Easy living in the city

Southern Living, Jun 2003 by Feagin, Julie

You'd never guess this tranquil home is just a stone's throw from downtown Dallas.

As you head toward it by boat, the house appears to be nestled against the skyline of Dallas. Located minutes from downtown, the home sits beside White Rock Lake-the largest in-town lake in the country. You might say Barbara and John Bradfield have the best of both worlds.

The Bradfields had patience when they were planning their new home. After years of searching for the perfect lot, they then had to find the right person to design the house, and architect Frank Welch of Dallas was just the match. Frank's clean, contemporary style is softened with regional influences-exactly what the couple had in mind.

The site had constraints with deep setbacks and large pecan trees, and there was also an issue of privacy. White Rock Lake is encircled by hiking and hiking trails, which run on two sides of the lot. Working in tandem with landscape architect David Rolston, Frank's design takes advantage of the incredible views as well as conceals the traffic on the trails.

Natural materials were repeated throughout the home. The trim, doors, and floors are made from quarter-sawn white oak. The large Texas-Leuders stone fireplace serves as a focal point in the family room, while Oklahoma flagstone is used in the foyer, breakfast room, and garden.

The home's abundant windows, which are an important part of the design, overlook the lake and surrounding gardens. David wanted the landscape to reflect the setting's pastoral feel and to be low maintenance. Off the breakfast room, an arrangement of teak furniture creates an outdoor dining area.

Living spaces occupy the home's main level, with bedrooms on the second floor. An open floor plan allows the kitchen, breakfast room, and family room to function as one space; all are connected by a gallery that overlooks the patio.

The interiors, designed by Karen Perry, also reflect sleek style with a traditional twist. For example, the comfortable family room features vaulted ceilings made less imposing by the cozy furnishings; track lighting installed on the trusses provides a contemporary look. With a variety of textures, patterns, and tones, the home reflects a relaxed ambience, which is a perfect fit for this couple. Lake living just minutes from the city-it almost sounds too good to be true.