art piece from James’ students. The midcentury lamp in blue and gold was the couple’s first home purchase together. The starburst mirror was a gift from Kristina’s grandmother.


The couple loves outdoor life, but during the winter, they keep their more delicate plants indoors. This little alcove in the living room offers the perfect combination of sun and protection.

“I like to include the kid’s-eye view when decorating,” says Kristina. “There are little details, like the dinosaurs in the container plants, that my daughter enjoys.”


Hanging at the end of the hallway is a Balinese mask of Rangda, a witch-like character in Balinese mythology. The bright white entry hall serves as the bridge between the home’s two sides. All of the communal spaces are on the north side of the house, and the private bedrooms and office are to the south.


James teaches arts entrepreneurship at a local university, and also works from home out of this vibrant orange office. The room is also reserved for creative projects, like the fish puppets Kristina is currently building for an upcoming show at Dallas Summer Musicals.

“We love that the office sofa is a sleeper,” says Kristina. “Everywhere we live, we try to make each room have some way to house someone.”

Sofa: Urban Outfitters


James made the wall-size dry-erase board out of nine plastic squares. A waist-high desk contains files, teaching supplies and art materials.


A Huichol Indian mask depicting Eagle Man presides over a reading nook next to the library.

Chair: Ikea


“Jim would live in a log cabin and I would be in a very urban modern space,” Kristina says. “So we try to marry those when and if we choose something new.” A wood dresser sits opposite a mirrored closet with sliding doors, while original artwork hangs above the bed.

Closet: Ikea; nightstands: Alex Drawer Unit, Ikea


The master bathroom boasts a garden tub and a glass walk-in shower. The couple’s biggest design dilemma has been the home’s original beige tile floors. Kristina says, “We don’t want to have to go through the hassle of a new floor right now, so we need the wall colors and new bathroom tile to suit the existing tile.”


A bedroom at the top of the staircase welcomes guests with ethnic textiles, vintage maps and family heirlooms. The couple bought the cow skull while living in New York City, as a reminder of James’ home state. “That skull has moved with us a million times, even to and from Norway,” Kristina says. “I just can’t seem to let go of it.”


Kristina’s extensive doll collection started at birth, and is now housed in her grandmother’s cabinet. “My mother is fond of beautifully crafted things, and dolls are one of those,” she says. “When we traveled or had a significant occasion, I was given a doll. Also, with my grandmother dancing and touring, she would travel and send or bring me a doll.”


The upstairs bathroom is used primarily by the couple’s daughter, Dottie. “Because it’s a small room, I wanted the walls to be special,” says Kristina, who layered multiple patterns to achieve a disarmingly playful effect.

Shower curtain: Urban Outfitters


The whimsical wallpaper, purchased at Anthropologie, depicts an underwater scene with fish and sea horses.

Octopus hooks: Anthropologie





A handmade wooden horse hangs on the door to Dottie’s room. “We had that made on the street during a street fair in Lillehammer, Norway, the year Dottie was born,” says Kristina.

Dottie’s pink bedroom is filled with colorful textiles, books, dolls and family photos. When asked what she likes best about her room, Dottie says, “Well, I like that it’s mine!”

Paper light fixture: Midsummer Light, Tord Boontje


A library of children’s literature and a compact twin futon receive natural light from a west-facing window. The hand-embroidered tapestry hanging above the seating area was made for Kristina by her Norwegian grandmother in honor of her first birthday.


A playroom, adjacent to Dottie’s bedroom, is filled with toys, games and heirloom furniture. The large wardrobe is a French antique, and the dollhouse was made by Kristina’s American grandfather. “It’s a wonderful dollhouse,” she says. “My dad laid the floors when I was pregnant with Dottie, and I wallpapered it.”


A large tufted sectional takes center stage in the family room, accented by industrial lighting and brightly colored art. The metal coffee table was an anniversary gift; it came from a bazaar in Norway.

“This house suits us and our likes so much that the process of designing and decorating has been very organic,” says Kristina.

Sofa: Thrive Furniture


The other half of the open-layout family room is used for dancing, yoga, lounging and other family activities. “There are big windows that let in light, and our stained glass will reflect on the floor,” Kristina says. “It changes throughout the day.”

The stained glass originally hung in the ballet school founded by Kirkenær. “It was made to be my grandparents — the Puck character is my grandfather, and the fairy is my grandmother,” says Kristina.

Platform bed: West Elm


James, Dottie and Kristina pose for a quick family photo on their sunny porch. Says Kristina, “Our home is a place to inspire us and give comfort.”

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