Cover The split-level sunken living room showcases a handful of high-pedigree pieces acquired during the homeowners’ time in Brazil (Photo: Robert Tsai)
The split-level sunken living room showcases a handful of high-pedigree pieces acquired during the homeowners’ time in Brazil (Photo: Robert Tsai)
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Mid-century furniture meet high-pedigree Brazilian art in this transformed ranch house in Dallas, Texas by Joshua Rice Design
Originally from Mexico City, the homeowner—who works as an executive in the movie theatre business—his wife and their two teenage children spent several years living in Brazil, where they fell in love with the country’s modernist movement.
When they decided to move to Dallas, Texas, they were on the lookout for a home with a wealth of space and lots of light, akin to the modern structures in Brazil. They eventually settled on this single-storey, mid-century ranch, located in the northernmost part of Dallas near the Bent Tree Country Club.
While the original house, designed and built in the late 1970s, was much more closed in, the homeowners saw potential in the property’s sprawling layout, in which the split-level sunken living room brings a sense of spatial dynamism and visual interest, separating the space without the need for walls.
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Above The renovation converted the house into almost a complete open plan (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
Above Reddish wood tones overhead act as a striking counterpoint to the pale flooring (Photo: Robert Tsai)
The renovation converted the house into almost a complete open plan (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
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Furthermore, the rear yard wraps along the creek in a linear layout—something very unusual for homes in Dallas. It makes the expanse feel wider amid the mature trees in the neighbourhood, as it encompasses a large pool with outdoor living space, a public park-sized playground and a tennis court.
“[Having] spent their lives in Mexico and Brazil before Dallas, they had developed a fondness for the warmth and richness of the architecture of these countries,” says interior designer Joshua Rice, who helms his eponymous practice, Joshua Rice Design. “When searching for their new home in the US, they entrusted us with crafting one that perfectly suited these preferences.”
A wall sculpture by Mexican artist Aldo Chaparro brings kinetic energy to this space (Photo: Robert Tsai)
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In collaboration with Dallas architect Marc McCollom and art consultant Temple Shipley, Rice embarked on a renovation project for the homeowners that took almost five years, in part due to the pandemic.
“Our renovation converted the house into almost a complete open plan, with the exception of the guest suite, office, three children’s bedrooms and the main suite retaining privacy,” he describes. “From there, we were able to develop a rich and textural palette for the architecture, and a great collection of design items and furniture to complete the finished space.”
Prominent warm and rich neutrals are reminiscent of the homeowners’ years in Mexico and Brazil, and establish an ambience of elegance and tranquillity. The natural colours inherent to materials such as rosewood, teak veneer, bronzed textured panels and Pietra Grey stone do the heavy lifting when it comes to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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Above Jack Zajac’s bronze Bound Goat, Thursday sculpture adorns the anchoring Pietra Grey stone fixtures (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
Above Curvy pieces balance out the clean-cut lines of the open kitchen while teak veneer brings warmth to the grey stone surfaces (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
Jack Zajac’s bronze Bound Goat, Thursday sculpture adorns the anchoring Pietra Grey stone fixtures (Photo: Nathan Schroder)
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“Our favourite design element is easily the Pietra Grey stone boxes in the living rooms that divide the spaces and contain the fireplaces,” says Rice, alluding to the stone’s striking veins, which harmonise wonderfully with the Venetian plaster walls and the white oak flooring.
He adds: “The elegance of the detailing, combined with the deft ability to both separate and connect the two living rooms, really makes the overall space work correctly. It’s a complete improvement over the original architecture of the house.”
Above The Palindrome lamp’s spartan form contrasts against the bold brushstrokes of Fiona Weedon’s Tears and Flowers (Photo: Robert Tsai)
The Palindrome lamp’s spartan form contrasts against the bold brushstrokes of Fiona Weedon’s Tears and Flowers (Photo: Robert Tsai)
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During their years in Brazil, the homeowners also started collecting art and design pieces characterised by bold forms, innovative designs and local cultural elements.
“I have a passion for collectable mid-century design, and I am particularly fond of Brazilian modernism,” says Rice. The clients had already acquired a handful of high-pedigree design pieces from their time in Brazil, and they were a great jumping-off point for the overall look of the home.”
Peppered throughout the home are the discernibly modernist forms of Faye Toogood’s fibreglass Roly-Poly dining chairs and table, Oscar Niemeyer’s Alta lounge chair, Nanna Ditzel’s Model 83 lounge chairs, Jader Almeida’s Buni table, and more.
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Modernist creations by Nanna Ditzel, Edward Wormley and Jader Almeida harmonise with materials such as blackened steel and dark stone (Photo: Robert Tsai)
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“The perfect example was the primary bedroom alcove,” he adds. “We planned an unusual but quite lovely composition that involved Edward Wormley’s angled sofa with Jader Almeida’s lower-height table, creating a functional but comfortable working space.”
Meanwhile, vibrant artworks and sculptural pieces stand out against the neutral backdrop of the former ranch house: Joaquim Tenreiro’s Movimiento sculpture and Jack Zajac’s bronze Bound Goat, Thursday add depth to the Pietra Grey stone employed in the living and dining areas, while Sol LeWitt’s art plays off the saturations in Fiona Weedon’s Tears and Flowers in the dining zone.
“I wanted to expand and improve upon their existing selection of Brazilian modernist pieces,” Rice concludes. “The objective was to create a collection of unique and sophisticated works that complement one another, and develop a narrative of high design and craftsmanship that captures Brazil’s lively identity and quest for modernity.”
Credits
Photography: Nathan Schroder and Robert Tsai
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
