Revamped Tudor home in North Texas captures the charm of the British countryside

June 18, 2024

The north Dallas suburb of Flower Mound prides itself on its rural Western heritage, but the luxury homes found in The Estates at Tour 18, a gated community surrounding a lush green fairway fashioned after famous golf courses across America, take cues from English manors and French chateaus. It’s here where Dallas designer Kim Armstrong, owner of in Dallas, was asked to take on an ambitious project for a longtime friend and client.

A rounded alcove in a library lets in natural light through many windows, in the foreground...
Armstrong created a cozy seating area in the library where Morrow can enjoy her prized collection of literature.(Nathan Schroder Photography)

Built in 1995, the elegant 7,000-square-foot residence sits on two acres and is the third house Armstrong has styled for homeowner Liz Barber Morrow since the two first met. Their last collaboration was finishing the interior of a Charles Dilbeck home the Morrows purchased near White Rock Lake; when the couple moved to Flower Mound in 2020, they again called on Armstrong to bring their new space to life.

“The house had really good structure,” says Armstrong. “My job was to bring in the furnishings and soft goods and window treatments and accessories, to complete the house from a decor standpoint,” she says. This also meant using many of the clients’ existing furnishings and reimagining them in different ways, such as reupholstering and painting various pieces for a fresh new look.

Advertisement

The library was one of the most meaningful rooms in the Tour 18 home, since Morrow’s books were among the few things salvaged from a house fire she experienced before remarrying in 2015. Armstrong showcased the collection of literature along an entire wall and set the clients’ existing white sofa across from a pair of custom-made chairs to create a cozy reading area. The seats are covered in leather by and the chair backs are upholstered in a vibrant blue silk print to contrast with the dark wood tones. The designer chose muted colors for the wool Oushak area rug by , while a hand-carved by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair placed by the bay window provides another seating option with natural light for reading.

Sunny dining room with blue with blue walls and ceiling, blue and white printed curtains and...
The Schonbek crystal chandelier was left by the home’s previous owner, and Armstrong felt it was the perfect fixture for the space. “It’s an antique and is one of a kind,” she says, noting that the sparkling crystals provide a stylish contrast to the light wood dining table.(Nathan Schroder Photography)

The dining room feels both opulent and inviting, with print Schumacher fabric on the drapes and chairs playing off the homeowners’ collection of blue and white porcelain.

“We added the wainscoting and wallpaper, which is turquoise by Kravet, and painted the ceiling,” says Armstrong. Although Morrow did not plan to keep the Schonbek crystal chandelier the previous homeowner left behind, the designer convinced her it was the perfect fixture for the space. “It’s an antique and is one of a kind,” Armstrong says, and the sparkling crystals provide a stylish contrast to the light wood dining table she picked up at in the Dallas Design District.

Get updates from Abode

Sign up for the Abode newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest home, design and real estate stories.

The house also features a formal living room, where Armstrong added a softer touch with custom-designed upholstery on the sofa in a cream and taupe fabric by Schumacher, with an added fringe embellishment from . The two armchairs and nearby window treatments feature Brunschwig & Fils “Le Lac” with a playful Chinoiserie motif, accented by two by Wisteria used as end tables. “I love incorporating those, because it breaks up the wood and adds a different material,” Armstrong says. The ottoman coffee table was custom made for the couple’s previous house, and the designer had the piece reupholstered in Edelman to fit the new space.

A brightly colored painting of a waterfall hangs over an antique credenza, two blue and...
Avid travelers, the homeowners recognized the waterfall in this painting by JD Miller from a previous trip to Costa Rica. The combination of the painting, antique credenza and more of the homeowners’ blue and white porcelain collection make for an eclectic vignette.(Nathan Schroder Photography)

The paintings above the fireplace and the antique credenza both are by local artist , who is represented by Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas. The homeowners share a love of travel and recognized the waterfall in Miller’s landscape from a previous trip to Costa Rica. The scene was particularly meaningful to Morrow, who had fond memories of their visit, and the vivid painting is a focal point of the room.

Armstrong also reimagined the furniture and bedding in several guest quarters, adding Wedgewood blue wallpaper by Thibault in one bedroom to elevate the space. Although the vibrant green and blue bed skirt had been made for the Morrows’ previous residence, the designer sourced the same fabric to fashion matching drapes and valances for their new abode. The lantern above the foot of the bed was ordered from , notes Armstrong, who also had the bedding by Williams Sonoma monogrammed for the couple.

Advertisement
Bedroom with blue grasscloth wallpaper, white bed linens, an antique nightstand and a bright...
In a guest quarters, a vibrant green botanical pattern pops against the cool, classic look of the Wedgewood blue grasscloth wallpaper by Thibault.(Nathan Schroder Photography)

“Because I knew her design style and we weren’t going to change the architecture of the house much, I worked with the color scheme that was already going in certain rooms,” recalls Armstrong of her approach to the home’s interior. Her appreciation for Morrow’s classic taste and the home’s grand architectural style also fueled her creativity during the six-month project. “It’s an English Tudor and I was really inspired by English design,” Armstrong says.

Advertisement

Love homes, design and real estate? Get more good stuff from Abode by following us on and .

Related Stories
Close
Your custom text © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
Close