by Lydia Somerville | Photography by Stephen Karlisch
For Amy and Corey Prestidge, the need for change was clear. Their current house, with its lack of square footage, no longer fit their active family of five. In addition, the couple longed for certain rooms with more grown-up appeal in a home that would eventually entice adult children to return and visit. So when they found a house with the right amount of space in the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas, they called upon the sister team of Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford to imbue the new rooms with modern style. “We had done their previous house,” says Kelli, “so we were thrilled when they contacted us about this house. Amy and Corey have three young children and wanted a house that was practical and livable but also beautiful. This is to be their forever home.”
The sisters’ freewheeling style mixes periods, materials, and color to grand effect. “The house was originally built in 1939,” says Kelli, “and it had seen several renovations since. The previous owner kept the home in immaculate condition, but we completely renovated all the surfaces to fit the tastes of the new owners.”
The designers seamlessly incorporated the family’s collection of contemporary art and furniture into the grand spaces using a dynamic mix of old and new. Just inside the foyer, a sweeping staircase covered in a zebra runner embraces a lilac velvet sofa standing on stiletto gold feet. A vintage buffet with gold and lacquer accents brings a touch of mid-century swagger to the space. The living room features examples of Kirsten and Kelli’s fearless combinations of pattern. Tribal influences harmoniously coexist with gold finishes that lend polish to the room. Vintage Murano glass sconces flank the mantel, exuding a hip ’70s look echoed in the Lucite-and-gold-leaf coffee table.
“The Clients have three young children and wanted a house that was practical and livable but also beautiful.” ⏤Kelli Ford
A spacious garden room offers another ideal space for entertaining large crowds. The room emits a Moroccan vibe with a beamed ceiling and a special wall finish that reinforces the rustic exotic theme. “The finish is a thick, dragged plaster made to look like barn siding,” says Kelli. There is also a family room, painted high-gloss blue and furnished with cozy sectionals, that serves as the setting for family movie nights. Plaid drapery fabric in blue and lime green adds an appropriate youthfulness to the space.
The dining room includes an element of surprise in the form of a shell-pink ceiling paired with a modern table and chairs. The homeowners’ abstract art influenced the vibrant palette at the windows and on the table, including the lime-green custom table skirt trimmed in aubergine. A tribal rug adds to the bold palette while bringing character to the design.
