Dallas homeowners Ken and Sandra Prater started remodeling their 1940s ranch 24 decades back. “When we purchased the house, we purchased the approximately half-acre lot. At the moment, I was working for an architectural firm and brought my colleagues over, however they did not see my vision. It had great bones and I understood it,” Sandra says. Together with the support of architect David Dillard of D2 Architecture,the couple began tackling their renovation priorities, starting with surrounding the garage. They converted the space into a family room, then tackled the kitchen. The kitchen was in desperate need of a makeover using its first 1940s linoleum floors and a built-in banquette typically found at a diner.
Following the remodeling changes, Sandra, an interior designer at SHP Interiors, layered within her vintage collections with everything from figurines, plates, prints, furniture and other flea market or property sale treasures.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Ken and Sandra Prater; puppies Molly, Britta and Hank
Location: Dallas
Size: 4,500 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
That is interesting: Once their 3 sons left home, Ken and Sandra awakened the sports court at the backyard and place into a pool, and a hot tub and a fire pit.
Katherine Robertson Photography
In the circular driveway you see the front porch and the extra fireplace and accent windows to what was once the garage entrance. Ken and Sandra first enclosed the garage, then raised the floor to make it flow together with the house, not appear to be a garage conversion. They were then confronted with the challenge of what to do with the garage door beam from the new family room. “We needed to bring in a special pier driller due to our specimen tree in the front yard,” Sandra says.
Katherine Robertson Photography
You’d never understand this space was once a garage. The TV and other media components are neatly hidden in a built-in cabinet to the right of the fireplace. Tall, decorative windows conceal what was when the roof over the garage door. The family room includes a custom made sofa, a classic cabinet and a lot of seats.
Katherine Robertson Photography
Another view of the previous garage space. The sofa and chairs are custom made and most of the other bits are antiques found at estate sales and flea markets like Marburger Farm Antique Show at Round Top, Texas. The majority of the lamps at the house are constructed of found objects that Sandra locates while looking for customers.
Painting: Kyle Ragsdale
Katherine Robertson Photography
A step up from the den is the breakfast area. French doors on the other side of the breakfast table lead right to the backyard, and a frosted door contributes to the utility space using the word usefulness pointing the way.
Katherine Robertson Photography
The remodeled kitchen includes honed granite countertops, a commercial range and tons of cabinets. The breakfast area, laundry room and double French doors resulting in the patio and pool would be to the left. The cabinets were painted from white to a pale-gray color. The island is a classic find, and it functions as a work area, storage, and a gathering place for the family. Industrial-style containers hold serving pieces to its many parties and functions Sandra hosts.
Range: Thermador; kitchen cabinets: Gray Owl, Benjamin Moore; light: Visual Comfort
Katherine Robertson Photography
This space was originally the living space, and the two doors flanking the fireplace were inserted during the garage renovation. Comfortable upholstered seats with nail heads and the fireplace supply an inviting gathering area.
Katherine Robertson Photography
The cathedral ceiling in the master bedroom was recently covered with timber slats, as well as the beams to incorporate the timber detailing. Sandra kept the color palette neutral to make it simple to swap out seasonal mattress linens. A group of framed vintage prints hangs over the mattress.
Katherine Robertson Photography
This little sitting room off the master bedroom generates an inviting retreat with views of the backyard pool and fire pit. The framed botanical prints across the windows are from Marshalls, and most of the other bits are antiques. Sandra recently included a brand new chandelier to finish out the space and says,”That is my refuge, my escape.”
Katherine Robertson Photography
The master bath includes flooring with black accents and hers and his cabinets. Sandra says,”My next project in the works is to redo the master bath. I want to devote a freestanding bathtub that is a bit longer because l’m 6 ft tall.”
An antique dresser holds clothing and exhibits her collection of store perfumes and jewelry. Sandra says,”Everything should have other functions. Never plan on a specific piece for a specific location. Ken says to me,’Things always proceed in this house!'”
Katherine Robertson Photography
This bedroom was at first a nursery for each of the couple’s sons and today is a comfy and inviting guest space.
Katherine Robertson Photography
The guest bathroom comes with a green, botanical color scheme as well as a custom made cabinet, using a gray marble counter tops and stainless steel sink. The Schumacher grass-cloth wallpaper ties in with all the green color scheme, and Sandra added maple colored wood accessories to complement it. The bathroom also includes Sandra’s collection of of majolica plates and botanical prints.
Katherine Robertson Photography
The stairway wall has been covered in framed artwork, which Sandra plans to keep on adding to till it reaches the ceiling. The artwork is thoughtfully selected in neutral colors and paired with black, silver and golden frames. The breezeway resulting in the stairs was originally the dining room. The stairs lead to the second story, which was inserted to the house after a decade or so.
Wall paint: Wool Skein, Sherwin-Williams
Katherine Robertson Photography
Upstairs, this second living area was largely employed by Sandra’s sons when they were growing up for relaxing and doing homework. A group of vintage and found artwork from flea markets hangs on the rear wall. Sandra provides this information to other homeowners,”Hire a designer that captures your personality and not theirs.”
Sofa: Quatrine; coffee table: Wisteria; prints: folk art from Santa Fe, New Mexico; pillows: Pine Cone Hill
Katherine Robertson Photography
Another view of the upstairs living area. Chalkboard 4-by-8-foot sheets cover the walls above the wainscoting. They’ve been there because her sons were young, and several of the scribbles are years old.
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