Jeff Jones and Shauna Glenn have always been city people, but in the summer of 2014, they were ready for a change of scenery.
“We didn’t get the house we wanted, but the lot across the street was empty and had a pond,” Jones says. “The day we came out to look at it, a dozen or so deer came out from the tree line to have a drink — we were sold.”
The couple built what they consider their forever home from the ground up. Glenn, a writer-turned-interior designer who works at J&D Interiors, says, “What better way to get exactly what you’re looking for than to build?”
The family is a blended one with six children, two of whom still live at home. Designing a living space for a large family might seem daunting to some, but Glenn views it as a wonderful adventure. She mixes practical family items, like durable furniture and easy-clean surfaces, with eye-popping patterns and a bold mix of color.
“Being a design professional is new territory for me,” she says. “I’m a writer by trade, but design and design projects and entertaining have always been side passions for me.”
The foyer sets the stage for the rest of the house, with an eclectic mix of furniture and brightly colored textiles. Glenn decided to paint all the interior walls in Sherwin-Williams’ Modern Gray. “It’s a beautiful and warm neutral background for all of my crazy color,” she says.
Complement Neutral Decor With Colorful Lamps
The design of the formal dining room, which lies just off the foyer, began with an upholstered bench. “I love mixing contemporary and traditional pieces. I don’t really follow any design rules, I just do what’s pleasing to the eye,” Glenn says. “I love whimsical fabrics and bright colors. It’s probably obvious my favorite color is blue.”
Her personal style is also on full display in the great room, which is filled with fabulous architectural details like arched doorways, an open-concept stairwell, vaulted ceilings, and a stacked-stone fireplace.
The open layout maintains a sense of grounded energy and intimacy, a goal of the couple’s longtime friend Rick Wegman of HGC Residential Real Estate and Development, who helped oversee the home’s construction.
“The scale of each room needs to be considered in isolation and as a component of the whole,” Wegman says. “There needs to be a cohesive, synergistic flow throughout the home that balances the open spaces with the cozy corners.”
A large picnic-style table and bench give the eat-in dining area a casual family vibe. The family-style kitchen is centered around a massive island. Soothing gray paint colors pair well with the veined marble countertops and backsplash. Porcelain floor tiles are laid in a herringbone style.
My Houzz: A Fort Worth Cottage to Make Your Heart Sing
The stunning master suite color scheme consists of calm neutral tones and splashes of Mediterranean blue, soft yellows, and coral, all inspired by an oil painting Glenn procured from The Old Home Supply in Fort Worth. The master bathroom boasts a free-standing tub, large walk-in shower, and vintage-style dressing table.
The upstairs hallway features a vignette that includes a wood worktable and two accent chairs upholstered in fabric from J&D Interiors. A groovy seating area is perched at the top of the stairs. At its center is a large hutch-turned-bookcase that Glenn found at an antiques store in Forney, Texas. Replica leather Barcelona chairs, framed embroidered Otomi placemats, and a red chandelier that matches the couple’s phone booth make for a playful and eclectic mix.
Preserve Privacy With a Fenced-In Backyard
The outdoor spaces are just as thoughtful and colorful as the interiors. Jones, who works in the pool industry, says, “Shauna did the inside, but I was really particular about the exteriors.”
Jones oversaw the installation of low-water plants all around the house, including native grasses and agave plants. The pool and hot tub were also in his purview. Jones works for DEL Ozone, a company that specializes in alternative sanitation for residential pools-spas and commercial pools. Jones’ pool makes use of this green technology and has reduced chlorine usage by 60-90 percent.
Glenn’s favorite thing to do at home is “chill out by the pool.” After a trip to Cancun, the couple were inspired to find a wooden four-poster bed suited for outdoor use. This replica was created for them in Mexico. “Jeff drove all the way to Mexico to pick it up and bring it home. That’s love,” Glenn says.
The formal dining room sits off the foyer.
