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Feb 10, 2024

Tour a Cool and Contemporary House in Dallas by Chad Dorsey

Designer Chad Dorsey ties in the client’s Caribbean roots with his love for Louisiana architecture to create a one-of-a-kind dwelling fit for modern empty-nesters. Who does an architect for one of the

Designer Chad Dorsey ties in the client’s Caribbean roots with his love for Louisiana architecture to create a one-of-a-kind dwelling fit for modern empty-nesters.

Who does an architect for one of the world’s largest firms call when wanting to create his dream empty-nester home? In this case, it was do-it-all design man and fellow Texan Chad Dorsey. The client and his wife had previously lived in a two-story colonial with a more traditional closed-off floor plan, but they were now looking for a single-level home that felt more open and modern. Dorsey was hired to design and build the exterior as well as create the home’s interiors, which ended up being filled with custom pieces in nearly every space. Needless to say, it was a major undertaking.

“The first thing was fitting the architecture on the property and programming it the way they wanted in order that the house would capture the views and have light hitting the space just right,” Dorsey says. “It was an empty property on a very narrow lot on this perfect little street in Turtle Creek. We wanted to maximize the footprint to be all on one level with two bedrooms upstairs.”

Dorsey leaned into the husband’s unique upbringing in St. Croix and his memorable experience interning for A. Hayes Town, a patriarch of southern architecture, particularly in Louisiana, for the exterior design. Dorsey played off of Town’s affinities for elements such as slate roofs, tall ceilings, the use of cypress and reclaimed brick, large window walls, and fully landscaped interior courtyards—all of which have become synonymous with classic Louisianan residential design, thanks to the legendary architect’s influence.

However, this home is a far cry from your typical ornate Southern estate. Dorsey approached the exterior with a fresh, modern lens that relies on clean lines, sleek oriel windows, and a no-frills design that allow the striking materials to speak for themselves.

“We wanted to create a collection of small buildings with this reclaimed brick I found that would tie everything back to Louisiana,” says Dorsey. “The steeper-pitched roof is similar to what you find in the Caribbean and the entry views of the courtyard are just like lots of homes in New Orleans. You get the sense of the space as soon as you walk in, and it all wraps around the courtyard.”

Though the house is intended to be a low-maintenance home for newly minted empty nesters, Dorsey says the scale of the house allows it to live bigger than it is while offering the perfect layout for entertaining. Guests can be sitting in the family room and enjoying the courtyard views while chatting with the owners in the kitchen, providing a balance of privacy and openness.

“The house has this classic feel in that it seems as if you’ve simply renovated it and opened it up,” says Dorsey.

Dorsey's materials-driven, Caribbean-meets-Louisiana inspiration lends to the interiors as well, as the home features stunning vaulted cypress ceilings, understated yet elegant flooring, and beautiful plaster walls that are perfect for showcasing the couple’s art collection, which he says also helped drive the design.

“Whether we do just interiors or architecture as well, the space is most important to us and the furnishings come after those are refined, as they shouldn’t overpower the architecture,” says Dorsey. “We wanted to feel like everything in the house wasn’t just purchased all at once and rather collected over time, which is more my style, and it allowed us to incorporate pieces that were meaningful to the homeowners already.”

The designer’s favorite space in the home is the combined living and dining rooms, as he says it’s very impactful in terms of scale and is a great representation of all the elements that inspired the home’s design.

The traditional chandeliers above the dining table that you might find in a classic Southern manse offer a bit of whimsy in contrast to the more sleek, contemporary pieces, while the artwork used throughout infuses warmth and meaning that make the owners feel right at home in their new dwelling.

The courtyard itself feels like a work of art, as it’s on display in nearly every room of the house. Dorsey credits landscape architect Mary Ellen Cowan from Mesa Design Group for its elegant simplicity and lushness.

Cowan’s design philosophy ties seamlessly with Dorsey’s in her use of mixed materials and restraint to create a luxurious yet understated space for the owners to entertain in and cool off from the Texas sun.

“Projects don’t always have to be huge to be a dream, but this one really was a dream project,” says Dorsey.

“The clients and I were on the same page every step of the way. I was worried about designing a home for another architect, but they let me have creative direction and they really made the process fun.”

What began as a vision for the couple’s next chapter as empty nesters also morphed into a relic of their past, from the architectural nods to the husband’s childhood and early career to the artwork and artifacts from family members, friends, and former co-workers filled throughout. What could be more inviting than a space that highlights cherished memories of the past while offering a cool and contemporary backdrop for the family’s future?

Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.

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