Greg and Holly Homer had a vision for their loved ones home. “Because we both work from home and homeschool our three children part time we needed a home that will allow for play, work, friends, family and meet all our everyday needs,” Holly says. This included a home theatre, a fire rod for the kids plus a Lego playroom with a slide.
After purchasing a heavily wooded 2-acre whole lot near the Dallas airport, the Homers tapped architect Bill Brown and Noble Classic Homes to create their dream home a reality. They tested prospective contractors by sharing their own design ideas with them if the contractors balked, the couple moved on to another corporation. “We don’t have any design history, but we knew what we wanted,” Holly says. “I’m so happy we stuck to our guns and didn’t let anyone talk us out of it. We love it.”
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
Sarah Greenman
A massive 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 channel at the front end of the living room is a workspace where Holly cranks out copy for both sites, Kids Activities Blog and Business two Blogger. “I know the house is big, but we utilize each corner of it every day,” she states.
Slipper seats: Sam’s Club
Sarah Greenman
A stair comprising colorful Mexican tile to the risers welcomes people when they first enter the home. Holly enjoys the appearance of repeating square patterns, a motif found throughout the home.
Sarah Greenman
The architect created a courtyard in the foyer by using substances usually reserved for exteriors, such as concrete, brick, outdoor lighting fittings and dividers which framework a stained glass window. “We really wanted the foyer to have the feeling of being outdoors,” Holly says.
The entry gives way into a formal dining room that Holly made to feel like an outdoor gazebo. A circular space, vaulted ceilings and oversize windows encircle the 7-foot dining table, especially ordered from IBB Designs.
Sarah Greenman
A spiral staircase leads to a backyard bar in the family room. Two stained glass windows showcase more coloured square patterns.
Sarah Greenman
Bold red cabinetry and butter-yellow trim wrap the kitchen. Holly needed a large multiuse kitchen to accommodate family dishes, art projects and a host of other home tasks. “We are extremely casual, so most of our entertaining and living happen in the kitchen,” she states.
Sarah Greenman
The kitchen opens into a dining area with ample seating. Black frames exhibit black and white family photographs. The painted turquoise seat is all that’s left of a family piano Holly played when she was young.
Sarah Greenman
Greg is the chef in the family and enjoys making family dishes 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 the majority of the cooking. He got the stove, and I got a bathtub.”
Subway tile: Ann Sacks
Sarah Greenman
Even a butler’s pantry functions as a hallway to the formal dining room and provides quick access for serving dishes and entertaining.
When the Homers made their house, a wine rack and glass cabinets to get dish storage were must-haves. “I really wanted to be able to maintain the flat surfaces clean throughout the home with a place for all,” says Holly.
Sarah Greenman
A multiuse pantry lies just off the kitchen and also functions as the laundry room, another prep kitchen and storage for homeschooling materials. “Because we entertain in the kitchen, I desired another place to stash things and also have extra prep room,” Holly says. “When the party is going, we can close the mess away.”
Holly’s children each have a designated shelf in the pantry, where they shop what they need for school — they move into a private academy two days a week and are homeschooled another days. “It makes packing backpacks or preparing for a homeschool day something they could tackle independently,” she states.
Washer, dryer: Samsung
Sarah Greenman
Ceilings soar in the main bedroom. Large French doors open into the yard. Holly’s favourite feature is a pair of stained glass doors she purchased at auction in Sanger, Texas. They came out of an older church and are currently installed between the bedroom and a antechamber. The little room used to function as a nursery into the couple’s youngest kid but now houses personal exercise equipment.
Stained glass doorways: Carraway Auction House; bedding: The Business Store; cushions: Saks Fifth Avenue
Sarah Greenman
Sarah Greenman
An infinity bathtub is the most important bathroom’s centerpiece. Water falls from a fixture in the ceiling to the basin. “Our plumber hadn’t ever been requested to make water come out of the ceiling, however he did it,” Holly says.
Sage walls, rattan Roman shades and dark wood cabinetry lend a tropical vibe. “I take a bath in this bathtub each night,” she states. “It is such a treat”
Bathtub: Kohler; fittings: Moore Supply
Sarah Greenman
The house’s upper level is dedicated to children’s drama and family life. A pool table, handed down from Greg’s parents, and an adjoining poker table command the spacious game room. Greg’s Monopoly board set is mounted and framed on blocks painted in primary colours.
“I love having the kids up here, in which there is enough space for a critical game of group laser label or a struggle with Nerf swords,” says Holly.
Sarah Greenman
The game room leads. 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 had kids,” says Holly.
Sarah Greenman
Sarah Greenman
The soda fountain is the launch of an upstairs hallway Holly made to look like a road scene. Outdoor trappings like shingled walls and brick flooring create the effect.
Each doorway has a themed entry. The city library is the playroom, the nautical shop is a bedroom, the Laundromat is a laundry room, the automotive shop is a bedroom, and also the movie theater at the end of the hall is a media space.
Sarah Greenman
The Homers made a faux theatre marquee at the entry of the media space, which is outfitted with leather recliners, crimson velvet curtains and a popcorn machine.
“When I purchased the flooring for this room, I told the man I desired the gaudiest casino-like rug he could locate. It is perfect movie theater rug,” Holly says.
Sarah Greenman
The boys’ Lego playroom was motivated by their beloved illustrated children’s literature. Holly hired art students from the University of North Texas to paint the murals. ” Alice in Wonderland has ever been in the back of my mind with the playroom,” Holly says.
At the top of the slide is a little playhouse, which Holly designed. It leads to kid-size tunnels that constitute a small third floor; they lead back into the boys’ bedrooms on the second floor.
Twist: Home Depot
Sarah Greenman
The first bedroom has a wooden yacht bed with actual canvas sails attached to the wall. “I enjoy designing spaces for children, because it is completely okay to be exuberant,” Holly says. “As a mom, I attempt to create the room for kids practical and durable.”
Sails: eBay
Sarah Greenman
Holly made the second bedroom using industrial materials and fittings usually reserved for garages and storage components. Steel bunk beds, galvanized buckets for locker and storage room–style flooring create this boys’ room practically indestructible.
“They should not be afraid to play in their own area. It should be the place in the home where kids can be messy provided that there’s a place for everything to go when cleanup moment starts,” says Holly.
Sarah Greenman
A play structure built into the wall connects through a series of passageways into the next floor and lets out in the playroom with all the blue slide. The boys may either climb down from the play construction or have a shortcut with the fire rod.
Sarah Greenman
The second bedroom has a complete bath equipped with garage-style fixtures. Holly used a Craftsman tool drawer as the foundation for the dressing table, black tile in the shower and locker room–style flooring.
Vanity: Craftsman
Sarah Greenman
Holly sits on a sunny window ledge.
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